448^ Natural Histoi\y in foreign Countries : — 



of the river. When the fisherman thinks any fish are passing 

 over the net, he suddenly hoists it above the water ; and if he 

 has made a capture, he swings the net inboard to take out the 

 fish ; if none are caught, the net is dropped again in the same 

 or some other place. 



Success in this method of fishing depends on the know- 

 ledge of the fisherman as to the haunts of the fish : its special 

 advantage is its being managed by one person, like a casting- 

 netj but with much more personal comfort to the man. It is 

 also preferable to any other mode in that part of China ; be- 

 cause the fisherman can pursue his calling among the tiers of 

 junks (barges), which crowd the river opposite the city; or in 

 any creek or canal, where drawing-nets would be useless. It 

 is, moreover, favourable to the custom in that country of 

 exposing all their fresh fish alive in the markets. 



This plan might be useful in this country for carp-fishing, 

 in ponds having steep and rugged banks. By taking advan- 

 tage of a tree, to which the pole and net may be slung, lower- 

 ing it in the daytime, and throwing thereon a handful of 

 brewers' grains or other bait, at night the fish would come to 

 feed ; and if then the net were cautiously approached, and 

 quickly hoisted, a fine haul might be taken. Eels might be 

 so taken in rivers, were the net sunk with a heavy piece of 

 garbage. — J. M, 



The Divi Ladner is the Tabernaemontan^ alternifolia of 

 botanists (^Jig, 89.), and Eve's apple of the descendants of the 

 Portuguese in Ceylon. The name applied to this tree by the 

 latter people originates in the tradition which prevailed in 

 former days, among the Mahometans and the Portuguese, 

 that Ceylon was the paradise described in the Scripture ; that 

 the garden of Eden was situated in it; and that the fruit of 

 this tree was the forbidden fruit of which Eve eat a piece. In 

 confirmation of this tradition, they referred to the beauty of 

 the fruit, and the fine scent of its flowers, which are most 

 tempting ; and to the circumstance of the fruit having been 

 excellent before Eve tasted it. The shape gives it the appear- 

 ance of a fruit, a piece of which had been bitten off; and its 

 effects are so poisonous at present, that two European soldiers, 

 shortly after the capture of Colombo in 1795, being unaware 

 of the nature of the fruit, were tempted by its appearance to 

 taste it, and very soon after sickened and died. — Sir A. J, 

 Sept. 1827. 



Our woodcut has been executed from a drawing sent us 

 by Sir Alexander Johnston ; and, although it in all proba- 

 bility accurately exhibits the general character and aspect of 



