124 AFRICAN WANDERINGS.

were of the finest earth, vuulted, polished smooth, and about as thick as a sheet of paper. So smooth were these walls, that they seemed as if polished by water, and a finer or better earth had been chosen for them, as they were totally difierent from the outside of the structure, which closely resembled the soil it stood on; and, from its coarse, rude, and rough exterior, gave no promise of such beautiful master-work. Indeed, this excess of cells, the larger of which seemed as if formed for the saloons,—of winding passages story above story,— in short, all in the interior, was in an order, and of a masterly art, that man's hand could hardly have given it. Beyond dispute, this indescribably exquisite building is far more artistical and beautiful than that of the bees, though certainly not of the same benefit to man ; one cannot enough examine these labyrinths, nor sufliciently admire the work of the small artizans. These beautiful inner arrangements extended from the top to within 1 foot of the ground ; the under part was not so arranged or laboured, probably on account of the rains, as then the water may rise to such a height, and for this reason it may have no holes in its lower part, where the outer wall is formed more coarsely, thicker, and stronger ; as the same instinct that causes these insects to raise the mound to protect and secure themselves from the storms of the chariifs, would also point out to them these minor precautions. The highest of these hillocks we measured was 12 feet, with a diameter at the centre of 3-1 feet.

Some had inclosed within their retreat a tree-stem, and thus had a green, shady covering over them. In none could we discover any provision, magazines, or places for storing food.

Snakes continue to be brought to us in numbers. A soldier brought us a domestic cat, which he wished to sell us as a rarity ; others brought frogs and such common reptiles. Chameleons are to be had in plenty here ; their heads and tails form the larger part of their whole ; these, as commonly believed, change colour, but neither so completely nor so variedly as men say. Their general colour is green, with yellow spots or streaks, and from heat, it changes from sunshine to shade ; angry, or pleased, this green becomes darker or brighter ; at times on one side of the body the