i86 A VOYAGE TO Book IV. 



for making the neceflary repairs. When the com- 

 munication is opened with the provinces of the Cor- 

 dilleras, and the cattle iDegin to return into the plains, 

 they carry their filh to the cuftom-houfe of Babahoyo, 

 where they fell it; and, with the produce, purchafe 

 bays, tucuyo, and other fluffs, for cloathing themfclves 

 and families. 



Their method of fifhing is thus : Having moored 

 their Balza near the mouth of a creek, they take their 

 canoes, with fome harpoons and fpears, and on fight 

 of a fifh make towards it, till they arrive at a proper 

 diftance, when they throw their fpear at it with fuch 

 dexterity, that they feldom mil's j and if the place 

 abounds in fifh, they load their canoes in three or four 

 hours, when they return to their balzas to fait and cure 

 them. Sometimes, efpecially in places where the creeks 

 form a kind of lake, they make ufe of a certain herb 

 called Barbafco, which they chew, mbc with fome bait, 

 and fcatter about on the water. The juice of this 

 herb is fo ftrong, that a fifli on eating a very little of 

 it becomes inebriated, fo as to float on the furface of 

 the water, when the Indians have no other trouble than 

 to take them up. This juice is a<5l:ual]y fatal to the 

 fmaller fifli, and the larger do not recover for fome 

 time; and even thefe, if they have eat a confidera- 

 ble quantity, perifli. It is natural to think, that filh 

 caught in this manner muft be prejudicial to health ; 

 but experience proves the contrary, and accordingly 

 the moll timorous make no difficulty of eating them. 

 Their next method of fifhing is with nets ; when they 

 form themfelves into companies, for the better mai- 

 nagement of them. 



The large fl fort of fifh caught here is called Bagre, 

 fome of which are a yard and a half long-, but flab- 

 by, and of an ill taile, fo that they are never eaten 

 frefli. The Robalo, a fort of Jarge trout, is the riioft 

 palatable j but being only taken in the creeks a great 



way 



V 



