Mermaid Monday: Doctor Examines Mermaid April 2, 2018
Author: Beach Combing | in : Modern , trackback
This was, I believe, one of the fake letters that P.T.Barnum sent out when he took possession of the Fejee Mermaid in 1842: though I’ve found no other online version. The scallywag here claimed to be a doctor from Montgomery, Alabama, resident in the Indies.
I have this day seen, handled, and very closely examined what I am convinced is a veritable mermaid. However much naturalists dispute the existence of such an animal, I am convinced that the subject has now assumed a tangible shape, which will for ever put at rest the erroneous impression is a fabulous animal. An English gentleman recently arrived in this town from the Fejee Islands via the West Indies; he took board at one of our principal hotels, where I myself am an inmate, and I soon made his acquaintance, and I found him to be a very polite and talented man, a gentleman of science, and a great traveller. We soon became intimate, and knowing that I was of the medical profession, he this morning informed me that he had in his possession a curiosity, obtained at great expense at the Fejee Islands, the examination of which he believed would be interesting to me. I preceeded with him to his room, and you may judge my astonishment when he took from a large travelling trunk a bundle, which, when divested of numerous cushions and silk wrappers, proved upon examination to be a real mermaid. Having always considered the existence of his creature as fabulous, I took it in my hands, and behind it with an eye of incredulity, but, after examining it minutely for several hours, I rose from my seat with my skepticism entirely removed.
The Physical Description
As it is probable that no description of his extraordinary creature has yet reached this country, the following particulars respecting it may gratify the curiosity of yourself and patrons: The head is about the size of that of an ordinary baboon. It is thinly covered with dark straight hair. On the lower part of the face and upper lip are a few hairs similar to those on the head, but a little shorter. The ossa malarum, or cheek bones, are prominent. The features are well proportioned, and bear close resemblance to the human countenance, with the exception of the forehead, which is low. The head is turned back, and the countenance is distorted, appearing not unlike that of a circus clown when exhibiting his various grimaces. But I am inclined to believe that these circumstances are owing entirely to the manner in which the creature met its death, as from all the appearances of the countenance and limbs it died in great agony.’
This was picked up from a British newspaper (Anon 1842). I’ve not been able to find an American version yet. Barnum was supposed to have sent several: can anyone help with the others: drbeachcombing AT gmail DOT com
