26 VOYAGES OF A NATURALIST 



lives in deep holes, such as there were in the spot 

 where we saw our " monster," then there would be 

 little chance of remains being washed ashore, and 

 the amount of deep-sea dredging that has yet 

 been done is very small, so that it is not surprising 

 that no parts of this creature have been obtained 

 in that way. 



That it is not more often reported is not to be 

 wondered at, when one realizes how often it is 

 that a ship may sail for days together without 

 sighting another ship, even in seas where there is 

 considerable traffic. Also it must be remembered 

 that such ridicule is generally bestowed on the 

 reports of sea-monsters that many persons hesitate 

 to describe what they have seen. I know myself of 

 several instances of unknown sea-monsters having 

 been seen by reliable witnesses, who, to avoid the 

 inevitable " chaff," would not publicly state their 



experiences. 



* * * * 



The town of Bahia has a striking and picturesque 

 appearance from the harbour, white houses 

 peeping out here and there from luxuriant vege- 

 tation. But " distance lends enchantment to 

 the view," and -when on shore the narrow 

 and filthy streets, and the general untidiness 

 of the whole place, quickly dispel the illusion of 

 cleanliness. 



During my two visits to Bahia I spent as little 

 time as possible in the town. A run of some forty 



