Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 October 1874 — A Savage Lot of Bees. [ARTICLE]

A Savage Lot of Bees.

One of the terrors of the Nile traveler is bees! At one time the adverse wind made it necessary that Dr. Schweinfurth’s boat should be towed by the crew. As the rope was being drawn along through the grass on the banks, it happened that it disturbed a sw r arm of bees. In a moment, like a great cloud, they burst upon the men who were dragging. Every one of them threw themselves headlong into the water, and hurried to regain the boat. The swarm followed them, and in a. few seconds filled every nook and cranny of the deck. Dr. Schweinfurth was sitting quietly in his rude cabin, Arranging his botanical specimens, when he heard a scampering around the deck, which he at first took to be the usual frolicking of his people, but as the noise increased he called out for an explanation of the disturbance. For an answer he received only the cry of “ Bees!, bees! ” Springing up he endeavored to light his pipe, hoping to protect himself with smoke, but it was too late; the bees were already upon him. Thousands surroundtd him and be was mercilessly stung all over his face and hands. He endeavored to proted his face with his handkerchief, but all to no purpose* the more violently he flung his hands about the more violent became the impetuosity of the irritated insects. At length, almost maddened, he threw himself into the river, but the stings still rained down upon his head. He tried to gain the main land, hoping to find shelter in the woods, but some of the faithful servants, know ing that course to be certain death, forced him back into the boat. Here he wrapped himself in a sheet, which, after he had crushed the bees inside, afforded him some protecAiunr He crouched dow T n in this way for full three hours, while the buzzing continued uninterruptedly, and solitary stings penetrated through the linen covering. Every one in the boat pursued the same course, and gradually the buzzing subsided. "" At length some courageous fellows crept stealthily- to the banks and set fire to the reeds. The—smoke—which—joseblinded and stupefied the bees so that the boat was successfully driven beyond their reach. Free from further appr«hension the sufferers proceeded to examine their injuries. Some of the stings were extracted with pincers, but those which remained produced ulcers and even fever, wdiich kept the whole boat’s company in an uncomfortable state for several days.