GNATS, MIDGES, AND MOSQUITOES 239 



themselves from the plague, as well as from the extent 

 to which the mosquitoes form a staple subject of conver- 

 sation. Elevated platforms have been resorted to as 

 retiring places, since the flies are most numerous near 

 the ground, the greater number not rising above fifteen 

 or twenty feet; a calico tent, suspended from the 

 branches of trees when in the forest, is another device, 

 while indoors there are the well-known nets and 

 curtains. Humboldt speaks of his workmen as vigo- 

 rously slapping one another's bare backs to drive away 

 the tormenting insects, and as getting so used to the 

 action that they sometimes slapped themselves in their 

 sleep ; some rubbed the wounds on their comrades' backs 

 with rough bark (!) or again, the women patiently set 

 themselves to pick out from the pustules the drops of 

 coagulated blood. " How are you with regard to the 

 mosquitoes ? " was a common form of salutation ; while to 

 the native mind, the absence of mosquitoes formed the 

 highest conception of the bliss of heaven. " How com- 

 fortable must people be in the moon," said an Indian to 

 his European teacher, "she looks so beautiful and so 

 clear, that she must be free from mosquitoes ! " 



Dr. A. R. Wallace, visiting the same region, says : 

 " Immediately after sunset they poured upon us in 

 swarms, so that we found them unbearable, and were 

 obliged to rush into our sleeping-rooms, which we had 

 kept carefully closed. Here we had some respite for a 

 time, but they soon found their way in at the cracks and 

 keyholes, and made us very restless and uncomfortable 

 all the rest of the night." And so far from getting 

 used to them : " After a few days' residence we found 

 them more tormenting than ever, rendering it quite im- 

 possible for us to sit down to write or read after sunset." 

 The people used dried cow-dung burnt at their doors to 



