of the Ifthmus of America 339 



They ^ave Bees alfo, and confequently ftofteyBw* 

 and W#x. The Bees are of two Sorts the one 

 fhort and thick, and its Colour inclining to red ; 

 the other blackifli, long and flender. They neft 

 on the Tops and in Holes of Trees ; which the In* 

 dians climb, and thruft their Arms into their Neft, 

 to get the Combs. Their Arms will be cover'd 

 with Bees, upon their drawing them back ; yet I ne^ 

 ver perceiv'd they were ftung by them : And I have 

 had many of them at a Time upon my naked Body, 

 without being ftung ; fo that I have been inclin'd to 

 think they have no Stings : But that's a thing I ne- 

 ver examin'd. The Indians fometimes burn down 

 the Trees to get at the Combs, efpecially if they 

 be high and difficult to climb. The Honey they Bonif* 

 mix with Water, and drink it : But they make no 

 ufe of the Wax, that ever I faw ; ufing for Candles Wax* 

 a Sort of light Wood, which they keep in their 

 Houfes for that Purpofe. 



They have Ants with Wings, large and long, as Ants, 

 well as thofe which are Reptiles only. They raife 

 Hillocks like ours : They fting, and are very trou- 

 blefome > efpecially when they get into the Houfes, 

 as they frequently do. They fwarm up and down the 

 Samballoes and the other Neighbouring Ifles, as well 

 as on the Ifthmus it felf ; and there is no lying down 

 to Reft on any Piece of Ground where they are* 

 Neither do the Indians care to tye their Hammocks 

 to any Trees near the Ant-hiljs ; for the Ants would 

 climb up fuch Trees, and foon get into th?ir Ham- 

 mocks. 



Of 



