1851.] 
PICKLING A COW-FISH. 
331 
1 closest examination discover any more, A huge pan of 
brine had been made by dissolving salt in boiling water, 
and as some of it was now cool I commenced filling with 
a funnel ; when instantly, notwithstanding all our labour, 
I' 
I out trickled the liquid by a. dozen unperceived holes, 
I most of them situated close to, or beneath the hoops, 
i These last could not be plugged, so I pushed in tow 
I and rag under the hoops, to be afterwards pitched over, 
' With the filling and plugging we were occupied all day ; 
' holes constantly appearing in fresh places and obsti- 
j nately refusing to be stopped. Nothing would adhere 
I to the wet surface, so the upper part of the cask had to 
I be dried, covered with pitch, then with cloth, and then 
again well pitched over. Then rolling over the barrel, 
I another leaky portion was brought to the top, and treated 
in the same manner. After great labour, all seemed 
i complete, yet numerous little streams still appeared ; but 
j as they were very small, and their sources quite undis- 
I coverable, I left them in despair, trusting that the salt 
j or the swelling of the wood would stop them. By the 
I time I got the cask carried up to the house and depo- 
!: sited in charge of Senhor Joao till my return, it was 
|! dusk : and so finished two most disagreeable days’ work 
I- with the Peixeboi. Senhor Joao had prepared me a pot 
l| of meat and sausages preserved in the oil, which I em- 
I barked, and got all ready to leave the next morning, as I 
I had now been delayed a week of most valuable time. 
I I left him also a box containing four species of turtles, 
I which I had stuffed here and on my voyage. 
Continuing our journey, nothing particular occurred 
but several storms of rain and wind, accompanied with 
I 
