Chap. IX. MOSCHETO TOBACCO. 



179 



boat. I immediately despatched him to procure some 

 of this invaluable substance. In a few minutes he 

 returned with four long sticks in his hand, not unlike 

 those commonly used for burning incense in the 

 temples, only somewhat longer and coarser in appear- 

 ance. He informed me they cost only two cash 

 each— certainly cheap enough if they answered the 

 purpose. 



Two of these sticks were now lighted and sus- 

 pended from the roof of the boat. They had not 

 been burning five minutes when every moscheto in 

 the boat sought other quarters. We were quite de- 

 lighted, and enjoyed a sound and refreshing sleep, for 

 which we were most thankful. I had always dreaded 

 these insects during this journey, as I did not carry 

 curtains with me on account of their bulk. I now 

 found, however, that there was no need of them 

 wherever we could procure the moscheto tobacco. 



Various substances are employed by the Chinese 

 to drive away moschetoes. This which we had just 

 purchased was made with the sawings of resinous 

 woods — I believe procured from juniper-trees — and 

 mixed with some combustible matter to make it burn. 

 A piece of split bamboo, three or four feet in length, 

 is then covered all over with this substance. When 

 finished it is as thick as a rattan or small cane. The 

 upper end of the bamboo has a slit in it for hooking 

 on to any nail in the wall, or to the roof of a boat. 

 When once lighted, it goes on burning upwards until 

 within six inches of the hook, beyond which there is 

 no combustible matter, and it then dies out A 



n 2 



