Ch. VI. SOUTH AMERICA. 159 



begun to abate, at fíx in the morning the liquor flood 

 at 1022 ; at noon at 1025 ; and at three in the «fter- 

 noon at 1027 ; which ihews the lieat in the middle of 

 winter to be greater than at Carthagena. The rains 

 alio continue day and night, accompanied with fre- 

 quent and dreadful tempeftsof thunder and lightning ; 

 fo that every thing feenis toconfpire to diñrefs the in- 

 habitants. The river, and all thofe which join it, 

 overflow their banks, and lay under water the wh.olc 

 country. ' The long calm renders therefrefhing winds 

 very defirable ; and the innumerable Iwarms of infcils 

 and vermin infefl both the air and ground in an into- 

 lerable manner. 



The fnakes, poifonons vipers, fcorpions, and fcolo- 

 pendrse, in this Icafon find methods of getting into the 

 tioules, to the deflruition of many of the inhabitants. 

 And though they are not ac'^iually free from them all 

 the reft of the year, yet at this time they are far more 

 numerous, and alfo more active; fo that it is abfo- 

 lutely necelfary to examine carefully the beds, ibme 

 of thefe animals having been known to find their way 

 into them : and both as a laferiuard againfi the dan- 

 ger, and to avoid the tortures of the mofchitos and 

 other infects, all peribns, even the Negro fia ves and 

 Indians, have toldos or canopies over their beds. 

 Thofe uled by the lower clafs of people are made of 

 tucuyo, or cotton, wove in the mountains : others ute 

 white linen laced, according to the temper or ability 

 of the owner. 



Though all thele hot and raoifl countries fwarm 

 with an infinite variety of volatile inlects, vet the in- 

 habitants are no where fo greatly incommoded as at 

 Guayaquil, it being impofiible toliccp a candle burn- 

 ing, except in a lantern, above three or four minutes, 

 numberlefs inleets flying into its flame and cxtinguifh- 

 ing it. Any perfon therefore being obliged to be near 

 a light, is foon driven from his poft by tiie infinite 

 numbers which fill his eyes^ ears, and noilrils. Theie 

 4 infedts 



