A WOUNDED VEDDAH--HOW A CHRISTIAN CAN DIE--ATTACKED BY BLACK ANT--
ABUNDANCE OF GAME--CATCH A CROCODILE ASLEEP--FIGHT WITH A BEAR--CHASE A
DEER--LOSE MY WAY--CLIMB UP A TREE--WHAT I SAW WHEN THERE.
I lay on a sofa for the remainder of the day and during all the night,
suffering great pain. There was no surgeon within some hundred miles of
us, and the surgical knowledge of the natives was of a very limited
description. Mr Fordyce and Nowell did their best for me, and kept
continually fomenting the limb with cold applications of vinegar and
water, by which the swelling was somewhat abated. The skin, however,
was much broken, and soon became of a bright purple hue. I felt
somewhat alarmed, but Dango begged that I would allow him to apply a
balsam composed of what I was told was margosse oil. The odour was as
disagreeable as that of asafoetida, but not only did it keep all flies
away, but it had a most healing and cooling effect, so that after the
rest of another day I was able to mount my horse and proceed on our
journey. Nowell passed the time by going out and shooting pea-fowl,
partridges, and small deer, which added considerably to our bill of fare
at dinner time.
During three days after this, we travelled through the dense forest
country I have before described. Though nothing could be more sombre or
gloomy compared to the bright and open plain we had sometimes traversed,
I was thankful for the shade and coolness we obtained, as the heat might
again have inflamed my injured leg, I felt at first as if I had had a
lump of lead hanging on one side of my horse, but by walking a little
every day, that sensation gradually wore off, and in less than a week I
was as well as ever.
"You did well in destroying the elephants who were committing
depredations on our friends' fields, but I cannot allow you to
undertake, as knight-errants, to attack the rogues infesting all the
villages we pass through," observed Mr Fordyce. "You will certainly
get expended yourselves, if you make the attempt."
Nowell was rather annoyed at this, as he, not having had the severe
lesson I had got, was still eager for more elephant-shooting. While Mr
Fordyce was speaking, we were approaching the spot where we proposed
pitching our tent, near one of the many tanks I have mentioned, now, in
most instances, in a sadly ruined condition. Suddenly our ears were
assailed by a wild and mournful cry.
"What can that be?" I asked.
"Some human being in pain," answered Mr Fordyce, pressing on his horse
in the direction from whence the sound came.
We followed him till we came to a tree round which stood a number of
Veddahs, far less repulsive than those we had before seen. In the
centre of the circle, sitting on the ground with his back against the
trunk, was a young man with a horrible wound in his stomach, through
which his intestines protruded. There he sat, the picture of fortitude
and resignation; and though his companions exhibited their grief by
their wild howls, he did not show, by the contraction of a muscle, or by
any sign of impatience, that he felt the agony his wound was causing, or
that he feared the death which must be its result; at the same time the
perspiration streaming from his forehead, cheeks, and neck, showed the
terrible pain he was suffering. Dango, who came up, inquired how the
accident had occurred, when he was told that the young Veddah had just
passed a wild buffalo in the cover, scarcely noticing it, when the
animal rushed out at him from behind, knocked him down, and gored him
from the groin upwards, as he fell. It was pitiable to see him when we
felt how little aid we could afford him. He looked up calmly in our
faces as if to seek for assurance and consolation there, but he could
have found but little of either.
"Such might be your fate, or indeed that of any one of us, as we are
traversing these wilds," observed Mr Fordyce.
The Veddah looked up at him that moment and spoke. Mr Fordyce produced
a small copy of the New Testament from his pocket, and read some verses.
Instantly the young man's countenance brightened. He knew and believed
the truths contained in that sacred book. He had been educated at one
of the missionary establishments, afterwards abandoned; but the seed had
not fallen on stony ground. Now our kind friend could afford both
comfort and consolation. He continued reading to the poor man till a
litter could be formed, and some of the balsam I have mentioned could be
procured; his wound was washed and dressed, and bound up, and he was
carried to one of our tents. Some of his companions followed and sat
outside, but did not attempt to enter. Not a sound all the time did he
utter of complaint. Now and then he pointed upward to show us that it
was from thence he received strength; that it was there he hoped soon to
go. He had come, he said, to speak the truth to some of his tribe who
were yet unconverted, and totally ignorant of all knowledge of the
gospel; that he would be prevented from bringing those glad tidings to
them was the only cause he had to regret being so speedily summoned from
the world; but "God's ways are not man's ways," he observed, and he had
no doubt that He in his infinite wisdom had good reason for allowing
what had happened to occur.
Mr Fordyce asked him the names of those he would wish to speak to, and
he having given them, we went out with Dango to try and find them at a
spot a short distance from the camp, where we were told that the tribe
were assembled. Some hundred people almost black, and destitute of
clothing, were assembled under the boughs and among the stems of a huge
banyan tree, which formed, as Nowell remarked, a sort of natural temple.
In front of it was a small stone altar, with fire burning on it, the
flames from which shed a lurid glare on the rapidly darkening shadows of
the huge tree. Before the altar were two figures; the most unearthly,
horrible--indeed, I may say demoniacal--I have ever set eyes on. I
could scarcely believe that they were human. They were black, and with
the exception of a piece of cloth round the loins, totally destitute of
clothing; they had huge mouths, with grinning teeth and large rolling
eyes, while their hair hung from their heads in long snake-like locks,
like horses' tails, reaching almost to the ground. They were shrieking
and howling, and making all sorts of horrible noises, while they jumped,
and leaped, and whirled round and round with the most extraordinary
grimaces, distorting their bodies in every conceivable form, while their
hair was tossed up and down in all directions, and whisked about like
the reef points of a sail in a gale of wind.
Dango looked at them with supreme contempt. "They are devil-dancers,"
he observed. "They have been sent for by this ignorant people to dance
for the recovery of the poor fellow we found wounded."
He was a Mohammedan himself, and had many superstitions which we could
not help thinking as sad.
After some difficulty he found the men we were in search of, and got
them to accompany us to the tent where the poor Veddah lay. He sat up
while some came in, and others stood in front of it, and asked them some
questions, to which they replied briefly. I had little doubt that it
was about the devil-dancers, and that they told him they had been doing
their best for his recovery. Then he spoke to them long and earnestly,
though it seemed to me that his voice was growing weaker and weaker.
Still so eager, so absorbed was he in his subject, that he felt neither
pain nor weakness. Now and then he asked questions, and his auditors
replied. Then he went on again speaking rapidly, and oh, how earnestly!
He was evidently full of his subject; he was well aware how short might
be the time allowed him to impart to his friends those sacred, precious,
all-important truths he had himself learned. As he went on speaking,
his countenance seemed to assume an almost beatific expression; the
tones of his voice were full of melody. His friends listened with rapt
attention, tears streaming down from their eyes, their breasts heaved;
but not one moved his position, not a gesture was made. Truly it seemed
as if some holy blessed spirit animated the dark form of one whom, under
other circumstances, we should have supposed to be a mere ignorant
debased savage. I thought he must have sunk exhausted from the effort
he made to speak, but the spirit which animated him gave him strength
which seemed, not his own. The sun went down, darkness came on rapidly,
still he continued speaking. How solemnly impressive was that night
scene!
Our tents had been pitched under a tope of tamarind trees, near a small
but beautiful lake, which seemed to reflect every star which shone so
brilliantly in the cloudless and clear sky, while the constellation of
the Southern Cross assisted to remind me that we were in a far-off land,
and in another hemisphere to that in which I was born. At the same
time, it seemed a sign and assurance that the glorious truths of the
Christian's faith, so long but dimly known in those regions, should from
henceforth be widely scattered throughout the whole of those broad lands
where that magnificent group of stars can be seen.
As I looked around I could see the elephants standing a little way off
under the trees, fanning themselves lazily with branches of trees to
drive off the mosquitoes, which tormented them. Nearer were our
attendants sitting round their watch-fires, and close to them were
picketed the horses, to take advantage of the protection afforded by the
fires against any prowling bear or active leopard. Perfect silence
never reigns in these grand solitudes. Near us I could hear the
incessant metallic chirp of the hyla, the shrill call and reply of the
tree cricket, and the hum of myriads of insects of every description,
while from a distance resounded the hoarse voices of thousands of tank
frogs, which kept up a spirited concert till daylight.
Within our tents, where I went to lie down for a short time, overcome
with fatigue, numberless night-moths were fluttering about, and suddenly
I could see brilliant flashes circling around, now disappearing, now
returning, caused by a covey of fire-flies which had entered, and could
not for some time find the means of escape. At length the tent was left
once more in darkness. I slumbered uneasily for a few hours, and again
arose. I was anxious to know how the poor Veddah was getting on. I
scarcely expected to find him still alive; but as I got outside the
tent, I could hear his voice still addressing his people. Mr Fordyce
had preceded me to the spot, and was listening attentively. It was
already dawn. As I looked at the party, it seemed to me that they
listened with as much attention as when he began. They looked in the
dim uncertain light like a group of bronze statues. As it grew lighter,
I perceived that the voice of the young man grew weaker. The tent faced
the east, looking across the lake. The glow of the rising sun
increased. A wide expanse of the most brilliant golden hues was spread
over the whole of that part of the sky. Then upward rose the sun
himself in all the glorious brilliancy of that lovely clime. I saw the
young Veddah make a sign with his hand. His friends stood aside. He
gazed at the glorious orb of day, then he spoke once more, pointing to
it. His friends turned and looked towards it. Its rays fell full on
his countenance, and, dark as that was, from the expression which
animated it, it was perfectly beautiful. His voice rose. He was
telling his people of the glories of heaven; of Him who placed that
warmth-giving luminary there for their benefit, and who so loved the
world that He sent his only Son, that all who trust in him might be
saved from destruction. This I was told afterwards.
I began to hope, from the strength the Veddah exhibited, that he was
less injured than we had supposed. On a sudden, with his hand erected,
still pointing to the sky, with the words of the gospel still on his
lips, he fell back, and as his friends stooped down around him, their
cries and tears told us that he was gone.
"Oh," I thought, "who would not wish to die as that man we call a savage
has died! What minister of Christ's holy truth could desire a more
glorious, a nobler end to his labours on earth; standing like a brave
soldier to the last moment at his post? I am sure that young Veddah has
not died in vain. Those he has been addressing have deeply imbibed the
truths of which he has told them. Perhaps in no other way would they
have listened to them."
I was right. The Veddahs soon recovered from their grief, or rather
ceased from exhibiting it, and placing the body on the litter on which
he had been brought to the tent, they carried it to the banyan tree,
where the rest of their tribe, with the horrible devil-dancers, were
still assembled. Mr Fordyce, Nowell, and I followed. They halted with
the bier, and one of them stepping forward, addressed the tribe,
pointing occasionally with great significance at the body. The
countenances of many of them exhibited great astonishment; still more
so, when six of those who had been listening to the dying Veddah's
exhortations stepped forward, and taking the devil-dancers by the
shoulders, marched them away to a distance, first addressing them
vehemently in the hearing of the rest. What they said I do not exactly
know, but I believe it was to point out to them the utter inefficacy,
besides the wickedness and folly, of their incantations.
The custom of the wild Veddahs is to cover up their dead with leaves,
then to desert the spot where they are laid; but we assisted in forming
a deep grave, into which the body of the young Christian Veddah was
lowered, while Mr Fordyce offered up prayers, that those who attended
might all in time come to a perfect knowledge of that truth which had
during the past night been so forcibly explained to them. With much
regret we left those simple-minded savages, to continue our journey. I
trust and believe that the seed sown that night ultimately brought forth
fruits, and that many of the tribe embraced the truths of Christianity.
For the greater part of the year the ground in Ceylon is so hardened by
the sun, that one is able to pass across the country without difficulty
in every direction. The elephants and coolies, with our tents and
baggage, could rarely in a straight course make good more than fifteen
miles a-day, whereas Nowell and I found that we could even walk further
than that, and ride more than twice the distance. We therefore
frequently used to push on, either before or after our noon-day rest, so
as to get some shooting, and, at all events, to kill some game for
provisioning our party.
One day a strongish breeze, which had somewhat cooled the air, tempted
us to start away rather earlier than usual after our rest at noon, we
having heard that we were approaching a country where a number of deer
and a quantity of other game was to be found. By-the-bye, I had run a
great chance that night of being devoured by--not a leopard, or a hear,
or a crocodile, however. I was asleep, when I suddenly began to dream
that I was Gulliver, or some such person, and that a thousand
Lilliputians were attempting to bind me, running their swords and spears
into me in the most unmerciful manner. I awoke, and, putting out my
hands, began to pull off from my neck, face, and arms, handfuls of
insects. I jumped out of bed, and instantly my legs were covered in the
same manner. I shouted lustily for a light, awaking all the camp, when
Dango came running in with a torch, and I found myself covered with a
battalion at least of an army of black ants, each half an inch long,
which were marching across the country. Their line was fully five feet
in breadth, and, as their custom is, they went straight up and down, and
over everything, never deviating to the right hand or the left. Finding
our tent in the way, they had passed under the canvas, but, as my ill
luck would have it, exactly over my bed, and away they streamed out
again on the opposite side of the tent. When I got out of the way, and
swept those on me off, they joined the main body and continued their
march. Although provided with formidable mandibles, they are destitute
of venom, so that I only felt the punctures they made, without any
inflammation following. When my sheets had once more assumed a snowy
appearance I turned in, and quiet was restored.
As we were setting off, Mr Fordyce told us that he would join us
perhaps in the cool of the evening, and charged us to take care of
ourselves, and not to follow any elephants or bears likely to teach us
that we had caught a Tartar. Of course we said that we could and would
take very good care of ourselves. Away we rode. Dango with another man
led on foot, with Solon under their charge, Nowell and I following on
horseback. Little did I think when I was a poor, knocked-about
midshipman on board the _Orion_, that I should be able to travel about
in Ceylon or anywhere else in such luxury.
I think that I have scarcely done justice to the beauty of the scenery
of the island and the infinite variety it presents. The forests are not
without their peculiar attractions; the changes and number of tints are
very remarkable. The old leaves are constantly turning red, and yellow,
and brown. Falling to the ground, they are immediately replaced,
without being missed, by the young buds, some of the brightest yellow,
others of deep crimson, and others of green of every shade.
We suffered at first, this day, much from the heat, while travelling
along a narrow path cut through the dense jungle; and doubly delighted
were we when we once more emerged into a partially open country,
interspersed with clumps of trees and jungle, with hills, and a
water-course, and a tank or small lake in the distance. We rode on till
we came to a part of the water-course, at which our horses and Solon
eagerly slaked their thirst. We did not disdain to drink also. While
seated near the water, under the shade of a lofty wide-spreading
kumbuk-tree, called by the Tamils maratha-maram, which extended its long
branches far over the water, we saw from a jungle a hundred yards
directly in front of us a noble buck step out, and, after throwing up
his head and gazing with surprise at us, begin leisurely to graze where
he stood. Nowell was for trying the range of his rifle on him, but I
entreated him not to fire.
"No, no," I exclaimed; "let him have a chance for his life. We might as
well hit a poor fellow who was down in a boxing-match. Wait till we
invade his territory. We shall find plenty of others to shoot."
Directly afterwards, three or four peacocks, one of whom had a train of
remarkable splendour, marched out on the green sward, and strutted up
and down, certainly offering tempting marks. They were followed by a
number of jungle fowl, whose plumage gleamed with metallic lustre, and
who were so little fearful of man that they came within pistol-shot of
where we sat, on the opposite bank of the stream. I had often seen
pictures of our first parents in Paradise, surrounded by the animals of
the field and the birds of the air, and here we had an exemplification
of how true such pictures may be to nature as it was before sin entered
into the world, and the brutes learned to dread man's cruelty and
tyranny. We had directly after a further example of this. Happening to
turn my head, I saw, not twenty yards behind the kumbuk-tree, what at
first I thought was a log of wood under some bushes of a buffalo-thorn.
I scarcely know what impulse made me approach it, as did the rest.
Solon set up a loud bark, and instantly the seeming log shoved out four
feet, and exhibited to our astonished eyes a hideous crocodile fully
twelve feet long, and evidently of prodigious strength. Still more
terrific did he look when he began to turn round in a circle, hissing
and clanking his bony jaws, with his ugly green eye intently fixed on
us. I felt a strong inclination to run away, for it seemed to me that
he might make a rush and snap one of us up in a moment; but as Nowell
and the natives stood their ground without fear, so did I, while Solon
continued his barking, but at the same time kept wisely at a very
respectful distance. The truth was, that the crocodile, suddenly
aroused from his balmy slumbers, was far more frightened at us than we
had cause to be at him, and was completely paralysed. Dango, knowing
this, struck him with his long pole, when he lay perfectly still,
looking to all appearance dead. In a minute, however, while we were
watching, he looked cunningly round and made a rush towards the water,
which his instinct told him was the safest place for him to be in. On
receiving, however, a second blow, he lay motionless and feigned death
as before. Nowell then did what I certainly should not have thought of
attempting; he caught him by the tail, and pulled away with all his
might, but he could as easily have moved an elephant. Dango poked him
on the back with his long pole. Solon kept barking away, but did not
get within range of his jaws, knowing full well that he could use them
to good effect if he chose, and gobble him up in a moment; while I, at
Nowell's desire, belaboured his hard scales with a stout stick.
Meantime the other native was cutting a thin, long twig from a creeper,
and, while we were all hallooing and shrieking, and trying to arouse the
monster, he quietly inserted it under his arm, tickling him gently. In
an instant he showed that he was alive, by drawing in the limb closely
to his side. Again the native touched the huge monster gently under the
other arm, and he drew that in, twisting and wriggling about in the most
ridiculous way, just as a child does to avoid being tickled. We could
not help bursting into shouts of laughter at the exhibition, and all my
respect for the mighty brute's powers vanishing, I gave way to an
impulse which seized me, and leaped on his back, while he began to crawl
off at a rapid rate to the tank. The long twig again brought him to a
stand-still, not feeling, probably, my weight upon him, and I was thus
enabled to leap off free of his jaws, which I had no desire even then to
encounter. My return to _terra firma_ was hailed with delight by Solon,
who was in a great fright on seeing me borne away on the back of a
creature for which he had evidently an instinctive dread. This was
shown when we attempted to cross the stream a little higher up by a
ford. He kept falling back, and making every sign of an unwillingness
to enter the water, and it was only when I rode in that he consented to
push across close to my heels, barking furiously all the time. Scarcely
was I out of the water when a huge head was protruded from a hole close
to the ford, and the jaws of a crocodile snapped with a loud clank just
behind my faithful dog's tail. It made him spring forward like a bolt
shot from a bow, while my horse lashed out with his hind-legs, giving
the brute a blow under his jaw which must have knocked in some of his
teeth, and, as Nowell observed, somewhat spoiled his beauty.
Coming to another kumbuk-tree, close to which Dango said the cavalcade
would pass, we determined to leave our horses there under charge of the
native, and with Dango go after the game, which we were every instant
putting up in prodigious quantities. Off we went with a good supply of
ammunition in our pouches, our rifles in our hands, and some biscuits
and small flasks of brandy and water in our pockets, which Mr Fordyce
made us take, though it was wisely somewhat weak.
The country was tolerably open. There was jungle here and there, and
patches of wood, and then open grassy spaces, along which we were easily
able to make our way. There were hills in the distance, spurs of the
centre chains, and water-courses and lakes. I find that I have
frequently spoken of artificial and natural lakes. It must be
understood that we often travelled for days together without meeting
them, through dense forest country; but such regions were almost
entirely destitute of game, because there was neither food nor water for
them, and there we had hitherto met with no adventure.
We very soon bagged three or four brace a-piece of jungle fowl and pea
fowl, as well as some black and red partridges, a hare, some pigeons,
and two little mouse deer; when in a grassy hollow before us, surrounded
by jungle, and interspersed with bushes of the long cockspur thorn, we
saw a herd of fifty or more deer feeding quietly and not aware of our
approach. It was important to get near them without being seen or
winded, and to do this we kept close in under the taller trees, many of
them giants of the forest. Dango led the way, Nowell followed, and I
brought up the rear, holding Solon back with a leash, for he was so
eager to pursue them that even I could not have restrained his
impatience.
Suddenly, as we thought that we were getting close to the deer, we heard
Dango exclaim, "Wallaha! wallaha!" (a bear, a bear), and a huge grizzly
monster, descending from a tree in which he had been ensconced, appeared
directly in front of him, so much so, that we should have run the risk
of killing him had we ventured to fire. His cry startled the deer, and
off they went fleet as the wind, we being left with the task of bagging
Master Bruin. Dango had a spear in his hand and a hatchet in his belt.
He instinctively threw forward his left arm to receive the attack of the
brute, who was upon him before he could present his spear's point. He
dropped it therefore, and felt for his hatchet. With a fierce growl the
shaggy monster seized his arm. At the moment I let Solon escape from
his leash, and off he flew, courageously leaping up at the bear's back,
which he seized with a grip which made the blood gush out. This made us
still more afraid of firing, but we rushed up as fast as we could to the
encounter. I thought that the bear would completely have torn off the
Moor man's arm; but, lifting up his axe, he struck the brute so heavy a
blow that he almost cut his head in two; but yet, though the blow was
mortal, he did not fall, but, turning round, made off through the jungle
followed by Dango and Nowell, with Solon still hanging pertinaciously on
his flanks. Anxious for Solon's safety, I was rushing on at the same
time, when from behind another tree another bear confronted me. I
presented my rifle and was about to fire, when off he went through the
thick underwood. I saw that it would be bad generalship to leave so
formidable an enemy in our rear, so I felt that it would be my duty to
follow him. This I did as fast as I could, but he waddled along at a
quickish pace, breaking the stout boughs with wonderful ease as he
forced his way through them. I managed, however, to keep his shaggy
back in sight, and again got pretty close up to him, following at his
tail with the intention of shooting him between the shoulders, as soon
as an open space in the brushwood would allow me to do so. It was a
hazardous experiment, but the seeming cowardice of the crocodile had
made me feel somewhat of contempt for the bear. I was on the point of
lifting my rifle, when with a fierce roar he rapidly turned round and
literally leaped on the muzzle. I remembered my narrow escape from the
rogue elephant, and scarcely expected to be so fortunate again. I fired
first one barrel, then the other in rapid succession, directly in his
breast, as he threw his whole weight against my rifle, and completely
forced me back. All I remember was a crackling of bushes, a terrific
roar, a confused cloud of smoke, and a dark mass above me. I lay
stunned, I believe, for some time, and then I heard a bark, and some one
exclaim,--"Poor fellow; O dear, O dear, he is killed."
"No, I'm not quite," cried I from under the bear. Then there was a
pulling and hauling, in which Solon lent his jaws, and paws, if not his
hands, and the huge bear was partly pulled off me stone dead, and I was
partly pulled out from beneath the bear, both my friend and I fully
expecting to find all my bones broken, and my rifle doubled up. My
astonishment was as great as my satisfaction and thankfulness, when I
discovered that when I tried to get up I could do so, and that when I
shook myself none of my bones rattled; indeed, except a bruise or two,
there was very little the matter with me, while my rifle was in the same
perfect condition. I had, too, single-handed killed the bear, a thing,
Nowell said, to be somewhat proud of in the sporting way. I did not
allude to the horrid fright I had been in, and certainly hoped that I
might never have such another encounter.
The Ceylon bear, indeed, is a very savage animal, and will, I heard,
frequently attack people without the slightest provocation. Dango cut
out the bears' tongues and put them in his game-bag; while I, having
swallowed a few drops of brandy and water, felt perfectly recovered.
We now once more turned our attention to the deer. The report of our
rifles had frightened the herds nearest to us, but after walking on for
a mile or so we came upon some tracks of deer, by following up which,
with great caution, hiding behind every rock and bush, we espied at
length another large herd. They were at some distance on the opposite
side of a grassy level, and near what may best be described as open
forest country. To approach them near enough to get a good shot,
without being discovered, was the difficulty. Following Dango's
example, who crept on through the high grass on hands and knees, now
finding some bushes behind which we could run on at a more rapid pace,
now once more crawling on as before, keeping our bodies concealed merely
by a high tuft of grass, we at length got within a distance at which
Nowell thought that we might hope to bring down our game.
Suddenly we saw one of the deer, acting sentinel to the rest, raise his
antlered head, and look anxiously around. We were all kneeling behind a
low bush. Whether or not they heard any noise we might have made in
bringing up our rifles to raise them to our shoulders, or that Solon
gave a low bark of impatience, I do not know, but like a flash of
lightning, almost before we had singled out which of them we would fire
at, away they dashed towards the forest. We each of us fired both our
barrels. We felt convinced that two deer at least were struck, and now
concealment being no longer necessary, across the wide glade we ran at
full speed, and soon came up to the spot where the herd had been
feeding. Drops of blood on the grass showed us that our shots had taken
effect, and following them closely, we hoped soon to come up with the
wounded deer, as we could still see some of the herd among the trunks of
the trees in the distance. On we went, not stopping to reload our
rifles, Solon, highly delighted at having his talents brought into
requisition, leading the way at full speed, but without barking, which
he seemed to know would only frighten the game. After running on
rapidly for some way the forest became much denser, and it was more
difficult to see any distance ahead.
Probably in consequence of the cuff I got from the rogue elephant, and
my late encounter with the bear, I was not so strong and active as
usual, and was bringing up the rear at some little distance from my
companions, when a creeper caught my foot and over I went. I struck my
head, I fancy, against the thick root of a tree rising out of the
ground, and was so much hurt that a minute or more passed before I could
rise. By the time I was on my feet, and had looked about me, Solon and
my companions had disappeared. I had little doubt about overtaking them
speedily, as I had still before me the bloody track of the wounded deer.
Keeping my eyes on it, I went on as fast as I could run. Again the
forest opened a little. I thought that the traces had grown less
distinct, or rather lighter than before. Whereas hitherto every foot
nearly of ground had been marked with a drop of blood, now I could only
discover one at the distance of one or two yards from each other. I did
not shout even to ask my companions to stop for me, so fully persuaded
was I that I should soon come up with them. I was conscious, however,
that I was not making such good way as at first, and I knew that till
they brought the stag to bay, or till it dropped, they would probably
outstrip me. On I went. Every moment I thought that I most overtake
Nowell and Dango. Sometimes I even fancied that I heard their voices
before me, and Solon's well-known bark. This encouraged me to proceed,
and I ran even faster than before. Of course I was in a terrific heat,
having to carry my heavy rifle, and to go along at such speed for so
long a time. At length I came to an open glade. Still the deer tracks
marked the grass, so I hurried across and found myself in another open
clump of trees. I thought by the direction in which the trees cast
their long shadows over the ground that I was making a straight course,
and so I believe I was. On, on I ran; an unnatural excitement, it seems
to me, had seized me; I did not like the idea that Nowell was hunting a
deer with my dog, and would catch it when I was not present, so I said
to myself, "I am determined to be in at the death at all events." I
could not possibly calculate how far I had gone, nor how time had
passed. At length my legs began to feel an excessive weariness, and my
usual senses returning, I observed that the sun was rapidly sinking
towards the horizon. On stopping and reflecting for a moment, the
thought struck me with painful vividness, that I must by some means or
other have followed a different track from my companions and missed them
altogether. The thought that such was too probably the case almost took
away my breath, and made my heart sink within me. I was aware that
bears and leopards were likely to abound in the neighbourhood, with
probably serpents of various sorts, and I knew not what other wild
beasts or reptiles I might have to encounter during the dark hours of
night. The first thing I did was wisely to stop and load my rifle,
which I ought to have done long before. This is a safe rule in shooting
in a wild country, never to be tempted to move without first having
reloaded one gun. I next looked out for some elevated spot whence I
could make a survey of the surrounding country, that I might take the
best line to regain the camp. I searched in vain, and at last I
determined to climb a tree from which I might obtain an extensive
look-out. It was some time before I found one which I could manage to
get up, and from the topmost boughs of which I at the same time might
obtain such an extensive view as would be of any use to me, I at last
found a tree answering my wishes. Of course I could not carry my rifle
up with me, so I had to leave it leaning against the trunk. I did not
know the name of the tree I was climbing, but it was a tall and very
handsome one, having dark purple flowers at the end of its branches, of
peculiar richness and beauty. Up I went to the very top, and when I got
there I wished myself down again, for I could not see any points to
assist me in finding my way, while, having bruised some of the
fine-looking flowers, so horrible an odour proceeded from them that I
could scarcely bear to remain where I was. I soon, therefore,
descended; but just as I reached the lower branches, I saw below me an
object which made me thankful that I was safe up the tree. I have since
ascertained that the tree is called the _Sterculia foetida_. It is one
of the greatest and tallest of the Ceylon forest trees, but the flowers
as well as the fruit emit a stench so detestable as properly to entitle
it to its characteristic botanical name. The fruit also is curious. It
consists of several crimson cases of the consistency of leather, which
enclose a number of black seeds, bead-like in form. On the bursting of
their envelope these, when ripe, are dispersed.