302 THE OCEAN. 



above the hips; and the lower part, together with 

 the right arm, was gone."* 



A dreadful instance of the voracity of these for- 

 midable animals occurred a few years ago among 

 the Society Islands. Upwards of thirty natives were 

 passing from one island to another, in a large double 

 canoe, which consists of two canoes fastened toge- 

 ther, side by side, by strong horizontal beams, 

 lashed to the gunwales by cordage. Being overtaken 

 by a storm, the canoes were torn apart, and were 

 incapable, singly, of floating upright. In vain the 

 crew attempted to balance them — they were every 

 moment overturned. Their only resource was to 

 form a hasty raft of such loose boards and spars 

 as were in the craft, on which they hoped to drift 

 ashore. But it happened, from the small size of 

 their raft, and their aggregated weight, that they 

 were so deep in the water, that the waves washed 

 above their knees. Tossed about thus, they soon 

 became exhausted with hunger and fatigue; when 

 the Sharks began to collect around them, and soon 

 had the boldness to seize one and another from the 

 raft, who, being destitute of any weapon of defence, 

 became an easy prey. The number and audacity 

 of these monsters every moment increased, and the 

 forlorn wretches were one by one torn off, until, but 

 two or three remaining, the raft at length, light- 

 ened of its load, rose to the surface, and placed the 

 survivors beyond the reach of their terrible assailants. 

 The tide at length bore them to one of the islands, 

 a melancholy remnant, to tell the sad fate of their 

 companions. 



* American Missionary Herald. 



