92 LAND-CKABS. [1691. 



stronger tlian the rest. You cannot see the Mouth of one 

 of them when it goes along, hecause it is downwards, but its 

 Eyes are much like those of the Crabs in France and Eng- 

 land, are a good Inch one above another on the Brink, and 

 without the Shell. 



AVhen one approaches it, it presently retires ; but when 

 we throw Stones after it, 'twill always run after the Stones, 

 by which it is easily struck ; 'tis dangerous venturing to be 

 pincli'd by it. This Animal often cleans its Hole, and after 

 having made a little heap of the Ordures it finds there, it 

 carries them out by Pressing them against its Belly with its 

 Claws. This it do's often, and with so much nimbleness, 

 that it soon removes what is Troublesom to it. Its Flesh is 

 pretty good, and tasts something like Eiver-Crabs. 



A little before and after the Full-Moons in July and 

 August, these Crabs march by IMillions, from all parts of the 

 Island to the Sea. We never met with one but what was 

 laden with Eggs. We might then have destroy'd great 

 quantities of them with ease, for they go in prodigious 

 Troops, and being far from their Burroughs, have no place 

 of Retreat. We have sometimes kill'd above three Thousand 

 in an Evening w^ith Sticks, yet w^e cou'd not perceive the 

 next Day, that their Xumber was at all Diminish'd. The 

 Second year of our abode in this Isle, we thought of a way 

 to rid our selves of them, in some measure ; which was, by 

 Sowing abundance of Seed in the places where they most 

 Inhabited ; that finding Occupation enough at Home, they 

 might save our Plants, which if they had time to grow to 

 any bigness, were out of danger. This helpt us a little, and 

 w^e were so cautious as to Sow those Plants which we were 

 willing to Cultivate, in Places they did not frequent, as well 

 in our Gardens, as in Hills far from the Rivers where the 

 bottom was Rock. 



One of our Companions who at all ventures had brought 

 two ftreat Chests of Merchandise with him, which were in 



