April, 1848. INSECTS, LEECHES, Etc. 107 



from an ocean whose nearest shore is more than 400 

 miles distant, are safely transported without the loss of one 

 drop of water, to support the rank luxuriance of this far 

 distant region. This and other offices fulfilled, the waste 

 waters are returned, by the Cosi and Teesta, to the ocean, 

 and again exhaled, exported, expended, re-collected, and 

 returned. 



The soil and bushes everywhere swarmed with large 

 and troublesome ants, and enormous earthworms. In 

 the evening, the noise of the great decides in the trees was 

 almost deafening. They burst suddenly into full chorus, 

 with a voice so harshly croaking, so dissonant, and so un- 

 earthly, that in these solitary forests I could not help being 

 startled. In general character the note was very similar to 

 that of other Cicadce. They ceased as suddenly as they 

 commenced. On the following morning my baggage 

 arrived, and, leaving my palkee, I mounted a pony kindly 

 sent for me by Mr. Hodgson, and commenced a very steep 

 ascent of about 3000 feet, winding along the face of a 

 steep, richly -wooded valley. The road zigzags extraor- 

 dinarily in and out of the innumerable lateral ravines, each 

 with its water course, dense jungle, and legion of leeches ; 

 the bite of these blood-suckers gives no pain, but is fol- 

 lowed by considerable effusion of blood. They puncture 

 through thick worsted stockings, and even trousers, and, 

 when full, roll in the form of a little soft ball into the 

 bottom of the shoe, where their presence is hardly felt in 

 walking. 



Not only are the roadsides rich in plants, but native 

 paths, cutting off all the zigzags, run in straight lines up 

 the steepest hill-faces, and thus double the available means 

 for botanising ; and it is all but impossible to leave the 

 paths of one kind or other, except for a yard or two up 



