Cap. XXIV. The Caribby-Iflands. 



they put the pedeftalls of Cabinets in veffels full of water^ to 

 prevent the creeping up of the Ants. This eafie fecret might 

 produce the fame effect in the Caribbies to keep off the Wood- 

 lice and Ravets, nay alfo the Ants, which are there alfo ex- 

 tremely troublefome. 



C H EGO E S. 



BUt what is moft to be feared in all thefe Iflands is a certain 

 kind of little worm, no bigger then a hand-Worm, which 

 breeds in the duft, in the fweepings caft out into the dung- 

 hill, and fuch unclean places: Thefe are commonly called 

 Chegoes. They get into peoples feet, and under the nails of 

 their toes \ but if they^get any further, and are not taken a- 

 way in time, they will get into all the other parts of the bo- 

 dy. At firft they only caufe a little itching, but having once 

 got through the fkin, they caufe an inflammation in the place 

 affected, and though very little when they entred it, come in 

 time to be as big as a pea, and produce abundance of nits, 

 which may breed others 5 and fo many times ulcers are bred 

 in the places whence they are taken. 



The Savages, as they relate who have liv'd among therr^ 

 have a certain gum, wherewith having rubb'd their feet, efpe* 

 cially under the nails, they are not annoy'd with this vermine : 

 But fuch as know not that fecret are advis'd to have their feet 

 fearch'd by thofe who have the (kill to difcoVer and take 

 out thofe dangerous Infefts, as foon as they feel the leaft itch- 

 ing at which work the Indians are very expert and fortu- 

 nate. Thofe who take out thefe Chegoes muft. have a care 

 that they break not the bag wherein they are enclofed 3 

 which if they do, fome of their little egges will remain be* 

 hind, which will infallibly breed others. It is conceived al* 

 lb, that the Romcoh 5 which the Caribbians ufe to make them* 

 felves more beautiful, more nimble, and more active to run, 

 hath a fecret vertue to keep off all thefe vermine. 



It is alfo a good remedy often to fprinkle falt-water a* 

 bout the room 5 not to go bare-foot } to wear ftockings of 

 Goats-leather ; and to keep ones felf very clean : For com- 

 monly only fuch as are carelefs of themfelves, and flovenly, 

 are much troubled with them. Thefe little worms are the 

 fame with thofe which the Braftlians call Tons, and fome other 

 Indians Nigas. 



Thofe who have Ulcers caufed by thefe little worms, either 

 for want of taking rhem out fkilfully or in time, are among 

 the French called Mdlingres. Thefe Ulcers come alfo many 

 times after fornl little fcratching, which at firft feems to be little 

 or nothing : But afterwards, the party may well wonder to 

 fee it as big as the palm of a mans hands for the Ulcer muft 



have 



