B06 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
and was accordingly proof against the weather, and on 
such a day there was no diflFicuhy in finding all the old 
men sitting together and plotting rebellion or playing 
"svipu" or cassino, the one occupation being little more 
dangerous to the peace of the realm than the other. All 
the ancients had told him that a Papalangi woman had 
iilways very absurd ideas, but that if she insisted on hunt- 
.itig the robber crab the proper time was "fanaeilele," 
being the fourth night after the full of the moon. Sa- 
moa under the rain clouds had not caught a glimpse of 
the moon for nearly a month, but the almanac estab- 
lished the astronomical date of iht full moon, and to 
Talolo's great glee it was found that that very night 
was "fanaeilele," and, therefore, it was now or never 
for crab hunting. 
It was by no means the first that t had heard of the 
Robber Crab or the Purse Crab, as the beast is sometimes 
called. At the foot of many a cocoanut tree along the 
beach I had seen a hole about as large as a woodchuck 
burrow and presenting much the same appearance. These 
I had been told were the burrows of the robber crab, and 
that on general principles it would be just as well to leave 
tliem alone, for while the inmate was supposed to sleep 
by day and to confine his efforts to the night hours, still 
he might wake up if one should slip into such a burrow 
at any time. Just to test the facts in the case 1 jabbed 
a stout stick into one of these burrows and Avoke up the 
occupant. He was evidently annoyed at being aroused 
from his nap, for the stick was seized so roughly as to 
wrench the other end from my grasp and when, after a 
few minutes of mauling it, the stick was thrust out of the 
burrow the end of it was chewed to splinters. It w-as 
fjuite clear that this crab was no child's play. 
Invisible by day the crab roams about at night and 
iinds its food on the cocoanut,?. If the supply of wind- 
fall nuts is deficient (and in the neighborhood of Samoan 
houses every fallen nut is promptly picked up to be cut 
for copra or used in cooking), then the crab climbs the 
trees and wrenches the nuts from their stalks and collects 
them from the ground afterward. One of the tourists, 
those who in a stay of six hours on the beach while the 
steamer rolls at anchor equip themselves to speak as one 
having authority on Samoan affairs, has gravely recorded 
an interesting addition to this observed fact. The gifted 
author goes on to say that if the fall .from the top of the 
tree does not crack the nuf open the sagacious animal 
seizes the nut in its claws, reascends "to a higher branch 
of the cocoanut tree" and drops the nut again, and rarely 
without success. The value of this statement in natural 
histor}' will become promptly apparent to any person who 
will stop to recall that the cocoanut tree has no branches 
whatever, and that fruit and leaves all grow at the same 
level. 
When the appointed time came that evening Talolo, as 
the master of the hunt, announced that he was ready to 
lead the forces on to do battle with the fierce robber 
crabs. The place where we were to hunt was in the un- 
occupied land of Taumeasina, just across the little river 
Fuesa on the eastern edge of Vaiala and between that 
stream and the Vailoa which separates it from Matafan- 
gatele. When Tonga heard this she promptly decided to 
forego the hunt for several very important reasons 
grounded upon the weather and the state of her health. 
These were merely pretexts, for I happened to know that 
Taumeasina was the chosen romping ground by nights 
fqr a swarm of aitu ghosts or demons of Tonga's own 
family, and that she would rather die than cross that half 
mile strip in the dark. Tanoa ncA^er Avas any sort of use 
after nightfall in his terror of the demons, and was going 
through the motions of a deadly attack of sickness in 
order to make it plain that he must be left behind. 
But there were other boys who Avere ready to face the 
elements and the aitti for a prospective supply of beef 
and salmon. 
As to the weather conditions it need only be said that 
it rained. That rain had begun only two Aveeks before 
and was good for yet another week, therefore, it is not 
be supposed that it would let up for so trifling a thing 
as a hunt by night. In Samoa one loses the habit of post- 
poning things until it has stopped raining-. The only thing 
to do is to put on a slicker and go out in the Avet. 
Thus we set out in the driving rain, myself in water- 
proofs and the Samoans in an extra coating of oil on 
their skins to serve the same end and wearing their oldest 
clothes. As we Avent through Vaiala along the road and 
saw the gleam of light upon the falling rain where here 
and there a fay escaped through a chink of the closely 
drawn mat screens, the boys raised the hunting shout, 
but those who Avere dry and under cover Avere loo wise 
1o part the screens and give us response. 
But as soon as we had crossed the shaking foot bridge 
Over the Fuesa and entered the debatable land where Ave 
were to look for our game, Talolo forsook his forward 
position as leader of the expedition and found it less 
terrifying to stick close to my side. Not that he said so; 
nothing of the sort; only it took no great poAvers of rea- 
soning to see through his flimsy pretense of wishing to 
point out the rifle pit Avhere Laulu with Tonga by his 
side fought the Germans to a finish in the fiftli war before 
the last. Just as though one could see a pit in a pouruig 
rain and inky blackness. The other boys were ciuiet too, 
but it was less on account of the aitu — luckilj^ Taumea- 
sina is peopled with Matafangatele aitu who have very 
little to say to Vaiala folk. The silence was rather that 
their quick ears might catch through the steady beat of 
the fain on the cocoanut leaves overhead some other 
sound familiar to their trained ears which should reveal 
the aerial presence of the game we sought. So far as I 
was concerned there was nothing to hear but the unre- 
mitting drumming of the rain on the sonorous leaves 
overhead and the roar of the overburdened barrier reef 
a mile oft" shore. But in no long time I felt, for in that 
tumult of gale and darkness it was impossible to hear or 
see, I felt that the boys had gathered alDout a certain tree. 
Talolo led me to its trunk, and in some way I found my- 
self with my ear against its trunk listening. I could hear 
another sound than the voice of the storm, it sounded 
like some heavy body scratching its Avay over obstacles. 
All at once I recalled what Tonga had said about the 
crab falling on me and "killing me dead extremely," and 
I lost no time in moving out of what I regarded a dan- 
ger zone. A few feet aAvay the boys found another tree 
that promised game. Between these two trees the boys 
divided themselves and Talolo and 1 took our station 
midway between them ready to join whichever group 
should offer the better promise for sport. For all that 
he was a little savage and brought up to that sort of 
thing, the graceful little liand that crept into mine was 
cold with more than rain, and brought to mind the fact 
that Talolo was only a boy after all, and was Crirning hii 
Christmas dollar rather hard. 
After a certain period of inaction during which the 
blackness, of the night prevented me from seeing what 
was done, the surroundings were suddenly illuminated 
by the glare of torches, which we had brought with us 
in plentiful snnply. I'Vjr such a rainy spot Samoa iias 
the corresponding advantage that the dry leaflets of the 
cocoanut lurnish a torch that Avill burn in all weathers. 
Then in the bright light I saw that the boys had climbed 
e;ich tree about half way to the top, and there had tied a 
bunch of grass about the trunk. This, I learned after- 
ward, is a risky thing to do, for the crab is likely to be- 
come aware of the matt climbing the tree and to start to 
climb down to meet him. In that case there is nothing 
tor the man to do but to scramble down to the ground 
and light his torch, for the enraged crab Avill attack 
anything that is in the way of its refuge underground. 
As soon as we had hght on the scene the boys began 
to shout and throw sticks and stones into the crcAvn of 
leaves on each tree. The light, the noise and the direct 
assault were too much for first one crab and then the 
ether, while in the otiter ring of darkness Ave could hear 
the rustle of other crabs that were scurrying out of cur 
dangerous neighborhood. In Ihc tree on which the 
brighter light was cast I saw the leaves mox'c apart and 
then, while the Samoans set up the cry Uu to name the 
beast, I saw a huge misshapen creature start to climb 
down the tree. Just how we were going to catch it 1 did 
itot know, for Avhcn Talolo gave me a stout club as the 
others carried he assumed that the knowledge of what to 
do Avith a club came by instinct. With every foot that 
the crab climbed down the tree he looked less and less 
attractive for a close encounter and 1 became quite sin- 
cerely regretful that my particular club was no more 
than a 3'ard long, that seemed momently to be an absurd 
sort of weapon against the giant crustacean. But the 
crab while making steady progress down the tree was 
equally cautious. He ncA'er let go his hold with one 
claAv until he had made sure that the other three which 
were capable of such use had secure holding. At times 
he managed to secure a grip with otie or the other of the 
huge front nipping claws with greater powers of pinching 
than anj' lobster ever dreamed of. Thus foot by foot 
the crab climbed down, not slowly, but deliberately. At 
length he reached the twisted clump of grass about the 
trunk. Then he let go all holds and came down by the 
run while Talolo led the shout of the kill. With a shud- 
der I appreciated just what Tonga had meant, for the 
beast struck ground Avith a smash that would surely have 
laid out any merely human person that chanced in the 
waA^ One of the boys rushed forward to the crab aitd 
then we saAV that it had been killed by the fall, the soft 
parts of the body being crushed to a jelly. .Scant atten- 
tion was paid to this Anctim and ah the party drcAv closer 
to the other tree, down which an even larger crab was 
crawling. As soon as it reached the grass band this 
crab, also, dropped off and came to the ground. Whether 
this one fell on a harder part of its shell or whether the 
fall was broken by some low bush I did not notice, but 
this beast was thoroughly alive when it reached the 
ground. In an instant we were a ring of shouting hu- 
manity about the great crustacean and I could see that 
the trap having failed there Avas nothing for it but a sheer 
fight in which clubs were matched against claAvs that 
certainly cotfld break a leg if once their blow Avere de- 
livered. As well might one attack a battle ship with ? 
crowbar, except for the one weak point of the animal. 
While it is heavily armored in front, the abdominal rings 
of the robber crab are soft and provided with only a 
leathery hide. It was through falling on this that killed 
our first Uu. This other and very liA^ely one kncAV 
its weak spot as Avell as any, and in a flash lie 
backed up against the roots of the cocoanut and secured 
the protection he did not own. With a torch in one hand 
and a club in the other the boys rained blows upon the 
fierce fighter. After scA'eral minutes of this kind of rough 
fighting a lucky blow on the soft parts dispatched the 
crab, and we trudged homeward with the catch and with 
our torches alight, as is the right of successful hunters. 
Talolo took one of the Uu, and there Avas nothiitg to 
choose between them, saying that that one was the due 
of the chief and people of Vaiala. The other he carried 
to the Consulate and turned over to Tanoa, now miracu- 
lously restored from his illness and welcoming me with 
all the proper speeches. Tonga was ready with dry rai- 
ment, a thing which I had not thought of, for as soon as 
the robbers began to climb doAvn their trees I lost all 
consciousness of the fact that it was raining. 
Tonga and Tanoa explained that this was the usual 
way of catching these crabs. As soon as they reach the 
grass upon the tree trunk they think they have reached 
the ground and let go. 
Tonga took the crab home Avith her, for she said that 
it Avas not of high enough rank for my use, an old pre- 
text with her when she wanted something. Still before 
1 yielded to her request I had Tanoa take the axe and 
chop off one of the two-foot long front claws Avhich 
Icioked meaty. I had it cooked in the morning. The claw 
turned out to be mostly shell and what meat there Avas 
was oily and rank in flavor. The Samoans eat the meat 
and from the soft parts extract an oil Avhich is used 
for sprains and other bodily aches. 
Incidentally it should be said in conclusion that Talolo 
got his Christmas dollar and was able, no doubt, to ntake 
his presents as profitably as he had hoped to do. 
Lleavella Pierce Churchill. 
The Doctor Ottgfht to Know» 
The physiology class Avas up, and the teacher asked, 
"Where are the boAvels located?" A ntimber of hands 
Avent up. "George, you may answer." George promptly 
put his fingers on his pulse and answered, "Here it is." 
"Oh, no," said the teacher. I aslced, where are the 
bowels?" George insisted, "Here it is," and he added, 
"When you are sick don't the doctor put his fingers on 
your wrist and say, 'How's your bowels?' He ought to 
know." 
The Passing of the Sledge-Dog. 
The gradual disappearance of the sledge-dog, and 
so c)f dog-sledging, in the northern quarter of thr.j 
continent, is worthy of more than transient notice. 
T'lir. fifty years ago, the dog-sledge supphcd in winter 
uionths the chief means of transport and travel 
throughout this vast region. North of a Hue parallel 
with, and but little above, the upper reaches of the 
M issouri, and extending northeasterly from its easi 
ern border of the Dakotas to the Atlantic, the sledge- 
dog was from mid-November to mid-April the com- 
mon beast of burden. » 
Compared with existing conditions, the demand for 
transport in this area Avas, of course, meager. The 
region was thinly peopled, the occupants being Indians 
and_ half-breeds, the servants of the great fur com- 
panies and the "free," or independent, fur traders. 
I'his population was, however, largelj^ nomadic. The 
natives frequently changed their places of abode, were 
constantly engaged in the chase, and so required a 
considerable amount of transportation. The fur trad- 
ers, though conducting their heavy traffic during the 
summer months by boat and horse carts, had to main- 
tain communication between posts and outposts dur- 
ing the winter. Add to this journeying the hauling 
of packs and the volume of travel and transport 
throughout this region bulked A-ery large. 
The burden of it fell upon the dog. Horses then 
Averc in fair supply. But the heavier animal sank in 
the snowdrifts and slipped on or broke through the 
thin ice of the streams and lakes, and was speedily 
worn out. Beside, in its lack of supplies oE grain, it 
was difficult to provide hina with food. Hay could not 
be 'Carried in bulk, and the time allowed for stops did 
not permit of extended searchings under the .snow for 
dry grasses* So the dog passed under the yoke. If 
he was not as strong, he could still haul more than 
his OAvn weight, could on the hard snow-crust travel 
faster and further than the horse, and could easily be 
supplied Avith food. He required no picketing, did not 
stampede at night, nor haA'e to be searched for in the 
morning. Further, he was at once a companion atid 
protector of his master. 
But it Avas hard on the dog. With the instinct of 
his wolfish forebears still strong within him, he clung 
to his freedom with a fierce tenacitA^ In hauling El 
sledge he did something from which his Avhole nature 
revolted. It is true that among natives the toil and 
burden of the "travaille" had been his since the abo- 
rigines began their long march northward from the 
central continent. But the two long poles tied to his 
sides, like the shafts of a cart, and dragging upon the 
ground, across which was laid the impedimenta of the 
Indian camp, made only occasional breaches in his- 
liberty. The journeys were not likely to be long, and 
were, moreover, eminently social. Though every day 
bore a load, he marched with the Avomen and chil- 
dren, a barking, chattering throng. 
On the other hand, the sledge was, in Avinter, in al- 
most daily use. The journeys Avere, many of them, 
long, the pull heavy and continuous, the march apt to 
be solitary. There was little of the rivalry in progress 
to be fotmd in a pack of "traA'ailles.' The sledge-dog 
faced the illimitable horizon across a wide waste of 
snow, day in and day out, alone, and with, to him, 
no end in view. Save AAdien the snoAV Avas deep, and 
the driver tramped ahead to beat down a path with 
his snowshoes, the dog led the Avay. He must keep 
straight on in the teeth of a storm, against Avhich every 
other animal turned tail, or feel the sting of his mas- 
ter's lash. And at night, after bolting at a fcAV mouth- 
ful s his meager supper, he must curl up about his 
driver's blankets and act as buffer against the blasts. 
Against all this the dog made vocal protest. But 
savage life knows little pity for animals, and submis- 
sion was induced by the lash and the club. What a 
pathetic array of bruised and battered head.s — heads 
with ears torn, with eyes out, and skin disfigured — 
the memory of long journeys conjures up! But from 
a little north of the Missouri to the Arctic line every 
dog big eiaough bent to the collar. 
In the great region coA^ered by dog tran.sport, the 
Eskimo, or "Huskie" dog, Avas for many years the 
prime faA^orite; though the Indians used, as they still 
use, every dog. either in sledge or as pack animals. 
As knoAvn in the interior, the huskie was a medium- 
sized dog, Aveighing perhaps ninety pounds, but pos- 
,.. sessed of far more endurance than the ordinary rttck 
;.'*iof mongrels. A bushy-tailed, fox-headed, _ long-haired 
aniinal. with erect, sharp-pointed ears springing from, 
thick tufts of fur, there could be no mistake as to his 
kind. His chief defect was his short legs. In the 
coast region, where the snoAV crusts hard, this \vas 
not a serious one, but in the softer snoAvs of the in- 
terior it greatly impeded progress. 
What was needed AA'as a long-legged dog of good 
weight; and in time this animal began to appear. He 
Avas the result of cross-breeding between the huskie 
and the deerhoitnd, stood considerably higher than the 
former, and in Aveight ranged from ninety pounds to 
one hundred and twenty pounds. As, apparently, he 
owed his existence to the experiments of the fur trad- 
ers along the middle reaches of the Mackenzie River, 
the breed was known north of the boundary line as the 
"Yukon." It was by long odds the best produced by 
the necessities of sledge transport. With all the en- 
durance of the huskie, it combined speed and pertina- 
city of the deerhound. With a single train of four of 
these dogs an officer of the Hudson's Bay Company 
traveled continuously from Fort Simpson, on the Mac- 
kenzie, to Winnipeg, a distance, by the route taken, of 
twenty-four hundred miles. Another officer made th^ 
same journey with a single train by a route twenty- 
one hundred miles long in forty-six traveling days. 
Naturally these dogs Avere highly valued, the po.sses- 
sion of a superior dog-train being a matter of no little 
rivalry among the fur traders. Prices ranged from $25 
to $30 per dog, and rose as high as $50, and a good 
train of four dogs readily brought $100. _ 
The supply Avas, howeA^er, necessaiily limited, Away 
from the coast regions neither the huskie nor the 
Yukon breed came into general use, being owned for 
the most part by the "free-traders" and the traders of 
