CAPE PALMAS. 
103 
immediately below the central notch, which, as it were, 
divides the laterally elongate head. The hronchial 
openings, five in number, are all before the base of the 
pectoral fin. The inferior division of the tail is small ; 
the superior portion long, pointed and very powerful, 
and it is chiefly by this it is enabled to turn with any 
facility; but the conformation of the head prevents it 
from moving with the dexterity of most other sharks ; 
and, therefore, though voracious, it is less dangerous. 
The body is tapering and of a greyish brown. Its 
whole appearance is most repulsive. 
Like many of the Sqnalus, or shark family, it brings 
forth its young alive, ten or twelve at a time ; these 
usually keep together, unless destroyed, so that where one 
small one is seen, there are generally others not far otf. 
The pretty little pilot fish, which is so often the com- 
panion of the other monsters of this genus, we have 
never seen with the hammer-head. 
Friday, July \Qth . — We anchored at Cape Palmas, 
again for the purpose of replenishing our rapidly con- 
sumed stock of fuel. The incessant surf made landing: 
at this place, even more difficult than the last. It was 
impossible for the boats to pass the bar of the little 
river ; we were, therefore, obliged to make use of another 
but difficult place outside the river, where it required 
the greatest care to prevent their being knocked to 
pieces. In order to be as near as possible, to facilitate 
the conveyance of their loads to and fro, the vessel was 
also here taken inside some rocks, which afforded 
