Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-07-31
An Adventure with a Ceylon Eie-
plant.


of Ceylon.
After pleasant run up to Handy by
train, and thence by coach and bullock
cart ultimately reached my destina'
ton in safety. Travelling by bullock
cart is by no means comfortable per-
Torrance, and as this was the first time
I had experienced it, naturally fe't the
joltiug very considerably. When | did
arrive, however, / was fully recompensed,
for received most hearty welcome
from my friend, and we spent the best
part of the night in talking over school
DAYS, and the latest news from the sod
country"
In the course of conversation G -
mentioned that "rogue elephant had
been seen in the neighborhood few days
previously, and he thought he would be
able to arrange for portion of the jun
gle to be beaten the next evening, when
/ should probably have a chance oil my
maiden shot at large game.
The bridle.path through the jungle
was very narrow one, but my pony
seemed pretty we'll used to it; indeed,
he wanted to get along rather faster than
| cared about, as his rapid progress re-
suited in my tearing my clothes several
times, in consequence of their becoming
entangled in the branches of the thorny
acacia, which fourishes most luxuriant-
Iy in that part of Ceylon. | arrived at
the post office without meeting with any
adventures, and having procured the pa
pers, commenced my return.
Just as 1 had got about half way
through the jungle, and was in one of
the most narrow parts of the pathway,
was suddenly aroused from my reverle
by what--to me-was most unaccount-
able sound, somewhat resembling the
tumult l should have expected to hear
| if half dozen bulls were believing /;
the noise was accompanied by rustllng
of the underwood, and swapping of
branches.
1t instantly flashed across my mind
that / had Inadvertently come upon the
"rogue elephant" and as the uproar was
Immediately in front of me, | deemed
discretion the better part of valor, and
underworld to turn my horses head.
I could not succeed in my attempts,
however, the path being so narrow. and
the underwood on either side so dense
that I had no choice but to stop where
| was or advance.
To my establishment. the pony did no
seem in the least discomitted, but re
manned perfectly still, with the exception
of its long, bushy tail, with which i
kept switching off the brown buffalo
flies My surprise was consequent upor
my conversation with G. the previou
E evening, when he mentioned that horse
had great antipathy to elephants, a
antipathy which was only equalled b
the dislike which elephants had 70
|. horses.
!, I had Just turned round in the saddl
:, to see where my horse-keeper had got t.
/ when / found myself within few fee
OF an immense elephant. | had no fire
arms with me, and perhaps 1t was fort,
g nate / had not, for to place an elephau
4 hors de combat with single shot is fe
to be proud of, and one which is rare
: performed. The chances were that, hs
- | been armed, | should have fred at tt
elephant, and so irritated him that
would have Immediately rushed upt
me.
My first movement was to draw n
:, feet out of the stirrups, and slip off tt
:, horse in very undigniied manner
" doing so, my clothes, which were of
~ very light material, were torn by Il
thorns of the brake through which | W
Oh passing.
as struggled to regain my feet-havil
he lost my balance in dismounting-and
H. soon as did so, perceived the elepha
making way for himself through t
jungle, in direction at right angles vi
be the path | had been following.
by Much to my surprise, the animal d
o; not appear to any extent disconnected
by our encounter, and was moving off al
pace but little quicker than a wa
forcing the underwood away on eitt
= side Of him with bis trunk.
On My surprise was also enhanced VIII
- on glancing behind me, | saw the hon
80 keeper regarding me with broad G
on his ugly features.
When REACHED the bungalow l fou
to that couple of neighboring planter
nit as my friend called them, notwi
M standing the fact that their estates "
go considerably over fifty miles from
the own-had called, en- route for Kan
rs" the up-country capital of Ceylon.
Considerable anxiety was evinced
nh G. and his friends to know what was
"a cause of my tattered appearance, In