We take the following fom the " Hongkong Daily Press" of the 26th instant We have received the following "official report" on a ses serpent seen last week in local waters On Sunday, the 18th August, 1901, at 11.20 a.m,, "8 the Chinese Customs cruising Tauwch Lunstsing was steaming at half speed heading for Boddam Cove, Tungho Island, in Lat. N. 22 dev. 8 min. 30 sees., and Long. E. 113 deg. 48 min. 49 secs... ut about ten cables' length from the Chuk Chao I-land, I sighted a dark object on the surface of the water, one point on the star-ard bow, and which looked to me like a rock. Tat once gave the order "full peed astern," and the vessel passed about 30 feet clear of the object, which, to my surprise, was. large serpent lying in a round coil with its head raised two or three feet and slightly moving. Stopped engines and I despatched Mr. Kuster, 2a: officer, in gig with orders to koll the monster, if possible. Mr. Kuster stood iit bow of gig with a boat-hook, ready t* strike. The serpent had now lowered its head again, but on approach of the gig suddenly struck out, hitting blade of one of the oars, turning the sailor turtle-back, It then raised its head to the level. of the launch's davit—about 15 feet—at a distance of not more than 10 fset from the gig, and 30 feet from the aunch—where I' stood. The crew of gig were scared and: prepared to jump overboard, Mr. Kuster, still standing in bow of gig prepared to strike with the boat-honk, but before he could do so the monster suddenly dived and made off. Its action in sw: mning was like that of an ordinary water-snake. The water being clear, the reptile could be plainly seen few feet down, It dived very quickly and made considerable disturbance of the water, We judged the serpent to be from 40 to 50 feet long and about a foot in diameter. It had a kind of crest on its head and two fins high up on the neck, just behind the jaws, "he thickest part of its body appeared to be about 15 fret from the head, tap-ring both ways, Its head was as big as a Rugby footiull, with large eyes, and mouth opened wide when striking, It was of " very dark colour on the back—striped and mottled, but lighter on the belly.
As soon as the serpent disappeared and we on the Iaunch hid recovered from our first surprise, I ordered the ten-barrelled Nordenfeldt to be loaded, and launch moved slowly round for 13 or 20 minutes in hopes thst the reptile would reappear, but, not doing s+, vessel proceeded on her way to Boddam Cove.
(Signed) F. Wotrr,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.