POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
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and shrimps are taken in some parts, and frequently in 
the inland streams of fresh water. 
The finest shell-fish, however, is the turtle; it is occa¬ 
sionally met with in the lagoons of the Society Islands, 
but is more frequently taken on the low, coralline, sandy 
reefs in the neighbourhood. Tubai, and other low 
islands of this kind, a short distance from Borobora, are 
celebrated for the numbers and quality of the turtle they 
furnish. This fish was formerly considered sacred, and 
was cooked within the precincts of the temple, part being 
offered to the gods, and the remainder eaten only by 
sacred persons. It is now eaten indifferently by any one, 
though most of those caught by the people are taken as 
presents to the chiefs. 
The rivers furnish few fresh-water fish 3 eels are the 
principal, and they are very fine. Connected with the 
fresh-water fish, a phenomenon is often observed, for which 
the natives are puzzled to account. In the hollows of the 
rocks, and in other places, to which they suppose the sea 
and the river never gain access, and where the water col¬ 
lected is entirely what falls from the clouds, small but 
regularly formed fish are sometimes found. The people 
have frequently expressed their surprise at finding them, 
and appeared to wonder how they ever came there. 
They call them topataua, literally, rain-drop, suppos¬ 
ing they must have fallen from the clouds with the rain. 
Eels are great favourites, and are tamed, and fed till 
they attain an enormous size. Taaroarii had several in 
different parts of the island. These pets were kept in 
large holes, two or three feet deep, partially filled with 
water. On the sides of these pits, the eels formed or 
found an aperture in a horizontal direction, in which 
they generally remained, excepting when called by the 
