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139. — Aulun biliya (Sinhalese). 
Locality : Ambalangoda, and also at Kalmunai (Eastern 
Province) by Sinhalese fishermen. 
Description : A hook 8 inches long on the end of a short 
pole 3 feet long (see Fig. 36). Used for pulling large fish into 
the boat after being caught on a line. 
Fig. 36. — Aulun biliya. 
140. — Manda or Mantha (Tamil). 
Locality : East coast, and also all around the coast. 
Description : A pole 9 feet long bearing at its end a releas- 
able 2-pronged fork (see Fig. 39). Each prong bears a single 
barb (Fig. 38). The prongs are about 9 inches long. 
Method of Use : The Manda is used at night for spearing 
fish from a canoe. On the canoe a small platform is con- 
structed, and this carries a broken uptiu'ned chattyfull of 
burning Avood. The fish are attracted by the bright light. 
Generally, two men are in the boat. One with a paddle sits 
in the stern, the other stands in the bow holding the 3Ianda 
in readiness to strike (see frontispiece). When a fish is stabbed 
the two -pronged head is carried awaj', but is prevented from 
being lost by being attached to the pole by a length of thin 
rope. 
In the Jaffna lagoon a Mantha is used for spearing Beche- 
de-mer. This differs from the one figured above in not 
having barbs on the prongs. There are many other variations 
of this implement. In Palk Strait a single pronged Manda is 
used for spearing chanks (see Figs. 40 and 41). 
