PLAGUES OF TUB NORTHERN TERRITORY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 400, 17 October 1874, Page 5

PLAGUES OF TUB NORTHERN TERRITORY.

A correspondent, writing from Quartz Reef, Northerin Territory, gives the following list of tho chief plagues of that interesting country : — No. 1. Snakes. -They are not only dangerous to life, but are death on chickens and range in size from 18 inches to about as many feet. No. 2. Adders. — Deadly poison. After a bite from one of them a man had better write to his friends, and do so within 10 minutes. No. 3. Mosquitoes. — The plague without exception of the Northern Territory. Any one who disbelieves this need only sleep for a night or two near some of the creeks without a curtain, and he will do so no longer. No. 4. Sandflie3. -See mosquitoes. No. 5. Alligators. — Infest some of the rivers. Once get in their grip, and it is extromely unlikely that you will ever get out of it. They are nice pets, but require to be bottled in spirits of wine for safety. No. 6. Rats. — Are of several descriptions, and are very partial to flour, tea, sugar, &c. They are not particular, and will just as soon chaw your hair, if sleep-ing-out at night, as they will flour or tea. No. 7. Scorpions. — These are pretty little creatures, of a light grey colour. Their bite is not quite sure to kill, but goes so near it that I would not advise any ono to get bitten if they can possibly avoid it. No. 8. Cockroaches. — These in some instances are an inch and a half long, and are delightful fellow residents in a house. No. 9. Ants. — Keep generally at a respectful distance, and build good houses for themselves, but are in too large numbers to be pleasant if you get among them. No. 10. Niggers. — Delightful creatures. "Are not at all particular aa • to wheather property is their own or mot, and if they can put a spear quietly into you at night will do so ; but, of course, tlie ]>oor creatures know no better ! They also smell, and the odoi«r does not resemble e&u-de-cologno. Boside those enumerated above there ara lots of minor ones, for instance, flies, crickets, grubs, &c, which all tend to make lifo iv those sylau regions a perfect paradiso.