126 LOCUSTID^ — LOCUSTS. 



to p^reat discussion — some authors asserting them to be the 

 fruit of the carobtree, while others maintain they were the 

 true Locusts, and refer to the practice of tlie Arabs in Syria 

 at the present day. " They who deny insects to have been 

 the food of this holy man," says Hasselquist, "urge that 

 this insect is an unaccustomary and unnatural food; but 

 they would soon be convinced of the contrary, if they would 

 travel hither, to Kgypt, Arabia, or Syria, and take a meal 

 witii the Arabs. Roasted Locusts are at this time eaten by 

 the Arabs, at the proper season, when they can procure 

 tliem; so that in all probability this dish has been used in 

 the time of St. John. Ancient customs are not here sub- 

 ject to many changes, and the victuals of St. John are not 

 believed unnatural here ; and I was assured by a judicious 

 Greek priest that their church had never taken the word in 

 any other sense, and he even laughed at the idea of its be- 

 ing a bird or a plant. "^ 



Mr. Forbes incidentally remarks that in Persia and Ara- 

 bia, roasted Locusts are sold in the markets, and eaten with 

 rice and dates, and sometimes flavored with salt and spices.^ 



The Acridites lincola (Gri/Uus ^gyplicua of Linnaeus) 

 is the species commonly sold for food in the markets of 

 Bagdad. 



In fact, Locusts have been eaten in Arabia from the re- 

 motest antiquity. This is evinced by the sculptured slabs 

 found by Layard at Kouyunjic ; for, among other attend- 

 ants carrying fruit, flowers, and game, to a banquet, are seen 

 several bearing dried Locusts fastened on rods. And being 

 thus introduced in this bas-relief among the choicest deli- 

 cacies, it is most probable they were also highly prized by 

 the Assyrians. Layard has figured one of these Locust 

 bearers, who upon the sculptured slab is about four and a 

 half feet in height.^ 



The Chinese regard the Locust, when deprived of the 

 abdomen, and properly cooked, as passable eating, but do 

 not appear to hold the dish in much estimation.* 



Mr. Laurence Oliphant, in Tientsin, China, saw bushels 

 of fried Locusts hawked about in baskets by urchins in the 



1 Hasselq. Trav., p. 419. 



2 Orient. Mem., i. 46. 



3 Layard's Nln. and Bah., p. 289. 

 * Chinese Repusitory. 



