i6o AVOYAGETO Book IV. 



infefts were almoft infupportable to us, during the 

 fhort clear intervals of fome nights, which we fpent 

 in making obfervations on the heavenly bodies. 

 Their ftings were attended with great tortures ; and 

 more than once obliged us to abandon our obferva- 

 tions, being unable either to fee or breathe for their 

 multitudes 



Another terrible inconvenience attending the 

 houfes here, are the numbers of pericotes, or rats ; 

 every building being fo infefted with them, that, when 

 night comes on, they quit their holes, and make fuch 

 a noife in running along the cieling, and in clamber- 

 ing up and down the fides of the rooms and canopies 

 of the beds, as to difturb perfons not accuftomed to 

 them. They are fo little afraid of the human fpecies, 

 that, if a candle be fet down without beirtg in a lantern, 

 they immediately carry it off; but, as this might be at- 

 tended with the moft melancholy confequences, care 

 is taken, that their impudence is feldom put to this 

 trial, though they are remarkably vigilant in taking 

 advantage of the leaft negled. All thefe inconve- 

 niences, which feem infupportable to ftrangers, and 

 alone fufficient to render fuch a country uninhabited, 

 little affe£l the natives, as having been ufed to them 

 from their infancy and they are more affeded with 

 cold on the mountains, v/hich the Europeans fcarce 

 feel, or, at leaf!:, think very moderate, than with all thefe 

 difagreeable particulars. 



The leaft troublefome feafon is the fummer, as then 

 both the number and acftivity of thefe vermin are di- 

 miniftied it being a miftake in fome authors to fay 

 they abound moft in that feafon. The heat is then 

 abated, by the fetting-in of the S. W. and W. S. W. 

 breezes, called here chandui, as coming over a moun- 



This account is too hyperbolical. They are, however, trou-* 

 blefomc enough, and almoft infupportable, throughout all South 

 Araerica, except in the plains and deferts. A. 



tain 



