They are a fine race of people, far superior to the Cingalese.

They are supposed to be descended from Arabian origin, and they hold the Mohammedan religion.

The Rhatamahatmeya, or head man of the district, resides at Doolana, and he had received us in a most hospitable manner.

We therefore started direct from his house.
Passing through a belt of low thick jungle, exactly in front of the village, we entered upon the plain which formed the border of the tank.
This lake is about three miles in length, but is not more than a mile in width in its widest part, and in some places is very much less.
The opposite side of the tank is fine open forest, which grows to the water's edge, and is in some parts flooded during the wet season.

At this time the soil was deep and muddy.
This was not a place visited by sportsmen at that period; and upon arriving at the margin of the lake, an exciting view presented itself.
Scattered over the extent of the lake were 'thirteen rogue elephants;' one was not a quarter of a mile from us; another was so far off he could hardly be distinguished; another was close to the opposite jungle; and they were, in fact, all single elephants.