WHITE ANTS 163 



natives, a shower of rain fell in the course of the after- 

 noon. Their delight was due to a belief that the rain 

 which falls on the first day of that month possesses 

 especial fertilizing influence on the soil. The clods of 

 earth which it moistens, according to popular belief, 

 never again grow dry. It is also believed that the 

 drops of this rain which fall in the ocean, should the 

 oysters receive them, form the pearls within their 

 shells. 



The climate here is much moister than it was at my 

 previous station, and, as a consequence, the white ants 

 far more abound. They are very numerous in the 

 garden, and I have lately occupied my early mornings 

 a good deal in watching them. I was induced to do 

 so by coming unexpectedly the other morning on one 

 of their nests. The nest was below the ground, and 

 the ants were busily engaged in erecting one of their 

 great, conical-shaped mounds on the surface above it. 

 The ants were issuing in great numbers from several 

 holes in the path. The holes were all near together, 

 and round each hole the ants were erecting what I 

 may describe as a tower. These proceedings were 

 quite new to me. I sent for a chair, sat down, and 

 watched them with extreme interest. Two or three 

 of my servants remained standing beside me, but 

 neither my presence nor theirs appeared in the least 

 to disturb the ants ; indeed, they did not show any 

 indication that they were aware we were near them. 



The towers had already been raised to the height 

 of six or seven inches ; they were from two to three 

 inches in diameter, and in shape very irregular circles ; 



