AMAZON ANT. 207 



"Let us still follow this army of plunderers on their second return to 

 the attack of the nearly ruined ant-hill. Its inhabitants, however, have 

 had time to recover themselves, and to station a strong guard at each of 

 the entrances. The amazons, who are in small numbers at first, take flight 

 as soon as they perceive the negroes in a state of defence ; they return 

 to the main body of the army, and advance and retreat several times 

 successively, until they are in sufficient force ; they then throw them- 

 selves, en masse, upon one of the galleries, driving away and putting 

 in confusion its inhabitants. The whole army now enter the subterra- 

 nean city, and seize upon the larvae, which they carry off in great 

 numbers, and in great haste. They never take any of the parent ants 

 prisoners, their sole object being the possession of their offspring. 

 Upon their return to the garrison the most friendly reception is still 

 given to the amazons, who, — their associates having arranged the pro- 

 duce of their first harvest, — either deposit their load at the entrance, 

 or consign it to those in attendance, who hasten to place it in the inte- 

 rior. 



" Could one for a moment suppose that these intrepid warriors would 

 return a third time to the pillage? This time, however, they had to 

 undertake a siege in regular form, for the individuals from whom they 

 had twice successively taken larvae and pupae, had lost no time in 

 throwing up trenches, barricading the several entrances, and reinforc- 

 ing the guard of the interior, as if fully aware of this third attack from 

 their adversaries. They had, moreover, brought all the little pieces of 

 wood and earth within reach, with which they had blocked up the pas- 

 sage to their habitation, in which they were posted in force. The le- 

 gionaries at first hesitated to approach, but rambled about or returned 

 to the rear until sufficiently reinforced ; they then, upon a given signal, 

 rushed forward en masse with great impetuosity, and began removing 

 with their teeth and feet the many obstacles that opposed their pro- 

 gress. Having succeeded, they entered the ant-hill by hundreds, 

 notwithstanding the resistance of its inhabitants, and carried off their 

 prize to their garrison. But this time, in lieu of remitting to their 

 associates their plunder, they carried it into the under-ground chambers 

 themselves, where they remained the rest of the day. 



" On the 23rd June, at half-past three, when the sun was extremely 

 powerful, a few of the amazons quitted their abode, and after taking 

 a survey of the environs, re-entered ; a moment after, others, but in 

 trifling number, came to take the air at the entrance of one of the 

 galleries, where they seemed to await the favourable moment for com- 



