Nov. 18.--At daybreak I started Wallace off to Doolana to bring my old
acquaintance the Rhatamahatmeya and the Moormen trackers. I felt
confident that I could prevail upon him to accompany us to the limits of
his district; this was all-important to our chance of sport, as without
him we could procure no assistance from the natives.
After breakfast we mounted our horses and rode to Cowdelle, eight miles,
as I expected to find elephants in this open but secluded part of the
country. There were very fresh tracks of a herd; and as we expected
Wortley and Palliser on the following day, we would not disturb the
country, but returned to Minneria and passed the afternoon in shooting
snipe and crocodiles. The latter were in incredible numbers, as the
whole population of this usually extensive lake was now condensed in the
comparatively small extent of water before us. The fish of course were
equally numerous, and we had an unlimited supply of 'lola' of three to
four pounds weight at a penny each. Our gang of coolies feasted upon
them in immense quantities, and kept a native fully employed in catching
them. Our cook exerted his powers in producing some piquante dishes with
these fish. Stewed with melted butter (ghee), with anchovy sauce,
madeira, sliced onion and green chillies, this was a dish worthy of
'Soyer,' but they were excellent in all shapes, even if plain boiled or
fried.
Nov. 19.--At about four P.M. I scanned the plain with my telescope, in
expectation of the arrival of our companions, whom I discovered in the
distance, and as they approached within hearing, we greeted them with a
shout of welcome to show the direction of our encampment. We were a
merry party that evening at dinner, and we determined to visit Cowdelle,
and track up the herd that we had discovered, directly that the Moormen
trackers should arrive from Doolana.
The worst of this country was the swarm of mosquitoes which fed upon us
at night; it was impossible to sleep with the least degree of comfort,
and we always hailed the arrival of morning with delight.
Nov. 20.-At dawn this morning, before daylight could be called
complete, Palliser had happened to look out from the tent, and to his
surprise he saw a rogue elephant just retreating to the jungle, at about
two hundred yards distance. We loaded the guns and went after him in as
short a time as possible, but he was too quick for us, and he had
retreated to thick jungle before we were out. Wortley and I then
strolled along the edge of the jungle, hoping to find him again in some
of the numerous nooks which the plain formed by running up the forest.
We had walked quietly along for about half a mile, when we crossed an
abrupt rocky promontory, which stretched from the jungle into the lake
like a ruined pier. On the other side, the lake formed a small bay,
shaded by the forest, which was separated from the water's edge by a
gentle slope of turf about fifty yards in width. This bay was a
sheltered spot, and as we crossed the rocky promontory, the noise that
we made over the loose stones in turning the corner, disturbed a herd of
six deer, five of whom dashed into the jungle; the sixth stopped for a
moment at the edge of the forest to take a parting look at us. He was
the buck of the herd, and carried a noble pair of antlers; he was about
a hundred and twenty yards from us, and I took a quick shot at him with
one of the No. 10 rifles. The brushwood closed over him as he bounded
into the jungle, but an ominous crack sounded back from the ball, which
made me think he was hit. At this moment Palliser and V. Baker came
running up, thinking that we had found the elephant.
The buck was standing upon some snow-white quartz rocks when I fired,
and upon an examination of the spot frothy patches of blood showed that
he was struck through the lungs. Men are bloodthirsty animals, for
nothing can exceed the pleasure, after making a long shot, of finding
the blood-track on the spot when the animal is gone. We soon tracked him
up, and found him lying dead in the jungle within twenty yards of the
spot. This buck was the first head of game we had bagged, with the
exception of a young elk that I had shot on horseback during the ride
from Dambool. We had plenty of snipe, and, what with fish, wildfowl, and
venison, our breakfast began to assume an inviting character. After
breakfast we shot a few couple of snipe upon the plain, and in the
evening we formed two parties--Palliser and V. Baker, and Wortley and
myself--and taking different directions, we scoured the country,
agreeing to meet at the tent at dusk.
W. and I saw nothing beyond the fresh tracks of game which evidently
came out only at night. We wandered about till evening, and then
returned towards the tent. On the way I tried a long shot at a heron
with a rifle; he was standing at about a hundred and fifty yards from
us, and by great good luck I killed him.
On arrival at the tent we found P. and V. B., who had returned. They had
been more fortunate in their line of country, having found two rogue
elephants--one in thick jungle, which V. B. fired at and missed; and
shortly after this shot they found another rogue on the plain not far
from the tent.
