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CHAPTER XIV.

ANIMALS-BEASTS-BIRDS-REPTILES-INSECTS-FISHES.

THE animals of Ceylon being, in general, the same as are found in other countries throughout the east, and presenting but few uncommon species, perhaps none that are undescribed, little more shall be here attempted than simply to mention the names of those which are most abundant, and to glance at any of their qualities which are particularly striking.

The elephant stands at the head of the class of quadrupeds here, as well as in every other country which it inhabits. The manner in which these noble animals are caught and tamed is described from actual observation in the course of the tour round the island. As probably enough is said concerning them there, any account of them here is unnecessary.

Next to the elephant, the buffaloe is the animal which

bears the strongest marks of real Indian origin. It abounds in Ceylon both in a wild and a tame state. It is similar to the buffaloe of Bengal and Sumatra, but very different from the animal known by that name in the southern parts of Europe. The size of it is inferior to that of an English ox: the legs are shorter; the hoofs larger; the horns bend backward upon the neck; the colour is black, with a mixture of iron grey; and the hairs are so thinly scattered over its body that they only partially cover its sun-burned skin. It has no hump upon its shoulders. Its appearance is fierce, ugly, and often terrifying. An unprotected traveller finds it extremely unpleasant to encounter either a single one or a herd in their wild state; but when tamed and accustomed to labour, they are as tractable as other oxen. The milk of the female is not of so sweet a flavour as that of the common cow, nor does it yield butter of so good a quality. They are employed in the plough, and in drawing carts, in places where these vehicles are used.

This animal finds a luxury in rolling itself in a muddy pool, in which situation it is often seen, wallowing up to the neck, for several hours during the heat of the day. Many of them, from the little work which they have to do, are but half tamed, and are allowed to wander about in pairs and herds without any keeper. If they see a person at a distance, they advance towards him, making frequent halts

with a view to reconnoitre. The person pursued commonly contrives to hide himself until they alter their course: but might continue his journey unhurt by not taking any notice of them, as curiosity seems to be the motive by which they are actuated..

Upon an attack, or alarm, they fly for a short distance, and then suddenly face about, and draw up in battle array, with surprising quickness and regularity; their horns being laid back, and their muzzles projecting. Upon the nearer approach of the danger that presses on them they make a second flight, and a second time halt, and form; and this excellent mode of retreat, which but few natives of the human race have attained to such a degree of discipline as to adopt, they continue 'till they gain a neighbouring wood*

White buffaloes are sometimes seen in Ceylon, but they are extremely rare, and have a sickly appearance. It is therefore probable that the whiteness is occasioned by an innate disorder, similar to that which produces albinos among the black part of the human species. One of those buffaloes was presented to us at Matura, on the 16th of August, 1800. Its skin was of a red and livid hue, very thinly scattered over with white hairs; and the animal was looked upon as a singular lusus naturæ.

* See Marsden's History of Sumatra.

The common oxen are of a diminutive size, and have a hump upon their shoulders. They are of various colours, but black is most prevalent. The island produces a sufficient number of them to supply the wants of the natives, who kill none of them for their own use: but cattle are frequently imported from the coast of Coromandel to supply the demands of the British garrisons. A common bullock is bought for one pound four shillings sterling; and beef is sold at the rate of fourpence per pound. Both buffaloes and oxen are occasionally subject to an epidemic distemper, which carries off one half of their number in the space of a few months. This deficiency is supplied by importation, for which government holds out an encouragement to the natives. These cattle, commonly called bullocks, are used in the plough, in carts, and in carrying burdens on their backs; which last is the most common method of transporting camp equipage and military stores. They are often so wild as to throw their loads; and require to be trained before they are fit for service.

Hogs are extremely plentiful, and their flesh is daily used at the European settlements.

They are carried to market alive on a stool formed of three boards. The animal is bound down with ropes upon the uppermost, and the two others, notched into it, serve as feet on which the machine rests. It is slung from a pole, either of common wood or bamboo, which is placed on the 3 I

VOL. I.

shoulders of two men; and when temporary rest becomes necessary, the convenience of the feet enables them the more easily to lay down their load.

Not

Pork is an aliment much relished by the Dutch and Portuguese inhabitants. The quality of it at Columbo is excellent, equal if not superior to any that is fed on board ship. The animals are extremely fat and unwieldly; their flesh white and delicate. Their feeding is likewise perfectly clean and extremely nourishing, the principal articles on which they subsist being cocoa-nuts and jack-fruit. withstanding this circumstance, from the mistaken prejudice of the English inhabitants, pork rarely appears on their tables; and those persons who are fond of it take care to be supplied by European butchers, on whose attestation they can depend for the guarded manner in which the pigs have been reared and fattened. A well-fed hog may be bought for ten shillings; and pork is sold at the same price as beef.

Sheep and goats are not natives of the island, and but few of them are reared in it. Those that are necessary to supply the markets are imported from the coast of Coromandel and Bengal. In some places, however, particularly in the province of Jaffnapatam, they thrive extremely well. The common price of a sheep at Columbo (in 1804) was one pound twelve shillings. At the same time, one could have been purchased at Jaffnapatam for one shilling. A little kid then sold for sixteen shillings. Mutton is not