BI<ACK SOLDIER- ANTS. 501 



brownish- green colour and spreading oak-like form. In 

 the distance there are ranges of low hills. On the north 

 we have one called Kanjele, and to the east that of 

 Kaonka, to which we proceed to-morrow. We have made 

 a considerable detour to the north, both on account of our 

 wish to avoid the tsetse, and to visit the people. Those 

 of Kaonka are the last Batoka we shall meet, in friendship 

 with the Makololo. 



Walking down to the forest, after telling these poor 

 people, for the first time in their lives, that the Son of 

 God so loved them as to come down from heaven to save 

 them, I observed many regiments of black soldier-ants, 

 returning from their marauding expeditions. These I 

 have often noticed before in different parts of the country ; 

 and as we had even at Kolobeng an opportunity of observ- 

 ing 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 on the line of march appear three or 

 four abreast ; when disturbed, they utter a distinct hissing, 

 or chirping sound. They follow a few leaders who never 

 carry anything, and they seem to be guided by a scent left, 

 on the path by the leaders ; for happening once to throw 

 the water from my basin behind a bush where I was 

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

 passed before I began my toilette, and when they returned 

 they were totally at a loss to find the way home, though 

 they continued searching for it nearly half an hour. It was 

 found only by one making a long circuit round the wetted 

 spot. The scent may have indicated also, the propriety 

 of their going in one direction only. If a handful of 

 earth is thrown on the path, at the middle of the regiment* 

 either on its way home or abroad, those behind it are 

 completely at a loss as to their further progress. What- 

 ever it may be that guides them, they seem only to know 

 that they are not to return, for they come up to the 

 handful of earth, but will not cross it, though not a quarter 

 of an inch high. They wheel round and regain their 

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

 the place where they have been stealing. After a quarter 

 of an hour's confusion and hissing, one may make a circuit 

 of a foot round the earth, and soon all follow in that 

 roundabout way. When on their way to attack the abode 

 of the white ants, the latter may be observed rushing about 

 in a state of great perturbation. The black leaders, 



