342 THE GREAT UNKNOWN. 



crew who observed it from the top-gallant forecastle, state 

 that it was more than double the length of the ship, in 

 which case it must have been five hundred feet ; be that 

 as it may, I am convinced that it belonged to the serpent 

 tribe ; it was of a dark colour about the head, and was 

 covered with several white spots. Having a press of 

 canvas on the ship at the time, I was unable to round to 

 without risk, and therefore was precluded from getting 

 another sight of this leviathan of the deep. 



" George Henry Harrington, Commander. 

 William Davies, Chief Officer. 

 Edward Wheeler, Second Officer." 



This document was immediately answered by Captain 

 Fred. Smitli, of the shij) Pekin, in the following announce- 

 ment : — 



'' On Dec. 28, 1 848, being then in lat. 26° S, long. 6° R, 

 nearly calm, saw about half a mile on port beam, a very 

 extraordinary-looking thing in the water, of considerable 

 length. With the telescope we could plainly discern a 

 huge head and neck, covered with a long shaggy-looking 

 kind of mane, which it kept lifting at intervals out of the 

 water. This was seen by all hands, and declared to be 

 the great sea-serpent. I determined on knowing some- 

 thing about it, and accordingly lowered a boat, in which 

 my chief officer and four men went, taking with them a 

 long small line in case it should be required. I watched 

 them very anxiously, and the monster seemed not to regard 

 their approach. At length they got close to the head. 



