The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-05-23
The Ants of Africa.

Tuesday evening last, NJ. Du CHA1L1U delivered
at the Cooper Institute, New York, the first of
series Of lectures on equatorial Africa, tho scene
of his late exploration. Among many curious
things related by him. the following will strike the
reader as very remarkable:
This evening time forbids that I should speak at
any length Of the natural history Of the country:
In these equatorial forests there are found vast
number of ants-without the II which Sog accuS-
toned to in England (laughter) some OF Whlcn
are so terrible to man. and even to the beasts OF
the woods, from their vonemous bite, their fierce
temper, and yoracity, that their path Is freely
abandoned to them. The most remarkable ana
most dreaded of oil is the black Bashlkonay.
Baslikonay is the name given it BY the Bakalal.
There are two other varieties OF baSnlhonay pe-
sides the black kind.
These black Bashikonay may be well called the
lords of tho forest 1t s the most voraclous crea-
ture ever met. 1t is the dread of oil living ami
mails, from the leopard to the smallest insects. 1t
is their habit to march through the forests IN q
long, regular line, line about two inches broad,
and often several miles in length; all along this
line are larger ants, who act as oticers-stano
outside the ranks and keep this singular army IN
order. Ii they come to place where there are
no treos to shelter them from the sun, whose heat
they cannot bear, they Immediately build an uh-
derground tunnel through which the Wh0le army
pass in columns 10 the forest beyond. Whey they
grow hungry, as by sudden eommaaa eng tGns }nr
ward, attacking and devouring al hVlng 'hihgs
with q fury that is quite irresistible.
The elephant and the gorilla ny before t1eni'
the black men run away; every animal tnat nvGs 1
in their line of march Is chased. In an nisreai-
bly short srace OF time those that are caught are
overwhelmed killed, eaten, and only the pare
skeleton remains. They seem to travel day ald
night. Many time have been awakened out OF
n Sleep and obliged to rush into the water TO save
myself from them When they enter house tney
clear it of every living thing. Cockroachcs are
doyoured in an instant; rats and mice spring
around the room in vain. They will not touch
vegetable natter, thus they are very useful clear
ing the country OF many insects. When on thelT I
march the insect world flies before them, ana
have often had the approach OF BasniKonaS army
heralded to me by this means.
Wherever they go they make clean sweep, even
ascending to the top Of trccs in pursuit OF their
prev. Their manner of attack is an lmpetuous
leap, instantly the strong pincers are fastened,
and thew only let go when the piece gives away;
At such O time this little insect seems animated
by kind of fury which causes it to disregard en-.
tirely its own safety. The negroes relate that
criminals, by which they generally mean Wlzaras,
have sometimes been exposed on the path OF inc
Bashikonay ants, tied to tree 80 they might not
escape, and then were deyoured to the bones.
Tbev are larger than any ants We have In America.
The number Of one Of their armies is 80 great that
one does not like to enter into calculations, but
have seen continuous line passing at Q good
speed particular place for twelve hours 80 you
may imagine how many millions there may nave
haaJ