an African Ship, jaden with Elephants Teeth, wreck’d on the Coaft 
of Suffex, which Mr. Halley told me was in a very fhort time almoft 
covered with Sand and Oafe, fo that the Project of recovering the 
Teeth, was fruftrated, though by the help of a Diving-Bell, con- 
triv’d by his extraordinary Skill, they had gone to the bottom of 
the Sea, and into the Ship, where they had a perfect view of the 
Ship, and all about it. Though the Money brought into England 
from the firft Wreck was very confiderable, yec much more was 
loft on Projeéts of the fame nature. For every filly Story of a rich 
Ship loft, was credited, a Patent taken out, Divers, who are usd 
to Pearl-fifhing, ¢~c, and can ftay under Water fome Minutes, 
bought or hir’d at great Rates, and a Ship fet ouc for bring- 
ing home Silver. There was one Ship loft amongft the reft, faid 
to be very rich, near Bermudas, which was divided into Shares and 
fold. It was {aid to be in the Pofleffion of the Devil, and they told 
Stories how he kept it. I do not find the People, who {pent their 
Money, on this,’or any of thefe Projects, excepting the firft, got 
any thing by chem, 
Colonel Nedham, who had liv’d fome time in Teneriff, told me, that 
in the Year 1649. Locufts deftroy’d all the Product of that Ifland ; 
they faw them come off from the Coaft of Barbary, the Wind being 
a Levant from thence; they flew fo far as they could, then one lighted 
in the Sea, and another on it, fo that one after another they made a 
heap as big as the greateft Ship above Water, and were efteemed al- 
moft as many under. Thofe above Water, next Day, after the 
Sun’s refrefhing them, took flight again, and came in Clouds to the 
Ifland, from whence they had perceiv'd them in the Air, and 
had by their Military Officers gathered all the Soldiers of the Ifland 
and La Laguna together, being feven or eight thoufand Men, who 
laying afide their Arms, fome took Bags, fome Spades, and having 
notice by their Scouts from the Hills, where they alighted, they went 
ftraic thither, made Trenches, and brought their Bags full, and co- 
verd them with Mould. Thisdid not do, for fome of the Locutts 
efcap'd, or being caft on the Shoar, were reviv'd by the Sun, and flew 
abouc and deftroyed all the Vineyards and Trees. They eat the 
Leaves, and even the Bark of the Vines where they alighted. After 
two Months fruitlefs management of them fo, the Ecclefiafticks 
took them in hand by Penances, with Swords tied to their Arms, 
voluntary Whippings, exc. by Excommunications by Bell, Book 
and Candle, by f{prinkling with Holy-Water, Proceffions and Crof- 
fes; amongft the reft one voluntary Penance was rolling round 
the Hands and Arms, Feet, Legs, and Body with hard Ropes ; 
but all would nor do, the Locufts ftaid there four Months ; 
~~ 
(x) Cattle 
i oe Introduction. Ixxxi 
te 
