344 PAUMOTU GROUP. 
of the lagoon, so much so, that a boat cannot pull against it. The 
entrance is from five to eight fathoms deep, but there is no advantage 
in entering, as the reef is quite as steep within. A small vessel may 
anchor on the outside, in ten fathoms, close to the shore. This island 
is nearly of the shape of an equilateral triangle, and its southern and 
eastern sides are formed by a submerged reef. It is fifteen miles on 
each side. 
The chief, on our second visit, was at first not altogether free from 
alarm at the sight of so many persons on shore ; but each one bring- 
ing himself, his wife, or people, some small present, soon reconciled 
him to their presence. Among the sailors he contrived to get some 
grog, which intoxicated him, and he became of a most joyous tem- 
perament and full of affection. 
The way of catching fish practised here is quite amusing, and to it 
we owe the many specimens in that department of natural history 
which we obtained. The natives enjoy the sport amazingly, and both 
old and young are all in some way participators in it. Near the 
mouth of the lagoon are laid some coral stones, forming a rude 
and shallow pen, with a channel leading to it ; several natives proceed 
about one-third of a mile up the beach of the lagoon, where they 
enter the water, ranging themselves in a row, the tallest in the 
deepest water. They then move along down towards the pen, quite 
noiselessly at first, driving the fish before them. As they approach, 
they begin to splash and make a noise, which gradually increases, 
until it becomes one continued shout. They then contract them- 
selves towards the pen, and the fish are seen jumping and dashing 
in all directions, as if very much alarmed, until they are forced to 
cuter the pen, which is then closed with a few stones, after which 
they begin to spear them with great dexterity, and many were 
obtained. It was gratifying to witness the pleasure both old and 
young appeared to take in this employment, and quite surprising that 
the fish do not escape over the low wall that surrounds them, but 
two or three inches above the water, but they appear bewildered. 
The natives regretted that their success was so small, and imputed 
it to the water being too high. Some fresh water may be obtained 
here. The spring or pond is on the west side of the entrance. 
What the natives had in their cocoa-nut shells was sweet. It is, 
however, in no great abundance. 
Many specimens were added here to our collections. This was 
one of the islands in which I attempted to sound the lagoon. We 
began at the entrance, but found within a very short distance, that 
