316 A DISAGREEABLE FOG. 



had stages erected, or rather fastened to stout 

 poles driven like piles into the mud at the bot- 

 tom of the lake. To these large platforms over 

 the water they all retire, on the first appearance 

 of the mosquitos. 



In about four or five days the increase was 

 something beyond all belief, and really terri- 

 ble. I can convey no idea of the numbers, 

 except by saying they were in dense clouds 

 truly, and not figuratively, a thick fog of 

 mosquitos. Night or day it was just the 

 same ; the hum of these bloodthirsty tyrants 

 was incessant. We ate them, drank them, 

 breathed them ; nothing but the very thickest 

 leathern clothing was of the slightest use as a 

 protection against their lancets. The trousers 

 had to be tied tightly round the ankle, and the 

 coat-sleeve round the wrist, to prevent their 

 getting in ; but if one more crafty than the 

 others found out a needle-hole, or a thin spot, 

 it would have your blood in a second. We 

 lighted huge fires, fumigated the tents, tried 

 every expedient we could think of, but all in 

 vain. They seemed to be quite happy in a 

 smoke that would stifle anything mortal, and, 

 what was worse, they grew thicker every day. 



Human endurance has its limits. A man can- 



