122 A NATURALIST IN THE GUI ANAS 



understand that they took an inteUigent interest in the 

 proceedings, they tried to compHcate matters by getting 

 between our legs and making us look ridiculous. Somehow 

 the scene reminded me of the sort of thing which must 

 have happened when the prodigal son returned to the 

 paternal homestead. But although the parallel ceased at 

 the part where the fatted calf came in, we had no reason 

 to complain. An obese centenarian of a land-turtle was 

 sacrificed for the occasion ; and what veal can compare 

 with the succulent flesh of this Chelonian ! My men 

 took up their quarters in the large shed where the boiling 

 of the cane-juice for the making of the coarse sugar known 

 as pwpelon had been performed during my first visit. 

 It was there I had stayed, and I had good reason to 

 remember the place. Attracted by the syrup with which 

 the ground had become saturated, many species of ants 

 had taken possession of the scrub around the shed, from 

 which they made excursions at night in search of this 

 favourite food which was there in such abundance. 

 During the day not an ant could be seen, for the little 

 robbers had doubtless found out that there was danger 

 while the huge animal which made the honey they loved 

 so well was walking about, so they waited until nightfall 

 to commit their depredations. Then they poured forth 

 their millions and we got the benefit of their attentions 

 if we attempted to leave our hammocks. Now all this 

 was changed. A new boiling-house had been built, at 

 some distance from the old one. The ants, accustomed 

 to a life of indolence and luxury, had suffered a great deal 

 of inconvenience for many days after the removal of the 

 industry upon which they depended for their existence, 

 but they had, according to their custom, sent out spies 

 who succeeded in locating the new Goshen, and then in 



