266 TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
the fting by immediately applying to the part a bruifed onion, 
which is renewed till the pain fubfides. 
The white ant, or Termites^ is found in vaft numbers, and 
is exceedingly deftrudlive, eating through every thing within 
its reach, whether vegetables, cloth, leather, paper, provifions, 
&c. A bull's hide, if not newly covered with tar, is no de- 
fence againft it. The Apis mellifera (common bee) abounds ; 
but they have no hives, and the wild honey is commonly of 
a dark colour, and unpleafant tafte. I have obferved a beetle, 
not very large, which is charaderized by burying its eggs in a 
fmall ball of horfe's or other dung, and then rolling the ball 
from place to place in the fand or clay, till it attains a fize 
greatly exceeding that of the animal itfelf. Great quantities 
of cochineal are vifible j which, if the natives, or the Egyptians 
who vifit them, had any refledion or fpirit, it might be thought 
would be applied to fome ufeful purpofe. 
The locuft of Arabia, Gryllus, is very common, and is fre- 
quently roafted and eaten, particularly by the flaves. The 
Scarabeiis Ceratonio! ; the Culex Egyptiy ?tamus in Ar. (mofquito), 
is particularly vexatious in the rainy feafon. 
METALS AND MINERALS. 
Of metals, the number found in the diftrid: known to me, 
is fmall. But in its neighbourhood, to the South and Weft, if 
I have 
