i§2 LETTER VII. 



out this Twift he could not bite off a Man's Limb, 

 for his Teeth (though indented like a Hand-faw, 

 as well as fharp) are fo very (hort, that they are 

 utterly unqualify'd for fo quick an Execution, as 

 you w^ill readily ov^n if you examine his Mouth. 

 I never knew but one fuch ill Accident to hap- 

 pen in my time, and that was at Bajfe T^erre in the 

 Ifland of St. Chrijlopher^ in the following manner. 

 A Sailor in going aboard a Ship in the Road, fell 

 backwards out of the Boat into the Sea, and the 

 Water being exceeding clear, one of his Comrades 

 faw a Shark feize him. Hooks baited with Salt 

 Beef or Pork were immediately thrown out from 

 all the Ships and Sloops, with one of which a Shark 

 was catched, played about till quite weary with 

 plunging, and then (by the affiftance of a rope put 

 about its middle) was drawn up into the Sloop 

 and killed. The poor Man's Head, with one Leg 

 and Thigh were found in its Maw, but fomewhat 

 mangled by the young Sharks that go in and out 

 living upon what Prey the old one catches ; 

 Eighteen of whom were found in his Maw, and 

 fome of them three foot long ; This old Shark 

 was twenty-two foot long. I have often wondered 

 that the like never happened to our Negroes in 

 Fiih-hunting, as mentioned in Paragraph 3*^ of 

 of my firft Letter. 



38. In difcuffing my fecond conclufive Point, 

 ^72^, That it is a difficult tally to aiTign Reafons 



for 



