264 
POISONOUS BUGS. 
in the form of a small but poisonous bug. It breeds in myriads 
in all the old houses, and may be seen creeping over every part 
of their walls, of the size and shape of the bugs in Europe, only 
a little flatter, and in colour of a bright red. Its bite is mortal, 
producing death at the expiration of eight or nine months. 
Strangers of every sort, not merely foreigners, but persons not 
usually inhabiting the town or its vicinity, are liable to be thus 
poisoned ; while the people themselves, or the adjacent peasantry, 
are either never bitten, or, if so, the consequences are not more 
baneful to them than the sting of the least noxious insect. The 
fatal effect of this bug, however, upon 66 paynerne,” as well “ as 
Cristene men,” if they are strangers, being known as an absolute 
fact, every precaution is taken accordingly by native and foreign 
travellers ; and when myself, with my Persian interpreter, and 
servants, entered the town of peril, I lost no time in demanding 
our proper quarters of my mehmandor. On our addressing him, 
he did nothing but gape and stare about him, as if struck by 
some magician’s staff into more than his wonted stupidity. 
Persuasions, exhortations, and threats, were tried in vain. But 
remembering that one wand might break the spell of another, 
for once I had recourse to the efficacy of my cossack’s whip ; and 
it was surprising to see the happy change. The man started as 
from a dream, bestirred himself with alacrity, and showed such 
an increase of respect in his deportment towards myself, as if he 
had required that act of authority, to assure him I was worthy 
the honour of his services. From that time, all went well with 
my mehmandar ; and he soon procured me possession of an 
entirely new-built stable, perfectly clean and unoccupied; a 
more estimable lodgement, at Mianna, than an old palace. The 
lower part received my horses, with their attendants ; and the 
