I jumped about for a second or two, then in desperation tore off all my clothing, and rubbed and picked them off seriatim as quickly as possible.

Ugh! they would make the most lethargic mortal look alive.

Fortunately, no one observed this rencounter, or word might have been taken back to the village that I had become mad.

I was once assaulted in a similar way when sound asleep at night in my tent, and it was only by holding my blanket over the fire that I could get rid of them.

It is really astonishing how such small bodies can contain so large an amount of ill-nature.