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locusts. On their first approach to Government House I had 
the windows and doors closed to prevent their ingress into 
the apartments. When they got so close to the verandah 
that 1 could nearly touch them, I shouted and struck a stick 
against some of the iron pillars, upon which I noticed that 
the locusts, appearing to dislike the noise, wheeled away. I 
then had some blank cartridges fired at them, and the bell, 
which is used on Sunday for Church purposes, rung. The 
noise apparently alarmed the locusts, for they left the Castle 
and contented themselves with ravaging the cocoa-nut trees 
to the north of it. 
2. I have heard by telegraph that no damage was done at 
Aburi. 
3. The swarms of locusts were reported by the District 
Commissioner to have visited Labadi on the Friday, and 
some were also reported to have been seen at Klmina. 
4, The market women at Accra were much alarmed at the 
fearful sight of these insects, and went about in large num- 
bers shouting and crying out that war or famine would follow, 
and urging the Fetish priests to propitiate their gods, owing 
to whose displeasure the locusts were sent. The last visit of 
locusts to the Coast is reported to have occurred about thirty 
years ago, when the people suffered greatly for want of food 
in consequence of their ravages. 
5. The rate of flight has been roughly estimated at six 
miles per hour, The first arrivals reached the sea-shore at 
about 11 a.m., and the last at about 2 p.m.; in this estima- 
tion the depth of the swarm would be about eighteen miles. 
The extreme density of the cloud in the vicinity of Accra and 
Christiansborg was owing to the front of the column being 
stopped by the sea: this was very marked. This was also 
the cause of the damage done to vegetation, as no inclination 
to settle was evinced in their flight. This variety was brown 
in colour, and about 13 in. in length. 
6. About 1.30 the following day a cloud of locusts was 
observed to the north of Accra; they did not approach the 
sea within three miles, but soon afterwards disappeared, going 
northwards into the interior. 
7. The occurrence of the visit of these insects is so extra- 
