200 
ABUKDANCE of TFETLiS. 
o|«ie eastern cape of Cayman-lracJc. The latitude 
reduced by the reckoning on the rhumbs of wind at the 
meridian observation, aiipeared to me to be 19® 40' 50" 
As long as we were within sight of the rock of Cayman- 
viao/c, sea-turtles of extraordinarv dimensions swam round 
our vessel. The abundance of tliese animals led Columbus 
to give the whole group of the Cajunans the name of Penas- 
turtles.) Our sailors 
11 ould haie thrown tliemselves into the water to catch some 
tLm sharks that accomjianv 
them, lendercd the attempt too perilous. The sharks lixe'd 
their jaws on great iron hooks which were flung to them i 
these hooks were very sharp and (for want of anzuelos m- 
eandenados*) they were tied to cords : the sharks were in this 
manner drawn up half the length of their bodies; and ive 
were surprised to see that those which had their mouths 
wounded_ and bleeding continued to seize the bait over and 
over again dui-ing several hours.f At tlie sight of these 
a Spanish vessel always recollect 
’'Venezuela, which describes the 
benediction of a bishop as having softened the habits of the 
sharks, which are emy where else the dread of mariners. DO 
ttese wild sharks of the port of La Guayra specifically differ 
trom those which arc so formidable in the port of the Havaii- 
n former belong to the group of Emissoles 
1 h small sharp teetlij -n-luch Cuvier distinguishes from the 
Melandres, by the name of Musteli ? 
The wind freshened more and more from the south-east, 
as we advanced in the dhection of Cape Negril and the 
* Fi.sh-liooks with cliains, 
t “ Vidimus quoque squales, quotiescunque, hamo icli, dimidia carte 
Sera'L® fs“ canHi^*'' 
cavor™ AltCX;i.. arbitramur) subitus 
an'! number of teeth change with age, and 
Antonio ahark genus, I doubt whether Don 
andThe old ones 0?^^ ''“Vhese' 4°""" r* 
are easily accustomed to live in fresh water, or iu*wX^s%IUirS- 
Maracavbo"’wbm (tihurones) abound of late lu the LagiL of 
hlto tWa’ter b? dead bodies thrown 
th/gol«rbfan le^ubui?"^ ‘'*'"**" Spanish royalists and 
