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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XI. 



There are also many scorpions : the smaller ones are white, 

 the bigger ones — I have seen them as large as crabs — are 

 dark. These vermin live in old walls, and come out when it 

 rains. The fowls love to catch them and prey upon them. 

 When sailing in old ships, or felling trees on shore, especially 

 old trees, one must be very careful not to be poisoned by 

 them. I was stung once by a big scorpion, but ran quickly 

 to the surgeon, who put oil on, and I recovered. 



There are besides thin red worms called " suckers." They 

 are put on to dropsical people to draw out the objectionable 

 matter ; so full do they suck themselves that they become as 

 thick as the thumb, and when quite round fall off just as 

 leeches with us. They often attach themselves to the legs, 

 especially when it rains, so that to be rid of them the feet 

 must be rubbed well with powder and salt.* During the 

 night another creature, a kind of fly, plagues one greatly ; 

 they call them muscieten (mosquitoes) ; their sting itches very 

 much, and they cannot be driven from the room but by 

 smoke, which they appear to dislike exceedingly. 



Beautiful large turtles are caught in Ceilon. We have 

 often found the eggs on the shore to the number of 300 to 

 400. I have seen with my own eyes turtles so big that a 

 couple of men had enough to do to carry one. The fishermen 

 used to sell them for half, or three-fourths of a rixdollar ; 

 but this luxury is only within the reach of rich people. Once, 

 when we were out elephant hunting, and I stood sentinel, I 

 saw one in the moonlight, as big as a hat ; and as at that time 

 I did not know yet what it was, and only saw it moving 

 about, I called my comrade to look. When he came, and 

 with his musket had turned it over and found that it was a 

 turtle, he was delighted, cut it open and took off the shell ; 



* Cf., too, Knox, p. 25, and Ibn Batuta (C. A. S. Journal, Extra No., 1882, 

 p. 46). " Blood-suckers or leeches are the worst vermin on the island... 

 The best way to deal with them is to have some green lemons with one, or 

 good vinegar and salt, or saltpetre, and wet them with it, and they fall off 

 immediately." Schweitzer, p. 293. 



