Chap. XXX. 
PLAGUE OF INSECTS. 
301 
well at some distance, which was much used by the 
people. My attempt caused some amusement to the 
vizier 3 who soon heard of it, and recognised in it a 
feature of the European character ; for digging a 
well is no small undertaking in Kiikawa, although 
water is to be found at only nine fathoms depth ; for 
the ground, consisting of loose sand under an upper 
thin layer of clay, is very apt to fall in, while the 
slender boughs with which the shaft is upheld, 
offer but little resistance. We had a great deal of 
trouble with our well, not only in constantly repair- 
ing it, but in the course of our stay we were thrice 
obliged to change the spot and dig a new well alto- 
gether. We should have been glad to set an exam- 
ple to the natives by building up our shaft with 
bricks; but with our scanty means, or rather our 
entire 'want of means, we could scarcely think of un- 
dertaking such a costly work. At a later period Mr. 
Overweg found a layer of shell lime in a spot of our 
courtyard, and got our house neatly whitewashed. 
The great point in this place is to protect oneself 
against the countless swarms of fleas which cover the 
ground, the best preservative being considered a fre- 
quent besmearing of the walls and the floor with cow- 
dung. The large white ant too is most troublesome ; 
and sugar particularly is kept with difficulty from 
its voracious attacks. Our rooms swarmed also 
with bugs, " bermade," but I am almost afraid that 
we ourselves imported them with our books. The 
bug, however, in B6rnu is not regarded as that nasty 
