Penfyhania, Philadelphia. 145 



much more numerous ; that even at prefent 

 they fwarmed in vaft quantities on the fea 

 fhore near the fait water, and that thofe 

 which troubled us this autumn in Phila- 

 delphia were of a more venomous kind, 

 than they commonly ufed to be. This laft 

 quality appeared from the blifters, which 

 were formed on the fpots, where the gnats 

 had inferted their fting. In Sweden I never 

 felt any other inconvenience from their 

 fting, than a little itching, whilft they 

 fucked. But when they ftung me here at 

 night, my face was fo disfigured by little 

 red fpots and blifiers, that 1 was almoft a- 

 mamed to mew myfelf. 



I have already mentioned fomewhat 

 about the enclofures ufual here ; I now add, 

 that mofl of the planks which are put ho- 

 rizontally, and of which the enclofures in 

 the environs of Philadelphia chiefly confift, 

 are of the red cedar wood, which is here 

 reckoned more durable than anv other. But 

 where this could not be eot, either white 

 or black oak fupplied its place. The peo- 

 ple were likewife very glad if they could 

 get ce lar wood for the pofts, or elfe they 

 took .vhite oak, or chefnut, as I was told 

 by xvlr. Bartram. But it feems that that 

 kind of wood in general does not keep well 

 in the ground for a confiderable time. I 



K law 



