292 PREHISTORIC FISHING. 



well bearded, and hardened in the fire. In Savanah river, I have often accom- 

 panied them in killing sturgeons with those green swamp harpoons, and which 

 they did with much pleasure and ease ; for, when we discovered the fish, we soon 

 thrust into their bodies one of the harpoons. As the fish would immediately 

 strike deep, and rush away to the bottom very rapidly, their strength was soon 

 expended, by their violent struggles against the buoyant force of the green darts : 

 as soon as the top end of them appeared again on the surface of the water, we 

 made up to them, renewed the attack, and in like manner continued it till we 

 secured our game.* 



" They have a surprising method of fishing under the edges of rocks, that 

 stand over deep places of a river. There, they pull off" their red breeches, or 

 their long slip of Stroud cloth, and wrapping it round their arm, so as to reach 

 to the lower part of the palm of their right hand, they dive under the rock 

 where the large cat-fish lie to shelter themselves from the scorching beams of 

 the sun, and to watch for prey : as soon as those fierce aquatic animals see that 

 tempting bait, they immediately seize it with the greatest violence, in order to 

 swallow it. Then is the time for the diver to improve the favourable oppor- 

 tunity : he accordingly opens his hand, seizes the voracious fish by his tender 

 parts, hath a sharp struggle with it against the crevices of the rock, and at last 

 brings it safe ashore. Except the Choktah, all our Indians, both male and 

 female, above the state of infancy, are in the watery element nearly equal to 

 amphibious animals, by practice : and from the experiments necessity has forced 

 them to, it seems as if few were endued with such strong natural abilities, — very 

 few can equal them in their wild situation of life. 



" There is a favourite method among them of fishing with hand-nets. The 

 nets are about three feet deep, and of the same diameter at the opening, made 

 of hemp, and knotted after the usual manner of our nets. On each side of the 

 mouth, they tie very securely a strong elastic green cane, to which the ends are 

 fastened. Prepared with these, the warriors a-breast, jump in at the end of a 

 long pond, swimming under water, with their net stretched open with both hands, 

 and the canes in a horizontal position. In this manner, they will continue, either 

 till their breath is expended by the want of respiration, or till the net is so pon- 

 derous as to force them to exonerate it ashore, or in a basket, fixt in a proper 

 place for that purpose — by removing one hand, the canes instantly spring 

 together. I have been engaged half a day at a time, Avith the old-friendly Chik- 

 kasah, and half drowned in the diversion — when any of us was so unfortunate 



* Bartram describes the capture of a salmon trout of fifteen pounds' weight in a branch of Broad River, 

 Georgia, by means of one of these harpoons :— 



" The Indian struck this fish, with a reed harpoon, pointed very sharp, barbed, and hardened by the fire. 

 The fish lay close under the steep bank, which the Indian discovered and struck with his reed ; instantly the fish 

 darted ofiT with it, whilst the Indian pursued, without extracting the harpoon, and with repeated thrusts drowned 

 it, and then dragged it to shore." — Travels through South Carolina, Georgia, etc.; Dublin, 1793 ; p. 44. 



