Old Samoan Days. 
185 
vegetation. The Vaisigago here was a noisy, 
brawling little stream, and at the head of the 
pool was a gorge, between the black, gloomy 
sides of which the bright, clear water came 
rushing down with many a swirl and hiss, and 
forming in a deep, rocky depression a miniature 
lake. Our carriers laid down their burdens, 
and waited whilst we sat on the edge of the 
pool, to enjoy for a few minutes, the pretty 
sight. The water was full of fish resembling 
English trout; and there were also two or three 
kinds of a small size, and precisely similar to 
those found in the rivers of Northern Australia. 
One of the natives went down into the creek, 
where the water was shallow, and groping with 
his hands under the boulders, caught two or 
three large shrimps : great fat, brown fellows, 
that jumped about in a most active manner 
when laid on the rocks beside us, making a 
peculiar snapping noise with their huge nippers. 
Taking one up, the native bit its head off, and 
then breaking the body into three or four pieces, 
desired Miss Hollister to throw them into the 
water. The instant the dismembered fragments 
touched the surface there was a rush of fish, and 
the glassy surface of the pool—for in the centre 
