XXVI 
THE SPOTTED DEER 
347 
through the forest glades, and the open spaces of 
the jungles. 
I believe that the spotted deer have decreased 
in Ceylon, although there is a special close time, and 
stringent game-laws are enforced by the authorities. 
British action is generally “ too late ” ; had these 
laws been made forty years ago, Ceylon would have 
been now a sportsmans paradise. Even at the 
present time, from the accounts which residents have 
given me, it far exceeds most countries in the 
exhibition of game ; but it is a young mans shooting- 
ground ; it is all hard work, and the luxury of 
Indian travelling and shikar is quite unknown. In 
India you may shoot when you are the age of 
Methuselah; the character of every sport is 
luxurious ; you also have during the winter season 
the charm not only of climate, but the peaceful 
repose in the total absence of insects. Ceylon is the 
insect’s paradise, and, if the sportsman resides in 
the same heaven for only a short period, he will 
enjoy a change. 
I tried every kind of sport during a residence of 
eight years in Ceylon, among others that of coursing 
the axis (spotted deer) with greyhounds. My dogs 
were carried in a palanquin for ioo miles from 
Newera Ellia to the Park country. This was a 
beautiful portion of the island, where most kinds of 
game were plentiful. The name given explains 
the appearance of the locality: it was like a 
park, diversified with rocky hills of great height, 
jungles, rivers, and open plains. 
