The village huts had been thrown open to the
English visitors after having been well cleaned
and whitewashed. Their doors were gaily
ornamented with strips of red and white
cloth, flowers, and the fresh pale-green leaves
of the cocoa-palm. When the little cottages
were lit up for the evening, they looked
extremely pretty.

It was at once evident that there was not
nearly sufficient accommodation for all the
guests. One of our party started in search of
his friend, the Government Agent, but in vain;
he had gone off in quest of the elephants,
reported to be coming up fast from the
neighbouring Korles, or counties. Consequently we
were left to our own resources. After some
delay, we succeeded in obtaining the use of one
small room for the ladies; whilst, for ourselves,
we sought shelter for the night beneath the
friendly and capacious roof of one of the Padé
boats, where we found a hearty welcome from
a party of young rollicking coffee-planters.

Day had not appeared next morning when
we were afoot; and, having sipped a cup
of vile half-boiled coffee, we started to explore
the wonders of the Kraal; followed, of course,
by our servants, with sundry tin boxes and a
hamper.

The neighbourhood in which the Kraal was
formed, consisted of rugged undulating ground,
pretty thickly covered with stout jungle.
Heavy, low forest trees studded the stony land,
interwoven with thorny brambles, cacti,
bamboos, and a species of gigantic creeping plant,
called, appropriately, jungle-rope; for it is
strong enough to bind the stoutest buffalo that
ever roared. A number of narrow paths had
been cut through the jungle leading to the
Kraal from the village. Through one of these
winding, prickly tracks, we bent our slow way,
seeing little around us save hugely-branched
trees and thickly-matted underwood. Half-an-
hour's walk brought us to a halt. We were
at the Kraal. I looked around; but, the only
indications of the industry of man in that wild
spot, were sundry covered platforms, raised
amongst the leafy branches of trees, some
twelve feet from the ground. These places
contained seats, and were already filling with
visitors; we followed the example, and mounting
the rude staircase, obtained a good view
of what was going on. Before us lay a large
open space, in extent about an acre, irregular
in shape and of very uneven surface. A
few stout trees were standing at intervals
within it; beside which were to be seen groups
of natives carrying long white wands, for all
the world like so many black stewards of
some public dinner or ball. Around this plot
of ground grew a wall of dense jungle; and, on
looking into this, I perceived that it had
been made artificially strong by intertwining
amongst it the supple branches of trees, long
bamboos, and jungle-rope of enormous thickness.
At first sight, this natural wall did not
appear to be anything more than ordinary
jungle; such as might easily be forced by any
ordinary village buffalo. We were, however,
assured by the native master of the ceremonies,
the head Corale, that this jungle wall would
resist the fiercest attacks of the strongest
Kandian elephant. At one end of the
enclosure I perceived a narrow opening, partly
covered with light brambles and branches of
trees. This was the entrance to the Kraal ;
so arranged as to wear a natural appearance.
Beside this carefully concealed gateway
were hidden a number of active villagers,
ready prepared with huge trunks of trees and
jungle-rope ; with which they were to secure
the passage against any attempts at return, so
soon as the elephants were trapped.

The novelty of our situation; the wild
solitude of jungle around us; the picturesque
appearance of the many groups of natives
within and about the Kraal; the stories of
elephant shooting and trapping, and narrow
escapes, with sundry references to portly
baskets and boxes of provisions; all helped
to make the day pass away rapidly and
comfortably enough. Evening, however, brought
with it a general debate as to what should be
done; for there were still no signs of game
being near; and few of us desired to spend
the night in that open spot, unless under a
strong inducement. The discussion ended by
an adjournment to the village and the Padé
boat, where we slept soundly.

The following day was spent pretty much
as had been the first. Some of the visitors
gave strong signs of impatience; and towards
evening, a few, of worse temper than the rest,
declared the whole affair a complete take in,
and took their departure for Colombo. Just
then, intelligence was received, by means of
scouts, that the elephants, to the number of
forty, were in full march towards the Kraal.
This set us all on the tip-toe of expectation.
Every one betook himself to his appointed
place. Ladies shrank away from the front
seats, and I detected one or two of my own sex
casting anxious glances towards the stairs.
An equal bustle was visible within the Kraal.
The head Corale rushed about full of importance;
the black stewards, with their white
wands, grouped themselves into parties of
three or four, at irregular intervals amongst
the jungle surrounding the open space, and
especially about the entrance; but what duty
was to be performed by these gentry, was
more than I could divine. It is true (I was
told by a native chief) that it would devolve
on them to drive back any of the elephants,
when caught in the Kraal, in the event of
their attempting to force the surrounding
defences. But the idea of these poor creatures
—some of them mere boys—being of any
service, with their little white sticks, appeared
so insane and altogether ridiculous, that I
felt I was being hoaxed by the Corale.

The shades of evening descended, and
scouts continued to arrive from the " driving
party," with injunctions to hold everything in
readiness, for the herd were coming on. The