VESPA'S STING 83 



" Eight miles from Grandie the mule- 

 teers suddenly called out ' Marambundas ! 

 Marambundas!' which indicated the ap- 

 proach of wasps. In a moment all the 

 animals, whether loaded or otherwise, lay 

 down on their backs kicking violently; 

 while the blacks and all persons not already 

 attacked, ran away in different directions, 

 all being careful, by a wide sweep, to 

 avoid the swarms of tormentors that 

 came forward like a cloud. I never wit- 

 nessed a panic so sudden and complete, 

 and really believe that the bursting of 

 a water-spout could hardly have produced 

 more commotion. However, it must be 

 confessed that the alarm was not without 

 good reason, for so severe is the torture 

 inflicted by these pigmy assailants that 

 the bravest travellers are not ashamed to 

 fly the instant they perceive the host 

 approaching, which is of common occur- 

 rence in the campos." 



Aristophanes' well-known comedy " The 



