852 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1809. 



in vain. At length Mr. Humbold 

 resolved to go himself to the 

 places which those eels inhabit. 

 Mr. Humbold and his companions 

 witnessed, amidst the abodes of 

 the eels, a sight altogether new and 

 extraordinary. About thirty mules 

 and horses had been hastily brought 

 together from the neighbouring sa- 

 vannahs, where they live in a wild 

 state in so great numbers, that the 

 proprietor, when he is known, 

 parts with them for about seven 

 shillings each. The Indians, sur- 

 rounding the mules and horses, 

 drove them into the water, and 

 prevented them from returning to 

 land by means of harpoons affixed 

 to the end of long bamboos, which 

 they pushed forward towards the 

 animals with loud vociferation. 

 The electrical eels, or gymnuti, 

 roused by the noise and tumult, 

 come up to the surface of the 

 waters, and swimming like so 

 many livid serpents, glide under 

 the bellies of the mules and horses, 

 to whom they communicate com- 

 motions the most sudden and vio- 

 lent. The quadrupeds, in great 

 agony, their hair standing on end, 

 and their eyes rolling wildly with 

 pain, make efforts for their escape 

 in vain. In less than five minutes 

 two of the horses were drawn under 

 the water and drowned. Victory 

 seemed to be declared on the side 

 of the electrical eels. But their 

 activity began to relax and languish. 

 Fatigued by the repeated efforts 

 of their nervous energy, they 

 launched the electric fluid less 

 frequently and with less effect. 

 The horses that nad escaped des- 

 truction, gradually recovered their 

 strength ; and in about a quar- 

 ter of an hour the eels retired 



from the combat in such a state of 

 languor and exhaustion, that they 

 were easily drawn to land by means 

 of small harpoons attached to 

 cords. 



[There be many things in the 

 book of nature, as Shakspeare ob- 

 serves, that our philosophy dreams 

 not of. But, whatever may be 

 thought of the accuracy of the fol- 

 lowing report, it is curious, as it res- 

 pects the human mind, the power of 

 imagination, or the strong desire to 

 appear interesting objects in the 

 sight of mankind.] 



The Mermaid seen on the coast of 

 Caithness. [^Letter from Miss 

 Ulacka?/, daughter uf the Rev. 

 David Mac/i-ai/, Minister of 

 Reaij, to Miss Innes Doimger, 

 of Sandside.^ 



Real/, Manse, May 25th, 

 1809. 

 Madam ; 

 To establish the truth of what has 

 hitherto been considered improba- 

 ble and fabulous, must be at all 

 times a difficult task, and I have 

 not the vanity to think that my tes- 

 timony alone would be sufficient for 

 this purpose ; but when to this is 

 added that of four others, I hope 

 it will have some effect in remov- 

 ing the doubts of those, who may 

 suppose that the wonderful appear- 

 ance I reported having seen in the 

 sea on the 1 2th of January, was not 

 a mermaid, but some other uncom- 

 mon, though less remarkable, inha- 

 bitant of the deep. As I would 

 willingly contribute to remove the 

 doubt of the sceptical on this sub- 

 ject, I beg leave to state to you 



the 



