Venezuela and Columbia [Orinoco] 1799-1804
Aimé Bonpland and Alexander von Humboldt (Thomasina Ross, trans.), Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America, During the Years 1799-1804, Volume 2, George Bell & Sons, London, 1907, Chapter 2.20: The Mouth of the Rio Anaveni. Peak of Uniana. Mission of Atures. Cataract, or Raudal of Mapara. Islets of Surupamana and Uirapuri.
The lower strata of air, from the surface of the ground to the height of fifteen or twenty feet, are absolutely filled with venomous insects. If … you direct your eyes towards the opening enlightened by the sun, you see clouds of mosquitoes more or less thick. I doubt whether there be a country upon earth where man is exposed to more cruel torments in the rainy season. …. “How comfortable people must be in the moon!” said a Salivo Indian ….“She looks so beautiful and so clear, that she must be free from mosquitoes.”
