MODE OF SHOOTING AND NETTING TURTLE. 



621 



to the spot in his canoe, 

 sends another arrow into 

 the turtle, and then humour- 

 ing it by means of the two 

 cords, quickly gets it on 

 board. It is extraordinary, 

 the skill the Indians will 

 display on these occasions. 

 They do not even wait for 

 the turtle coming to the 

 surface, but watch for the 

 tracks which it makes in 

 the water when swimming 

 beneath it, and shoot with 

 unerring aim. At certain 

 seasons turtle in vast shoals 

 wend their way up the 

 Orinoco, when, as they 

 come to the surface to 

 breathe, the Indians who 

 are on the watch shoot 

 them with heavy arrows, 

 which, falling perpendicu- 

 larly, pierce their thick 

 coats ; and they drift on 

 shore, or are picked up by 

 the canoes kept in readi- 

 ness for that purpose. Nets 

 also are employed : the 

 depth is about equal to 

 that of the water ; while 



