SEEN BY FIVE BRITISH OFFICEES. 311 



of supposing that there is somewhat of wit in gross 

 exaggerations, or hoaxing inventions, we do naturally look 

 with a lurking suspicion on American statements, when 

 they describe unusual or disputed phenomena. It may 

 therefore be interesting to give the evidence of five British 

 officers, to the serpent's appearance on the American 

 coast, some fifteen years after the occurrence last men- 

 tioned. 



"On the 15th of May 1833, a party, consisting of 

 Captain SuUivan, Lieutenants Maclachlan and Malcolm 

 of the Eifle Brigade, Lieutenant Lyster of the Artillery, 

 and Mr Ince of the Ordinance, started from Halifax in a 

 small yacht for Mahone Bay, some forty miles eastward, 

 on a fishing excursion. The morning was cloudy, and 

 the wind at S.S.E., and apparently rising : by the time we 

 reached Chebucto Head, as we had taken no pUot with 

 us, we deliberated whether we should proceed or turn 

 back ; but after a consultation, we determined on the 

 former, having lots of ports on our lee. Previous to our 

 leaving town, an old man-of-war's-man we had along with 

 us busied himself in inquiries as to our right course ; he 

 was told to take his departure from the Bull Rock off 

 Pennant Point, and that a W.N.W. course would bring 

 us direct on Iron Bound Island, at the entrance of Mahone 

 or Mecklenburgh Bay : he, however, unfortunately told 

 us to steer W.S.W., nor corrected his error for five or six 

 hours ; consequently we had gone a long distance off the 

 coast "We had nm about half the distance, as we sup- 

 posed, and were enjoying ourselves on deck, smoking our 



