The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1851-06-21

ny, instantly gives an opportunity for moose To
be slipped under. The same process is repeated
with the other foot, and the elephant wakes up
and finds himself caught. Large numbers are
shot, principally by the British officers stationed
IN Ceyion, who appear to enjoy sporting on such
gigantic scale A cool head and n sure aim
are all that is required. A slight hollow in the
elephants forehead, Just between and above his
eyes, is penetrable by a muskst ball, and sin.
gle shot is generally sufficen. to bring him down
The CeyIon elephants are divided into two
classes-the taskar, or tusked elephants, and the
dltar, who are destitute of those appendages.-
The former are much more valuable than the lat.
ter, and are principally caught for the priests, to
be employed IN the service OF the temples
Among the wild elephants, one is occasionally
found who, from his mischieyous or unsocial dis
position, is bani,hed from the herd, and becomes
sort Of oCtcast. These are called rogue ele.
phants Mr.. June succeeded in capturing one OF
them, which gave lin great deal Of trouble be.
fore he was shipped at Point de Gale, but which
he now considers the most valuable animal in his
collection. On one occasion, while in Handy, he
broke from the courtyard in which he was cou.
fined during the night, and after considerable
search, was found demolIshing plantation Of ban.
anss. He also attempted to escape while on the
road TO Colombo, but happening to cross field
of paddy which had just been irrigated, he sank
to his knees, and was captured.
Mr. June attempted to cross the mountain
chain east Of Handy into the country Of the
Neddahs, or aboriginal inhabitants Of Ceyon, but
was obliged to return on account Of the rough
nature Of the country, which is here a primitive
wilderness. In addition to the almost inlpenetra.
bic forests and junges, the mountains rise in a
line OF sheer precipice many hundred feet in
hight, and not to be scaled without great dffcul.
ty and danger The Yeddahs, who inhabit the
wilderness east of the mountains, are about en 4
par with the Bushmen of South Africa They
are divided into two classes, the village and the
forest Neddahs, the former of whom dwell in
communities and exhibit some faint slimmering
OF humanity. The latter run wild in the Jun.
giles, subsisting on roots and plants, and climb.
ing into the branches of trees to sleep. Mr.
June saw two Of these creatures, who bad been
captured by the Cingalese, and describes them
rs beng but little in advance Of the ourang.
ouang They are small in stature their bodies
are completely covered with hair, and they
have the long arms Of the simia tribe. Very
little is known Of that part of the island which
they inhAbit.
Mr.. June represents the Cingslesr. who are
supposed to have originally emgrated from the
Malabar Coast, as an amiable and inohen-iye
people, They are for the most part devoted to
the culture OF the soil, which is exceedingly f4r
tile. The cinnamon tree which requires mo e.
warm climate, grows only in the southeastern
part of the island, and seems to thrive bgs. in a
poor and flnty soil The climate Of Ceylon is
mid and saubrious, the monsoons which blow
alternately from the Indian Sea and the BAY
Of Bengal, mitigating the severity Of the trop.
ical heats
After collecting their nine elephants at Point
de Gale. Messrs. June and Nutter carried them
to the Regatta on large lighter and slowed
them away IN the hold, which had been prepared
for their reception. Thousands Of people from
all tie surrounding country came down to the
shore to witness the operation Considerable
persuasion was necessary to induce the heavy
animals TO trust themselves on the unsteady
lighter and the rogue actually broke the ropes by
which he was bound and made off at full speed
TO the terror Of the crowd. who scattered them.
sel7es in all directions lie was secured, how.
ever, and at last deposited on board, where he
behaved remarkably well during the passage
One Of the younger animals died after leaving
the Cape of Good Hope, and was thrown over.
board; the others arrived safely after their
voyage of $4,000 miles. They were accompa.
MED by native Cingalese, who will make with
them the tour of the Nnited States Henceforth
instead OF crushing through the juugles Of Cey
lon, they will peacefully devour the ginger
bread contributions Of admirng thousands, Tn
der the shadow OF Barnums colossal tent.