356 
NATIVE FISHING ARRANGEMENTS . [chap. xii. 
the limbs of reptiles; these looked like rudiments 
of legs. It had somewhat the appearance of an eel ; 
but, being oviparous, it can have no connexion with 
that genus. The natives had a most killing way of 
fishing with the hook and line for heavy fish. They 
arranged rows of tall bamboos, the ends stuck firmly 
in the bottom, in a depth of about six feet of water, 
and about five or ten yards apart. On the top of each 
was a lump of ambatch-wood about ten inches in 
diameter. Around this was wound a powerful line, 
and, a small hole being made in this float, it was 
lightly fixed upon the point of the bamboo, or fishing- 
rod. The line was securely attached to the bamboo, 
then wound round the large float, while the hook, 
baited with a live fish, was thrown to some distance 
beyond. Long rows of these fixed rods were set every 
morning by natives in canoes, and watchers attended 
them during the day, w 7 hile they took their chance by 
night. When a large fish took the bait, his first rush 
unhitched the ambatch-float from the point of the 
bamboo, which, revolving upon the water, paid out 
line as required. When entirely run out, the great size 
and buoyancy of the float served to check and to ex¬ 
haust the fish. There are several varieties of fish that 
exceed 200 lbs. weight. 
A number of people now arrived from the village, 
bringing a goat, fowls, eggs, and sour milk, and, beyond 
all luxuries, fresh butter. I delighted the chief, in return 
for his civility, by giving him a quantity of beads, and 
we were led up the hill towards Magungo. 
The day was beautifully clear. The soil was sandy 
and poor, therefore the road was clean and hard ; and, 
after the many days boating, we enjoyed the walk, and 
the splendid view that lay before us when we arrived 
at Magungo, and looked back upon the lake. We were 
about 250 feet above the water level. There were no 
longer the abrupt cliffs, descending to the lake, that 
we had seen in the south, but the general level of the 
country appeared to be about 500 feet above the water, 
