235 
BEES AND WASPS IN THE PUNJAB. 
acutely that he hurried in hot haste to the pool at the foot of the 
hill, and immersed himself in the water, but even then the bees 
waited until he rose for breath, and pursued their attacks, which 
were in the end nearly fatal in their effects. 
Wild honey is sold in the district at three pounds for a rupee, 
while eight pounds of domesticated honey can be bought for the 
same sum. That which is brought to market and conveyed in 
goats skins from a distance fetches a less price. 
Wax is used in the country for putting a facing on elephant’s 
tusks, to prevent the ivory from cracking, and the native females 
employ it for smoothing down their hair, and as a remedy for 
chapped hands in winter. It is sold ordinarily at two pounds 
for the rupee. 
I now come to the wasps, and here I must be brief. Of 
these, as of the bees, there are several species, and one kind is 
certainly unknown to us in this country, viz., the “ rangur.” 
This wasp is parti-coloured, very bright red and yellow, provided 
with strong mandibles, and armed with a powerful and venomous 
sting. They are particularly pugnacious, even more so than our 
“ hornets.” They build their nests in trees, and when in flight 
make a peculiar “ buzz,” which is well known to the natives, 
who much dread them. The name “ rangur ” was given to them 
centuries ago by the Punjabis, to keep in memory a hostile tribe 
of “ Rajpoots,” who were originally Hindus, but became Mussul- 
men, and were most remarkable for their aggressive and vicious 
character. 
It is impossible to enumerate all the species, or to give any 
details about them, and I shall only therefore describe two other 
kinds, which are very generally seen. The first is the “ mason 
wasp,” which is called in the vernacular the “ ghurokia,” or one 
of the household, the word “ghur” meaning a house. It has a 
bright metallic lustre of blue or green, and makes a separate nest 
for each egg, the material being of clay worked into a soft pulp. 
It deposits green caterpillars in the nest for the use of the grubs, 
closes it, and prepares to build another. 
The second is the ordinary “ yellow wasp,” and is known by 
the name of “ burr,” or by some “ turbhoorie,” and is common 
in most parts of India. It has been known to select as a place 
for its nest the eaves of houses, or dark places beneath thatched 
verandahs, though it also builds below the soil. As winter 
approaches the poisonous matter in the sting of this wasp loses 
its power, and this is so well known to the native boys that at 
that season they seek for their nests that they may enjoy the 
small pieces of sugar which are found in a crystallised state 
adhering to them. 
The lizards of the country, or common “ gecko,” seem to 
have no fear of the sting at any season, for they may often be 
seen in close proximity to the nests, ready to pounce on a 
straggler, which they adroitly rush upon and swallow, and again 
lay in wait for more. 
