Creole Sketches/Why Crabs are Boiled Alive

by Lafcadio Hearn

WHY CRABS ARE BOILED ALIVE^[1]

And for why you not have of crab? Because one must dem boil 'live? It is all vat is of most beast to tell so. How you make for dem kill so you not dem boil? You not can cut dem de head off, for dat dey have not of head. You not can break to dem de back, for dat dey not be only all back. You not can dem bleed until dey die, for dat dey not have blood. You not can stick to dem troo de brain, for dat dey be same like you — dey not have of brain.

1. Item, October 5, 1879.