318 PEDICULID^ — LICE. 



to wliom they originally appertained, supposing, according to 

 their theory, that as they derived their support from the blood 

 of the man from whom they were taken, should they be killed 

 by another, the blood of his neighbor would be in his pos- 

 session, thus placing in his hands the power of some super- 

 human influence."^ 



Kolben says the Hottentots eat the largest of the Lice 

 with which they swarm ; and that if asked how they can 

 devour such detestable vermin, they plead the law of retali- 

 ation, and urge that it is no shame to eat those who would 

 eat them — '' They suck our blood, and we devour 'em in 

 revenge.'" 



We are assured in Purchas's Pilgrims, that Lice and 

 ''long wormes" were sold for food in Mexico.^ From this 

 ancient collection of Travels, we learn that when the Indians 

 of the Province of Cuena are infected with Lice, "they 

 dresse and cleanse one another ; and they that exercise this, 

 are for the most part women, who eate all that they take, 

 and have herein (eating?) such dexterity by reason of their 

 exercise, that our own men cannot lightly attaine there- 

 unto."^ 



The Budini, a people of Scythia, commonly feed upon 

 Lice and other vermin bred upon their bodies.^ 



Mr. AVafer, in his description of the Isthmus of America, 

 says: "The natives have Lice in their Heads, which they 

 feel out with their Fingers, and eat as they catch them."® 

 Dobrizhoffer also mentions that Lice are eaten by the Indian 

 women of South America.^ 



. The disgusting practice of eating these vermin is not con- 

 fined to the Hottentots, the Negroes of Western Africa, the 

 Simiae, and the American Indians, for it has been observed 

 to prevail among the beggars of Spain and Portugal.^ 



Schroder, in his History of Animals that are useful in 

 Physic, says : " Lice are swallowed by country people 



1 Wand, and Adv. in S. Africa, i. 266. 



2 Kolb. Trav., ii. 179. Astley's Col. of Vorj. and Trav., iii. 3^2. 



3 Fi/g., iii. 1133. 



4 Ibid., iii. 975. 



5 Wanley's Wonders, ii. 373. 



6 Dampier's Voj/., iii. 331. Loud. 1729. 



7 Dobi-iz., ii. 396. Southey's Co7n. Place Bk., 2d S. p. 527. 



8 Cuvier, An. Kingd. — Ins., i. 163. 



