ATTACKED BY LOCUSTS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 206, 11 September 1879, Page 4

ATTACKED BY LOCUSTS.

A detachment of Russian troops, bound for Gecernl LtzanfTs expedition nnninst the Turcomans, is reported by lhe Kavkrz to hnve met wilh a curious miftn.riventnrfl neer the Georgian town of Eliznvetopol. At a few vorsts from the town the poldiera encountered the wing of r.n army of loonsla reputed to he twenty miles in length am! broad in proportion. The officer in charce did net like to turn back, repflled by mere insects, fin**, pushing on, soon became surrounded hy tbe lccuslß. These appear fo have om'.nkeD the snUi^rs for tree*?, nnd bw-uedml by thousands eround them, "crowlioj; over their bodies, lodqinc* themselves inai-le their helmets, penetrating their clothes and their kuspsacks, filling tha barrels of their rifles, nnd striving to fore themselves into tbe unfortunate m"ij'.-; ears and noses.'' T'ie comtnan-'*er -rp.ro the order for Ibe troof 8 to pu?!i oc double quick i *.-.»• F.lizHvatnpol, but tite roai was eo blocked wi'h Incus's that the soldiers grow frightened, aod after waverinrj a few roinu't's o regular etampeiffl look place. L'j.i by a noncommissioned officer of keen vision, who hod observed a fow hu's a short dißlarc*-! from tbe road, the troops dashed r.cro-8 lhe fish's, " slipping about over lho crushed and grensy bo-lies of the locuat ua though they been on ice." The huts were sooo reached, and the cflbers rushed issiiif, but tbe refuse proved to be of little vsi up, as the premises were already in the possession of Ihe enemy. The peasants told Ihe correspondent of the Kavkez tbat for days they had boen besieged by the vermin, the insects filling the wells snd tainting the water, crowding into the ovens uni spoiling the bread, and pteventing'Sny food being cooked or stored. At iutervals the villagers issued from tiieir houses and made ou6laughts on the locusts, kiiiiug them by tbou-;an* ! e, aod carting thtm away afterwards to tbe fields for manure. The soldiers were -detained prisoners by the insects fo~ 48 hours, and on their march to Elizavetopol in iha rear of the locust army tbey found every blede of grass and green leuf destroys ', aud tbe peasants reduced to beggary.