A SKETCH IN AN INDIAN JUNGLE 13 



of all precaution and care. The curse of these damp forests 

 the leech is the tax-gatherer, and, do what one will, there is no 

 escaping him. Tiny little corkscrew-like creatures wait for the 

 traveller everywhere, standing up erect and twisting their 

 attenuated head extremity about, constantly feeling about for 

 something to fasten upon. Almost thread-like, half-starved, 

 and hideous, they dispute the passage through the jungle paths, 

 and cling to any living thing that may pass. Nothing will keep 

 them out with their needle-like head ; they work their way 

 through any stocking, through the smallest opening in boot, 

 gaiter, or garment, and very soon they are hard at work gorging 

 themselves until they drop from sheer repletion and weight, 

 leaving, however, the wound still bleeding. The leeches are 

 horrid creatures ; and not only is the attack made from below, 

 but they find their way down the nape of one's neck brushed 

 from the leaves and branches on the road. The natives, who 

 generally go about bare-legged, discover the bloodsucker before 

 he has done much damage ; but the European, with his more 

 elaborate clothing, has to wait patiently and suffer until he 

 can remove it and wreak his vengeance on these pests of the 

 jungle. 



In that same year two powerful stimulants were administered 

 to me, and having proved the efficacy of both I can strongly 

 recommend their trial in cases of a similar urgent nature. An 

 expedition from our fort was suddenly ordered into the hills 

 beyond to disperse a gathering of hostile natives, a trip which 

 entailed much severe climbing and heavy work generally, at 

 a time when long-continued semi-starvation rations of generally 

 mouldy food had reduced us all to a condition least able to 

 stand much exertion. Owing to bad health and consequent 

 great fatigue, I one day collapsed altogether on the march, 

 fully convinced that my last hour had struck and anxious only 

 to be left alone to die. Instead of bidding a long farewell, the 

 commanding officer asked me as a last and personal favour to 

 take his pipe and smoke it. Now tobacco had never agreed 

 with me, to say the least of it, and the sight and smell of that 

 black pipe seemed to rob me of the little remaining strength. 

 However, what did it matter ? to die that way was probably 

 easier than to be slowly drained by leeches and mosquitoes or 

 made a meal of by some jungle beast, so orders as usual were 



