AND THE MALAY STATES 
35 
There is also the leech. It lives, not in the water, but in the grass, 
and in the jungle. When exercising on an empty stomach, it is very 
small, about the diameter of a knitting-needle, and from one-half to 
one and one-half inches in length. On hearing footsteps, it hastens 
toward the sound, getting over the ground at a surprising rate of speed 
for so tiny a creature, and without hesitation attacks instantly. If left 
to themselves, they fill themselves with blood, swelling to the size of 
one's little finger, and then drop off. Nor does this end the incident, 
for during their meal they inject something into the veins, which keeps 
YOUNG "heVEA’"' TREES. 
[Planted among tea along a watercourse, in Kalatura.J 
the blood from clotting, and the wound therefore remains open and goes 
on bleeding. If roughly removed during feeding, it is very apt to leave 
its teeth in the wound, which causes inflammation, and, in some cases, 
troublesome sores. The best way to treat them is to wear close-knit 
stockings, into which the lower ends of the trouser legs should be 
tucked. This keeps most of them off, but if they do get on one, a few 
drops squeezed from a fresh lime makes them let go at once. Many of 
the natives, who expect to encounter leeches, carry a lime or two with 
them. Others simply pull them off, and take the chance of having an 
inflamed wound. In certain districts these leeches are a great pest, but 
as the land comes under cultivation, they gradually disappear. It is said 
