284 THE OCEAJS. 



brought ashore. The water was so much stained by 

 the blood, that we discovered a red tinge in all the 

 foaming billows, as they approached the beach. 



" The unhappy sufferer was an active lad about 

 fourteen years old, who left my door only about half 

 an hour previous to the fatal accident. I saw his 

 mother, in the extremity of her anguish, plunge into 

 the water, and swim towards the bloody spot, entirely 

 forgetful of the power of her former god.* 



" A number of people, perhaps a hundred, were at 

 this time playing in the surf, which was higher than 

 usual. Those who were nearest to the victim, heard 

 him shriek, perceived him to strike with his right 

 hand, and at the same instant saw a Shark seize his 

 arm. Then followed the cry which I heard, which 

 echoed from one end of Latraina to the other. All 

 who were playing in the water made the utmost 

 speed to the shore, and those who were standing on 

 the beach saw the surf-board of the unhappy sufferer 

 floating on the water, without any one to guide it. 

 When the canoe reached the spot they saw nothing 

 but the blood with which the water was stained for 

 a considerable distance, and by which they traced 

 the remains whither they had been carried by the 

 Shark or driven by the swell. The body was cut in 

 two by the Shark, just above the hips ; and the lower 

 part, together with the right arm, was gone."-f- 



A dreadful instance of the voracity of these for- 

 midable animals occurred a few years ago among the 

 Society Islands. Upwards of thirty natives were 



* The Shark was formerly worshipped in the Sandwich Islands. 

 + American Missionary Herald. 



