The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-13


The PLAGUE OF LocUsrs.-The Buffalo
Commercial Advertiser publishes letter from
Mr.. Brown, us. Consul at Tangers, sketch.
ing "visit by locusts" to the land of the Moors
| The northern provinces of Morocco are some
times visited by locusts in such numbers as ma.
terally to injure vegetation, Their ravages
were witnessed few years ago in the neigh
borhood of Tangier. At that time the locust
first appeared in the winged form, and did not
commit much injury, but settling along the sea
coast, deposited their eggs and died Some
months afterwards Qp july the grub first APP
peared, and was about the size of what is com.
monty called tho lion ant By several Eu-
ropean residents at Tangier, a price had been
set upon each pound of eggs procured by the
natives and many thousand pounds weight
were, by this means, destroyed. But this was
of no avail-it was a drop of water from the
ocean, for soon the whole face Of the country
was blackened by columns of these voracious
insects; and as they marched on in their DESC
latng track, neither the Hottest BARRIERS water.
nor fire, dauntcd them. Quenchng with their
numbers the hottest fire, the rear of the dread
full columns passed over the devoted bodies of
those who had preceded them. Across bitches,
streams or rivers, it was the same On, on they
marched, and as the foremost ranks of the adj
vanced columns were drowned, their bodies
formed the raft for those that followed and
where there seemed most resistance to their
progress, thither did the destructive insects ap-
pear to swarm in the greatest numbers.
Our European resident at Tangcr, the Con-
sui General for Sweden, who possesses beau
riful garden in the neighborhood, Astounding
with the choicest flowers and shrubs of Europe
and Africa, waged for long time successful
war against them. His extensive garden had
the advantage of a high wall, and outside this
barrier he had stationed laborers, hired for the
purpose of destroying the invading columns
Often did the Moslems shake their heads, and
predicting sooner or later the destruction of his
garden, exclaim against the wickedness and folly
of the Nazarene in attempting to avert the de-
crees of fate. At one time it had been hoped
that this beautiful spot favorite resort of the
Europeans, had been saved, for whilst all around
had been rendered desoate, the garden con
tnued In iuxuriance Of vegetation
But the day soon came, In which the Moslems
predictions were to be fulfilled The loousis,
ceasing to be crawling grubs, put forth their
wings and took flight. Myriads and myriads
attracted by the freshness alighted on the oasis
OF the desert, and in a few hours every green
blade disappeared, the very bark of the fruit
trees being gnawed in such manner as to rem
der them incapable of producing fruit the ensu-
ing year.
AT length favorable wind having arisen, the
locusts took fight from around Tangicr, and
the sky was darkened by their countless hosts.
Vast numbers of them were driven Into the sea,
as shoals Of their putrid bodies, washed back
upon the beach, gave evidence II not unfre-
quently happens that the offensive odor of the
dead bodies Of this insect causes very bad con-
tagous fevers.
The female locusts when full Of eggs, be-
come an article of food with the Moors. They
are boiled in salt water In the same manner as
shrimps, which they resemble in taste, but IL re-
qnires some resolution at first to get the mon
ster into your mouth. When in the grub state
they are greedily deyoured by the wild boar,