SNIPE-SHOOTING. 9 



bottle of claret to the other, and putting our guns 

 together we plunged in the swampy paddy -fields.* 

 E -'s report was correct, and we were soon hard at 

 work. 



The paddy-fields of Ceylon, which are the ordinary 

 haunt of the snipe, are generally covered with water 

 at this season to the depth of about eight inches. 

 They are divided by raised embankments a foot or 

 two high, which serve to retain the water. Sometimes 

 they are crossed by drains where the water deepens 

 nearly to one's fork, and but this is rarely there 

 are deep bogholes of unknown depth. The general 

 level of rice-field is broken by patches of jungle, 

 cocoanut plantations, or small grass-fields. On these 

 latter, a so-called tame buffalo may often be seen 

 grazing. As these are often bred by the simple 

 process of driving the cows out to the wild bulls in 

 the jungles, their temper is more than doubtful. I 

 always carried a couple of ball cartridges handy, and 

 though I never actually had occasion to use one, I 

 often slipped them in in readiness. If one stands 

 quite still, however, the lumbering charge generally 

 slows down and ends in a stare, when the natives, 

 to whom they are used, drive them off. 



About eight o'clock we called a halt, for we were 

 both thirsty. The water which at first had felt cold 

 to the feet was warm enough now, and the rays of the 

 sun were beginning to get strong. Our refreshments 

 were obtained by the simple process of sending one 

 of our attendants up a cocoanut-tree, whence he threw 

 * Paddy native rice. 



