ark tied at both ends with vines, and the edge of it
but just above the surface of the water, she pushes out regardless of
the elements, if they be but commonly agitated. While she paddles to
the fishing-bank, and while employed there, the child is placed on her
shoulders, entwining its little legs around her neck and closely grasping
her hair with its hands. To its first cries she remains insensible, as she
believes them to arise only from the inconvenience of a situation, to which
she knows it must be inured. But if its plaints continue, and she supposes
it to be in want of food, she ceases her fishing and clasps it to her
breast. An European spectator is struck with horror and astonishment at
their perilous situation, but accidents seldom happen. The management of
the canoe alone appears a work of unsurmountable difficulty, its breadth is
so inadequate to its length. The Indians, aware of its ticklish formation,
practise from infancy to move in it without risk. Use only could reconcile
them to the painful position in which they sit in it. They drop in the
middle of the canoe upon their knees, and resting the buttocks on the
heels, extend the knees to the sides, against which they press strongly,
so as to form a poise sufficient to retain the body in its situation, and
relieve the weight which would otherwise fall wholly upon the toes. Either
in this position or cautiously moving in the centre of the vessel, the
mother tends her child, keeps up her fire (which is laid on a small
patch of earth), paddles her boat, broils fish and provides in part the
subsistence of the day. Their favourite bait for fish is a cockle.

The husband in the mean time warily moves to some rock, over which he can
peep into unruffled water to look for fish. For this purpose he always
chooses a weather shore, and the various windings of the numerous creeks
and indents always afford one. Silent and watchful, he chews a cockle and
spits it into the water. Allured by the bait, the fish appear from beneath
the rock. He prepares his fish-gig, and pointing it downward, moves it
gently towards the object, always trying to approach it as near as
possible to the fish before the stroke be given. At last he deems himself
sufficiently advanced and plunges it at his prey. If he has hit his mark,
he continues his efforts and endeavours to transpierce it or so to entangle
the barbs in the flesh as to prevent its escape. When he finds it secure
he drops the inst