THE FEEJEE ISLANDERS. 343 
fish the biche de mer on rocky coral bottoms by the light of the 
moon or of torches, as they come forth by night to feed. The 
most lucrative fisheries are on the northern side of Viti Levu. 
They require a large building for drying, with rows of double 
staging, on which reeds are placed. Slow fires are kept up by 
natives underneath, about fifteen hands being required to do 
the ordinary work of a house. 
Before beginning, the services of some chief must be secured, 
who undertakes the building of the house, and sets his depen- 
dants at work to fish. The usual price is a whale’s tooth for a 
hogshead of the animals just as they are taken on the reef; but 
they are also bought with muskets, powder, balls, vermilion, 
blue beads, and cotton cloth of the same colour. When the 
animals are brought on shore, they are measured into bins 
containing about fifty hogsheads, where they remain until next 
day. They are then cut along the belly for a length of three or 
four inches, taking care not to cut too deep, as this would cause 
the fish to spread cpen, which would diminish its value. They 
are then thrown into boilers, two men attending each pot, and 
relieving each other, so that the work may go on night and day. 
No water need be added, as the fish itself yields moisture enough 
to prevent burning. After draining on a platform for about an 
hour, they are taken to the house and laid four inches deep 
upon the lower battens, and afterwards upon the upper ones, 
where they remain three or four days. Before being taken on 
board they are carefully picked, all damp pieces being removed. 
They are stowed in bulk, and sold in Manilla or Canton by the 
picul, which brings from fifteen to twenty-five dollars. In this 
manner Captain Eagleston had collected in the course of seven 
months, and at a trifling expense, a cargo of 1200 piculs, worth 
about 25,000 dollars, The outfit is small, but the risk is great, 
as no insurance can be effected; and it requires no small activity 
and enterprise to conduct this trade. A thorough knowledge of 
native character is essential to success, and the utmost vigilance 
and caution must always be observed to prevent surprise, or 
avoid difficulties. 
No large canoes should ever be allowed to remain alongside 
the vessel, and a chief of high rank should be kept on board as 
ahostage. That these precautions are by no means unnecessary, 
is proved by the frequent attempts of the savages to cut off 
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