chap. ii. ELK-HUNTING. 29 



at any time, the guns may be packed up, and, with 

 tents and baggage sent on some days in advance, a 

 fortnight's or a month's war may be carried on against 

 the elephants without much trouble. 



The turn-out for elk-hunting during the fashionable 

 season at Newera Ellia is sometimes peculiarly ex- 

 citing. The air is keen and frosty, the plains snow- 

 white with the crisp hoar frost, and even at the early 

 hour of 6 A.M. parties of ladies may be seen urging 

 their horses round the plain on their way to the ap- 

 pointed meet. Here we are waiting with the anxious 

 pack, perhaps blessing some of our more sleepy 

 friends for not turning out a little earlier. Party after 

 party arrives, including many of the fair sex, and the 

 rosy tips to all countenances attest the quality of the 

 cold even in Ceylon. 



There is something peculiarly inspiriting in the 

 early hour of sunrise upon these mountains — an inde- 

 scribable lightness in the atmosphere, owing to the 

 great elevation, which takes a wonderful effect upon 

 the spirits. The horses and the hounds feel its influ- 

 ence in an equal degree ; the former, who are perhaps 

 of sober character in the hot climate, now champ the 

 bit and paw the ground : their owners hardly know 

 them by the change. 



We have frequently mustered as many as thirty 

 horses at a meet ; but on these occasions a picked 

 spot is chosen where the sport may be easily witnessed 



