EFFECT OF INSECT-STINGS. 323 



ing. I was obliged to lie by, and, sitting an entire day 

 with my foot in a horizontal position, uncovered, it was 

 assaulted by small black flies, the bites of which I did 

 not feel at the moment of infliction, but which left 

 marks like the punctures of a hundred pins. The irri- 

 tation was so great, and the swelling increased so much, 

 that I became alarmed, and determined to return to the 

 village. It was no easy matter to get there. The foot 

 was too big to put in a stirrup, and, indeed, to keep it 

 but for a few moments in a hanging position made it 

 feel as if the blood would burst through the skin, and 

 the idea of striking it against a bush makes me shudder 

 even now, It was indispensable, however, to leave the 

 place. I sent in to the village for a mule, and on the 

 tenth day after my arrival at the ruins, hopped down 

 the terrace, mounted, and laid the unfortunate member 

 on a pillow over the pommel of the saddle. This gave 

 me, for that muddy road, a very uncertain seat. I had 

 a man before me to cut the branches, yet my hat was 

 knocked off three or four times, and twice I was obliged 

 to dismount ; but in due season, to my great relief, we 

 cleared the woods. After the closeness and confine- 

 ment of the forest, coming once more into an open 

 country quickened every pulse. 



As I ascended to the table on which the village stood, 

 I observed an unusual degree of animation, and a crowd 

 of people in the grass-grown street, probably some fif- 

 teen or twenty, who seemed roused at the sight of me, 

 and presently three or four men on horseback rode to- 

 ward me. I had borne many different characters in 

 that country, and this time I was mistaken for three 

 padres who were expected to arrive that morning from 

 Tumbala. If the mistake had continued I should have 

 had dinner enough for six at least ; but, unluckily, it 



