TRAVELS IN ICELAND. 



Ill 



fchen," p. 287, is very angry with those who will not believe in 

 its existence ; and Childrey asserts it as a Fact, that some fisher- 

 men caught one on the coast of Suffolk in 1187, and that ano- 

 ther was taken in Yorkshire in 1.535. It is said that two have 

 been caught in the sea near Iceland : one when the island first 

 became inhabited, which is mentioned in the Landnama Saga ; 

 and the other in 1733, near Talkknefiord, in the bailiwick of 

 Bardestrand : and it is likewise true, that there was found in the 

 belly of a shark, an animal that resembled a man. AW those who 

 saw it did not doubt for an instant that it was the body of a mar- 

 menill, and not that of a human being. M. Wernhard Gud- 

 munsen, curate at Ottrerdal, which is situated in the same baili- 

 wick, gave us some very circumstantial details of this; and added, 

 that if we desired it, he would procure certificates from all the 

 persons who had seen it. The following is his account : " The 

 lower part of the animal was entirely eaten; while the upper part, 

 from the epigastric and hypogastric region, was in certain places 

 only half devoured, but in others entirely: the sternum or breast- 

 bone was perfect. This animal appeared to be about the size 

 of a boy eight or nine years old, and its head was formed like 

 that of a man. The anterior surface of the occiput was very 

 protuberant, and the nape of the neck had a considerable inden- 

 tion or sinking. The alee of the ears were very large, and ex- 

 tended a good way back. It had front teeth, which were long 

 and of a conical form, as were also the larger teeth : the eyes 

 were like those of a codfish. It had on the head long, blacky 

 and hard hair, very similar to the Fucus filiformis ; this hair 

 hung over its shoulders. Its forehead was large, and round at 

 top. The skin above the eye-lids was much wrinkled, scanty, 

 and of a bright olive-colour ; which indeed was the tint of the 

 whole body. The chin was rather cleft at bottom ; the shoul- 

 ders were very high, and the neck uncommonly short. The 

 arms were of their natural size, and each hand had a thumb and 

 four fingers covered with flesh. Its breast was formed exactly 

 like that of a man, and there were to be seen something like 

 nipples {papilla) ; the back was also like that of a man. It 

 had very cartilaginous ribs ; and in parts where the skin had been 

 rubbed off, a black and coarse flesh was perceptible, very simi- 

 lar to that of the seal. This animal, after having been exposed 

 about a week on the shore, was again thrown into the sea." 



This is the history of the marmenill or sea-man in question. 

 If we reflect on the change which an animal undergoes on re- 

 maining some time in the belly of a shark, whose propensity for 

 human flesh is well known (as entire corpses have been found in 

 its body) ; when we recollect, that in a short time this fish can 

 travel a vast distance, and suddenly convey itself from one shore 



