APID^ — BEES. 201 



Aristomacbus of Soli, says Pliny, made Bees his exclu- 

 sive study for a period of fifty-eight years; and Philiocns, 

 the Thraeian, surnamed Agrius — "Wildraan" — passed his 

 life in desert spots tending swarms of Bees.^ 



Schomburgk says he saw, in his journey to the sources 

 of the Takutu, an Indian, who was the conjuror or piaiman 

 of his tribe, merely approach a nest of the wild Warn pang- 

 bees {Wampisiana camniba), and knocking with his fingers 

 against it, drive out all the Bees without a single one injuring 

 him. The piaiman, Schomburgk remarks, drew his fingers 

 under the pits of his arms before he knocked against the hive.^ 



Brue, in his first voyage to Siratic, in Africa, met with 

 what he called a "phenomenon" in a person entitling him- 

 self the "King of the Bees." His majesty accordingly came to 

 the boat of the traveler entirely covered with these insects, 

 and followed by thousands, over which he appeared to ex- 

 ercise the most absolute authority. These Bees were never 

 known to injure either himself or those whom he took under 

 his protection.^ 



Mr. Wildman, the most celebrated Bee-tamer, frequently 

 asserted that armed with his friendly Bees he was defensible 

 against the fiercest mastiffs ; and, it is said, he actually did, 

 at Salisbury, encounter three yard-dogs one after the other. 

 The conditions of the engagement were, that he should have 

 notice of the dog being set at him. Accordingly the first 

 mastiff was set loose ; and as he approached the man, two 

 Bees were detached, which immediately stung him, the one 

 on the nose, the other on the flank; upon receiving the 

 wounds, the dog retired very much daunted. After this, the 

 second dog entered the lists, and was foiled with the same 

 expedition as the first. The third dog was at last brought 

 against the champion, but the animal observing the ill success 

 of his brethren, would not attempt to sustain a combat; so, 

 in a cowardly manner, he retired with his tail between his 

 legs. 



Many other remarkable anecdotes are told of this gentle- 

 man, illustrating his wonderful control over Bees. He could 

 also, indeed, tame wasps and hornets, with almost the same 

 ease as he could Bees, and an instance is mentioned of his 



^ Nat. Hist., X. 9. 



2 Journ. of Geog. Soc, 1843, xiii. 40. 



« Murray's Africa, i. 108. 



18* 



