GREAT SEA-SERPENT. 323 



another of the missionaries, took a drawing of it. 

 This we have copied on our plate. (See Plate 

 XXVIII.) 



Finally, we subjoin the accounts, older and more 

 recent, given of this animal in what may be called its 

 native retreats. We shall begin with a short abridg- 

 ment of the information supplied in Pontoppidon'g 

 Natural History of Norway : " Our coast," says the 

 learned bishop, " is the only place in Europe visited 

 by this terrible creature. This makes many persons 

 who are enemies to credulity entertain doubts about 

 it. I have questioned its existence myself, till that 

 suspicion was removed by full and sufficient evi- 

 dence from creditable and experienced fishermen 

 and sailors, of which there are hundreds who can 

 testify they have annually seen them. All these 

 persons agree very well in the general description. 

 In all my inquiries, I have scarcely spoken to any 

 intelligent person who was not able to give strong 

 assurances of the existence of this fish ; and some 

 of our traders think it a very strange question when 

 they are seriously asked whether there be such a 

 creature ; they think it as ridiculous, as if the ques- 

 tion were put to them whether there be such fish 0s 

 Cod or Eel." After this, a long letter is supplied 

 from Captain L. de Ferry, who was in his boat, 

 with a crew of eight men, when they saw a Sea- 

 Serpent, which he fired at and wounded. His de- 

 scription very much agrees with that already given 

 and every particular is authenticated by the affida- 

 vits of two of his crew. We are also informed that 



