XI 
SAN CARLOS 
365 
field of battle. To obtain the former, which is to 
me a priceless article, I ventured to-day to revisit 
the spot, and cautiously picking my steps, I suc- 
ceeded in drawing away with a long hooked stick 
both shoe and vasculum, nor did I disturb a single 
tucandera. 
I came worse out of this encounter than any 
other in which I have been engaged since entering 
South America. Many times have I been stung 
by ants and wasps, but never so badly. Once, near 
Sao Gabriel, in my visit to the falls of Camanaos, 
I was making my way to a small campo ; a branch 
hung inconveniently across my way and I made a 
cut at it with my cutlass, not noticing that a wasps' 
nest was suspended from it ; but I was not left a 
moment longer in ignorance, for a cloud of the vile 
insects " buzzed out wi' angry fyke," and attacked 
me tooth and tail. I ran back, beating away the 
wasps ; my hat fell off and a good many of them 
remained with it, but not a few still followed me, 
got into my hair, and stung me all over my head 
and neck. When I fairly got free from them I sat 
down on the ground, for I was dizzy and stupefied, 
and it seemed as if my head were bursting, for I 
suppose I had not fewer than twenty stings in the 
head and face alone. It came on to rain smartly, 
and I allowed the rain to beat on my head and 
neck, which in a few minutes seemed to relieve me 
much. After a while I was able to recommence 
my journey, though still in great pain, and I cut 
myself a track through the bushes so as to give a 
wide offing to the wasps' nest. The pain grew 
gradually less acute, though it did not fairly pass of^ 
all day. An Indian whom I was taking with me, 
