The Plague of Flies. 485 



lancets, which leave a small, circular red spot on the skin. 

 It works by day, I'elieving the mosquito at sunrise. It is 

 the great scourge of the Amazons. Many a paradisaic 

 spot is converted into an Inferno by their presence. There 

 are several species, which follow one another in succession 

 through the day, all of them being diurnal. Their favor- 

 ite region is said to be on the Cassiquiare and Upper Ori- 

 noco. (3) The Maruim, which resembles the Piiim. They 

 are infinitely numerous on the Jurua. Humboldt estimated 

 there were a million to a cubic foot of air where he was. 

 (4) The Mutiica, called Tabono on the Maranon {Hadaus 

 lepidotus), resembling a small horse-fly, of a bronze-black 

 color, with the tips of the wings transparent, and a formi- 

 dable proboscis. Bates mentions another species {Pango- 

 nia) on the Tapajos, with a lancet half an in-ch long. I 

 observed the same on the Solimoens, where it is called 

 " Mutiica grande." (5) The Moquim, or Ysangui of Peru- 

 vians, a mici'oscopic scarlet Acarus, resembling a minute 

 crab under the glass. It swarms on weeds and bushes, 

 and on the skin causes an intolerable itching. An hour's 

 walk through the grassy streets of Teffe was sufficient to 

 cover my entire body with myriads of moquims, which it 

 took a week and repeated bathing with rum to extermi- 

 nate. (6) Carapatos, or Ticks (Ixodes), which mount to 

 the tips of blades of grass, attach themselves to the clothes 

 of passers-by, and bury their jaws and heads so deeply in 

 the flesh that it is difficult to remove them without leavins: 

 the proboscis behind to fret and fester. In sucking one's 

 blood, they cause no pain; but serious sores, even ulcers, 

 often result. The natives told me that they would never 

 pass our india-rubber. I saw none on the Amazons, though 

 plenty in Chachapoyas ; but Bates met them in dry places 

 on the Lower Amazons. 



These few forms of insect life must forever hinder the 



