DWELLINGS. 213 



of the wall to the summit of the dome. When the 

 colony is in full activity, after the construction is com- 

 pleted, these little passages have no further use. They 

 served for the passage of the masons when building 

 the cupola ; and they could be utilised again if a 

 breach should be made in the wall. At the lower 

 part these galleries in the wall are very wide, and they 

 sink into the earth beneath the palace to a depth of 

 more than i metre 50. 



These subterranean passages (c) are the catacombs 

 of the Termites, and have a very close analogy with 

 those of old and populous human cities. Their origin 

 is similar; they are ancient quarries. The insects 

 hollowed them in obtaining the necessary clay for 

 their labours. Later, when the rains come, they serve 

 as drains to carry off the water which might threaten 

 to invade the dwelling. 



Such is the external wall within which a busy 

 population swarms. On passing to the interior let us 

 first enter the ground-floor. In the centre is found 

 the royal chamber {r). The walls are extremely strong 

 and are supplied with windows for ventilation, and 

 with doors to enable the Termites to render their 

 services. It is necessary to renew the air in this 

 chamber, which constantly contains more than two 

 thousand insects. The openings are large enough for 

 the passage of the workers, but the queen cannot 

 pass through them. She is therefore a prisoner, as 

 immured as a goddess in her temple. The chain 

 which holds her is the prodigious development of her 

 abdomen. As a virgin she could enter, when fertilised 

 she cannot henceforth go out She continuously 

 elaborates eggs; every moment one appears at the 

 orifice of the oviduct. The king remains near her, 



