FISHES. 
35 
in securing the fish^ and who, taking them off 
the barbed point of the spear, passed the stalk 
of a rush through the gills, in order more con- 
veniently to carry them home.” Such a party 
is graphically represented in the above engraving, 
which is a fac-simile of an ancient Egyptian paint- 
ing. The fisher is spearing the Booltee {Ldbrus 
NUoticus), while other species of the same genus, 
and a Mormyrus {ScropJiicepJialus longipinnis, Sw.) 
are swimming beneath the boat, the latter easily 
recognisable by its lengthened snout. 
Among barbarous tribes the fish-spear is a 
favourite instrument. The North American 
Indian watches at a hole in the ice, with which 
the surface of his mighty lakes are covered in 
autumn, and strikes the fishes that play beneath ; 
or stations himself in summer in a rude frame 
over some narrow gorge, through which a torrent 
foams and roars, whence he spears the great lake- 
trout that are driven down by the rapids. In 
the South Sea Islands fishing with the barbed 
spear is a favourite amusement. Before the in- 
troduction of iron, the implement was made of 
hard wood ; ten or twelve pointed pieces being 
fastened to the end of a pole eight feet long ; but 
now iron heads are usually employed, barbed on 
one side. With these spears the natives proceed 
to the reef, and wade into the sea as high as their 
waists, their feet being defended from the sharp 
points of the coral, and the spines of the sea- 
urchins by sandals made of tough bark, twisted 
into cords. Stationing themselves near an open- 
ing in the rocks, they watch the motions of the 
fishes, as they shoot to and fro ; and dart the 
spear, sometimes with one hand, but more com- 
