Character oj the Country. 25 



As a rule, the pursuit of elephants through bad, 

 thorny jungles should if possible be avoided : the 

 danger is in many cases extreme, although the greater 

 portion of the herd may at other times be perhaps 

 easily killed. There is no certainty in a shot. An 

 elephant may be discerned by the eye looming in an 

 apparent mist formed by the countless intervening 

 twigs and branches which veil him like a screen of 

 network. To reach the fatal spot the ball must pass 

 through perhaps fifty little twigs, one of which, if struck 

 obliquely, turns the bullet, and there is no answering for 

 the consequence. There are no rules, however, without 

 exceptions, and in some instances the following of the 

 game through the thickest jungle can hardly be avoided. 



The character of the country in Ceylon is generally 

 very unfavorable to sport of all kinds. The length of 

 the island is about two hundred and eighty miles, by 

 one hundred and fifty in width ; the greater portion of 

 this surface is covered with impenetrable jungles, which 

 form secure coverts for countless animals. 



The centre of the island is mountainous, torrents 

 from which form the sources of the numerous rivers by 

 which Ceylon is so well watered. The low country is 

 flat. The soil throughout the island is generally poor 

 and sandy. 



This being the character of the country, and vast 

 forests rendered impenetrable by tangled underwood 

 forming the principal features of the landscape, a 

 person arriving at Ceylon for the purpose of enjoying 

 its wild sports would feel an inexpressible disappoint- 

 ment. 



Instead of mounting a good horse, as he might have 

 fondly anticipated, and at once speeding over trackless 

 3 



