OP NATURAL HISTORY. 371 



Jity, that, notwithftanding the immenfity of their numbers, they ne- 

 ver flop or embarrafs one another. During this fcene of apparent 

 hurry and confufion, the fpedator is agreeably furprifed when he 

 perceives a regular wall gradually arifing and filling up the chafm. 

 While the labourers are thus employed, almoft all the foldiers remain 

 within, except here and there one, who faunters about among fix 

 hundred or a thoufand labourers, but never touches the mortar. One 

 foldier, however, always takes his ftation clofe to the wall that the 

 labourers are building. This foldier turns himfelf leifurely on all 

 fides, and, at intervals of a minute or two, raifes his head, beats up- 

 on the building with his forceps, and makes the vibrating noife for- 

 merly mentioned. A loud hifs inftantly iffues from the infide of 

 the dome and all the fubterraneous caverns and paflages. That this 

 hifs proceeds from the labourers is apparent ; for, at every fignal of 

 this kind, they work with redoubled quicknefs and alacrity. A re- 

 newal of the attack, however, inftantly changes the fcene. ' On 

 ' the firft ftroke,' Mr Smeathman remarks, ' the labourers run into 

 ' the many pipes and galleries with which the building is perforated, 

 ' which they do fo quickly, that they feem to vanifh ; for in a few 

 ' feconds all are gone, and the foldiers rufti out as numerous and as 

 ' vindidlive as before. On finding no enemy, they return again lei- 

 ' furely into the hill, and, very foon after, the labourers appear load- 

 ' ed as at firft, as active, and as fedulous, with foldiers here and 



• there among them, who a£t juft in the fame manner, one or other 



• of them giving the fignal to haften the bufinefs. Thus the piea- 

 ' fure of feeing them come out to fight or to work, alternately, may 

 ' be obtained as otten as curiofity excites, or time permits ; and it 

 ' will certainly be found, that the one order never attempts to fight, 

 ' or the other to work, let the emergency be ever fo great.' 



It is exceedingly difficult to explore the interior parts of a neft or 

 hill. The apartments which furround the royal chamber and the 



3 A 2 nurferies, 



