THE WHITE SHARK. 459 



overboard ; and if, while a Shark is present, any of the men hav« 

 that misfortune, they inevitably perish. 



The master of a Guinea-ship informed Mr. Pennant, that a rage fo/ 

 suicide prevailed among his slaves, from an opinion entertained by 

 tlie unfortunate wretches, that, after death, they should be restored to 

 their families, friends, and country. To convince them that their 

 bodies could never be reanimated, he ordered the corpse of one that 

 was just dead, to be tied by the heels to a rope, and lowered into the 

 sea. It was drawn up again as quickly as the united force of the 

 crew could do it ; yet, in that short time, the Sharks had devoured 

 every part but the feet, which were secured by the end of the cord. 



Persons, while swimming, have often been seized and devoured by 

 Sharks. The late Sir Brooke Watsooi was, some years ago, swim- 

 ming at a little distance from a ship, when he saw a Shark making 

 towards him. Struck with terror at its approach, he cried out for 

 assistance. A rope was instantly thrown ; and even while the men 

 were in the act of drawing him up the ship's side, the monster darted 

 after him, and, at a single snap, tore off his leg. 



In the pearl-fisheries of South America, every negro, in order to 

 defend himself against these animals, carries with him into the water 

 a sharp knife, which, if the fish offers to assault him, he endeavors to 

 etrike into its belly; on which it generally swims off. The officers 

 who are in the vessels, keep a watchful eye on these voracious crea- 

 tures; and, when they observe them approach, shake the ropes fast- 

 ened to the negroes, in order to put them on their guard. Many, 

 when the divers have been in danger, have thrown themselves into 

 tiie water, with knives in their hands, and have hastened to their de- 

 fence ; but too often all their dexterity and precaution have been of 

 no avail. 



We are told, that in the reign of Queen Anne rome of the men of 

 an English merchant-ship, which had arrived at Barbadoes, were one 

 day bathing in the sea, when a large Shark appeared, and sprung 

 forward directly at them. A person from the ship called out to warn 

 them of their danger ; on which they all immediately swam to the 

 vessel, and arrived in perfect safety, except one poor man, who was 

 cut in two by the Shark, almost witkin reach of the oars. A com- 

 rade and intimate friend of the unfortunate victim, when he observed 

 the severed trunk of his companion, was seized with a degree of 

 horror, that words cannot describe. The insatiable Shark was seen 

 traversing the bloody surface in search of the remainder of his prey, 

 when the brave youth plunged into the water, determining either to 

 make the Shark disgorge, or to be buried himself in the same grave, 

 lie held in his hand a long and sharp-pointed knife, and the rapacioug 

 animal pushed furiously towards him; he had turned on his side, 

 and had opened his enormous jaws, in order to seize him, when the 

 youth, diving dexterously under, seized him with his left hand some- 

 where before the upper fins, and" stabbed him several times in the 

 belly. The Shark, enraged with pain and streaming with bloo<l, 

 plunged in all directions in order to disengage himself from hia 

 unemy. The crews of the surrounding vessels saw that the combaJ 



