CRAB-HUNTING. 
51 
shelving to the sea, and terminating abruptly in 
deep water. Whilst busily engaged upon one of 
them, in trying to get some crabs out from its clefts, 
I did not notice that the surf sometimes washed over 
where I stood, until whilst stooping, and in the act 
of fishing out a crab, a roller came further than 
usual and dashing over me, threw me down and 
took both me and my crabs to some distance, nearly 
carrying us down the steep into the sea, from which 
nothing could have rescued me, as I should soon 
have been dashed to pieces by the breakers against 
the rocks. Having gathered up the crabs I had 
collected, I set off homewards in a sad cold uncom- 
fortable plight, with the skin scraped off my hands 
and one of my heels, and with my shoes in such a 
state from scrambling about among the rocks and in 
the wet, as strongly to indicate to me the propriety 
of never attempting to go crab hunting again with 
my shoes on, unless I wished to be placed altogether 
“hors du combat” for walking. Wylie I found 
had got up the horses and watered them, and had 
brought up a supply of water for the camp, so that 
we had nothing to do in the afternoon but boil 
crabs and eat them, at which occupation I found 
him wonderfully more skilful than I was, readily 
getting through two to my one. 
On the 25th we still remained in camp to take 
advantage of the abundant supply of food we had 
for ourselves, and by giving the horses a long rest, 
e 2 
