m
MINES OF ASIA
CHAP. It.
tioned by the testimony of Pliny 1 . “In* thevicinity of the Bactrians, who are distinguishedfor their bravery, and are employed in searchingfor gold, there are vast deserts of sand, in whicha species of ants is produced, not so large as adog, but bigger than a fox. Some of these, takenby hunting, are preserved in the palace of thePersian monarch. Like the ants common inGreece , which in form also they nearly resem-ble, they make themselves habitations in theground, by digging under the sand. The sandthus thrown up is mixed with gold dust, to col-lect which the Indians are despatched into thedeserts. They proceed on this expedition withthree camels fastened together; a female beingsecured between two males, and upon her theIndian is seated, taking care to select one thathas recently foaled. The females of this de-scription are quite as swift as horses, and capableof bearing much heavier burdens. Having thusconnected their camels, the Indians proceed insearch of the gold, choosing the hottest time ofthe day as most proper for their purpose, forthen it is that the ants conceal themselves un-der the earth. As soon as they arrive at thespot, the Indians precipitately fill their bagswith sand, and return as expeditiously as possi-ble. The Persians say that these ants know