The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1852-11-23
The Way Locusts are prepared for food in the
Desert of Zaharah.

| In and about this valley were great flights OF
locusts. During tho day they arc flying around
very thickly in the atmosphere; but the copi-
Gus dews and chilly air in the night, render
them unable to fly, and they settle down on the
bushes. 1t was tho constant employment OF
the natives at night. to gather these insects
from the bushes, which they did in great guam
titles. My masters famly-each with small
bag-went out the first night upon tho employ
ment, carrying a very large bag to bring home
the fruits of their labor. My mistress, Fatim-
o, however, and two children remained in the
tent.
declined this employment, and retired to
rest under tho large tent. The next day tho
family returned loaded with locusts, and iudg-
ing by the eye Of the quantity prod duced there
must have been about fifteen or sixteen
bushels. This may appear TO be large guam
tity to be gathered in 50 short time, but it is
scarcely worth mentioning when compared
with the loads of Them gathered sometimes in
the moro fertile part of tho country over
which they pass, leaving track of desolation
behind them, A
But as they wero first in any considerable
quantity, that had seen, and the first that |
had seen cooked and eaten, mention it in this
place, hoping hereafter to give my readers
more paticular information concerning these
wondorfnl and destructive insects, which, from
tho days of Moses to this time, have been con-
sdered by Jews and Mahometans, as tho most
severe Judgment which Heaven can ntlict up
on man.
But whatever the Egyptians might have tho't
in ancient days, or tho Moors and Arabs in
those Of modern date, the Arabs who are COM
PEELED to inhabit the desert of Zahara, so far
from considering fight of locusts as a judg-
ment upon them for their transgressions, wei
come their approach as the means. sometimes,
of saving them from famishing with hunger
The whole that were brought to tho tent at
this time were cooked.
The manner of cooking is by digging deep
hole in the ground, building fire nj the bot
tom as before described, asd filling il up with
wood. After it is heated as hot as possible,
the Goals and embers are taken out and they
prepare TO Gil the cavity with tho locusts, con-
fined in a largo bag;-a sufficient number of
natives hold the bag perpcndicularly over the
hole, the mouth oft being near the surface OF
tho ground. A number stand around the hole
with sticks, the mouth of the bag is then open
cd and it is shaken with great force. the locust
falling into the hot pit, and the hot pit, and
tho surrounding natives throwing sand upon
them to prevent them from flying off. The
mouth Of the hole is thon covered with sand,
and another fire built upon the top of it. In
this manner they cook all thcy have on hond,
and dig number of holes sufficient to accom-
pish it, each containing about fivc bushels
They remain in tho hole until they become
sufficiently cooled TO be taken out with tho
hand They arc then picked out and thrown
upon tent cloths or blankets, and remain in the
sun to dry, whero they must be watched with
the utmost caro- to prevent the live locust from
devouring them, ifa fight happens to be pass
ing at tho time. When they arc perfectly
dried which isn't less than or 3 days, they
are slightly pounded, and pressed into bags or
skins ready Cor transportation, To prepare
them to eat they are pulveriscd in mortars, and
mixed with water sufficient to make a kind Of
day pudding.