POLES FOR BOATS. 167 



partly for use in the champan, and partly 

 for sale at Honda. These are made of a 

 peculiar tree, which they know by the 

 leaf, and the stems of which are perfectly 

 straight, and four or five inches in circum- 

 ference ; they scorch them over a fire, after 

 which the bark peels easily. The head is 

 formed of a tri-forked piece of wood, nearly 

 in the form of a Y, the lower limb of which 

 they cut to a fine point ; they then bore a 

 hole in the end of the pole, parallel with 

 which they make several slits ; then bind 

 the end neatly and firmly with strips of 

 strong bark, and the hole being thus much 

 diminished, the point is driven in with great 

 force : with this they are very expert in 

 catching hold of branches or trunks of trees, 

 resting against which they run from stem to 

 stern, pushing the canoe forward. After 

 sunset, we landed in an island, and made 

 a large bonfire. 



