THE SERVICES OF LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS DOWNMAN, R.A. 49 
There is another crab which at a particular season frequents the 
savannahs or meadows; these are very small and of a reddish colour, 
and are held in much estimation by the French. I have often dined at 
their houses, when a most excellent soup has been served up, made 
entirely of these crabs. 
The large land crabs are very difficult to be caught except at night, 
at any other time they are scarcely seen, and when they are, it is at so 
small a distance from their holes, that before you can come up to them 
they are gone. At night you have no more to do than to go into the 
mangrove woods with a torch, and you may take as many as you please, 
for by this light they cannot see their holes. You must be careful how 
you take hold of them, for with their claws they give a monstrous 
pinch. The negroes here are very dexterous at it, they tie them up in 
half dozens and bring them to the soldiers, who purchase them for a 
biscuit or two, or some such trifle, and either make soup of them or 
roast them. 
I do not remember that in all my walks about the island I ever saw a 
snake, nor is there any other creature the least offensive or dangerous. 
I have seen one which had some resemblance to the racoon, but it is 
harmless and is very good eating. The iguana is to be found 
frequently in the gullies and in the woods on the banks of rivers, it is 
very like the lizard, but is very large; I have seen them near four feet 
long. These creatures are very often eaten by the French. The meat 
of them is as white as veal, and when dressed is an excellent savoury 
dish. 
After being some time at Fort George, I made an excursion to La 
Moule, a place about N.E. from Fort George, and where a part of the 
65th Regiment were quartered ; it is situated near the sea side and is a 
pretty little town without any fortifications, except a small battery. 
In going to La Moule, I went through the town of St. Ann's, where 
was another detachment of the 65th, and through St. Francois, which 
had likewise a party of that regiment quartered in it. St. Ann's is a 
pretty large town, but it had not quite recovered from the distress it 
was in at the siege when General Crump visited it. St. Francois is but 
a small place. Both these towns have very good roads belonging to 
them where vessels may ride with safety, being sheltered by small long 
islands that lie before them. I thought the country all about very 
pleasant and agreeable, but it is not equal to the other parts of the 
island, either for the goodness of the plantations or the beauty of the 
prospects. 
On my return to the fort, an officer of the 65th and myself agreed to 
go the north point of the island. For this purpose I had my canoe put 
into good order, and with two men to row we set off, going down the 
harbour and through the salt river, which parts the island. The river 
we found very pleasant while there was any wind, but when it was 
calm the mosquitoes and sandflies were enough to make one mad. 
When we got out of the river we were in the open sea, which was at 
this time rather too high to make our situation any way agreeable, and 
