OUDEBERG PASS. 125 



entered a plain at the base of this lofty range of 

 mountains, which we were now about to cross. On 

 our way we passed an immense swarm of young 

 locusts, covering the ground in a broad stream of 

 several thousand feet in length, and presenting the 

 appearance of a moving mass of earth. They had 

 not arrived at a sufficient state of maturity to fly, but 

 sprang with great agility, deriving from this circum- 

 stance the Dutch name of Spring-haan ; and though 

 our waggon passed immediately through the swarm, 

 so quick were they in separating, that few were 

 destroyed. This insect is classed by entomologists 

 under the very applicable designation of Grillus 

 devastator. It is the custom of locusts in their 

 migrations to settle at sunset on the branches of low 

 stunted bushes and shrubs, many of which we saw 

 literally bent down with the numbers that were 

 clinging to them, completely covering the vegeta 

 tion, and imparting to it a black and withered tinge ; 

 nor do they begin to move until the morning sun 

 has become powerful. Then it is that they are to 

 be seen leaving their halting-place by millions, pro- 

 ceeding on their course generally in an eastern di- 

 rection, at the rate of about two miles an hour. 



We reached the foot of the Oudeberg Pass about 

 mid-day, where we halted and sought out a shady 

 retreat by the side of a running stream. The weather 

 was extremely sultry, with a scorching wind, and 

 being surrounded by mountains, we felt the heat 



