LAKE FISHERMEN. 447 



the crew spring out, without an idea of consulting anything but their own 

 convenience. Obeying only impulse, and being wholly deficient in order or 

 arrangement, they make the voyage as uncomfortable as possible. They have 

 no regular stages, and no fixed halting times ; they will waste a fine cool 

 morning, and pull through the heat of the day, and doze throughout the day, 

 and at the cry of Pakira Bala ! — (pack up, hearties!) — they will rush into their 

 canoes after midnight. Outward bound, they seem to seek opportunities for 

 delay ; homeward, they hurry with precipitous haste. Arrived at their des- 

 tination, there is a general concert — vocal and instrumental, while the captains 

 perform a solemn and bear-like dance upon the mat-covered benches — the 

 apology for a quarter-deck ; and when touching at places where they have 

 friends, the crews rattle their paddles against the canoe sides, in token of 

 greeting; an imitation, probably, of the ceremonious address which is per- 

 formed by knocking the elbows against the ribs. Finally, the voyage con- 

 cluded, they enter their homes by daylight with much pomp and ceremony, 

 noise, and jollity, and are not sober for the next fortnight. 



" The Lakists generally are an almost amphibious race, excellent divers, 

 strong swimmers, and fishermen. At times, when excited by the morning 

 coolness and by the prospect of a good haul, they indulge in a manner of 

 merriment, which resembles the gambols of sportive water-fowls : standing 

 upright, and balancing themselves on their hollow logs, which appear but little 

 longer than themselves, they strike the water furiously with their paddles, 

 skimming over the surface, dashing to and fro, splashing one another, urging 

 forward, backing and wheeling their craft, now capsizing, then regaining their 

 position with wonderful dexterity. They make coarse hooks, and have many 

 varieties of nets and creels. Conspicuous on the waters, and in the villages, 

 is the Dewa, or * otter ' of Oman, a triangle of stout reeds, which shows the 

 position of the net. A stronger variety, and used for the larger ground-fish, 

 is a cage of open basket-work, provided, like the former, with a bait and two 

 entrances. The fish once entangled cannot escape, and a log of wood, used 

 as a ' trimmer,' attached to a float of rushy plants, directs the fisherman. The 

 heaviest fish are caught by a rope-net, weighted and thrown out between two 

 boats. They have circular frames of lath, meshed in with a knot somewhat 

 different from that generally used in Europe ; the smaller kind is thrown from 

 the boat by a single man, who follows it into the water — the larger, which 

 reaches six feet in diameter, is lowered from the bow by cords, and collects 

 the fish attracted by the glaring torch fire. The Wajiji also make big and 

 little drag nets, some let down in a circle by one or more canoes, the others 

 managed by one or two fishermen, who, swimming at each end, draw it in 

 when ready. They have diminutive purse-nets to catch small fry, hoops 

 thrust into a long stick-handle, through the reed walls that line the shore ; 

 and by this simple contrivance the fish are caught in considerable quantities, 



