112 LOCUSTID^ — LOCUSTS. 



In 1835, a plague of Locusts made their appearance in 

 China, in the neighBorhood of Quangse, and in the western 

 departments of Quangtung. The military and people were 

 ordered out to exterminate them, as they had done two years 

 before. A more rational mode, however, was adopted by 

 the authorities, of offering a bounty of twelve or fifteen cash 

 per catty of the insects. They were gathered so fast for 

 this price, that it was immediately lowered to five or six 

 cash per catty. A strike followed, and the Locusts were 

 left in quiet to do as much damage as they could. ^ 



Nieuhoflf tells us, Locusts in the East Indies are so destruc- 

 tive that the inhabitants are oftentimes obliged to change 

 their habitations, for want of sustenance. He adds that 

 this has frequently happened in China and the Island of 

 Tojowac.^ 



In 1828-9, in the provinces lying between the Black and 

 Caspian Seas, Locusts appeared in such vast numbers as 

 were never seen in that country before.'' 



In 1839, Kaffraria was again visited by Locusts, which, 

 together with the war at that time, caused so great a famine 

 that many persons perished for want of subsistence.* Again 

 in 1849-50, this country was visited by this dreadful scourge. 

 The whole country, says the Rev. Francis Fleming, was 

 covered with them ; and when they arose, the cloud was so 

 dense that this gentleman was obliged to dismount, and 

 wait till they passed over.^ 



Mr. Jules Remy says, that at his arrival at Salt Lake, he 

 observed upon the shore, on the top of the salt, a deposit of 

 a foot deep which was entirely composed of dead Locusts — 

 (Edipoda corallipes. These insects, driven by a high wind 

 in prodigiously thick clouds, had been drowned in the lake, 

 after having, during the course of the summer (of 1855), 

 destroyed the rising crops, and even the prairie grass. A 

 famine ensued ; but the Mormons, continues Mr. Reraf, 

 only saw in this scourge a fresh proof of the truth of their 

 religion, because it had happened, as among the Israelites, 

 in the seventh year after their settlement in the country.^ 



1 Chinese Repository. 



2 Churchill's Col of Voy. and Trav., ii. 317. 



3 Penny Mag. 1843. 

 * Backhouse, p. 264. 



5 Kaffraria, p. 79. 



6 Remy & Brenchley's Voy. to G. Salt Lake City, iv. 440, note; 

 Burton's City of the Saints, p. 345. 



i 



