102 
This, for the strangeness of the animal, is both curious 
and pretty, from the colours and contrivance of nature in 
giving it such arms and so many suckers for its size. 
The whole may seem extremely strange to new ob- 
servers, and more so when we can tell them that these 
arms are in some kinds said to be extended to above 50 feet 
in length, so as to embrace a boat and crew, and pull them 
down to satisfy the animal’s voracious appetite*. They are 
said to give a phosphorescent light when opened : this 
might happen to other animals in a certain state of putre- 
faction. Ours had some black inky matter in the pouch, 
said to be the substance used for Indian Ink. It differs very 
little from soot, which there is little doubt may be more 
commonly used. 
The Indians carry hatchets to cut off these arras, and relieve the boats. 
