Jan. 24.-Away on the wings of the morning. I should have ridden some miles, as the trudging through the deep sand through which the road winds is trying to the muscles and calves, but my horse has got a nasty cut on his withers, from his saddle not being well stuffed. On in the same direction as yesterday. The natives say there are no deer at Palitoo-Pane; however, I saw a most magnificent spotted buck shortly after leaving camp. I did not get a shot at him. Made for a very high rock, with waterpools all about, and found fresh tracks of a large herd, which we took up and followed for upwards of two hours through some horrid scrub, until the tracks became so faint, owing to the short grass and rocky ground, with a burning sun blazing down, that we came to a check whilst the Malays made a cast for the spoor, which, after several failures, was successfully hit off, and away we went again for a good half hour. I was so fortunate as to come upon the herd feeding in open ground; the wind, however, was bad, shifting and swirling all round the compass. I made at the biggest of the lot, and he walked straight towards me, trumpeting and switching his trunk about, as I made my way at him through the grass and briers. When within eight yards I dropped him with a shot in the temple, but he was not dead, as he struck at me with his trunk as I ran close by his head. The herd had already made off, so I ran as quickly as I could, and managed to cut one big one off, catching her in the ear, and sending her down with an awful crash. I then got a fresh No. 10, and am sure ran fully a mile before I got up to another; doubling past him, being a small one, I got up to the others, and as they were stumping away through an open space, I got a good shot at the leading elephant's ear and killed her. Strange to say, although upon dry land, I now became so violently sea-sick that I was obliged to lie down, otherwise I should probably have bagged one or two more of this herd. Had to take several pulls at the O D V before I could get over the marine malady, and had a long walk back in search of the first elephant knocked down. Came upon No. 2, who had been killed by an ear shot. In this case the bullet (a conical No. 10) had traversed the head and come out on the opposite side of the temple, just above the eye, showing wonderful strong shooting in the rifle. Found the first elephant doubled up, sitting on his haunches, but unable to get up. He lashed at me most viciously with his trunk as I walked up to him and gave him a quietus in the ear with the single No. 14. Had breakfast and a bath at a tank containing some half-putrid water full of animalculæ, and after a comfortable siesta started for camp about four P.M. I never experienced anything like the heat of this afternoon, the sun's rays actually piercing through one's brain-quite as powerful as old Sol can be in Calcutta about five P.M. in April. Saw no elephant tracks. A buffalo rushed out of a water-hole and bolted into the jungle close at hand, but after a couple of seconds' deliberation with himself out he came again, pawing the earth and tossing his horns. Taking the 4 oz., I took a steady aim at his throat as he was

An elephant generally always (except in unequal ground) falls to the shot. In shooting elephants on a steep mountain-side, it is dangerous to run below them in following up, as they might topple over like an avalanche in their struggles. I remember F. Palliser telling me of his brother (Captain E. Palliser) being nearly squashed on one occasion, his death being inevitable, when a small rock diverted the mass of flesh a few feet from him.

holding his head up, and killed him with the ball through his windpipe. He came down such an everlasting smash that he knocked half of one of his fine horns off, splitting it, otherwise this would have been a splendid head. To camp, and found my dinner completely composed of prawns, and a curry of the same material, really wonderful to eat. I fully expected letters from home and some newspapers to enliven me, but, alas! nothing has come to hand-"et je suis désolé."

Total killed up to this evening: twenty-eight elephants, one bear, three buffaloes, three deer, two hogs, and the "allegory."

Sunday, Jan. 25.-Being a day of rest, I did not get up till seven A.M., and walked down to the sea, about half a mile off, and had a most delicious dip in the briny. About eight miles off saw the waves breaking upon the "Basses." Not a sail in sight, however. On my return to camp, had to upbraid my housekeeper (i. e. to give him a thundering good walloping). My people generally, with all the flesh they have eaten, are getting lazy. Actually nothing for breakfast-so, taking Charles Moore, I killed six couple of snipe in half an hour's shooting, and, at the request of the coolies, knocked over a lot of paddy-birds, silleries, and cranes. I heard this morning that the old Moorman tracker who accompanied me last year in this jungle (Callander by name), and who met me and Palliser at Wellawy, blew half his hand off with a French doublebarrelled smooth-bore when firing at a small tusker* near Yallé. The gun burst into a thousand splinters. Many people hereabouts appear to have been wounded by bears. Surely it would be better policy of the government agents to offer a large reward for the destruction of these brutes, than the trumpery fee of 5s. for every elephant's tail brought in. Make the reward 11. for a bear, and the same for an alligator above a certain length. A child has just been killed by one of these latter gentlemen near Hambantotte; and a man was shown to me at Kattregam, the calf of whose leg had been torn away a few weeks before by one of these diaboli whilst he was fishing in the tank. At four P.M., through Bailey's kindness, I received a tapal from Badulla with overland letters, papers, and epistles from Ellen. Also, Observer newspaper and other local publications, through the kind thoughtfulness of Burrows. Sat up very late reading the papers and writing to my sposa, as the messenger returns to Badulla at blick of day. Had all the guns carefully cleaned and oiled for to-morrow. I cannot conclude this day without alluding to my dinner this evening, which consisted of buffalo-tail soup, buffalotongue stewed with cucumber, a roasted peahen as big as a Norfolk turkey, roast snipe, and snipe curry, winding up with a chef-d'œuvre in the shape of a large custard in a saucepan made of peafowl's eggs. To

*This man was shooting elephants for the government reward of 5s. I am delighted to think that government has not granted further sums for the destruction of this noble animal in any district, so there is every probability of their meeting death with the gun in a creditable manner, instead of finding destruction or a wretched wound at every pool or stream where exhausted nature compels them to drink at, every moonlight night, and where as surely the crafty nigger sits safely ensconced behind some unassailable rock, or perched on some equally safe overhanging tree.

This man I found to have died on my return through Kattregam. I am inclined to think that the commonest attention from a surgeon would have saved him, but the healing art is not to be met with in these wildernesses.

the disgust of Lazarus, I contented myself with the snipe curry, and would not even look at the "custard." Poor devil! he appeared hurt

at my want of appetite.

Monday, Jan. 26.-Up and away at five A.M. Very seedy, however, consequent upon sitting up so late reading. We went off in the direc tion of Kirinde,* about four miles, and struck into the jungle up wind. After a long, weary, hot walk, came upon the fresh tracks of a herd, and followed up the same until nine A.M., over dreadfully rocky ground, and thorns of all sorts. After pushing through some awful jungle, we made the herd out feeding ahead of us. Unfortunately, the wind was most unfavourable, and immediately on obtaining the first view they threw up their trunks and bolted at the most tremendous pace. I rushed after them at top speed, until I was brought up completely blown by the infernal bèdé, wholly impenetrable to nobody but the man in brass, who certainly might have done so had he been good on his pins. So disgusted was I with my long tramp and my ill success, and well knowing from the dryness and want of moisture that I should remain out the remainder of the day without the chance of tracking anything in the shape of elephant, that I at once made up my mind to be off home. The want of a companion and of cheerful conversation preys most shockingly on my spirits, and I can stand it no longer. On my way home, I slaughtered a big bull buffalo. Poor old devil! he was game to the last, and it took me three No. 10 bullets to send him to the happy huntinggrounds, where, I trust, I may again meet him, if provided with as good weapons as possess at present.

On my return to camp, paid up my friends Bab Alli and Soor Appoo, and starting with my coolies made Kattregam at six P.M., with all hands and "appurts." Distance from Palitoo-Pane to Kattregam sixteen, perhaps seventeen long miles. In bringing my journal to a conclusion, I must give every credit to my shoemaker, Mr. Kronenburgh, of Kandy, by whose eminent skill and scientific principles I was always delightfully chaussé, and during all my hard runs over rocky ground, sand, and thick grass, his canvas leather-tipped lace boots carried me "o'er all the ills of life" victorious.

Total game killed during one actual eight days' shooting: twentynine elephants, one bear, three deer,† four buffaloes, two hogs, and one alligator.

Jan. 27.-Left Kattregam very early, having been prevented from sleeping by the accursed fakirs, who shrieked and yelled all night as fiends only can yell and shriek. My coolies rather knocked up with their yesterday's tramp from Palitoo-Pane. On nearing Bootel a messenger brought me the tail of an elephant, killed by a stern shot by the four-ouncer. I reached Bootel by four P.M., and killed eighteen couple of snipe and five teal. The head man exceedingly civil, and very much

* Kirinde is the station from which the works for the erection of the lighthouse upon the "Basses" are being carried out. Here are also large government go-downs for the reception of salt, so largely manufactured by nature in the immediate neighbourhood.

† I could have killed many more deer and buffalo, but, as I have before men. tioned, the alarm spread to elephants by the discharge of fire-arms renders the elephant shooter most chary of disturbing the surrounding hills and valleys.

pleased with the taste of sherry and brandy-a mark of civilisation I leave to the consideration of Father Gough and the Temperance movement in general; but as he said he felt much the better for the quant. suff. I gave him, I refer the above society to him personally (if by letter post paid).

Rode into Badulla at two P.M. Shortly after leaving Bootel saw tracks of elephants, and heard them crashing in some heavy jungle through which I passed. Too blasé to wait for my coolies and guns. Received a most kind welcome from my friends Mr. and Mrs. Bailey, who kindly stationed horses on the road for the next day, thus enabling me to reach Glenloch, and once again to find myself surrounded by a kind wife and jolly children after a most delightful excursion; and for chronicling which, if these rough sketches ever meet the eye of friends at home, I shall think myself trebly repaid by their kind perusal.

GERMAN ALMANACKS FOR 1859.

WE are much gratified at finding in the German Almanacks for the ensuing year a very decided change for the better as regards the views entertained about England. Up to this period it was impossible to take up a German Almanack without finding some heartrending tale about English poverty or crime, which made the reader shudder and bless his good fortune in not being born across the water. We believe, though, the German writers did not invent these stories; they generally stole them from such eminent social philanthropists of the French school as write about England with a blessed ignorance of the subject. According to these luminaries, English society is divided into two great antagonistic classes: the one consisting of the selfish and heartless rich, the other recruited exclusively from a broken-hearted and starving proletariat. The refrain of all these stories was the same, although the incidents varied; in some cases the wife being sold for a pot of beer, in others the husband being ruthlessly seized by the ruffianly squire, and transported across the seas without benefit of jury. Individually, we can afford to laugh at such stories, but when we remember the effect they produce on many thousands of German peasants, it is matter for congratulation that the authors have so altered their tone. In all the stories we have read this year, not one alludes to the disgrace of England, and even the inevitable accounts of the Indian mutiny are written with admirable impartiality. It is true that, here and there, a writer may try to palliate the revolt by attacking the Company's government, but, to their credit be it said, not one dares to apologise for the brutal atrocities of the Sepoys. Among other articles which have afforded us signal pleasure in the perusal, we may refer to one headed "The Christian Soldier," giving the biography of General Havelock, while the myth of Jessie of Lucknow furnishes occasion for the publication of the music of "The Campbells are coming," which, we trust,

will henceforth become a standard melody in Germany. We need not dwell on the causes of this sudden change in the feeling towards England; probably, they may be found in the more intimate relationship we have entered into with Prussia, while the policy which has led our government to draw more tightly the bond connecting us with Austria may have done much towards producing this altered feeling. Let politicians talk as they please about Austria not belonging to the German family, and being an imperium in imperio, at any moment of peril Germans are only too glad to gratefully remember the sacrifices Austria has made for the independence of Germany, and although Prussia may indulge in bickerings with her powerful neighbour, these would cease at once were the common fatherland seriously endangered. Whether these views are right or wrong time will show; still the fact remains the same, that the Almanacks, which form the sole reading of thousands of German peasants, have altered their tone towards England, and, for our part, we are very glad to welcome the change. And now to see what novelty we can pick out of them to amuse our readers.

We always take up Auerbach's Almanack first, as we are sure to find in it much that is both profitable and amusing. Auerbach himself is the purest type of the honest patriotic German; imbued with a sincere love for his country, he never allows himself to be drawn away by finespun theories which ruin the intellect of too many of his literary brethren, but in all he says or writes he goes straight to the point. If he have a fault, it is that he still adheres to that splendid myth of German unity, but, for the last few years, he has kept this idea very much in the background, for neither the times nor the temper of the people are favourable to the promulgation of such views. Still he does his best to hold up before his readers the great deeds of their ancestors, and reads them eminently practical lessons about the necessity of imitating them, if they desire to keep up the dignity of their fatherland. The present issue of his Almanack commences with a story of universal interest, bearing the name of "Frederick the Great of Schwaben," which we shall proceed to analyse, as showing in what a charming manner Auerbach recals the historical reminiscences of his country.

On the morning of the 9th of November, 1759, a busy scene was going on in the house of the master baker Kodweiss, on the marketplace of Marbach. Women were crowding in to receive their baskets of bread which they were going to carry out to Ludswigsburg, for it was the last day of the military manœuvres. An elderly person was delivering the bread to the women, while a younger one was sitting at a table, writing down the quantity each received. As the last woman received the basket, she addressed the younger female as follows:

"Well, Mrs. Captain, have you no message for the captain, if I happen to see him ?"

"Yes, yes, wife," the person addressed replied, and there was a most pleasing expression in her voice."Tell him that I am, thank the Lord, well and hearty, but I cannot come to him as I had promised. I dare not venture it

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"You are right; it would not be proper for you to go into the midst of the noise and confusion. You are not safe of your own life there, let alone when you bear another life beneath your heart. Yes, yes, through the whole town you never hear anything else than There isn't such another honest and kind