The Ottawa free trader., 1875-08-28

. The September number Is qultc up 10 any
OF its predecessors in the pleasing variety OF
its contributions and fine array Of pictures
/ OF poems we have several dianty specimens
two of these BEAUTIFULLY illustrated. OF des
criptiye articles, that on a collection of birds
whose plumage is entirely white is pleasant
and instructive "Queer Dlshes," will be
found more paatablc to read about than to
eat. For instance:
We read in the Bible, that the food OF John
the Baptist was "loCusts and wild honey" A
great deal of pains has been taken by COM
mentators to prove that it was not what we
call loCuSts, but the fruit of the wild carob-
tree, that John ate with the honey that he
found in the wilderness where he lived.
But do not think that any one who has
travelled in Arabia, or found rest and shelter
in any Arab tent and been guest at his
|hospltable board, would thus judge Of what
the Bible means 6v "locusts." In Turkey,
Persia, Arabia, and all that region of coun.
try, locGStS-gcnuine, JgHd,fie locusts-have
been eaten from remote antiquity; and to
this day, they form an important item Of the
food used by the common people. The Be
douins collect them in immense quantities,
and, after a partial drying, pack them in
sacks. Then at their convenience, when the
season Tor collecting is over, they steam the
insects in close vessels over a hot fire, Win
now them in broad baskets to remove the
legs and wings, and then pulverlze between
fat stones. When wanted for food, they are
only molstened with little wat.r, just as the
Arabs 90 IN preparing their date.tleur and
( then the repast is all ready.
The Turks eat locusts in the same way, and
by very many other Orientals they are regar.
ded as the choicest of dantIes.
The Moors boil or fry them, seasoning with
salt, pepper, and vinegar; and they pro-
nounce them even superior to quails and pig
cons. The Hottentots make from the eggs a
delicious soup; they also roast the locusts
over a slow fire, and eat them as we de cara
mels, or bon-bons. DR.. Livingstone says he
used them at first from necessity when de-
priVed OF all other food; but, strange TO say,
grew daily more tond OF them and at last
preferred them to shrimps or oysters
\ queer Mesapotamian boat called the
Gootfah is pictured in way to open chill
drea's eyes with wonder, as will also Mrs.
Treats glimpse through the microscope at
the Cyclops. Then there is a full budget OF
stories. Letter Box, Riddle Box, &c, and
the ever amusing and instructive Jack.in-the
Pulpit, who tells the following with many
other curious things:
There was once q locust.tree close by our
meadow, and in the top Of that locusttree
was fine little currant-bush in full bearing
What do you think of that, my chicks? The
birds thought very well Of it, assure you.
The fruit was little sour, to be sure, but
then II was their very own. No human hand
ever touched it, How it came to be up so
high Jack cannot tell you, but he thinks the
birds must have carried up the seed one fine
day, and, lodging in crotch Of the tree by
one of the dead branches, it found there
enough mold or dust, or whatever it may be,
to give i roothold and nourishment At any
rate, there it was-a pretty little white cur.
rant-bush-till 1t died q natural death alone
in The bleak Autumn wind.
This Is not the only instance of the kind.
I'm told that in Massachusetts, not many
miles from Boston, there noble elm with a
red-currant bush growing nigh up, Just where
the branches join the main trunk. 1t bears
fruit every season, bright clusters of rubes
glowing in the sun. Just imagine how the
Robin. .Aladlns feel when they come upon this
jewel bush in the early morning!