Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-08-11
THE PLAGUGo OF LoCUSTs--slNGULAR
SCENES IN JAFFA.


lows
In the month Of April last we observed
twice large dark clouds, resembling emoke,
moving to and fro as IL swayed by the wind.
One morning these clouds came down and
proved to be locusts, so great in number that
the whole land was covered with them. The
grain at the time was full in the ear and near
ly ripe, bat the loousts did not touch it or
any other vegetation. Soon after, however,
it vas observed that they buried themselves
in the soil and there deposited their in-
honorable eggs. The Arshs and peasants
saw the approaching mischief, and went
through the land in thousands digging for
their eggs; they succeeded TO a certain de-
gree, and destroyed incredible numbers with
water and FIRE, but all their efforts had very
little effect.
About the middle Of May small black crea-
lures. at distance resembling large black
ants, were observed accommodating in large
heaps throughout the country, and few days
after they had been thus seen they began to
leap, and manifested the coming calamity and
inyasion Of the fearful army, as described so
emphatioally IN Joel H. The people now be-
gan TO sweep them together and bury or
burn them in bitches dug for the purpose.
But all to little or no effect, and as they
grew little larger the extent of their multi
tude began TO be seen. The roads we're GOV.
cred with them, all matching in regular lines,
Ike armies Of soldiers, with their leade in
front, and all the opposition Of man to arrest
their progress was in vain.
| They first consumed the plantations around
Ramleh, Lydia and all the smaller villages
near them, and then entering the towns and
villages consumed the victuals, Sc. in the
market and streets, by degrees forcing them
selves into the houses and covering the walls
outside as we'll as inside. 1t seems that
Everything which is moistened by their saliva
is poisoned, for the cattle which feed on the
remnants which are left all die. | myself saw
| fifty oxen dead in the village Of Delta, Dag
| gon and Z,farish that had fed ON the rem
nant OF duran Indian corn left by the To-
custs and the night before last twenty more
died from the same cause.
About two weeks ago they were seen to a
fearful extent all round Jaffa but still with
out wings. The town for several days APP
peared forsaken, all shops were shut. all bu-
siness suspended Almost all the inhabitants
had gone out to destroy and drive away the
invading army they made tremendous
bitches, and buried and burned countless
mjriads, but, as before. all in vain, for the
more they destroyed the more seemed 20 arise
from hiding places, and as they grew in size
so they seemed to grow in multitude, and
toward the east from here they covered the
ground for miles and miles to q hight Of sew
eral inches. AS their wings are still too
small to enable them to fy and to visit the
several hundred gardens within the cultivated
part Of the district of fla, they have hither-
to confined their distractions to the outer
gardens, of which about fifty have been COM
pletely laid waste, every green leaf, vegetable,
tree, and even the bark Of young trees, de-
voured, and these beautiful gardens look like
birch tree forest in winter.
Our garden was one of the first attacked.
For several days we saw the destructive host
advancing; all our farm servants, as well as
several hired laborers, were employed to keep
tnem off, to drive them away, or bury them,
bat found them as Joel describes them, chap
H., yer. 7, They shall not break their ranks.
Who can doubt the Word of God when we
have these evidences before our eyess True,
our men broke their ranks for a moment, but
no sooner had they passed the men than thew
closed again, and marched forward through
hedges and bitches, as if united by some mys-
ferrous power, causing them to open before
man, and to close again as soon as they had
passed him On the l4th instant they forced
their way into the garden, defying all human
forts to prevent them, and in less than a
dsv the whole garden IN the extant of ei,b ,
acres, was covered with them, and the trees.
! to the number of three thousand, as well az
every other green leaf. with Ire exception Of
the palm trees and the prickly pear hedges,
,yare .t,;.raJ