HUNTING & SHOOTING IN CEYLON 



collared it after some trouble, as it fought like a cat, and 

 rolling it up in a cloth belonging to one of our men, sent 

 it to camp. Tom kept it for some years, but it was always 

 an uncertain-tempered animal, and became rather dangerous 

 when full grown, so had to be got rid of. 



I kept a young cub, given me by Mudaliyar Jaye- 

 wardene, for some time and got quite fond of it, but 

 eventually had to shoot it as it contracted some awful 

 sores which I could not cure. 



It was extremely fond of company, and simply loved 

 my dogs ; but they did not love it, as its methods of play 

 were a bit too rough, and they strongly resented being 

 stroked down the back by its huge, great claws, nor did 

 they appreciate their tails being playfully, but very pain- 

 fully, bitten. When a dog lost its temper and went for 

 the cub it simply ducked its head until its nose was buried 

 in its hairy chest for protection, and let the dog bite and 

 worry as much as it liked at its leathery hide, where no 

 impression could be made. The little animal was im- 

 mensely strong, and quite a good climber. It would 

 usually " go for " any stranger, and be quite bold if the 

 person " gone for " showed fear, but curled up at once 

 if boldly faced and attacked in turn. I was sorry to have 

 to destroy it, as it had become quite attached to me and 

 would follow me about like a dog. 



Garrick and I once had an unexpected and rather ex- 

 citing experience with a bear. We had bicycled 60 miles 

 to Alut Oya for a " Saturday to Monday " shoot, in the 

 hope of getting a deer or two (time of the year being 

 November, and very wet), and put up at the rest-house 

 there, having sent our guns and boxes by the mail coach 

 the day before. 



We had tramped on the Saturday 7 miles in pouring 



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