1 69 1.] ROBBER-CEABS. 98 



demand in India, and also a good quantity of louis (Tors, but 

 was at least as Diffident as Kicli, was pleasantly caught by 

 one of these little Beasts. His Pistoles were in several 

 Purses ; and we observ'd, if he went at any time a little way 

 from Lis Cabbin, he took tlieni along with him. He never 

 fail'd to hide them every Night before he went to Bed, in 

 the safest place he cou'd think of; but as cunning as he was 

 he found one that was as cunning as he, and was bubbled^ 

 by a Thief, he did not think of, I mean, some Crab or Eat 

 that took away one of his Purses from him ; which being of 

 Leather,^ was no doubt very agreeable to the Eobbers Tast. 

 The next day we perceiv'd he was Cliagrin, and search'd for 

 something with great Application ; we prest him to tell 

 what he had lost, and at last through Importunity, or 

 hoping we wou'd help him in finding it, he told us the wliole 

 truth of the Matter. Tho' we cou'd not forbear Laughing a 

 little, we however went about with him to seek it, but all 

 our seeking signify'd nothing, and the Person Ptob'd was 

 forc'd to comfort himself for the Robbery. 'Tis true, he ever 

 after made War^ upon the whole Nation of Crabs, and we 

 assisted him in it. He never kill'd one without giving him 

 some blows after he was dead. 



The Sea-Crabs are much better'* than the Land, and the 

 Flesh easier to Digest. 



There's also another sort which I am inform'd goes by the 



1 To bubble, i.p., to cheat, from It. hiMula, a hoopoe; in orig. 

 "fut la dupe", from the French for the same bird, from some tra- 

 dition of the habits of that bird of which -we are ignorant. A familiar 

 instance of the use of the noun is the " South Sea bubble." Cf. Wedg- 

 wood's Diet, of Eng. Etymology ; Nares' Glossary. 



2 In orig. : " dont le cuir etant un peu gras," ets. 



^ In orig.: "II est vrai qu'il eut une permanente rancune centre 

 toute la nation des crabes, et que dans la guerre que nous leur faisons 

 souvent, il n'en tua jamais aucune," etc. 



* " Et beaucoup plus grosses, . . . et la chair en est aisee a digerer." 



