New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-09
A NIGHT INVASION.
Adventure 5Cith Fierce Ants an
Northern Nigeria.

The following occurrence is. no doubt. the ex-
perience OF every who has ever spent any
length OF time the west coast or in the interior
OF tropical Africa: but still it may prove OF inter
est those people who have been fortunate enough
not 20 have had to their living IN that part
OF the world. II happened to be my lot some time
ago to be living In Northern Nigeria. in which
ProtectOrate, elsewhere. numerous species Of
ants exist-black. red and white; large small and
medium II is usually in the wet season, which
lasts approximately from May 10 November. that
the travelling ants black and Of medium size.
travel about the country. disturbed and driven.
doubtless. from their habitations by the immense
amount OF rain that falls and foods them out
II is quite common 10 thousands upon thou
sands in long stream all travelling in the same
direction looking for food and dry quarters, and
any insects or reptiles that may be in their PATH
and not able to make a quick escape. soon fan a
was S o at the time M ,b IN a gTass is
walls composed Of mud. and the rooms open 10 the
roof without any ceiling. One night / had been
sitting up rather late writing. and on retiring
bedroom my attention was attracted by curious
Patterng noise, as of rain falling on the tarpauLn
l had erected over my bed which covering was very
necessary in the wet season as the natives in this
part of the world incapable % making roofs i'm
Of this noise. perceived hundreds and hundreds OF
the walls. and Coming through The aperture called
by courtesy window
mats on the floor and walls ana there appeared all
ming and creeping down the walls ont Of every
crevice. their starting point evidently having been
the roof their usual home and reSort-spiders OF
many species large and small. hairy and other
wise), lizards, criCkets COckrOac hes-aU fleeing be-
fore mutual foe say nothing Of a scorpion with
its deadly sting, which is said TO bring tctanus-
The latter speedily eNterminated and iu a. Few
seconds the anus were Responsible loI us remains
BY way Of depression, may say that the natives
OF those parts the tail and body Of the scorpion
as an ingredient in a mixture they make for pos-
oning arrows. pounding the body up with poisonous
leaves and smearng their arrow points with H. OF
course this Is only Of the many WAYS they have
The cause OF all this connection lay I'm the fact
that the ants had climbed up into the roof. and
searching for food, and all It's occupants had He'd
downward toward the light IN my room. as II there
a small snake, the color OF whtpcOTd. said to
be very poisonous executing a tight rope perform
knocked down and killed, and by the morning
nothing remained except the backbone - this
time the pretty fun. and not having any
where else TO go. ! climbed onto my bed inside the
mosquito curtains which. being well tucked In at
the bottom, suficed TO keep the ants From
my post Of vantage I was able 10 and hear all
that passed AT intervals an unfortunate lizard
were gradually devOuring II. and make frantic et-
forts TO climb the further wall but being TOO weak
speedily demolished. II was slightly grewsome.
10 say the least OF IT, in the middle OF The night o.
and crawling about everywhere. the stiffness only
broken by the insects and reptiles trying without
avail TO escape their relentless pursuers many or
them covered ana hair eaten ~ the ants These
invaders remained FOR over three hours In my
The next morning found them msssed on the
posts supporting the roof. waiting Tor the sun 10
warm them before departing. which they presently
uld IN most curious FORMATION. hInber or
them appeared 20 Join hands 50 10 speak, the whole
GoWnward ana IN some cases over t6s
heads or those stationary IL was not uu D m
watched snxiously by myself. as / was not much
Inclined to pass another night In their company.
time and 81. WIN clear our IN fbs way ne n no
II u ssId that IL was tho fAyorito punishment Of