36 



had seen the bones of a whole skeleton of a 

 monstrous size, lying in a ditch between Tom- 

 skoi and Kasmtsko, on tlie banks of the river 

 Tomber. Stralenberg also says, that he saw at 

 the city of Tumeer, a skull 2| ells in length, 

 but this the Russians informed him was one of 

 the smallest size. Muller and Isbrandes Ides 

 go farther, and describe the colour, structure, 

 kc. of some huo-e inco2;nitum. But what ere- 

 dit can be given to such idle stories, when Ides 

 himself confesses, that he knew of no person 

 that had ever seen a living animal of such ex- 

 traordinary magnitude? 



The fathers of the ancient church thought 

 it to be the devil, and others the elephant. The 

 rabbins affirm, that it is the largest four-footed 

 creature that God has ever created ; that in the 

 beo-innino; he made two, the male and the fe- 

 male; the female he killed and salted, to reserve 

 it as an entertainment for the elect, whenever 

 the Messiah shall come; and that the male is 

 still living, which, when this time comes, God 

 will kill also, and give it to the Israelites, who 

 shall then arise from the dead. As a proof 

 of these extravagancies, they often swear by 

 the share they expect in the " great beast." — 



