CARAVAN LIFE 



23 



Some travellers have described the danger of being attacked 

 by bees, when the caravan route happens to pass near a tree 

 sheltering a swarm. I have never experienced such a misfortune, 

 though I have had a sting or two trying to hive a young swarm 

 at a station. But I doubt if there is a traveller who has been to 

 Uganda without having been annoyed some time or other by 

 ants. There are tiny yellowish ants of almost microscopic size, 

 veritable dwarfs in the ant world. There are huge black ones, an 



FAN-PALMS IN UNYORO. 



inch long, real giants compared to the general size of ants. 

 There is the friendly variety which runs over one's hand or 

 face and does not attempt to bite or hurt, and is only in search 

 of scavengering dead insects and refuse. There is the bellicose 

 kind which attacks if one inadvertently invades its domain ; and 

 there is the murderous, bloodthirsty species, bent on hurting 

 as long as a spark of life remains in its body. There is also the 

 white-ant, so destructive to a traveller's kit. 



The tiniest ants usually commit suicide by the hundred in the 

 traveller's food. The bellicose variety is of a light red colour, 

 and is called " maji-moto " by the Swahilies, which means 



