THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 301 



rolled by, the water was too shallow for the Shark 

 to swim. The remains, therefore, were taken into 

 the canoe, and brought ashore. The water was 

 so much stained by the blood, that we discovered 

 a red tinge in all the foaming billows, as they 

 approached the beach. 



"The unhappy sufferer was an active lad about 

 fourteen years old, who left my door only about 

 half an hour previous to the fatal accident. I saw 

 his mother, in the extremity of her anguish, plunge 

 into the water, and swim towards the bloodjr spot, 

 entirely forgetful of the power of her former 

 god."* 



"A number of people, perhaps a hundred, were 

 at this time playing in the surf, which was higher 

 than usual. Those who were nearest to the vic- 

 tim, heard him shriek, perceived him to strike with 

 his right hand, and at the same instant saw a Shark 

 seize his arm. Then followed the cry which I 

 heard, which echoed from one end of Latraina to 

 the other. All who were playing in the water made 

 the utmost speed to the shore, and those who were 

 standing on the beach saw the surf-board of the 

 unhappy sufferer floating on the water, without any 

 one to guide it. When the canoe reached the spot, 

 they saw nothing but the blood with which the 

 water was stained for a considerable distance, and 

 by which they traced the remains whither they 

 had been carried by the Shark or driven by the 

 swell. The body was cut in two by the Shark, just 



* The Shark was formerly worshipped in the Sandwich Islands. 



2 C 



