The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1885-06-01

as u iuCli ElNts llltll llpuls dliN WV
flesh is 4 rich food in its dried state.
When the fish orc eaten the bones
are swallowed. When they burn
them they take a pointed stick, in
sert it in the ground and make slit
in The other end, into which they
stick the fish and light it. There is
no trimming or smoking, and when
the light is no longer needed ii is
blown out and the remainder OF the
fish eaten. Sometimes the fish are
very abundant, and The surplus is
all made into oil that is used for
variety Of purposes by the natives.
What do they stow it in? Well,
Nature again comes to the rescue,
and they go to the ocean for their
bottles as we'll as their oil. One of
The greatest sesweeds that grows off
the coast has hollow stalk that is
about az large rs champagne
bottle; these arc cut in lengths
holding three pints or more, and
filed with oil. The c6ndle-fish is
allied to the smelt, and is known
scientifically as the Malicious Pacic-
Gus, and in former days was found
in the vicinity Of British Columbia
in vast numbers. The mouth OF tho
Columbis river 10 said to have been
q famous place for them, but the
great factories and the steamers
have gradually driven them off,
THAT there are only few places.
comparatively speaking, where great
numbers can be found.
"Therc is only one thing in the
way of fish that I have ever seen to
beat this,' added the traveller, lift
ing up the curious candle and waving
it about, showing that it was almost
impossible to put it out, land that
was in Africa, where they used a
live fish &, doctor. first observed
this peculiar cure practised on the
Old Malabar river, where 4 went
aeveral years ago on a collecting
tour. was awakened one night by
groans and cries, and got up to find
that child in the adjoining hut had
been taken sick. Upon going in to
see il 1 could do any ching, found
the woman filling great basin with
water, in which was placed catfish,
the one we know ~ Malapterus
Electrieus-which they took from a
gourd that served as an aquarium.
Into the water the child WAS forced.
Then it was made to pick up the
fish. That it received shock was
| evident, &C it dropped the fish and
screamed all the louder. But the
woman made it take hold Of it again.
Whether it did any good or not am
unable to say; anyhow, the child
stopped crying and seemed better
perhaps the fish benumbed it."
"Then it was electric?" said the
visitor.
Certainly" was the reply. "I'
was the electric catfish, common in
African rivers. When first taker
they give quite a powerful shock
The next morning 1 made some in.
quiries and found that the catfish
was a sort of African soothing syrup
given babies quite regularly, and tc
any one else who happened to need
dose. As soon as a native chile
began to complain tub was brought
out and several Of the fish caught
if they were not on hand, and the
child was made to get in and play
with the fish. Not only do they dc
it to cure the sick, but in some tribes
the mothers, when washing their in
fants in the morning, invariably
made them take shock by touching
the fish; this, they said, made thu
babe grow to a strong man. Thu
children, however, strongly objected
to it, and the yelling and squallins
when the fishes were brought on
were appalling. The children arr
also made to drink the water, ant
finally the electric fish is eaten; 81
that the remedy is veritable cure
all, and can be taken externally o
internally as the case may be. ~
| y Tl.jbnDe