[1823.] REPORTS AND PAPERS. 227 
ment of the fabulous tales of the sea-serpent of those days (1820) 
with those, related by Ponrorrrpan. The passage runs as follows: 
“The following information, however, which he” (the sexton of 
Maasée) “gave me concerning this animal deserves a greater share 
of attention. It is the practise of the fishermen, he said, when at 
any time they found themselves suddenly surrounded by the folds 
of the serpent, and obliged to pass over a part of it, never to 
attempt making their way between the openings, caused by part 
of the body of the animal being concealed under water, for fear 
of its raising and upsetting the boat. On the contrary, they rowed 
with all their strength against one of the visible folds, as the ser- 
pent, as soon as he feels the touch of the boat, naturally sinks 
down and enables it thus to pass over in safety. It will appear 
perhaps as a striking circumstance, that looking afterward into 
Pontoppidan, I found the foregoing particulars the very substance 
of what is related in his work, which may be said to be unknown 
in Finmark, and even of his name my informant had never heard.” 
Indeed, this is remarkable, but it is only a proof.of the scru- 
pulousness with which fables are told unchanged! The passages 
from Pontoprrpan referred to by our traveller have been discussed 
by me — p. 184. 
For history's sake, as well as to acquaint my readers with all 
that has been written for or against the subject, | am obliged to 
insert all that Mr. Brooxe further says about it. After having 
repeated nearly all what Ponrorprpan mentioned about it, he goes on: 
“Taking upon the whole a fair view of the different accounts 
related in the foregoing pages respecting the sea-serpent, no reason- 
able person can doubt the fact of some marine animal of extra- 
ordinary dimensions, and in all probability of the serpent tribe, 
having been repeatedly seen by various persons along the Norway 
and Finmark coasts. These accounts, for the most part, have been 
given verbally from the mouths of the fihermen; an honest and 
artless class of men who, having no motive for misrepresentation, 
cannot be suspected of a wish to deceive. Could this idea, however, 
be entertained, the circumstance alone, of their assertions having 
been so fully confirmed by others in more distant parts, would be 
sufficient to free them from any imputation of this kind. The | 
simple facts are these: In traversing a space of full 700 miles of 
coast, extending to the most northern point, accounts have been 
received from numerous persons respecting the appearance of an 
animal, called by them a sea-serpent. This of itself would induce 
