June ] THE ANTS OF AFRICA. • 123 
in search of more buffaloes, while others staid 
behind to dry the flesh we had already got, in 
order to preserve it. Therm, at sunrise 30. The 
pool was covered with thin ice, capable of sup- 
porting birds, that walked on it as if astonished 
they could not reach the water. Therm, at noon 
70. While halting at Reeboopee, two women 
appeared, who came for water from one of Lahei- 
sey's outposts. The buffalo flesh being pretty 
well dried by three p.m., we proceeded on our 
journey. The ants in that part of Africa seem 
aware of the destructive effect of rain upon the 
buildings which they rear with so much labour, 
as most of their hills are built either against trees 
or within shelter of the branches ; some of these 
curious structures appeared to be about five feet 
high. They were conical in form, and rested 
upon proportionable bases. At five p.m. we 
halted at a pool called Makrooman,* having 
travelled in a direction S. S. E. 
In the evening Munameets came into the tent 
with the interpreter, informing us that there 
were many eilands near Makrooman, and seri- 
ously recommended our stopping a day to shoot 
some of them. We reminded him that the object 
* Or Mother of Krooman, Ma being the Bootshuana word 
for Mother. 
