( ^39 ) 



CHAPTER XII. 



WHICH TREATS OF THE KKAKEN. 



It has often been a matter for considerable surprise to 

 me, that while the urban population of Great Britain is 

 periodically agitated over the great sea-serpent question, 

 sailors, as a class, have very little to say on the subject. 

 During a considerable sea experience in all classes of 

 vessels, except men-of-war, and in most positions, I 

 have heard a fairly comprehensive catalogue of subjects 

 brought under dog-watch discussion ; but the sea-serpent 

 has never, within my recollection, been one of them. 



The reasons for this abstinence may vary a great 

 deal, but chief among them is — sailors, as a class, *' don't 

 believe in no such a pusson." More than that, they do 

 believe that the mythical sea-serpent is "boomed" at 

 certain periods, in the lack of other subjects, which 

 may not be far from the fact. But there is also another 

 reason, involving a disagreeable, although strictly ac- 

 curate, statement. Sailors are, again taken as a class, 

 the least observant of men. They will talk by the hour 

 of trivialities about which they know nothing ; they will 

 spin interminable " cu£fers " of debaucheries ashore all 

 over the world; pick to pieces the reputation of all the 

 officers with whom they have ever sailed; but of the 



