CHAPTER VI. 



THE RAINS 



SOME days have now gone by since that fall of 

 rain which ushered in the present rainy season, 

 but as yet we have had no further showers. The heat 

 in consequence has become again oppressive. At the 

 same time, that profusion of insect life and insect 

 activity which that first rain called forth has to a 

 great extent disappeared. 



The crickets still chirp all night as before, and as 

 soon as darkness comes on the flying bugs are as 

 troublesome as ever ; but the swarms of insects that 

 displayed themselves by day have mostly vanished, 

 and I no longer notice, as then, little mounds thrown 

 up everywhere by those that burrow beneath the soil. 



The ants, however, show no diminution in either 

 numbers or energy. Many of their communities are 

 engaged in farming fresh colonies. I came this morn- 

 ing on one such colony that was in the process of 

 establishment. The colonists were ants of the bur- 

 tunga variety. The new nest was situated not far 

 from the edge of the upper terrace. The late rain 

 had here washed away a small portion of the bank, so 

 that, instead of a smooth slant to the terrace below, 



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