66 THE HIVE OF THE BEE-HUNTER. 



had, so that their movements are governed by signs. 

 The delicate canoe is pushed into the hake, its occupants 

 scarcely breathe to get it balanced, the paddler is seated 

 in Its bottom, near its centre, where he remains, govern- 

 inp- the canoe in all its motions, without ever taking the 

 paddle from the water. 



The fisherman stands at the bow ; around the wrist 

 of his left hand is fastened, by a loose loop, the cord at- 

 tached to the arrow, which cord is wound around the 

 forefinger of the same hand, so that when paying ofi", it 

 will do so easily. In the same hand is, of course, held 

 the bow. In the right is carried the arrow, and, by its 

 significant pointing, the paddler gives directions for the 

 movements of the canoe. 



The craft glides along, scarcely making a ripple ; a 

 " feed " is discovered, over which the canoe stops ; the 

 bowman draws his arrow to the head ; the game, dis- 

 turbed, is seen in the clear water rising slowly and per- 

 pendicularly, but otherwise perfectly motionless; the 

 arrow speeds its way ; in an Instant the shaft shoots 

 into the air, and floats quietly away, while the wounded 

 fish, carrying the spear in its body, endeavours to 

 escape. 



The " pull ■' is managed so as to come directly from 

 the bow of the canoe ; it lasts but for a moment before 

 the transfixed fish is seen, fins playing, and full of ago- 

 nizing life, dancing on the top of the water, and in an- 

 other instant more lies dead at the bottom of the canoe. 



