320 AN UNCOMFOKTABLE LODGING. 



ripple the water is fatal to it now, as ship- 

 wreck is inevitable ; but if all is calm and con- 

 ducive to safety, the little fly dries, the wings 

 expand, it inhales the air, and along with it 

 strength and power to fly ; then bidding goodbye 

 to the frail barque, wings its way to the land, and 

 begins a war of persecution. 



Mosquitos never venture far over the water 

 after once quitting their skin-canoe : this fact the 

 wily savage has taken advantage of. During 

 ' the reign of terror ' the Indians never come on 

 shore if they can help it ; and if they do, they 

 take good care to flog every intruder out of the 

 canoes before reaching the stage. 



These stages, each with a family of Indians 

 living on them, have a most picturesque ap- 

 pearance. The little fleet of canoes are moored 

 to the poles, and the platform reached by a ladder 

 made of twisted cedar-bark. Often have I slept 

 on these stages among the savages, to avoid 

 being devoured. But I am not quite sure if one 

 gains very much by the change: in the first 

 place, if you are restless, and roll about in your 

 sleep, you stand a very good chance of finding 

 yourself soused in the lake. The perfumes 

 varied but abundant that regale your nose are 

 not such as are wafted from ' tropic isles ' or 



