Page 80

27f 39

Jütet} to encamp, during the night, on the banks o f the lake o f Mamora (having tra ve lled, on horseback, a fatiguing d a y s jou rn e y o f fifty-six miles), where I was intolerably tormented w ith the musquitos; it being suggested, that th e y were, attracted b y the lights in the tents, these were extinguished, but without affording any r e lie f : fatigued as I was, as w e ll as e v e ry one else, I endeavoured in vain to sleep, and was at length obliged to cause the tents to be struck, the camels loaded, and to proceed on m y w ay in the night, all which the servants and A ra b s ch e e r fu lly performed, though nearly exhausted with the heat o f the preceding day. In the morning, I found my face and hands in a most deplorable condition, being similar to those o f a person in the worst stage o f the small-pox. T h e musquitos and other insects attack strangers with great, keenness, biting them, and sucking their blood in a most distressing manner. T h e thick skins o f the Arabs, exposed d a ily to the scorching heat o f the sun, are impenetrable to their bite, otherwise they would not be able to e x is t ; for although the country is productive, and the soil good, y e t nothing can compensate for the vexation arising from the unremitted attacks. o f these irritating insects. Cricket.— This insect abounds in the A tla s mountains, piercing the still air o f night w ith its incessant noise. T h e y are v e r y large, ha vin g beautiful g r a y wings,, covered w ith several gold coloured sp ots ; the back, is yellow, variegated with green. Serpents (Henushe) .— O f these there are various species in Barbary, but two only are extremely v en om o u s ; the.one is o f a b la ck colour, about seven or eight feet long, w ith a small head, w hich it expands frequently to four times its ordinary size, when, about to attack any object. This serpent is calied Buskay and


27f 39
To see the actual publication please follow the link above