THE WHITE SHARK. 207 



jaw. Thus, with open jaws, goggling eyes, and 

 large and bristly fins, agitated like the mane of a 

 lion, his whole aspect is an emphatical picture of 

 the fiercest, deepest, and most savage malignity. 



It is a fortunate circumstance, for those who 

 would avoid its attacks, that its mouth is so situated, 

 under the head, that it has to throw itself on one side 

 in order to seize its prey 5 for its velocity in the wa- 

 ter is so great that nothing, which it was once in 

 pursuit of, would otherwise be able to escape its vo- 

 racity. 



These creatures are the dread of sailors in all the 

 hot climates, where they constantly attend the ships, 

 in expectation of what may drop overboard ; and if, 

 in this case, any of the men have that misfortune, 

 they must inevitably perish. 



Increasing still the terrors of the storms, 



His jaws horrific arm'd with threefold fate, 



Here dwells the direful Shark. Lured by the scent 



Of streaming crowds, of rank disease, and death, 



Behold ! he rushing cuts the briny flood, 



Swift as the gale can bear the ship along ; 



And, from the partners of that cruel trade 



Which spoils unhappy Guinea of her sons, 



Demands his share of prey, demands themselves. 



The stormy fates descend, one death involves 



Tyrants and slaves ; when straight, their mangled limbs 



Crashing at once, he dyes the purple seas 



With gore, and riots in the vengeful meal. 



The master of a Guinea ship informed Mr. Pen- 

 nant that a rage for suicide prevailed among his 

 slaves, from an opinion entertained by the unfortunate 

 wretches that, after death, they should be restored to 



