144 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. VIII. 
incense in the temples, only somewhat longer and 
coarser in appearance. He informed me that they cost 
only two cash each — certainly cheap enough if they 
answered the purpose. 
Two of these sticks were now lighted and suspended 
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 delighted, 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 pur- 
chased was made with the sawings of resinous woods 
— I believe procured from juniper-trees — and mixed with 
some combustible matter to make it bum. 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 somewhat fragrant smell is given 
out during combustion, which, at a distance, is not dis- 
agreeable. Sometimes the sawdust is put up in coils of 
paper, and is then burned on the floors of the houses. 
Various species of wormwood are likewise employed for 
