88 Inasmuch 



hopper, is beginning to make sad ravages, by 

 destroying the crops, as it has done for the last 

 three years, at the Settlement. These insects 

 multiply so rapidly, that they soon overspread 

 the land, or rather the whole country; and had 

 not a wise Providence limited their existence to a 

 year, they would no doubt (if permitted to in 

 crease) soon destroy the whole vegetative pro 

 duce of the world. They seem to devour, not so 

 much from a ravenous appetite, as from the rage 

 of destroying every vegetable substance that lies 

 in the way; and their work of destruction is 

 frequently so regular in a field of corn, as to have 

 the appearance of being cut with a scythe. Where 

 they are bred, from eggs that are deposited in 

 the earth the autumn before, they stop during 

 the months of April, May and June; towards the 

 latter end of July, they get strong and have wings, 

 when they rise together, sometimes so, numerous 

 as to form a black cloud, which darkens the rays 

 of the sun. Their first direction is against the 

 wind, but afterwards they appear to be driven by 

 its course, and fall, as a scourge, as they become 

 exhausted by flight. The land may be as the 

 garden of Eden before them, but behind them it is 

 a desolate wilderness. 



wrecked on &quot;In crossing Winnipeg Lake, one of the boats 

 peg e was wrecked, but providentially no lives were lost. 



This accident, however, detained us in an en 

 campment for six or seven days; and having 

 scarcely any other subsistence than a little boiled 

 barley, I experienced at times the most pressing 



