HUNTING & SHOOTING IN CEYLON 



all the surrounding " chenas " gathered round the elephant, 

 kicking him, spitting on him, and abusing all his female 

 relatives. They said they were going to send a piece of 

 his skin to the Postmaster-General, but I don't know if 

 they did. Having removed the feet, these and the skull 

 were brought into Batticaloa by cart amid much rejoicing 

 all along the road, I was told. The reward of Rs. 100 

 was duly paid and distributed, and the feet were sent 

 later on to the Lieutenant-Governor, who had expressed 

 a wish to have them. 



A CLOSE SHAVE 

 BY H. R. SPENCE, Assistant Conservator of Forests 



I had followed up a fine elephant (which had been pro- 

 claimed a rogue) from near Panala village in Wallapane, 

 and reached the Mahaweliganga, which was in flood, just 

 in time to see him climb up the other bank. 



I had to go some miles up the river, to a ferry called 

 Wendura, and then crossed and went down river to take up 

 his tracks. 



By this time, however, it was getting dark, so I deter- 

 mined not to go on till next morning. 



Accordingly, having made a scanty dinner off some 

 sandwiches I had with me, we turned in under the trees 

 on the river bank, a somewhat moist bed but soft. Next 

 morning we took up the tracks, and came on the elephant 

 about midday. He had gone into some very high and 

 thick lantana, which was quite impenetrable except for the 

 track he had made. 



Pushing my way through this I suddenly almost ran 

 into the elephant, who was standing waiting for us with his 

 ears cocked. 



136 



