126 



Indian MuRPiim Notes , 



[ Vol IT. 



countered are seriously aug'mented. The locusts deposit their ejrgs in 

 ravines or in the midst of thickets where hi man vig-ilance is rendered 

 impossible. 'Ihe young- insects are consequently hatched unmolested^ 

 and cannot be dealt with until their line of migration leads them out of 

 the forests into open country. 



Under these circumstances the operations were effected with more 

 thoroughness in the plains and open districts of South Tunis than in the 

 wooded and mountainous regions of the northern division. 



Flan of campaign against '1 he plan of campaign adopted by the 

 young locusts. Tunisian Government against the young- lo- 



custs is as follows. 



The infested part of the country is divided into sections. A military 



officer, or a civilian, is placed at the head of 

 Sections. 



each section, with a certain number of soldiers 



under his command, and the power to impress native labour. 



The chief of each section is also provided with two mounted natives^ 



whose duty it is to patrol incessant!}'- the 



• Mounted patrols. , • i • j_i i • • ^ , 



country comprised ni the section m oider to 



ascertain and rejjort on the positions of the young locusts. 



These reconnaissances are of the utmost importance, and wherever 

 they have been properly attended to, the surprises have been few, and 

 time has been afforded for methodical operations. 



Experience has shown that the division of the infected districts into 

 large sections, under the command of a cap- 

 tain in the army, has had better results than 

 the experiments first made in the north of Tunis of smaller divisions, com- 

 manded by lieutenants and sub-lieutenants. 



The Zaghouan and Fahs districts were, for instance, divided into five 

 •sections, commanded by a captain with five lieutenants, in charge of 

 each section, composed as follows : 



Division of sections. 



Section-. 



Officers. 



Soldiers. 



Natives. 



1 



1 



30 Zouaves ...... 





2 



2 



60 Tirailleurs ...... 



... 



... 



... 



60 Be3lical troops ..... 



160 



3 



1 



30 Tirailleurs 



100 



4 



1 



30 „ 



120 



5 



1 



30 „ 



109 



Total 



6 



240 



480 



