268 



THE SHAIIK. 



such a dread ot* siiarks as to worsJjip some of 

 ikem as gods j not from any respect or love td' 

 wm-cU th&mf hat item tmt^ WiU ^atea^ Ihut^ 



** altlioiigli thoy wouhl not only kill, hut eat ecr- 

 tain kinds of sliurk, the hirgo hhie sluirks (Sfpfalus 

 ^laucus) were deilied by them ; and, rather than 

 atte^mpt to destroy them, they would ende^voiir 

 to ipi?ofi!(l«^ ^dr ^tmt 1^ ptaym mi offer- 



ings. Temples were &jm>^^^ M '9fM^ plieste 

 ofHeiated, and ofierings were presented to the 

 deified nionsters ; while fishermen, and others 

 who were much at sea^ sought their favour. 

 Many liidie£Otr^ le^^o^ -wsis^ im&i^Tlj m imsm^ 

 latiou among the pai^% rt^t^ve io the regard 

 paid liy the sharks at sea to priests of their tem- 

 ples, whom they were always said to reeognize, 

 and never to injure. Tlie principal motive, 

 however, by whifiji libe people appeite tft feave 



tureSyWas the same that operated on their minda 

 in reference to other acts nf idolatry : it was tlie 

 principle of fear, ami a desire to avoid destruc- 

 tion in the event of being exposed to their anger 

 at sea.*' * 



* lit me tjf th(^ ^IHuIcnts l^g^ds of the natives of the 



Jshiiid iif Tuliiti, their island h rcpi esentcd as liaVing been 

 tL sUurk, originally from llaitea. Matarafau, in the east, was 

 tlte hesd * and a place near Faaa» on the west, was the tail ; 



