I38 CAMPS IN THE CARIBBEES. 



By the time this was finished I was asleep and knew 

 no more till morning. Instead of waiting for Coryet on 

 the third day, Meyong proposed that we should make 

 an easy march up the mountain-side, leaving a sign for 

 his friend to follow when he should reach the camp. 

 Our route lay through a region similar to the one we 

 left, only constantly becoming more and more elevated 

 and consequently rugged. 



It was during this march that we met one of the 

 most curious processions ever seen in this land of 

 wonders. Climbing the steep hill-side, and clinging 

 by one hand as I climbed, giving all my attention to 

 my work, I suddenly became conscious that I was 

 surrounded by moving objects, whom I could hear as 

 they rustled over leaves and rocks. I rubbed my 

 eyes and looked around. Meyong was behind, but 

 saw them at the same time I did, and eagerly shouted, 

 "Gardez! Ze crabs ! " It was true, there was an 

 army of crabs, and we were in the midst of it. It 

 behooved us to get out of the way at once, for these 

 crabs (as large as a good-sized crab of the sea-shore) 

 have a disagreeable way of climbing up and over 

 everything in their course, and of using their power- 

 ful claws upon the slightest provocation. 



Well, we got behind a large tree, and my guide 

 made side forays upon them as they went by (for they 

 are most delicious eating), until we had collected as 

 many as he could carry. 



And how, think you, did he secure them? Why, he 

 just tied their claws together with a lialine, a small 

 cord-like root, and then placed them in a heap at 

 his feet. Fortunate for us that this was a small 

 army, otherwise I don't know how soon we could 



