Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-09

the shane of mammoth slabs or sand
stone which they resemble to conslde-
rable degree. il curious fact that Ar.
Sayille Kent proved is that IN every
instance the homes Of these Ierihiles
were built from north to SOUTH ana
close observation showed that this prln-
chile OF construction was apparent In all
their work 1t was demonstrated 10 -ir.
Sayille Kent's satisfaction mat the
creatures seemed to govern their actions
bv the points Of the compass, ana tner
ygork showed conclusively that they
moved and lived according to dehnite
Dlan. So complete in detail was TINS
Man. II convinced the traveller that IL
was the result of what at least APP
preached thought
The white ants are found generally
throughout North Queensland, quite d
distance inland from Port Darwin, IN
the Laura Valley. This is an extensive
ection of Northern Queensland, ana IN
IL these ants seem to dwell, DIVIDED INTO
RIDES and sub-nationa.ities, being SUD
jected, apparently, to genera form
of Government or vassalage. Ihere
seemed TO be a central town or commu-
nifty TO which at various times ants maze
1ilgrimages from the surrounding couh-
try. although the discoverer louho
that they had homes OF their own else
where. The style of house built by these
ants varied TO considerable extent.
The majority were like the slabs OF sand
stone already described, while others
we're like haycocks. A singular torIa o.
construction which these ants fOiIoWeu
10 quite a little extent was mat OF the
oyranaid Mr. Saville Kent was, in
number of instances. so fortunate as 10
lind abandoned ant-houses or various
It'd nj ha enabled
the inner methods OF construction theioi.
one mound in particular. grolned
columnar structure, was eighteen ieet
high This was not far from Port OAR
win. The accompanying illustration,
which is drawn from photograph, is,
Mr.. SaVille Kent tells me, OF complete
accuracy. 1t will be noticed that the
,oint OF ingress and egress Is about
foot and a half from the top. The dis
coverer believes that originally the mound
was conical in shape. the sides being
smooth. 1t had evidently been In use for
many years. and the columnar effect no.
ticeable. he believes. Is due TO the fact
that the ants necessarily travelling the
pathways up and down the mound pro-
duced the grooves that are seen. and re-
suited in giving the effect of coiumnar
formation The entrance TO the mound,
examination SnOWeu, Hdu Ndiieu AZ ioN@-
ton. for there was distinct evidence that
apertures OF this sort had been walled
Up in several instances.
The interior of the mound referred 10
showed as much as anything the remark
able instinct Of the ants. 1t was divided
up very much after the fasnion OF me
tall buildings which are now becoming so
common. with an immense court within
the structure itself. That is. there were
hundreds OF tiny cells bunt in from gal
leries. which were terraced one above
the other. The galleries were connected
bv paths or stairways. each OF these be-
ing constructed with architectural ex-
actness. The ce'fs were almost uniform
IN size and reminded one. the explorer
said OF the cell of monk. The eartn
IN each instance was as hard and smootn
as marble. and bore evidence or long
continued usage. portion Of the ground
Aoor or basement Of the mound had been
div,ded ND Into store-rooms. and mere
u was evident. the ants had care1uiy
,'ac,,es away the provender which they
secured from various points about
on the same side OF the interior OF
,fe mound as the entrance, In the thrd
sai,erv from the bottom. Mr. Saviiie-
Lant noticed a series of apartments"
witch had evidently been intended for
d,gnitaries among the ants, Here there
was n manifest attempt at architectural
srlendor, for the ceilings OF the rooms,
instead Of being similar to the floor' were