262 EXCURSIONS AROUND EGA. Chap. IV. 



of Matupa, in order to drive the turtles towards the 

 middle. This was continued for an hour or more, 

 the beaters gradually drawing nearer to each other, and 

 driving the host of animals before them ; the number 

 of little snouts constantly popping above the surface of 

 the water showing that all was going on well. When 

 they neared the net the men moved more quickly, 

 shouting and beating with great vigour. The ends of 

 the net were then seized by several strong hands and 

 dragged suddenly forwards, bringing them at the same 

 time together, so as to enclose all the booty in a circle. 

 Every man now leapt into the enclosure, the boats were 

 brought up, and the turtles easily captured by the hand 

 and tossed into them. I jumped in along with the rest, 

 although I had just before made the discovery that the 

 pool abounded in ugly, red, four-angled leeches, having 

 seen several of these delectable animals, which some- 

 times fasten on the legs of fishermen, although they did 

 not, on this day, trouble us, working their way through 

 cracks in the bottom of our montaria. Cardozo, who 

 remained with the boats, could not turn the animals 

 on their backs fast enough, so that a great many clam- 

 bered out and got free again. However, three boat- 

 loads, or about eighty, were secured in about twenty 

 minutes. They were then taken ashore, and each one 

 secured by the men tying the legs with thongs of bast. 



When the canoes had been twice filled, we desisted, 

 after a very hard day's work. Nearly all the animals 

 were young ones, chiefly, according to the statement of 

 Pedro, from three to ten years of age ; they varied from 

 six to eighteen inches in length, and were very fat. Car- 



