GLIMPSE OF A SEA-SERPENT.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 275, 16 April 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

GLIMPSE OF A SEA-SERPENT.

I dili not lose all the sights and tropical wonders by coming this way. for on Sunday, January 22, I saw from the bridgo, as I sat there as usual for an hour or so before sundown, a large luminous serpentine form, which rose slowly out of the water in two large curves (like two arches of a low bridge), letting me see distinctly the largo, diaper pattern marked on tho flattened silvery sides of a huge snake. I had my note book in my hand, and ranidly sketched off its markings and i!s outline, as much as I could see of it on and under the water. The great size and luminousnefs of tho creature were lis chief characteristics, flattened sides; I could not Bee either extremity, nor do I remember distinguishing any fins, but the curves I saw were, as I judged, together, about half as long again as our deckhouse, and I saw it at about two hundred yards off. No one was on the bridge at the time ; I often had it to myself at that hour ; I called to Mr Butters, but by the time he came the creature had disappeared, which was unlucky for me. The captain told me large sea-ser-pents were not uncommon in this part of tho Indian Ocean. My own conviction is that this was the sea-serpent, which I had hitherto looked upon as fabulous; the best authenticated case I had hitherknown was the sea-serpent seen at Haul bowline, which turned out to bo a long lawyer from Cork taking a swim. Since then I have been told what I believe to bo genuine cases, the most convincing being one seen in Scotland, off Dunrobin (Jastle, where tho Duke of Scotland's secretary and the minister of the parish and his family all saw what they affirm to ba the great* sea-serpent. My sea-serpent is true, "true as taxes is, and nothing's truer than them."—To Siam and Malaya in tho Duke of Sutherland's Yacht.