TERMES. 419 
penclicular height above the common surface of 
tlie ground. 
“ These hills continue quite bare until they are 
six or eight feet high; but in time the dead barren 
clay, of which they are composed, becomes ferti- 
lized by the genial power of the elements in these 
prolific climates, and the addition of vegetable 
salts and otlier matters brought by the wind; and 
in the second or third year, the hillock, if not 
over-shaded by trees, becomes, like the rest of 
the earth, almost covered with grass and other 
plants; and in the dry season, when the herbage 
is burnt up by the rays of the sun, it is not much 
unlike a very large hay-cock. 
“ Every one of these buildings consists of two 
distinct parts, the exterior and the interior. 
The exterior is one large shell in the manner 
of a dome, large and strong enough to inclose 
and shelter the interior from the vicissitudes of the 
weather, and the inhabitants from the attacks of 
natural or accidental enemies. It is always, there- 
fore, much stronger than the interior building, 
which is the habitable part divided with a won- 
derful kind of regularity and contrivance into an 
amazing number of apartments for the residence 
of the king and queen, and the nursing of their 
numerous progeny; or for magazines, which are 
always found well filled with stores and provisions. 
“ These hills make their first appearance above 
ground by a little turret or two in the shape of 
sugar loaves, which are run a foot high or more. 
Soon after, at some little distance, while the former 
