68 Timehri. 



had been raining slightly all day but held up towards late afternoon and 

 we sallied forth to try our luck once more. I was standing right on the 

 edge of the rapid and casting across the stream when Mr. Cole called out 

 that there was a large one just behind a small rock about 15 yards away. 

 At my second cast I dropped my spoon-bait just to one side of the rock 

 and was reeling in when there was a sudden swirl in the water and 

 something seized my bait and went off with it like an express train. Fully 

 40 yards of line went out before I could check the rush, then clean out of 

 the water, fiercely shaking his head, jumped the largest lukanani I have 

 ever seen. A series of shorter rushes ensued and the fish sulked beneath 

 our boat which was moored to a rock a short distance off. I sent an 

 Indian to investigate and he succeeded in moving him. Another rush 

 and a leap was made and then he began to tire. 



The problem now arose as to landing him. Such a fish certainly would 

 not go into my net and no gaff was to hand. An Indian settled the 

 matter by taking a flying shot at him with a powerful bow and arrow 

 which he had ju t been using for pacou shooting. He missed and I shout- 

 ed out to the man to coma closer and shoot when I gave the sign. At 

 last I managed to bring the fish within easy shooting distance, the arrow 

 sped true to its mark and thus transfixed, he was hauled ignominiously to 

 shore. This lukanani weighed just over 13 lbs. by my spring balance and 

 a nobler looking fish I have seldom seen with the large ' eye mark ' near 

 the tail and his dark ruby-red eyes. 



In this same rapid one of the bovianders in our crew secured with his 

 bow and arrow a magnificent pacou which, if anything, was heavier than 

 my lukanani. It is a fascinating spectacle to watch a skilled man killing 

 pacou in this manner. These fish will rush right up into the swiftest 

 water in a rapid, hang there for a few seconds so as to snatch a mouth- 

 ful of a certain aquatic plant which they dearly love and grows only 

 in such places, then retire only to repeat the performance again and again 

 till replete. 



In order to get within range of the fish it is necessary to wade out 

 across the rapid which is a fearsome task for anyone but a skilled river 

 hand. Having gained a likely spot their keen eyes soon detect the 

 presence of a pacou and at the critical moment an arrow is launched from 

 the powerful bow with unerring aim. I should add that this arrow is 

 secured to the wrist by a long cord which, at the time of shooting, is 

 skilfully arranged so that the arrow is not impeded in its flight. It is 

 necessary to get within a few yards of the fish as this is the limit of the 

 attached cord. When once transfixed it is an easy matter to secure the 

 fish. 



The pacou is a handsome ftsh and is shaped much like our English 

 brown bream. His sides are delicately tinged with red. His handsome 

 appearance does not detract from his virtues when cooked. Properly pre- 

 pared, fresh pacou is something to be remembered. 



The following morning we cruised about at some distance from 

 our camp bit I had little sport. My companion, however, caught a 

 brace of five pounders and another smaller lukanani in the afternoon. 



