with a roof on it, and then went inside and stayed there while the closet swelled and swelled until it became a perfect house. At the foot of these ant-hills are a number of large black ants on the watch for any straggling white ants, which they kill and eat. These creatures are about in all our houses, and seen about the floors; they are about an inch in length, and bite but do not sting.” A strange kind of order and discipline seems to be observed in these ant-houses. A duty is assigned to different members of the community, and condign punishment inflicted on all who seem to fail in it-their justice is untempered with mercy. Thus when Mr. Acland in his curiosity chose to invade the interior of an ant hill, he was witness of the execution of some hapless ants, whom his fellows in their blindness condemned as guilty of the mischief and injury, of which his rude foot was the true cause. "After standing gazing at these magnificent hills, I walked towards what appeared to be the remains of some mud hut; it was about five feet high, and in irregular blunt points at the top. When I came down to it I tried to break off one of the long bits, but it was too strong, and as hard as a wall. However, on the other side I found a smaller projection, which I broke off by kicking against it, and found it full of round passages, perforating it in all directions, the smallest about the size of a quill, the largest as big as my wrist. This was the large white ant's hill. Immediately after I had broken a portion of it there came a rush of the inhabitants from all passages to see what was the matter. They examined the parts broken, and then some of them ran back. Presently a number more came, some dragging forward the other, until they got them quite to the edge, when a bigger ant took hold of each of these prisoners, and bit him in the neck till he killed him. I suppose the prisoners were those who were on guard on that spot, or else they built that part, and so were punished for my fault. Soon, however, they turned and attacked me, for I found many of them on my clothes, and experienced the smart of their bite." Mosquitoes are the well-known torment of hot countries. In India the whole furnishing and arrangement of the house considers them. "Dressing-rooms are absolutely necessary in this country, because nothing is put in the sleeping apartment except the bed, because of the mosquitoes, which harbour in swarms wherever they can find shelter. The bed is never placed against the wall, but always in the middle of the room; and the feet are placed in pans of water, to prevent the white ants, centipedes, &c., from paying you a visit during the night." The bed is enclosed in a mosquito net, that is, a transparent gauze sack, which is suspended from above, and the edge, or mouth, tucked in with the bedclothes, to prevent the possibility of any mosquitoes creeping through. For the sake of air, all the windows and doors are left open in the night, and thus the inmates are subject to intrusion from without, that we can hardly at first understand. Thus when lamps and candles are lighted, they are provided with shades to keep off the innumerable insects which flock in at sight of the flame. In the following passage, Mr. Acland describes himself as seated for the evening in his dressing-room, by the side of his Indian table-lamp, over which is a large inverted bell glass to keep off the insects which at present swarm around. " Every minute I hear the mosquitoes buzzing about my ears; then they settle on my face, and on my clothes, through which they are enabled to bite with ease. This keeps me in a continual fidget. There is also an incessant whistling all around from what we call crickets, though they are somewhat different from those in England. A number of large grasshoppers, about two inches long, of a light green, are hopping about on the table, and occasionally on my paper. On the wall are several long-tailed lizards; they are only slightly venomous; and though extremely ugly, we are always glad to see them, because they eat the mosquitoes. Round the ceiling are circling three large bats, which my mungoose, sitting in a corner sits watching, should one fall, he will seize and devour it in an instant. A wild cat came through the room just now and took a peep at me, but the mungoose growled, and it ran away." At another time he says, "My wife and I were sitting, after tea, playing at backgammon, and enjoying the cool breeze that came through the open venetians, when suddenly it began to rain. In an instant the room swarmed with insects of all sorts. There was a beautiful large green mantis; and as we were watching his almost human motions, a grasshopper, and a large brown cricket, flew against my face, while a great cockroach, full three inches long, came on my wife's neck, and began running about her head, and face, and dress; then there was the flying ant, which emits a most nauseous effluvia, and the flying bug, black, and about the size of an English one, which, if you crush him, will make your fingers smell most dreadfully for many hours; and with these our clothes were covered, and we were obliged to keep brushing them away from our faces, but with very gentle handling; and then came two or three hornets, which sent Mrs. Acland to bed to get under the mosquito curtains, where none of these horrid creatures can get at her. I sat up trying to read, but buzz came a mosquito on the side of my face, up went my hand a tremendous slap on the cheek to get rid of the tormentor, and buzz he went on again. Then I felt something big burying itself in my hair, and then came buzz on the other side, and then all around. Presently, with a loud hum, the rhinoceros-beetle dashed into my face. I now began to take some of the animals out of my hair, and the first that I touched was a flying bug; the stench was dreadful. I rushed out of the room, brushing the horrible creatures from my hair with both hands. I nearly fell over a toad on which I trod, and reached my bed-room to find eighteen or twenty great toads croaking in different parts of the room, and five large bats were whirling round and round the bed. Having washed my hands in eau-de-Cologne I quickly undressed and fell asleep."-Collected from "Manners and Customs of India." 107 Poetry. BRIGHT o'er Damascus shines the noontide ray, Along the busy street and market pour, Grouped here and there in council sad and low, The Christian converts, men with tearful eye And throbbing heart, whispering report of woe, Of persecution dire, and fiery zealot foe. They speak of martyred Stephen's cruel death, (The Martyr Stephen known and loved of all), Fearful and timid, scarce above their breath They speak of havoc on the Church to fall, Of danger to themselves from the fierce hand of Saul. For Saul the persecutor cometh now Armed with dread power; already near the gate, Threatenings and slaughter breathing; on his brow Not mercy sits, but pride and joy elate; He from the Pontiff bears the mandate of their fate. And fear comes there upon them; they believe And love, but tremble; trusting in their Lord, They know He can deliverance achieve, Whilst they remember His unerring word Declared He brought on earth instead of peace, a sword. |