144 FISH HARVESTING. 



belt of wampum, completed the costume of my 

 coxswain. 



The canoe was what is commonly called 

 a 'dug-out,' that is, made from a solid log of 

 wood. Coiled round the sharp bow of the 

 canoe, like a huge snake, was a strong line about 

 sixty fathoms in length, made from the inner 

 bark of the cypress, neatly twisted. Lying 

 along each side, extending far beyond both bow 

 and stern, were two light spear-hafts, about sixty 

 feet long ; whilst stowed away in the bow were a 

 dozen shorter spears, one end being barbed, the 

 other constructed to fit on the longer spear, but 

 so contrived that the spearman can readily detach 

 it by a skilful jerk. Tied lightly to the centre 

 of each of the smaller spears was a bladder made 

 from sealskin, blown full of air, the line attach- 

 ing it being about three fathoms in length. 



I had hardly completed my investigation of 

 the canoe, its crew, and contents, when, to my 

 intense astonishment, the four Indians lifted me, 

 as they would a bale of fur, or a barrel of pork, 

 and without a word deposited me in the bottom 

 of the canoe, where I was enjoined to sit, much 

 in the same position enforced on a culprit in the 

 parish stocks. I may mention, incidentally, that 

 a canoe is not half as enjoyable as poets and 



