UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 15 



of catching fish by diving, which is practised in 

 the Gulf of Patrasso, in Greece, and which is, 

 he believes, peculiar to that place. 



The diver being provided with a rope, made of 

 a species of long grass, moves his boat where he 

 perceives there is a rocky bottom : this done, he 

 throws the rope out so as to form a tolerably 

 large circle ; and such is the timid nature of the 

 fish, that instead of rushing away, they never 

 attempt to pass this imaginary barrier, which acts 

 as a sort of talisman ; they only descend to the 

 bottom, and endeavour to conceal themselves 

 amongst the rocks. After waiting a few moments 

 till the charm has taken effect, the diver plunges 

 in, and generally returns with several fine fish. 

 As he seldom finds more than their heads con- 

 cealed, there is the less difficulty in taking his 

 prizes ; and these divers are so dexterous that 

 they have a method of securing four or five fish 

 under each arm, beside what they can carry in 

 their hands. 



The effect of the circle formed by the rope 

 reminded Frederick of the singular manner in 

 which pelicans and cormorants catch fish in con- 

 cert with each other. They spread into a large 

 circle, at some distance from land ; the pelicans 

 flapping on the surface of the water with their 

 great wings, and the cormorants diving beneath, 

 till the fish contained within the circle are driven 

 before them towards the land. As the circle 



