CHAPTER XXI 
THE UNSEEN WORLD 
None can wander through this Continent of Africa 
without being struck with the evidence of things not 
seen. The things one does see so bewilder in their 
variety, that to most of us—meaning the average 
traveller or big-game hunter—there remains scant time 
for investigating others or even indulging in speculative 
thoughts concerning them. 
For example, not a book, hardly even a chapter on 
Africa but mentions the ant-hills. These are omnipresent 
and of all shapes and sizes, varying between conical or 
sub-rounded mounds to tall shafts like factory chimneys. 
But how rarely does one see an ant or termite anywhere 
near them, or building a new one. Did ants really 
construct all these ? If so, why are many of the half- 
round mounds pierced by dozens of vertical shafts, 
several inches in diameter, and connecting below (as one 
can see by working into them, or by injecting smoke) 
with extensive horizontal galleries beneath—perfect 
labyrinths ? What can ants want with tunnels like 
these—as big as rabbit-holes ? Obviously they belong 
to some other creature; but you never see him, though 
you may dig for hours. 
Again, those twenty-foot factory chimneys aforesaid 
are hollow throughout—like the real thing—and thus 
serve the wandering hunter as ovens for bread-baking. 
Certainly no ant ever contemplated such a use, yet 
none ever appears to resent it. One sees no ants near 
them. 
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