BOUGUER*S VOYAGE TO PERU. 



279 



and find his flefh excellent ; as alfo of a fpecies of wild boar, which has a head not fo 

 long as purs, and fomething like a navel upon his back. I believe this laft is peculiar 

 to the woods of America ; but the Taton or Armadillo is common to both continents : it 

 is remarkable for the diftinft fcales or armour with which its body, head, tail, and legs, 

 are feparately covered. 



The mofl part of the infects to be found with us are alfo there, but ordinarily of 

 larger fize, and fometimes fo big, that Europeans confider them monftrous. Earth 

 worms, for inftance, though entirely refembling what are common to us, are as long 

 as one's arm, and an inch in circumference. Some of their fpiders are covered with 

 hair, and as large as a pigeon's egg. We fee there different fpecies of the pifmire often 

 confiderably larger than ours, and fome of them venomous. Scorpions are alfo very 

 common, but their fling is not of much confequence ; the diflrefs of it generally ends 

 with a flight fever : it has, however, happened to an acquaintance of mine, befide feel- 

 ing this inconvenience, to have been afflided with a fwelling of the tongue, fo as to 

 render fpeaking painful. I have frequently feen a little dog ftung, and it only occa- 

 fioned him at firfl to flart. The flings were made chiefly in the tender part of the 

 belly not covered with hair : the little dog did not appear at all indifpofed. But there 

 is nothing in thefe forefls that diflreffes you fo much as the mofquitos and maringouins ; 

 by reafon they caufe an uneafmefs, or rather a plague, which is never ceafmg, and it 

 is very difficult to guard onefelf againfl it. The firfl are a fpecies of flies fcarcely per- 

 ceptible, and aftedl you like red-hot iron ; the fecond are of two different fpecies, the 

 fmallefl differing little from our gnats. We are acquainted in Europe with the nature of 

 the fling of the latter, but the poifon of the maringouins is, neverthelefs, more aftive : it 

 caufes great bliflers, chiefly upon thofe lately from Europe, whofe blood is apparently more 

 fluid. It cannot be defcribed with what obflinacy they feem to attack thefe flrangers. 

 The air is frequently darkened by their multitude, and we are obliged to be in inceffant 

 motion to defend ourfelves from them ; they conquer by making their way through every 

 little hole they find in our clothes, and it is impoffible to refl at night for them, unlefs 

 under a tent made purpofely to guard us againfl them. This tent has curtains ojf cahco, 

 and is formed like a tomb ; they faflen it, when they fleep in the woods, by its two ex- 

 tremities or four angles to fome trees ; and it is a piece of furniture fo abfolutely necef- 

 fary, that the poorefl Indian is always provided with, and never journeys without it. 

 As the maringouins flrive to avoid both wind and fun, the open places they will never 

 voluntarily infefl ; and many places are found entirely free of them. The inconveni- 

 ence is not fo great in hamlets and all cleared fpots. 



It will not be confidered extraordinary that the country I have defcribed fhould be 

 very hot, fmce it is upon a level with the fea, and placed in the midfl of the torrid 

 zone. At the fame, the thermometer of M. de Reaumur did not rife in the afternoon 

 but to 26^, 27 "'j or 28° ; in the morning, a little before fun-rife, it was commonly at 

 19°, 20°, or 21*^. It is not to be doubted but it is the continuity of the heat which 

 makes it feem fo great in the torrid zone, for we have very frequently known the ther- 

 mometer in France to rife confiderably higher. The flrength is exhaufled by tranfpira- 

 tion and violent fweats. The heat abates but very little during the night, and we even 

 rife fatigued in the morning. To the degree the faculties of the foul find themfelves 

 incumbered, the lafTitude of the body communicates itfelf to the mind ; and we then 

 find ourfelves in a flate of indolence, which not only prevents us from acting, but 

 unfits us for any thing that requires application and attention. It is very poflible all 

 travellers, in paffing through the torrid zone, are not equally fenfible to this effedl of 

 the great heat. There is reafon to believe alfo, that, in the end, we recover in a great 



meafure 



