Book X. [land of BARBADOS, sn 
About the latter End of Queen Aune’s Wars, Captain Fohn Beams Com- 
mander of the York Merchant, arrived at Barbados from England. 
Having difembark’d the laft Part of his Loading, which was Coals, the 
Sailors, who had been employ’d in that dirty Work, ventured into the 
Sea. to wafh themfelves ; there they had not been long, before a Perfon 
on Board ’fpyed a large Shark making towards them, and gave them 
Notice of their Danger; upon which they fwam back and reach’d the 
Boat, all but one; him the Monfter overtook almoft within Reach of. 
the Oars, and griping him by the Small of the Back, his devouring. 
Jaws foon cut afunder, and as foon fwallow’d the lower Part of his Ro- 
dy ; the remaining Part was taken up and carried on Board, where his 
Comrade was. His Friendfhip with the deceafed had been lone diftin- 
guifhed by a reciprocal Difcharge of all fuch endearing Offices, as im=: 
ply’'d an Union and Sympathy of Souls. When he faw the fever’d 
Trunk of his Friend, it was with an Horror and Emotion too great for 
Words to paint. During this affecting Scene, the infatiable Shar was 
feen traverfing the bloody Surface in Search after the Remainder of his 
Prey ; the reft of the Crew thought themfelves happy in being on 
Board, he alone unhappy, that he was not within Reach of the Deftroy- 
er. Fired at the Sight, and vowing that he would make the Devourer 
difgorge, or be fwallowed himfelf into the fame Grave,— He plunges 
into the Deep, arm’d with a large fharp-pointed Knife. The Shark no 
fooner faw him, but he made furioufly towards him,—both equally eager, 
the one of his Prey, the other of Revenge. The Moment the Shark 
open’d his rapacious Jaws, his Adverfary dextroufly diving, and grafp- 
ing him with his left Hand fomewhat below the upper Fins, fuccefsfully 
employs his Knife in his right Hand, giving him repeating Stabs in the 
Belly : the enraged Shark, after many unavailing Efforts, finding him- 
felf overmatch’d in his own Element, endeavours to difengage himfelf, 
fometimes plunging to the Bottom, then mad with Rain, rearing his un- 
couth Form (now ftain’d with his own ftreaming Blood)above the foam- 
ing Waves. The Crews of the furrounding Veffels faw the unequal 
Combat, uncertain from which of the Combatants the Streams of Blood 
iffued ; till at length, the Sark, much weaken’d by the Lofs of Blood, 
made towards the Shore, and with him his Conqueror; who, flufh’d 
with an Affurance of Victory, pufhes his Foe with redoubled Ardour, 
and, by the Help of an ebbing Tide, dragging him on Shore, rips up his 
Bowels ; and unites and buries the fever’d Carcafe of his Friend in one 
hofpitable Grave. 
The Story, I confefs, is of fo extraordinary a Nature, that I would 
not have dared to give it my Reader, had I not been authorifed thereto 
by the Teftimony of a very credible (1)Gentleman, who is ready to confirm 
by Oath, the Truth of what is here related. This Action, intrepid as 
it is, will unqueftionably fall under the Cenfure of thofe, who are acy 
cuftomed 
(3) Lieut. Col. Hillery Rowe, of St. Lucy's Parith, who was not far from the Place when this happened. 
