342 THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON, chap, xu 



struck my shin against a fallen tree, which cut me to 

 the bone, and pitched me upon my head. The next 

 moment, however, we were up with the elephants : 

 they were standing upon a slope of rock facing us, 

 but regularly dumbfounded at their unremitting 

 pursuit ; they all rolled over to a volley as we came 

 up, two of them being calves. Palliser killed the 

 two biggest right and left, he being some paces in 

 advance. 



This was one of the best hunts that I have ever 

 shared in. The chase had lasted for nearly an hour. 

 There had been thirteen elephants originally in the 

 herd, every one of which had been bagged by fair 

 running. Wortley had fired uncommonly well, as he 

 had killed the three elephants which he and Palliser 

 had chased, one of which had given them a splendid 

 run and had proved restive. The elephant took fifteen 

 shots before she fell, and this accounted for the con- 

 tinual firing which I had heard during my chase of the 

 other section. We had killed fourteen elephants 

 during the day, and we returned to the 'amblam,' 

 having had as fine sport as Ceylon can afford. 



December 7. — This, being Sunday, was passed in 

 quiet ; but a general cleaning of guns took place, to 

 be ready for the morrow. 



Dec. 8. — We went over many miles of ground 

 without seeing a fresh track. We had evidently 

 disturbed the country on this side of the river, and 



