i62 THE STRAIT OF SUNDA. 
an object of small importance, when compared with the 
health, the safety, and the comfort, of a ship's company.. 
In no other part of the world do I recollect to have ob- 
served such shoals of sharks as are constantly prowling near 
the shore at Anjerie, attracted no doubt by the offals that 
float down the river or are thrown upon the beach. When 
on board the Hindostan, at this anchorage, I hooked one of 
these voracious animals from the stern gallery, in doing 
which, however, I had a very narrow escape from being- 
dragged by it into the sea. No sooner did the fish feel the 
hook in its jaw than, plunging towards the bottom, he drew 
the line to its full stretch, which, being entangled in the rail- 
ing of the gallery, swept away at once a great part of the 
balustrade. In the rapidity with which the rope ran out, a 
coil of it got round my ami, but just as I was forced among 
the wreck, the shark, by darting back to the surface, slack- 
ened the rope sufficiently to enable me to disengage my arm 
and to get clear. Greatly as I was alarmed at this accident, 
a poor Javanese appeared to be still more so, who happened 
at that moment to be astern of the ship, paddling his canoe 
with a load of fruit and vegetables. His apprehension lest 
the wounded sliark, in rolling , and plunging and lashing the 
water with its fins and tail, should overturn his little skift', 
which was not nuich larger than the animal itself, his exer- 
tions to get out of its reach, and the marks of terror that 
were visible on his countenance, struck our fellow traveller, 
Alexander, so forcibly that, though of momentary duration, 
he caught with his pencil a spirited sketch ; which, having 
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