the Termites of Africa and other hot Climates . 155 
It is on ail Tides, both above and below, furrounded by 
what I fhonld call the royal apartments , which have only la- 
bourers and foldiers in them, and can be intended for no other 
purpofe than for thefe to wait in, either to guard or ferve their 
common father and mother, on whofe fafety depends the 
happinefs, and, according to the negroes, even the exigence 
of the whole community. 
Thefe apartments compofe an intricate labyrinth, which ex- 
tends a foot or more in diameter from the royal chamber oil 
every fide. Here the nurferies and magazines of providons be- 
gin, and, being feparated by fmall empty chambers and galleries, 
which go round them or communicate from one to the other, 
are continued on all fides to the outward fliell, and reach up 
within it two-thirds or three-fourths of its height, leaving an 
open area in the middle under the dome, which very much 
refembics the nave of an old cathedral : this is furrounded by 
three or four very large Gothic- draped arches, which are fome- 
times two or three feet high next the front of the area, but 
diminifh very rapidly as they recede from thence like the arches 
of aides in perfpectives, and are foon loft among the innume- 
rable chambers and nurferies behind them. 
All thefe chambers, and the paffages leading to and from 
them, being arched, they help to fupport one another ; and 
while the interior large arches prevent them falling into the 
center, and keep the area open, the exterior building fupports 
them on the outf de. 
There are, comparatively fpeaking, few openings into the 
great area, and they for the mod: part feem intended only to 
admit that genial warmth into the nurferies which the dome 
coll efts, 
X 2 
The 
