i8 THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON, chap. i. 



are not over fond of acting ' chaperon ' to a young 

 hand, as a novice must always detract from the sport 

 in some degree. In addition to this, many persons 

 do not exactly know themselves ; and, although the 

 idea of shooting elephants appears very attractive at 

 a distance, the pleasure somewhat abates when the 

 sportsman is forced to seek for safety in a swift pair of 

 heels. 



I shall now proceed to give a description of the 

 various sports in Ceylon — a task for which the con- 

 stant practice of many years has afforded ample inci- 

 dent. 



The game of Ceylon consists of elephants, buf- 

 faloes, elk, spotted deer, red or the paddy-field deer, 1 

 mouse deer, hogs, bears, leopards, hares, black par- 

 tridge, red-legged partridge, pea-fowl, jungle-fowl, 

 quail, snipe, ducks, widgeon, teal, golden and several 

 kinds of plover, a great variety of pigeons, and among 

 the class of reptiles are innumerable snakes, etc., and 

 the crocodile. 



The acknowledged sports of Ceylon are elephant- 

 shooting, buffalo-shooting, deer-shooting, elk-hunting, 

 and deer-coursing : the two latter can only be enjoyed 

 by a resident in the island, as of course the sport is 

 dependent upon a pack of fine hounds. Although the 

 wild boar is constantly killed, I do not reckon him 

 among the sports of the country, as he is never sought 



1 A small species of deer found in the island. 



