CHAP. V. ROGUES AT DOOLANA. 87 



tanks exist in the present day, a populous country once 

 flourished. Tn all countries which are subject to months 

 of drought, a supply of water is the first consideration, 

 or cultivation must cease. This was the object in form- 

 ing the tanks, which are especially numerous through- 

 out the Tambancadua district. These tank countries 

 afford a great diversity of sport, as they all abound 

 with wild fowl, and snipe in their season (from No- 

 vember to May). During the time of drought they 

 are always the resort of every kind of wild animal, 

 which are forced to the neighbourhood for a supply 

 of water. 



The next tank to Topari is that of Doolana ; this 

 is eight miles from the former, and is about the 

 same extent. In this district there are no less than 

 eight of these large lakes. Their attractions to rogue 

 elephants having been explained, it may be readily 

 understood that these gentry abound throughout the 

 district. I shall, therefore, select a few incidents that 

 have happened to me in these localities, which will 

 afford excellent illustrations of the habits of ' rogues.' 



Having arrived at Doolana, on the 5th April, 1847, 

 with good Moormen trackers, who were elephant- 

 catchers by profession, I started for a day's sport, in 

 company with my brother B. This particular portion 

 of the district is inhabited entirely by Moormen. 

 They are a fine race of people, far superior to the 

 Cingalese. They arc supposed to be descended from 



