296 The Rijle and Hound in Ceylon. 



in. The chase had lasted for nearly an hour. There 

 had been thirteen elephants originally in the herd, 

 every one of which had been bagged by fair running. 

 Wortley had fired uncommonly well, as he had killed 

 the three elephants which he and Palliser had chased, 

 one of which had given them a splendid run and had 

 proved restive. This elephant took fifteen shots before 

 she fell, and this accounted for the continual firing which 

 I had heard during my chase of the other section. We 

 had killed fourteen elephants during the day, and we 

 returned to the " amblam," having had as fine sport as 

 Ceylon can afford. 



Dec. 7. — This, being Sunday, was passed in quiet ; 

 but a general cleaning of guns took place, to be ready 

 for the morrow. 



Dec. 8. — We went over many miles of ground with- 

 out seeing a fresh track. We had evidently disturbed 

 the country on this side of the river, and we returned 

 toward the " amblam, " determined to cross the river 

 after breakfast and try the opposite side. 



When within a mile of the " amblam" we heard deer 

 barking, and, leaving all our gun-bearers and people 

 behind, we carefully stalked to the spot. The ground 

 was very favorable, and, having the wind, we reached 

 an excellent position among some trees within sixty 

 yards of the herd of deer, who were standing in a little 

 glade. Wortley and I each killed a buck ; Palliser 

 wounded a doe, which we tracked for a great distance 

 by the blood, but at length lost altogether. 



After breakfast we crossed the large river which flows 

 near the " amblam," and then entered a part of the Park 

 that we had not yet beaten. 



Keeping to our left we entered a fine forest and skirted 



