CRABS. 69 



to endless species and varieties. Many of these feed 

 luxuriously on the vast numbers of '' Trepang," or sea 

 slug (Holotharia edidis) found in these latitudes. The 

 human crab industriously seeks his share of this half- 

 grub, half-slug, delicacy, and some account of its nature 

 and mode of preparation may not prove unacceptable 

 to the reader. The Beche-de-mer, as this uninvitins: 

 looking creature is called by the traders who deal in it, 

 is in immense request in nearly every market in the 

 Chinese empire, as a stock ingredient to be used in the 

 preparation of the rich, glutinous soups and stews, in 

 which the Celestials so much delight. They are also 

 extensively used to mix with little squares of salt 

 pork, sharks' tins, and pickled bamboo shoots ; when 

 thus combined, served up as a stew, and accompanied 

 by diminutive cups of hot " sam shoo," or rice spirit, 

 John Chinaman, when fortunate enough to get it, 

 yields himself to gastronomic enjoyment, and cares not 

 to call the most important mandrin in the empire, his 

 uncle. As there are brands of high repute amongst 

 wine producers, so are there high and low class slugs in 

 the sea's great larder, and there are six kinds well 

 known in the trade. 



The best are those procured by divers, who prose- 

 cute their labours amongst the deep recesses between 

 the reefs, where the water is always of considerable 

 depth. The next quality is taken by nocturnal hunt- 



