GAME FISHES OP SOUTH AMEEIOA 



indefinite meaning ; but some of the fishing is very picturesque. 

 Thus at Altar Do Chao and up the Topajos, the natives go out 

 at night with lighted torches, harpooning the Pescada, the Cichila, 

 and many more. Fish are taken here also by crushing the vine 

 known as Timbo in the water, which has a disastrous effect on 

 the fishes, bringing them to the sm-face where they are easily 

 taken in nets. H. W. Bates thus refers to the fishes : 



' The port swarmed with fishes, whose movements it was amusing to 

 watch in the deep, clear water. The most abundant were the Piranhas. 

 One species which varied ia length, according to age, from two to six laches, 

 but was recognisable by a black spot at the root of the tail, was always the 

 quickest to seize any fragment of meat thrown into the water. When 

 nothing was being given to them, a few only were seen scattered about, 

 their heads aU turned one way in an attitude of expectation ; but as 

 soon as any offal fell from the canoe, the water was blackened with the 

 shoals that rushed instantaneously to the spot. Those who did not 

 succeed in securing a fragment, fought with those who had been more 

 successful, and many contrived to steal the coveted morsels from their 

 mouths. When a bee or fly passed through the air near the water, they 

 all simultaneously darted towards it as if roused by an electric shock. 

 Sometimes a larger fish approached, and then the host of Piranhas took 

 the alarm and flashed out of sight. The population of the water varied 

 from day to day. Once a small shoal of a handsome black-banded fish, 

 called by the natives Acara bandeira (Mesonavta insignis, of Giinther), 

 came ghding through at a slow pace, forming a very pretty sight. At 

 another time, Uttle troops of needle-fish, eel-hke animals with excessively 

 long and slender toothed jaws, sailed through the field, scattering before 

 them the hosts of smaller fry ; and in the rear of the needle-fishes a strange- 

 shaped kind called Sarapo came wrigghng along, one by one, with a slow 

 movement. We caught with hook and hne, baited with pieces of banana, 

 several Curimata {Anodits Amazonum), a most deUcious fish, which, next 

 to the Tucunare and Pescada, is most esteemed by the natives. The 

 Curimata seemed to prefer the middle of the stream, where the waters 

 were agitated beneath the little cascade.' 



Many of the Indians have dances pertaining to the fishes. 

 One fish dance is called the Pira-purass6ya, in which each player 

 takes the name of a fish, as the Jaraki. 



The Tocantins catch their fish in the clear waters with bow 

 and arrow. I have essayed this on small fishes in the shallow 



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