Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1888-06-16


feet above u We knew the sharp eyed
natlv"- We're watching for the signal
from the fishermen far out at sea
a last 1t came. When the western
ky was abaze with the glory Of trop t
ical sunset, shout went up from the .
group Of ekpectant fishermen on the
beach. They pointed to Diamond headn
where, early drawn against the purple
ky. was seen the naked figure Of the
Wafchman t'ourl~hing his scarlet malo. or
signal with u.
It took Us but a few moments to reach
our canoe and spring in. Immediately
IT crew Of padders forced the light
huiis INTO the water. and in another mo
ment We were darting over the smooth
Na'er inside the reef in hot chase after
the large double cano", on the platform
Of which sat the kahuna wildly tossing
his arms about and bowling out a dismal
ncantation. All the paddlers sat on the
gunwllcs of their canoes. and with
vigorous rhythmlc strokes of their broad
bladed paddle drove forward the vessels
soon we fell from the plunging motion
that we were on the inner edge of the
,oar and hiss of the coming waves were
upon us ! glanced at the doctor and
had lust glimpse of him, as he sat low
down in the stern Of his canoe, his mus
cular hands cIutchinr firmly the edges OF
the craft, while from between his close
set teeth depended his beloved meer
schaum. Quick putfs Of smoke betrayed
his excitement as the canoes reared and
plunged over the breakers and then we
were gliding easily over the long swell
outside.
Though it did not take us long to reach
the spot where the man eater was known
to be, yet night had fallen on them, and
it was by the light of torches made OF
the baked kernels Of the candle nui
strung upon cocoa leaf fibre that we drew
near the fleet AS we did so the dip OF
paddles was noiseless, and it was by signs
gave direction to the rest. BY the smoky,
rcd light of the torches we could see men
busily scattering about the baked meat
they had brought, and also half chewed
morsels Of the ava root-~>As they did so
there was the CLEAN cf the fins and tails
of hundred Of fish darting TO and fro
for the food Now and then larger one
than the rest, with sides glowing with
phoSphoreScent light, would dart among
the smaller fry, s altering them right
and left
They are the 'mano Kanaka'" whis-
pcred the doctor 1--WE had both crawled
on to the platform Of our canoe, 1.-The
shark cod of the old IIawaians 1t is
the kind they believed could assume the
forms of human beings at will. And
there. there he added, quickly, as q
massive bulk rose slowly from the depths
/ below, There is the mano -keokeo.' the
gtea, white shark - :
Just then the old fisherman stationed
/ nelr rs suddenly crouch"d down, and,
4 touching the doctor with one lean brown
! hand pointed to the water near the
/ stern 6f the canoe, next TO US We there
saw. cleaning in the opalcsccnt depths,
two bright spots that shone with ma
+ liynant ureenish light They were set
in monstrous, sha1owy head, beyond
, which we could dilnly sec huge brown
body. Below the cold, cruel eyes were
traced the outlines Of fo'~ela-
bic mouth. that. even as we looked
opened slowly, disclosing row upon row
of strongly hooked. peirly white teeth,
with deeply >errated edges. As this
fright1ul mouth opened the monster
rolled half over and vigorously snapped
at the b indie Of food sink ing near him.
1t was the Niuhi, the fieroe>t and most
voracious If his tribe and as he NOV ed
along the crowd of fish darted away in
terror. Even the great white shark sui
lonly gave place to this tiger of the sea,
who swan slowly about swallowing the
food the fishermen kept hrowingto him.
As he thus moved from place to place hi'
whole body seemed t. eNhalc a pecuiar
light, that streamel from the tip, of his
fins aud long. unevenly lobed tail b,
the CLEAN of tbs peculiar rhosphoreS
renee his motion could be osely
watched and finally the experienced
fishermen saw that he was becoming
gorgod = 30 intent had We been watch
lng his movements that We had not
noticed that while he was bong fed the
iect If eaIos> had been silently moved
IN near thc shore New looking down
We could dimly See the white sandy bot
tom. and in few mInntes Were IN 4ni'e
shallow water, opposite an opening II
he reef whcrt the surf diri not break
tt1F lFogTt = htl been very SLOW an
now for awhile HI CanoeS halted while
towering between them was the man
later. evidently somewhat ~rupe1ed h
the ava h. he'd swallowed With the feoC
. freely given him
The old kahuna had. during The
whole performance Kept W hi~pano
ranic display. though II Cuuied,
quiet manner. while the fishermen kept
close watch upon the shark. II" gorge
20 repietso7, erldentig intended - fa,t
map and so settled slowly down or
the Whit sandy bottom He was th'
perfect j~nbmarine picture of oIerfe.
helpie s>ne>> and II seemed ~ though
we could Amos. hear hm ,uore
AMI then commenced curious eNhi
oition q X AMI daring 4 noose Ia,
acen made in the end os 2 long. stron.
rope and this Ms taken hy an cAIeri
ensel Old fisherman. who quietly sllppe,
overheard from h1> cano" and a}ioa'rf
1lmSel; u sink 10 where the man cate
.as resting his body onve oped in thA
strange. weird light Th.t was II.