Chap. XXVII. BLACK SOLDIER-ANTS. 351 



the country is parched, it has not that appearance, as many 

 trees have put forth their fresh green leaves. Among the rest 

 stands the mola, with its dark brownish-green colour anr 

 spreading oak-like form. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 



Natural History akd Geology. — The Mozuma. — The Batoka, and 

 their Chief Monze. 



November 27th. — Still at Marimba's. The surface of the 

 country is rough and broken into gullies, and in the distance 

 there are ranges of low hills, of which we may notice one on 

 the north called Kanjele, and one on the east named Kaonka. 

 We have made a considerable detour to the north, from the 

 double wish of avoiding the tsetse and visiting the people. 

 As I was walking down to the forest to-day I observed many 

 regiments of black soldier-ants returning from a marauding 

 expedition. I have often noticed these in different parts of 

 the country ; and as we had even at Kolobeng an opportunity 

 of observing their habits, I may give a short account of them 

 here. They are black, with a slight tinge of grey, about half 

 an inch in length, and march three or four abreast ; when 

 disturbed, they utter a distinct hissing or chirping sound. 

 They follow a few leaders who never cany anything, and 

 they seem to be guided by a scent left on the path by these 

 leaders ; for happening once to throw some water on the 

 ground, it lighted on the path by which a regiment had 

 recently passed, and when they returned they were totally at 

 fault, and, after hunting about for nearly half an hour, only 

 rediscovered the path by one of them making a long circuit, 

 round the wetted spot. If a handful of earth is thrown on the 

 path as a regiment is in the act of passing either on its way 

 home or abroad, those behind will not cross it, though it be 

 not a quarter of an inch high. They wheel round and regain 

 their path again, but never think of retreating to the nest, or 

 to the place where they have been stealing. After a quarter 

 of an hour's confusion and hissing, one at length makes a 



