The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-14

green and 10 every house. Inere Is more
shouting as the men and women drag
their canoes down into the water. now
very SHALLOW in the lagoon. III wbite
people are gazing for the fishing. they
must share a seat in a canoe. for where
the palolo rise in the reef the water at
this stage will be too shallow for boat.
With more shouts the fleet announces
its readiness. and then begins a boat
song. In the singing OF which all the feet
joins. TO the tune OF this song the pad
dies dig the dark sea, scarcely lighted
by the flag end of the old moon. still far
down in the eastern sky.
THE SAME OBJECT
The Oldest OF the wise old men lead the
way. Each one has certain spot in
mind where the worms arise most
abundantly. and to each old man Is at
tached a faction which intends to reap
the advantage of his experience. From
many other villages canoe fleets are max
ing for the same small extent OF reef
The lagoon Is nlled with the harmonies
of the boat songs. which always sound
best when the time is marked by the
snap OF the loom OF the paddle against
the side of the canoe. That gives a
chance for the expression Of their
staccato character. which Is lost when
the singers are timed by the swinging OF
an oar. AS the many fleets draw near
the chosen stretch Of reef tho confusion
in the dim moonlight becomes great and
steadily greater. Each one strives 10
get into some particularly favored pool
and mas to meet the gOOd-naturcd deter
mnatiOn Of others 10 keep him out.
There is loud calling, shouts. laughter,
abundant noise of good humOr. From
every side in the darkness rise shrieks
suddenly cut short as some canoe Is
overturned and its occupants are spilled.
possibly into shallow water, possibly in
TO some deep pool among the coral
shrubbery.its all one 20 the islander,
who is as much at home in the water as
on the ground. Children on their crazy
rats Of bamboo push out recklessly TO
the very edge OF the reef, where the
ocean waves are breaking. and some un-
expected larger wave lifts the raft and
carries them out 70 sea in an uncOmfort-
able plight. from which they must be
rescued or else their frail craft falls 70
pieces under them and they must swim
and wade ashore. All is loud noise and
good temper. Canoes may get in the
way Of other canoes, the rats OF the
youngsters may be- a nuisance half the
feet may be capsized in succession, but
there is ne note Of quarrelling. All are
OUT Tor pleasure as we'll as fishing, and
they are bound 20 take IL as IL comes.
AFTER GOOD PLACES
With an this shouting and scrambiing
and duckng the fleets OF canoes manage
TO get into chosen places and 10 keep
IN the places already won by much ma
nOeuvring. There Is a vOlley OF shouts
90 find where this one is and where that
Late corners are hailed with derisive
calls and jeering shouts, as they try 10
wedge themselves i'm among the earlier
corners. Some one too eagerly scanning
the surface of the water for signs OF the
palolo capsizes a canOe-they do go over
with wonderful ease. despite the out.
rigger-and then the whole reef' resounds
with questions as 20 whether he expects
TO dive for the worms or not. As tho
time goes on in the darkness the tide
goes out and out until 1t seems as II 1t
could get no lower The sea grows more
and more lumpy as still more sprays Of
coral are laid bare and tho pools become
more and more confined. These signs
cause a hush of expectation with which
10 is natural and human TO await the
coming OF something that takes place
only at long interyls The old men who
are the leaders In the fishery pass orders,
which are repeated from canoe I'm whis-
pers. that an sound shall cease. lest the
worms Doe frightened out Cf their annual
appearance profound belief OF this
fishery not supported by any evidence
There is now no sound but the booming
conclusions of the waves on the seward
side OF the reef and the soft swish OF
some net lightly swept over the surface
Of the water by some one eager 10 be
the FIRST TO find the favorite worm.
one moment q is certain that the sur
face Of the lagoon IS empty, the sweep
ing nets bring nothing, the sharpest eyes
can see nothing but the black water
Then some one starts a shout that the
palOlo has come TO the surface. Before
he can finish his call It is swallowed up
I'm the shouts from every canoe along
the reef In the same instant the worms
have appeared the lagoon IS blotched
with great masses OF them where a NOM
ent before there was nothing and the
fishermen use the shallow nets like
shOyels and scoop them into the canoes
as fast as the arms can move. II Is not
necessary 20 go in search Of the worms
If one is on a spot whore they rise at
all. As fast as they are scoOped from
the surface others rise and may be
scooped mp I'm turn. They seem 20 rise
entirely within the space OF a quarter Of
an hour. for after that time has elapsed
q pool scoopcd clean remains empty Of
the worms. There Is something uncanny
I'm a. The moonlight Is dim and faint the
surface OF the lagoon looks dimly dark
and f0rbiddng, there is noaa sign Of life
In the water Suddenly il is alive with
an order of life which % civilized thought
IS a repulsive reminder Of death and cor
ruption alive with worms whose craw-
ling and wrigg.ing motion many people
cannot endure 20 look upon. But there
is no time 10 think over the mystery Of
their origin or % feel that-they are a
repusiye order Of life. There IS the
sound Of many voices shouting joyfuly.
and many arms are sweeping small nets
over the water and gathering the dainty
food which is 20 be had only one day in
the year and Is all the more reished for
its rarity.
TWO HOURS FISHING.
For Just about a quarter OF an hour
tho worms rise 10 the surface II left
untouched by the fisher people they re-
main for about an hour on the surface
and then disappear as suddenly as they
anne Thus IL is quite correct 20 say that
tho whole fishery Is comprised within
two hours once year As soon as the
FIRST gray OF dawn begins.to pale in the /
east the last palolO vanishes into the |
mystery from which IL has emerged for |
80 brief a space and In such u marvellous |
fashion.
Now II IS quite safe to predicate OF the !
Samoan that ne does not get up In the |
middle OF the night and 80 fishing for /
these worms solely because they are an /
ahartr~o fraaLr ~ natural history Thara !