We had killed fourteen elephants during the
day, and we returned to the 'amblam', having had as fine sport as Ceylon
can afford.
December 7.--This, being Sunday, was passed in quiet; but a general
cleaning of guns took place, to be ready for the morrow.
Dec. 8.--We went over many miles of ground without seeing a fresh
track. We had evidently disturbed the country on this side of the river,
and we returned towards the 'amblam', determined to cross the river
after breakfast and try the opposite side.
When within a mile of the 'amblam' we heard deer barking, and, leaving
all our gun-bearers and people behind, we carefully stalked to the spot.
The ground was very favourable, and, having the wind, we reached an
excellent position among some trees within sixty yards of the herd of
deer, who were standing in a little glade. Wortley and I each killed a
buck; Palliser wounded a doe, which we tracked for a great distance by
the blood, but at length lost altogether.
After breakfast we crossed the large river which flows near the
'amblam', and then entered a part of the 'Park' that we had not yet
beaten.
Keeping to our left, we entered a fine forest, and skirted the base of a
range of rocky mountains. In this forest we saw deer and wild buffalo,
but we would not fire a shot, as we had just discovered the fresh track
of a rogue elephant. We were following upon this, when we heard a bear
in some thick jungle. We tried to circumvent him, but in vain; Bruin was
too quick for us, and we did not get a sight of him.
We were walking quietly along the dry bed of a little brook bordered by
thick jungle upon either side, when we were suddenly roused by a
tremendous crash through the jungle, which was evidently coming straight
upon us.
We were in a most unfavourable position, but there was no time for any
farther arrangement than bringing the rifle on full cock, before six
elephants, including the 'rogue' whose tracks we were following, burst
through the jungle straight at us.
Banda was nearly run over, but with wonderful agility he ran up some
tangled creepers hanging from the trees, just as a spider would climb
his web. He was just in time, as the back of one of the elephants grazed
his feet as it passed below him.
In the meantime the guns were not idle. Wortley fired at the leading
elephant, which had passed under Banda's feet, just as he was crossing
the brook on our left. His shot did not produce any effect, but I killed
him by a temple-shot as he was passing on. Palliser, who was on our
right, killed two, and knocked down a third, who was about half-grown.
This fellow got up again, and Wortley and Palliser, both firing at the
same moment, extinguished him.
The herd had got themselves into a mess by rushing down upon our scent
in this heedless manner, as four of them lay dead within a few paces of
each other. The 'rogue', who knew how to take care of himself, escaped
with only one companion. Upon these tracks we now followed without loss
of time.
An hour was thus occupied. We tracked them through many glades and
jungles, till we at length discovered in a thick chenar the fresh tracks
of another herd, which the 'rogue' and his companion had evidently
joined, as his immense footprint was very conspicuous among the numerous
marks of the troop. Passing cautiously through a thick jungle, we at
length emerged upon an extensive tract of high lemon grass. There was a
small pool of water close to the edge of the jungle, which was
surrounded with the fresh dung of elephants, and the muddy surface was
still agitated by the recent visit of some of these thirsty giants.
Carefully ascending some slightly rising ground, and keeping close to
the edge of the jungle, we peered over the high grass.
We were in the centre of the herd, who were much scattered. It was very
late, being nearly dusk, but we counted six elephants here and there in
the high grass within sixty paces of us, while the rustling in the
jungle to our left, warned us, that a portion of the herd had not yet
quitted this cover. We knew that the 'rogue' was somewhere close at
hand, and after his recent defeat he would be doubly on the alert. Our
plans therefore required the greatest vigilance.
There was no doubt as to the proper course to pursue, which was to wait
patiently until the whole herd should have left the jungle and
concentrated in the high grass; but the waning daylight did not permit
of such a steady method of proceeding. I then proposed that we should
choose our elephants, which were scattered in the high grass, and
advance separately to the attack. Palliser voted that we should creep up
to the elephants that were in the jungle close to us, instead of going
into the high grass.
I did not much like this plan, as I knew that it would be much darker in
the jungle than in the patina, and there was no light to spare. However,
Palliser crept into the jungle, towards the spot where we heard the
elephants crashing the bushes.
Instead of following behind him, I kept almost in a line, but a few feet
on one side, otherwise I knew that should he fire, I should see nothing
for the smoke of his shot.
