THE GUIACAN DESCRIBED BY COLUMBUS. 447 



great Head, over which hangs a Skin like a Bag. This Pish is the Natives Fisher; for having a 

 Line or handsom Cord fastned about him, so soon as a Turtel, or any other of his Prey, comes 

 above Water, they give him Line; whereupon the Guaican, like an Arrow out of a Bowe, shoots 

 toward the other Fish, and then gathering the Mouth of the Bag on his Head like a Pursc-nct 

 holds them so fast, that he lets not loose till hal'd up out of the Water." ' 



'Narrative of Toyage of Columbus, in Ogilby's "America," 1671, p. 49 (with very curiona picture of Indian 

 fishing). 



