196 NATURAL HISTORY of NORWAY. 



of by thofe who are curious to look into the extraordinary works 

 of the great creator. Amonft thefe the Kraaken, which I am 

 going to defcribe, is to be confidered as the moft extraordinary in 

 length. But here I muft again, as I did of the Mer-man, firft 

 give the reader proper authorities for the real exiftence of this 

 creature, before I come to treat of its nature and properties. 

 This creature, particularly in the North Sea, continually keeps 

 himfelf in the bottom of the fea, excepting in the months of 

 July and Auguft, which is their fpawning time ; and then they 

 come to the furface in calm weather, but plunge into the water 

 again, fb foon as the wind raiies the leaft wave. 



If it were not for this regulation, thus ordained by the wife 

 Creator for the fafety of mankind, the reality of this Snake's 

 exiftence would be lefs queftioned, than it is at prefent, even 

 here in Norway ; tho' our coaft is the only place in Europe vifited 

 by this terrible creature. This makes many perfbns, that are 

 enemies to credulity, entertain fo much the greater doubt about 

 it. I have queftioned its exiftence myfelf, till that fuipicion was 

 Many wimef- removed by full and fufficient evidence from creditable and expe- 

 rejeaed! e rienced fifhermen, and Tailors, in Norway ; of which there are 

 hundreds, who can teftify that they have annually feen them. 

 All thefe perfbns agree very well in the general defcription ; and 

 others, who acknowledge that they only know it by report, or 

 by what their neighbours have told them, ftill relate the fame 

 particulars. 



In all my enquiry about thefe affairs, I have hardly fpoke 

 with any intelligent perfon, born in the manor of Nordland, who 

 was not able to give a pertinent anfwer, and ftrong affurances of 

 the exiftence of this Fifh : and fnme o£ oui North traders, that 

 come here every year with their merchandize, think it a very 

 ftrange queftion, when they are ferioully alked, whether there 

 be any fuch creature; they think it as ridiculous as if the 

 queftion was put to them, whether there be fuch Fifh as Eel 

 or Cod. 



Laft Winter I fell by chance in converfation on this fubjecl 

 with captain Lawrence de Ferry, now commander in this place, 

 who faid that he had doubted a great while, whether there was 

 any fuch creature, till he had an opportunity of being fully con- 

 vinced, by ocular demonftration, in the year 1746. Though I 

 had nothing material to objecl, ftill he was pleafed, as a farther 

 confirmation of what he advanced, to bring before the magiftrates, 

 at a late feffions in the city of Bergen, two fea-faring men, 

 who were with him in the boat when he fhot one of thefe mon- 



fters, 



