THE ANTS. 409 



informs us that, while he was in Guinea, they have 

 often attacked one of his sheep in the night; in 

 which case the poor animal was invariably de- 

 stroyed : and, so expeditious were they in their ope- 

 rations, that in the morning the skeleton only would 

 be left; It sometimes happens that they quit their 

 retreat in a body, and go altogether in search of 

 prey. 



" During my stay (says Smith) at Cape Coast 

 Castle, a body of Ants came to pay us a visit in our 

 fortification. It was about day-break when the 

 advanced guard of this famished crew entered the 

 chapel, where some negro servants were asleep on 

 the floor. They were quickly alarmed at the inva- 

 sion of this unexpected army, and prepared as well 

 as they could for a defence. While the foremost 

 battalion had already taken possession of the place, 

 the rear guard was more than a quarter of a mile 

 distant. The whole ground seemed alive, and 

 crawling with immediate destruction. After deli- 

 berating a few minutes on what was to be done, it 

 was resolved to lay a large train of gunpowder along 

 the path they had taken. By these means millions 

 were blown to pieces, and the rest, seeing the de- 

 struction of their leaders, thought proper instantly 

 to return to their original habitation." 



Dampier, speaking of the natural productions in 

 the Spanish settlements of South America, says that 

 there were swarms of different species of Ants. 

 " The great black Ant stings or bites almost as bad 

 as a scorpion ; and next to this the small yellow 

 Ants' bite is most painful : for their sting is like a 

 1 



