136 



MAMMALIA. 



[Chap. HE. 



APPENDIX TO CHAPTER III. 



NARRATIVES OF THE NATIVES OF CEYLON RELATIVE TO 

 ENCOUNTERS WITH ROGUE ELEPHANTS. 



The following narratives have been taken down by a Singhalese 

 gentleman, from the statements of the natives by whom 

 they are recounted; — and they are here inserted, in order to 

 show the opinion prevalent amongst the people of Ceylon as 

 to the habits and propensities of the rogue elephant. The 

 stories are given in words of my correspondent, who writes in 

 English, as follows : — 



1. "We," said my informant, who was a native trader of 

 Caltura, "were on our way to Badulla, by way of Ratnapoora 

 and Balangodde, to barter our merchandize for coffee. There 

 were six in our party, myself, my brother-in-law, and four 

 coolies, who carried on pingoes 1 our merchandize, which con- 

 sisted of cloth and brass articles. About 4 o'clock, p. m., we 

 were close to Idalgasinna, and our coolies were rather unwilling 

 to go further for fear of elephants, which they said were sure 

 to be met with at that noted place, especially as there had been 

 a slight drizzling of rain during the whole afternoon. I was 

 as much afraid of elephants as the coolies themselves; but I 

 was anxious to proceed, and so, after a few words of encourage- 

 ment addressed to them, and a prayer or two offered up to 

 Saman dewiyo 2 , we resumed our journey. I also took the 



1 Yokes borne on the shoulder, 2 The tutelary spirit of the sa- 

 with a package at each end. cred mountain, Adam's Peak. 



