1873.] MIDNIGHT PROWLERS. 277 



animal will attack man unprovoked, I lay still. The first 

 came on my foot quietly, then some began to bite between 

 the toes, then the larger ones swarmed over the foot and bit 

 furiously, and made the blood start out. I then went out of 

 the tent, and my whole person was instantly covered as close 

 as small-pox (not confluent) on a patient. Grass fires were 

 lighted, and my men picked some off my limbs and tried to 

 save me. After battling for an hour or two they took me 

 into a hut not yet invaded, and I rested till they came, the 

 pests, and routed me out there too ! Then came on a steady 

 pour of rain, which held on till noon, as if trying to make us 

 miserable. At 9 a.m. I got back into my tent. The large 

 Sirafu have mandibles curved like reaping-sickles, and very 

 sharp — as fine at the point as the finest needle or a bee's 

 sting. Their office is to remove all animal refuse, cock- 

 roaches, &c, and they took all my fat. Their appearance 

 sets every cockroach in. a flurry, and all ants, white and 

 black, get into a panic. On man they insert the sharp 

 curved mandibles, and then with six legs push their bodies 

 round so as to force the points by lever power. They collect 

 in masses in their runs and stand with mandibles extended, 

 as if defying attack. The large ones stand thus at bay 

 whilst the youngsters hollow out a run half an inch wide, 

 and about an inch deep. They remained with us till late 

 in the afternoon, and we put hot ashes on the defiant 

 hordes. They retire to enjoy the fruits of their raid, and 

 come out fresh another day. 



18th February. — We wait hungry and cold for the return 

 of the men who have gone to Matipa, and hope the good 

 Lord will grant us influence with this man. 



Our men have returned to-day, having obeyed the native 

 who told them to sleep instead of going to Matipa. They 

 bought food, and then believed that the islet Chirube was 

 too far off, and returned with a most lame story. We shall 

 make the best of it by going N.W., to be near the islets and 



