332 Mr. E. L. Layard's Rambles in Ceylon. 



the leaves and twigs of live plants turning into leaf-insects. " Ay," 

 said one gentleman, " I have seen the legs growing day by day till 

 it became just like a fly, but still with leaves for wings, and detach 

 itself from the tree and walk about my table. Now you know I can't 

 disbelieve my own eyes, though you do shake your head and smile." 

 " Certainly not," I replied ; " but please send for me when next you 

 see the process." 



On Wednesday the 3rd April, I rode over in the afternoon to 

 Elephant Pass. The old fort which commands the ford serves as a 

 rest-house. As I sat on the battlements, my eye wandered over the 

 dark line of jungle across the water ; through this jungle lay my 

 course. How I revelled in the idea of penetrating its depths ! What 

 birds, insects and shells, unknown to me, lay there ! Even from my 

 lonely watch-tower, I could almost have struck, with the rifle resting 

 beside me, pelicans, flamingoes, and several gigantic new cranes, as 

 they floated or waded securely fishing, while I scanned them through 

 my telescope. The night fell with its usual eastern rapidity over 

 the glorious sunset which lighted the waters of the estuary, and still 

 my fellow-traveller D. Q. had not come up. I had neither food, 

 candle, or bedding ; so comforting myself with a draught of brackish 

 water, I threw myself down on the rough palmirah-log floor and fell 

 asleep. At four next morning, a voice, speaking good English, brought 

 me to my feet, and as my toilet had been made the night before, I 

 was not long in admitting the stranger, a Portuguese, in charge of an 

 estate in the neighbourhood. He told me that Mr. Q. was wind- 

 bound at the mouth of the estuary for two days, but would be up at 

 night ; and that all my heavy traps, the grub included, were across the 

 river at Timelamadam : — he himself had come up with the boats. 

 Away then I started to wade over the ford, a good mile across. Our 

 order of march was, first myself with my long collecting gun, known 

 to my friends by the name of "Long Tom," which I consider worth 

 describing to you, as a most invaluable weapon. Length of barrel 

 3 feet 7 inches ; calibre rather less than f tbs of an inch, carrying a 

 ball 120 to the lb. ; thickness of metal |th of an inch. The stock is 

 fitted with a large trap, for holding caps, wadding, ball, needles and 

 thread, &c. &c. The full charge for this gun is just one-fourth 

 that of a sixteen gauge, or \ of an ounce : ^th is a deadly charge for 

 smallish birds at 30 yards ; and for small birds (sparrows and such 

 like) y^th is sufficient at 20 yards. With two or three buck-shot, 

 A A, it will kill any large bird at 150 yards, and throws its own ball 

 with great precision : I have killed deer and pea-fowl with it at very 

 long distances. The ceconomy of this gun, when all the shooter's 

 ammunition has to be carried by coolies, will strike any one. Following 

 me was my Man Friday, alias Horse-keeper Muttu, with my rifle : this 

 worthy is head gamekeeper, birdstuffer and skull-collector, and when 

 at home head-nurse; he is indeed a black "pearl," as his name implies. 

 Then came Cingalese appoo with large double gun. My horse followed 

 at random, keeping close to his groom ; while coolies with baggage 

 and the bullock bandy with the gig brought up the rear. At day- 

 break we made the opposite shore, and after a brisk canter of a couple 



