Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-08-17


As during three or four months they
always haunted our tents, 20 they did
our thoughts. Their bodies were a.
broad, and almost - full ~ finger
their fangs as broad and plump - those
of small craw -fishes. With these in
the square position ola weevil's feelers,
they usually measured, with theii
snake of a tail, from three to five inches
One brought home was pronounced h
be equal to the largest ever preserved
in museums or perpetuated on zoologi.
cal plates. They found out almost every
camp, and we found them usually when
starting in the morning under the pack
ages, saddles and tent carpets. One wa,
detected by colleague in a pocket.
Another stung the same man before
lunch In his tent. 1t is curious that
this should have been the same man
who received the visit from viper.
One was caught during meal on the
back of chair, crawling toward tina
sitter's neck, while he was just scanning
the ground to see whether there were
any about. NV servant moro than oncs
turred them out of my bed, usually 0
little before l turned in, but once at
least from under my pillow immedt
ately after l had risen. Often, no doubt,
they were removed without people say
ing much about Ii, rs bad cases during
epidemics are usually concealed by the
officers. The nuisance was not quite 20
had. or good. however. rs 10 make Us
desperately face the foe and try to.have
done with II. by repeatedly allowing
ourselves TO BE- stung on purpose. rs
sort OF incubation said to steel the
frame against the pangs from any sub
scquent accidents. Aspecial short pair
of tongs. however. was at these times
always with my ready servant, and he
us,d grimly TO exhibit TO Us with q
grin. while we were nj table, any re-
Inarkable specimen which he happened
10 catch. secured in these tongs. die
not encourage him to catch them rs sans
f.con rs servants In India do-attract-
inr The vcrmin's several eyes by moving
n sort straw on the ground, like some
phars,onic locust. and then elegantly
taking hold with two fingers OF the tail
like end OF the abdomen close TO The
sliu~. Tue smaller and slender species,
with narrow fangs OF gall and bile yell
.ew,I fognd TO be moro numerous on
the main trtam and in the Delta OF the
Nile. These crawl with tail curicd up
in all seasons. When we asked our
Nuhian friends about the man-slaugh-
;ering power of the dark hard ones. we
got the indirect answer that they will
Kill a camel!
When one Of the party was stung. we
Immediately took hold of his arm.
stopped the surface circulation by band
ages above and below, tried To squeeze
out the venom, and then applied ammo
Mia on the wound. The animal. which
escaped. was "only shrimp" young
one. and the pang did moi extend be-
yond the bandages, nor last long after
the burning with ammonia. that Is.
about twenty minutes. We did no,
apply ammonia inwardly. The general
circulation Of the blood was also suiii'
GENTLY accelerated from the natural ex-
ci,ement to make any stronger expul'
siye s,imulant than 4 safe glass Of wine
unnecessary.
Our usual matutinal brushing was
supplemented by our brushing with the
pencils of our visual rays even the in
terror of our sleeves, pockets and the
ike. Our camel-colored boots, shaken
after work, we shook again in the orn.
ing. and even before, from dust and
sand usually gliding in overnight. Bu'
in the scorpion Sc ason and region we did
this ceremony, due TO ungrateful SOILS
with more attention, rs we were richer
nv one more interest in life. Moreover
we did not change boots for shoes In
camp, but were rather careful TO have
Cur neither sleeves within the shafts oil
the boots, or in CATERS or Knickerbock'
ers. And we had an objection, especia!lJ
nj night, when AZ table. 10 having ouI
feet reach the ground. which we kept
sweeping With the brooms of our looks
A supply of little iron saucers to put
Indian fashion-the bed legs in was de-
sirable; scorpions DO not cross water
for fear OF being killed by even one droT
going into what we may call theD
lungs.