68 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Temerity of the South-Sea islanders. 



his bravery and contempt. But the voracious 

 monster seized him with horrid violence a second 

 time, and in a moment dragged him to the bot- 

 tom. His companions, though not far from him, 

 and much affected by the loss, were not able to 

 render him any assistance whatever. 



The West-Indian negroes often venture to 

 contend with the shark in close combat. They 

 know his power to be limited by the position of 

 of his mouth underneath ; and, as soon as they 

 discover him, they dive beneath, and in rising, 

 stab him before he has an opportunity of putting 

 himself into a state of defence. Thus do bold- 

 ness and address unite in triumph over strength 

 and ferocity. 



According to Captain Portlock's account the 

 South-Sea islanders are not in the least afraid of 

 the sharks, but will swim among them without 

 exhibiting the least signs of fear. " I have 

 seen," says that gentleman, " five or six large 

 sharks swimming about the ship, when there 

 have been upwards of a hundred Indians in the 

 water, both men and women : they seemed quite 

 indifferent about them, and the sharks never 

 offered to make an attack on any of them, and 

 yet at the same time would seize our bait gree- 

 dily; whence it is manifest that they derive their 

 confidence of safety from their experience, that 

 they are able to repel the attacks of those vora- 

 cious creatures. 



Notwithstanding the voracity of these crea- 



