116 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



a little rest, by closing the tent and burn- 

 ing wood or flashing gunpowder within, 

 the smoke driving the musquitoes into 

 the crannies of the ground ; but this re- 

 medy was now ineffectual, though we em- 

 ployed it so perseveringly, as to hazard 

 suffocation : they swarmed under our blan- 

 kets, goring us with their envenomed trunks, 

 and steeping our clothes in blood. We 

 rose at daylight in a fever, and our misery 

 was unmitigated during our whole stay. 



The musquitoes of America resemble, in 

 shape, those of Africa and Europe, but 

 differ essentially in size and other particu- 

 lars. There are two distinct species, the 

 largest of which is brown, and the smallest 

 black. Where they are bred cannot easily 

 be determined, for they are numerous in 

 every soil. They make their first appear- 

 ance in May, and the cold destroys them in 

 September ; in July they are most vora- 

 cious ; and fortunately for the traders, the 

 journeys from the trading posts to the fac- 

 tories are generally concluded at that period. 

 The food of the musquito is bloody which it 



