234 MBUA BAY AND MUTIIUATA. 



six. These pots have the form of sugar-boilers, with broad rims, and 

 contain from one hundred to one hundred and fifty gallons. 



They are built in a row, in rude walls of stone and mud, about two 

 feet apart, and have sufficient space beneath them for a large fire. 

 The workmen stand on the walls to fill and empty the pots, and have 

 within reach a platform on which the fish is put after it has been 

 boiled. 



It requires two men to attend each pot, who relieve each other, so 

 that the work may go on night and day. They are provided with 

 skimmers and ladles, as well as fire-hooks, hoes, and shovels. 



No water is put into the pots, for the fish yield moisture enough to 

 prevent burning. 



The boiling occupies from twenty-five to fifty minutes, and the fish 

 remains about an hour on the platform to drain, after which it is 

 taken to the house, and laid to a depth of four inches upon the lower 

 batter. Thence at the end of twenty-four hours it is removed, as has 

 been stated, to the upper batter, where it is thoroughly dried in the 

 course of three or four days. Before it is taken on board ship, it is 

 carefully picked, when the damp pieces are separated, to be returned 

 to the batter. It is stowed in bulk, and when fit for that purpose 

 should be as hard and dry as chips. Great care must be taken to 

 preserve it from moisture. 



In the process of drying, it loses two-thirds both of its weight and 

 bulk, and when cured resembles a smoked sausage. In this state it 

 is sold by the picul, which brings from fifteen to twenty-five dollars. 



Captain Egleston had collected, in the course of seven months, 

 and at a trifling expense, a cargo of twelve hundred piculs, worth 

 about $25,000. 



The outfit for such a voyage is small, but the risk to be incurred is 

 of some moment, as no insurance can be effected on vessels bound to 

 the Feejee Group, and it requires no small activity and enterprise to 

 conduct this trade. A thorough knowledge of the native character 

 is essential to success, and it requires all possible vigilance on the 

 part of the captain of the vessel to prevent surprise, and the greatest 

 caution to avoid difficulties. Even with the exercise of these quali- 

 ties, he may often find himself and his crew in perilous positions. 



In order to lessen the dangers as much as possible, no large canoes 

 are ever allowed to remain alongside the vessel, and a chief of high 

 rank is generally kept on board as a hostage. When these precau- 

 tions have not been taken, accidents have frequently happened. 



