15 
again saw him. He came into the harbour, occasionally exhib¬ 
iting parts of his body, which appeared like rings or bunches. 
As he drew near, and when opposite to me, there rose from his 
head, or the most forward part of him, a prong or spear about 
twelve inches in height, and six inches in circumference at the 
bottom, and running to a small point. 
Q. Might not the prong or spear that you saw, have been the 
tongue of the serpent ? 
A. I thought not; as I saw the prong before I saw the head ; 
but it might have been. 
Q. At what distance was you, when you saw the spear of the 
serpent ? 
A. I should judge forty rods ; I had a spy-glass when I saw 
the prong or spear. 
Q. Did the animal appear round? 
A. He did. 
Q. Did he appear jointed, or only serpentine ? 
A. He appeared jointed. 
Q, Were its sinuosities vertical; or horizontal? 
A Vertical. 
Q. What was its colour ? 
A. It appeared brown. 
Q. Did it appear smooth or rough ? 
A. It appeared smooth. 
Q. What was the size and shape of his head ? 
A. At the distance where I was, his head appeared as large 
as a man’s head; but I cannot describe its shape. 
Q. Did it appear to pursue, avoid, or notice objects ? 
A. I thought it appeared to notice objects. 
Q. How fast did it move ? 
A. At the rate of a mile in a minute, at times, I have no 
doubt. WILLIAM H. FOSTER. 
Essex ss. August 27,1817. Personally appeared William H. 
Foster, and made oath that the foregoing deposition, by him sub¬ 
scribed, is true, according to his best knowledge and belief. 
Before Lonson Nash, Jus. of Peace. 
