THE FEEJEE ISLANDERS. ■ 343 



fish the biche de mer on rocky coral bottoms by the light of the 

 moon or of torches, as they come forth by night to feed. The 

 most lucrative fisheries are on the northern side of Viti Levu. 

 They require a large building for drying, with rows of double 

 staging, on which reeds are placed. Slow fires are kept up by 

 natives underneath, about fifteen hands being required to do 

 the ordinary work of a house. 



Before beginning, the services of some chief must be secured, 

 who undertakes the building of the house, and sets his depen- 

 dants at work to fish. The usual price is a whale's tooth for a 

 hogshead of the animals just as they are taken on the reef; but 

 they are also bought with muskets, powder, balls, vermilion, 

 blue beads, and cotton cloth of the same colour. When the 

 animals are brought on shore, they are measured into bins 

 containing about fifty hogsheads, where they remain until next 

 day. They are then cut along the belly for a length of three or 

 four inches, taking care not to cut too deep, as this would cause 

 the fish to spread open, which would diminish its value. They 

 are then thrown into boilers, two men attending each pot, and 

 relieving each other, so that the work may go on night and day. 

 No water need be added, as the fish itself yields moisture enough 

 to prevent burning. After draining on a platform for about an 

 hour, they are taken to the house and laid four inches deep 

 upon the lower battens, and afterwards upon the upper ones, 

 where they remain three or four days. Before being taken on 

 board they are carefully picked, all damp pieces being removed. 

 They are stowed in bulk, and sold in Manilla or Canton by the 

 picul, which brings from fifteen to twenty-five dollars. In this 

 manner Captain Eagleston had collected in the course of seven 

 months, and at a trifling expense, a cargo of 1200 piculs, worth 

 about 25,000 dollars. The outfit is small, but the risk is great, 

 as no insurance can be effected ; and it requires no small activity 

 and enterprise to conduct this trade. A thorough knowledge of 

 native character is essential to success, and the utmost vigilance 

 and caution must always be observed to prevent surprise, or 

 avoid difficulties. 



No large canoes should ever be allowed to remain alongside 

 the vessel, and a chief of high rank should be kept on board as 

 a hostage. That these precautions are by no means unnecessary, 

 is proved by the frequent attempts of the savages to cut off 



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