Seated on the branch of some overhanging tree, while his keen eye scans
the depths below, he watches for a large fish, and as it passes, he
lets fly his arrow with unerring aim, and impales the luckless victim.
Some tribes fish at night, by torchlight, spearing the fish who are
attracted by the light. In Nepaul the bark of the _Hill Sirres_ is
often used to poison a stream or piece of water. Pounded up and thrown
in, it seems to have some uncommon effect on the fish. After water has
been treated in this way, the fish, seemingly quite stupefied, rise to
the surface, on which they float in great numbers, and allow themselves
to be caught. The strangest part of it is that they are perfectly
innocuous as food, notwithstanding this treatment.

Fish forms a very favourite article of diet with both Mussulmans and
Hindoos. Many of the latter take a vow to touch no flesh of any kind.
They are called _Kunthees_ or _Boghuts_, but a _Boghut_ is more of an
ascetic than a _Kunthee_. However, the _Kunthee_ is glad of a fish
dinner when he can get it. They are restricted to no particular sect or
caste, but all who have taken the vow wear a peculiar necklace, made
generally of sandal-wood beads or _neem_ beads round their throats.
Hence the name, from _kunth_ meaning the throat.

The right to fish in any particular piece of water, is let out by the
proprietor on whose land the water lies, or through which it flows. The
letting is generally done by auction yearly. The fishing is called a
_shilkur_; from _shal_, a net. It is generally taken by some rich
_Bunneah_ (grain seller) or village banker, who sub-lets it in turn to
the fishermen.

In some of the tanks which are not so let, and where the native