then going on at the rate of one drop each 67 seconds, or about 2 ounces 5-1/2 drams in 24 hours.  Next morning the distillation, so far from being affected by the attempt to stop the supplies, supposing they had come up through the branch from the tree, was increased to a drop every 5 seconds, or 12 drops per minute, making 1 pint (16 ounces) in every 24 hours.  I then cut the branch so much that, during the day, it broke; but they still went on at the rate of a drop every 5 seconds, while another colony on a branch of the same tree gave a drop every 17 seconds only, or at the rate of about 10 ounces 4-4/5 drams in 24 hours.  I finally cut off the branch; but this was too much for their patience, for they immediately decamped, as insects will do from either a dead branch or a dead animal, which Indian hunters soon know, when they sit down on a recently-killed bear.  The presence of greater moisture in the air increased the power of these distillers:  the period of greatest activity was in the morning, when the air and every thing else was charged with dew.

Having but one day left for experiment, I found again that another colony on a branch denuded in the same way yielded a drop every 2 seconds, or 4 pints 10 ounces in 24 hours, while a colony on a branch untouched yielded a drop every 11 seconds, or 16 ounces 2-19/20 drams in 24 hours.  I regretted somewhat the want of time to institute another experiment, namely, to cut a branch and place it in water, so as to keep it in life, and then observe if there was any diminution of the quantity of water in the vessel.  This alone was wanting to make it certain that they draw water from the atmosphere.  I imagine that they have some power of which we are not aware, besides that nervous influence which causes constant motion to our own involuntary muscles, the power of life-long action without fatigue.  The reader will remember, in connection with this insect, the case of the ants already mentioned.

December 14th.  Both myself and men having recovered from severe attacks of fever, we left the hospitable residence of Mr. Canto with a deep sense of his kindness to us all, and proceeded on our way to Ambaca.  (Lat. 9d 16’ 35” S., long. 15d 23’ E.)

Frequent rains had fallen in October and November, which were nearly always accompanied with thunder.  Occasionally the quantity of moisture in the atmosphere is greatly increased without any visible cause:  this imparts a sensation of considerable cold, though the thermometer exhibits no fall of the mercury.  The greater humidity in the air, affording a better conducting medium for the radiation of heat from the body, is as dangerous as a sudden fall of the thermometer:  it causes considerable disease among the natives, and this season is denominated “Carneirado”, as if by the disease they were slaughtered like sheep.  The season of these changes, which is the most favorable for Europeans, is the most unhealthy for the native population; and this is by no means a climate in which either natives or Europeans can indulge in irregularities with impunity.