POISONOUS INSECTS 285 



of fine gauze. His bedding should be packed in tin boxes, unrolled 

 during the day and carefully protected by mosquito nets well tucked 

 in, against all forms of vermin. Mosquito boots or long, soft, leather 

 leggings reaching to the hip, nuist be worn, and it is most unwise to sit 

 ui a cane-bottomed chair without first putting a newspaper or cushion 

 in it. Also it is best to wear a cap, a scarf or veil and gloves and 

 carry a swishing mosquito trap. It is only by adopting all these 

 precautions that it is possible to feel secure. In addition one must 

 never walk barefooted on the floor, no matter how clean it may seem, 

 or a jigger, a worm pest, will enter the foot and fester there. Shoes 

 must always be shaken out before putting on, no matter what the 

 hurry, lest a scorpion, a small snake or a dreadful poisonous centipede 

 might be lying in ambush. Clothes should never be allowed to lie 

 around, but should be put in tin boxes proof against ants, or a horde 

 of fierce-biting creatures will infest them. 



Ants. — Various kinds of ants are found in Africa, but there are 

 very few which the unwary traveler does not regret not having given 

 plenty of room. For instance, there are the soldier ants. In traveling 

 through the jungle, perhaps the path is crossed four times in a hun- 

 dred yards by fierce armies of these powerful and savage brown ants. 

 They move in regular array with seemingly firmly fixed purposes, in a 

 brown band about two inches w'ide and an inch and a half deep, drawn 

 across your track with both ends lost in the jungle. It moves unceas- 

 ingly and with a multiplied rapidity, for each ant runs swiftly forward, 

 whether upon the ground or upon the backs of his ever-moving 

 comrades. On either side of the main army about a yard away from 

 the line of march are flanking columns which examine the groimd on 

 both sides and attack any enemy found, in ever-increasing numbers, 

 sinking their strong jaws, or mandibles, into the flesh, never to let 

 go even when the head is pulled from the shoulders. 



A ghastly and horrible method of executing criminals has been 

 used by the natives. The unfortunate wretch was taken close to a hill 

 of soldier ants and left with his feet and hands tied to pegs in the 

 ground. The ants, needless to say, immediately attacked him, and a 

 day at most saw the end. 



There are many other species. 



