INDIEECT INJURIES CAUSED BY INSECTS. 



189 



consisted of two species, L. tatarica and migratoria ; the first 

 is almost twice the size of the second, and, because it precedes 

 it, is called by the Tartars the herald or messenger.^ The 

 account of another traveller, Mr. Barrow, of their ravages in 

 the southern parts of Africa (in 1784 and 1797) is still more 

 striking : an area of nearly two thousand square miles might 

 be said literally to be covered by them. When driven into 

 the sea by a N. W. wind, they formed upon the shore for fifty 

 miles a bank three or four feet high, and when the wind was 

 S.E. the stench was so powerful as to be smelt at the distance 

 of 150 miles.^ 



From 1778 to 1780 the empire of Marocco was terribly 

 devastated by them ; every green thing was eaten up, not even 

 the bitter bark of the orange and pomegranate escaping — a 

 most dreadful famine ensued. The poor were seen to wander 

 over the country deriving a miserable subsistence from the 

 roots of plants ; and women and children followed the camels 

 from whose dung they picked the indigested grains of barley, 

 which they devoured with avidity : in consequence of this, 

 vast numbers perished, and the roads and streets exhibited the 

 unburied carcasses of the dead. On this sad occasion, fathers 

 sold their children, and husbands their wives. ^ When they 

 visit a country, says Mr. Jackson, speaking of the same empire, 

 it behoves every one to lay in provision for a famine, for they 

 stay from three to seven years. When they have devoured 

 all other vegetables, they attack the trees, consuming first the 

 leaves and then the bark. From Mogador to Tangier, before 

 the plague in 1799, the face of the earth was covered by them : 

 — at that time a singular incident occurred at El Araiche. 

 The whole region from the confines of the Sahara was ravaged 

 by them ; but on the other side of the river El Kos not one 

 of them was to be seen, though there was nothing to prevent 

 their flying over it. Till then they had proceeded northward ; 

 but upon arriving at its banks they turned to the east, so that 

 all the country north of El Araiche was full of pulse, fruits, 

 and grain — exhibiting a most striking contrast to the desola- 

 tion of the adjoining district. At length they were all carried 



1 Travels, i. 348. 



3 Southey's Thalaba, i, 171. 



2 Travels, &c. 257. 



