HUNTING & SHOOTING IN CEYLON 



"dollop" as a finisher in such a position as afforded a 

 good clear shot. Westland should have fired, but could 

 not see the bear clearly enough from his side of the 

 stage and whispered to me to take the shot, which I 

 did as soon as he was in good position, bowling him 

 over at once, but he scrambled out of my sight into the 

 jungle close by, with many groans, and lay there for a 

 long time before dying. 



We did not get another shot that night, though another 

 bear arrived later but would not come to water. 



On that same trip Westland and I were properly sur- 

 prised at another rock-hole. It was about 5 P.M., and we 

 and our two men were busily engaged in building a low 

 stone wall on the rock itself, to hide behind, commanding 

 a view of the water-hole, as there were no convenient trees 

 available to build a stage in, when suddenly one of our 

 men gave a shout, and looking round we saw a bear 

 standing at one end of the rock, about 30 yards away, 

 looking at us. Westland jumped for his gun and fired 

 at the animal, but unfortunately made a clean miss 

 and away it went, with many exclamations of surprise at 

 such a rough reception, whilst we had a good laugh over 

 the incident. We fired at another bear apiece that night 

 but missed each time, which was excusable, as the night 

 was darkish, the moonlight being very dim, and our 

 position on the rock gave a black forest background, 

 which did not show up the bears at all well. 



Of accidents to Europeans I do not know of many. I 

 call to mind the case of an officer stationed at Trincomalee 

 some years ago, who was bear shooting in Tamankaduwa, 

 and was watching at a water-hole amongst the hills at 

 Giritella Tank. This was a very deep hole excavated in 

 a watercourse by the animals, and an awkward place to 



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