313 
Reptiles of Ceylon. 
speckled. In their motions they do not crawl like a worm, or 
like the leeches we are accustomed to see in Europe ; but 
keep constantly springing, by first fixing their head on a place, 
and then bringing their tail up to it with a sudden jerk, while 
at tlie same time their head is thrown forwards for another hold. 
In tliis manner they move so exeeedingly quick, that before 
they are perceived, they contrive to get upon one’s clothes, 
when they immediately endeavour by some aperture to find an 
entrance to the skin. As soon as they reach it, they begin to 
draw blood ; and as they can effect this even through the light 
clothing worn in this climate, it is almost impossible to pass 
through the woods and swamps in rainy weather without being 
covered with blood. On our way to Candy, in marching 
through the narrow paths among the woods, we were terribly 
annoyed by these vermin ; for whenever any of us sat down 
or even halted for a moment, we were sure to be immediately 
attacked by multitudes of them ; and before we could get rid of 
them our gloves and boots were filled with blood. This was at- 
tended with no small danger ; for if a soldier were, from drunk- 
enness or fatigue, to fall asleep on the ground, he must have 
perished by bleeding to death. On rising in the morning, I 
have often found my bed clothes and skin covered with blood 
in an alarming manner. The Dutch in their marches into the 
interior at different times lost several of their men ; and on 
our setting out they told us that we should hardly be able to 
make our way for them. But, though we M^ere terribly an- 
noyed, we all escaped without any serious accident. Other 
animals, as well as man, are subject to the attacks of these 
leeches. Horses in particular, from their excessive plunging and 
kicking to get rid of these creatures when they fasten upon 
Ss 
