114 



MOSQUITO TOBACCO. 



Chap. VI. 



made up in the form of a paste like tlie latter, but 

 simply well mixed, and then run into the bags in 

 a dry state. Each bag being filled is closed at the 

 mouth, and then coiled up like a rope and fastened 

 in this position with a bit of thread. Many hun- 

 dreds of these coils, neatly done up and placed one 

 above another, may be seen exposed for sale in the 

 shops during the hot season, when mosquitoes are 

 numerous. When about to be used, the thread 

 which keeps the coil together is cut, then the coil 

 is slightly loosened, so that its sides do not touch 

 each other, for if this happened it would ignite at 

 various parts and soon be consumed. The outer 

 end is then lighted, and the whole is laid carefully 

 down upon a bit of board, when it goes on burning 

 for the greater part of the night. One hundred of 

 these little coils may be bought for a sum equivalent 

 to threepence of our money, and two of them will 

 suffice for a night in an ordinary-sized room. 



A third substance, cheaper than either of the 

 above, is made of a species of artemisia or worm- 

 wood {A. indica) which grows wild on every hill 

 in this part of China. It is the same kind I have 

 already noticed as forming one of the ingredients 

 in the genuine mosquito tobacco, and is that which 

 was used in taking the honey from the bees in the 

 temple of Tein-tung. It is gathered and thoroughly 

 dried, then twisted or plaited into ropes, in which 

 condition it is fit for use. Although cheaper, and 

 consequently more in use amongst the poorer 

 classes, than the other kinds, it is not so efficient. 



