io GUN, RIFLE, AND HOUND. 



down two or three of the large green nuts. These 

 were soon opened with the catty, or large knife, every 

 Cingalese villager carries. Pouring off a third of the 

 milk, we filled them up with claret, and thus obtained 

 a deliciously cool beverage. Our refreshment was 

 completed with a few spoonfuls of the soft kernel, 

 scooped off with a piece of the husk itself. 



For some time we now shot close together, and 

 then separated to try different expanses of rice. 

 Towards noon we met again and shot over a kind of 

 wet field, bordered at each side by jungle. We had 

 about shot this out, when turning round to direct the 

 search for a lost bird, I was surprised to see snipe 

 rise from the very spot where I had just passed. I 



called E , and we walked back across the field. 



To our surprise, more birds rose than before. A third 

 beat produced a regular plethora of birds we could 

 not load fast enough. To cut a long story short, this 

 little field, for it was not more than two or three acres, 

 provided us with good shooting till breakfast time. 

 No doubt they had taken refuge from the sun in 

 the jungles at the side, and run out at the sound of the 

 firing. 



It was about noon that we knocked off for that 

 meal. We sat down on the carriage cushions in the 

 shade of some huge trees. I cannot say that my 

 appetite was ever very good on these occasions. The 

 equatorial sun is sure to make itself felt in spite of 

 the largest of sola topees* partly, I think, because it 

 strikes up in reflection from the water. But we en- 

 * Sun-hats made of pith. 



