chai\ ix. KONDAWATAWENY. 203 



more exciting course ; it had been nobly run by both 

 the dogs, and well contested by the buck, who was 

 a splendid fellow and in fine condition. 



On my way to the tent I wounded a doe at full 

 speed, which Lena followed singly and pulled down, 

 thus securing our coolies a good supply of venison. 

 The flesh of the spotted deer is more like mutton than 

 English venison, and is excellent eating ; it would be 

 still better if the climate would allow of its being kept 

 for a few days. 



There is no sport in Ceylon, in my opinion, that is 

 equal to deer-coursing, but the great difficulty attend- 

 ing it, is the lack of good greyhounds. The spotted 

 buck (or axis) is an animal of immense power and 

 courage ; and although most greyhounds would course 

 him, very few would have sufficient courage and 

 strength to hold him, unless slipped two brace at a 

 time, which would immediately spoil the sport. A 

 brace of greyhounds to one buck is fair play, and a 

 good strong horse will generally keep them in view. 

 In two weeks' coursing in the Park, we killed seven- 

 teen deer with three greyhounds ; at the expiration of 

 which time, the dogs were so footsore and wounded by 

 the hard burnt stubble of the old grass that they were 

 obliged to be sent home. 



When the greyhounds had left, I turned my atten- 

 tion to elephants. There were very few at this season 

 in the Park, and I therefore left this part of the 



