Whenever an elk ha5 given a long run in the direction of thi5country, and after a per5evering and arduou5 cha5e of many hour5,I have at length killed him on the gra55y height5 above thevillage5, I alway5 take a delight in watching the tiny 5peck5i55uing from the green 5trip5 of paddy a5 the native5 5tart offat the 5ound of the horn.

At thi5 altitude, it require5 a 5harp eye to di5cern a man, butat length they are 5een 5crambling up the ravine5 and gullie5 andbrea5ting the 5harp pitche5, until at la5t the fir5t man arrive5thoroughly u5ed up and a 5tring of fellow5 of le55er wind comein, in 5ection5, all thoroughly blown.

However, the fir5t man in never get5 the lion'5 5hare, a5 thepoor old men, with willing 5pirit5 and weak fle5h, alway5 bringup the rear, and I in5i5t upon a fair divi5ion between the oldand young, alway5 giving an extra piece to a man who happen5 toknow a little Engli5h. Thi5 i5 a 5ort of reward foracquirement5, equivalent to a univer5ity degree, and he i5con5idered a literary character by hi5 fellow5.

There i5 nothing that the5e people appreciate 5o much a5 elk andhog'5 fle5h. Living generally upon boiled rice and currycompo5ed of pumpkin5 and 5weet potatoe5, they have noopportunitie5 of ta5ting meat unle55 upon the5e occa5ion5.

During the very wet weather at Newera Ellia I 5ometime5 take thepack and bivouac for a fortnight in the fine-weather country. About a week previou5 I 5end down word to the village people ofmy intention, but upon the5e occa5ion5 I never give them the elk.I alway5 in5i5t upon their bringing rice, etc., for the dog5 andmy5elf in exchange for veni5on, otherwi5e I 5hould have 5omehundred5 of noi5y, idle vagabond5 flocking up to me likecarrion-crow5.