The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-11-20
The Way Locusts are Prepared for Food in
the Desert of Zahara

In and about this valley were great flights
OF loru>ts Daring the day they were ilying
around very thickIv in the atmosphere; hut
the roriou> dcw> and Chilly air in the night
render them unable To tiv. and thcv settle
down on the bn>hr> 1t was the constant
cmplovmrnt of the natives in the night to
rather these Insects from the bushes, which
they I'D in treat pnaniife>. My masters
family each with a small hag. went ont the
first night upon this emplovmcnt carving
very larrc BAG to bring home the fruits of
their labor Nv mistress Fa,ima, however.
and the two little children. remained in the
tent. | declined this employment and re-
tired to rest under the larae tent. The next
day the family returned loaded with loru>t>.
and, iudgin. Nv the eve of the quantity pro
ducrd there must have been about fifteen
bushels. This NAV appear 70 be 4 'argc uuan-
titv 10 be glthrrri in 80 shoot time but II
is scarcely worth mentioning when compared
with the loads of them gathered sometimes. in
the more fertile part of the country over
which they pass. leaving track Of dr>olation
behind them But AZ they were the first in
any con>iicrahI" quantity that hal seen.
and the first had seen cooked and eaten. |
mention it in this place, hoping hereafter to
concerning these wonderful and destructive
insects. which. from the clays of Moses to th
MahomctanS, as the most severe iudrment
which Heaven can intlirt upon man. But
whatever the Egyptians m"ht have though,
in ancient dav>. or the Moors and Arabs who
are compelled to inhahit the desert of Zahara
so far from considering fl .ht of locu>ts as :
Judgment upon them fol their tran>glc>>ions
welcome their approach as the means. some
times, OF saving them from furnishing will
hunger. The whole that were brought TO III,
tent at this time. We're cooked while alive. a
''' INV AWAY are lUr 4 utau locust L
never cooked. The manner of cooking is b,
digging deep hole in the ground. building
fire at the hottom AS before described an,
filling it mp with wood. After it is heated a
no; As is possible, the Goals and emhers ar
taken ont. and they prepare to fill the cavit
with the locusts, confined in a large bar.
Sutncient number OF the natives hold the ba
perpendicularlv over the hole. the mouth q
. 1t being near the surface of the ground.
number stand around the hole with sticks
: The mouth of the bag is then opcned and
? is shaken with great force, the ocusts f,lin
, into the hot pit, and the surrounding uatiy,
throwing sand upon them to prevent the,
e from flying off, The mouth of the hole
e then covered with sand, and another f,
e built upon the top of it. In this manner the
: cook all they have on hand, and lig numb,
:, OF holes sufficient to accomplish it. each cor
2 tanning about five bushels They remain
the hole until they become sufficiently coole
$ to be taken out with the hand They =,
: then picked out, and thrown upon tent-clotl
c or blankets, and remain in the sun to dr.
f where they must be watched with the utmo
d care to prevent the live locusts from devon
ing them, If flight happens TO be passing
o the time. When they are perfectly dric,
mt Il .,-.l,I Of
o they are slightly pounded, and pressed in,
e bags or skins. ready for transportation 7
t prepare them to eat, they are pulverzed
l. mortars, and mixed with water sufficient ,
l. make kind of dry pudding. They ar,
however, sometimes eaten singly,without mn
y verizing. by breaking off the head, winns an
n legs, and swallowing the remaining part
: whatever manner they are eaten, they ar
l. nourishng food
1t is not onl " by the inhabitants of tb
! '1reat Desert that the locuSts are hailed WI,
st JOY. The IIottentots also give them heart
h welcome, and make many hearty meal u,
d on them, too-not onl Y eating them in laro
= quantities, but making sort of coffee-color,
l. soup fthcir eggs.
e Locusts are cooked in various wavs-roa, ,
e ed, boiled and fried. Sometimes they ar
o ground up in hand-milI>, Or pounded bc,wee
two stones, and then mixed with -four. an
n made into cakes and baked. They are all