142 N AR R A T I VE OF AN
c h a p. fellow at whom the ranger and I had fired the preceding
xxn. day.
I cannot here forbear relating a fipgular circmmftance
refpecting rnyfehy-ws. that on waking about'four o’clock
this morning in my hammock, I was extremely alarmed
at finding myfelf weltering in congealed blood, and without
feeling any pain whatever. Having ftarted up, and
run for the furgeon, with a fire-brand in one hand, and
all over befmeared with gore; to which i f added my%ale
face, fhort hair, and tattered apparel, he might well afk
the queftion,
« Be tKou a fpirit of health or goblin
r “ ..Bring with thee airs of Heav'n or blafts from Hell
The my fiery however whs, that I had been hit ten by the
vampire o ffp eB re o f Guiahh, which is alfo called the
flying-dog o f New Spain, and by the Spaniards perro-
volador; this is no other than a bat of a tnonftrous fize,
that fucks the blood from men and cattlewhen they are
faft afleep, even fometimes till they d i e a nd as the manner
in which they proceed is truly wonderful, I fliall
endeavour to give a diftirt<ft aecburit of it.-^Khowing by
inftindt that the perfon they iii'tend to attack is m a found
Humber, they generally alight near the feet, where while
the creature continues fanning With his enormous wings,_
which keeps one cool, he bites a piece out of the tip of
the great toe, fo very fmall indeed that the head of a pin
could fcarcely be deceived into the wound, Which is confequently