262 THE SALT OF MY LIFE 



rather novel and amusing. As with the mackerel, 

 the charm of sound is employed as an attraction, 

 and a rude equivalent of music is made to soothe 

 the savage beast. The native fisherman, in fact, 

 sings and whistles to his " Moreia "tor some minutes 

 before effecting a capture ; and the burden of the 

 chant, which is in three verses and sung in that 

 wailing voice equally familiar on both sides of 

 the Straits of Gibraltar, is roughly as follows : 



Moreia do Rolo 

 Vem a terra 

 Comer polvo 



Moreia pintada 

 Vem a terra 

 Regalada 



Moreias todos trez 

 Cader qual 

 per sua vez 



In order to appreciate the meaning of these 

 verses, it must be explained that there are two 

 species of muraena on that coast, the one of a 

 uniform grey, the other (the pintado) of a lighter 

 yellow with black markings. The first of these 

 is generally invited to come on shore and bite the 

 dust ; the second is bidden to come and enjoy itself. 

 The third verse refers to a very curious fact. It 



