iéo A VOYAGE TO Book IV. 



infe^^s were almoft infupportable to us, during the 

 ihort clear intervals of fome niahts, which we Ipent 

 in making obfervations on the heavenly bodies. 

 Their nings were attended with great tortures; and 

 more than once obliged us to abandon our oblerva- 

 tions, being unable either to fee or breathe for their 

 multitudes *, 



Another terrible inconvenience attending the 

 houfes here, are the numbers of pericotes, or rats ; 

 every building being lb infefied with them, that, when 

 night comes on, they quit their holes, and make fuch 

 a noife in running along the ceiling, and in clamber- 

 ing up and down the ñdes of the rooms and canopies 

 of the beds, as to diiiurb perfons not accuftomed to 

 them. They arc fo little afraid of the human fpecies, 

 that, if a candle be let down without being in a lantern, 

 they immediately carry it off; but, as this might be 

 attended with the moft melancholy confequences, care 

 is taken, that their impudence is feldom put to this 

 trial, though they are remarkably vigilant in taking 

 advantage of the leait negleól. All thefe inconve- 

 niences, which leem infupportable to fl rangers, and 

 alone lufficient to render fuch a country uninhabited, 

 little afFe«5l the natives, as having been ufed to them 

 from their infancy : they are more affected with 

 cold on the mountains, which the Europeans fcarce 

 feel, or, at leafl:, think very moderate, than with all 

 thefe difagreeable particulars. 



The leaft troublefome feafon is the fummer, as then 

 both the number and a6\iv ity of thefe vermin are di- 

 minifhed ; it being a miftake in fome authors to fay 

 they abound moil in that feafon. The heat is then 

 abated, by the fetting-in of the S. W. and W. S. W. 

 breezes, called here chandui, as coming over a moun- 



* This account is too hyperbolical. They arc, however, trouble- 

 fome enough, and almoil infupportable, throughout all South Anrje- 

 rica, except in the plains and deferts. A. 



tain 



