The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-12-07

Meet Numrroun.
No one Of experience would ven-
turo TO say which Is tho country
most afflicted by mosquitoes. much
more tho spot But IL is someth 'ng
20 identify tho place which all ' 10
have visited IL, saving one traveller,
declare unrivaled. Such visitors
have been few, but every one Of them
was a man specially qualified TO pro-
nounce. It is a canal, hat Of natures
forming, which connects the Sara
wax and Samaharnn rivers of Bor-
neo. Boats using IL avoid a sea pas
sage and gain several hours in time.
and on the homoward voyage espo-
cially Malays nre very far from in
different TO such advantages. But,
though n storm be raging outside,
they think twice before risking the
short cut. In faot il is officers Of
the government charged with inpor-
tant news or belated and sick for a
Christian welcome before sleeping
who dare tho horrors of that pas
sage. Naval officers also have used
it not infrequently, gathering yarn
to spin for the rest of their natural
lives. Sir Spencer st. John Is the
single witness who thinks there is
one moro terrible place on earth.
and that, says he, lis Pahnam, nc
the entrance TO the Siam river.
Sir Spencer proceeds: 1T took us
the whole night TO get through. and
no ono was able 70 close his eyes.
The leaves Of the nipa palms nearly
met over our heads. and every time
one was touched swarm Of mos
quitoes settled upon u. endcay-
ored to shelter myself under q
blanket, but tho heat was so great
as to compel me to unwillingly fsco
the enemy. ! have heard Of men
exposed 10 this annoy ancu being
thrown into a fovcr by constant irri-
tation, and I can we'll believe it. "
The last remark must alludo 20
natives and TO the irritation uf mos
quitocs in n general sense. for IL -
really bathCs applied 10 this partic-
ular spot. Once on a time VIC also
longed for Christian society and in
sisted upon taking the short cut.
| Tho mosquitoes were 80 thick that
one could not sec the paddler in tho
bows. Clapping ones palms together
one felt the crush OF insects between
them, and a black paste remained
but we did not spend more than a..
hour happily in getting through. a
few days aftCrward Captain Reid Of
her majesty 5 ship Riloman passed,
/ going on n visit 20 tho raiah. For
/ three years no had LcCn surveying
| in tho China seas. and his crew was
Injured 10 moSquitCCa, II men can bc.
But with difficulty they reached
KuChing, and four wCru taken
straight 10 hospital. Doubtless tho
oars in that narrow passage. shaking
the nira leaves, which are half sub
merged, bought every mosquito
within reach uIuu them.
How 10 the small Gcrtis liver The
question obtrudes itself IN spots liso
this. Evidently thoy get no taste OF
blood. Men do not Tass ouCo IN a
week. Animals there arc none in a
grove of nipa palms, always under
water. 20 FAR as VIC can sec, thcir
lancCts and sucking tubes serve NJ
purpose. for If they cat one another
oil the ingenious apparatus Is IN
necessary. IL IS tho same case with
heas in southern Europe and else
where. Tho cornfclds orc alive with
them, and, though at harvest timo
ono in millions may find victim,
generations have lived and died in
tho months preceding. Darwin 3 Cx-
periments with insect eating plants
may possibly throw light upon the
matter. Keeping some under oondi-
tions which forbade them to catch
insects, and others Of tho same spe.
cies unrestrained, he found that, nj.
though both grow and lowered with
equal vigor apparently. those de.
prived of animal food did not rcadi.
ly set their seed OF ripen IL when
set. while tho young plants were
weakly. y supply of insects appears
tosbe necessary for the preservation
Of the species. Go, perhaps, tho
minute proportion Of mosquitoes
which find dead fish or something oi
. tho sort keep the pernicious breed
flourishing. Pail Mall Gazette.
The Huilnr gpirft strunr.