fome parts of the Indian feas, fpecimens have been 
feen with each arm of the length of nine fathoms; 
and that in thofe feas the Indians never venture to 
navigate their canoes or boats without being provided 
with broad hatchets in order to cut off the arms of 
the cuttleftfh, fhould it happen to attack the veflel, 
which it fometimes does in fuch a manner as greatly 
to endanger its being drawn under water. 
A mod entertaining account is given by Pliny, 
from Trebius Niger, of an enormous monfter of this 
kind (perhaps a Loligo), near the coaft of Carteia, 
which ufed to rob the neighbouring refervoirs of 
falted fifti, and which continued its depredations in 
fo alarming a manner as to provoke the vengeance 
of the enraged proprietors. 
This tale, in the tranflation of honeft Philemon 
Holland, runs thus. 
“ The reft which mine author hath related as 
touching this fifh, may feem rather monftrous lies 
and incredible, than otherwife: for he affirmed, that 
at Carteia there was one of thefe Polypi, which ufed 
commonly to go forth of the fea, and enter into fome 
of their open cefterns and vauts among their ponds 
and ftewes, wherein they kept great fea-fifhes, and 
otherwhiles would rob them of their falt-fifh, and fo 
go his waies againe: which he praftifed fo long, that 
in the end he gat himfelfe the anger and difpleafure 
of the mafters and keepers of the faid ponds and 
cefterns, with his continuall and immeafurable fil¬ 
ching : wherupon they flaked up the place and em- 
palled 
