Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-01-03
DEVOURING LOCUSTS.
Their Rayages in Algiers-How They are Des-
troyed-A Sacret Custom.

Their Ravages in Algiers-How They are Des-
troyed-A Sacret Custom.
At present Algiers is suffering under a
tarrible plague of locusts. Since the con-
quest of the province this is the second
visitation of this kind. In May, 1884
the locusts appeared in such numbers
that the richest agricultural districts
were made deserts. The Incidence of the
natives and the unsettled condition of
the country were against any systematic
efforts to exterminate the little pests.
Moreover, the superstitious natives
charged the Christian conquerors with
conjuring the evil one and rebelIions
were the result.
In March, 1885, the locusts again made
their appearance. Two months later the
districts Altmole; Bou -Saada, Boghar,
Chellalla and Laghou2t we're overrun and
the fields stripped Of every kind of
growth. IN the spring of 1886 the locusts
reappeared. This year the siroceo-that
terrible hot wave of the desert-swept
over Algiers with unusual ferceness,
charged with the sand of the great Sa-
hara and With millions and millions of
iocRsts. In few days the whole country
was covered with these pests. Their
ravages are terrible. The cattle of which
the colony contained IL, 000, 900, are dying
or want OF nourishment, and famine is
threatening the European colonists.
Tbs government employs thousands Of
natives dnd all the available troops in d
systematic effort to destroy the voracious
little insects.
Various deEises are resorted to. Two
that are most in favor are the 'meinafas"
and the "appareils cypiotes." The
former consists of cotton or WOODEN cloth
OF very rough surface, which is spread
over the ground. The locuets are caug bit
n the coating, are shaken together and
1arned into deep bitches or stamped TO
death. The ''appareils cypiotes" are
sheets of muslin about 200 feet long and
three feet wide, stretched over frames
and placed upright along the path of the
invaders. 1t is the habit of the locust
not to turn in its progress, bat to en-
deayor TO surmount every obstGcle in it's
way. 1t will try to climb the cloth which
is beaten by sticks. The insects fall to
the ground, are swept together and des-
troyed. The artillery also fires heavy
charges of blank cartridges into the
swarms, and cavalry are employed TO
stamp the insects into the ground, and
the native TROOPS are not furnished with
rations of meat in order to stimulate their
appetite for the national disk, stewed 10
Gusts, broIted locusts and Iocusfs raws.
1t is an ancient and sacred custom of
the natives to eat these insects. Tradi-
ton has it that at the first appearance of
the locusts Mohammed Instructed his
disciples not TO destroy them. But one
day the great prophet noticed on the
wings of one Of these insects an lnscrip-
tior in Hebrew characters saying: 1--WE
are the soldiers of God; we lay ninety
nine eggs. Whenever We ehall lay one
hundred the universe will have been de-
voured by as" Hcrrified at this sacrilege,
the prophet straightway interviewed the
Lord, and received the order that, az a
punishment of the locusts, the faithful
should kill and eat them. That the
natives highly relish the dish appears
from the saying: Next to the date the
locust is the sweetest morsel." The Koran
prohibits the flesh of animal not born,
but the Mohammedan doctors of law, as
b soome wise and dutiful guardians of
their focks, denied that Iocusts we're flesh,
that as such the common people might
eat To en-, while the men in holy orders
should deny themselves this sweet morsel
IL order to avoid the TEN ptatiop to gorge
themselves. Certainly a very wise and
liberal Interpretation to prevent famir g
among the poor.