364 
WHITE ANTS. 
[chap. IX. 
who are worth having,—Richarn, Hamecl, Sali, and 
Taher. 
All the men in either camp were discontented at the 
order to move, as they had made themselves comfortable 
expecting to remain in Latooka during the wet season. 
The two chiefs, Moy and Commoro, found themselves 
in a dilemma., as they had allied themselves with the 
Turks in the attack upon the neighbouring town, de¬ 
pending upon them for future support; they were now 
left in the lurch, and felt themselves hardly a match 
for their enemies. 
A few extracts from my journal will close our sojourn 
at Latooka :— 
“June 18 th .—The white ants are a curse upon 
the country ; although the hut is swept daily and 
their galleries destroyed, they rebuild everything 
during the night, scaling the supports to the roof and 
entering the thatch. Articles of leather or wool are 
the first devoured. The rapidity with which they 
repair their galleries is wonderful; all their work is 
carried on with cement; the earth is contained in their 
stomachs, and this being mixed with some glutinous 
matter they deposit it as bees do their wax. Although 
the earth of this country if tempered for house-building 
will crumble in the rain, the hills of the white ants 
remain solid and waterproof, owing to the glue in the 
