THE DIVIDING LINE. 77 



men the skins of what they killed. And every evening after the fires were 

 made, they stretched them very tight upon sticks, and dried them. This, by 

 a nocturnal fire, appeared at first a very odd spectacle, every thing, being 

 dark and gloomy round about. Afier they are dried in this manner they 

 may be folded up without damage, till tliey come to be dressed according_to 

 art. The Indians dress them with deer's brains, and so do the English here by 

 their example. For expedition's sake they often stretch their skins over 

 smoke in order to dry them, which makes them smell so disagreeably that a 

 rat must have a good stomach to gnaw them in that condition ; nay, it is said, 

 while that perfume continues in a pair of leather breeches, the person that 

 wears them will be in no danger of that villanous little insect the French call 

 morpion. And now I am upon the subject of insects, it may not be improper 

 to mention some few remedies against those that are most vexatious in this 

 climate. There are two sorts without doors, that are great nuisances, the 

 ticks, and the horse flies. The ticks are either deer-ticks, or those that annoy 

 the cattle. Tiie first kind ai-e long, and take a very strong gripe, being most 

 in remote woods, above the inhabitants. The other are round, and more 

 gently insinuate themselves into the flesh, being in all places where cattle are 

 frequent. Both these sorts are apt to be troublesome during the warm season, 

 but have such an aversion to pennyroyal, that they will attack no part that 

 is rubbed with the juice of that fragrant vegetable. And a strong decoction 

 of this is likewise the most effectual remedy against seed-ticks, which bury 

 themselves in your legs, when they are so small you can hardly discern them 

 without a microscope. 



The horse flies are not only a great grievance to horses, but likewise to 

 those that ride them. Tliese little vixens confine themselves chiefly to the 

 woods, and are most in moist places. Though this insect be no bigger than 

 an ordinary fly, it bites very smartly, darting its little proboscis into the skin 

 the instant it lights upon it. These are offensive only in the hot months, and 

 in the day time, when they are a great nuisance to travellers ; insomuch that 

 it is no wonder they were formerly employed for one of the plagues of Egypt. 

 But dittany, which is to be had in the woods all the while those insects 

 remain in vigor, is a sure defence against them. For this purpose, if you 

 stick a bunch of it on the head-stall of your bridle, they will be sure to keep 

 a respectful distance. Thus, in what part of the woods soever any thing 

 mischievous or troublesome is found, kind Providence is sure to provide a 

 remedy. And it is probably one great reason why God was pleased to create 

 these, and many other vexatious animals, that men should exercise their 

 wits and industry, to guard themselves against them. Bears' oil is used by 

 the Indians as a general defence against every species of vermin. Among 

 the rest, they say it keeps both bugs and mosquitoes from assaulting their 

 persons, which would otherwise devour such uncleanly people. Yet bears' 

 grease has no strong smell, ps that plant had which the Egyptians formerly 

 used against mosquitoes, i-esembliug our palma Christi, the juice of which 

 smeiled so disagreeably, that the remedy was worse than the disease. 

 Against mosquitoes, in Egypt, the richer sort used to build lofty towers, with 

 bed-chambers in the tops of them, that they might rest undisturbed. It is 

 certain that these insects are no high fliers, because their wings ai'e weak 

 and their bodies so light, that if they mount never so little, the wind blows 

 them quite away from their course, and they become an easy prey to the 

 martins. East India bats^ and other birds that fly about in continual quest of 

 them. 



8th. As we had twice more to cross the Dan over two fords, that lay no 

 more than seven miles from each other, we judged the distance would not be 

 much greater to go round the bend of it. Accordingly we sent the Indian 



U 



