310 THE GREAT UNKNOWN. 



he was, but that she thought him as long as the wharf 

 behind their house, an object with which she had always 

 been familiar, Mr Mansfield said he was of the same 

 opinion. The wharf is one hundred feet in length. It is 

 to be observed that the person above spoken of had been 

 such an unbeliever in the existence of this monster, that 

 he had not given himself the trouble to go from his house 

 to the harbour when the report was first made of such an 

 animal being there. Subsequent to the period of which 

 I have been speaking, the snake was seen by several of 

 the crews of our coasting vessels, and in some instances 

 within a few yards. Captain Tappan, a person well known 

 to me, saw him with his head above water two or three 

 feet, at times moving with great rapidity, and at others 

 slowly. He also saw what explained the appearance which 

 I have described, of a horn on the front of the head. This 

 was doubtless what was observed by Captain Tappan to 

 be the tongue, thrown in an upright position from the 

 mouth, and having the appearance which I have given 

 to it. 



" One of the revenue cutters, whilst in the neighbour- 

 hood of Cape Ann, had an excellent view of him at a few 

 yards' distance ; he moved slowly, and upon the approach 

 of the vessel, sank and was seen no more." 



Though the position and character of some of these 

 witnesses add weight to their testimony, and seem to 

 preclude the possibility of their being either deceived or 

 deceivers, on a matter which depended on the use of their 

 eyes, yet, owing to a habit prevalent in the United States, 



