142 The Rijle and Hound in Ceylon. 



assist him in sawing through a stone. Elephants' teeth 

 or grinders are so hard that they will produce sparks 

 upon being struck with a hatchet. 



About two miles from the opposite bank of the river, 

 having journeyed through a narrow path bordered upon 

 either side by thick jungle, we opened upon an exten- 

 sive plain close to the village of Wiharewelle. This 

 plain was covered with wild indigo, and abounded with 

 pea-fowl. Passing through the small village at the ex- 

 tremity of the plain, we pitched the tent upon the bor- 

 ders of the lake, about a quarter of a mile beyond it. 

 This tank was about three miles in circumference, and, 

 like that of Sitrawelle, was one of the ancient works 

 of the Mahagam princes. 



The village was almost deserted ; none but the old 

 men and women and children remained, as the able- 

 bodied men had gone to the Kattregam festival. We 

 could, therefore, obtain no satisfactory information re- 

 garding elephants ; but I was convinced, from the appear- 

 ance of the country and from the high grass around 

 the lake, that if any elephants were in the district some 

 would be here. It was late in the evening, the coolies 

 were heaping up the night-fires, and as darkness closed 

 upon us the savory steam of a peacock that was roast- 

 ing on a stick betokened the welcome approach of din- 

 ner. We had hardly commenced when the roaring of 

 elephants within a short distance of the tent gave us 

 hope of sport on the following day. 



At daybreak the next morning I strolled round the 

 lake to look for tracks. A herd of about seven had 

 been feeding during the night within half a mile of the 

 tent. During my walk I saw innumerable pea-fowl, 

 jungle-fowl, hares and ducks, in addition to several 



