STATEMENT OF FOUR NORWEGIANS. 303 



yards from the boat, they noticed tolerably correctly its 

 fore-part, which ended in a sharp snout ; its colossal head 

 raised itself above the water in the form of a semicircle ; 

 the lower part was not visible. The colour of the head 

 was dark brown, and the skin smooth. They did not 

 notice the eyes, or any mane or bristles on the throat. 

 When the serpent came about a musket-shot near, Lund 

 fired at it, and was certain the shots hit it in the head. 

 After the shot he dived, but came up immediately. He 

 raised his head like a snake preparing to dart on its prey. 

 After he had turned and got his body in a straight line, 

 which he appeared to do with great difficulty, he darted 

 like an arrow against the boat. They reached the shore, 

 and the animal, perceiving it had come in shallow water, 

 dived immediately, and disappeared in the deep. 



" Such is the declaration of these four men, and no one 

 has any cause to doubt their veracity, or imagine that 

 they were so seized with fear, that they could not observe 

 what took place so near them. There are not many here, 

 or on other parts of the Norwegian coast, who longer 

 doubt the existence of the sea-serpent. The writer of 

 this narrative was a long time sceptical, as he had not 

 been so fortunate as to see this monster of the deep ; but 

 after the many accounts he has read, and the relations he 

 has received from creditable witnesses, he does not dare 

 longer to doubt the existence of the sea-serpent." 



That I may bring to a point the Norwegian testimony 

 on the subject, I add here a statement made by an English 

 gentleman, and published under the signature of " Oxoni- 





