36 CURIOUS CREATURES. 



By precept, and example, he induced many to Tempe- 

 rance and Sobriety but, in spite of his moderation in 

 food and drink, he was a most outrageous pirate, and 

 Berserker. 



At last, however, old, and weary of life, he sought 

 death, and meeting Hatherus, son of a noble whom he 

 had killed, begged him as a favour to cut his head off 

 and the young man, obligingly consenting, his head was 

 severed from his body, and literally bit the ground. 

 There are records of many more Northern giants, but 

 none of so edifying a life as Starchaterus. 



Giants are plentiful in the Bible, the Emins, Anakims, 

 and the Zamzummims : there was Og, King of Bashan, 

 whose iron bedstead was 9 cubits long by 4 broad 

 i.e., 13 ft. 6 in. by 6 ft. That redoubtable champion 

 of the Philistines, Goliath of Gath, was six cubits and a 

 span high i.e., 9 ft. 9 in. In 2 Samuel xxi. 15 22, 

 we find mention made of many giants. 



" 15 Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with 

 Israel ; and David went down, and his servants with 

 him, and fought against the Philistines; and David 

 waxed faint. 



" 1 6 And Ishbi-benob, which was of the sons of the 

 giants, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred 

 shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new 

 sword, thought to have slain David. 



" 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, 

 and smote the Philistine, and killed him. . . . 



" 1 8 And it came to pass after this, that there was again 

 a battle with the Philistines at Gob : then Sibbechai the 

 Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the 

 giant. 



" 19 And there was again a battle in Gob with the 



