Chap. I.] JACKALS. 37 
tunate possessor can command by its instrumentality 
the realisation of every wish, and that if stolen or lost 
by him, it will invariably return of its own accord. 
Those who have jewels ip conceal rest in perfect se- 
curity if along with them they can deposit a narri- 
comboo, fully convinced that its presence is an effectual 
safeguard against robbers. 
One fabulous virtue ascribed to the narric-comboo 
by the Singhalese is absurdly characteristic of their 
passion for litigation, as well as of their perceptions of 
the (i glorious uncertainty of the law." It is the po- 
pular belief that the fortunate discoverer of a jackal's 
horn becomes thereby invincible in every lawsuit, and 
must irresistibly triumph over every opponent. A 
gentleman connected with the Supreme Court of 
Colombo has repeated to me a circumstance, within his 
own knowledge, of a plaintiff who, after numerous de- 
feats, eventually succeeded against his opponent by the 
timely acquisition of this invaluable charm. Before 
the final hearing of the cause, the mysterious horn was 
duly exhibited to his friends ; and the consequence was, 
that the adverse witnesses, appalled by the belief that 
no one could possibly give judgment against a person 
so endowed, suddenly modified their previous evidence, 
and secured an unforeseen victory for the happy owner 
of the narric-comboo ! 
The Mongoos. — Of the Mongoos or Ichneumon four 
species have been described ; and one, that frequents the 
hills near Neuera-ellia \ is so remarkable from its bushy 
1 Herpestes vitticollis. Mr. W. the Ghat forests in 1829, and is now 
Elliott, in his Catalogue of Mam- deposited in the British Museum ; 
rnalia found in the Southern Mah- it is very rare, inhabiting only the 
arata Country, Madras, 1840, says, thickest woods, and its habits are 
that "One specimen of this Her- very little known," p. 9. In Ceylon 
pestes was procured by accident in it is comparatively common. 
