DIRECT INJURIES CAUSED BY INSECTS. 133 



some spider's web, ran away with all the glory of the 

 cure*. — Ulloa gives us a remarkable account of a spe- 

 cies of Acarus, of a fiery red colour, common in Po- 

 payan, called Coya or Coyha, and usually found in the 

 corners of walls and among the herbage, the venom of 

 which is of such malignity, that on crushing the insect, 

 if any fall on the skin of either man or beast, it imme- 

 diately penetrates into the flesh, and causes large tu- 

 mours, which are soon succeeded by death. Yet, he 

 further observes, if it be crushed between the palms of 

 the hands, which are usually callous, no bad conse- 

 quence ensues. People who travel along the valleys 

 of the Neyba, where these insects abound, are warned 

 by their Indian attendants, if they feel anything sting- 

 ing them, or crawling on their neck or face, not so 

 much as to lift up their hand to the place, the texture 

 of the Coya being so delicate that the least force causes 

 them to burst, without which there is no danger, as 

 they seem otherwise harmless animals. The traveller 

 points out the spot where he feels the creature to one 

 of his companions, who, if it be a Coya, blows it away. 

 If this account does not exaggerate the deleterious qua- 

 lity of the juices of this insect, it is the most venomous 

 animal that is known; for he describes it as much smaller - 

 than a bug. The only remedy to which the natives have 

 recourse for preventing the ill effects arising from its 

 venom is, on the first appearance of the swelling, to 

 swing the patient over the flame of straw or long grass, 

 which they do with great dexterity : after this operation 

 he is reckoned to be out of danger. — The poisoned 

 arrows which Indians employ against their enemies 



* Amoreux, 210-212. 



