A FISHING EXCURSIOX. 329 



was formed, fi-om which a long toiigue of land 

 stretched itself into the sea. This point the natives 

 called Batii angus^ " the Hot Rock/' and since that 

 time the whole volcano has been known by that 

 name. Some of the pumice-stones were said to have 

 been as large as the native huts, but so changed into 

 a kind of foam by the action of heat, that they readily 

 floated on the sea. 



Soon after sunset I went out to fish in a small 

 canoe with the controleur and his old pilot. The 

 place we chose was under a high, perpendicular pre- 

 cipice that rose up out of the dark water like an ar- 

 tificial wall. Here we remained while the rocks grew 

 higher and higher and more and more overhanging 

 as the daylight faded, and the approaching night 

 blended the sharp outlines and increased the magni- 

 tude of every object around us. Near by was a deep 

 ravine, and from its farthermost recesses rolled out 

 the reverberating, moaning cries of monkeys, who 

 all niglit long keep up a piteous calling, each answer- 

 insr his fellow in the same mournfril tones. 



Our lines were just about as large as a mackerel- 

 line. The hooks each native makes for himself, 

 from brass wire, and about a fathom of ^^Ti*e is at- 

 tached to each hook before the line is fastened to it, 

 in order to prevent the fish from severing the cord 

 with their sharp teeth. For bait, small fish are taken. 

 In fishing at anchor, no leads are used, but, instead 

 of them, a kind of sling of palm-leaf is fastened to 

 each hook. This sling contains a small stone, so 

 fixed that it will carry down the line, ])ut drop out 

 as soon as it touches tlio bottom. After we had 



