V 
288 Quadrupeds of Ceyhn. 
CHAPTER XiV. 
Animals of Ceylon. 
Having described the island of Ceylon, and the several 
races of its inhabitants, I now proceed to give some account 
of its natural productions. From my profession and habits of 
life, a systematic description of these cannot be expected. I 
shall therefore, in plain and common language, relate what I 
have myself observed, and what I have learnt from authentic 
information: those who are in the same predicament with my- 
self, and who are unacquainted witli the terms employe d by 
scientific men, may find such an account at least more readi- ' 
ly understood ; and those who have studied natural history as 
a science, will be easily able to refer the facts I | advance to a 
regular system. 
At the head of the class of quadrupeds, and superior to 
tliose of the same species found in any other part of the world, 
are the elephants of Ceylon. The number of these noble ani- 
mals produced there is very great, and nowhere are they found 
either so docile or so excellent in their shape and appearance. 
To give any particular description of a species so often des- 
cribed and so universally known would be superfluous : but as 
the manner of catching them in Ceylon is considerably dif- 
ferent from that practised on the continent of India, some 
account of it may not be without entertainment to my 
readers. 
I 
