The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-11-04
THE WAY LOCUSTs ARE PREPARED FOR FOOD
IN THE DESERT OF ZAHARA

In and about this valley were great flights Of
ocusts. During the day, they are flying around
very thickly in the atmosphere out the copious
dews and chilly air in the night, render them
unable To fly, and they settle down on the
bushes. 1t was the constant employment of
the natives IN the night 10 gather these insects
from the bushes, which they did IN great guam
utes. My masters family, each with small
bag, went out the first night upon this employ
ment, carrying a very large bag TO bring home
the fruits of their labor. My mistress tama,
however, and the two little children, remained
in the tent. declined this employment, and
retired to rest under the large tent. The next
day, the family returned loaded with ocusts,
and, Judging by the eye of the quantity pro
duced, there must have been about fifteen bush
els. This may appear to be large quantity to
he gathered IN SO short time T; but it is scarce
ly worth mentioning when compared with the
loads OF them gathered, sometimes, in the more
fertile part OF the country over which they pass,
leaving a track of desoaton behind them. But
as they were the first, in any considerable
quantity, that had seen, and the first | had
seen cooked and eaten, | mention IL in this
place, hoping hereafter TO give my readers more
particular information concerning these Won
dcriul and destructive insects, which, from the
ed, by Jews and Mahometans as the most Sc
we're Judgment which Heaven can inhict upon
man. But whatever the Egyptians might have
| thought IN ancient days, or the Moors and Arabs
in those Of modern date. the Arabs who are
compelled TO nhabit the desert of Zahara, so
far from considering a flight of Iocusts as a
! Judgment upon them for their transgressions,
welcome their approach as the means. some
times, Of saving them from furnishing with
hunger. The whole that Were brought to the
tent at this time Were cooked while alive. as
indeed they always are, for dead locust is
never cooked The manner of cooking is by
digging deep hole in the ground building a
| hire at the bottom, as before described and fill
ing II up with wood. After il is heated as hot
as is possible, the Goals and emhers are taken
out, and they prepare 10 fill the cavity with the
| locusts, confined IN a large bag. "A sufficient
number OF the natives hold the bag pcrpendicu-
| lary over the hole, the mouth Of il being near
| the surface OF the ground. A number stand
around the hole with sticks. The mouth OF IN
bag Is then opened. and it is shaken with great
force. the locusts falling into the hot pat. and
the surrounding natives throwing sand upon
them TO prevent them from flying of. The
mouth of the hole is then covered with sand,
and another fire built upon the top of il. In
this manner they cook all they have on hand,
and dig number OF holes sufficient TO accom-.
plSh 1t, each containing about five bushels.
They remain IN the hole until they become sui
hcienlly cooled to be taken out with the hand.
They are then picked out, and thrown upon
tent cloths or blankets. and remain in the sun
10 dry, where they must be watched with the
utmost care, TO prevent the live locusls from
devouring them. II flight happens TO be pass
ing nj the time. When they are perfectly dried,
which Is not done short of two or three days,
they are slightly pounded. and pressed into
bags or skins, ready for transportation. To
prepare them 10 eat, they are pulverized IN
mortars, aud mixed with water sufficient TO
make kind of dry pudding. They are, how
ever, sometimes eaten slngy, without pulver-
lzing, by breaking off the head. wings, aud
legs, and swallowing the remaining part In
whatever manner they are eaten, they are
nourIshng food.
IL is not only by the inhabitants of the Great
Desert that the locusls are lalled with JOY. The
Eloienols also give them hearty welcome, and
make many hearty meal upon them, too
not only eating them in large quantities, but
making sort of coffee colored soup OF their
eggs.
Locusts are cooked in various ways--roast-
ed, boiled, and fried. Sometimes they are
ground up in hand-mills. or pounded between
two stones, and then mixed with flour, and
made into cakes and baked. They are also
sailed and smoked, and packed away against a
time of scarcity. II is sand they taste very
much like fish, and are particularly light, deli
cate, and wholesome food. They are carried
into many Of the towns of Africa, by wagon
loads, as We bring poultry to market.