But patience, solemn silence, and the avoidance of
anything like sudden movements, are among the principal rules to be
observed.
In passing, on the point of the turtle endeavouring to rid itself of the
sucker, a European pearl-sheller told me of a unique experience that
befell him in Torres Straits. Groping along the bottom, pushing his way
against an impetuous current, he was almost knocked down by a move-on
sort of shove. Instinctively his hand clutched the life-line, when he
was again pushed disrespectfully, and in the greenish light saw that a
monstrous turtle was using him as the afflicted Scotch were said to use
the stones set up by the humane and sympathetic Duke of Argyle, and
without so much as invoking a blessing.
A "KUMMAORIE"
Having caught their turtle and brought it ashore, and having seen the
extent to which the tail of the sucker (which has been faithful to its
host to the death) has been cut by the line, and having decided that it
will do one time more and put it back in the water tethered, or "that
fella no good now," and cast it callously on the sand, to writhe about
until dead, the blacks proceed to the cooking. Possibly the camp decides
upon a "Kummaorie.
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