St. Landry democrat., 1888-05-26

were then thoroughly baked in a rud
stone oven built on the beach an
packed in the canoes as bait Will
this was being done two of the large
canoes were dashed together by the
"outrlggers" SO as to make one doubl
canoe. On the interlocked outrigeer
platform was built, and on this wer
arranged piles of bait and a stron
, line. With the bait was stored two O
three bundles of "awa" (the root Q
the piper methystichum, which, bein,
chewed is Supplying in its effect)
Gourds filled with fresh water wer
also provided, and finally, when tn,
heet were ready to SAIL an ancien
"hahuna' (half-priest half-sorcerer'
appeared and examined everything
CRITICALLY. 1t was his province, by hi.
lamentations, to prevent the dreadful
man-eater from devouring any of the
fishermen, and SO the doctor took pains
TO have us specially mentioned in his
invocations
A swift, light double canoe was fitted
up for us, and four stalwart paddlers
assigned to the duty of keeping us in
the midst of the sport, and still out of
danger.
Every thing being in readiness, two
or three of the lighter canoes were
launched and their occupants padded
| out to sea to discover some signs of the
Wlshed-for man-eater, while we were
directed to be ready to embark at any
time. 1t might be a day or two before
the fishermen scouts would come across
the pro er indications of the presence
OF the niuhl That variety of the
shark tribe never comes voluntarily
into shallow water, but must always be
sought for q mile or two from land.
There he makes havoc among all other
kinds of fish, and his presence is indi-
Gated by the commotion among them.
So the Doctor and l leisurely dined
that afternoon on the broad veranda
overhanging the rlppling sea, and
lazlly sauntered through the grove of
palms and down hybicus-shaded, jas
mine-scented paths. bordered bv bril-
liant leafed crotons, watching through
thin clouds of tobacco, the simmer
and play of light of the setting sun on
the cleaning surf. Now and then we
would glance up to the sharply defined
peak of Diamond head, where seven
hundred feet above us, we knew the
sharp-eyed natives were watching for
the signal from the fishermen far out
at sea.
At last it came. When the western
sky was ablaze with the glory of a
tropical sunset shout went up from
the group of expectant fishermen on
the beach. They pointed to Diamond
head, where, clearly drawn against the
purple sky, was seen the naked figure
Of the Waterman fourishing his scar
let malo. or breech-cloth. which he
had torn off to signal with.
1t took us but a few moments to reach
our canoes and spring in. Immediately
our crew of paddlers forced the light
lulls into the water, and in another
we were darting over the
mooth water inside the reef in chase
Ifter the large double canoe, on the
platform of which sat the Kahuha,
wildly tossing his arms about and
loWling out dismal incarnation. AL.
he paddlers sat on the gunwales of
heir canoes and with vigorous rhythmic
trokes of their broad-bladed paddles
rove forward the vessels. Soon we
cit from the plunging motion that we
'ere on the inner edge of the breakers.
mother moment and the roar and hiss
the coming waves were upon us
glanced at the Doctor, and had Just 9
glimpse of him as he satlow down in
lie stern of his canoe, his muscular L
ands clutching firmly the edges of the !
aft, while from between his close-set q
eth depended his beloved meers- t
laum. Quick puffs of smoke betrayed t
IS excitement as the canoes reared t
Id plunged over the breakers, and
len we were gliding easily over the il
ne swell outside. n
Though it did not take us long to a
oSh ciO opOG "hclC bHC IIdH-CdUcF |
as known to be, yet night had fallen D
them, and it was by the light of s.
riches made of the baked kernels of the II
ndle-nut strung upon cocoa-leaf fiber a
at we drew near the fleet. As we o
d so the dip of paddles was noiseless, o
ID it was by signs alone that the ''lu-
> or head fisherman, gave direc- s.
ms to the rest. By the smoky, red Z
hit of the torches we could see men O
silly scattering about the baked meat &c
ey had brought, and also half-chewed al
orsels of the ava root. AS they did n
there was the CLEAN of the fins and 10
Is of hundreds of fish darting to and Gil
} for the food. Now and then a larger q
e than the rest, with sides glowing W
sh phosphorescent light, would dart al
long the smaller fry, scattering them a.
hit and left. al
They are the .mano- Kanake.,," u
ispered the Doctor 1--WE had both
lwled onto the platform of our
loe). "the shark-god Of the Ce
waiians. 1t is the kind they believe II
I'D assume the forms of human be- tn
- of will nd fl,oraf kbo,o113 l., | th