286 ABSENCE OF ANT BEMEDT. 



they say with simplicity, " el sudar y las moscas," (the perspi- 

 ration and the flies). We have reason to believe that man- 

 kind, as they change the surface of the soil, will succeed in 

 altering by degrees the constitution of the atmosphere. 

 The insects will diminish when the old trees of the forest 

 have disappeared ; when, in those countries now desert, 

 the rivers are seen bordered with cottages, and the plains 

 covered with pastures and harvasts. 



"Whoever has lived long in countries infested by mos- 

 quitos will be convinced, as we were, that there exists no 

 remedy for the torment of these insects. The Indians, 

 covered with anoto, bolar earth, or turtle oil, are not pro- 

 tected from their attacks. It is doubtful whether the 

 painting even relieves: it certainly does not prevent the 

 evil. Europeans, recently arrived at the Orinoco, the Hio 

 Magdalena, the river Guayaquil, or Bio Chagres (I mention 

 the four rivers where the insects are most to be dreaded) at 

 first obtain some relief by covering their faces and hands, 

 but they soon feel it difficult to endure the heat, are weary 

 of being condemned to complete inactivity, and finish with 

 leaving the face and hands uncovered. Persons who would 

 renounce all kind of occupation during the navigation of 

 these rivers, might bring some particular garment from 

 Europe in the form of a bag, under which they could 

 remain covered, opening it only every half-hour. This bag 

 should be distended by whalebone hoops, for a close mask 

 and gloves would be perfectly insupportable. Sleeping on 

 the ground, on skins, or in hammocks, we could not make 

 use of mosquito-curtains (toldos) while on the Orinoco. 

 The toldo is useful only where it forms a tent so well closed 

 around the bed that there is not the smallest opening by 

 which a gnat can pass. This is difficult to accomplish ; and 

 often when you succeed (for instance, in going up the Rio 

 Magdalena, where you travel with some degree of con- 

 venience), you are forced, in order to avoid being suffocated 

 by the heat, to come out from beneath your toldo, and walk 

 about in the open air. A feeble wind, smoke, and powerful 

 smells, scarcely afford any relief in places where the insects 

 are very numerous and very voracious. It is erroneously 

 affirmed that these little animals fly from the peculiar smell 

 emitted by the crocodile. We were fearfully stung at 



