74 LOCUSTS 



low-lying cloud of dust; and when near to one, and seen in 

 certain directions, the sun shining on their wings gave them 

 almost the appearance of a snow shower. I began to realise one 

 of the plagues of Egypt. Many varieties of locust are common 

 in Madagascar, and occasionally they do great damage to the 

 crops. The Malagasy, however, make use of them for food, and 

 when a cloud of them appears, men, women and children are all 

 out catching them ; and for a few days afterwards great brown 

 heaps of them are to be seen at all the little wayside shops. 

 They are said to taste something like shrimps, without any 

 insides ; but I must confess I never brought myself to taste 

 them, for they are anything but inviting in appearance. 



At length I was carried into a compound near the foot of the 

 city hill, and after some delay was met by one of the L.M.S. 

 missionaries and conducted by a most difficult and breakneck 

 path up into the triangular central space called Andohalo. 

 At the north-eastern corner of this space was the dispensary and 

 dwelling of our good medical missionary, Dr Davidson, from 

 whom and Mrs Davidson I received a hearty welcome, and in 

 a short time also from the rest of the missionary brethren. 

 With a glad and thankful heart I found myself in the capital of 

 Madagascar, with cheerful anticipations of being able to do 

 something in the service of Him who had protected me thus far, 

 and of helping in various ways the Malagasy people. 



