CATHING FISH. 
265 
Two men usually accompany each canoe, one to 
attend to the fire, and keep it always burning brightly, 
and the other to guide the canoe and spear the fish. 
As soon as the fire begins to blaze up the scene 
becomes most beautiful. The low black looking 
piece of bark floats noiselessly down the middle of 
the stream, or stealthily glides under the frowning 
clifls, now lit up by a brilliant light. In the bow 
is seen the dark, naked, but graceful form of the 
savage, standing firm and erect, and scarcely seem- 
ing to move, as with the slightest motion of his 
arms he guides the frail canoe. His spear is grasped 
in his hand, whilst his whole attitude and appearance 
denote the most intense vigilance and attention. 
Suddenly you see his arm uplifted, and the weapon 
descending with the rapidity of thought, a splash is 
seen, a struggle heard, and a fish is slowly and 
cautiously drawn towards the canoe pierced through 
with the spear. If it is a large one, the native at 
once plunges into the water, still retaining his hold 
of the spear, and soon reappears with the trophy in 
his arms. 
Among the rocks under the cliffs, or among logs or 
roots of trees, or on a clayey bottom, large fresh-water 
lobsters (poo-ta-ron-ko) are procured in the same 
way, weighing from two to four pounds each, and of 
a most delicate and excellent flavour. I have fre- 
quently been out with a single native, and seen 
him spear from ten to sixteen of these in an hour 
or two. 
