THE SHAKE. 199 



" Natural History of Barbadoes," gives a good idea of the savage 

 nature of this monster. " In the reign of Queen Anne a mer- 

 chant-ship arrived at that island from England : some of the 

 crew, ignorant of the danger of {he recreation, were bathing in 

 the sea, when a large shark appeared and swam directly towards 

 them ; being warned of their danger, however, they all hurried 

 on board, where they arrived safe, except one poor fellow, who 

 ■was bit in two by the shark, almost within reach of the oars. 

 A comrade, and intimate friend of the unfortunate victim, 

 "when he observed the severed trunk of his companion, vowed 

 his revenge. The voracious monster was seen traversing the 

 bloody surface of the waves, in search of the remainder of his 

 prey, when the brave youth plunged into the water. He held 

 in his hand a long sharp-pointed knife ; and the rapacious 

 animal pushed furiously towards him. He had turned on his 

 side and opened his enormous jaws, when the youth, diving 

 dexterously, seized the shark with his left hand, somewhere 

 below the upper fins, and stabbed him repeatedly in the belly. 

 The animal, enraged with pain, and streaming with blood, 

 attempted in vain to disengage himself. The crews of the sur- 

 rounding vessels saw that the combat was decided; but they 

 were ignorant which was slain, till the shark, exhausted by loss 

 of blood, was seen nearer the shore, and along with him his 

 valiant conqueror — who, flushed with victory, redoubled his 

 efforts, and, with the aid of an ebbing tide, dragged him to the 

 beach. Finally, he ripped open the stomach of the fish, and 

 buried the severed half of his friend's body with the trunk in 

 the same grave." 



It is no uncommon thing for the negroes, who are admirable 

 •divers, thus to attack and vanquish the dreaded shark, but sue 



^^fcM JJll §g gli ' 



" ' « 



Hammer-headed Shark. — (Squalus Zygaena.) 



cess can only be achieved by consummate dexterity, and by 

 those who are armed for this express purpose. 



P 2 



