AFRICA, 479. 
readlnefs to ftrike, A failor ftanding near the 
bowfprit, more fortunate than the reft, ftruck 
one of the three fifh on the back : then letting 
out his line, that he might have room to beat 
about and tire himfelf, he at laft towed him 
gradually to the furface of the water. The 
animal lay perfedly motionlefs ; and we made 
no doubt of eafily drawing him upon deck. 
One harpoon, however, being infufficient to 
fupport him, particularly as it had penetrated 
but a little way, twelve or fifteen more were 
ftruck into him at once, fo as to fix him com- 
pletely : feveral halfers were paffed round his 
body, and he was thus hoifted on board. 
This was the leaft of the three, being only 
eight-and-twenty feet in its extreme breadth, 
and one-and-twenty in length frorn the ex- 
tremity of the horns to that of the tail. The 
tail, which was thick in proportion to the 
body, was twenty-two inches long. 
The mouth, placed exadlly like that of the 
ray, was wide enough to fwallow a man vAth 
eafe. The fkin was white under the belly, and 
brown on the back, like that of the ray. 
We reckoned the animal to weigh not lefs, 
certainly, than a ton* 
About 
