PLAGUES OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1224, 30 October 1874, Page 4

PLAGUES OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY.

A newspaper correspondent, writing from Quartz Reef, Northern gives the following list of the 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 IS inches to about Sua 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 wlio 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. Sandflies.—See Mosquitoes. No. 5. Alligators.—lnfest some of the rivers. Once get in their grip, and it is extremely 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. G. 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, in sleeping 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 one to get bitten if they can possibly help it. No. 8. Cockroaches.—These in some ihs'ance3 are an inch and a half lone, 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 huge numbers to be pleasant if you get among them.

No. 10. Niggers.—Delightful creatures. Are not at all particular as to whether property is their own or not, and if they can put a spear quietly into you at night will do so ; but, of course, the poor creatures know no better! They also smell, and the odour does not resemble eau-de. cologne. Beside those enumerated above there are lots of minor ones, for instance, flies, crickets, grubs, &c, which all tend to make life in these sylvan regions a perfect paradise.