Notes on an alleged species of poisonous Lizard, Sfc. 381 



commanding officer of the Corps, that were fastened to a 

 tree, and could not get loose when the dog-keeper ran away 

 and left them tied, were stung to death. A tattoo and a 

 bullock were also killed by the bees. Of this occurrence 

 Mr. Assistant J. Grant, who was present, and was himself 

 stung by the bees, can bear testimony." 



The occurrence alluded to took place on the 1 7th June, 

 1818, close to the Mahanuddee river, and within five or six 

 miles of Sumbhulpore, at a spot called Jumra. The detach- 

 ment consisted of the Ramghur Battalion, the left wing of 

 the 2d Batt. 4th Regt. N. I. (now called the 23d) and some 

 Resallahs of Irregular Horse. It was a cloudy and pleasant 

 morning, and after an agreeable march we halted at Jumra, 

 which had the appearance of being a forsaken village, or 

 rather the site of one, surrounded by deserted old groves of 

 mango, saul, and peepul trees. The clashies were in the act 

 of pitching the tents, and the officers were sitting down on 

 chairs, which were placed under the shade of the trees, 

 when suddenly we saw Lieut. Douglas (the son of Admiral 

 Douglas) running towards us in a most wild manner, and 

 two sepoys, one on each side, apparently furiously assault- 

 ing him with branches of trees. The scene was unaccount- 

 ably strange, and we were speculating upon what could 

 possibly be the meaning of it, when all at once, as if by the 

 fiat of an enchanter, myriads of enraged bees rushed upon 

 us, stinging us wherever the skin was unprotected. Some 

 rash hand, it appears, had disturbed the colony in breaking 

 down some peepul branches to feed the elephants. I never, 

 considering such an apparently insignificant foe, witnessed 

 such a scene of confusion. I remember, as if it were but 

 yesterday, that while still puzzled at trying to account for 

 poor Douglas' extraordinary movements and those of his 

 pursuers, I happened to turn my head, and saw Major 

 Roughsedge, who commanded the brigade, suddenly turn his 

 horse's head and gallop away furiously in the contrary 



