NATURAL HISTORY of NORWAY. atj 



what is affirmed by many ; but I cannot give fb certain affurances 

 of this particular, as 1 can of the exiftence of this furprizing 

 creature \ though I do not find any thing in it abfblutely contrary 

 to nature. As we can hardly expecl: an opportunity to examine 

 this enormous fea-animal alive, I am the more concerned that no- 

 body embraced that opportunity which, according to the fol- 

 lowing account, once did, and perhaps never more may offer, of 

 feeing it entire when dead. The reverend Mr. Friis, confiftorial 

 afleflbr, minifter of Bodoen in Nordland, and vicar of the college 

 for promoting chriftian knowledge, gave me at the latter end of 

 laft year, when he was at Bergen, this relation ; which I deliver 

 'again on his credit. 



In the year 1680 a Krake (perhaps a young and carelefs one) 

 came into the water that runs between the rocks and cliffs in the 

 parifli of Alftahoug, though the general cuftom of that creature 

 is to keep always feveral leagues from land, and therefore of 

 courfe they muft die there. It happened that its extended long 

 arms, or antennas, which this creature feems to ufe like the Snail, 

 in turning about, caught hold of fome trees ftanding near the 

 water, which might eafily have been torn up by the roots j 

 but befide this, as it was found afterwards, he entangled himfelf 

 in fbme openings or clefts in the rock, and therein ftuck fo faft, 

 and hung lb unfortunately, that he could not work himfelf out, 

 but perifhed and putrified on the fpot. The carcafe, which was 

 a long while decaying, and filled great part of that narrow channel, 

 made it almoft impaffable by its intolerable flench. 



The Kraken has never been known to do any great harm, except 

 they have taken away the lives of thofe who confequently could 

 not bring the tidings. I have never heard but one inftance men- 

 tioned, which happened a few years ago near Fridrichftad, in the 

 diocefs of Aggerhuus. They fay that two fifhermen accidentally, 

 and to their great furprize, fell into fuch a fpot on the water 

 as^ has been before defcribed, full of a thick flime, almoft like a 

 morafs They immediately ftrove to get out of this place, but 

 they had not time to turn quick enough to fave themfelves 

 from one of the Kraken's horns, which crufhed the head of the 

 boat fb, that it was with great difficulty theyjfaved their lives on 

 the wreck, tho' the weather was as calm as poffible ; for thefe 

 monfters, like the Sea-fnake, never appear at o£her times. 



Part II. Iii SECT. 



