A Description of Greenland/Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
There are several Kinds of Whales.The Greenland Sea, abounds in different Sorts of Animals, Fowls and Fishes, of which the Whale bears the Sway, and is of divers Kinds, Shapes and Sizes. Some are called the Finned Whales,The Finned Whale. from the Fins they have upon their Back near the Tail; but these are not much valued, yielding but little Fat or Blubber, and that of the meaner sort; they consist of nothing but lean Flesh, Sinews and Bones. They are of a long, round and slender
Shape, very dangerous to meddle with, for they rage and lay about them most furiously with their Tail, so that no body cares to come at them, or catch them. The Greenlanders make much of them, on account of their Flesh, which, with them, passes for dainty Cheer. The other sort of Whales are reckoned the best for their Fat,Whales that yield the best Bones, or Barders. Their Description. and Find or Whale-Bones. These differ from the first sort, in that they have no Fin on the Back towards the Tail, but two lesser ones near the Eyes, and are covered with a thick black Skin, marbled with white Strokes, With these Side Fins they swim with an incredible Swiftness. The Tail is commonly three or four Fathom broad. The Head makes up one third of the whole Fish. The Jaws are covered, both above and beneath, with a kind of short Hair. The Seat of Whale-Bones.At the Bottom of the Jaws are placed the so called Barders, or Whale-Bones, which serve him instead of Teeth, of which he has none. They are of different Colours, some brown, some black, and others yellow with white Streaks. Within the Mouth the Barders, or Whale-Bones are covered with Hair like Horse-hair, chiefly those that inclose the Tongue. Some of them arc bent like a Scymitar, or Sable, The smallest are ranged the foremost in the Mouth, and the hindermost near the Throat; the broadest and largest are in the middle, some of them two Fathom long, by which we may judge of the vast Bigness of this Animal. On each Side there are commonly two hundred and fifty, in all five hundred Pieces. They are set in a broad Row, as in a Sheaf, one close to the other, bent like a Crescent or half Moon, broadest at the Root, which is of a tough and grisly Matter, of a whitish Colour, fastned to the upper Part of the Jaws, near the Throat, and they grow smaller towards the End, which is pointed; they are also covered with Hair, that they may not hurt the Tongue. The undermost Jaw is commonly white, to which the Tongue is fastened, inclosed in the Barders, or long Whale-Bones; it is very large, sometimes about eighteen Feet, and sometimes more, of a white Colour, with black Spots, of a soft, fat, and spungious Matter. The Spouts on the Top of the Head.The Whale has a Bunch Spouts or Pipes, parallel one to the other, and somewhat bent, like the Holes upon a Fiddle. Through these he receives the Air, and spouts out the Water, which he takes in at his Mouth, and is forced upwards through these Holes in very large Quantities, and with such Violence and Noise, that it is heard at a great Distance, by which, in hazy Weather, he is known to be near; especially when he finds himself wounded, for then he rages most furiously, and the Noise of his spouting is so loud, that some have resembled it to the roaring of the Sea in a Storm, or the firing of great Guns. His Eyes are placed between the Bunch and the Side Fins; they are not larger than those of an Ox, and are armed with Eyebrows.
The Penis of a Whale.The Penis of a Whale is a strong Sinew, seven or eight, and sometimes 14 Foot long, in Proportion to his Bulk; it is covered with a Sheath, in which it lies hidden, so that you see but little of it: the Nature of the Female is like that of the Four-footed Animals; she has two Breasts with Teats like a Cow's; some white, others stain'd with black or blue Spots. In their Spawning-time their Breasts are larger than usual; and when they couple together, they reach their Head above Water, for to fetch Breath, and to cool the Heat contracted by that Action. Has but two Spawns at a Time.'Tis said, that they never bring forth more than two young ones at a Spawning, which they suck with their Teats. The Spawn of the Whale, while it is fresh, is clammy, and gluish, so that it may be drawn out in Threads like Wax or Pitch: it has no Relation to that which we call Sperma Ceti; for it is soon corrupted, and by no Art can be preserved,
Their Size and Bigness.These Sea-Animals, or rather Monsters, are of different Sizes and Bulks; some yield a 100, and some 200 or 300 Tuns of Fat or Blubber. The Fat lies between the Skin and the Flesh, fix or eight Inches thick, especially upon the Back and under the Belly. The thickest and strongest Sinews are in the Tail, which serves him for a Rudder, as his Fins do for Oars, wherewith he swims with an astonishing Swiftness, proportioned to his Bulk, leaving a Track in the Sea, like a great Ship; and this is called his Wake, by which he is often followed.
They are very shy.These Sea-Monsters are as shy and timorous as they are huge and bulky; for as soon as they hear a Boat rowing, and perceive any Body's Approach, they immediately shoot under Water and plunge into the Deep; but when they find themselves in Danger, then they shew their great and surprising Strength; for then they break to Pieces whatever comes in their Way; and if they should hit a Boat, they would beat it in a thousand Pieces. According to the Relation of the Whale-Catchers, the Whale being struck, will run away with the Line some Hundreds of Fathoms long, faster than a Ship under full Sail. Now one would think, that such a vast Body should need many smaller Fishes and Sea Animals to feed upon;Their Food. but on the contrary, his Food is nothing but a Sort of Blubber, called Pulmo marinus, or Whale Food, which is of Shape and Bigness, as represented in the Cuts; it is of a dark brown-Colour, with two Brims of Flaps, with such Slowness, that one may easily lay hold on it, and get it out of the Water. In which the Sea abounds every where.It is like a Jelly, soft and slippery; so that if you crush it between your Fingers, you find it fat and gresy like Train-Oil. The Greenland Seas abound in it, which allures and draws this kind of Whales thither, in Search of it; for as their Swallow or Throat is very narrow, (being but four Inches in Diameter) and the smaller Whale-Bones reaching down his Throat, they cannot swallow any hard or large Piece of other Food, having no Teeth to chew it with; so that this sort of Nourishment fits them best, their Mouth being large and wide for to receive a great Quantity, by opening it and shutting it again, that Nature has provided them with the Barders or Whale-Bones, which by their Closeness only give Passage to the Water, like a Sieve, keeping back the Aliment. Here we ought to praise the wise and kind Providence of the Almighty Creator, who has made such mean Things suffice for the Maintenance of so vast an Animal.
The Whale called North-Cape Whale.Next to this there is another sort of Whales, called the North-Capers, from the Place of their Abode, which is about the North Cape of Norway; though they also frequent the Coasts of Iceland, Greenland, and sundry other Seas, going in Search of their Prey; which is Herring and other small Fishes, that resort in abundance to those Coasts. It has been observed, that some of these North-Cape Whales have had more than a Tun of Herrings in their Belly. This kind of Whales has this common with the former called Fin-Whale, in that it is very swift and quick in its Motion, and keeps off from the Shore in the main Sea, as fearing to become a Prey to its Enemies, if it should venture too near the Shore. His Fat is tougher and harder than that of the great Bay-Whale; neither are his Barders or Bones so long and valuable, for which Reason he is neglected.
The Sword-Fish.The fourth sort is the Sword-Fish, so called from a long and broad Bone, which grows out of the End of his Snout on both Sides, indented like a Saw. He has got two Fins upon his Back, and four under the Belly, on each Side two; those on the Back are the largest; those under the Belly are placed just under the first of the Back. His Tail is broad and flat underneath, and above pointed, but not split or cloven. From the hindermost Fin of the Back he grows smaller. His Nostrils are of an oblong Shape: the Eyes are placed on the Top of his Head, just above his Mouth. There are different Sizes of Sword-Fishes; some of 20 Foot, some more some less. The greatest Enemy of the Whale.This is the greatest Enemy the true Whale has to deal with, who gives him fierce Battels; and, having vanquished and killed him, he contents himself with eating the Tongue of the Whale, leaving the rest of the huge Carcase for the Prey and Spoils of the Morses, and Sea-Birds.
Cachelot.The Cachelot or Pot-Fish is a fifth Species of Whales, whose Shape is somewhat different from that of other Whales, in that the upper Part of his Head or Skull is much bigger and stronger built; his Spouts or Pipes are placed on the Forehead; whereas other Whales have them on the hinder-part of the Head. His under Jaw is armed with a Row of Teeth which are but short. His Tongue is thin a pointed, and of a yellowish Colour. He has but one Eye on the Side of the Head, which makes him of easy Access to the Greenlanders, who attack him on his blind Side. Sperma Ceti is prepared of the Skull of Cachelots.Of his Skull that wrongly so called Sperma Ceti is prepared, one yielding 20 to 24 Tuns thereof. The rest of the Body and the Tail are like unto those of other Whales. He is of a brownish Colour on the Back, and white under the Belly. He is of different Sizes, from 50 to 70 Foot long.
The White Fish.Then comes the White Fish, whose Shape is not unlike that of the great Bay-Whale; having no Fins upon the Back, but underneath two large ones; the Tail like a Whale; his Spouts, through which he breathes and throws out the Water, are the same; he has likewise the Bunch on the Head. His Colour is of a fading yellow; he is commonly from 12 to 16 Foot in Length, and exceeding fat. The Train of his Blubber is as clear as the clearest Oil. His Flesh and Fat is well tasted.His Flesh as well as the Fat has no bad Taste, and when it is marinated with Vinegar and Salt, it is as well tasted as any Pork whatsoever. The Fins also and the Tail, pickled or sauced, are good eating. This Fish is so far from being shy, that whole Droves are seen about the Ships at Sea. The Greenlanders catch Numbers of them, of which they make grand Cheer.
But or Blunt-Heads.There is yet another smaller sort of Whales, called But-Heads,from the Form of its head, which at the Snout is flat, like a But'd End. He has a Fin upon his Back towards the Trail; and two Side-Fins. His Tail is like to that of a Whale. In the hinder Part of the Head he has a Pipe to fetch Air, and spout the Water through; which he does not spout out with that Force the Whale does. His Size is from 14 to 20 Foot. Runs as fast as a Ship under full Sails.He follows Ships under Sail with a fair Wind, and seems to run for a Wager with them; whereas, on contrary, other Whales avoid and fly from them. Their jumping, as well as that of Fishes and Sea-Animals, forebodes boisterous and stormy Weather.
Unicorn.Among the different Kinds of Whales, some reckon the Unicorn, as they commonly call him, from a long, small Horn, that grows out of his Snout; but his right Name is Nar-Whale. It is a pretty large Fish, 18 to 20 Foot long, and yields good Fat. His Skin is black and smooth, without Hair. He has one Fin on each Side, at the Beginning of his Belly. His Head is pointed, His Horn.and out of his Snout on the left Side proceeds the Horn, which is round, turned, with a sharp taper Point; the greatest Length of it is 14 or 15 Foot, and thick as your Arm. The Root of it goes very deep into the Head, to strengthen it for the supporting of so heavy a Burthen. The Horn is of a fine white and compact Matter, wherefore it weighs much. The third Part of it, beginning from the Root, is commonly hollow; and there are some very solid at the Root, and above it grows more and more hollow. Has a little short Horn formed within the Skull.On the right Side of the Head there lies another shorter Horn hidden, which does not grow out of the Skin, and it cannot be conceived for what End the All-wise Creator has ordained it. He has, like other Whales, two Pipes or Spouts, which terminate in one, through which he breathes and fetches Air, when he comes up out of the Sea with his Head. Here I must observe to you, that when the Whale comes up to fetch Air, 'tis not Water he throws out at the Spouts, as the common Notion runs; but his Breath, which resembles Water forced out of a great Spout. As for the rest of the Unicorn or Nar-Whale's Body, it is perfectly of the same Shape as that of other Whales.
Mistake of the Authors, who will have it to be a Tooth.Concerning this Animal's Horn, which has given Occasion to so many Disputes, whether it be a Horn properly so called, or a Tooth, my Reader must allow me a little Digression, for to make these Gentlemen Disputants aware of their Mistake, who pretend it to be a Tooth and not a Horn; being placed on one Side of the Snout, and not on the Tip of the Fore-Head, where other Animals wear their Horns. See Wormius's Museum, L. III. Ch. 14. But it appears clearly to all Beholders, that it neither has the Shape of a Tooth such as other Sea-Animals are endowed with; nor has its Root in the Jaws, the ordinary Place of Teeth,Its Root is not fixt in the Jaw but in the Snout. but grows out of the Snout, as may be seen in the Cut hereto joined. And besides, the Absurdity is much greater to hold, and maintain, that Animals wear Teeth on the Snout or Head, like Horns: or dare any Body deny, that the Whale's Spouts are his Nostrils, through which he fetches Breath, because they are on the Top of his Head; or question, that the Clap-Mysses (a large Kind of Seal) his Eyes are such, because they are placed in the hindermost part of the Head? Ought we not rather to think, that an all-wise Creator has placed this Horn horizontally, to the End, that it may not be of any Hindrance to the Course and Swimming of this Animal in the Water, which would happen, if it did rise vertically? With this Horn he bores Holes in the Ice and keeps it open.Furthermore this Horn serves many other Ends, as to stir up his Food from the Bottom of the Sea, as he is said to feed upon small Sea-Weeds, and likewise therewith to bore Holes in the Ice, in order to fetch fresh Air. The Inference these Gentlemen are pleased to draw from the Generality of Fishes and Sea-Animals having no such Paws or Claws as Land-Animals have, is as lame, and of as little Force. And it is much less absurd to hold, that Sea-Animals have something common with those of the Land, as it is confess'd, that many of them have a great Resemblance together in Figure and Shape, viz. Sea-Calves, Sea-Dogs, Sea-Wolves, and Sea-Horses;Many Sea-Animals resemble those upon the Land. together with Mer-Men and Mer-Maids, as it is pretended. Who is ignorant of the winged or flying Fishes; and of others with long Nebs or Bills like Birds; also of Birds with four Feet, like Beasts? The vast Disagreement of Authors, who describe the Land-Unicorn, makes it doubtful, whether there be any such.And why then may there not be Sea-Unicorns, as well as Land-Unicorns; if any such there be in rerum natura? for it is a difficult Matter to determine, what Kind of Animal the Scripture understands, when it speaks of the Unicorn, as in Psalm xxix. ver. 6. and in other Places: whether it be such a one as Plinius and other Writers describe, giving him the Body of a Horse, with a Stag's Head, and a Horn on his Snout; or whether it ought not with better Reason be applied to a certain Animal in Africa, called Rhinoceros, whose Snout in horned in that Fashion. If one had Patience to consider the vast Disagreement, that reigns between these Writers, one would conclude that this Animal is peculiar to the Climate, where the fabulous Bird Phenix builds its Nest; that is to say, in Utopia, or no where. For some describe this Animal, as an amphibious one, that lives by Turns upon Land and in the Water. Some will have him to be in the Likeness of an Ore white spotted, with Horse Feet. Others make a three Years Colt of him, with a Stag's Head, and a Horn in the Front one Ell long. And others again tell you it is like a Morse or Sea Horse, with divided or cloven Feet, and a Horn in the Front. There are Authors, who attribute to him a Horn 10 Foot long, others six, and others again but the length of three Inches. See Pliny, Munsterus, Marc. Paulus, Philostratus, Heliodorus, and several others, whose Relations are of the same Authority with mine, as that of the Greenlanders, concerning a fierce, ravenous wild Beast, which they call Amavok; which all pretend to know, but no Person ever yet was found, that could say, he had seen it.
Nises or Porpoises.Nises or Porpoises, otherwise Sea Hogs, are also placed in the Class of Whales, though of a much smaller Size, and are met with in all Seas. His Head resembles that of a Butts-Head-Whale. His Mouth is armed with sharp Teeth. He has Spouts or Pipes like a Whale. He has a Fin upon the middle of his Back, which towards the Tail is bended like a Half-Moon. Under the Belly there are two Side Fins, overgrown with Flesh and covered with a black Skin. His Tail is broad like that of a Whale. He has small round Eyes, his Skin is of a shining black, and the Belly white. His Length is five to eight Foot, at most. His Length is five to eight Foot, at most. His Fat makes fine Oil, and the Flesh is by the Greenlander reckoned a grat Dainty.
Of other Sea Animals.
Morses or Sea Horses.The Sea Horse or Morse has the Shape of a Seal, though much larger and stronger. He has five Claws on each of his Feet, as the Seal. His Head rounder and larger. His Skin is an Inch thick, especially about the Neck, very rough, rugged and wrinkled, covered with a short, brown, and sometimes reddish, or Mouse-coloured Hair. Has two long Teeth or Tusks.Out of his upper Jaw there grow two large Teeth or Tusks, bended downwards over the sunder Jaw, of the length of half a Yard, and sometimes of a whole Yard and more. These Tusks are esteemed as much as Elephants Teeth; they are compact and solid, but hollow towards the Root. His Mouth is not unlike that of a Bull, covered above and beneath with strong Bristles as big as a Straw. His Nostrils are placed above his Mouth, as those of the Seal. His Eyes are firey red, which he can turn on all Sides, not being able to turn his Head, by Reason of the Shortness and Thickness of his Neck. The Tail resembles a Seal's Tail, being thick and short. His Fat is like Hogs Lard. Is an amphibious Animal.He lies commonly upon the Ice Shoals, and can live a good while on Shore, till Hunger drives him back into the Seas; his Nourishment being both Herbs and Fishes. He snores very loud, when he sleeps; and when he is provoked to Anger, he roars like a mad Bull. 'Tis a very bold and fierce Creature, and they assist each other, when attack'd, to the last. Fights the White Bear.He is continually at War with the White Bear, to whom he often proves too hard with this mighty Tusks, and often kills him, or at least, does not give over till they both expire.
Different Kinds of Seals.The Seals are of different Sorts and Sizes, though in their Shape they all agree, excepting the Clap-Myss, so called from a Sort of a Cap he has on his Head, with which he covers it when he fears a Stroke. The Paws of a Seal have five Claws, joined together with a thick Skin, like that of a Goose or a Water Fowl. His Head resembles a Dog's with cropped Ears, from whence he has got the Name of Sea Dog. His Snout is bearded like that of a Cat. His Eyes are large and clear with Hair about them. Their Skin of divers Colours.The Skin is covered with a short Hair of divers Colours, and spotted; some white and black, others yellowish, others again reddish, and some of Mouse Colour. His Teeth are very sharp and pointed. Although he seems lamish behind, yet he makes nothing of getting up upon the Ice-Hills, where he loves to sleep and to bask himself in the Sun. The largest Seals are from five to eight Foot in Length, their Fat yields better Train-Oil than that of any other Fish. This is the most common of all the Sea Animals in Greenland; Contribute the most to the Subsistence of Greenlanders.and contributes the most to the subsisting and maintaining of the Inhabitants, who feed upon the Flesh of it, and cloath themselves with the Skin, which likewise serves them for the covering of their Boats and Tents: The Fat is their Fuel, which they burn in their Lamps, and also boil their Victuals with.
Sundry Sea-Monsters.As for other Sea Monsters and wonderful Animals, we find in Tormoder's History of Greenland, mention made of three Sorts of Monsters, where he quotes a Book, called Speculum Regale Iclandicum, or the Royal-Island Looking-Glass, from whence he borrows what he relates[1]. But none of them have been seen by us, or any of our Time, that ever I could hear, save that most dredful Monster, that shewed itself upon the Surface of the Water in the Year 1734,A surprising Sea Monster, seen in the 64th Degree. off our New Colony in 64 Degrees. This Monster was of so huge a Size, that coming out of the Water, its Head reached as high as the Mast-Head; its Body was as bulky as the Ship, and three or four Time as long. It had a long pointed Snout, and spouted like Whale-Fish; great broad Paws, and the Body seemed covered with Shell-Work, its Skin very rugged and uneven. The under Part of its Body was shaped like an enormous huge Serpent, and when it dived again under Water, it pluged backwards into the Sea, and so raised its Tail aloft, which seemed a whole Ship's Length distant from the bulkiest Part of the Body.
Of other Fishes.
Of Fishes properly so called, the Greenland Sea has abundance and of great Diversity, of which the largest is called Hay,The Fish called Hay. whose Flesh is much like that of the Holy-Butt, and is cured in the same Manner; being cut into long Slices, and hung up to be dried in the Sun and in the Air, as they cure them in the Northern Parts of Norway; but the Greenlanders do not much care for it; its Flesh being of a munch coarser Grain than that of the Holy-Butt. This Fish has two Fins on the Back, and fix under the Belly, the two foremost are the longest, and have the Shape of a Tongue. The other two middle most are somewhat broader than the rest, and the hindermost Couple near the Tail, are alike broad before and behind, but shorter than the middlemost. His Tail resembles that of the Sword-Fish. There are no Bones in him, but Gristles only. He has a long Snout, under which the Mouth is placed like that of the Sword-Fish; he has three Rows of sharp pointed Teeth, his Skin is hard and prickly, of a greyish Hue; his Length is two or three Fathom; he has a great Liver,His Liver makes out two or three Lasts. of which they make Train-Oil, the biggest of which makes two or three Lasts. 'Tis a Fish of Prey, bites large Pieces out of the Whale's Body, and is very greedy after Man's Flesh. He cannot be caught with Lines made of Hemp, for with his sharp Teeth he snaps it off; but with Iron Chains. And the larger sort are taken with poons, as we do the Whales. The rest of Fishes that haunt the Greenland Seas, Other Fishes in these Seas.are the Holybut, Torbut, Codfish, Haddock, Scate, small Salmon or Sea-Trout of different Kinds and Sizes (the large Salmon not being so frequent in Greenland) and these are very fat and good. They are found in all Inlets, and Mouths of Rivers. Cat-fish is the most common Food of Greenlanders, insomuch, that when all other Things fail, the Cat-fish must hold out, of which there are abundance, both Winter and Summer. In the Spring, towards the Month of April, The Fish Rogncal, or Roe Fish.they catch a sort of Fish called Rogncals, or Stone-biter; and in May another Fish, called Lyds or Stints, both Sorts very savoury; they frequent the Bays and Inlets in great Shoals. There are also Whitings in abundance, but Herrings are not to be seen. Moreover there is a kind of Fish, which neither I myself nor any of my Company had ever seen before; this Fish is not unlike a Bream, only it is prickly with sharp Points all over, with a small Tail. There are of different Sizes. The Greenlanders say they are well tasted.
Testaceous Fishes.Among the testaceous Animals in Greenland the chief are the Muscles, of which there are great Quantities; they are large and delicate. In some Waters I have found of those larger Sorts, in which the Norwegians find Pearls. These have also Pearls, but very small ones, not biger than the Head of a Pin. I shall say nothing of the other Sea Insects, as Crabs, Shrimps, &c. though they be not rare here; yet Lobsters, Crawfish and Oisters I never met with. According to Information had of Greenlanders, on the Southern Coasts they sometimes catch Tortoises in their Nets;Tortoises. for they tell you, that they are covered with a thick Shell, have Claws and a short Tail; and moreover that they find Eggs in them, like Birds Eggs.
Of Greenland Sea Birds.
Great Diversity of Sea Fowls.Amongst the Sea Fowls the Principal are those they call Edder-Fowl, and Ducks; of which there are such Numbers,Vast Numbers of Edder or Down-Fowls and Ducks. that sometimes sailing along, you find the whole Sea covered with them; and when they take their Flight, you would think there was no End of them, especially in Winter-Time, when in large Flocks, to the Number of many Thousands, they hover about our Colony, Morning and Evening; in the Evening standing in for the Bay, and in the Morning turning out to Sea again. They fly so near the Shore, that you may from thence shoot them at Pleasure. In the Spring they retire towards the Sea; for upon the Island that lies adjacent to the Coast, they lay their Eggs, and hatch their young ones, which arrive in June and July.
The Natives watch them in this Season to rob them of their Eggs and their young ones. The fine down Feathers, which is the best Part of this Bird, so much valued by others, the Natives make nothing of, leaving them in the Nests.
Three Sorts of Ducks.There are three Sorts of Ducks. The first have a broad Bill, like our tame Duck, with a fine speckled Plumage. These build their Nests upon the Islands as the Edder Fowls do. The second sort is of a lesser Size, their Bills long and pointed; keep most in the Bays and in fresh Waters, where they nest among the Reeds. Wood-Ducks are not engendred the ordinary way from Eggs, but from Muscle-Shells.The third sort are called Wood-Ducks, resemble very much those of the first sort, though somewhat larger in Size; its Breast is black, the rest of the Body is gray. These do not propagate in the common Way of Generation by coupling like other Birds; but (which is very surprizing) from a slimy Matter in the Sea, which adheres to old Pieces of Wood driving in the Sea, of which first is generated a kind of Muscles, and again in these is bred a little Worm, which in Length of Time is formed into a Bird, that comes out of the Muscle-Shell, as other Birds come out of Egg-Shells[2]. Besides these there is another Sea Bird, which the Norway-men call Alkes,Alkes of different Sizes. which in the Winter Season contributes much to the Maintenance of the Greenlanders. Sometimes there are such Numbers of them, that they drive them in large Flocks to the Shore, where they catch them with their Hands. They are not so large as a Duck; nor is their Flesh so well tasted, bein more trainy or oily. The lesser sort of Alkes, which also abound here, are more eatable than the large ones. Besides this vast Number of Sea Fowls, there is yet one of a smaller Size, by the Natives called Tungoviarseck, which for its beautiful Feathers Sake, ought not to be forgot: It has the Size and Shape of a Lark.
The Wild Geese, after they have laid their Eggs, and hatched them, return with their young ones Southwards.Wild Geese or grey Geese keep to the Northward of Greenland; they are of Shape like other Geese, somewhat smaller, with grey Feathers. They take their Flight from other Southern Climates, over to Greenland every Spring, for to breed their young ones; which when grown and able to fly, they carry along with them and return to the more Southern and milder Climate, where they pass the Winter-Season.
In short, I have myself found in Greenland all the several Sorts of Sea-Fowls which we have in Norway; All Sorts of Sea Mews.as all Kinds of Mewsbig and small, which build their Nest in the Clifts of the highest Rocks, beyond the Reach of any one; and some upon the little Islands, as the Bird called Terne and the like; whose Eggs they gather in great abundance among the Stones: The Lundes or Greenland Parrot, so called on account of its beautiful Plumage, and broad speckled Bill: And other Sea Birds.The Lumbs, the Sea-Emms, a Fowl of a large Size, and very small Wings; for which reason he cannot fly. Besides Snipes, and a great Number of others; some too common to be enumerated and described here, and others, of which I know not the Name, but whose Figure and Shape you will see in the Cuts.
- ↑ The abovementioned Author calls the first of these Monsters Havestramb, The Mer-Man.(or Mer-Man) and describes it to have the Likeness of a Man, as to the Head, Face, Nose and Mouth; save that its Head was oblong and pointed like a Sugar-Loaf. It has broad Shoulders, and two Arms without Hands. The Body downwards is slanting and thin. The rest below the Middle, being hid in the Water, could not be observed. The second Monster he calls Margya The Mermaid or Mer-Woman.(or Mer-Woman, or Mermaid) had from the Middle upwards the Shape and Countenance of a Woman: A terrible broad Face, a pointed Forehead, wrinkled Cheeks, a wide Mouth, large Eyes, black untrimmed Hair, two great Breasts, which shewed her Sex: She had two long Arms, with Hands and Fingers join'd together with a Skin, like the Feet of a Goose. Below the Middle she is like a Fish, with a Tail and Fins. The Fishermen pretend, that when these Sea Monsters appear, it forebodes stormy Weather. Hafgufa, a fabulous dreadful Sea Monster.The third Monster, named Hafgufa, is so terrible and frightful, that the Author does not well know how to describe it; and no wonder, because he never had any true Relation of it. Its Shape, Length and Bulk seems to exceed all Size and Measure. They that pretend to have seen it, say, it appeared to them more like a Land than a Fish, or Sea Animal. And as there never has been seen above two of them in the wide open Sea, they conclude, that there can be no Breed of them; for if they should breed and multiply, all the rest of Fishes must be destroyed at last, their vast Body wanting such large Quantity of Nourishment. When this Monster is hungry, it is said to void through the Mouth some Matter of a sweet Scent, It draws all the Sea Animals and Fishes together with its Vomit.which perfumes the whole Sea; and by this Means it allures and draws all Sorts of Fishes and Animals, even the Whales to it, who in whole Droves flock thither, and run into the wide opened Swallow of this hideous Monster, as into a Whirl-Pool, till its Belly be well Fishes and Animals, and then it shuts the Swallow, and has for the whole Year enough to digest and live upon; for it is said to make but one large Meal a Year. This, though a very silly and absurd Tale, is nevertheless matched by another Story, every whit as ridiculous, told by my own Countrymen, Fishermen in the Northern Part of Norway.A Norway Tale of Kracken, a pretended Phantom. They tell you, that a great gaftly Sea-Monster now and then appears in the Main Sea, which they called Kracken, and is no doubt the same that the Inslanders call Hafgufa, of which we have spoken above. They say, that its Body reaches several Miles in Length; and that it is most seen in a Calm; when it comes out of the Water, it seems to cover the whole Surface of the Sea, having many Heads and a Number of Claws, with which it seizes all that comes in its Way, as Fishing Boats with Men and all, Fishes and Animals, and lets nothing escape; all which it draws down to the Bottom of the Sea. The Fishes flock about it as upon a Sand-Bank.Moreover they tell you that all Sorts of Fishes flock together upon it, as upon a Bank of the Sea, and that many Fishing Boats come thither to ketch Fish, not suspecting that they lie upon such a dreadful Monster, which they at last understand by the intangling of their Hooks and Angels in its Body; which the Monster feeling, rises softly from the Bottom to the Surface, and seizes them all; if in Time they do not perceive him and prevent their Destruction, which they may easily do, only calling it by its Name, which it no sooner hears, but it sinks down again as softly as it did rise. They tell you of another Sea Spectre,The Draw another pretended Sea Spectre. which they call the Draw, who keeps to no now in another. It appears and is heard before any Misfortunes, as Shipwrecks and the like, happen at Sea, which it forbodes with a most frightful and gastly howling; and they say it sometimes utters Words like a Man. It haunts the Fishing Boats at Nights, putting all Things topsy turvy.It most commonly diverts itself, in putting all Things out of Order, after the Fishermen are gone at Nights to rest; and then he leaves behind him a nasty Stench. The Fishermen will not suffer the Truth of this Tale to be questioned, but pretend it is confessed. But the most superstitious among them go yet a Step further, and will make you believe, that there appears out of the Water, in the Shape of a Child in swadling Cloaths, which they call Marmel, and sometimes draw him out of the Sea with their Angling Hook, when he speaks to them with a human Voice. They carry him to their home, and at Night they put him into one of their Boots, there to rest. In the Morning, when they go a fishing again, they take him along with them in their Boats, and before they let him go, they set him a Task to inform them of all they want to know, upon which they dismiss him.
- ↑ What so many Authors of great Note relate of the Wood-Ducks, and affirm to be an unquestionable Truth, is by as many learned Writers treated as an old Woman's Tale, pretending that such an heterogeneal Generation passes the ordinary Bounds of Nature. O- thers (in Consideration of so many Authors of Credit, who affirm that they have been Eye-witnesses to this strange and wonderful Generation) have taken great Pains to demonstrate the Causes and Probability of it physically and philosophically, amongst whom is the learned Father Kirkerus in his Mundus Subterraneus;Father Kirker's Opinion of Wood-Ducks. where he maintains, that the Semen of this extraordinary Generation is neither contained in those old Pieces of Wood, that drive in the Sea, nor in the Muscles originally; for a Piece of Wood cannot produce a living Animal, this exceeding the Virtue Nature has endowed it with; much less the Summer Froth of the Sea, which adheres to the rotten Piece of Wood, and may produce Shells or Muscles. His Reasoning concerning the Seed of these Fowls.Then he forms the Question, from whence comes this Semen or Seed, which produces such a strange Fruit, as a living Bird? Which Question he strives thus to resolve; that, whereas he has been informed by certain Dutchmen's Journals or Voyages into the Northern Seas, that this sort of Birds, peculiar to that Climate, make their Nest and lay their Eggs upon the Ice; when the Ice by the Heat of the Sun thaws and breaks asunder, this innumerable Quantity of Eggs are likewise mash'd and crush'd to Pieces, and beaten about the Waves; and that if that Part of the Egg which contains the Seed, encounters any subject Matter proper to foment and brood it, and is received in it loco matricis, assisted by the Temperament of the Air, the Earth, or the Sea, it becomes in due Time a perfect Bird. This is the renowned Father Kirkerus's Notion concerning the Generation of these Birds. His Notions false and absurd.But if one examines his Reasoning, it is found altogether incoherent: for it was never known, that Sea Fowls lay their Eggs upon the naked Ice, but commonly upon the Islands and Rocks in the Sea, which are surrounded and sometimes covered with Ice; and consequently when the Ice breaks, and drives away from the Islands, the Eggs remain still in the Nest, without receiving any Hurt. And thus the Dutch found it at Nova Zembla, in the Year 1569; but what they saw, was not the right sort of Wood-Ducks, but what they in Norway call Gield-Ducks;Wood-Ducks do not couple nor lay Eggs for their Breed. for Wood-Ducks never are seen to couple, nor lay or hatch their Eggs. Secondly it seems no less absurd to maintain, that Eggs, after they are mash'd in Pieces, and beaten about the Waves, retain as much seminal Virtue, as will serve to procreate a Bird. From whence I infer, that either the Information, the good Father had got from the Dutch Voyages, was intirely groundless; or this pretended Generation goes beyond the Bounds of Nature. As to the first Inference, it is not impossible that the Authors who relates this Story, may have been imposed upon by a common though false Report of vulgar and ignorant People; as any one may, that takes a thing for granted upon a bare hear-say, without the Attesta- tion of Eye Witnesses in such a Matter. For my Part I do not at all doubt of this wonderful Generation; Experience confirms this strange Generation.for though I have not beheld it with my own Eyes, yet I have met with many honest and reasonable Men in my Native Country, who have assured me, that they have found Pieces of old, rotten, driven Wood in the Sea, upon which there hang Muscles, in some of which they saw young Birds, some half-formed, others in full Perfection and Shape. Produced from no other Seed, than a viscous Matter of the Sea adhering to old rotten Wood tossed up and down in the Seas.From whence I conclude, that those Fowls spring from no other Seed, than some clammy and viscous Matter floating in the Sea, precipitated upon Pieces of old rotten Wood, as aforesaid; of which there is first formed a Muscle, and then a little Worm in the Muscle Shell; from whence at last a Bird proceeds. And although this may seem to exceed the ordinary Bounds set by Nature in the Procreation of other Birds; yet it is observed and confessed, that the Sea produces many strange and surprizing Things, and even living Animals, which we cannot affirm to have had being from the first Creation; but that by vertue of the primitive Blessing God gave the Sea to produce; it may yet bring forth many uncommon and wonderful Things, as for Example, many Sorts of Sea Insects, viz. Crabs and the like. And thus the Sea or Water in general may with Reason be stiled Pater & Mater rerum, i.e. the common Parent of Things. Nature seems to delight sometimes in forming out of the Wayy Things: Thus we see divers Insects formed out of the very Dung of Animals; some of which Insects often change their Kind and Shape, viz. from a small Worm into a flying Animal; as Flies, Beetles, Butterflies and so forth.
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