THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 285 



passing from one island to another, in a large double 

 canoe, which consists of two canoes fastened together, 

 side by side, by strong horizontal beams, lashed to 

 the gunwales by cordage. Being overtaken by a 

 storm, the canoes were torn apart, and were in- 

 capable, singly, of floating upright. In vain the 

 crew attempted to balance them, they were every 

 moment overturned. Their only resource was to 

 form a hasty raft of such loose boards and spars as 

 were in the craft, on which they hoped to drift 

 ashore. But it happened, from the small size of 

 their raft, and their aggregated weight, that they 

 were so deep in the water, that the waves washed 

 above their knees. Tossed about thus, they soon 

 became exhausted with hunger and fatigue ; when 

 the Sharks began to collect around them, and soon 

 had the boldness to seize one and another from the 

 raft, who, being destitute of any weapon of defence, 

 became an easy prey. The number and audacity 

 of these monsters every moment increased, and the 

 forlorn wretches were one by one torn off, until, but 

 two or three remaining, the raft at length, lightened 

 of its load, rose to the surface, and placed the sur- 

 vivors beyond the reach of their terrible assailants. 

 The tide at length bore them to one of the islands, 

 a melancholy remnant, to tell the sad fate of their 

 companions. 



With such simple vessels as were used by these 

 people, it is surprising that such accidents did not 

 more frequently occur. AVhen we consider that, 

 before their intercourse with Europeans, they pos- 

 sessed no metal tools, that their work was performed 



