POISONOUS INSECTS 
283 
of fine gauze. His bedding should be packed in tin boxes, unrolled 
during the day and carefully protected by mosquito nets well tucked 
in, against all forms of vermin. Mosquito boots or long, soft, leather 
leggings reaching to the hip, must be worn, and it is most unwise to sit 
in a cane-bottomed chair without first putting a newspaper or cushion 
in it. Also it is best to wear a cap, a scarf or veil and gloves and 
carry a swishing mosquito trap. It is only by adopting all these 
precautions that it is possible to feel secure. In addition one must 
never walk barefooted on the floor, no matter how clean it may seem, 
or a jigger, a worm pest, will enter the foot and fester there. Shoes 
must always be shaken out before putting on, no matter what the 
hurry, lest a scorpion, a small snake or a dreadful poisonous centipede 
might be lying in ambush. Clothes should never be allowed to lie 
around, but should be put in tin boxes proof against ants, or a horde 
of fierce-biting creatures will infest them. 
Ants. —Various kinds of ants are found in Africa, but there are 
very few which the unwary traveler does not regret not having given 
plenty of room. For instance, there are the soldier ants. In traveling 
through the jungle, perhaps the path is crossed four times in a hun¬ 
dred yards by fierce armies of these powerful and savage brown ants. 
They move in regular array with seemingly firmly fixed purposes, in a 
brown band about two inches wide and an inch and a half deep, drawn 
across your track with both ends lost in the jungle. It moves unceas¬ 
ingly and with a multiplied rapidity, for each ant runs swiftly forward, 
whether upon the ground or upon the backs of his ever-moving 
comrades. On either side of the main army about a yard away from 
the line of march are flanking columns which examine the ground on 
both sides and attack any enemy found, in ever-increasing numbers, 
sinking their strong jaws, or mandibles, into the flesh, never to let 
go even when the head is pulled from the shoulders. 
A ghastly and horrible method of executing criminals has been 
used by the natives. The unfortunate wretch was taken close to a hill 
of soldier ants and left with his feet and hands tied to pegs in the 
ground. The ants, needless to say, immediately attacked him, and a 
day at most saw the end. 
There are many other species. 
