POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
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traced tlie remains^ whither they had been carried by the 
shark, or driven by the swell. The body was cut in two, 
by the shark, just above the hips; and the lower part, 
together with the right arm, were gone. 
Many of the people connect this death with their old 
system of religion; for they have still a superstitious 
veneration for the shark, and this veneration is increased 
rather than diminished by such occurrences as these. 
It is only about four months since a man was killed 
in the same manner at Waihee, on the eastern part of 
this island. It is said, however, that there are much 
fewer deaths by the shark than formerly. This, perhaps, 
may be owing to their not being so much fed by the 
people, and therefore they do not frequent the shores so 
much.’^ 
Besides the faahee^ or surf-sv/imming, in which the 
adults principally engaged, there were a number of 
aquatic pastimes peculiar to the children; among these, 
the principal was erecting a kind of stage near the 
margin of a deep part of the sea or river, leaping from the 
highest elevation into the sea, and, chasing each other in 
the water, diving to an almost incredible depth, or 
skimming along the surface. Large companies of children, 
from nine or ten to fifteen or sixteen years of age, have 
often been seen, the greater part of the forenoon, eagerly 
following this apparently dangerous game, with the 
most perfect confidence of safety. Another amuse¬ 
ment, which appears to afford high satisfaction to the 
children of the islanders, is the construction of small 
canoes, boats, or ships, and floating them in the sea. 
Although they are rude in appearance, and soon destroy¬ 
ed, many of the boys display uncommon ingenuity in 
constructing this kind of toy. The hull is usually 
