138 JOUENAL, :SATVBAL HIST. SOCIETY OF SIAM Vol. I. 



out the land leeches, and the coolies, who are as a rule rather leisurely 

 on the march, fairly raced through the valleys, halting only on rocks in 

 mid-stream to pull or scrape the leeches off. Later in the season the 

 coolies became more expert, and on the march carried a stick apiece, to 

 the end of which they tied on a tiny bag containing tobacco, pounded 

 chilies, and red lime. This dabbed on a leech had the effect of instantly 

 shrivelling it up. From observation I think these worms are very 

 sensitive to, and hunt or are attracted b}', vibration, making no use 

 of their rudimentary eye spots. Keeping quite still, and with ten 

 or more leeches in sight standing erect, slowly waving their heads 

 about, I stamped my foot, when they would all advance towards nie, but 

 would then stop in doubt, unless the stamp were repeated. The yonng 

 appear in May or June and are a great nuisance in July, being tlieii 

 only the size of needles, and can get through lace holes in bouts and 

 crevices in putties with ease. 



The camp in the valley was some 400 metres above sea level, 

 shut in on all sides by mountains of 1200 to 1300 tnetres elevation, and 

 two hours after arrival in camp the Huey Sat Yai rose some five feet 

 and became quite impassable. I obtained here a Rail which I believe 

 to be Ballina superciliaris, and which seemed to me quite out of place 

 in dense forest, nor have I met the bird elsewhere. 



On the return journey heavy rain fell on the 4<th April. On the 

 5th my dogs picked up the scent of a tiger off the shrubs and busht-s 

 bordering on the path, and, as the scent got hotter, off the path itself ; 

 this was 9 a.m.aTid it became apparent that the tiger was going down 

 for a morning drink at a rock pool just ahead. I crawled round the last 

 bend hoping to see the beast drinking, but found two Karangs having 

 breakfast there, and they informed me that on sight of them the beast 

 had bolted up the hillside. Tigers have recently been giving some 

 trouble in the coast districts of Ratburi, but I do not know of any 

 authentic case of molestation by tigers among the hundreds of coolies 

 who have been employed by the Survey Department in the wild parts 

 of Ratburi. They have taken an inquisitive interest in our doings and 

 eaten our transport mules ; and on one occasion a tiger walked all 

 round and between a party of four coolies sleeping out on a sand bank, 

 but they knew nothing of its presence till morning. 



On the 15th April I left headquarters camp for a trip to the 

 head vvatcrs ut the Bang Kioi river, and on the 3rd day out arrived 



