17th February, 1873.—­The men will return to-morrow, but they have to go all the way out to the islet of Chirube to Matipa’s.

Suffered a furious attack at midnight from the red Sirafu or Driver ants.  Our cook fled first at their onset.  I lighted a candle, and remembering Dr. Van der Kemp’s idea that no animal will attack man unprovoked, I lay still.  The first came on my foot quietly, then some began to bite between the toes, then the larger ones swarmed over the foot and bit furiously, and made the blood start out.  I then went out of the tent, and my whole person was instantly covered as close as small-pox (not confluent) on a patient.  Grass fires were lighted, and my men picked some off my limbs and tried to save me.  After battling for an hour or two they took me into a hut not yet invaded, and I rested till they came, the pests, and routed me out there too!  Then came on a steady pour of rain, which held on till noon, as if trying to make us miserable.  At 9 A.M.  I got back into my tent.  The large Sirafu have mandibles curved like reaping-sickles, and very sharp—­as fine at the point as the finest needle or a bee’s sting.  Their office is to remove all animal refuse, cockroaches, &c., and they took all my fat.  Their appearance sets every cockroach in a flurry, and all ants, white and black, get into a panic.  On man they insert the sharp curved mandibles, and then with six legs push their bodies round so as to force the points by lever power.  They collect in masses in their runs and stand with mandibles extended, as if defying attack.  The large ones stand thus at bay whilst the youngsters hollow out a run half an inch wide, and about an inch deep.  They remained with us till late in the afternoon, and we put hot ashes on the defiant hordes.  They retire to enjoy the fruits of their raid, and come out fresh another day.

18th February, 1873.—­We wait hungry and cold for the return of the men who have gone to Matipa, and hope the good Lord will grant us influence with this man.

Our men have returned to-day, having obeyed the native who told them to sleep instead of going to Matipa.  They bought food, and then believed that the islet Chirube was too far off, and returned with a most lame story.  We shall make the best of it by going N.W., to be near the islets and buy food, till we can communicate with Matipa.  If he fails us by fair means, we must seize canoes and go by force.  The men say fear of me makes them act very cowardly.  I have gone amongst the whole population kindly and fairly, but I fear I must now act rigidly, for when they hear that we have submitted to injustice, they at once conclude that we are fair game for all, and they go to lengths in dealing falsely that they would never otherwise attempt.  It is, I can declare, not my nature, nor has it been my practice, to go as if “my back were up.”