Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/95

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an African Ship, laden with Elephants Teeth, wreck'd on the Coast of Sussex, which Mr. Halley told me was in a very short time almost covered with Sand and Oase, so that the Project of recovering the Teeth, was frustrated, though by the help of a Diving-Bell contriv'd by his extraordinary Skill, they had gone to the bottom of the Sea, and into the Ship, where they had a perfect view of the Ship, and all about it. Though the Money brought into England from the first Wreck was very considerable, yet much more was lost on Projects of the same nature. For every silly Story of a rich Ship lost, was credited, a Patent taken out, Divers, who are us'd to Pearl-fishing, &c. and can stay under Water some Minutes, bought or hir'd at great Rates, and a Ship set out for bringing home Silver. There was one Ship lost amongst the rest, said to be very rich, near Bermudas, which was divided into Shares and sold. It was said to be in the Possession of the Devil, and they told Stories how he kept it. I do not find the People, who spent their Money, on this, or any of these Projects, excepting the first, got any thing by them.

Colonel Nedham, who had liv'd some time in Teneriff, told me, that in the Year 1649. Locusts destroy'd all the Product of that Island; they saw them come off from the Coast of Barbary, the Wind being a Levant from thence; they flew so far as they could, then one lighted in the Sea, and another on it, so that one after another they made a heap as big as the greatest Ship above Water, and were esteemed almost as many under. Those above Water, next Day, after the Sun's refreshing them, took flight again, and came in Clouds to the Island, from whence they had perceiv'd them in the Air, and had by their Military Officers gathered all the Soldiers of the Island and La Laguna together, being seven or eight thousand Men, who laying aside their Arms, some took Bags, some Spades, and having notice by their Scouts from the Hills, where they alighted, they went strait thither, made Trenches, and brought their Bags full, and cover'd them with Mould. This did not do, for some of the Locusts escap'd, or being cast on the Shoar, were reviv'd by the Sun, and flew about and destroyed all the Vineyards and Trees. They eat the Leaves, and even the Bark of the Vines where they alighted. After two Months fruitless management of them so, the Ecclesiasticks took them in hand by Penances, with Swords tied to their Arms, voluntary Whippings, &c. by Excommunications by Bell, Book and Candle, by sprinkling with Holy-Water, Processions and Crosses; amongst the rest one voluntary Penance was rolling round the Hands and Arms, Feet, Legs, and Body with hard Ropes; but all would not do, the Locusts staid there four Months;