314 The Barracouta 



I described a confused sort of somersault, and struck 

 the water far astern of the canoe. For me the rest of 

 the episode, until I found myself again in the canoe, 

 vomiting gallons of sea-water, as it seemed, was one 

 hurly-burly of noise and rushing waters. I was told 

 that in their haste to rescue me the men had capsized 

 the canoe, which was but a trifle to these amphibia, 

 but had delayed things a bit. However, as soon as 

 I began to take an interest in mundane matters again 

 I felt considerable pride (although none of the credit 

 was mine) in seeing a Barracouta nearly five feet long 

 lying in the bottom of the canoe. And I learned with 

 deep satisfaction that evening that he had made 4s. 6cL. 

 for my fishermen, who had peddled him around the 

 town. From thenceforward, however, I was rigidly 

 debarred any participation in the chase of the Barra- 

 couta, earnestly as I pleaded for another opportunity. 



My next passage was to Kingston in a small schooner, 

 when a great deal depended upon our being able to 

 catch a Barracouta, for our provisions ran out, and we 

 were becalmed a long way off the land. But whether 

 it was owing to the light wind not giving the schooner 

 way enough through the water, or our clumsy attempts 

 to lure them, I know not, never a Barracouta could 

 we get hold of, although we saw many swimming 

 in their stealthy manner round and round our vessel. 



The only fish we caught was a shark, which was 

 immediately cut up and cooked. And although my 

 hunger was fierce, I have a vivid recollection of the 

 nauseating quality of that food — I can recall its horrible 

 flavour now, although it is thirty-three years ago 

 since I reluctantly ate it. After we had been in to 

 Savaima le Mar and replenished our stock of provisions, 

 and consequently had no need of fish, we caught 

 several fairly large specimens of Barracouta, by trailing 



