ENCOUNTER WITH A SHARK.

Waka Maori, Volume 11, Issue 7, 6 April 1875, Page 78

ENCOUNTER WITH A SHARK.

Fatal as the white shark is to the unarmed, those who carry weapons of defence very frequently cope with and master him; even women, undaunted by their teeth, have been known to stab and destroy

them in their bath. One day, a little boy, about eight years old, happened to be washed from a catamaran which managed by his father, who was thus early initiating him into the hardships of the mode of life which he intended him to pursue ; and before he could be rescued from the turbulent waters, a shark drew him under, and he was seen no more. The father lost not a moment, but calmly rose, and placing between his teeth a large knife, which he carried sheathed in his summer band, plunged beneath the lashing waves. He disappeared for some time, but after a while was occasionally seen to rise, and then dive under the billows, as if actually engaged with his formidable foe. After a while the white foam was visibly tinged with blood, which was viewed with a sensation of horror by those who could only surmise what was going on under the water. The man was again seen to rise and disappear, so that the work of death was evidently not yet complete. After some further time had elapsed, to the astonishment of all who were assembled on the beach—for a considcrable crowd had now collected—the body of a large shark was seen for a few moments above the white spray, which it completely crimsoned, and then disappeared. An instant after the man rose above the surf, and made for the shore. He seemed nearly exhausted, but had not a single mark on his body, which bore no evidence whatever of the perilous conflict in which he had been so recently engaged. He had scarcely landed when an immense shark was cast upon the beach by the billows. It was quite dead, and was immediately dragged by the assembled natives beyond the reach of the surf. 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 his stomach. The body was completelv dismembered, and the head severed from it, but none of the parts were mutilated.--" CasseU's Popular Natural History."