chap. vi. A MONAMPITYA ROGUE. in 



people are perfectly happy, and would prefer their 

 present wandering life to the most luxurious restraint. 

 Speaking a language of their own, with habits akin to 

 those of wild animals, they keep entirely apart from 

 the Cingalese. They barter deer-horns and bees'-wax 

 with the travelling Moormen pedlers in exchange for 

 their trifling requirements. If they have food, they 

 eat it ; if they have none, they go without until 

 by some chance they procure it. In the meantime 

 they chew the bark of various trees, and search for 

 berries, while they wend their way for many miles 

 to some remembered store of deer's flesh and honey, 

 laid by in a hollow tree. 



The first time that I ever saw a Veddah was in the 

 north of the country. A rogue elephant was bathing 

 in a little pool of deep mud and water near the tank 

 of Monampitya, about six miles from the ' Gunner's 

 Coin.' This Veddah had killed a wild pig, and was 

 smoking the flesh within a few yards of the spot, 

 when he suddenly heard the elephant splashing in 

 the water. My tent was pitched within a mile of the 

 place, and he accordingly brought me the intelligence. 



Upon arrival at the pool I found the elephant so 

 deep in the mud that he could barely move. His 

 hind-quarters were towards me ; and the pool not 

 being more than thirty yards in diameter, and sur- 

 rounded by impenetrable rattan jungle on all sides but 

 one small opening, in which I stood, I was obliged to 



