268 



INDIANS SHOOTING FISH. 



channel. We observe they stick fast in the sandy bottom more securely 

 than in the mud. 



While we breakfasted on young birds and eggs, wild cattle were seen 

 on the opposite bank of the river. These cattle have roamed down to 

 the territory of the savages. A number of palm-trees stand on the 

 banks, and the country appears to be getting more thickly wooded. An 

 alligator had driven a school of fish close to the bank, and, in the most 

 comfortable way possible, was making his breakfast. The fish were 

 crowded together ; they could not clear themselves from one another 

 so as to swim away. The alligator took full advantage of the difficulty. 

 Our crew saw what was going on some time before we rapidly neared 

 the school. The captain steered the canoe in about three feet of the 

 bank, cutting between the alligator and his mess. In an instant a 

 broadside of arrows were fired by the crew ; nearly every man struck 

 his fish. The fish were so frightened that numbers jumped out on dry 

 land, and several leaped into the bottom of the canoe. The Indians 

 laughed; became excited; kept on shooting. Some jumped on shore 

 and secured the game ; others ran up the bank, firing their arrows 

 through the crowded school. One man stripped himself, jumped into 

 the stream, and gathered in the quivering arrows as they floated down, 

 the feathered ends up, and struggling fish on the points. The crew 

 were most active and perfectly delighted at the number of fine fish they 

 had to help down their farinha. While the men broiled fish on sticks 

 and over hot coals of fire, or made a chowder with yuca, the alligator 

 indignantly rested on the opposite shore, now and then slowly wagging 

 his tail as he cleared the fish-bones from his teeth, but constantly eye- 

 ing the long, low, black canoe and the happy crew as they seated 

 themselves laughingly about the boiling iron pot. The fish were the 

 size of a smal^shad, shaped like them, except in mouth, and quite as 

 good eating. Our fears of starving in the wilderness are overcome. 

 We can travel a long way on fish, fowls, and eggs. 



These Indians talk very little. They silently pull along as though 

 they were sleeping, but their eyes are wandering all the time in every 

 direction. Nothing moves above the water's surface or among the 

 forest trees but they see it at once. They understand the habits and 

 customs of the animals perfectly. Knowing that the alligator keeps 

 accounts with the fish, when they see him, they are at once on the 

 look-out for sport. They know at what time in the evening the wild 

 turkey will appear on the bank of the river to drink before he goes to 

 roost, and when to look for him in the morning, as he feeds by early 

 light. The wild ducks sleep on the beach in the noonday sun ; then it 



