place to swell the party, and their wives also, of course. Everything went off most swimmingly (such sudden, unprepared, and unceremonious parties always do); and after dinner we all adjourned to our rest-house, our host making one of the number, to while away the night with brandy pawnee and cheroots-things which ladies, even in Ceylon, don't allow to form a component part of their husbands' hospitality. By Jove! that was a night. Songs followed bumperscigars followed songs-till a scrimmage began between a young civil servant and an ensign, as to whether YORK or LANCASTER chose the Red Rose. Bets were made then and there, as the best mode of settling it but who was to decide it?

couldn't tell. At

"Oh! anybody-ask Capt. " but Capt. last it became a regular betting market. Five to four on Lancaster found eager takers. There could not have been less than £200 laid. "It must be settled-ask Sir R." "No, no, Sir R. has bet on " Lancaster."

Now, the wife of our host, whom we had left at home, just four hours since, ready for bed, was considered in the island a bit of a "blue," and a very pretty "blue" she was too. So the thought struck Sir R., to decide the bets there and then (for in another hour and a half we should be on our way to our day's destination), to refer the matter to her instanter, to which all cordially agreed. Her husband's servant was forthwith dispatched with a note, asking the required information, and a caution not to return without an answer. People now made the best of their time in betting and hedging; and a quarter of an hour having elapsed, the "appoo" (butler) made his appearance, bearing in his hand a neat little three-cornered missive, which was opened amid the most solemn silence of all; and which, from the interest displayed, might have been of importance enough to decide the fate of nations. Thus it ran

"My dear Sir Robert,

I jump out of bed,
To tell you that Lancaster
Sported the Red."

Now, commit that to memory, ye unhistorical readers, and perhaps it may put an odd twenty pounds in your pocket some of these days, as it did in ours. All we can say is, that if the woman who "jumped out of bed" to pen that impromptu, would NOT take a five-barred gate without craning, we are no judge of human nature.

But, oh dear! oh dear! what will our worthy editor say to all this digression? We fancy we see him turning to our title, to see how we have headed our paper, since he has a faint idea we called it something pertaining to the "Crack Sport of Ceylon," or elephant shooting, and we have not reached our ground. By the bye, that just puts us in mind that we have a crow to pluck with him-which is, when we wrote in our last number on this subject, that Major ROGERS of the Ceylon Rifle Regiment had shot EIGHT HUNDRED ELEPHANTS, we find he has found it so difficult to be believed, that he has substituted A hundred elephants! for which insertion we have trembled at the arrival of each overland mail, in fear of a hostile message from our old brother officer, and we here publicly tell him (Major R.) that "tisn't

us;" he must "call out" the editor of the N. S. M.; and if he will write to us for it, we'll give him his address. We've no idea of being pistolled for telling the truth-not we, indeed! and it happens since that time that Major R. has killed two hundred elephants more, making in all ONE THOUSAND, and that he is now going to keep account no longer! You may stare, and invoke an imaginary gentleman called "Walker," mister reader; but it is true for all that. By the bye, that puts us in mind of another anecdote, bearing on the point, and this shall be the last-" positively the last," as the theatricals say, when they've no idea of leaving off for a month, and don't know how to impress that idea on the public.

A short time ago, two very crack shots (of elephants particularly) returned to England from Ceylon, and both held a high rank in the army. Having met one evening in a public room of some sort, the conversation turned on Ceylon, when one of the party mentioned the circumstance of his having shot forty elephants in three days. A titter went round the whole party, interrupted by an audible chuckle or two; but, as our hero had his witness with him, and who had killed a like number in about the same time, he felt himself quite secure in his assertion.

"By Heaven, sir, do you doubt it?" added our friend fiercely to a party who was unable to control his cachinatory powers.

Why, it's very extraordinary," was the answer.

"I should think it was !" joined in a second.
"You've doubled the Cape, Major," cried a third.

"How are you off for elephants?" demanded a fourth.

"Gentlemen, I'm not going to stand the imputation of an untruth. I have killed forty elephants in three days; and a gentleman in this room was present when I did so, and can answer for it."

In the mean time Col. C. (the party alluded to, and who had actually seen it done, and had done it himself), was edging off towards the door, to get off without getting himself into the same scrape.

"Ho-ho-ho-" roared the party, fancying the Major was indulging in what is vulgarly called "chaff"-doing a bit of Baron Munchausen, in fact.

"Col. C. was present, and has seen me kill more than two hundred elephants," was then uttered by our hero, who was losing his temper fast. "I appeal to Col. C."

No answer. (A laugh from the company).

"Colonel C.," roared the Major, now furious under the idea that he was not believed, "am I not speaking the truth?"

"Why, if you appeal to me, I can't exactly say I recollect it."

"What! not at

"Can't say I do."

in October?"

"Did you ever know me to shoot a dozen elephants?"

"Can't say I did, exactly."

Here was a "fix;" however, off walked the Major, and the first thing after breakfast next day, in he walked to FEUILLADE'S coffee room, and met Col. C. face to face.

"Col. C.," he began, "do you mean to impute a falsehood to me, as well as the others who were present last night?"

"God forbid! my dear Major; but if I had told the truth, I should only have been taken for a "liar," as well as yourself, which I have no ambition for, although I am perfectly aware of the truth of all you uttered."

How cordially might the Major have said-

"Heaven defend me from my friends!"

Now then we will "go a-head," and no mistake.

"Come here, you Appoo; pack up our bed, a box of Manillas, four dozen of pale ale, a dozen of brandy, and two dozen of Sherry and Claret, preserved meats, pickles and sauces, guns, and et ceteras; for we're going to leave head quarters during a fortnight or three weeks, for some elephant shooting."

"Yaas, sare," grins the delighted nigger, too glad to get a release from continually waiting at mess; and in hopes, no doubt, of a chance to"walk into the affections" of some of his more uncivilized brethren in the jungle.

"And Appoo, tell the Syce to look well to Bob's (the pony) shoes, and to get an extra pair in case of accident."

"Yaas, master;" and away glides Appoo to communicate the glorious news to the Syce; and their ideas are at once directed to the stock of "bang and betelnut" that each is possessor of at the present time, which consultation is generally concluded by Appoo again popping his phiz into our sanctum, with-"Master, he please give ten dollars (fifteen shillings) for Syce and Appoo." Being in an excellent humour at the idea of the fortnight's pleasure in store, of course Appoo gets his request granted; and the Coolies having had two days' start, away trots our party, each on his separate mode of conveyance, to the scene of action, which will be reached in about four days.

And where shall we fix that scene of action more appropriately than at Neilgalla, called, par excellence, The PARK? and let us introduce the reader to the spot. We have now descended the last hill in our journey, and have entered into a seemingly interminable plain, so like a park that it has been honoured by the title. In this plain there is not an obstacle, except its length, to prevent a man riding at racing pace from one end to the other; and deer coursing with greyhounds in this place is a sport that can rarely find its equal, particularly whilst you have under you a staunch, untiring little Arab, that has perhaps walked off with the "Governor's Cup" at the last racemeeting in Colombo; but we must notice this sport hereafter by itself. It is not elephant shooting. And now, as the plain opens more and more on us, we begin to see its perfect beauty: at every turn we look for a superb mansion, unable to reconcile to our mind that the hand of nature has alone been instrumental in its formation. Here are avenues of trees running as regularly as if planted by the master hand of art; occasional clumps of noble beech trees and fir stand at regular distances; ponds of bright clear water, on the banks of which some snowy white paddy-bird, or perhaps a flock of them, are performing their ablutions; and last, not least, the frequent herds of deer we pass, complete the similitude of the place in which we are about to enjoy our sport, to a well-kept English park.

"But, halloo !-what on earth is our friend on the white pony, who is some quarter of a mile a-head, scampering on at such a rate fordigging his spurs into the pony's sides as if he was riding an imaginary race-as if riding for his life?"

In a moment all is explained: out walks a splendid elephant between us and the fugitive; and, having given us a long stare, during which time we have obeyed the advice of the oldest hand amongst us, and stood stock still, he walks back again under the trees, and we venture onward, perhaps passing within fifty yards of him.

Lying directly in our path, but at some distance a-head, a dense mass of rock appears to lie in our way; but the wary eye of the elephant shooter recognises in it a vast herd of those animals, and regrets that a dozen hours longer must elapse before he can pull a trigger at their heads. All this passing and riding among wild animals has its share of excitement for the inexperienced. We can assure the reader (if he doubts it, we can only advise him to put it to the proof), but to one accustomed to the sport, there appears no more danger in facing a herd of elephants than a farm-yard full of pigs; that is to say, if you don't wound them.

And now the walls of the welcome bungalow begin to show themselves through the trees, where, for a short time, a very different scene will present itself to what the old house usually witnesses. This bungalow was built by a gentleman in the island solely as an elephant shooting box, entirely at his own expense; and he has left it for the convenience of any parties who may choose to use it for that purpose. It contains four bedrooms, and a centre or dining room; and a short distance from the house are erected the stables, and very primitivelooking stables they are. Both house and outhouse, however, have frequent attacks made on them in the playful hours of the elephants and buffaloes.

About half a mile off is a small native hut, in which lives an old patriarch and his family, who have been the solitary dwellers in the place from time immemorial. He is a really splendid old fellow, with his long white beard reaching below his breast, and himself covered only with white muslin and linen, which, when he expects company in the bungalow, is brought to a snowy whiteness. His whole life has been spent among the elephants; and with that slender-peeled wand which he carries in his hand he will walk through a herd of them, and turn them away, that he may make his way past. The whole park, which in England would be worth a million of money, is the old gentleman's sole property; at least, nobody interferes with him in its enjoyment, except an occasional party who come to enjoy sport there, which is, indeed, a treat to the old man. And, enjoying undisturbedly this magnificent domain, the patriarch is not worth a penny-piece! We even doubt if he ever saw money at all, or is aware of its existence. What a strange world is this we live in, truly!

And here is the very person waiting at the door of the bungalow to welcome us. With him are two or three of his slaves, who have brought some guavas, milk, honey, plantains, and coffee, from our friend's own garden (how we wish we could indulge our readers with his portrait!); and having "salaamed" to each of our party, separately, our horses are delivered into the hands of his slaves, and we

commence unpacking our stores, and having a long chat with the old gentleman about what number of elephants may be in the neighbourhood, what damage they have lately done, and all things connected with the place. We wonder the elephants don't recognise him, and free themselves of such a persecutor; for, whenever a party comes down, it is this person that takes them to the place where they are to be found, and slaughtered; yet the day after, he walks, perhaps alone, through the remainder of the herd that he has betrayed the day before, fearless and unscathed.

Everything having been arranged for the first day's work, and a hasty dinner made, we are glad to dispel the effects of late hours on the journey, by turning in betimes; as a headache and a shaking hand are bad things to be troubled with when a man's life is dependant on his skill and pluck.

At four on the following morning, therefore, our niggers are all busily engaged in endeavouring to dispel the sleepy influence from their masters' eyelids: some pulling them out of bed, others bawling, and some by the efficacious mode of applying a lather of soap and water (as it is a Cingalese luxury to get shaved in bed), to their faces. A pot of coffee is steaming away in the distance, and in a very short time guns are loaded, cigars lit, and the party outside the door, and on their way to the jungle. A person generally takes in these excursions as many guns as he can muster: it is unsafe to go with only one double-barrel. To each gun he is obliged to have a servant, who carries it, and to "stand by," to place the loaded gun in his master's hands, as soon as the one which he carries is discharged. Some people take as many as six double-barrels; and on getting among a herd of elephants, these six all come into use, as there is not time to load when once the animals are terrified, and in confusion.

Now, observe how quietly the elephant-finder steals along by the side of that patch of jungle; his eagle eye piercing through the branches in search of the prey. His hand is raised (a signal for us to lie down and be quiet), and noiselessly he creeps a few steps a-head. For a minute he is still; and then, as silently as a snake, he creeps backs to our party. There is a herd of a dozen elephants on the other side of the jungle, and now must be formed our plan of battle. Seizing a handful of dry jungle grass, he throws it into the air to discover in what quarter the wind is, as the elephants must be approached "up wind," in order that they may not scent us; and then we must separate into two parties, one under the "surveillance" of the "finder," and the other under that of the oldest hand amongst us; and so surprise the elephants both in front and in flank. This is soon accomplished, and now commences the excitement. Keeping our niggers with our spare guns behind us, we creep steadily on in rear of our guide, at one moment almost covered by lemon grass; at another time tearing our way through the underwood, until, all obstacles overcome, we stand opposed face to face with the enemy.

A shot from the other party at the same moment, followed by a fall of one of the animals to the earth, gives us the signal that all is in readiness, and that we may blaze away as fast as we like.

The chief point to be accomplished is to get as near the animal as