138 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! Zecrabs!” 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 
