Part VII 
“TRAGEDY OF THE FIRST BOCA” 
The Monster ‘‘Maman-Balaou’’* of Pointe Rouge, Unsatiated by 
the blood of Three Previous Victims, Charges a Large Seine Pirogue. 
The gallant Galgitt and four boatmen find a watery grave. Exciting 
chase from l’Anse Poua to Chaguaramas. The finny demon 
charges the floating dock. Trapped at last in Hart’s Cut. 
During the past fortnight the fisher-folk of Scotland and 
Taitron Bays have been much perturbed by the mysterious 
disappearance of two men. On Saturday, March 21, Bovril 
of Scotland Bay, went out on the rising tide, ostensibly to 
fish “‘ Paoua’’ at Pointe Rouge, the northeast corner of the first 
Boca. Neither he nor his boat has been seen since. On 
Wednesday, the 25th, Jonas of Taitron Bay, left there, say- 
ing he was going to try for “ Paoua”’ at the same place. On 
Thursday, his boat was found ashore at L’Anse Biscayen, and 
on examination the sides were found perforated right through 
by some tremendous weapon, presumably the beak of a 
sword fish. Jonas has left an only brother, “Soucoyen”’ at 
Taitron, who, deeply grieved at his loss, has been since then 
vainly searching the Boca for the body. On Monday morn- 
ing (30th), very early, Galgitt Tardieu called his seine crew 
together and went towards “ Dent Ma Taitron”’ at the head of 
the first Boca, looking for a shoal of cavalli, that had been 
seen near there. Whilst gazing towards Pointe Rouge, in the 
cold grey morning light, he distinguished a small boat, 
which he judged to be that of the bereaved ‘“‘Soucoyen”’, and 
he ordered his men to pulltowards it. As they were doing so, 
a gigantic object seemed to hurtle in the air out of the water. 
There was one shriek, a tremendous splash, and then dead 
* The Maman-balaou is the Trinidad name for the great sail- 
fish of the Indian Ocean (Tetrapturus amplus). 
JORDAN AND EVERMANN. 
