The Dragon Stone

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Location:
Namibia, Africa (Ocean Sighting)

Images:

Description:
In August 1848, the HMS Daedalus was heading back to England from India. Whilst passing by the coast of Namibia, the ship encountered a sea serpent. Captain M'Quhae described the serpent as about 60 feet long. It was floating on the water, with its head held above the water. They could not see how it was moving as it was keeping its body still. Presumably there was some other part under the water propelling it. It was said to have a serpent's head, some sort of mane on its back and to be brown in colouration (with yellow-white around the throat).

The sighting caused some controversy. Experts tried to come up with alternative theories for the sighting. Examples of suggestions were it was a seal (the size was an error) or part of a ship being pulled by a harpooned whale or shark under the water.

Other Dragon Stone Pages:

• Charles Lyell's Travels - See footnote at the bottom

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