THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 309 
Another instinct is also combined with their destructive 
inclinations, which in a great measure counteracts them, 
and prevents their injurious effects. Were the white ants, 
endowed as they are with such powers of destruction, to 
carry on their operations like other ants in secret, and un- 
observed by those who were interested to obstruct their 
progress, there would hardly be a possibility of preserving 
from their ravages any thing either in the fields or the 
houses, especially in Ceylon, where they are more numerous 
and destructive than perhaps any where else. When they 
intend to move from one settlement to another, or when 
they have fixed on a piece of wood or some other article 
which they mean to destroy or effect a lodgement in ; before 
commencing their operations, they first raise a tube or hol- 
low passage for themselves, where they may work, or pass 
and repass without being seen. This tube, which is about the 
size of a goose-quill, is made of fine sand, with much des- 
patch and dexterity, and when newly finished appears wet. 
As soon as it has attained a proper consistency, they fall 
to devour under its covert with great celerity. So powerful 
is this instinct, that they will not even pass from the bot- 
tom to the top of a house, along the walls or posts, without 
first preparing their covert way. This contrivance, by which 
they expect to escape detection, never fails to betray them, 
and point them out to the observation of their enemies. 
Wiien these tubes are swept down and destroyed, the ra- 
