218 NATURAL HISTORY of NORWAY. 



have one of thefe in my collection ; it has a ronghnefs on the 

 head, fomething like a file, with which fome people are fo 

 fimple as to imagine, that this little diminutive creature can per- 

 form the extraordinary operation mentioned above. 



The learned jefuit Gafp. Schottus, in his Phyfica Curiofa, 

 cap. xiv. has thoroughly examined into the nature and proba- 

 bility of this account; and has confuted the learned Kircher 

 entirely in this point. Among other reafons that are given for a 

 Chip's being ftopt in her courfe in the middle of the fea, tho' 

 under full fail with a good wind, which is an undeniable facl, he 

 reckons the conflux of rivers from 4evcr<*l places struggling toge- 

 ther to be one caufe. This opinion has fome probability, and 

 that Arrange effect is really owing to this caufe in lbme places : 

 but be it as it will, I am apt to think that the Kors-Trold, or 

 Soe-Drawl, fo much talked of by the failors, and which they 

 reckon an evil fpirit, can be no other than the Kraken, which, 

 according to the defcription given above, ieems to be able with 

 its arms, or horns, to bring about this Arrange effect. Hence, 

 perhaps, it is called, among many other names, by that of 

 Anker-Trold ; tho' I do not in the leaA: infift upon this con- 

 jecture being true, but willingly fubmit my fuppofitions in 

 this, and every other dubious matter, to the judgment of thofe 

 that are better experienced. If I was an admirer of uncertain 

 reports, and fabulous A:ories, I might here add much more con- 

 cerning this and other Norvegian Sea-monA:ers, whofe exirlence I 

 will not take upon me to deny ; but do not chufe, by a mixture 

 of uncertain relations, to make fuch accounts appear doubtful, as 

 I myfelf believe to be true and well attefted. I mall there- 

 fore quit the fubjecl: here, and leave it to future writers on this 

 plan, to complete what I have imperfectly fketched out, by 

 further experience, which is always the beA: inflrruQor. 



CHAP- 



