The most extraordinary tale
that I have ever heard of rogue elephants in Ceylon was told me by the
Rhatamahatmeya of Doolana, who was present at the scene when a lad. I do
not profess to credit it entirely; but I will give it in his own words,
and, to avoid the onus of an improbable story, I will entitle it the
'Rhatamahatmeya's Tale.' In justice to him, I must acknowledge that his
account was corroborated by all the old men of the village.
THE RHATAMAHATMEYA'S TALE.
'There was a notorious rogue elephant at Doolana about thirty years ago,
whose ferocity was so extreme that he took complete possession of a
certain part of the country adjoining the lake. He had killed eight or
nine persons, and his whole object in existence appeared to be the
waylaying and destruction of the natives. He was of enormous size, and
was well known by a peculiar flesh-coloured forehead.
`In those days there were no fire-arms in this part of the country;
therefore there was no protection for either life or property from this
monster, who would invade the paddy-fields at night, and actually pull
down the watch-houses, regardless of the blazing fires which are lighted
on the hearth of sand on the summit; these he used to scatter about and
extinguish.
