AmiL 1, 1S67.] 



HARDWICKE'S S CIENCE- GO S S IP. 



70 



people residing at the month of the river Urare to 

 sleep in pits dug for the purpose, buried up all but 

 their heads, which they cover with a rug ; and last, 

 though not least, that drove the Boundary Commis- 

 sion, one aud all, to quit the prairies and take up 

 their quarters in the mountains— stopping the work 



Fig. 5". East Indian Mosquito* (male) x 8 diameters 



of nearly a hundred men. No, I cannot but think 

 the lancet-blades in some Mosquitoes are longer, 

 sharper, and better fitted to inflict pain, than are 

 similar weapons in other species. The Californian 

 Mosquitoes are not half so bad as the thorough-bred 

 British Columbians. 



Fig. 58. East Indian Mosquito* (female) x 8 diameters 



The above portraits greatly resemble a goodly 

 number that perished betwixt the leaves of my 

 note-book. 



When we were marking the boundary line, 

 our camp was on the Sum ass prairie, but the 

 Mosquitoes became so formidable at last that 

 the camp had to be abandoned. It is no ex- 

 aggeration to state, that the swarms were as 

 dense as an ordinary fog; and, if possible, more 

 bloodthirsty during the night than in the day. 

 time. Sleeping was utterly impossible, unless one 

 could manage to shut up the tent so that no Mos- 

 quitoes could gain admission, and then set to work 

 and kill every one within the canvas prison. Coming 

 out in the morning was anything but a joke ; unless 



* From native drawings in the India Museum. 



your dress was quite Mosquito-proof you did not 

 stand a chance, the legions were upon you— thrust- 

 ing, humming, and pumping out your blood, despite 

 all your efforts at self-protection. We used to tie 

 our sleeves tightly at the wrists, our trowsers round 

 the ankles, wear thick leather gloves, and a gauze- 

 bag over the head and face, tied in 

 round the throat. The poor dogs 

 suffered frightfully, and would 

 soon have died from the irritation 

 caused by the punctures, had we 

 not removed the animals up into 

 the mountains. During this reign 

 of terror, I started with the Chief 

 Commissioner to visit Fort Hope, 

 about four days' canoe-voyage up 

 the Eraser river ; three Indians and 

 the Commissioner's servant made 

 up the crew. The first day we 

 were terribly beset by Mosquitoes, 

 having to keep close to the river 

 bank to gain the advantage of the slack water. 

 Each person armed with a wisp of leafy twigs kept 

 up a continuous flogging, to beat down and drive 

 off our foes. About sundown, we neared a sandy 

 island, situate in the middle of a wide lake or ex- 

 panse of the river; landing, and seeing no Mos- 

 quitoes, determined us at once to 

 camp ; there being plenty of drift- 

 wood, a fire was soon kindled, sup- 

 per cooked, and preparations made 

 for sleeping. All at once, I sup- 

 pose attracted by the | fire-light, 

 clouds of Mosquitoes swooped 

 down upon us. There was nothing 

 to be done but to bear it. The 

 Commissioner tried all he could 

 to get a doze, and rolled himself 

 so tightly in his rugs, as to defy 

 the Mosquitoes to find an entrance ; 

 vain hope : the pests soon found 

 a hole, and poured in through ft 

 like a crowd to see a pantomime on Boxing-night. 

 I could trace the outline of the Commissioner, 

 as the pale moonlight slanted on the island, 

 writhing about beneath his rugs, as if suffering 

 from violent choleraic cramps. The Bed Men 

 crouched in the smoke, and at short intervals 

 pluuged into the river like seals, to return to the 

 smoke dripping wet, and shining as though made of 

 highly burnished metal. I did not try to sleep, but 

 lighted my pipe and paced up and down the island 

 until daylight came, and with it, release from our 

 miseries. I could recount endless stories of Mos- 

 quito adventures, if space permitted me to do so. 



The darkies down South relate the following 

 story, to account for the origin of the name Mos- 

 quito : — 



"De white man he come, he settle down, he grow 



