ANIMALS AND INSECTS OF ZANZIBAR 



some creatures. Snails are of giant size, a shell of 

 one I have, measures seven inches long. They are 

 to be seen on the ground and climbing up the 

 shrubs. 



I was much startled by a large crab one day in 

 the middle of a little footpath. I shook my sunshade 

 at him, but all he did was to eye me firmly and 

 shake his huge claws (or was it claw, many have 

 only one), at me. However, growing bolder, for I 

 was with another lady, between us we frightened 

 His Highness, and he walked away with much dig- 

 nity into the neighbouring bush ; all the same we 

 walked very carefully past the place. Hundreds of 

 little pink and black crabs disappear into holes as 

 one walks near the shore ; and on the beach tiny 

 ones the same colour as the sand rush about ; some- 

 times I have seen hundreds, and they make a loud 

 buzzing noise as they disappear into their little 

 holes. All insects seem extra large in Zanzibar, 

 the cockroaches who make their appearance at 

 night are several inches long and so repulsive — too 

 big to squash I One night my husband woke up 

 and said a mouse, or something else, was biting his 

 toe, although he was safe under the mosquito net ; 

 on hunting he found a big cockroach had gone to 

 bed with him. 



On my mosquito netting one day I saw a pray- 

 ing mantis, a large green grasshopper thing ; when 

 I moved he gave me a shock by solemnly turning 



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