MBUA BAY AND MUTHUATA, 221 
taken to avoid cutting too deep, as this would cause the fish to spread 
open, which would diminish its value in the market. 
When taken out of the bins and cut, the fish are thrown into the 
boilers, which are large pots, of which each establishment has five or 
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 fFara twenty-five to fifty minutes, and the fish 
remains shout 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 pre- 
serve 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 Eagleston 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 qualities, 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 
T2 3 
