Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1885-09-12
A LOCUST HUNT.
How the Summer Pest Is Got Rid OF in
Italy by Wholesale.

How the Summer Pest Is Got Rid of in
Italy by Wholesale.
was quietly at work in my study at
Capri one day in a very hot August,
laboring to breathe as well as the great
heat would let me, when a Withholding
youth rushed in TO me from Anacapri,
crying out that the locusts had come.
The disease Of the vine had already
caused great loss, and now there were
the locuSts eating MP the harvest. A
great part of Anaeapri was as bare, the
youth told nc, as if a fire had swept
across it. The invaders had already
got over the brow OF the mountain,
and were in the woods below. Would
go out and see themP Certainly !
would.
As we approached their advanced
guard under cover of a low wood, we
could hear the ineessant click, click, Of
the enemy, and every now and then we
were fallen upon by their scouts, which
dashed against our faces and clung to
our clothes. AS we proceeded we
found them froiicking in legions, like
imps let loose for mischief The at
mosphere being rather thicker than |
liked, did not go that morning to see
how things looked at the worst.
went back to pay visit to the syndic
and ascertain what could be done to
mend them
Trouble Of this kind comes upon
Capri every three or four years; but
there has been no swarm SO great as
this one since the great plague of To-
Gusts which had occurred some twenty
years before the time Of which / am
writing. That, indeed, said my in
formant, was awful. They climbed
our walls, got into our houses and
churches, craWled over the affairs, ate
up the entire harvest, and who can saw
what might nave happened if it had not
been for st. AntonioP Some mission
ary priests were then among US, and
they ordained solemn procession of
womeni they We're all to walk with their
hair loose about their shoulders, with
the priest III front carrying the image
OF the saint Before the procession
was over strong east wind came and
blew all the locusts i9to the sea, Just
over the Blue Grotto. All, signor, st.
Antonio is powerful
Report having been formally made to
the syndic, his excellency, in true otfi-
cial style, ordered bag of the deYas-
tating animals to be collected and sent
off to the subintendent, who resided at
Castellamare, il order that lie might
ascertain whether they we're really To-
Gusts. Until that point was officially
decided, the syndlc could disburse none
of the public ..mQney to arrest the
course spreading over the woods and
fields wish the aFsdity of aprairie-fire.
The grain was being bitten off un-
der the car as cleanly as though cut
by knife, the fig trees being stripped
and barked. The messenger did not
arrive at Castellamare till after business
hours, when the deputy was enioying
his evening leisure and would be dis
turbed by no one
On the next day, however, the syndic
Of Anaeapri, having obtained the re-
9ulslte authority, attached a proclama-
ton to the walls Of the house, Offering
a reward for the capture of locusts at
the rate Of about a penny pound. All
ulSIElCl
stantly became rs busy as bees, and
went out locust-hunting in parties Of
five or six. provided with sacks and
sheets. 4 sheet held by man at each
corner being lifted up like wall across
he path Of the invaders, one or two
people with brooms beat the bushes and
swept the earth, causing the disturbed
ocusts to lily on until the sheet was
black with them. 1t was then quickly
doubled UP, the insects seraped form it
nto sack, and preparations instantly
made for capturing another batch in
he same way. A locust-hunter told
ne that he was earning at this work 16
1ence day, or 6 pence beyond his us
Ial daily wages. | was told also by
he parish priest of Anacapri that in a
ew days the whole body of hunters in
nat small district captured upward of
Wenty hundred weight, but that he re-
aembered one season in which there
we're as many taken in a single morn
ng.
The reward for captured locusts was
lot paid until they were dead and bur-
ed. Dead and unburicd they would
oon purify under hot sun and breed
pestiIence. There is a point in the
sland called Monte Solario. about
ighteen hundred feet above the level
+ the sea. Thither the locusts are all
aiken after they have been soaked in
oiling water, and after having been in
hat way killed by the sackful, they are
uried in deep pit dug for the purpose.
-HouSchold lF0ya5s.