AN AMATEUR IN THE NORTH WOODS. 161 



of pennyroyal. To prepare it for use, it is necessary to melt 

 a certain quantity of lard, and add to it in its liquid state 

 enouffli of the essence to infuse the mass with a strong; scent. 

 This compound, when cool, may be carried in the pocket in a 

 tin box, and is an effectual preventive against the attacks 

 of nearly every kind of insect peculiar to the American 

 woods. 



With this composition I plentifully anointed every visible 

 portion of my body. Face, hands, ears, neck, every inch of 

 surface which was liable to attack, was thoroughly lubricated, 

 till I looked like an Esquimau just arisen from his dinner of 

 seal's blubber and train-oil. The remedy, however, was ef- 

 fectual. It afforded me infinite satisfaction to see the impo- 

 tent rage with which my late tormentors whirled round and 

 round my head, in bewildering circles, never daring, however, 

 to approach within reach of the aroma of this potent oint- 

 ment. I anointed my face and neck twice or thrice a day, 

 and found the application sufficient. The hands, owing to 

 the necessity of use, require to be anointed about once an 

 hour, to render them absolutely invulnerable. I found this 

 somewhat tiresome, and subsequently adopted a pair of light 

 buckskin gloves, which were not burdv^nsome, and proved en- 

 tirely mosquito proof. 



In one of my excursions I met a young man who had in- 

 cautiously ventured into the woods without adequate protec- 

 tion against mosquitoes. The blood was streaming from his 

 face, where he had been bitten, and his general aspect was so 

 forlorn that I was moved to pity. I gave him some ointment 

 with directions how to use it, and left him. When I met him 

 a few hours afterward, his first salutation was : " Mister, 

 you 've saved my life." The backwoodsmen become so ac- 

 customed to these insects, that they pay but little attention to 

 them, in most cases using no defense against them. It is 

 said that a mosquito will not bite an old hunter ; and it is 

 certain that after one has been in the woods a short time, 

 these insects will pay much less attention to him than to a 

 new-comer. 



Mosquitoes however are not the only troublesome insect in 

 11 



