84 SHAEKS. 



Whoever has been to Madras, and 

 remained on board a ship at anchor in 

 the roads, must know how the waters 

 are infested with sharks, though they 

 are seldom seen or known to rise to 

 the surface, unless attracted by some- 

 thing in the shape of prey, and are 

 therefore aptly denominated ground sharks. 

 It was the custom to heave a studding- 

 sail overboard in the morning, and, by 

 attaching it to the fore and mizen 

 chains, make a sort of pool for the 

 men, particularly those who could not 

 swim, to bathe in, and so preserve 

 them from the attacks of these vora- 

 cious monsters. 



One of our men, an excellent swimmer, 

 had the temerity to venture beyond the sail, 

 when a shark like lightning rose from the 

 bottom and with his extended jaws grasped 

 the poor fellow's abdomen. The sea was 

 instantly reddened with his blood ; the 

 men who were within the sail by some 



