We had a long day's work, and we were returning home in the afternoon when we suddenly observed a herd of deer grazing in the beautiful park.

The headman of this part of the country is a first-rate sportsman, and has always accompanied me in shooting through this district.

This man, whose name is Banda, is the only Cingalese that I have ever seen who looks like a man of good birth in his nation.

Strikingly handsome and beautifully proportioned, with the agility of a deer, he is in all respects the beau ideal of a native hunter.

His skill in tracking is superb, and his thorough knowledge of the habits of all Ceylon animals, especially of elephants, renders him a valuable ally to a sportsman.