chap. xii. A JUNGLE TRIP. 303 



coolies, with the tents and baggage, kept close up 

 with the horses, being afraid to lag behind, as there 

 was not a semblance of a path, and we depended 

 entirely upon our small guide, who appeared to have 

 an intimate knowledge of the whole country. The 

 little Veddah trotted along through the winding 

 glades; and we travelled for about five miles without 

 a word being spoken by one of the party, as we were 

 in hopes of coming upon deer. Unfortunately, we 

 were travelling down wind ; we accordingly did not 

 see a single head of game, as they of course winded 

 us long before we came in view. 



We had ridden about eight miles, when we 

 suddenly came upon the fresh tracks of elephants, and, 

 immediately dismounting, we began to track up. The 

 ground being very dry, and the grass short and 

 parched, the tracks were very indistinct, and it was 

 tedious work. We had followed for about half a mile 

 through alternate glades and belts of jungle, when 

 we suddenly spied a Veddah hiding behind a tree 

 about sixty yards from us. The moment that he 

 saw he was discovered, he set off at full speed, but two 

 of our coolies, who acted as gunbearers, started after 

 him. These fellows were splendid runners, and, after 

 a fine course, they ran him down ; but when caught, 

 instead of expressing any fear, he seemed to think it 

 a good joke. He was a rather short but stout-built 

 fellow, and he was immediately recognised by our 



