i66 TRAVELS through \ 



I applied Spaixifh flies to the figure of the club 

 which he bore on his breall, and over them 

 fome plantain leaves, v^^hich caufed tumours -, 

 the fkin and the marl^ went off, and a watery 

 matter came out. This method of proceeding 

 furprifed the Indian jugglers, who were ignorant 

 of the Spanifh flies, or Cantharides, which are 

 very common in Nor^h America. They give 4 

 light in night-time ; and even the fmalleft types 

 can be read, by holding the infed near to the 

 letters, and following the lines. 



There is often a fimilarity in the manners of 

 the Indians and of the Europeans, though they 

 may appear ever fo different amongft themfelves. 

 The following example is a proof of it. An 

 officer belonging to the regiment of the IJle da 

 France, having fallen in love with a you :g lady at 

 Paris in 1749, ^^'^ mother of the lady told him, 

 that (he v/ould willingly give him her daughter, 

 provided he was adorned with the crofs of St, 

 Louis. In order to acctlerate his marriage, love 

 infpired him with the thought of taking that 

 diftindion from himfelf, which the King alone 

 can give away. The lady already looked upon 

 him as her fon-in-lavv ♦, but a few days after, the 

 falfe chevalier is met by an officer of his regi- 

 ment^ who, being before him in the fervice, is 



furprifed 



