ANOTHER SEA-WEED. 343 



They seemed to hesitate, and then busy themselves with 

 the line, the monster all the time ducking its head, and 

 shewing its great length. Presently the boat began 

 pulling towards the ship, the monster following slowly. 

 In about half an hour they got alongside ; a tackle was 

 got on the mainyard and it was hoisted on board. It 

 appeared somewhat supple when hanging, but so com- 

 pletely covered with snaky-looking barnacles, about 

 eighteen inches long, that we had it some time on board 

 before it was discovered to be a piece of gigantic sea- 

 weed, twenty feet long, and four inches diameter ; the 

 root end appeared when in the water like the head of an 

 animal, and the motion given by the sea caused it to 

 seem alive. In a few days it dried up to a hollow tube, 

 and as it had rather an offensive smell was thrown over- 

 board. I had only been a short time in England when 

 the Dcedalus arrived and reported having seen the great 

 sea-serpent, to the best of my recollection near the same 

 locality, and which I have no doubt was a piece of the 

 same weed. So like a huge living monster did this 

 appear, that had circumstances prevented my sending a 

 boat to it, I should certainly have believed I had seen the 

 great sea-snake/' 



The last imputation called up " An officer of H.M.S. 

 Daedalus" whose testimony puts hors de combat the sea- 

 weed hypothesis in that renowned case. I need not give 

 it at length, the following sentences sufficing : " The 

 object seen from H.M. ship was, beyond all question, a 

 living animal, moving rapidly through the water against 



