254 THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON, chak xi 



few weeks in the hot climates to return again to the 

 cool and even temperature of Newera Ellia. The tent 

 is a pleasant dwelling when no other can be obtained, 

 but the comfort of a good house is never so much 

 appreciated as on the return from the jungle. 



One great pleasure in the hunting at Newera Ellia 

 is the ease with which it is obtained. In fact, the 

 sport lies at the very door. This may be said to be 

 literally true and not z.fciQoiideparler, as I once killed 

 an elk that jumped through a window. It was a sin- 

 gular incident. The hounds found three elk at the 

 same time on the mountain at the back of the hotel 

 at Newera Ellia. The pack divided : several hounds 

 were lost for two days, having taken their elk to an 

 impossible country, and the rest of the pack concen- 

 trated upon a doe, with the exception of old Smut, who 

 had another elk all to himself. This elk, which was a 

 large doe, he brought down from the top of the moun- 

 tain to the back of the hotel, just as we had killed the 

 other, which the pack had brought to the same place. 

 A great number of persons were standing in the hotel 

 yard to view the sport, when old Smut and his game 

 appeared, rushing in full fly through the crowd. The 

 elk was so bothered and headed that she went through 

 the back door of the hotel at full gallop, and Smut, 

 with his characteristic sagacity, immediately bolted 

 round to the front of the house, naturally concluding 

 that if she went in at the back door she must come 



