Dhow Chasing in Zanzibar Waters - The Search For Mecca

70 DHOW-CHASING.
was not to be wondered at tliat by tlie time we
liad been a fortniglit
from the sliip, we found it
necessary to send tlie cutter back with several
sick men, there being two or three cases of
dysentery, and one or two of fever, including
those of the cutter, and among them Mayne,
the second master, who was in charge of
her.
Considering the many times we were in
the
water, as above described, I have often wondered
we never saw a shark outside or a
crocodile in the rivers,
but then we were never
alone in the water—this we made a rule of;
possibly the number of outlying islands and reefs
may account in
some degree for our not seeing
sharks ;
yet I have always felt convinced that
sharks are the greatest cowards possible, they
will always look twice at their food before
touching it, indeed they go backwards and
forwards repeatedly before making up their
minds to take it, and although it must be confessed
they are very dangerous customers when
you are alone in the water and the ship gone
ahead, yet even in this case, if you keep up your