ect now comes in contact with them,
they seize it, and never quit their hold until they are literally torn in
pieces. When the violence against their habitation ceases, they retire into
their nests, as if nothing had happened, and the observer will
instantaneously perceive the labourers at work, with a burthen of mortar in
their mouths, which they stick upon the breach with wonderful facility and
quickness; and although thousands and millions are employed, yet they never
embarrass the proceedings of each other, but gradually fill up the chasm.
While the labourers are thus employed, the greatest part of the soldiers
retire, a few only being discernible, who evidently act as overseers, and
at intervals of about a minute, make the vibrating noise before described,
which is immediately answered by an universal hiss from the labourers, and
at this signal they redouble their exertions with encreased activity.

In minutely examining these hills, great obstacles present themselves to
the observer; the apartments and nurseries which surround the royal
habitation, and the whole internal fabric, are formed of moist brittle
clay, and are so closely connected, that they can only be examined
separately, for having a geometrical dependance upon each other, the
demolition of one pulls down more; patience is therefore exhausted in the
investigation, and it is impossible to proceed without interruption; for
while the soldiers are employed in defending the breach, the labourers are
engaged in barricading the different galleries and passages towards the
royal chamber. In one apartment which I dug out from a hill, I was forcibly
struck with their attachment and allegiance to their sovereigns; and as it
is capacious enough to hold a great number of attendants, of which it has a
constant supply, I had a fair opportunity offered for experiment, I secured
it in a small box; and these faithful creatures never abandoned their
charge; they were continually running about their king and queen, stopping
at every circuit, as if to administer to them, and to receive their
commands.

Upon exposing their different avenues and chambers for a night only, before
the next morning, provided the king and queen are preserved, and their
apartments remain, it will be found that they are all shut up with a thin
covering of clay, and every interstice in the ruins, through which either
cold or wet could communicate, filled up, which is continued with
unremitting ind