As a supplementary note to the article on ‘Bees and Honey’ which
appeared in No. 135 of the _Journal_, a correspondent sends us the
following:
‘A painful instance of the terrible consequences of provoking bees
is connected with one of the loveliest sights in India, the famous
Marble Rocks of Jubbulpore. These rocks form a gorge through which
the great river Nerbudda flows, and the marble formation extends
for about a mile. The dazzling walls which shut in the river are
studded with pendent bees’ nests, and for any one proceeding in
a boat down the narrow channel to disturb the bees is a fatal
proceeding. If any warning were required, it is given by a tomb
which stands on the outskirts of the village just above the gorge,
to the memory of one who was stung to death in this beautiful spot.
Actuated by a foolish impulse, he fired his rifle at one of the
nests, whereupon the bees came down on him in such numbers that
he attempted to save himself by jumping overboard. The relentless
insects, however, still pursued him, with fatal results. I quote
the story from memory, but believe it is to be found in detail in
Forsyth’s charming work, _The Highlands of Central India_.
‘A friend once told me that as he was driving near a village some
miles from Jubbulpore, he and his servant and horse were attacked
by bees without any real provocation. The enemy crowded round in
such numbers that the situation became serious. After receiving
several stings, and finding the horse, too, becoming restive, my
friend resolved to save his own life and that of his servant,
both of which were really in jeopardy, at the risk of a little
discomfort to other people. Accordingly, he whipped up his horse
and made for the village, a cloud of bees keeping up with the
trap without the least effort. When the village was reached, the
bees, as my friend anticipated, found so many other objects of
interest, that they distributed their attentions with less marked
partiality than hitherto. In other words, the cloud left the trap
and scattered among the villagers, who were, however, so numerous,
that two or three stings apiece probably represented the total
damage. The expedient was not, perhaps, a charitable one, but, in
the circumstances, was, I venture to think, justifiable.’
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_The PUBLISHERS have pleasure in intimating that next year will appear
in this JOURNAL an Original Novel, entitled_