2IO THE V/HITE SHARK, 



was slain, till the Shark, weakened at length bf 

 loss of blood, made towards the shore, and along 

 with him his conqueror ; who, flushed with vic- 

 tory, pushed his foe with redoubled ardour, and, 

 with the aid of an ebbing tide, dragged him on shore. 

 Here he ripped up the bowels of the animal, ob- 

 tained the severed remainder of his friend's body, 

 and buried it with the trunk in the same grave. — 

 This story, however incredible it may appear, is re- 

 lated in the history of Barbadoes, on the most satis- 

 factory authority*. 



The West Indian negroes often venture to con- 

 tend with the Shark in close combat. They know 

 his power to be limited by the position 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 boldness and address unite in 

 triumph over strength and ferocity f. 



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. et I have seen," 

 says capiain Portlock, " 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 greedily; whence it is manifest 



* Hughes's Natural History of Baibiiuoc 

 + Marchand, i, 93 = 



