The Sooloo Archipelago. 141 



dredge along, and is attached to what may be termed 

 the handle at each end of the stone A, (See Fig. 9) a 

 second line being made fast to the upper part of the 

 rake, where another but smaller stone is attached, and 

 by the second line the " bajak'^ is carefully lowered 

 to the bottom. This line is left adrift and is used 

 to detach the rake from any impediment that it may 

 foul in its course. The long rattan rope is made fast 

 with a bridle to each end of the canoe, which, 

 drifting 'thwartships in the strong tideway, drags 

 the dredge slowly along, resting not on the points 

 of the teeth, but on the curve of the rake, so 

 that the points are free in an almost horizontal 

 position. On their entering the gaping shell, the 

 oyster instantly closes tightly on the intruder, and 

 effects its own capture. 



The inhabitants of Siassi, Tapul and Lamenusa 

 adopt this plan of deep dredging. 



The third method is expressed by the word 

 ^^ tong tong'' and consists of peering down into the 

 clear water under the shadow of the universal broad 

 brimmed leaf hat. The shell when distinguished is 

 carefully scooped up by the " bajak.'' Certain men 

 in each town are particularly proficient in this test 

 of the eyes, and the bottom can often be seen at 

 a depth of thirteen fathoms. 



Throughout the Sooloo Archipelago the tides 



