138 



MAMMALIA. 



[Chap. HI. 



the body to a very jelly. This done, he took up the pingo and 

 moved away from the spot ; but at the distance of about a 

 fathom or two, laid it down again, and ripping open one of the 

 bundles, took out of it all the contents, somans\ cambdyas 2 , 

 handkerchiefs, and several pieces of white cambrick cloth, all 

 which he tore to small pieces, and flung them wildly here and 

 there. He did the same with all the other pingoes. When 

 this was over the elephant quietly walked away into the jungle, 

 trumpeting all the way as far as I could hear. When danger 

 Was past I came out of my concealment, and returned to the 

 place where we had halted that morning. Here the rest 

 of my companions joined me soon after. The next morning 

 we set out again on our journey, our party being now increased 

 by some seven or eight traders from Salpity Corle : but this 

 time we did not meet with the elephant. We found the 

 mangled corpse of our cooly on the same spot where I had seen 

 it the day before, together with the torn pieces of my cloths, 

 of which we collected as fast as we could the few which were 

 serviceable, and all the brass utensils which were quite unin- 

 jured. That elephant was a noted rogue. He had before this 

 killed many people on that road, especially those carrying 

 pingoes of coco-nut oil and ghee. He was afterwards killed 

 by an Englishman. The incidents I have mentioned above, 

 took place about twenty years ago." 



The following also relates to the same locality. It was 

 narrated to me by an old Moorman of Barbery n, who, during 

 his earlier years, led the life of a pedlar. 



2. " I and another," said he, " were on our way to Badulla, 

 one day some twenty-five or thirty years ago. We were 

 quietly moving along a path which wound round a hill, when 

 all of a sudden, and without the slightest previous intimation 

 either by the rustling of leaves or by any other sign, a huge 

 elephant with short tusks rushed to the path. Where he had 

 been before I can't say ; I believe he must have been lying in 



1 Woman's robe. 



2 The figured cloth worn by men. 



