142 



NARRATIVE OF AN 



CHAP, fellow at whom the ranger and I had fired the preceding 



I cannot here forbear relating a lingular circumftance 

 refpe6ling myfelf, viz. that on waking about four o'clock 

 this morning in my hammock, I was extremely alarmed 

 at finding myfelf weltering in congealed blood, and with- 

 out feeling any pain whatever. Having ftarted up, and 

 run for the furgeon, with a fire-brand in one hand, and 

 all over befmeared with gore ; to which if added my pale 

 face, fhort hair, and tattered apparel, he might well aik 

 the queftion, 



" Be thou a fpirit of health or goblin damn'd, 



" Bring with thee airs of Heav'n or blafts from Hell!" 



The myftery however was, that I had been bitten by the 

 vampire or fpedire of Guiana, which is alfo called the 

 fiying'dog of New Spain, and by the Spaniards perrO' 

 volador ; this is no other than a bat of a monftrous fize, 

 that fucks the blood from men and cattle when they are 

 fail afleep, even fometiraes till they die ; and as the man- 

 ner in which they proceed is truly wonderful, I fliall 

 endeavour to give a diftin<5l account of it.— Knowing by 

 inftindt that the perfon they intend to attack is in a found 

 flumber, they generally alight near the feet, where while 

 the creature continues fanning with his enormous wings, 

 which keeps one cool, he bites a piece out of the tip of 

 the great toe, fo very fmall indeed that the head of a pin 

 could fcarcely be received into the wound, which is confe- 



day. 



quently 



