ADVENTURE WITH AN ELK.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 20, 15 May 1876, Page 2

ADVENTURE WITH AN ELK.

An incident of sin almost nature in the hunting-field' recently occurred in Ceylon to ajyoung gentleman named Behrend, who wis' learning coffeeplanting on the estate. of"Mi\ C. B. Pliipson, of Maskeylia. 'The " Ceylon Observer of. Ma-rCli 2.4:1 ms describes the affair: —" On February 26, after the day's work was closed, MiV Behrend went in pursuit of an elk which had been seen on the plantation. The anima,r cahie to bay in the river,, and the coolies who accompanied their Sinna Duria wish to kill it with sticks or stones. This Behrend would not permit, and instead, without the aid of dogs, he pluckily, but very raslilj went in himself, knife in hand. The attempt would be a most dangerous one even for an old experienced huntsman, ..for the elk was a large powerful buck; till poor Behrend had no chance, for instead of going at the elk sideways, he seems to have gone up in front, and caught at tliE creature's'throat. There was, of course, a struggle, and the coolies saw Bghr6nd fall back, while the elk broke away. rushed up at once,, ancl got their yttani master out' of the Avater, him- quite dead.Tlie' to be'that the elk with liis struck the poor fellow's hand with such force as to turn • the knife back and right into hij chest, if not through the heart. Death must have been almost instantaneous." *