THE CEYLON ELK 



of about 6100 feet above sea-level; not smooth and 

 unbroken, but intersected with mountain torrents, rough 

 and jagged cliffs, and covered with a matted undergrowth 

 of bamboo and a plant known in Ceylon as the nilu, on 

 the young shoots of which sambhur feed. The high forest 

 is chiefly composed of keena and madool trees. 



Our pack consisted of one couple of half-bred bull 

 terriers, a couple of dachshund terriers, a couple of half- 

 bred harriers, a Chow-bull terrier, a dachshund, and, last but 

 by no means least, a pariah four and a half couples of 

 good dogs and true. Taking a track that ultimately led to 

 the top of the ridge we kept on for about 400 yards, and 

 turning to the right, dropped down to the head of the deep 

 gorge, which was an almost certain find ; here we uncoupled 

 the dogs and sent them in with the dog boy, whilst we 

 went round the head of the ravine to a big game track 

 on the opposite knoll, which hunted sambhur generally 

 took. Nor had we long to wait before there was a single 

 bark from Jimmy, the harrier dog, followed almost im- 

 mediately by a ringing challenge from a buck sambhur that 

 made us both jump. Soon the whole pack was on, and the 

 ructions down that narrow gorge were something to be 

 remembered. Dogs and sambhur went tearing down the 

 hill, waking monkeys and jungle fowl, which added their 

 full share to the general outcry ; but the din ceased as 

 suddenly as it had begun, and nothing was to be heard but 

 a steady crashing, as the big buck forced his way through 

 the rank and luxuriant undergrowth which grew down the 

 banks of the stream ; but where he went, there went the 

 dogs also, and he was soon forced to come to bay. Now 

 the game began. With his back to a big keena tree, and 

 surrounded by thick bushes, the wily old buck stood, and 

 woe betide any dog who was rash enough to venture within 



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