156 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 
submerged animal, and by midday about a score of full-grown turtles 
had been shot. The net was now spread at one extremity of the 
oval-shaped pool, its side resting on the bottom, while the floats 
buoyed the other side up on the surface, the cords being held by two 
Indians. ‘The rest of the party now spread themselves round the 
pool, beating the water with long poles, in order to drive the turtles 
towards the centre. When they neared the net, the men moved 
more quickly, beating and shouting with great vigour. The ends of 
the net were then seized with vigorous hands, and drag gged suddenly 
forward, bringing them at the same time together, so as to enclose 
all within a circle. Every man leapt into the enclosure, the boats 
were brought up, and the captured turtles were thrown in. In this 
manner about eighty were secured in twenty minutes. 
Among these were several male turtles, or capefaris, as they are 
called by the natives. They are much less numerous than the 
females, smaller and more circular in shape: their flesh is con- 
sidered unwholesome. 
On the 17th of October, the day announced for the ¢adoliero or 
ege-digging, Mr. Bates made a last excursion in Senhor Cardoza’s 
company. Egg-collecting occupied four days. On the morning of 
the 17th about 400 persons were assembled on the sand-bank ; 
each family had erected a rude temporary shed of poles and palm- 
leaves to protect themselves from sun and rain. Large copper 
kettles to prepare the oil, and hundreds of red earthenware jars, 
were scattered about on the sands. ‘!he commandant commenced 
by taking down the names of all masters of households, with the 
number of persons each intended to employ; he then exacted from 
each a tax equal to fourpence a head towards defraying the expense 
of the sentinels. This being paid, the whole were allowed to go to 
the ¢aboliero. By the end of the second day it was exhausted, and 
each household had collected large mounds of eggs around ‘their 
temporary hut. 
‘THALASSIANS, OR SEA TORTOISES. 
The Turtles or Sea Tortoises are distinguished from others by a 
comparatively flat carapace, long members, the extremities of which 
terminate in broad paddles, the anterior much longer than the 
posterior ones ; the toes, though formed of distinct pieces, can only 
act together, thus constituting “paddles admirably arranged for swim- 
ming. ‘Their carapace, besides being flat, is indented and elongated 
in front, and contracted behind, being disposed in such a manner 
that the head and feet can be completely hidden. 
