HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
123 
of forcing them out of their holes. They inhabit the lower parts of the island, where 
they dig in the earth till they come to water: their den is spacious, with several 
outlets; and they have the precaution to wander but very seldom to any consi¬ 
derable distance from them. They continued, however, to ravage the produce of 
our garden, both day and night; and even to burrow beneath the fences which had 
been formed to protect it. The back, or shell, is round, about four inches in 
diameter, and of a dingy red. This animal moves in every direction, upon eight 
daws, which rise about three inches from the ground; and it has, in common with 
every kind of crab, two large indented claws of unequal size; that of its right side, 
being larger and stronger than that on the left. When it is, in motion, its mouth 
cannot be perceived, as it is beneath its body; but its eyes are like those of the crabs 
in France and England, the one rising an inch above the other, on the extremity 
and forepart of the shell. 
“ It instantly retires on its being approached; but as it always pursues the stones 
which are thrown at it, sufficient opportunities are given to strike it. It is, however, 
imprudent to risque the being pinched by it. It frequently cleans its hole; and, 
having heaped up the offensive ordure, removes the whole, by pressing it with its 
claws to its belly: a reiteration of this labour soon completes the cleanly office. 
iC Some time previous and subsequent to the full moons of July and August, these 
crabs proceed by thousands, from all parts of the island, to the sea, laden with 
eggs. Great numbers might be destroyed at these periods; and we have sometimes 
killed upwards of three thousand in the course of an evening, with our sticks, 
without producing any visible decrease. 
“ In the second year of our abode in the island, the project was adopted of sowing 
seeds in the places which these creatures inhabited, in order to keep them away 
from the gardens; at least till our plants were grown to such a size as to defy 
their inroads. The precaution was also taken to sow the seeds of plants that 
we wished to cultivate, in those spots which the crabs did not frequent: these were 
elevated situations, with a rocky bottom, and at a distance from the brooks. 
ft The sea-crabs are much larger, as well as a more wholesome food, than those of 
the land; and their flesh'is more easy of digestion. There is another kind of these 
animals, which in the, Antilles are called Tourlouroux: they are nearly of the 
same shape as those which have been just described, but somewhat less. They 
may be said to be amphibious, as the tide fills their habitations twice a day. 
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