256 



Eastern Ethiopia 



XX 



these little musical boxes are often the (Iwelliiig-places 

 of ants. If these strange habitations be tapped on the 

 outside, the ants swarm out to fight the disturbers of 

 tlieir peace. 



It is possible that the ants are responsible for the 

 formation of these strange wind instruments. Schwein- 

 furth gives a weird description of a concert in one of 

 these acacia groves around Fashoda (now Kodolc) where 

 " tlie voices of a thousand Hutes give out their hollow 

 diro'e." 



The thorns of tlie Acacia Jhlii/oxa. 



The umbrella shape of the thorn trees and their 

 leatiessness protect them against the toi'nadoes which 

 occasionally sweep over the Nyika. The most marked 

 reduction of leaves is seen in the acacias, for tliey 

 become mere spines, or needles, the fleshy tissue lieing 

 lost, and nothing but the vascular bundles persisting. 

 An acacia-grove has been aptly described as a " thorn- 

 orchar<l." In extreme instances respiration is effected 

 by the green succulent stems of plants. In the big 

 leaves of the aloe and sansevieria, there are few stomata. 



