64 
CANTON RIYEii. 
fishes tliat fiy or suspend tliemsclves we are all 
familiar ; and that certain denizens of the dee]) are 
enabled, by means at present unknown, to produce 
sounds under water, is a fact no less certain, being 
well kno^vn to sea-faring men. Captain Ward tells 
me that the drum ” is familiar to the inhabitants 
of Charlestown in South Carolina, When he was 
lying off that place in the “ Thunder,^' mysterious 
humming sounds were heard from time to time pro- 
ceeding from the bottom of the ship. These sounds 
were generally ascribed to insects in the spirit-room. 
One day, however, some ladies visited the ship, and 
on hearing the peculiar 'vdbrating noise, exclaimed. 
Ah, there's the drum-fish ! " They described it as 
of large size, and declared the roe Avas considered 
a great delicacy. 
hor many folloAving months we remained anchored 
in various portions of the Canton Eiver, and took 
advantage of our stay to explore several places of 
interest, notwithstanding the known treachery of 
the natives, and the desultory kind of warfare 
Ave AATre noAv engaged in. I accompanied on one 
