242 THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON. chap. X. 



ever he can procure it : his muscular power is enor- 

 mous, and he exerts both teeth and claws in his attack. 

 They are very numerous in Ceylon, although they are 

 seldom met with in any number, owing to their noctur- 

 nal habits, which attract them to their caves at break 

 of day. 



After strolling over the country for some miles, we 

 came upon fresh elephant-tracks in high grass, which 

 we immediately followed up. In the course of half 

 an hour, after tracking them for about two miles 

 through open country, we entered a fine forest, in 

 which the herd had retired ; but our hopes of meeting 

 them -in this favourable ground were suddenly damped 

 by arriving at a dense chenar jungle in the very heart 

 of the forest. This chenar extended for some acres, 

 and rose like a hedge, forming a sudden wall of thorns, 

 which effectually checked our advance. The ele- 

 phants had retired to this secure retreat, and having 

 winded us they kept up an uninterrupted roaring. I 

 never heard such a musical herd : the deep and 

 thunder-like growls, combined with the shrill trumpet 

 and loud roars, as they all joined in concert, had a 

 particularly grand effect, and a novice in elephant- 

 shooting would have felt his heart beat in double 

 time. 



There was a rogue consorting with this herd, and it 

 was necessary to be particularly cautious in the attack. 

 It was impossible to enter such thick jungle, and we 



