100 PLAGUE OF FLIES. 



assistance of both hands to keep them off, they will 

 creep into one's nostrils, and mouth too, if the lips 

 are not shut very close ; so that from their infancy, 

 being thus annoyed with these insects, they do never 

 open their eyes as do other people, and therefore 

 they cannot see far unless they hold up their heads, 

 as if they were looking at somewhat over them." 

 We found constant occasion, when on shore, to com- 

 plain of this fly nuisance ; and when combined with 

 their allies, the musquitos, no human endurance 

 could, with any patience, submit to the trial. The 

 flies are at you all day, crawling into your eyes, up 

 your nostrils, and down your throat, with the most 

 irresistible perseverance ; and no sooner do they, 

 from sheer exhaustion, or the loss of daylight, give 

 up the attack, than they are relieved by the mus- 

 quitos, who completely exhaust the patience which 

 their predecessors have so severely tried. It may 

 seem absurd to my readers to dwell upon such a 

 subject ; but those, who, like myself, have been half 

 blinded, and to boot, almost stung to death, will 

 not wonder, that even at this distance of time and 

 place, I recur with disgust to the recollection. 



The natives, in all parts of the continent alike, 

 seem to possess very primitive notions upon the 

 subject of habitation ; their most comfortable wig- 

 wams hardly deserve the name : not even in the 

 neighbourhood of English settlements are they 

 beginning in any degree to imitate our European 

 notions of comfort. Among these northern people, 



