152 
them, men, women, and children being 
employed I have known them catch 
one hundred at a draught. The fish 
are afraid of the line, and when enclo¬ 
sed, taken by a scoopnet. After taking 
a sufficient quantity, they go on shore 
to prepare for cooking them, which is 
done by digging a large hole in the 
earth, filling it with wood, covered with 
stones. The wood is then consumed, 
which heats the stones—the fish are 
wrapped in leaves to prevent them from 
falling to pieces, then covered with green 
leaves, and cooked by the heat of the 
stones. About an hour is required to 
cook them sufficient for eating. Their 
manner of curing fish, is, to split them 
and dry them in the sun, without using 
salt. Thus cured, they will keep some 
time. While we were employed in fish¬ 
ing, Lay came to the Island, in compa¬ 
ny with a native, to visit me ; but did 
not stay long, for the chief sent for him* 
fearing, as I afterwards found out, that 
they should lose us. From some hints 
that had been dropped, a report had got 
