A True and ExaB Htjiory 



is kept 3 we hang them to the roof by ropes , and tar thole 

 ropes 3 and the roofs over them, as alfo the firings of our 

 Hamocks, for which rcafon we avoid them better in Hamocks than 

 in beds. 



Sometimes when we try conclufions upon them 5 we take the Car- 

 pet off the Table, and fliake it, fo that all the Ants drop off, and rub 

 down the legs and feet of thofc tables, f which ftood not in water)and 

 having done fb .* we lay on the Carpet again , and fet upon it a 

 Sallet difh, or Trencher, Vv'ith fugar in it, which fome of them in the 

 room willprefently fmell, and make towards it as fafl as they can , 

 which is a long journey, for he muffc begin at the foot of the table, and 

 come as high as the infide of the Carpet, and fb go down to the bot- 

 tom and up of the outfideofthe Carpet, before he gets on the table , 

 and then to the fugar,which he fmels 103 and having found it, returns 

 again the fame way , without taking any for his pains, and informs 

 all his friends of this booty 3 who come in thoufands, and rcn thou- 

 fands, and in an inftant , fetch it all away 5 and when they are thickeft 

 upon thetabld^ clap a large book (or any thing fit for that purpofe) 

 upon them, fb hard as to kill all that are under it, and when you have 

 done fb, take away the book, and leave them to themielves , but a 

 quarter of an hour, and when you come again , you fhall find all 

 I thofe bodies carried away. Other tryais we make of their Ingenuity, 

 las this. Take a Pewter difh, and fill it half full of water, into which 

 I put a little Gaily pot fiird with Sugar, and the Ants will prefcntly find 

 I it,and come upon the Table , but Vv^hen they perceive itinviron'd with 

 water, they try about the brims of the difh, where the Gaily pot is 

 neareft, and there the raoft venturous amongft them , commits him- 

 felf to the water, though he beconfcious how ill afwimmerhe is, and 

 is drown'din the adventure : the next is not warn'd by his example, 

 but ventures too 5 and is alike drown'd, and many more, fo that there 

 is a fmall foundation of their bodies to venture on, and then they 

 come fafter than ever, and fbmakea bridge of their own bodies , for 

 their friends to pa(s on 3 neglecting their lives for the good of the 

 I publique 5 for before they make an end, they will make way for the 

 1 reft, and become Mailers of the Prize. I had a little white fugar Vv^hich 

 1 defired to keep from them, and was deviling which way to do it, 

 and I knockt a Nail in the beam of the room , and faftncd to it a 

 brown thread, at the lower end of which thread, I tyed a large fhell 

 of a filh , which being hollow, I put the iligar in, and lockt the door, 

 thinking it flife 5 but when I returned, I found three quarters of my 

 Agargoae, and the Ants in abundance, afcending and defcending , 

 like the Angels on Jacob'sLaddtr^ as I have fecnit paintedj fb that I 

 found no place fafe, fromthefe more than bufie Creatures. 



Another fort of Ants there are, but nothing fb numerous or harm- 

 ful as the other^ but larger by far 3 thefe build great nefts, as big as 

 Bee liives,aga!nfta wallyOra tree,of Clay and Lome, fometimes within 

 doors, and in itfevernl little Manlions , fuch as Bees make for them- 

 felves, but nothing fo curious 3 thefe the Cockroaches lind Lizards 

 meet withall way -laying them near their ncfts , and feed upon 

 them ; which to prevent, they make from thence many and feveral 



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