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242 GENERAL REMARKS
by the lead having hghted upon the back of fome immenfely
large fifh, which muift be in the act of rifing to the furface, they
fet themiclves about rowing from the fpot with all poffible hatte ;
and when it happened that they could perceive the fifth upon its
emerging to the furface, it appeared covered with weeds, coral,
and marine plants. There is a tradition in thofe northern coun-
tries, of a Romith Bifhop landing upon the back of one of thefe
montters, and celebrating mafs upon it during the time he re-
mained there. Such are fome of the particulars which have
been related refpe€ting this extraordinary production of nature ;
{tories that appear to have been fwelled out and augmented in the
courfe of narration from one credulous hearer to another, and in
all likelihood had their origin in fome dead whale of extraordinary
bulk being feen floating on the furface, on whofe back had grown
thofe marine plants, and other fubftances which ufually faften to
inert bodies in the feas. This incident afterwards was increafed
to that of a floating ifland, or fome fea monfter as large as an
ifland, to which at laft they gave the name of the &rake. In fhort,
the tale of the kraken is fupported en much the fame ground as
the {tories of ghofts and hobgoblins ; for they too are believed by
many, though no evidence can be produced of any credible perfon
that has feen them.
- The wives of the maritime Laplanders fhare with their huf-
bands in the employment of fifhing, which is not the cafe with
women in general in other parts of Norway. The mountain
‘Laplanders, when removed in the fummer feafon to the fea coatt,
8 engage
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