THE ANDES. 



9 



us a thick cloud of what I concluded was dust^ 

 raised by a drove of cattle in motion. The 

 view of the mountains was obstructed by this 

 phenomenon^ which appeared to approach 

 rapidly; and whilst straining my eyes to see 

 what it might be^ I heard above my head a 

 sound like that of a gale of wind blowing 

 through the rigging of a ship. Upon looking 

 up I perceived a large flight of locusts. The 

 mass was of such immeasurable extent^ that it 

 seemed to reach as far as the eye could dis- 

 cern. The main body appeared to be keeping 

 on their rapid flight high in the air : but there 

 were several descending masses which, from 

 hunger and fatigue, had begun to fall all around 

 us, in such myriads that it could only be com- 

 pared to a snow-storm. Every bush was seen 

 bending under their weight, and becoming black 

 with their numbers. 



B 3 



