334 EASTERN ETHIOPIA xxvn 



by very simple means. A network of boughs is built 

 around the hill and thatched with grass so that it looks 

 like a miniature hut, and if there are many nests in the 

 neighbourhood, an appearance resembling a small village 

 is produced. In Uganda a covering of bark cloth is 

 thrown over the nest (see p. 64), and when the termites 

 issue from the holes near the base of the nest they strike 

 the roof and tumble into the receptacle set out for them. 

 When these insects swarm unexpectedly the natives 

 use smoke and quickly bring them to the ground. 

 Many of course escape, and are pursued by every winged 

 thing in the neighbourhood. Some of the birds get so 

 replete with these fat insects that they are. unable to 

 close their bills. 



The natives often eat the termites as they catch them ; 

 but it is a more common custom to cook them or eat 

 them when mixed with other food. European travellers 

 have eaten termites, and Schweinfurth described them 

 as a welcome addition to his slender larder, which 

 helped to compensate for lack of grease. Smeathman 

 states that he has eaten termites on several occasions 

 and found them delicate, nourishing, and wholesome. 



Termites are not as a rule found above an altitude of 

 4,000 feet ; on the Baringo plain they are common, of a 

 curious shape and attain a great height. In some parts 

 of Africa the hills are shaped like mushrooms, but the 

 majority are conical. 



Drummond states that the most peculiar as well as 

 the most ornate kind of " ant-heap" in Africa is a small 

 variety from one to two feet in height which occurs in 

 myriads along the shores of Lake Tanganyika. It is 

 built in symmetrical tiers, and resembles a pile of small 

 rounded hats, one above another, the rims depending 

 like eaves, and sheltering the body of the hill from rain. 



When a number of ant-hills are built in a wood, the 

 appearance they produce among the trees and tall grass 

 is that of a neglected cemetery ; the termitaria resemble 

 obelisks and grave stones. The ant-hills are sometimes 



