BOOK III. CHAP. VIII. 885 



lefted, they feldom raife any, or but a very (light degree of, in- 

 flammation; but, when fuddenly difturbed, or bruflied away, it 

 is probable they wound or lacerate the part, by haftily extra6ling 

 their probojc'is, and fo leave a fmall pimple, attended with an 

 itching, which is foon removed by rubbing on a little lime-juice. 

 The method, commonly praftifed for difperfing them, is by 

 making fmoak in the evening about the time when they aflemble. 

 They love dark rooms, and black complexions ; which ferve to 

 hide them from view : the Negroes of courfe are exceedingly an- 

 noyed with them, except in their huts, where the conftant cuftom 

 of kindling a fire at night proteds them during their hours of fleep. 

 The fire-flies are natural enemies to the mufkeetos, and feed upon 

 them. The Indians, having difcovered this, ufed to attrad thefe 

 flies with lighted torches ; and, when they had caught a fufficient 

 number, let them loofe in their huts at night, to drive the 

 mufkeetos from their hammocks; which office they arefaid to have 

 performed very effedlually. Thefe inlefts depoiite their eggs in- 

 differently in all flagnant fluids. They even hatch in water flrongly 

 impregnated with quick-lime. Their young, or tadpoles, in their 

 fmalleft ftatc, are fo extremely minute, as to be fcarcely vifible to 

 an unafiifted eye upon the clofefl: view. The river-waters in ge- 

 neral on the South-fide may be fufpedled of containing their eggs, 

 or young ; but it is not probable, that they can exift a minute in 

 the human flomach. However, this, among other things, is a 

 reafon why it may be proper to ftrain all fuch water through cloths 

 before it is drank, in order to depurate it from thefe, or otlier ani- 

 malcules, which may poflibly float in it unperceived by the eye. 

 Kalm fays, thefe infsds have a great averfion to greafe, and will 

 not meddle with a Ikin that is anointed with it ; but fuch a remedy 

 is nafty as well as unwholefome; though conftantly pradifed by the 

 bucaniers, who ufed to befmear their hands and faces with hog's- 

 lard } to which they added the burning of tobacco leaves by night 

 in their huts. 



330. Cockroach., i • 



This infe£l has a variety of names. ''In North-America it is 

 called mill-beetle: the Dutch, fettled there, %le it kackerlack; the 



Swedes, 



