160 
NEVV-ENGL ANDERS. 
Sparrnvan informs us, that locusts afford a high treat to the remote 
hordes of the Hottentots; when, as sometimes happens, after an 
interval of eight, ten, fifteen, or twenty years, they make their 
appearance in incredible numbers. At these times they come from 
the north, migrating to the southward, and do not suffer themselves 
to be impeded by any obstacles, but fly boldly on, and are drowned 
in the sea, whenever they come to it. The females of this race ot 
insects, vrhich are most apt to migrate, and are chiefly eaten, are 
sai 1 not to be able to fly ; partly by reason of the shortness of their 
wings, and partly on account of their being heavy and distended 
with eggs; and shortly after they have laid these in the sand, they 
are said to die. It is particularly of these, that the Hottentots 
make R browm coffee-coloured soup, which at the same time acquires 
from the eags a fat and greasy appearance. The Hottentots are 
highly rejoiced at the arrival of these locusts, though they are sure 
to destroy every bit of verdure on the ground ; but they make ample 
amends for this loss, by falling foul upon the animals themselves, 
eating them in such quantities, as, in the space of a few days, to get 
visibly fatter, and in better condition than before. 
Dr. vShaw observes, that the Jews were allowed to eat them, and 
that when they are sprinkled with salt, and fried, their taste resembles 
that of our fresh-water crayfish ; and Russell says, the Arabs salt 
and eat them as a delicacy. These accounts sufficiently explain 
the scriptural statement respecting the food of John tiie Baptist in 
the wilderness, Matt. iii. 4. Some, indeed, niaintain that the original 
word signifies the tops of certain herbs, or the fruits of certain 
trees; others have supposed that it means quails ; but Shaw contends 
that it is applied to the locust on account of its appetite for such food. 
The word is used by Aristotle and other historians in the same 
sense; and therefore the literal interpretation of the word maybe 
received. In addition to the authors cited above, consult Strabo, 
lib. xvi. — Agatharcides Terip. de Ruhro Mari. — Athenaeus, lib. xlix. — 
Plin. Nat. Hist. lib. vi. and xi. — Hieronysis’ Opera, tom. iv. — Nie- 
buhr’s Descrip. de I’Arabie. — Barrow’s Travels, vol. i, — Drake’s 
Voyages. — Buffon’s Nat. Hist. voL vi. — Bryant on the Plagues of 
Egypt, art. Locusts. — Harmer’s Observations, vol. ii. — Calmet’s 
Dictionary. 
Manners and Character or the Citizens of New-England. 
The New-Englanders are generally tall, stout, and well built. They 
glory, and with justice, in possessing that spirit of freedom which 
induced their ancestors to leave their native country, and to brave 
the dangers of the ocean, and the hardships of settling in a wilderness. 
Their education, law's, and situation, serve to inspire them with high 
notions of liberty. Their jealousy is awakened at the first appearance 
of an invasion of their rights. A law, respecting the descent of 
estates, which are generally held in fee simple, which for substance 
is the same in all the New' England states, is the chief foundation and 
protection of this liberty. By this law, the possessions of the father 
are to be equally divided among all the children, excepting the eldest 
