74 CHASE OF A BLACK FISH. 



cribe to their mode of living. They sleep gene- 

 rally in the open air, they drink vast quantities 

 of spirits of the very worst description, and their 

 principal diet consists of various kinds of fish, 

 from the alligator to ground-sharks. The whole 

 country seemed deluged with water, and the mi- 

 serable wretches that dwell in it, are depend- 

 ent on the Eboe country for their subsistence : 

 all their yams, bananas, plantains, and cassada 

 are derived from thence. 



We were much amused by a spirited chase 

 which took place in the river here. A black fish, 

 about thirty feet long, came in over the bar; and 

 the moment he was perceived, off started a dozen 

 canoes full of black fellows after him. They soon 

 got hold of him with their harpoons, and after a 

 spirited contest of two hours, in which the whole 

 river thereabout was in an uproar with the upset- 

 ting of the canoes, the squalling and swimming 

 of the natives, and the tugging and buffeting of 

 these fellows and the fish, they at length succeed- 

 ed in landing him. Their harpoons are about 

 eight feet long, are loaded at the end, and are 

 thrown with considerable force and accuracy. 



In the evening I made a grand fetish, or 

 charm, which was to ensure King Boy success 



