Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-07-10
MISCELLANY Y.
From the New York Tribune, May %.
Elephant Hunting in Ceylon,


rived from CeyIon about three weeks ago in
the barque Regatta, bringing with him the car
go Of elephants which now accompany Mr.. Bar.
nuns travelling menagerie. During his visi,
Mr.. June was obliged to traverse the greater
part of the isIand-in his search for a sufficient
number of elephants Of the size and quality re-
qured for an imposing exhibition. Consequent
iy, he saw great deal of the wild tropical re-
gions Of the interior and of the character and
customs Of the Cingalese. We give herewith
an outline of his experience, which, if not quite
equal to Mr. Gordon Cumming South African
stories, still furnishes an interesting chapter Of
adventure.
Mr.. June, with Mr.. Nutter of Boston, sailed
on his elephantine expedition in July last, and
arrived at Point de Gale, port on the south
western extremity Of Ceylon, in the early par,
ofOctober. This port and Trincomalee on the
northeastern coast, are the only large harbors
which the island possesses The first object of
Messrs June and Nutter on landing was to pro-
cure some elephants, either from the govern
ment authorities or from the temples, which
own large quantities Of them, and thus avoid
the necessity Of catching and tanning wild ami
mails. In this, however, they were disappoint-
ed. The new governor had Just entered on
his duties, and all official arrangements seemed
70 be in confused and unsatisfactory state
Besides, many of the roads in the interior had
been injured by severe rains, and greater num-
Der of the animals than usual was required for
the purpose of repairing them. Accordingly,
after reaching Colombo, the maratime capitol
of the country, which lies on the western coast,
about 60 miles north of Point de Gale, and
finding no chance of procuring wha, he wanted, /,
Mr.. June determined TO start for the CITY OF
Handy, in the interior, and forty miles distant
An excellent carriage-ruad has been construct
ed between the two places, on which a mail
coach makes three trips every week. Handy,
which is large town, situated on a beautiful
table land, 100 feet above the sea, and sur
rounded by mountains, was the residence of the
kings of Handy, the native monarchs Of the is
land, previous 10 their overthrow BY the Eng
appointed in his hope of finding elephants for
sale; and notwithstanding the rainy season had
just set 10, and the undertaking was considered
hazardous in the extreme, he determined to take
to the jungles, and select ship load from among
the wild herds.
In order To understand the nature of such an
expedtlor, some account of the topography of
the island is necessary. The shores of Cey-
Ion are generally low, although in the south
ern part bluff and rocky For some distance
inland, the ground is level, and for the most
part cultivated, being covered with fields of
paddy IA coarse kind Of rice) and groves of
cinnamon. Toward the centre it rises into a
table-Iand, from 1900 to 5000 feet above the
sea, and almost entirely covered with dense
and fuxuriant forests. This gradually rises
into mountain chain, which divides the island
from north to south, into nearly equal parts.
Adams Peak, about thirty miles southwest
of Handy, aliains an altitude of more than
5000 feet, and has been considered the highest
of the range. Mr.. June, however, informs us
that On his way from Handy to Fort Patrick,
east of the mountains, he passed still higher
peak. This geographical division of the island
is, sirgularly enough, division of climate al
so-tremendous foods of rain deluging one side,
while on the other the water is carefully hoard
ed to prevent scarcity. The seasons shift
with the moonsoon, which blows from the SOUTH
west from April to September, and from the
northeast from November to February. The
elephants, who prefer the rainy season, range
in the thick Jungle covering the table-land and
hills around the base of the mountain chain, fol-
lowing the chain from one side Of the island TO
the other
With guide, interpreter, and number of
native assistants, Mr. June started fur the
haunts of the elephants, ia the jungles north
west of Handy. while Mr.. Nu,ier explored
the southern part Of the island. They were
obliged to leave the travelled road, and trust
themselves to the wild Jungle paths leading
through the uncu!tivaied districts frequen,ed by
the animals These regions are covered with
agrowth of shrubbery and small trees, so thick
iy matted together with vines that it is impos-
sible 10 force the body through. Here and there,
out Of this sea Of vegetation, rise The trunks of
enormous trees, growing more frequent in the
neighoorhood OF the mountains, where thev fire.
quently form forests of the grandest character.
In hunting elephants, the paths made by natives
caunot always be followed, but new one. must
be cut. which is very slow aud toilsome work.
The elephants, however, find the Jungle no OBJ
stacle to their progress, but, with their heads
lowered, crash through j, at full speed. The
noise of herd in motion can be heard a prea,
distance. a- sos
Mr.. June had the greatest success in the low
lands in the northern part Of the island, near
Anarajapoora. The method Of catching ele.
phan's, as described by him, must be very ex-
citing kind Of business. The first step is tG
maSe kraet, or pen in some spot where the
animals abound. This is constructed Of heavy
posts, set upright in the ground, closely bonnd
together with wi,hes, and made firm BY oihel
posts resting against them on The outside, a.
stays. The kraal forms three sides of square
having an aperture on the fourth for the en-.
trance Of the elephsats, from each side Of which
extends a long palisade slanting outward like
the mouth OF q funnel. When all is comple,ed
the natives lay in wait till fine herd has wan.
dared nazr the oneninC Of the tran than -.