«4 AVOYAGETO Book L 



of Spain * ; the third gegenes, which are very fmall and 

 of a different fhape, refembling the weovil, about the 

 fize of a grain of muftard-feed, and of an afli-coloun 

 The fourth are the mantas blancas, or white cloaks, 

 and fo very minute that the inflammation of their bite 

 is felt before the infed that caufed it is feen. Their 

 colour is known by the infinite numbers of them which 

 fill the air, and from thence they had their name* 

 From the two former, few houfes are free. Their 

 Iting is followed by a large tumour, the pain of which 

 continues about two hours. The two laft, which 

 chiefly frequent fields and gardens, raife no tumour^ 

 but caufe an infupportable itching. Thus, if the ex- 

 trem.e heat renders the day troublefome, thefc imper- 

 ceptible ihfedts difliurb the repofe of the night. And 

 though the mofquiteros, a kind of gaufe curtains, in 

 fome meafure defend us from the three former, they 

 are no fafeguard againft the latter, which make their 

 way between the threads •, unlefs the fluff be of a 

 clofer texture, in which cafe the heat becomes infup- 

 portable. 



The infedl of Carthagena called nigua, and in Peru 

 pique, is fhaped like a flea, but almoLt too fmall for 

 fight. It is a great happinefs that its legs have not- 

 the elafl:icity with thofe of fleas for, could this infect 

 leap, every animal body v/ould be filled with them y 

 and, confequently, both the brute and human fpecies 

 be foon extirpated by the multitudes of thefe infeds^ 

 They live amongfl: the dufl:, and therefore are mofl 

 common in filthy places. They infinuate themfelves 

 into the legs, the foles of the feet, or toes^ and pierce 

 the ikin with fuch fubtilty, that ther^ is no being aware 

 of them, till they have made their way into the flefht.- f- 

 If they are perceived at the beginning, they are ex- 

 tra<9:ed with little pain; but if the head only has^ 



* Or the gnat of England. A. 



if They feldom infinuate themfelves int9 the legs, A. 



pierced 



