THE KRAKEN. 
5 
about till they roll off into the water from the sides of it ; at last 
several bright points or horns appear, which grow thicker and 
thicker the higher they rise above the surface of the water, and 
sometimes they stand up as high and as large as the masts of 
middle-sized vessels. It seems these are the creature's arms, and 
it is said if they were to lay hold of the largest man of war they 
would pull it down to the bottom. After this monster has been 
on the surface of the water a short time it begins slowly to sink 
again, and then the danger is as great as before j because the 
motion of his sinking causes such a swell in the sea, and such an 
eddy or whirlpool, that it draws everything down with it, like the 
current of the river Male. . 
" As this enormous sea-animal in all probability may be reck- 
oned of the Polype, or of the Starfish kind, as shall hereafter be 
more fully proved, it seems that the parts which are seen rising at 
its pleasure, and are called arms, are properly the tentacula, or 
feeling instruments, called horns, as well as arms. With these they 
move themselves, and likewise gather in their food. 
Besides these, for this last purpose the great Creator has also 
given this creature a strong and peculiar scent, which it can emit 
at certain times, and by means of which it beguiles and draws 
other fish to come in heaps about it. This animal has another 
strange property, known by the experience of many old fishermen. 
They observe that for some months the Kraken or Krabben is 
continually eating, and in other months he always voids his excre- 
ments. During this evacuation the surface of the water is coloured 
with the excrement, and appears quite thick and turbid. This 
muddiness is said to be so very agreeable to the smell or taste of 
other fishes, or to both, that they gather together from all parts to 
it, and keep for that purpose directly over the Kraken ; he then 
opens his arms or horns, seizes and swallows his welcome guests, 
and converts them after due time, by digestion, into a bait for 
other fish of the same kind. I relate what is affirmed by many ; 
but I cannot give so certain assurances of this particular, as I can 
of the existence of this surprising creature ; though I do not find 
anything in it absolutely contrary to Nature. As we can hardly 
expect to examine this enormous sea-animal alive, I am the more 
