Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-03-26
Neu York Star.
THE PLAGUE OF LocUsrs.-The Buffalo Com

TIE PLAGUE OF LocUsTs.-The Buffalo Com
,,,rc;nz .advertissr publishes a letter from Mr..
Brown U. S. Counsel, at Tangiers, sketching
nyisit by locusts' to the land of the MoorS.
The northern provinces of Morocco are some-
times visited by locusts in such numbers as mate
riallv to iniure vegetation. Their ravages were
witnessed few years ago in the nelghborhood OF
Tanoier. AT that time the locusts first appeared
in the winged form, and did not commit much in
;ury. but settling along the sea-coast deposited
their eccs and died. Some months afterwards Gn
July) the grub first appeared, and was about the
size of what is commonly called the lion ant. BY
several European residents at Tangier, aprlce had
been set upon each pound Of eggs procured by the
natives and many thousand pounds weight were,
bv this means, destroyed. But this was OF no a
yail-it was drop of water from the ocean; for
soon the whole face of the country was blsckened
bv columns of these yoracous insects; and as tney
marched on their desolating track, neither the lof-
tiest barriers, water nor fire, daunted them.-
Ouenchng with their numbers the hottest fire, the
rear of the dreadful columns passed over the devo-
ted bodies of those who had proceeded them. A.
cross bitches, streams DRIVERS, it was the same
On, on they marched, and as the foremost ranks
of the advanced columns were drowned, their bod,
les formed the raft for those that followed; and
gress, thther did the destructive insects appear to
swarm in the greatest numbers.
Our European resident at Tangier, the Consul
General for Sweden, who possesses beautiful gar
den in the neighborhood, abounding with the chol-
cest flowers and shrubs of Europe and Africa,
waged for along time successful war against them
His extensive garden had the advantage OF high
wall and outside this barrier he had stationed Ia
borers, hired for the purpose Of destroying the IN
yading columns. Often did the Moslems shake
their hands, and predicting sooner or later the de-
struction of his garden, eXclaim against the WICK
edness and folly of the Nazarene in attempting to
avert the DEGREES of fate. At one time it had been
hoped that this beautiful spot, favore resort oil
the Europeans, had been saved for whilst all a.
round had been rendered desolatc, the garden con-
tinued in luxuriance of vegetation.
But the day soon came, in which the Moslems
predictions were to be fulfilled. The locustS, cea.
sed to be crawling grubs put forth their wings ana
took flight. Myriads and myriads, attacked oy the
freshness, alighted on the oasis OF the DESERT
and in few hours every green blade disappeared
the very bark Of the fruit trees being gnawed IN
such manner as to render themincapable OF pro-
ducing fruit the ensuing year.
At length favorable wind having arisen, the
locusts took flight from around Tangier, and the
SKY was darkeneu py lhell Coeutiess iio''
numbers of them were driven into the sea, as
shoals of their putrid bodies, washed back upon
the beach, gave evidence. 1t not unfrequently
happens that the offensive odor of the dead bodies
of this insect, causes very bad contagious ievers'
The female locusts when full OF eggs, become
an article of food with the Moors. They are boil
ed in salt water in the same manner as shrimPs
which they resemble in taste, but it requires some
resolution at first to get the monster into your
mouth. When in the grub state they are greedily
devoured by the wild boar the jackall, fox, and
other wild animals, and on taking wing they are
attackedby storks hawks, and almost all the teath-
cred tribe.