ELEPHANTS 



Jayewardene, Revenue Officer of Tamankaduwa, from whom 

 I have since, on many occasions, received every kindness, 

 help, and attention, and I think all visitors to Polonnaruwa, 

 during his tenure of office, will be able to say the same. 



After using the " Paradox " for some time as an 

 elephant gun I began to think I ought to use something 

 heavier, so went in for a double-barrelled smooth 8-bore 

 with short barrels, by Tolley, which would take 8-10 drs. 

 powder and a 2 oz. spherical ball, and a very handy weapon 

 it proved to be in spite of its 13^ Ibs. weight, being ex- 

 cellently balanced. 



However, the first time I used it I nearly came to grief 

 and failed to kill my elephant, which was a very nasty 

 " rogue.'' 



I got notice from my friend the Mudaliyar that a 

 very big elephant was "playing the deuce" amongst the 

 cattlemen in the great swamp of Diwulani, and had been 

 " proclaimed " for destruction. Curiously enough Diwulani 

 is the place which Sir Samuel Baker calls the " tank of 

 Doolana," where he had one of his earliest experiences with 

 a "rogue," or rather two together, in course of which he 

 had a narrow escape. I put a few necessaries, tinned foods, 

 &c., in a couple of boxes, sent off three coolies three days 

 ahead of me, and followed by coach to Haburane. From 

 there I made a forced march by night to Minneriya in faint 

 moonlight, in course of which I walked slap into an elephant 

 in a dark swampy hollow when crossing the end of the 

 tank, and I don't know which of us was the more startled, 

 I or the elephant ! Anyhow he made record time for the 

 jungle and I sat down to let my nerves recover a bit and to 

 reassure my men, who were a little upset. I got to Min- 

 neriya Tank Bungalow about 3 A.M., and stayed there until 

 daybreak, as I had brought the " post " along for two officers 



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