DEATH OF THE SHARK. 
17 
ing an immense wound nearly a yard long. There 
were also several deep incisions about the gills, and 
below the fins ; in short it is impossible to describe 
the fearful evidences which the monster exhibited of 
the prowess and dexterity of its determined aggressor, 
who had so boldly perilled his life to revenge the 
death, as it was afterwards ascertained, of his only 
child. As soon as the shark was drawn to a place of 
security, it was opened, when the head and limbs of 
the boy were taken from its stomach. The body was 
completely dismembered, and the head severed from 
it ; the different parts however were scarcely at all 
mutilated. It would seem that, after separation, they 
had been immediately swallowed without being sub- 
mitted to the previous process of mastication. The 
moment the father saw the truncated remains of the 
little object of his affection, the habitual coldness of 
the Hindoo merged in the tenderness of the parent, 
and he for the moment gave way to the agonies of his 
heart. He threw himself upon the sand, and mourned 
his bereavement — 
“ With sad unhelpful tears 
but soon recovering his constitutional serenity, he 
unrolled his dripping turban, and having, placed the 
severed remains of his child in the ragged depository, 
bore them to his fragile tenement of bamboo and 
palm-leaves, in order to prepare them for immediate 
cremation. 
Upon being asked to relate the particulars of his 
encounter with the shark, he stated, that as soon as 
he had plunged into the water, which he did a few 
c 3 
