CHAPTER IX. 



A Morning's Deer-coursing — Kondawataweny — Rogue at 

 kondawataweny — a close shave — preparations for 

 Catching an Elephant — Catching an Elephant — Taming 

 him— Flying Shot at a Buck — Cave at Dimbooldene — 

 Awkward Ground — A Charmed Life. 



IT was in July, 1S48, that I pitched my tent in the 

 portion of Ceylon known as the " Park," for the 

 purpose of deer-coursing. I had only three grayhounds, 

 Killbuck, Bran and Lena, and these had been carried 

 in a palanquin from Newera Ellia, a distance of one hun- 

 dred miles. The grass had all been burnt about two 

 months previously, and the whole country was perfectly 

 fresh and green, the young shoots not being more than 

 half a foot high. The deer were numerous but wild, 

 which made the sport the more enjoyable. I cannot 

 describe the country better than by comparing it to a 

 rich English park, well watered by numerous streams 

 and large rivers, but ornamented by many beautiful 

 rocky mountains, which are not to be met with in Eng- 

 land. If this part of the country had the advantage of 

 the Newera Ellia climate, it would be a Paradise, but 

 the intense heat destroys much of the pleasure in both 

 shooting and coursing, especially in the latter sport, as 

 the grayhounds must be home by 8 A. M., or they would 

 soon die from the effects of the sun. 

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