West Indies, 481 



A larger species of ant attacks the fruit, meat, and what- 

 ever eatable may be in the larder, if it can obtain access there. 

 To prevent this evil, the safe can only prove so to its contents, 

 by either being suspended from the ceiling by a rope that is 

 frequently tarred, or placed on a stand whose legs rest in 

 leaden boxes filled with water, which is changed frequently, 

 or a pellicle of dust would form, and soon give transit to these 

 light-footed creatures. The large red ant is seldom seen in the 

 house ; but I recollect, on one occasion, that a host of them 

 made it their thoroughfare. About four o'clock in the after- 

 noon, they entered the front piazza, in irregular but con- 

 tinuous lines of three or four files, passed through the hall, 

 and went out at the back door, and down the wall. This 

 procession lasted, without ceasing, for above two hours. Num- 

 bers were killed, but it was idle to continue the slaughter, as 

 it made no difference ill regard to those which were to follow 

 continuing their march. 



The wood ants in Jamaica construct arched galleries. To 

 destroy them, you have but to make an opening in the gallery, 

 and drop in a little arsenic; the ants will eat it, and of course 

 die; being cannibals, they are eaten by the others, and the 

 whole are speedily destroyed. I have done this more than 

 once with perfect success. 



The cockroach is of all insect annoyances the greatest, both 

 in size and circumstance. It eats the bindings of books after 

 they have been handled, and any perspiration has dried upon 

 them ; leather of all kinds that has been used, as gloves, 

 harness, boots, and shoes. They crawl over and eat fruit 

 and vegetables, leaving their faeces and an intolerable stench 

 wherever they go. They also eat the corks of bottled wine, 

 cider, or porter, so as to give exit to the liquor; and it be- 

 comes necessary to protect the corks by dipping them in quick- 

 lime and water ; and further, they go into empty bottles, and 

 render them difficult to clean, and almost impossible to sweeten. 

 Of all the plagues of Jamaica this was the object of my great- 

 est abhorrence. In that island, no parchment is used for 

 wills, deeds, conveyances, or any legal document; for, were it 

 used for such purposes, the cockroaches would have no mercy 

 upon it, if accessible to their destructive powers ; and a man's 

 title to land or other property would hold good but a very 

 short time, if it came in their way. 



As some set-ofF to the foregoing annoyances from insects, I 

 may add, that, owing to feather-beds, coloured or woollen bed 

 furniture, or carpets, not being in use there, bugs and fleas 

 are seldom seen. 



Vol. v. — No. 27. i I 



