34 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTRAL INDIA 



these insects seem to be inofiensive; but from about 

 Marcli to July, anjrthing disturbing or irritating them is 

 almost certain to bring them down in swarms on the 

 offender. Their attack is of a most determined character ; 

 and, not long before my visit, had proved fatal to an 

 engineer employed in sounding the river for a projected 

 crossing of the railway. It is beUeved that, on this 

 occasion, the bees were roused by some of his companions 

 above shooting at the blue rock pigeons that build in the 

 cliffs, on which they attacked furiously this gentleman 

 and a friend who were together in a boat below. After 

 a while both gentlemen sought protection by taking to 

 the water. The one by taking long dives under water, 

 managed to elude the angry insects and hide in one of 

 the few accessible clefts of the rock; but the other, 

 although a practised swimmer, was never lost sight of by 

 the exasperated creatures, and in the end was drowned 

 and carried down the stream. He hes buried above the 

 clifi, under a marble slab cut out from the rock beneath 

 which he met his death. 



The species of bee that frequents these rocks is, I 

 believe, the common Bonhrd {Apis dorsata), which attaches 

 its large pendent combs indiscriminately to such rocks 

 and to the boughs of forest trees. There are two other 

 species of bees common in Central India, both much 

 smaller than the Bonhra, and neither of them inchned 

 to act on the offensive. The Bonhra is of very common 

 occurrence in many forest tracts; and I have myself 

 several times been attacked by them. If attacked, the 

 only resource is to rush into the nearest thick bush, break 

 off a leafy branch, and lay about with it wherever there 

 is an opening. On one occasion, when marching in the 

 Mandla district, my baggage animals and servants were 

 attacked, and scattered in every direction. Many of the 

 men and animals were so severely stung as to be laid up 

 for several days; and one of the baggage ponies, who 

 could not get rid of his load, was killed on the spot. Our 

 kit was flung about all over the jungle, and was not all 

 collected for several days. On another occasion a valuable 

 elephant was attacked, and driven away into the jungle; 



