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 to 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 " 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 J , 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 ; 



malia 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. 



D 3 



