290 THE OCEAN. 



being used instead of leads, and floats of light wood 

 for corks. 



Fishing with the barbed spear is a favourite amuse- 

 ment in these islands. Before the introduction of 

 iron, the implement was made of hard wood ; ten or 

 twelve pointed pieces being fastened to the end of 

 a pole eight feet long ; but now iron heads are 

 usually employed, barbed on one side. With these 

 spears the natives proceed to the reef, and wade 

 into the sea as high as their waists, their feet being 

 defended from the sharp points of the coral and 

 the spines of the sea-urchins by sandals made of 

 tough bark, twisted into cords. Stationing them- 

 selves near an opening in the rocks, they watch the 

 motions of the fishes as they shoot to and fro, and 

 dart the spear, sometimes with one hand, but more 

 commonly with both, frequently striking their prey 

 with great dexterity. 



The fishermen often pursue their avocation by 

 night ; sometimes in the dark, sometimes by moon- 

 light, but more usually by torchlight. Their torches 

 are either large bunches of dried reeds firmly tied 

 together, or else are made of the candle-nut (Aleu- 

 rites triloba), which the natives use to light their 

 houses. These nuts are heart-shaped, about as 

 large as a walnut, and enclosed in a very hard 

 shell. After being slightly baked in an oven, the 

 shell is removed, a hole bored through the kernel, 

 and a rush passed through the hole, when they are 

 hung up in strings for use. Torches are made by 

 enclosing four or five strings of the nuts in the leaves 

 of the screw-pine {Pandanus), which not only keep 



