At first we saw only two or three islands, but
afterwards as many as six hundred appeared,
ranged themselves in opposition, and began a
naval battle. Many dashed against each other's
prows, many were run into and sunk, but some
grappled and fought vigorously, and could not
easily be shaken off, for the warriors at the prow
showed the greatest spirit in boarding the other
vessel and killing her men, but no one took a
prisoner alive. Instead of grappling-irons they
threw great polyps, fastened one to another.
These entangled themselves in the trees and so
held the island itself. Their missiles and weapons were oysters large enough to fill a cart and
sponges thirty yards round.