The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-14
THE DAILY STAR
A Leaf From a CeylOn Note Book.

WOIniug NJ guH-uft III SOmPhhv WIN
some brother-officers, who were desirous
of witnessing a sight which we were as
sured would amply repay US for the ia
tigue of very rough thirty-mile ride
through dense jungle in tropical eli
mate. The sport to be witnessed was
that of elephant decoying. The kraal
into which the animals are decoyed, and
which 1 shall describe presently, was
situated not far from the banks of
the fine river that flows by Handy; it
was in the midst of q dense for
est far away from any human habita-
tions, and as some of us found out to
our cost, in very hOtbed of malaria and
jungle fever. We dispatched our horses
to ferry some twelve miles on, where
the road dwindled to a mere jungle-path,
impossible for carriage, and even diff
cult for equestrians. l had barely time
to snatch mouthful of breakfast when
the palanquin-carriage was announced,
and off we started, l consoling myself
with the prospect of overtaking coolie
with provisions and beer, whom ! had
sent on. l never saw him again. Tie
temptation was too great. He and some
boon companions demolished my grog,
made free with the liquor, and alb
seconded.
The road--if road it could be called
was mere mountain path, at times hard
" distinguishable; and 30 covered with
stone and thorny bushes, which pierced
the flesh at every step, that had known
Nf L oh l. !
but my gallant steed, hired for the nonce
from some Arab dealers, would not lead
step. We logged on merrily enough in
other respects for some way, as the trees
were very lofty, and 80 thick overhead
that the blazing rays of the sun could
not penetrate through the dense foliage
When about seven miles from our
journeys end we lost the path among a
lot of rice-felds However, after long
search one of our party, who had been
out shooting in that district, remembered
that if we kept to the left we were GER
tain of hitting off the river before long,
where we might meet some one to guide
us. As luck would have it, we soon
caught sight of an ineuisitive, shining
black face staring at us from cocoanut
tope.
Never did l greet negro with so much
delight before. Matters did not seem
much improved, though. As the river
was very wide and rocky, full of treach-
crous holes, and, as the natives told us,
bounding with alligators, the predica-
ment was not pleasant one. But our
horses were used up with the heat, and
our friends, our kraal. and last, though
in my case certainly not least, all our
provisions were on the other side. The
ferry was some miles up the river-far
too distant for us to think of. So at it
we went Some natives crossed to assist
us. Each black man took white one in
tow, who, in his turn, led his horse after
him. Some of the scenes were most ridi-
cuous. Sometimes the pony slipped and
pulled his owner in, who pulled the ma
tive after him, or the nigger pulled the
white in, who naturally gave his steed
the benefit of the bath, as it would never
have done to let go the bride. One of
our party was roaring with laughter at
at another who had just had glorious
upset, negro horse and all, when sud
denly his mirth was checked by similar
mischance happening to himself.
However, barring the wetting, we got
safe across, and l thought l would enjoy
bath, so / left my party to proceed
without me, intending to join them when
lunch was ready. My clothes being wet
through during the passage of the river,
and making tolerably certain Of meeting
no one in that remote part of the coun-
try, mounted my pony in veritable light
marching order--namely, straw hat,
shirt and bools; and very pleasant and
cool was the aforesaid costume, and one
that you would gladly have adopted, oh,
my reader, under similar circumstances,
and under such swelterlng sky. I had
about three miles to 60, and ratified
along, both horse and rider being thor
oughly refreshed by this time; when all
of sudden my attention was attracted
by low but energetic whisper, appar-
emily coming from the clouds: "Mahat-
mia, Mahatmia, Allia-Allial" (Master;
elephantsD On looking up, saw some
twenty natives perched up above me,
making earnest signs for me to come up
to them, and pointing along the path
ahead Of me and repeating the word
"Allia," thereby giving me to under
stand that the animals were close at
hand. l lost no time, but rode to tree
where large jungle-rope-a specie of
giant creeper common in Ceylon-was
hanging from bough.
Up went like lamplighter, leaving
Master Pony to take care of himself,
and utterly regardless in my haste of my
attire, or want of it. And lucky it was
that ! did so. Hardly had got well up
and seated myself upon one Of the
branches, when round the corner came
first one huge elephant, followed by
another, then third. Eleven more sue
ceeded, and passed close under the tree
where was seated without, however,
taking more notice of me than by toss
ing their trunks in the air, and emitting
that peculiarly sharp scream commonly
called "trumpeting." / soon got down,
cauoht nv nonv and set off as hard as I