New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-10-12
Story OF a Dolphin.

There is ii Africa town called Hippo, uear the
sea coast; it stands upon navigable lake, from
whence river runs into the main ocean, and Gibbs
and flows with the sea. Persons Of oil ages divert them
selves here fishing, sailing swimming, especially
boys whom love Of play or idleness bring hither The
contest among them Is who shall have the glory Of
swimming the farthest; and he who leaves the shore
and his companions at the greatest distance gains the
victory IL happened in one Of these trials Of skill
that certain boy more bold than the rest launched
out towards the opposite shore. He was met by a
dolphin, who sometimes swan before him, and some
times behind him, and then played around him. and
at last took him upon his back, then set him down,
and afterwards took him up again and thus he car.
ried the poor frghted boy out into the deepest part
then Immediately he turned back again to the shore,
and landed him among his companions. The fame Of
this remarkable event spread through the town, and
crowds of people focked round the boy to ask him
questions, and hear him relate the story. The next
day the shore was lined with mutitudes Of spectators,
all attentiyey contemplating the ocean and the lake.
In the meanwhile the boysswam as usual, and among
the rest the boy am speaking OF went into the lake
but with more caution than before. The dolphin
again appeared and came to the boy, who, together
with his companions, swan away with the utmost
precipitation. The dolphin, as it were, eaped and
Owed up and down, darting about 10 thousand diff
ferent convolutions. This he practised for several
days together, till the people, accustomed from their
infancy to the sea. began to be ashamed Of their tint
dity They ventnred to advaHce nearer, playing with
him and calling him to them while he in return, suf
ferfu himself 10 De COucneu anu SbfOkeu. use rem
dered them more courageous the boy, in particular
swan BY the side Of him, and leaping upon his back
was carried about in that manner; thus they gradual
II became acquainted and delighted with each other
There seemed now, indeed, to be no fear on either
side; the confidence Of the one and the tameness Of
the other, mutually increasing the rest Of the boys
in the meanwhile surrounding and encouraging their
companion. II is very remarkable that this dolphin
was followed by second, which seemed only spec
tator and attendant on the other for he did not at
all submit to the same famiartes as the first, but
only conducted him backwards and forwards, as the
boys did their comrade. But what is rather surpris
ing this dolphin who thus played with the boys and
carried them upon his back, would come upon the
shore, dry himself in the sand, and, as soon as he
grew warm, roll back again into the sea. Octavius
Avitus deputy governor Of the province actuated by
absurd piece of superstition, poured some precious
ointment over him as he lay the Shore the novelty
and smell Of which made him retire into the ocean
and it was not until after several days that he was
again. when he recovered his strength and con-
tinued his usual playful tricks. All the magistrates
Of the country round focked hther to view the sght
The entertainment Of these dgnitares upon their ar
rival, and during their stay, was additional ex
pense, which the slender finances of this little COM
nunity could aford, besides that the quiet and re-
rement Of the place were utterly destroyed 1t was
therefore thought proper to remove the occasion Of
his concourse, to privately kill the poor dolphin.