HUNTING & SHOOTING IN CEYLON 



I well remember the first time my hounds raised pig. 

 The meet was that day in Matale East, at Dromoland 

 estate, where we drew the ridge between it and Galboda 

 village. A stout gentleman lately out from home insisted 

 on joining the hunt that day, and, being provided with 

 a cooly to help him on the hills, was toiling up about 

 200 yards behind me, when the hounds ahead roused a 

 big boar on the ridge, which, after an interview with 

 the dogs, dashed past me and down the hill on the very 

 track by which our stout friend was laboriously climbing. 



With an angry " whoof, whoof" the boar charged 

 right at him, and a tremendous yell and clatter announced 

 the collision, which deposited our friend a good many yards 

 down the hill in a very disjointed and breathless condition. 

 Needless to say his nerves were a bit upset, and he at once 

 lost all interest in " the sound of the horn in the morning," 

 departing forthwith for the bungalow. 



Curiously enough the very next pig I had any dealings 

 with, and which I found on the fine patna knoll over 

 against Hingruwatte estate, treated me in almost exactly 

 the same way. I was going down the hill, and the pig, 

 roused above, came down the track, catching me low 

 down on the legs, landing me neatly and unhurt on the 

 broad of my back. 



There is probably no finer country in the island, for 

 hunting with a hardy, country-bred lot of hounds, than 

 the outlying opens of the Matale East range of hills 

 they literally swarm with elk, spotted deer, red deer, pig, 

 and hares. 



A fortnight's camp, with a pack of four or five couple 

 of good dogs, in the fine weather from February to May, 

 would surely yield a grand bag, and enjoyment of such 

 a nature as to remain a glad memory for all time. 



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