CAVE AT DIM TAMING HIM. FLYING SHOT AT A BUCK. It was in July 1848, that I pitched my tent in the portion of Ceylon known as the "Park," for the purpose of deer coursing. I had only three greyhounds, Killbuck, Bran, and Lena, and these had been carried in a palanquin from Newera Ellia, a distance of one hundred miles. The grass had all been burnt about two months previously, and the whole country was perfectly fresh and green, the young shoots not being more than half a foot high. The deer were numerous but wild, which made the sport the more enjoyable. I cannot describe the country better than by comparing it to a rich English park, well watered by numerous streams and large rivers, but ornamented by many beautiful rocky mountains, which are not to be met with in England. If this part of the country had the advantage of the Newera Ellia A MORNING'S DEER COURSING. 233 climate it would be a Paradise, but the intense heat destroys much of the pleasure in both shooting and coursing, especially in the latter sport, as the greyhounds must be home by 8 A. M., or they would soon die from the effects of the sun. It was in the cool hour of sunrise, when the deer lay thickly upon the grass, and the foliage glistened with the first beams of morning, that we stalked over the extensive plains with Killbuck and Lena in the slips in search of deer. Several herds winded us at a distance of half a mile, and immediately bounded away, rendering pursuit impossible; and we determined not to slip the dogs unless they had a fair start, as one run in this climate was quite work enough for a morning. After several disappointments in stalking, we at length discovered a noble buck standing alone by the edge of a narrow belt of jungle; the instant that he observed us, he stepped proudly into the cover. This being open forest, my brother took the greyhounds in at the spot where the deer had entered, while I ran round to the opposite side of the cover, and took my position upon an extensive lawn of fine grass about half a mile in width. I had not remained a minute at my post before I heard a crash in the jungle, as though an elephant were charging through, and in another instant a splendid buck burst upon the plain at full speed, and away he flew over the level lawn with the brace of greyhounds laying out about fifty paces behind him. Here was a fair trial of speed over a perfect bowling green, and away they flew, the buck exerting his utmost stride, and the greyhounds stetching out till their briskets touched the ground; Killbuck leading with tremendous bounds, and Lena about a length behind him. By degrees the beautiful spring of the greyhounds appeared to tell, and the distance between them and the buck gradually decreased, although both deer and dogs flew along with undiminished speed. The plain was nearly crossed, and the opposite jungle lay within two hundred yards of them. To gain this the buck redoubled his exertions: the greyhounds knew as well as he did, that it was his chance of escape, and with equal efforts they pressed upon him. Not fifty paces now separated the buck from the jungle, and with prodigious bounds he sped along; he neared it, he won it; the yielding branches crashed before him, but the dogs were at his haunches as the jungle closed over them and concealed the chase. A MORNING'S DEER COURSING. 235 I was soon up; and upon entering the jungle I could neither hear nor see anything of them, but, by following up the track, I found them about fifty yards from the entrance to the jungle. The buck was standing on the sandy bed of a dry stream, endeavouring in vain to free himself, while the greyhounds pinned his nose to the ground, each hanging upon his ears. The knife finished him immediately. There never was a more exciting course; it had been nobly run by both the dogs and well contested by the buck, who was a splendid fellow and in fine condition. On my way to the tent, I wounded a doe at full speed, which Lena followed singly and pulled down, thus securing our coolies a good supply of venison. The flesh of the spotted deer is more like mutton than English venison, and is excellent eating; it would be still better if the climate would allow of its being kept for a few days. There is no sport in Ceylon, in my opinion, that is equal to deer-coursing, but the great difficulty attending it is the lack of good greyhounds. The spotted buck (or axis) is an animal of immense power and courage; and although most greyhounds would course him, very few would have sufficient courage and strength to hold him, unless slipped two brace at a time, which would immediately spoil the sport. A brace of greyhounds to one buck is fair play, and a good strong horse will generally keep them in view. In two weeks' coursing in the Park we killed seventeen deer with three greyhounds; at the expiration of which time the dogs were so foot-sore and wounded by the hard burnt stubble of the old grass, that they were obliged to be sent home. When the greyhounds had left, I turned my attention to elephants. There were very few at this season in the Park, and I therefore left this part of the country, which was dried up, and proceeded to Kondawataweny, in the direction of Batticaloa. Kondawataweny is a small village, inhabited by Moormen, situated on the edge of a large lake or tank. Upon arrival, I found that the neighbourhood was alive with game of all kinds, and the Moormen were excellent hands at elephants. There was accordingly no difficulty in procuring good gun-bearers and trackers, and at 4 P. M. of the day of our arrival we started to make a circuit of the tank in quest of elephants. At about 5 P. M. we observed several tank rogues scattered in various directions around the tank; one of these fellows, whose close acquaintance I |