THE DIVIDING LINE. 
77 
men the skins of what they killed. And every evening after the fires were 
made, they stretched them very tight upon sticks, and dried them. This, by 
a nocturnal fire, appeared at first a very odd spectacle, every thing being 
dark and gloomy round about. After they are dried in this manner they 
may be folded up without damage, till they come to be dressed according to 
art. The Indians dress them with deer’s brains, and so do the English here by 
their example. For expedition’s sake they often stretch their skins over 
smoke in order to dry them, which makes them smell so disagreeably that a 
rat must have a good stomach to gnaw them in that condition ; nay, it is said, 
while that perfume continues in a pair of leather breeches, the person that 
wears them will be in no danger of that villanous little insect the French call 
morpion. And now I am upon the subject of insects, it may not be improper 
to mention some few remedies against those that are most vexatious in this 
climate. There are two sorts without doors, that are great nuisances, the 
ticks, and the horse flies. The ticks are either deer-ticks, or those that annoy 
the cattle. The first kind are long, and take a very strong gripe, being most 
In remote woods, above the inhabitants. The other are round, and more 
gently insinuate themselves into the flesh, being in all places where cattle are 
frequent. Both these sorts are apt to be troublesome during the warm season, 
but have such an aversion to pennyroyal, that they will attack no part that 
is rubbed with the juice of that fragrant vegetable. And a strong decoction 
of this is likewise the most effectual remedy against seed-ticks, which bury 
themselves in your legs, when they are so small you can hardly discern them 
without a microscope. 
The horse flies are not only a great grievance to horses, but likewise to 
those that ride them. These little vixens confine themselves chiefly to the 
woods, and are most in moist places. Though this insect be no bigger than 
an ordinary fly, it bites very smartly, darting its little proboscis into the skin 
the instant it lights upon it. These are offensive only in the hot months, and 
in the day time, when they are a great nuisance to travellers ; insomuch that 
it is no wonder they were formerly employed for one of the plagues of Egypt. 
But dittany, which is to be had in the woods all the while those insects 
remain in vigor, is a sure defence against them. For this purpose, if you 
stick a bunch of it on the head-stall of your bridle, they will be sure to keep 
a respectful distance. Thus, in what part of the woods soever any thing 
mischievous or troublesome is found, kind Providence is sure to provide a 
remedy. And it is probably one great reason why God was pleased to create 
these, and many other vexatious animals, that men should exercise their 
wits and industry, to guard themselves against them. Bears’ oil is used by 
the Indians as a general defence against every species of vermin. Among 
the rest, they say it keeps both bugs and mosquitoes from assaulting their 
persons, which would otherwise devour such uncleanly people. Yet bears’ 
grease has no strong smell, as that plant had which the Egyptians formerly 
used against mosquitoes, resembling our palma Christi, the juice of which 
smelled so disagreeably, that the remedy was worse than the disease. 
Against mosquitoes, in Egypt, the richer sort used to build lofty towers, with 
bed-chambers in the tops of them, that they might rest undisturbed. It is 
certain that these insects aire no high fliers, because their wings are weak 
and their bodies so light, that if they mount never so little, the wind blows 
them quite away from -their course, and they become an easy prey to the 
martins. East India bats, and other birds that fly about in continual quest of 
them. 
8th. As we had twice more to cross the Dan over two fords, that lay no 
more than seven miles from each other, we judged the distance would not be 
much greater to go rouiid the bend of it. Accordingly we sent the Indian 
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