FISHING-CANOES. 87 



spear being attached to a rope made of the young leaves of the 

 palmyra, the animal can not rid himself of the canoe, attached to 

 him in whale fashion, except by smashing it, which he not unfre- 

 quently does by his teeth or by a stroke of his hind foot. 



On returning to the Bakuratse, we found that their canoes for 

 fishing were simply large bundles of reeds tied together. Such a 

 canoe would be a ready extemporaneous pontoon for crossing any 

 river that had reedy banks. 



