26 VOYAGES OF A NATURALIST 



lives in deep holes, such as there were in the spot 



where we saw our " monster," then there would be 



little chance of remains being washed ashore, and 



the amount of deep-sea dredging that has yet 



been done is very small, so that it is not surprising 



that no parts of this creature have been obtained 



in that way. 



That it is not more often reported is not to be 



wondered at, when one realizes how often it is 



that a ship may sail for days together without 



sighting another ship, even in seas where there is 



considerable traffic. Also it must be remembered 



that such ridicule is generally bestowed on the 



reports of sea-monsters that many persons hesitate 



to describe what they have seen. I know myself of 



several instances of unknown sea-monsters having 



been seen by reliable witnesses, who, to avoid the 



inevitable " chaff," would not publicly state their 



experiences. 



* * * * 



The town of Bahia has a striking and picturesque 

 appearance from the harbour, white houses 

 peeping out here and there from luxuriant vege- 

 tation. But " distance lends enchantment to 

 the view," and when on shore the narrow 

 and filthy streets, and the general untidiness 

 of the whole place, quickly dispel the illusion of 

 cleanliness. 



During my two visits to Bahia I spent as little 

 time as possible in the town. A run of some forty 



