devasters

Updated: May 28, 2025

When Smeathman told us about twelve years ago, how an immense body of African ants, which appeared, as they moved forwards, like the whole earth in agitation covered and suddenly arrested a solemn elephant, as he grazed unsuspiciously on the plain; he told us too that in eight hours time no trace was left either of the devasters or devasted, excepting the skeleton of the noble creature neatly picked; a standing proof of the power of numbers against single force.

Hester Lynch Piozzi - Observations and Reflections Made in the Course of a Journey through France, Italy, and Germany, Vol. I