268 



SWARMS OF MOSQUITOS. 



absolutely tortured with mosquitos. I never^ iu 

 my life^ suffered such torment from them. I 

 tried to sleep inside and out^ smoked the room 

 and shut the door till I was almost suffocated, 

 but all to no purpose. Not a moment's peace 

 could I get^ so I got up and walked about the 

 whole night. I was not singular^ for the natives 

 of the house^ peons^ and courier^ all suffered 

 equally alike. 



Jan, Srd, Being moonlight, started at four 

 without breakfast. Passed through another flight 

 of locusts. On arriving at the next post, Can- 

 dalaria, found that I had left my note-book be- 

 hind. This would have been a severe loss to me, 

 so I offered twelve rials, (about six shillings stir- 

 ling,) for a man to ride back for it, a distance of 

 six leagues. The courier went on, while I waited 

 with my peon till the man's return : he was only 

 two hours and a half going there and back, a 

 distance of thirty-six miles, and was highly grati- 

 fied with his reward. In order to overtake the 

 courier, 1 was supplied with one of the best horses 



