THE EARTH. 127 



situated at the foot of the Andes. Nothing could 

 exceed the inconveniencies which he experienced 

 in this voyage, from the flies and moschetoes (an 

 animal resembling our gnat). " We were the 

 whole day," says he, " in continual motion to 

 keep them off; but at night our torments were 

 excessive. Our gloves, indeed, were some de- 

 fence to our hands, but our faces were entirely 

 exposed; nor were our clothes a sufficient de- 

 fence for the rest of our bodies ; for their stings 

 penetrating through the cloth, caused a very pain- 

 ful and fiery itching. One night, in coming to 

 an anchor near a large and handsome house that 

 was uninhabited, we had no sooner seated our- 

 selves in it, than we were attacked on all sides by 

 swarms of moschetoes, so that it was impossible 

 to have one moment's quiet. Those who had 

 covered themselves with clothes made for this 

 purpose, found not the smallest defence ; where- 

 fore, hoping to find some relief in the open fields, 

 we ventured out, though in danger of suffering 

 in a more terrible manner from the serpents. 

 But both places were equally obnoxious. On 

 quitting this inhospitable retreat, we the next 

 night took up our quarters in a house that was 

 inhabited ; the host of which being infornled of 

 the terrible manner we had passed the night be- 

 fore, gravely told us, that the house we so great- 

 ly complained of, had been forsaken oh account 

 of its being the purgatory of a soul. But we had 

 more reason to believe that it was quitted on ac- 

 count of its being the purgatory of the body. 

 After having journeyed for upwards of three 



