Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1837-05-27

for the Aea6oebo. The remedy - meoe k00Wu s0f
the world ire q ehaFgs-soj aDoDs tos the benefit /
Of shoss psssas Who are subject y ths distressing
headache.
TnE BLACK AR OF GaEsADA.-The hur- |
ricanes in the West Indies, are generally
most severe in the Islands Of Martinico, Do |
minica, Guadeloupe, and the Islands adjacent
and sometimes they extend over the whole |
of the eastern, or, a. they are very improper
Is called, sLeeward' group, with the excep-|
ton Of the Island near the coast Of Cumana,,
AS Trinidad, Tobago, Grenada, and thesCre-
nedines. These Islands are very seldom in
deed visited by q hurricane. The trade winds
blowing with but little variation throughout
the year. An exception to this general rule,
however, took place about 40 years since, ac-
companied with some circumstances Of ma
ture 30 singular that a recital Of them may
not prove uninteresting. Little more than
that number Of years have elapsed, since the
Island Of Grenada suffered much from a
most annoying visitation. which threatened
to bring famine and desolation into the Island
and destroy not only the present, but the fu-
ture hopes of tho planter.
There suddenly appeared simultaneously
in different parts of the island, vast number
|of black ants, Of a species until then un-
although the Inhabitants Of that
fruitful Island were wont to welcome ssran-
|gers with kindness and hospitality, they SEM
led inclined 20 depart from their usual custom,
$50 far as il related to these new but strange
lvisitants, especially when they found the
ants were more voraciously inclined than
was consistent with the welfare of either
party.
Their favorite food was vegetables. and
they were by no means; fastidious in their
choice. They attacked the fruit trees and
Idenuded them Of their leaves. The gardens
Of their slaves, and upon which they chiefly
depended for subsistence, were next attacked,
and yams, cassava, kallallOO, all shared an e.
quail fate; that Of annhilation. In a few
months the number Of these invaders increas-
ed to an incredible amount.--'rhev attacked
the fields Of sugar cane-and soon the beau
tiful island as If a FIRE from heaven the scourgc
Of an offended deity, had passed over i.
The fields, the trees, the roads, and even the
dwelling houses were covered with these ants
and when all vegetation was destroyed in
Ione quarter, they would take up their line
of march and proceed elsewhere in search Of
food. In these migratory excursions, if they
came to brook or small river, which are
numerous in the island, it did not appear to
impede their progress--those in front were
impelled into the stream by pressure from be-
hind, and although many millions were swept
AWAY ana crowned IN the TuSn1ng waters, vel
in a short time sort Of living bridge would
be formed over which the greater portion Of
these pestiferous insects, passed in safety
and dry shod.
/ In short, it appeared that nothing would
!, check ths6r PROFESSOR apparently check
their number. The inhabitants, both white
, and black, as it may be well conceived, were
. in great consternatioE--and were about ma
: king preparations TO remove to some more
} favored soil when, during the month Of Au
gust while the Ants were possibly congratu
: lat:ng themselves on being about to obtain
undisturbed posse ssion Of the island, hurri
cane was experienced for the frs! time with
> in the memory Of the oldest inhabitant.
was furious one, as If DESTROYS to make W
!. in strength and power, for the forbearanc,
in times past. The destruction Of property
was very great-a large portion Of the dwell
i ling houses as well as the sugar works wer,
l. destroyed, and many lives wore lost-an,
: the inhabitants vino survived the tempes
Q were in despair, very naturally concluding
e that their calamities would never cease
,. But they soon learned that this hurrican
= was intended with one blessing, which the
+ had not dared to expect-the black ants ,rev
. ertermin0ted! Not one Of the kind was eve
= afterwards seen in the island. And whs
: perhaps is almost equally singular-the islam
= has never suffered by hurricane since this
l. time L(Boston Jour.