76 The Rijle and Hotind in Ceylon. 



the water, nearly half a mile from me. They did not 

 look bigger than dogs, the distance was so great. 



There is nothing like a sheet of water for trying a 

 rifle ; the splash of the ball shows with such distinct- 

 ness the accuracy or the defect in the shooting. It was 

 necessary that I should fire my guns off in order to 

 clean them that evening : I therefore tried their power 

 at this immense distance. 



The long two-ounce fell short, but in a good line. I 

 took a rest upon a man's shoulder with the four-ounce 

 rifle, and, putting up the last sight, I aimed at the lead- 

 ing buffalo, who was walking through the water paral- 

 lel with us. I aimed at the outline of the throat, to 

 allow for his pace at this great distance. The recoil of 

 the rifle cut the man's ear open, as there were sixteen 

 drachms of powder in this charge. 



We watched the smooth surface of the water as the 

 invisible messenger whistled over the lake. Certainly 

 three seconds elapsed before we saw the slightest effect. 

 At the expiration of that time the buffalo fell suddenly 

 in a sitting position, and there he remained fixed : many 

 seconds after a dull sound returned to our ears ; it was 

 the " futt" of the ball, which had positively struck him 

 at this immense range. What the distance was I can- 

 not say ; it may have been 600 yards, or Soo, or more. 

 It was shallow water the whole way : we therefore 

 mounted our horses and rode up to him. Upon reach- 

 ing him, I gave him a settling ball in the head, and we 

 examined him. The heavy ball had passed completely 

 through his hips, crushing both joints, and, of course, 

 rendering him powerless at once. 



The shore appeared full half a mile from us on our 

 return, and I could hardly credit my own eyes, the dis- 



