198 LITTLE FOLKS 
broken in disorder by their coming like a live hail-storm into the 
soldiers' faces. 
The young ones are just as bad, or worse. They have no 
wings to fly, and, therefore, are called foot-goers ; but they are even 
more hungry than the older ones. They advance in crowds several 
inches deep, and nothing can stop them. If a fire is built, they 
actually smother it out with their bodies, and into a stream they 
plunge in such numbers, that those that are drowned soon make a 
bridge for the rest to go over. And the dead soon infect the air, 
making it intolerable to go near them. 
There have been many ways tried to get rid of them. One is 
by eating them up, — though I don't know as any one ever seriously 
hoped to destroy them in that way. Fires are built when they are 
seen coming, and those that fall into them, or lose their wings by 
them, fall to the ground, and are gathered by the people. They 
are good fried, or dried and crushed to powder and baked in cakes. 
Camels, and all animals, are fond of them. They are dried and 
salted, and sold in the markets in Asia. In some places they are 
gathered in great bags, early in the morning, before the sun is hot 
(for they cannot move in the cold), and carried off, a droll bag full 
of buzzing, to be deprived of their wings and legs, dried, and put 
away for Winter. 
The Negroes of Soudan try to frighten them away by savage 
yells, and in some places guns are used. 
In the Middle Ages, Locusts were solemnly exorcised by the 
priests. They formed processions, and went out and spake to the 
creatures, catching some, so as to be sure of an audience, and then 
letting them go to tell their friends. 
Unfortunately, the pious monk who tells this story, neglects 
to tell what effect all this had on the Locusts. 
The Arabs have other ways. According to one writer, the 
Prophet read what is inscribed on the wings of a Locust, in this 
way: "We are the troops of the Most High God ; we each one lay 
ninety-nine eggs. If we were to lay a hundred, we should devastate 
the world." On reading this, Mahomet was very much frightened, 
and prayed to God to destroy these dreadful creatures. Since that 
time, words of prayer to the Prophet, written on paper and put into 
a reed, which is planted in a field, will turn away the Locusts. So 
say the Arabs. 
Another way is to catch four Locusts, write on the wings of 
