48 DIRECT INJURIES FROM MOTHS. 



cultivation of this valuable plant. They descended 

 from the higher grounds like mighty torrents, and 

 swept every thing before them. Every road, and 

 lane, and plantation, were inundated by them. 

 Domestic quadrupeds perished in consequence of 

 this awful pest. Even wild animals, rats, mice, and 

 reptiles, became a prey to them ; and birds, which 

 alighted in search of food, fell victims to these 

 marauders. Such was the determination of their 

 advances, that streams of water offered but a momen- 

 tary check to their progress. Those which formed 

 the van fearlessly sacrificed themselves for the common 

 good each followed his fellow, till an embankment 

 or darn of the drowned insects was formed, when 

 the main body passed over in safety. Fires were 

 lighted of dry vegetable substances, and the grass 

 was ignited, but this formed no greater an obstacle 

 than the water ; for, even then, it was only those in 

 front who suffered, and soon extinguished the flames, 

 by the countless numbers of their carcasses, allowing 

 their followers to pursue their pestilential march 

 unhurt. The whole of the standing sugar canes 

 were at length burnt down, and the negroes set to 

 dig up the earth in every direction, to try if this 

 would extirpate them ; but vain was all earthly 

 means. The great sum of 20,000 was offered as 

 a reward to any person who should discover a mode 

 of destroying them ; but no plan could be devised, 

 till, in the year 1 780, the wise Disposer of all things, 

 by sending a most awful hurricane, accompanied 

 by mighty torrents of rain, ridded Granada of this 



