104 THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON, chap. v. 



' The women rushed to the village with the news 

 of this unnatural carnage. 



' Doolana and the neighbourhood has always 

 been famous for its elephant-hunters, and the husband 

 of this unfortunate girl was one of the most active in 

 their pursuit. The animals are caught in this country 

 and sold to the Arabs, for the use of the Indian Go- 

 vernment. 



'The news of this bloody deed flew from village to 

 village ; war to the knife was declared against the 

 perpetrator, and preparations were accordingly made. 

 ' Since the murder of this girl he had taken up his 

 abode in a small isolated jungle adjoining, surrounded 

 by a small open plain of fine soft grass, upon a level 

 sandy soil. 



' A few days after this act, a hundred men assem- 

 bled at Doolana, determined upon his destruction. 

 They were all picked elephant-hunters — Moormen ; 

 active and sinewy fellows, accustomed to danger from 

 their childhood. Some were armed with axes, 

 sharpened to the keenest edge, some with long spears, 

 and others with regular elephant ropes, formed of the 

 thongs of raw deer's hide, beautifully twisted. Each 

 division of men had a separate duty allotted. 



'They marched towards the small jungle in which 

 the rogue was known to be ; but he anticipated their 

 wishes, and before they were within a hundred paces 

 of his lair, he charged furiously out. The conflict 



