haunts are the banks of rivers, and particularly those of
a stagnant and muddy character.

There is another singular fact in regard to them. Upon the banks of
some of the South-American rivers, life is almost unendurable on account
of this pest--the "_plaga de mosquitos_," as the Spaniards term it--
while upon other streams in the very same latitude musquitoes are
unknown. These streams are what are termed "_rios negros_," or
black-water rivers--a peculiar class of rivers, to which many
tributaries of the Amazon and Orinoco belong.

Our English comrade, who had travelled all over South America, gave us
this information as we rode along. He stated, that he had often
considered it a great relief, a sort of escape from purgatory, while on
his travels he parted from one of the yellow or white water streams, to
enter one of the "_rios negros_." Many Indian tribes settled upon the
banks of the latter solely to get clear of the "_plaga de mosquitos_."
The Indians who reside in the mosquito districts habitually paint their
bodies, and smear themselves with oil, as a protection against their
bites; and it is a common thing among the natives, when speaking of any
place, to inquire into the "character" of its mosquitoes!

On some tributaries of the Amazon the mosquitoes are really a life
torment, and the wretched creatures who inhabit such places frequently
bury their bodies in the sand in order to get sleep! Even the pigments
with which they anoint themselves are pierced by the poisoned bills of
their tormentors.

Besancon and the Kentuckian both denied that any species of ointment
would serve as a protection against mosquitoes. The doctor joined them
in their denial. They asserted that they had tried everything that
could be thought of--camphor, ether, hartshorn, spirits of turpentine,
etcetera.

Some of us were of a different opinion, and Ike settled the point soon
after in favour of the dissentients by a practical illustration. The
old trapper, as before stated, was a victim to the fiercest attacks, as
was manifested by the slapping which he repeatedly administered to his
cheeks, and an almost constant muttering of bitter imprecations. He
knew a remedy he said in a "sartint weed," if he could only "lay his
claws upon it." We noticed that from time to time as he rode along his
eyes swept the ground in every direction. At length a joyous
exclamation told that he had discovered the "weed."

"Thur's the darned t