HUNTING & SHOOTING IN CEYLON 



Padawiya, the great abandoned tank in the north- 

 eastern corner of the North Central Province, is, or used 

 to be, a great place for wild buffaloes, as there is plenty of 

 water to be found in the winding channels of the streams 

 feeding it, great pools remaining even in the driest weather, 

 and another attraction being the long rambe grass which 

 occupies the whole of the open part of the bed of the 

 ancient tank, whilst the surrounding dense forest affords 

 the necessary shade and retreat. 



A fair number of buffaloes also frequent the great tanks 

 of Minneriya, Kaudulu, and the country near ancient Pol- 

 lonnaruwa, also the neighbourhood of the Mahaweliganga 

 throughout the low country, and the " parks " of the 

 Bintenne country, and they are quite common in the wilder 

 portions of the Eastern and Southern Provinces. I mention 

 these parts particularly as they are all districts where 

 general shooting may be had, though there are scores of 

 other places in the lowlands where they are also to be 

 found. 



I killed my first buffalo at Padawiya several years ago, 

 entirely unintentionally and by a curious mistake. I was 

 wandering through a portion of the bed of the tank accom- 

 panied only by a Moorman (Mohammedan), one of my own 

 men, when I suddenly caught sight of something in the 

 long grass about 30 yards ahead. The grass here was not 

 so thick or long as usual, and after watching a few moments 

 I concluded it was a pig, and said so to my man, who, not 

 liking its neighbourhood, suggested we should move on. 

 I told him to keep quiet or I would ! 



To make quite sure I watched until I could have sworn 

 I saw a twinkling tail wave about pig-fashion, and I dis- 

 tinctly saw its ears, so, being satisfied, I took careful aim 

 with my faithful "Paradox" and let fly. The result 



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