The mudcrab and the stove
The person who conveyed first this story might be Gelin, a famous local teller of strange stories. As many Gelin tales this one is rather hard to believe for those who don't know New Caledonia bush and particularly the one up North.
Mudcrabs are often large but this one was enormous. Our fisherman, a man from up North, had caught it in its hole with his long spear. This crab had not been pierced by the spear irons. Out from its hole it was a menacing one with its enormous claws. But our man had quickly caught it from behind, thus avoiding the claws. With his mate they had decided to cook this unique catch on the spot.
Alone the crab was filling the large aluminum pot in which they had poured a few pints of sea water. The lid could hardly close. Never they had seen such a huge crab. "Its claws are as large as my hands" said the strongest man who had particularly large ones.
They placed the pot on a "Primus", the kerosene stove which, for decades, has been the main cooking companion in the bush. Kerosene is pressurized with a small pump on the side of the stove tank. It is then heated and vaporized in the burner. A little spigot, next to the pump, enables to let off the pressure and thus shut off the burner. It requires often strong hands to turn it off.
Cooking being started, our two men went out of the shed and sat on the beach where they started to drink a couple of beer bottles. After twenty minutes or so one of the men stood up and went into the kitchen to check the cooking. To his surprise the stove was off. The pot was cold. He went out and asked the first one "did you light the stove?". Of course, you couldn't see?. "Well it was off with the spigot open!". Then he went back in the shed, lighted the stove and came out saying : "now, it works!". Ten minutes later the second man stood up and decided to have a double check. The stove was off, spigot open!!, pot cold. He went back to the beach, barking : "you didn't light it! " and went back in the shed. His mate rushed after him unbelieving and angry. He then couldn't believe his eyes. The stove was off indeed. The two together lighted the stove again with hostiles glances at each other. They checked twice the spigot and tightened it strongly. Then they went out but listening intently to the typical roar of the stove. And then the roar stopped! In one bounce they were again in the shed. The stove was off, spigot open, pot cold. They thought : it must be a devil, a kanak "doghi" who, without doubt, does this. They closed the spigot again, very tightly and they were strong men, they pumped up the stove again, lighted it with anxious glances at the dark corners of this dark shed, trying to locate this tricky "doghi". Then they hid in the dark while watching the stove and the pot above it. If there was a devil they would see it, but they were thoroughly scared.
Then the pot's lid moved! Slightly, but certainly it moved. They held their breath. Now the lid moved indeed and an enormous claw appeared, stuck out from the pot and went down to spigot. And... it opened it, easily!!! The pressurized gas went out with a slight whistling. The stove was off. The claws came back into the pot. The lid closed back on the top.
It was not possible to know whether the men ever cooked and ate this unique mudcrab. One should not upset "doghis", and even less eat them!
Avertissement : Before saying "one of those fishermen unbelievable stories again", you should go to a mudcrab catching party in the mangrove. Their eyes and claws would make you think twice.