Notice to Old Peterites

32

O.P. CORRESPONDENCE.

babbler has made her domed nest and laid her two eggs ; while from a bush, as we pass, glides a vivid green ribbon—a Whipsnake. And yet to the unobservant, wandering along without using his eyes, the jungles are almost void of life, a howling wilderness, unhabited except i by a very occasional deer. Movement is what attracts attention in the jungle, movement and any unusual noise.

Anything strange brings the ordinary life of the jungle to a standstill, to be passed by unseen by the unobservant.

Suddenly as we moved along the game path, the distant crack of a branch followed by a rending and crackling, the unmistakable sound of an elephant feeding in the forest, brought us to a halt. Having located the direction of the sounds we advanced more cautiously. Presently as we drew up three blurred shapes became visible half hidden among the swaying undergrowth and P., who had won the toss for the first shot, moved forward with a view to picking his animal. Without warning, however, the wind which is always inclined to be treacherous in thick jungle, changed and wafted our scent to the unsuspecting elephants, instantly galvanising them into violent life. With a tremendous crashing of undergrowth they charged off headlong through the densest forest, just like three express engines let loose on their own, and then, silence ; in a moment they had disappeared completely.

Well, well, it didn't matter much. There appeared to be no big bull with them, they were probably only a small party of cows, so that they were not much loss.

On again we went, searching the whole of that riverside jungle, for a big bull, which was believed to be somewhere in the neighbourhood. Eventually, just as we were thinking of returning towards camp, the distant crash of a tree falling in the still jungle gave us a clue to the direction in which to look. Moving in that direction we began to hear the continued crackle of branches, denoting that our elephant was feeding on the twigs and leaves of the tree that he had just pushed over. Presently he came into partial view, his huge head and forequarters being buried amidst the foliage. So engrossed in feeding was he, that we were able to approach close up and watch him pushing the green stuff into his mouth with his trunk ; but owing to the denseness of the foliage, it was difficult to pick out a vital spot upon the head, at which to fire. After we had waited for some five or ten minutes, he backed partly out and turned half round, enabling P. to take a somewhat uncertain shot, uncertain owing to the difficult light and intervening twigs and foliage. At the shot the elephant staggered, half-fell, recovered, and then crashed off through the jungle into a large patch

O.P. CORRESPONDENCE. 33

of scrub, where he disappeared. That was the last that we saw of him, for although we searched all around, we were unable to find any sign of him or of which way he had gone.

Next day was a blank. We saw nothing but a few sambur and smaller animals and did not fire a shot, nor did we come across any fresh signs of elephants. In the evening, however, news came in of some having recently been at a place a few miles away through the jungle, and we decided to go and look for them in the morning.

Making an early start, we rode through the jungle by a little used path, that brought us out into a large " damana," or open grassy space, where we left our horses. and proceeded to look for tracks. Within a few minutes we came upon the fresh spoor of a bull elephant that had upset a large tree and then grazed a few mouthfuls of grass, before re-entering the jungle. Following these tracks until they entered the jungle proper, we made a detour to avoid some small scrub jungle and picked up the tracks again on the far side, coming up with the elephant almost immediately afterwards. There he was, standing in the edge of the scrub, listlessly flicking off the flies with his trunk and tail and shifting from foot to foot, as elephants do when standing idle. Unfortunately he was in such a position, half concealed in the scrub, that a close approach for a certain shot was difficult, especially as he kept moving a few yards along or in. After a little manoeuvring I was able to get up behind a tree a few yards distant but as he was still masked by the scrub, I had to wait in order to get a clear shot. And then, suddenly he vanished, vanished completely into the scrub without a sound, just as if he had dissolved into thin air !

From the nature of the jungle it was impossible to follow him up i so there was nothing for it but to wait until he should start feeding (probably not until about 3o clock) in the afternoon when we hoped to be able to locate him again. We decided, therefore, to go off to a near-by rock water-hole and to have our lunch there in peace, and rest in the shade during the heat of the day.

At about 3 o'clock, just when we were thinking of making a move, the sky became overcast and down came the rain, one of those sudden storms that are not unusual at this time of year. We therefore sent off our trackers to try to discover fresh signs of our elephant, while we ourselves returned to the " damana and took shelter beneath a large tree standing in the open.

Now in the Ceylon jungles, most of the animals and birds hate the heavy rain, especially that which drips upon them from the foliage, so that very often, as soon as the rain has nearly ceased, they will come out into the open to avoid this drip, And of all animals so affected,

34

O.P. CORRESPONDENCE.

the elephant feels it and dislikes it most. P. and I were just discussing this when suddenly he stood up and pointed, exclaiming " Look." There, walking out into the damana," at the far end, was our elephant !

We quickly made our way, behind cover, to as close a point as possible. I took the shot, firing just behind the orifice of the ear, trying for the brain. The elephant fell to the shot, then recovered himself and made off slowly towards the jungle, with P. and I dashing after him. P. got in another shot just as he was about to enter the hushes while I dashed farther on in order to get a broadside shot into his head. At the third shot he stopped, then moved on a few yards and sank slowly to his knees, gradually sinking down and rolling over upon his side, dead.

He was a fine full-grown bull, and looked colossal as he lay in the edge of the jungle. After the first excitement of the chase had died away, one could not help feeling sorry that it should be necessary to kill such a magnificent beast. But elephants and paddy are incom- patible, and the destructive elephants have to go, especially as they not infrequently chase and kill the villagers.

Taking the usual trophies, the tail and the feet, the Ceylon elephant does not carry tusks, we returned to camp just as dusk was falling.

Another smaller elephant, which fell to P's. rifle on the morning of the day on which we started to return, completed our bag and we returned to the Estate feeling fitter in every way for another most enjoyable trip.

And so back to work ! W.W.A.P.

O.P. CORRESPONDENCE.

35

REMINISCENCES 1871-1880.

t•-c res t

Tommy Adams was a great housemaster. Stern, dark-moustached, eagle-eyed, but with a wonderful power of attraction. He filled Clifton Green House to overflowing with 45 boys, of whom I was once the smallest. What queer headgear we wore ! Round hard black caps with vertical sides and flat tops ; double peaked helmet caps with earflaps that were tied up with tapes when not in use ; brown bowlers ; anything ! It was high time the School cap came and swept them all away. In sports we held our own. I still treasure the badge of the Adamites 3rd boat, pink and pale blue cross keys, and that of the 1st boat, white cross keys on a dark blue silk shield. Tommy collected a boot-boy, Johann Zanger, on one of his Swiss walking tours. Johann's large round face beamed with joy and satisfaction whenever it managed to provoke a shower of slippers. I found J.Z. 20 years later, in a green baize apron at a Swiss Hotel, where he once more cleaned a Peterite's boots. Perhaps he was disappointed that I did not throw them at him • if so, he tactfully concealed his feelings. The appearance of Clifton Green House is much altered, but I fancy that by peeping over walls and things the wing at the back containing the " studies ' can still be made out. These were :—the lower study ; the upper study, which was above it in both space and dignity ; the " civil study, for the " civil and military department " now the modern side ; and below that, the Monitors' study.

The cottage next door, in which dwelt a burglarious looking prizefighter, reputed to be given to chasing his wife about the Green with a cold poker, has been pulled down.

The Lower Study was lighted by a double branched gas bracket from the ceiling. We used to light one burner, fill our hands with gas from the other, light the handful of gas at the lighted burner, by a sudden and adroit movement light the other. The gas-taps in some of the bedrooms were controlled by a string passing round the walls to one of the beds, a piece of ingenuity that was not encouraged by the powers, as it would be now.

Names ending in 0, like Wilson liners, occasionally came into vogue. Bingo, the 2nd form master, had also a shorter and less dignified name.

Jumbo was the late Archbishop Clarke, whose wife's name really was

Alice. He was followed by Gillo, a good housemaster, and very excellent teacher of mathematics ; did not Thompson fresh from his hands, come out first in all England in the Mathematical part of the Indian Civil Examination ? Yet Gillo is not mentioned in the History. Lastly Chillo, distinguished as the father of a son well-known to the present generation.

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NOTICE TO OLD PETERITES.

During part of the reign of Gillo I slept in a room which had, in the ceiling, a little vertical window opening on to the roof. This window was locked, but one of my keys fitted ; we did not often avail ourselves of this, as a scaffolding of beds, wash handstands, and chairs had to be made to render the window accessible. But I well remember one Gala night when it was suggested that the roof would be a good place from which to view the fire-works. The correct key was solemnly obtained from Gillo, a ladder was brought, and Gillo and even Mrs. Gino climbed with us on to the leads. Some obtained a better view by climbing the chimney stacks. One chimney pot was hot. OW ! J.A.E.

NOTICE TO OLD PETERITES.

All Old Peterites who are not members of the O.P. Club are earnestly requested to send in their names and Subscriptions (10 /6) without delay to Col. H. C. Scott, 1, Clifton Green, York.

We are indebted for the cover design to F. H. Potter, Esq.