382 Zanzibar. 



tallies so nearly with what was formerly heard regarding this fish that it may be looked upon 

 as substantially accurate. 



Young chazo being secured, a ring or loop of iron is let into the tails ; they are then kept 

 in a small canoe the water in which is changed from time to t ime. They are fed sparingly 

 with pieces of meat and fish and, if they surviv.e the confinement, soon become used to captivity 

 and to being handled. When they have reached two or three pounds in weight, they are 

 strong enough for use and are taken out for trial. A line is fastened to the iron loop whicli 

 has become embedded in a firm growth, and on sighting a tortoise or turtle, the chazo is put 

 overboard. It has to be prevented from affixing itself to the canoe, and then it soon makes for 

 the nearest floating object, to which it instantly adheres, and generally allows itself to be 

 drawn with its prey towards the boat. Should it prove too timid to stand this treatment it is 

 discarded as worthless, but if it will hold on, it soon gets bold enough to retain its hold until 

 taken into the boat, when it is at once detached from the prize by being drawn off sideways, and 

 being returned to its tank is at once fed. They are said soon to learn what is required of them, 

 and it is reported that they have been trained to catch sharks. When in Madagascar some 

 years ago, I was told that the " Tarundu," which the fish is there called, had been trained to 

 catch crocodiles, numbers of which infested the rivers and, as I observed, came down to the 

 neighbourhood of the fishing villages on the coast, without being affected by the salt water. 



I hope to forward a specimen of this interesting fish before the close of the Exhibition. I 

 am not aware how far beyond the tropics it can exist, but it is not impossible that it may be 

 utilized even in European waters. 



FEANCIS HOLMWOOD. 



Zanzibar, May 29th, 1883. 



[No Exhibits from Zanzibar reached the Exhibition.'] 



LONDON: WM. CLOWES AND SONS, LIHITED, $TAMFOBD STEEET AND CHASING CROSS. 



