432 THE TRAVELLER AND THE ANGLER'S ART. 



ments fish will be found to take well, in a way that 

 it is not easy to account for; so that in point of fact, 

 in fishing, as in many other things, a man never knows 

 what he can do till he tries. 



Travellers journeying through wild countries should 

 therefore never omit to carry with them a supply of 

 fishing tackle, as the angler's art has often been found 

 of the highest value in supplying the larder, when pro- 

 visions were scarce or not to be had; and of course 

 near sea coasts or during boat expeditions upon great 

 rivers and lakes very often the main reliance is upon fish. 



Nor is it possible for a traveller who proceeds upon 

 an inland journey, even through a dry and thirsty 

 land, ever to foretell when he may find his fishing- 

 tackle stand him in good stead. Wherever there 

 are rivers or pools there is generally fish of some sort 

 in them, and curiously enough in some hot, arid coun- 

 tries, where the waters periodically dry up entirely dur- 

 ing the dry season, the fish are not thereby exterminated, 

 as one might at first suppose. Those species of fish 

 which Nature has placed in such places are able to 

 bury themselves deep down in the mud, and there con- 

 tinue to exist in a sort of torpid state until the return 

 of the rains. * 



When the beneficent water then pours down upon 

 the parched-up ground in fertilizing streams, the whole 

 face of Nature is suddenly changed, as if by magic. 

 Every tree and herb at once springs into verdant life. 



* Among other authorities see Encvcl. Brit, of 1881, Vol. xii., p. 

 665, (Article " Ichthyology.") " It has been stated that in India fishes may 

 survive in this condition for more than one season, and that ponds known 

 to have been dry for years, and to a depth of many feet, have swarmed 

 with fish, as soon as the accumulation of water released them from their 

 hardened bed." 



