318 GREAT SEA-SERPENT. 



sembled a Serpent, and was said to move with as- 

 tonishing rapidity. It was visible only in calm and 

 bright weather, and floated on the surface of the 

 water, like a number of buoys following each other 

 in a line. 



In the report to which we have referred, the 

 affidavits of a great many individuals of unblemished 

 character are collected, which leaves no room t< 

 apprehend any thing like deceit. They do no- 

 agree in every minute particular, but in regard t< 

 its great length and Snake-like form, they are har- 

 monious. The first person who makes deposition 

 saw it for nearly half an hour, at the distance of 

 250 yards. At that distance he could not take in 

 the two extremities with his glass. The second 

 witness depones, that he observed a strange marine 

 animal, which he believed to be a Serpent : it con- 

 tinued in sight for an hour and a half, and moved 

 through the water with great rapidity, at the rate 

 of a mile in two, or, at most, three minutes. On 

 another occasion he saw it lying perfectly still, ex- 

 tended on the water, and displaying about fifty feet 

 of its body. The third witness judged it to be be- 

 tween eighty and ninety feet in length, with the 

 heatl formed somewhat like the Rattle- Snake, but 

 nearly as large as that of the horse. At one time 

 it showed about fifty distinct portions of its body. 

 The fourth witness saw it open its mouth, which 

 appeared like that of a Serpent. Another shot his 

 gun loaded with ball at it, at the distance of thirty 

 feet ; when he found the monster immediately 



