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earth, or turtle oil, give themselves smart slaps 

 every instant with the palm of their hands, on 

 the shoulders, the back, and the legs, nearly as 

 if their bodies were not painted. It is doubtful, 

 whether in general the painting relieve, cer- 

 tainly it does not prevent the evil. Europeans, 

 recently arrived at the Oroonoko, the Rio Mag- 

 dalena, the river Guayaquil, or Rio Chagre (I 

 mention the four rivers where the insects are 

 most to be dreaded) cover at first the face and 

 hands ; they soon feel a heat difficult to endure, 

 are weary of being condemned to complete inac- 

 tivity, and finish with leaving the face and hands 

 uncovered. Persons, who would renounce all kind 

 of occupation during the navigation of these 

 rivers, might bring some particular garment 

 from Europe in the form of a bag, under which 

 they could remain covered, opening it only every 

 half-hour. This bag should be distended by 

 whalebone hoops, for a simple mask and gloves 

 would be scarcely supportable. Sleeping on the 

 ground, on skins or in hammocks, we could not 

 make use of the moschetto curtains (toldos) at 

 the Oroonoko. The toldo is useful only where 

 it forms a tent so well closed around the bed, 

 that there is not the smallest opening, by which 

 a gnat can pass. This is difficult to accomplish; 

 and often when you succeed (for instance, in 

 going up the Rio Magdalena, where you trave 1 

 with some degree of convenience), you are 

 vol. v. I 



