320 WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 



lanfortunately, the time had passed away, and the seeds, 

 had fallen. 



While ranging here in the forest, we stopped under an 

 ants' nest; and, by the dirt below, conjectured that it 

 had got new tenants. Thinking it no harm to dislodge 

 them, "vi et armis," an Indian boy ascended the tree; 

 but, before he reached the nest, out flew above a dozen 

 Vampires. 



I have formerly remarked, that I wished to have it in 

 my power to say, that I had been sucked by the vampire. 

 I gave them many an opportunity, but they always fought 

 shy ; and though they now sucked a young man of the 

 Indian breed very severely, as he was sleeping in his 

 hammock in the shed next to mine, they would have 

 nothing to do with me. His great toe seemed to have all 

 the attractions. I examined it minutely as he was bathing 

 it in the river at daybreak. The midnight surgeon had 

 made a hole in it, almost of a triangular shape, and the blood 

 was then running from it apace. His hammock was so 

 defiled and stained with clotted blood, that he was obliged 

 to beg an old black woman to wash it. As she was taking 

 it down to the river side, she spread it out before me, and 

 shook her head. I remarked, that I supposed her own toe 

 was too old and tough to invite the Vampire-doctor to get 

 his supper out of it ; and she answered, with a grin, that 

 doctors generally preferred young people. 



Nobody has yet been able to inform me how it is that 

 the vampire manages to draw such a large quantity of 

 blood, generally from the toe, and the patient, all the time, 

 remain in a profound sleep. I have never heard of an 

 instance of a man waking under the operation. Ou the 

 contrary, he continues in a sound sleep, and at the time of 

 rising, his eyes first inform him that there has been a 

 thirsty thief on his toe. 



