MUSCLE. 
5 6 ; 
stormy days may intervene ; Hindoo and Ma- 
hometan festivals (which are never neglected on 
any account by the natives) may engage the divers ; 
and many of the people, being Roman Catholics, 
leave off work on Sundays to attend to their religious 
duties. 
The boats employed in the fishery come from 
different parts of the Continent, from whence they 
all repair to Condatchy, where they are numbered 
and contracted for. During the season all the 
boats regularly sail and return together. A signal- 
gun is fired about ten at night, when the whole 
fleet sets sail with a land breeze. They reach the 
bank before day-break, and at sun-rise begin fish- 
ing. Thus they continue employed till about 
noon, when the sea-breeze arises and warns them 
to return home. The owners are informed that the 
boats are within sight of land by the firing of a 
second gun. Colours are likewise hoisted, and the 
anxious merchants repair to the shore to welcome 
their arrival and take out the cargoes, as it is ne- 
cessary to have the boats completely unloaded be- 
fore night. Mr. Percival assures us, that however 
the day’s adventure may turn out, the owners sel- 
dom appear to be disappointed ; for although they 
may have been unsuccessful one day, they trust 
with the greatest confidence to the next, as the 
Bramins and conjurors, whom they implicitly trust 
in defiance of all experience, understand too well 
the liberality of men in hopes of a good fortune, 
not to promise them all they can desire. 
