he came across with a spear taken out for the purpose. The moment
he had succeeded in this the other occupants of the boat would
commence yelling and howling at the top of their voices, at the
same time beating the water with their paddles, in order to
frighten away the sharks. This invariably succeeded, but, amazing
to relate, the shark that had been pricked always came back alone a
few minutes later to see what it was that had pricked him. Care
has to be taken not to inflict a very severe wound, because the
moment the other sharks taste the blood of a wounded companion,
they will immediately turn upon him and eat him. When the
inquisitive shark is seen coming in the direction of the boat, the
Malay who has accosted him in this way quietly jumps overboard,
armed only with his small knife and a short stick of hard wood,
exactly like a butcher's skewer, about five inches in length, and
pointed at each end.

The man floats stationary on the surface of the sea, and,
naturally, the shark makes for him. As the creature rolls over to
bite, the wily Malay glides out of his way with a few deft strokes
of the left hand, whilst with the right he deliberately plants the
pointed skewer in an upright position between the open jaws of the
expectant monster. The result is simple, but surprising. The
shark is, of course, unable to close its mouth, and the water just
rushes down his throat and chokes him, in consequence of the gills
being forced back so tightly as to prevent the escape of water
through them in the natural way. Needless to remark, it requires
the greatest possible coolness and nerve to kill a shark in this
way, but the Malays look upon it as a favourite recreation and an
exciting sport. When the monster is dead its slayer dexterously
climbs on to its back, and then, digging his knife into the shark's