The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-12-10

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From he National Gazette.
SINBADlSM
kotZpbne, the Russian circumnavigator
relates that he learned, on his arrival al
Oonalashka, that whales were sometimes
fond one hm,ired ard eighiy{td in ipgh
making il necessary lor the people enga-
! ged at the opposite ends of the fish Ia hal
! loo very loud Ia be able Ia hear one ano-
/ ther. This i not, how ever 50 wondcrt
as another story which he reports The
| Governor of Mnnilla, well informed in
! teliisent man, assured him thai, ia ilte IN
/ teHor of the country, to winch horses Of
ten ran away. a bird ma hes lis nesl in the
upper part of the animals tail : the horse
/ grows lean, aud does not recover even
after the bird has flown away with its
young.
In Pearl River Sandwich islands,
sharks are 50 large as tn swallow men whole
! While iIathins. The natives, according Ia
kotzcbuc, have made an artificial bank of
coral stone near the shore, in which they
keep IA large shark, where they somciimrs
throw adults, but frequently children as IA
sacrifice.
On an island towards the eastern shore
Of Behring's Straits, kotzcbue was greeted
IN a very friendly manner by the natives.
! After some previous salulailons and pre-
SCENTS. the commander of the horde invited
his visitor Ia his tent There a grassy
! piece OF heather was spread rs a seat for
the guest, and each person present, APP
preaching in turn embraced him, rubbed
his nose hardly against the strangers nose,
then spHi upon his own hands aud wiped
them several times over the face of hlj
newly acquired friend. A wooden trough
OF whale blabbcr of which hotzcbue Nhre
died lis stomach to pariakc, confirmed
the favorable impressions which the sa-
wages had conceived, aud they parted
from the navigator with great apparent re
grrt.
On approaching St Lawrcnee's Islands,
| three bUats came ont 10 meet his Ne5sel.--
As they nearcd the vessel, thu crew COM
! mcnccd ii mournlHls0ng, aud u chief, H-luH
up from the riddle boat, held out Il amdll
black dog Then, speaking d few expires
sl,r words, i,e drew kuiir, plunged II in
to the virtun, and threw his body into he
set. Anlty being thu, formally c,tab-
lished, Il len oil them ycntured on board The
ship.
kotzcbuc makes also The following state
| ments -
The AloaIskms rHumeratr seven spc-
CITES or whales, all Of WhicA are probably
still uuknoWn in natural history. 0ae OF
| these Species is a beast of}TeN heiag Of
the size ofthc largest Whale, and has, what
is uncommon among wla!es. 4 large mouth,
! full of terrible teeth he swallows every
thing be can seize hold OF, and frequently
plIrsucs the AEOutskans,W hose small boats,
when he can overtdhe thrm, lac sHaehrs
10 pieces with Que blow Of his til. II *
even said that lately baydare of twenty
four oars, containing thirty people, was de-
stroyed near OoualasIjka by the bow OF
such monster. Mir krinkof.giycs curl
oes description of m rine monster, which
pursued him near Bchriag's island where
. he was GA hunting expedition and Sc
ycraI Aliouishans aliarm that they have
/ frequently seen the animal he aiIadet TO-.
1t is the shapr of serpent, OF reddTl
colour, and enormously long; the head re
sembles That of a sea hon; al the same
time, two disproporllonalely large eyes
give it a frightlai appearance. 1t was
Fortunate" said Mr.. X. -'that we were so
near the shore, thai Otherwise the monster
would have swallowed us. II erected is
head considerably above the water, locking
cut for prey, and then disappeared; the
head soon reappeared, but considerably
nearer: we rowcd with all our strength,
and were glad to reach the sl"fe before
the serpent. The SEA lions Mere 50 terri
/ lied at the sight Of il, that some Of them
plunged into the sea, and others conceal ed
/ themselves on land
rne sra sometimes throws ,,ircrs o
flesh on sherr, which are supposed to br
of this serpent, and hich no animal vii
eat--some Alioutst ms vino bad tasted o
it died suddenly. The AIlouskaus like
wise speak Of q gigantic Poiypus one, o
the.n once threw its long arms, which ar
twice large as strong mans arm, roun'
the baydare Of an Alioutskan, and wou''
have pulled it to the bottom, it the ma
had not the presence Of mind to ent wiI
his kife through the huge arm Of the poly