Mr. Southey describes the perilous situation of a ship sailing to
Brazil, which was saved from shipwreck by the singing of a ground
cricket. "Three days they stood towards land. A soldier, who had set
out in ill health, had brought a ground cricket with him from Cadiz,
thinking to be amused by the insect's voice; but it had been silent the
whole distance, to his no small disappointment. Now, on the fourth
morning, the _grillo_ had begun to ring its shrill rattle, scenting the
land. Such was the miserable watch that had been kept, that, upon
looking out at this warning, they perceived high rocks within bowshot,
against which, had it not been for the insect, they must inevitably
have been lost. They had just time to drop anchor. From hence they
coasted along, the grillo singing every night as if it had been on
shore, till they reached the Islands of St. Catalina."
In China, the people take as much pleasure in cricket fights as the
Spaniards do in bull fights. Two crickets are pitted against each
other, and crowds of people gather round, to witness the combat. The
insects rush at each other with great fury; and the spectators, high
and low, rich and poor, seem to experience the most lively sensations
of delight.