met no one, their fears were allayed and they grew bolder, when suddenly coming on the elephant lying dead (oh, horror to them!), the beast was surrounded by a party of Mulu Curumbers busily engaged in cutting out the tusks, one of which they had already disengaged!  The affrighted Burghers fell back, and nothing Mr. K—–­ could do or say would induce them to approach the elephant, which the Curumbers stoutly declared was theirs.  They had killed him they said.  They had very likely met him staggering under his wound and had finished him off.  Mr. K—–­was not likely to give up his game in this fashion.  So walking threateningly to the Curumbers he compelled them to retire, and called to his Burghers at the same time.  The Curumbers only said, “Just you dare to touch that elephant,” and retired.  Mr. K—–­thereupon cut out the remaining tusk himself, and slinging both on a pole with no little trouble, made his men carry them.  He took all the blame on himself, showed them that they did not touch them, and finally declared he would stay there all night rather than lose the tusks.  The idea of a night near the Mulu Curumbers was too much for the fears of the Burghers, and they finally took up the pole and tusks and walked home.  From that day those men, all but one who probably carried the gun, sickened, walked about like spectres, doomed, pale and ghastly, and before the month was out all were dead men, with the one exception!

A few months ago, at the village of Ebanaud, a few miles from this, a fearful tragedy was enacted.  The Moneghar or headman’s child was sick unto death.  This, following on several recent deaths, was attributed to the evil influences of a village of Curumbers hard by.  The Burghers determined on the destruction of every soul of them.  They procured the assistance of a Toda, as they invariably do on such occasions, as without one the Curumbers are supposed to be invulnerable.  They proceeded to the Curumber village at night and set their huts on fire, and as the miserable inmates attempted to escape, flung them back into the flames or knocked them down with clubs.  In the confusion one old woman escaped unobserved into the adjacent bushes.  Next morning she gave notice to the authorities, and identified seven Burghers, among whom was the Moneghar or headman, and one Toda.  As the murderers of her people they were all brought to trial in the Courts here,—­except the headman, who died before he could be brought in—­and were all sentenced and duly executed, that is, three Burghers and the Toda, who were proved principals in the murders.

Two years ago an almost identical occurrence took place at Kotaghery, with exactly similar results, but without the punishment entailed having any deterrent effect.  They pleaded “justification,” as witchcraft had been practiced on them.  But our Government ignores all occult dealings and will not believe in the dread power in the land.  They deal very differently with these matters in Russia,