Am. l91.] Our People Stung By the Tarrentes. 229 proceeded on their march to the house called “ of the narrow ways, ” because the road there becomes narrow; there they halted and pitched their tents. It was the custom of the army each night before lying down to rest, to depute some one to stand in the middle of the camp, and cry out with a loud voice, “ Help! help! for the holy sepulchral” The rest of the army took it up, and repeated the words; and stretching their hands to heaven, amid a profusion of tears, prayed for the mercy and assistance of God in the cause. 'l`hen the herald himself repeated the words in a loud voice, “ Help! help ! for the holy sepulchre l” and` every one repeated it after him a second time, and so likewise a third time, with contrition of heart and abundant weeping. For who would not Weep at such a moment, when the very mention of its having been done would extract tears from the auditors? The army appeared to be much refreshed by crying out in this fashion. CH. XIII.-How the tarrentes afficted our people with their venomous stings.
As each night came round, a sort of reptile attacked us, commonly called tarrentes, which creep on the ground, and have most venomous stings. As the day comes on, they are harmless; but on the approach of night, they used their stings most pertinaciously, and those they stung were instantly swelled with the venom, and tortured with pain. The more noble and wealthy of those who were attacked applied theriacal ointment on the stings, and the antidote proved efficaeious to remove the pain. At last, the more observant, perceiving that the reptiles were frightened away by loud sounds, raised a great noise at their approach hy heating and clashing their helmets and shields together; also by beating against their seats, poles, casks, flagons, basins, platters, caldrons, and whatever household ware they could lay hands on to make a sufficient sound; and by these sounds they drove away the reptiles. The army remained two days at the above mentioned station, where there was plenty of room for their camp, and waited there until the ships arrived which they were expecting; namely, barges and galleys. laden with provisions, of which they were in need; for these vessels were sailing in connection with the army along the shore, and carried their provisions on board.
