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Updated: May 22, 2025
It was my rascally horse-keeper, who had actually handed me the shot-gun, which I had received as the double-barrelled ball-gun that I knew was carried by a gun-bearer. How I did thrash him! If the elephant had charged instead of making off I should have been caught to a certainty. This day's shooting was the last day of good sport that I ever had at Minneria. It was in June, 1847.
The servants had received orders when they started from Kandy, to have dinner prepared at five o'clock on the 17th of November; it was accordingly ready on our arrival. Minneria was the appointed rendezvous from which this trip was to commence.
This is now many years ago, and it was then my first visit to the island. Some places that were good spots for shooting in those days have since that time been much disturbed, and are now no longer attractive to my eyes. One of these places is Minneria Lake.
I remember a curious and unexpected shot that I once made with the four-ounce rifle, which illustrates its immense power. I was shooting at Minneria, and was returning to the tent in the afternoon, having had a great day's sport with buffaloes, when I saw a large herd in the distance, ranged up together, and gazing intently at some object near them.
Our revenge was complete, and I had proved that the four-ounce was perfectly irresistible if held straight with the heavy charge of twelve drachms of powder. On our return to the village of Minneria we found a famous breakfast, for which a bath in the neighbouring brook increased an appetite already sharpened by the morning exercise.
The buffalo steaks were coarse and bad, as tough as leather, and certainly should never be eaten if better food can be obtained. The tongues are very rich, but require salting. In those days Minneria was not spoiled by visitors, and supplies were accordingly at a cheap rate large fowls at one penny each, milk at any price that you chose to give for it.
In passing by Kandelly, on my return from Trincomalee, I paid a second visit to the lake. This is very similar to that of Minneria; but the shooting at that time was destroyed from the same cause which has since ruined Minneria 'too many guns. The buffaloes were not worthy of the name; I could not make one show fight, nor could I even get within three hundred yards of them.
Passing the rock of Sigiri, which was formerly used as a fort by the ancient inhabitants of the country, we gradually entered better jungle, and at length we emerged upon the beautiful plains of Minneria. I had ordered Wallace to pitch the encampment in the exact spot which I had frequently occupied some years ago. I therefore knew the rendezvous, and directed my course accordingly.
Wortley had commenced well, having killed his first elephant with one shot. We found breakfast ready on our return to the horses, and having disturbed this part of the country by the heavy volley at the herd, we returned to Minneria. I was convinced that we could expect no sport in this neighbourhood; we therefore held a consultation as to our line of country.
Character of the Veddahs Description of the Veddahs A Monampitya Rogue Attacking the Rogue Breathless Excitement Death of a Large Rogue Utility of the Four-ounce A Curious Shot Fury of a Bull Buffalo Character of the Wild Buffalo Buffalo-shooting at Minneria Lake Charge in High Reeds Close of a Good Day's Sport Last Day at Minneria A Large Snake An Unpleasant Bedfellow.
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