the Termites of Africa and other hot Climates. j yj 
Under ground there are a great many which lead downward by 
Hoping defeents three and four feet perpendicular among the 
gravel, from whence the labouring Termites cull the finer parts, 
which, being worked up in their mouths to the conflflence of 
mortar, becomes that folid clay or Hone of which their hills 
and all their buildings, except their nurferies, are compofed. 
Other galleries again afeend and lead out horizontally on 
every fide, and are carried under ground near to the furface a 
vail diflance : for if you deflroy all the nefls within one hun- 
dred yards of your houfe, the inhabitants of thofe which are 
left unmolefled farther off will neverthelefs carry on their fub- 
terraneous galleries, and invade the. goods and merchandizes 
contained in it by fap and. mine, t and do great mifehief, if you 
are not very circumfpefb 
But to return to the. cities from* whence tiiefe extraordinary 
expeditions and operations originate, it fee ms there is a degree 
of neceffity for the galleries under the hills being thus large, 
being the great thoroughfares for all the labourers and foldiera 
going forth or returning upon any bufmefs whatever, whether 
fetching clay, wood,' water, or provifons ; and they are certainly 
well calculated for the purpofes to which they are applied, by 
the fpiral Hope which is given them ; for if they were perpendi- 
cular the labourers would not be able to carry on their building 
with fo-much facility, as they afeend a perpendicular with great : 
difficulty, and the foldiers can fcarce do it at all. It is on this 
account that fometimes a road like a ledge is made on the per- 
pendicular fide of any part of the building within their hill, 
which is flat on the upper furface, and half an inch wide, 
and afeends gradually like a Hair-cafe, or like thofe roads which 
are cut on the fides of hills and mountains, that would other- 
wife . 
