1-74 'Mr, - smeathman’s Account of 
'With thefe materials they completely line moftof the roads 
leading from their nefts into the various parts of the country, 
and travel out and home with the utmoft fecurity in all kinds 
of weather. If they meet a rock or any other obftruftion, they 
will make their way upon the fur face ; and for that purpofe erect 
a covered way or arch, ftill of the fame materials, continuing it 
with many windings and ramifications through large groves ; 
having, where it is poffible, fubterranean pipes running parallel 
with them, into which they link and fave themfelves, if their 
galleries above ground are deftroyed by any violence, or the 
tread of men or animals alarms them. When one chances by 
accident to enter any folitary grove, where the ground is pretty 
well covered with their arched galleries, they give the alarm by 
loud hidings, which we hear diftindtly at every ftep we make; 
foon after which we may examine their galleries in vain for the 
m feff s, but find little holes, juft large enough for them, by 
which they have made their efcape into their fub terraneous roads. 
Thefe galleries are large enough for them to pafs and repafs 
lb as to prevent any ftoppages (though there are always 
numerous paflengers) and fhelter them equally from light and 
u met with who has .been attacked while living by the white, dints” I have feme 
dpifbt, that, although the approaches of the Termites were carried up to hi^ be$, 
the bites he received were from real Ants , of which .there are feme fcarqe 
vilible . which are very numerous and produce great pain ; whereas the Jbite 
the Termes lets out much blood, and fhews not the leaft .femptom of venorp. 
See du tertre’s Antilles, vol. II. p. 344. and Defcript. de 1’ Afrique, par lab at , 
tom. III. p. 298. , . 
G 2 ) See sloane, ligon, li.nn^us (Termes Fatalis), forskal (Termes Atda), 
and the various voyages to Africa and both Indies* 
3 
