218 VOYAGES OF A NATURALIST 



fish by torch-light. Two canoes paddled out a 

 few yards apart until they were exactly over the 

 reef. A torch, composed of dead leaves of the 

 coconut palm, was then lighted and waved to 

 and fro until the fish, attracted by the glare, rose 

 to the surface of the water and swam near the 

 boats. Then followed a delightful exhibition of 

 skill. A native standing up in the bows of his 

 canoe would hurl his long spear at a fish as it 

 crossed in front of him, and so deadly was the aim 

 that even small fish, several yards distant, were 

 seldom fortunate enough to escape. The spears 

 were made of light wood, with five straightened 

 fish-hooks bound in a cluster at the end. 



Afterwards we all waded on the reef attempting, 

 in native fashion, to spear the fish as they darted 

 about in the masses of coral, but we were not very 

 successful, and soon were glad to abandon the sport, 

 since several of us were badly pricked by the 

 sea-urchins, the spines of which broke off short 

 after entering the flesh and produced intense pain. 



One day our friends on shore arranged a picnic 

 in our honour at a place called Fautawa, which 

 was reached by about an hour's drive through 

 magnificent scenery. The road for a great part of 

 the way led along the edge of a mountain stream, 

 winding through a deep valley in which Fautawa 

 is situated. At the top of the valley there 

 towered above us a tall peak the summit of which 

 was composed of a series of jagged points clustered 



