Speaking a language of their own, with habits akin to those of wild animals, they keep entirely apart from the Cingalese.

They barter deer-horns and bees'-wax with the travelling Moormen pedlers in exchange for their trifling requirements.
If they have food, they eat it; if they have none, they go without until by some chance they procure it.

In the meantime they chew the bark of various trees, and search for berries, while they wend their way for many miles to some remembered store of deer's flesh and honey, laid by in a hollow tree.
The first time that I ever saw a Veddah was in the north of the country.
A rogue elephant was bathing in a little pool of deep mud and water near the tank of Monampitya, about six miles from the 'Gunner's Coin.' This Veddah had killed a wild pig, and was smoking the flesh within a few yards of the spot, when he suddenly heard the elephant splashing in the water.

My tent was pitched within a mile of the place, and he accordingly brought me the intelligence.
Upon arrival at the pool I found the elephant so deep in the mud that he could barely move.

His hind-quarters were towards me; and the pool not being more than thirty yards in diameter, and surrounded by impenetrable rattan jungle on all sides but one small opening, in which I stood, I was obliged to clap my hands to attract his attention.