GANNl MAYA INDIANS OF YUCATAN AND BRITISH HONDURAS 25 



the stake opposite to it, the loop hanging suspended between the 

 two. Lastly, a number of sticks and leaves are scattered lightly over 

 the trench and beside the stakes and loop. Animals coming along 

 the run are very apt to put their necks in the loop, and by pulling 

 on this, to release the cross stick, whereupon they are immediately 

 suspended in the air by the jerking back of the bent sapling. 

 Animals of all sizes, from rabbits to tigers, are caught in traps of 

 this kind, the strength and adaptability of which vary with the size 

 of the bent tree and the adjustment of the noose. Another trap, 

 used only for small animals, consists of an oblong cage made of split 

 bamboo or cabbage bark. Over the opening, which is in the top, 

 rests an accurately balanced strip of board, baited at one end with 

 corn. When the animal endeavors to reach the bait it is precipitated 

 into the trap, and the board swings back into place, covering the 

 exit. Before they obtain guns the boys use slings, with which they 

 can throw pebbles with remarkable force and accuracy, bringing 

 down birds, squirrels, and other small game. They keep many tame 

 animals, some for food, others as pets, including pigs, dogs, cats, 

 peccaries, gibnuts, rabbits, quashes, nicos de noche, and squirrels; 

 also birds, as parrots, doves, quam, curassow, chichalaca, sinsonte, 

 pavo real, and many others. 



Many fish are found in the coastal waters, in the rivers, and in the 

 lagoons of the interior, including cazones, tarpon, skipjacks, snappers, 

 eels, baracoudas, stone bass, cobarli, je^vfish, tubers, bay snooks, 

 river snooks, and a variety of others. Tliey are caught with hook and 

 line, in cast and seine nets, in traps, and by spearing or harpooning. 

 Fish traps are cylindrical in shape, with a funnel-shaped opening 

 at each end, the apex of the funnel pointing toward the center of the 

 trap, so that entrance is easy but exit very difficult. The traps, 

 made of split bamboo, are placed upon the bottoms of rivers or 

 lagoons, baited with "masa," which attracts multitudes of the tiny 

 fish there abounding; these in their turn attract larger fish, which 

 enter the trap in pursuit of the small fry and are captured. Har- 

 pooning at night by the light of a split-pine torch is about the nearest 

 approach to real sport which the Indian enjoys; this is usually done 

 near the bar of a river, on a calm dark night, by tliree men in a 

 canoe, one paddling, one holding the torch, and the third wielding 

 the harpoon. Tliis implement consists of a slender cane 10 to 12 

 feet in length provided with a sharp barbed spindle-shaped steel head, 

 fitting into the hollow at one end, so that on striking the fish the 

 head parts from the shaft to which it is attached by a cord held in 

 the hand of the harpooner. The fish are attracted by the light of 

 the torch, and the harpooner strikes at the swirl which they make 



