Star.
London, England, 1824-10-11 00:00:00

AFRICAN ANTS.
(From Dopris' Abortive.)
is The voracity with which they surprise their prey and
assail him at all vulnerable points, exceeds that of 10-1
costs, when they alight in a field of corn; for when
once the attack is commenced, no bodily effort of the
victim will avail him. Flight is generally impotent,
unless it should lead him to a pool,. when a natural in-
stinct, occasioned by the burning pain, induces him to
pi.inge into the water. This kind of ant, say the Ashan•
t•s!,, is not the only plague of all other animals, but
ai-r of every class of their own species, and of the red
ant in particular. If I may be indulged in a whimsical
comparison, I will suggest a resemblance between these
diminutive freebooters and the Arabs, who, alike mi-
gratory, rove over the surface of the country, and esta-
blish a temporary residence where it meets their views,
often to the terror and in defiance of neighbouring
towns. Thus the black ants in myriads will trace a
particular course, and pursue that track in exact and
thick embodied file, over in extent perhaps of miles,
until they fix upon a spot to their liking, where they
erect little conical habitations, which may be said figu-
ratively to bear a similitude to the Arabian tent, both in
colour and form. The red ants, on the contrary, raise
solid mounds of clay. which are cemented with a meci-
laginous substance that binds the parts together in an
indissoluble incrustation, and bids defiance to any vio-
lence short of the pick-axe. The intrusion of the black
ants is thus effectually prevented ; but whenever their
entrenched prey venture abroad, or are observed in re-
pairing and augmenting their habitations, which they
frequently du, a chase ensues, and thousands become
the victims cf their opponents, who sometimes force an
entrance even into the nest itself. I was present once
when a hillock was perforated in order to obtain what
is commonly termed the Queen, or mother ant, which
is an unwieldy insect, two inches in length, and one in
circumference, formed in head and shoulders like the
common ant, with a white body like that of a maggot.
This insect resides in a separate cell, at the very foun-
dation of the hillock, and is said to be gifted with such
inexhaustible fecundity, as to bring forth its myriads in
daily and unceasing repetition. The act of cutting
through the surface was laborious; but that effected,
the earth crumbled as it usually does. The cells resem-
bled those of the hornet, and were generally in diago-
nal rows, but without order or regularity. The labour
was ultimately attended with success, in the discovery
of the is queen mother." During the process, the red
ants fled 'in all directions, and vainly endeavoured to
recover their cells, while they were assaulted by a troop
of black ants, who, in despite of a vigorous resistance,
devoured their prey on the spot, or carried it off between
their nippers. The black ant, it is said, will fearlessly
attack any animal, not exempting mankind; but parti-
cularly infants, whom they frequently destroy and de-
vour. The panther is not too strong for them to cope
with, the rat is not too subtile, nor is the squirrel too
active ; vigilance and force are equally unavailing.
They will even, as the Ashantees report, seek the abodes
of serpents, and entering their holes, allow the reptile
no chance of escaping. The hanging nests of small
black ants were also very numerous in the trees, where,
it would appear, they choose their abode as a security
against attacks of the universal enemy."

MR. DUPUIS' ENTRANCE INTO COOMASSY.
(Font tee maw.)
" My palanquin was on a sudden arrested in the main
avenue, by a deputation of Caboceers, who paid a formal
congratulation on behalf of the King. It was Sai's de-
sire, they added, that I should repair to the market-
place until the Court assembled. Here, therefore, I
alighted under the shade of some high trees, reposing for
a while front the scorching blaze of the sun, now about
commencing his descent from the meridian. The at-
mosphere, too, was in a manner stifled by the pressure
of the multitude. A pause of twenty minutes .ufficed
for the approaching ceremony, and we again bent for.
ward in orderly ranks to an angle that opened into the
place of audience, from whence another salute was fired.
A silence, however, like that of the forest, succeeded as
the echoes died away; and as the smoke dispersed, the
view was suddenly animated by assembled thousands in
full costume, seated upon the ground in the form of an
extensive semicircle, where the Chiefs were distinguished
from the commonalty by large floating umbrellas or
canopies, fabricated from cloth of various hues. These
officers, only, were seated upon stools that elevated their
heads just above those of their attendants. An avenue
not wider than the footway in the forest, was the space
allotted for walking in the line of Chiefs, leading to the
station where the King was seated. The etiquette was
of a character cortesponding with other ceremonies.
All the ostentatious trophies of negio splendour
were emblazoned to view. Drums of every size, from
five or six inches in length to the dimensions of as many
feet, occasionally deco' ated with human relics, abounded
in ad directions; and in some (although few instances,)
the skull. of vanquished foemen, and strings of human
teeth, were glaringly exposed on the persons of the
youthful captains. Ivory horns, similarly ornamented,
reed flutes, calabash rattles, and clanking bits of fiat
iron, composed the various bands in front of the Ca-
bocce' s
" At last I approached the avenue where the King was
seated. The martial instruments surrounding the throne
suddenly burst upon the hearing in heavy peals, and
the household daves advanced, honrishing their scymi-
ters over my bead with menacing violence. This threat-
ening ceremony was directed with tenovating vigour
as I advanced to take the King's hand, but having as
it were won the contested honour in the late struggle,
my opponents quietly suffered me to enjoy the prize,
for the music ceased, the guards retired front the'
presence' and I was quietly permitted to pay my re-
spects. The King extended his hand with great corn.
;lucency, yet with a dignity that created admiration
ani respect. for it was even more than national. The
features of the Monarch were placid, yet serious, wi.h
the exception of his eyes, which seemed rivetted in good
natured admiration, although they were not permittei
to convey this feeling to the muscles of his face. The
salutation murmured by the Sovereign was re-echoed
by an officer in. attendance, and reported to me as fol-
lows Sai thanks to the gods he sees you, and the
other white men, and all your people.
"The royal chair was a specimen td some ingenuity,
yet the workmanship ve as rude. Its arms aad legs were
carved from the solid into grotesque forms, and em-
bossed with little ornamental casts of gold. Several
caboceets in waiting were decorated with massive gold

•
•
. 11311 g AV
"MI P t 6.
•••4C4
A
. . a