THE TURTLES OF SAND-KEY ISLAND. 217 



birds. But the most amusing kind of sport, after 

 all, was the turtle-fishing as practised by Downiug's 

 men, one of whom was a very skilful diver. 



The second day, after breakfast, Downing took me 

 out to sea, and showed me a large number of tur- 

 tles floating asleep upon the tranquil water, and 

 this was how the fishing was managed, without 

 implement of any kind. Pero (that was the diver's 

 name) stood up in the bow of the boat, and as soon 

 as he was within seven or eight yards of the turtle 

 he dived and rose close to the sleeping creature. 

 Then he seized it near the tail. As soon as the 

 turtle woke up, he began to struggle with his fins, 

 and this motion was sufiicient to keep it on the 

 surface, where it remained paddling about until the 

 boat came up and pulled in both man and turtle. 

 That day, I bade farewell to the " wreckers " of He- 

 tera, and returned to Fort Imperial. 



On parting from my host, he presented me with a 

 splendid big-headed turtle, weighing over five hun- 

 dred pounds. I enjoyed in anticipation the turtle 

 suppers and turtle steaks, which I hoped to offer to 

 my friends in New York, whither I returned with 

 my prize, calculated the number of eggs to be found 

 in its enormous body, and pictured to myself what a 

 beautiful ornamental car I would have made of its 

 carapace, — a car in which Venus might once more float 

 upon the blue sea {" ccerideum mare''), on condition, 

 of course, that her doves would render their assist- 



