]6gi.] CATERPILLARS AND SCORPIONS. 95 



there was not a Tree in the Island that could have resisted it. 

 The Eeasts by a natural Instinct of Gracious and wise Provi- 

 dence, foresaw these Storms before they happen'd, and sav'd 

 themselves in the Cavities of the Mountains ; but the next 

 Day they appear'd abroad as before, for the Weatlier return'd 

 to be as fair and clear as ever. The last Hurricane we felt 

 at Eodrigo, was much more terrible than the first. In the 

 midst of its greatest 'Fury, there was a sudden and profound 

 Calm, not the least Noise was heard, and we believ'd all was 

 over, when immediately the Storm return'd with more 

 Violence than ever. It entirely destroy'd all our Gardens ; 

 for tlie force of the Wind rais'd up the Waters of the Sea, 

 and blew about ev'ry where a deluge of Salt Water that 

 burnt up or kill'd all our plants. But it doing no hurt to the 

 Soil at bottom, as soon as we got out of the Holes of the 

 Piocks to which we fled w^e sow'd more Plants, and they 

 came iip as before. 



In fine, The fourth and last Enemy we had to Combat 

 with, were little green Caterpillars, which always come after 

 a Hurricane, and are certainly one of its secret Productions. 

 These Insects troubled us very much, from the Month of 

 February, to that of Aiml ; for they eat up our Melons, not 

 leaving a Leaf on the Trees. Experience taught us the way 

 to prevent it, which was by covering 'em all Night, and un- 

 covering them in the Morning ; Glass Bells wou'd have been 

 a good Buckler for them. These Vermin did not touch our 

 Succory, nor our Purslain ; and we may therefore reasonably 

 conclude, that there are several sorts of other Herbs and 

 Plants which they will not meddle with, as not being to 

 their Gust.^ 



In some Places we met with little Scorpions, especially on 

 the Plantanes ; but we did not find that they were any way 

 dangerous, because we were several times stung by them, 



1 " Gust", Lat. gtistus, relish, taste ; cf. Shakespeare, " Allay the 

 gust he hath in . . ." Ticelfth Nighty ii, 3. 



