184 FROM THE ST. LAWRENCE ISLANDS 



US : it Stretched its head far above the water, looked 

 about for prey, and vanished. The head soon ap- 

 peared again, and that considerably nearer: we 

 rowed with all our might, and were very happy to 

 have reached the shore before the serpent. The 

 sea-lions were so terrified at the sight, that some 

 rushed into the water, and others hid themselves 

 on the shore. The sea often throws up pieces of 

 flesh, which, according to their opinion, is that of 

 this serpent, which no animal, not even the raven, 

 will touch. Some Aleutians, who had once tasted 

 some of it, suddenly died. If a sea serpent really 

 has been seen on the coast of North America, it 

 may have been one of this frightful species. 



The Aleutians also tell stories of a gigantic 

 polypus. It has happened, that a polypus has thrown 

 its long arms, which are twice as thick as a strong 

 man's arm, round the baydare of an Aleutian, 

 and would have carried it into the abyss, if the 

 Aleutian had not had the presence of mind to cut 

 through with his knife the fleshy arm of the poly- 

 pus, which was furnished with large suckers. The 

 polypus remains with the body fast at the bottom 

 of the sea, and generally chooses a place from 

 which it can reach the surface with its arms. Tlie 

 last accident happened in the passage which is 

 formed by the southern point of the island of 

 Oomnack, and the little island lying near it ; no 

 ship can venture in on account of the shoal. This 

 island, which is only Ave miles long, one mile 



