270 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[May i, 1904. 



KANDY— LADY HORTON'S WALK. 



spot on the bark of the same or another tree, and there it 

 thrives, and soon fills the tissues with its mycelium. 



It was practically eradicated by cutting out the diseased por- 

 tions and the burning of them. This is best done in dry 

 weather. Nor did the cutting of the trees appear in any way to 

 weaken them or hinder their growth. Mr. Carruthers had 

 brought with him some cultures with which he proceeded to 

 inoculate a young Hevea tree, while I stole away into the grass 

 with my back to the sun, turned my kodak upon him, and 

 pressed the button. A moment later, happening to glance 

 downward, I saw that the grass was fairly alive with leeches, all 

 making their way toward me. I retreated very hastily, and at 

 once began a frantic search for them about my person. I 

 found a lot on my shoes, trousers, and outer clothing, but was 

 lucky enough to remove the last one before getting bitten. 



Speaking of insect pests, there are very few in Ceylon that 

 are troublesome to man — at least I saw or felt but few. The 

 mosquito was of course more or less in evidence, but I did not 

 get too badly bitten. I did, however, resent its mode of attack. 

 It does not ap- 

 proach you with a 

 song, but, in a si- 

 lent crafty, sus- 

 picious way, 

 alights, bites, and 

 flees. So suspi- 

 cious is the crea- 

 ture that it is al- 

 most impossible 

 to clap it on the 

 back, as is the cus 

 torn in America 

 when he has suc- 

 ceeded in punc- 

 turing one's epi 

 dermis. It, there- 

 fore, has no 

 friends, and beds 

 everywhere are 

 enclosed in huge 

 muslin screens; 

 otherwise one 

 would be con- 

 stantly bored. 



There is also the leech. It lives, 

 not in the water, but in the grass 

 and in the jungle. When exercis- 

 ing on an empty stomach, it is very 

 small, about the diameter of a knit- 

 ting needle, and from # to l'/i 

 inches in length. On hearing foot- 

 steps, it hastens toward the sound, 

 getting over the ground at a surpris- 

 ing rate of speed for so tiny a crea- 

 ture, and without hesitation attacks 

 instantly. If left to themselves, they 

 fill themselves with blood, swelling 

 to the size of one's little finger, and 

 then drop of?. Nor does this end 

 the incident, for during their meal 

 they inject something into the 

 veins, which keeps the blood from 

 clotting, and the wound therefore 

 remains open and goes on bleeding. 

 If roughly removed during feeding_ 

 it is very apt to leave its teeth in the wound, which causes in- 

 flammation, and in some cases, troublesome sores. The best 

 way to treat them is to wear close knit stockings, into which the 

 lower ends of the trouser legs should be tucked. This keeps 

 most of them off, but if they do get on one, a few drops 

 squeezed from a fresh lime makes them let go at once. Many 

 of the natives, who expect to encounter leeches, carry a lime 

 or two about them. Others simply pull them off, and take the 

 chance of the wound inflaming. In certain districts these 

 leeches are a great pest, but as the land comes under cultiva- 

 tion, they gradually disappear. It is said that during the con- 

 quest of the island by the British, many a private soldier lay 

 down in the jungle after an exhausting day's march and never 

 awoke, his veins being literally drained dry by the swarming 

 leeches. They are as tough as if made of India-rubber, and 

 about the only way to kill them is with fire. If cut in two the 

 separated parts will join together again, and they are always 

 voracious, active, and absolutely devoid of fear. 



[CONTINUED NEXT MONTH.] 



MAP SHOWING POSITION OF CEYLON AND THE MALAY STATES. 



