CHAPTER XXI 



THE UNSEEN WORLD 



None can wander throu2;li this Continent of Africa 

 without beino; struck with the evidence of things not 

 seen. The things one does see so bewilder in their 

 variety, that to most of us — meaning the average 

 traveller or big-game hunter — there remains scant time 

 for investigating others or even indulging in speculative 

 thoughts concerning them. 



For example, not a book, hardly even a chapter on 

 Africa but mentions the ant-hills. These are omnipresent 

 and of all shapes and sizes, varying between conical or 

 sub-rounded mounds to tall shafts like factory chimneys. 

 But how rarely does one see an ant or termite anywhere 

 near them, or building a new one. Did ants really 

 construct all these ? If so, why are many of the half- 

 round mounds pierced by dozens of vertical shafts, 

 several inches in diameter, and connecting below (as one 

 can see by working into them, or by injecting smoke) 

 with extensive horizontal galleries beneath — perfect 

 labyrinths ? What can ants want with tunnels like 

 these — as big as rabbit-holes ? Obviously they belong 

 to some other creature ; but you never see him, though 

 you may dig for hours. 



Again, those twenty-foot factory chimneys aforesaid 

 are hollow throuo-hout — like the real thino; — and thus 

 serve the wanderino- hunter as ovens for bread-bakino;. 

 Certainly no ant ever contemplated such a use, yet 

 none ever appears to resent it. One sees no ants near 

 them. 



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