24 MAMMALIA. [Cuap. I. 
other beast of the forest. If not armed with a gun, a 
native, in the places where bears abound, usually carries 
a light axe, called “kodelly,” with which to strike them 
on the head. The bear, on the other hand, always aims 
at the face, and, if successful in prostrating his victim, 
usually commences by assailing the eyes. I have met 
numerous individuals on our journeys who exhibited. 
frightful scars from such encounters, the white seams of 
their wounds contrasting hideously with the dark colour 
of the rest of their bodies. 
The Veddahs in Bintenne, whose principal stores con- 
sist of honey, live in dread of the bears, because, at- 
tracted by the perfume, they will not hesitate to attack 
their rude dwellings, when allured by this irresistible 
temptation. The Post-office runners, who always travel 
by night, are frequently exposed to danger from these 
animals, especially along the coast from Putlam to 
Aripo, where they are found in considerable numbers ; 
and, to guard against surprise, they are accustomed. to 
carry flambeaux, to give warning to the bears, and en- 
able them to shuffle out of the path.! 
1 Amongst the Singhalese there 
is a belief that certain charms are 
efficacious in protecting them from 
the violence of bears, and those 
whose avocations expose them to 
encounters of this kind are accus- 
tomed to carry a talisman either 
attached to their neck or enveloped 
in the folds of their luxuriant hair. 
A friend of mine, writing of an ad- 
venture which occurred at Anara- 
japoora, thus describes an occasion 
on which a Moor, who attended 
him, was somewhat rudely dis- 
abused of his belief in the efficacy 
of charms upon bears:—‘ Desiring 
to change the position of a herd of 
deer, the Moorman (with his charm) 
was sent across some swampy land 
to disturb them, As he was pro- 
ae 
ceeding, we saw him suddenly turn 
from an old tree and run back with 
all speed, his hair becoming un- 
fastened and like his clothes stream- 
ing in the wind. It soon became 
evident that he was flying from 
some terrific object, for he had 
thrown down his gun, and, in hig 
panic, he was taking the shortest 
line towards us, which lay across a 
swamp covered with sedge and 
rushes that greatly impeded his 
progress, and prevented us ap- 
proaching him, or seeing what was 
the. cause of his flight. Missing 
his steps from one hard spot to 
another he repeatedly fell into the 
water, but he rose and resumed 
his flight. I advanced as far as 
the sods would bear my weight, 
