100 INTRODUCTION. 



have always a bludgeon at hand with which they 

 beat in the thickly armed skull, and each blow 

 is sure to produce the loud grinding sound; so 

 that we who were lying in our hammocks knew 

 whether a laulau, pacaruima, or any other fish had 

 been secured. 



The Indian considers that a large fire kindled at 

 the water's edge is sure to attract such fishes as 

 take the bait only during night, and they never fail 

 therefore to have a fire or a large brand when they 

 are fishing for laulaus or pacaruimas. 



If large blocks of granite impeded the river near 

 our camp, all hand-lines which could be spared 

 or procured were set in requisition to fish for pirais 

 (serrasahno). The avidity with which they take 

 the bait insured success to the least practised in the 

 art of fishing, and if the place proved a haunt of 

 the pirai, the Indian was sure to secure his dinner. 

 The natives possess great art in throwing the hand- 

 line from the shore into the stream ; and it is a 

 pretty sight to see the line circling in the air and 

 descending on the water at a great distance from 

 the banks or the rock which the angler has selected 

 for his stand. The Indians use likewise, for the 

 purpose of catching the pirai and numerous other 

 species of that family, the rod, line, and hook. The 

 rod is generally made of yari-yari or lance-wood 

 (a species of anonacew), which, in consequence of 

 its toughness and elasticity, is peculiarly fit for that 

 purpose. It demands, however, considerable skill 

 to draw the fish out of the water, as of all others 



