SHAEK-SHOOTING IN MAURITIUS 187 



sort of scaffolding to surmount the part which 

 overhangs. To the left of St Louis we could see 

 the lovely gardens of the Pamplemousse, which, as 

 far as I recollect, contain the tomb of Paul and 

 Virginia. At all events it is near there. What a 

 pity it seems such a lovely island should be the 

 hotbed of fever — which, by the way, has been in- 

 troduced within the memory of man. When we 

 had finished lunch several more of the black fins 

 were in sight, cruising to and fro. Several times 

 the baits were hauled in, but the sharks refused to 

 come within harpooning distance. 



" The brutes are getting shy, I think," said II . 



*'Well, sir, you've given them a pretty good 

 dressing, I think," said the light-keeper. 



It was obvious we should not get another chance 

 of harpooning, so we opened fire at about fifty yards. 

 The blood of the sharks we hit attracted more, and 

 no doubt several were killed, although we were un- 

 able to pick any up afterwards. 



On our way back H apologised for the badness 



of the sport. 



'* Not at all," I said ; '' I have enjoyed it im- 

 mensely. I never shot a shark before in my life, 

 and I have always hated the brutes. I shall be 

 able to say I have taken part in the distinctive 

 sport of Mauritius." 



" This is my own particular invention," said R ; 



** nobody ever heard of it before, and they laugh at 

 me now and chaff me about the requins. The dis- 

 tinctive sport is the chasses, or deer -drives; but it 

 will be hard lines if I don't manage to show you 

 one of those too before you go." 



I must say I thought R 's invention was worthy 



