ANT EXPEDITIONS TO CAPTURE SLAVES. 349 



curtail Ruber's narrative, we shall give it in his own 

 words. 



' On the fifteenth of July,' he says, ' at ten in 

 the morning, a small division of the sanguine ants 

 was despatched from the garrison, and arrived in 

 quick march near a colony of the negro-ant {F. 

 fiisca), situated above twenty paces distant, around 

 which they took their station The inhabitants, on 

 perceiving these strangers, rushed forth in a body to 

 attack them, and led back several prisoners. The 

 sanguine ants made no further advance, but appeared 

 to be waiting for some reinforcement. From time 

 to time, accordingly, small companies arrived to 

 strengthen the brigade ; and when they considered 

 themselves in sufficient strength they advanced a 

 little nearer, as if more willing to run the hazard of 

 a general engagement ; yet it was remarkable, that 

 in proportion as they approached the negro encamp- 

 ment, the more solicitous did they seem to despatch 

 couriers to their own garrison, who, arriving in great 

 haste, produced considerable alarm, when another 

 division was immediately appointed to join the army. 

 But, though thus reinforced, they evinced little ea- 

 gerness for the combat, and only alarmed the negroes 

 by their presence. The negroes took up a position 

 in front of their encampment of about two feet 

 square, where nearly their whole force was assembled 

 to wait the enemy. 



' Frequent skirmishes took place all around the 

 lines, the besieged always attacking the besiegers ; 

 and, judging from their numbers, the negro-ants 

 gave token of a vigorous resistance, but distrusting 

 their own strength, they look to the safety of the 

 young committed to their care, and in this respect 

 exhibit one of the most singular traits of insect pru- 

 dence. Even long before success is at all dubious, 

 they bring up the pupae from the chambers under 



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