CrtAP. xii. A JUNGLE TRIP. 293 



There was but one objection to the plan, and this 

 hinged upon the shortness of V. Baker's leave. He 

 had only ten days unexpired, and it seemed rash, with 

 so short a term, to plunge into an unknown country ; 

 however, he was determined to push on, as he trusted 

 in the powers of an extraordinary pony that would do 

 any distance on a push. This determination, however 

 destroyed a portion of the trip, as we were obliged 

 to pass quickly through a lovely sporting country, to 

 arrive at a civilised, or rather an acknowledged, line 

 of road by which he could return to Kandy. Had 

 we, on the contrary, travelled easily through this 

 country, we should have killed an extraordinary 

 amount of game. 



We agreed that our route should be this. We 

 were to enter the Veddah country at the north and 

 strike down to the south. I knew a bridle-path from 

 Badulla to Batticaloa, which cut through the Veddah 

 country from west to east ; therefore we should meet 

 it at right angles. From this point V. Baker was to 

 bid adieu, and turn to the west and reach Badulla ; 

 from thence to Newera Ellia and to his regiment in 

 Kandy. We were to continue our direction south- 

 ward, which I knew would eventually bring us to the 

 ' Park.' 



Nov. 22. — We moved our encampment, accom- 

 panied by the headman and his followers ; and after a 

 ride of fourteen miles we arrived at the country of 



