70 Timehri. 



mistake the red colour of the spoon for one of their favourite seeds 

 which float down the river and, being unable to grasp the spoon 

 with such a small mouth, occasionally get foul-hooked. 



When the river is low the Indians secure large numbers of this fish 

 by isolating a suitable area of water in a convenient place by encircling 

 it with large stones placed close together and then poisoning the fish thus 

 imprisoned. We encountered such a spot on our journey upstream. 

 Another method, which requires greater skill, is to carefully ' mash ' 

 the ripe fruits of a plant not unlike the sapodilla in appearance and 

 which abounds in this river. This bait is then carefully placed in a 

 rough ' buch ' basket so constructed that the fish can nibble at the fruit 

 without securing any large quantity. The basket is then suspended 



ust beneath the surface of the water in a likely place and the Indian 

 waits motionless at a short distance off. The odour of the fruit is 

 rapidly carried down stream and speedily attracts any pacou in the 



vicinity. 



By dint of ' following his nose ' the fish soon arrives at the bas- 

 ket and after a careful inspection — for the pacou is a most suspicious 

 fish—he commences to feed. At this critical moment the Indian 

 launches an arrow and almost invariably secures his prey. He then 

 awaits the advent of another. A very particular point about this pro- 

 ceeding is that the bait must be handled as little as possible other- 

 wise the pacou will detect the trap and depart. 



A similar method is practised by paring the kernels of freshly fallen 

 mora seeds and allowing the particles to fall in the water close to the 

 river bank. 



I now come to the most exciting episode of the whol? trip. 

 According to our usual custom, while breakfast was being prepared, 

 we chartered the small boat and went some distance up stream to 

 some likely looking rocks for fishing. We were busy casting and I 

 had just recovered my bait from the water and was about to step 

 back from the water's ed^e when something prompted me to glance 

 over my shoulder. What I siw gave me a rude shock, and I experi- 

 enced that uncomfortable crawling sensation along the scalp of the 

 head which is usually associated with one's hair ' standing on end.' 

 There, directly behind me, lyiug in a depression of the rock, was an 

 immense water camoodie ! 



I hastily retreated some yards and called to my companions. 

 Together we approached the serpent and cautiously surveyed it. 

 Luckily the brute was fast asleep but with a shudder I could imagine 

 the rude awakening and violent surprise of both parties had I stepped 

 backwards. 



We quickly despatched a man for the gun and on his arrival Mr. 

 Cole boldly approached, and, having administered a dig with the muzzle of 



