46 
in size our calves‘of a year old ; bullocks 
and buffaloes are employed in bearing 
and drawing burdens. These latter, 
which are very numerous, are fierce and 
rough, and extremely obstinate and un- 
tractable: to the scarlet coat they have 
an unaccountable antipathy, the sight 
of it makes them perfectly outrageous. 
Although Ceylon produces few domestic 
animals, it contains a great variety of 
wild ones. 
The small species of tygers infest the 
woods ; tyger cats, wild hogs, leopards, 
and monkies abound; the hyena and 
bear are natives, but rarely met with; 
there are no foxes, but jackals in abund- 
ance; porcupines, racoons, armadillos, 
squirrels and mungooses are found 
here ; hares are extremely numerous ; 
but there are no rabbits, 
¢* Varieties of deer and elks are every 
where met with in the woods and jungles. 
One species of deer is particularly calculated 
to attract attention. te is a very small crea- 
ture, in size not exceeding our hare; it is 
ealled by the Dutch the moose-deer, and by 
the natives gazelle. In every thing but in 
size they are complete deer; and their sides 
- are beautifully spotted, or streaked like the 
fallow-deer. “It is usual for the natives to 
catch them, and bring them down in cages 
to our markets, where they are sold at about 
a shilling a piece. Their flavour is much 
stronger than that of the hare, and when 
stewed they are excellent. ; 
«* The Indian ichneumon is a small crea- 
~ture, in appearance between a weazel and a 
mungoose. It is of infinite use to the na- 
tives, from its inveterate enmity to snakes, 
which would otherwise render every footstep 
of the traveller dangerous. The proofs of 
sagacity which | have seen in this Fittle ani- 
mal are truly surprising, and afford a beauti- 
ful instance of the wisdom with which Pro- 
vidence has fitted the powers of every animal 
to its particular situation on the globe. This 
diminutive creature, on seeing a snake ever 
so large, will instantly dart on it and seize it 
by the throat, provided he finds himself in 
an qpen place where he bas an opportunity 
of running to a certain herb*, which he 
know instinctivelv to be an antidote against 
the poison of the bite, if he should happen 
to receive one. 1 was present at an experi- 
ment tried at Columbo to ascertain the re- 
ality of this circumstance. The ichneumon 
procured for the purpose, was first shewn 
the snake in a close room. On being let 
downto the ground, he did not discover any 
inclination whatever to attack his enemy, 
VOYAGES AND TRAVELS. 
but ran about the room to discover if there 
was any hole or apqrture by which he might 
get out. On finding none, he returned has 
tily to his master, and placing himself in his 
bosom, could not by any means be induced 
to quit it, or face the snake. On being car- 
ried out of the house, however, and Jaid 
down near his antagonist in an open place, 
he instantly flew at the snake and soon de- 
stroyed it. He then suddenly disappeared 
for a few minutes, and again returned as soon 
as he had tound the herb and eat of it. This 
useful instinct impels the animal to have re- 
course to the herb on all occasions, where 
it is engaged with a snake, whether poison- 
ous or not. -The one employed in this exe 
“periment was of the harmless kind, and pro- 
cured for the purpose.” 
Flying foxes abound here, and rats of 
various descriptions. Birds are very nu- 
merous; one of the most remarkable is 
the honey-bird ; 
«* So called froma particular instinct by 
which it discovers the honey concealed in 
trees. As if designed for the service of the: 
human species, this bird continues to flutter 
about and make a great noise till it has at- 
tracted the notice of some person, and in- 
duced him to follow the course it points out 
to him. It then Autters before him, till it 
- has led hii to the tree where the bees have 
lodged their treasure. The man then carries 
off the honcy, leaving a little for the use of 
the bird, which silently and contentedly 
watches tll it is permitted to enjoy tts re- 
ward. As soon as it has eaten up its por- 
tion, it renews its noise, and goes in quest 
of another tree, followed by the man, whoa 
tinds a guide here provided for him by na- 
ture.” 
The reptiles and insects of Ceylon are 
exceedingly numerous, and several spe- 
cies of them are very little known; ser- 
pents particularly abound, to the great 
annoyance of the inhabitants; alligators 
infest the rivers, and tender them 
very dangerous. In the year 1799, 
one was killed in the neighbonthood 
of Columbo, twenty feet long, and’ 
as thick in the body as a horse: in its 
belly were found the undigested head 
and arm of a black man. Insects abound 
here as in all hot countries, of every de- 
scription and degree of malignity. Cey- 
lon is particularly prolific in plants also: 
almost all those fruits which are peculiar 
to India, and the countries within the 
tropical climates, are found here in great 
abundance, and of a superior quality: 
* We regret that Mr. Percival has omitted to give us the name of this herb: so powerful 
and certain an antidote surely would be serviceable toman:; the natiyes, indeed, have ocea- 
sionally recourse to it. Sparmann says it is the ophkiorhiza.—See also dmst. dead, tom. 1v. 
for a treatise on the subject by Darolius. 
-—- ten mm ee” 2a aa che Ghee 
tas Seat 
