PLAGUES OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 237, 6 October 1874, Page 2

PLAGUES OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY.

A correspondent, writing from Quartz Reef, Northern Territory, givea the list of the chief plagues of that interesting country:— No 1. Snakes>-They are tot only dangerous to lifr, but are death on chickens, and range in size from 18 inches to about as many feet — - No 2. Adders, — Deadly poison.' After 1 a bite from one. of them a man had better write to hiß friends, aod do so within ten minutes. — No 3. Mosquitoes. — The plague without exception of the Northern Territory. Anyone who disbelieves this need oily sleep for a night or two near some of tbe creeks without a curtain, and he will do so no longer.— No 4. Sandflies — See Mosquitoes. — No 5. Alligators. —Infest some of the rivers. Once get in their grip, end it is extremely .unlikely that you will ever get out of it. They are nico pels, but require to be bottled in spirits of wine for safety. —No 6. Rats. — Are of several descrip- . tions, and are very partial to flour, tea, sugar, &c. They are not particular, and will just as soon chaw your hair, if sleeping out at night, as they will flour or tea. — No 7, Scorpions.— These are pretty little creatures, of a light grey color. Their bite is not quite sure to kill, but goes bo near it that I would not advise anyone to get bitten if tbey can possibly avoid it. — No 8. Cockroaches. — These in some instance are an inch and a half loug, and are delightful fellow resilents in a house. — No 9. Ants.-4 Keep generally, at a respectful distance, and build good houses for themselves, but are in too large numbers to be pleasant if you zet among them.— No 10 Niggers.—Delightful creatures., ..Are ,not at all particular as to whether property is tbeir own or not, and if tbey can put. a spear quietly into you at night will do ao; but of course, the poor creatures know no better! Tbey also smell, and the odour does not resemble eau-de-.coiogne.— Besides those enumerated above there are lots of minor ones, for instance, flies, cricketß, grab-, "&(■}., jfhich all tend to make life in these sylvan regions a perfect paradise.