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 I'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 comer 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 ot 

 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 pull towards 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 (Tetrapturtis ampins). 



Jordan and Evermann. 



