I started off V.B.'s coolies after him, also eight men whose loads had been consumed, and, with a diminished party, we started for Bibille, which the natives assured us was only nineteen miles from this spot.For once they were about correct in their ideas of distance.The beautiful 'Park' country commenced about four miles from Curhellulai, and, after a lovely ride through this scenery for sixteen miles, we arrived at the luxurious and pretty village of Bibille, which had so often been my quarters.
We had ridden a hundred and forty miles from Minneria, through a country abounding with game of all kinds, sixty miles of which had never been shot over, and yet the whole bag in this lovely country consisted of only three elephants.So much for hurrying through our ground.If we had remained for a week at the foot of the Gunner's Coin we could have obtained supplies of all kinds from Doolana, and we should have enjoyed excellent sport through the whole country.Our total bag was now wretchedly small, considering the quantity of ground that we had passed over.We had killed nine elephants and two deer.V.Baker had a miserable time of it, having only killed two elephants when he was obliged to return.The trip might, in fact, be said to commence from Bibille.
This is a very pretty, civilized village, in the midst of a wild country.It is the residence of a Rhatamahatmeya, and he and his family were well known to me.They were perfectly astonished when they heard by which route we had arrived, and upon hearing of our forty-eight hours of fasting, they lost no time in preparing dinner.We were now in a land of plenty, and we shortly fell to at a glorious dinner of fowls in various shapes, curries, good coffee, rice cakes.plantains, and sweet potatoes.
After our recent abstinence and poor fare, it seemed a perfect banquet.
Nov.29.--The coolies did not arrive till early this morning; they were soon hard at work at curry and rice, and, after a few hours of rest, we packed up and started for a spot in the 'Park' (upon which I had often encamped) about ten miles from Bibille.
The horses had enjoyed their paddy as much as we had relished our change of diet, and the coolies were perfectly refreshed.I sent orders to Kotoboya (about twenty miles from Bibille) for several bullock-loads of paddy and rice to meet us at an appointed spot, and with a good supply of fowls and rice, &c., for the present, we arrived at our place of encampment at three P.M., after a delightful ride.
The grass was beautifully green; a few large trees shaded the tents, which were pitched near a stream, and the undulations of the ground, interspersed with clumps of trees and ornamented by rocky mountains, formed a most lovely scene.We sent a messenger to Nielgalla for Banda, and another to Dimbooldene for old Medima and the trackers, with orders to meet us at our present encampment.We then took our rifles and strolled out to get a deer.We shortly found a herd, and Wortley got a shot at about sixty yards, and killed a doe.We could have killed other deer shortly afterwards, but we did not wish to disturb the country by firing unnecessary shots, as we had observed fresh tracks of elephants.
We carried the deer to the tent, and rejoiced our coolies with the sight of venison; the doe was soon divided among them, one haunch only being reserved for our own use.
Nov.30.--This, being Sunday, was a day of rest for man and beast after our recent wanderings, and we patiently awaited the arrival of Banda and the trackers.The guns were all in beautiful order, and stood arranged against a temporary rack, in readiness for the anticipated sport on the following day.
Banda and the trackers arrived in the afternoon.His accounts were very favourable as to the number of elephants, and we soon laid down a plan for beating the 'Park' in a systematic manner.
Upon this arrangement the duration of sport in this country materially depends.If the shooting is conducted thoughtlessly here and there, without reference to the localities, the whole 'Park' becomes alarmed at once, and the elephants quit the open country and retire to the dense chenar jungles.
I proposed that we should commence shooting at our present encampment, then beat towards the Cave, shoot over that country towards Pattapalaar, from thence to cross the river and make a circuit of the whole of that portion of the 'Park,' and finish off in the environs of Nielgalla.
Banda approved of this plan, as we should then be driving the borders of the `Park,' instead of commencing in the centre.
Dec.1.--The scouts were sent out at daybreak.At two o'clock P.M.they returned: they had found elephants, but they were four miles from the tent, and two men had been left to watch them.
Upon questioning them as to their position, we discovered that they were in total ignorance of the number in the herd, as they had merely heard them roaring in the distance.They could not approach nearer, as a notoriously vicious rogue elephant was consorting with the herd.This elephant was well known to the natives from a peculiarity in having only one tusk, which was about eighteen inches long.
In November and December elephant-shooting requires more than ordinary caution at the 'Park,' as the rogue elephants, who are always bulls, are in the habit of attending upon the herds.The danger lies in their cunning.They are seldom seen in the herd itself, but they are generally within a few hundred paces; and just as the guns may have been discharged at the herd, the rogue will, perhaps, appear in full charge from his ambush.This is exquisitely dangerous, and is the manner in which I was caught near this spot in 1850.
