Bilk - no 005 - 1985 11

Magazine Overview

This is issue number 5 of BILK, published bi-monthly in November 1985, and edited by Ulrich Magin. The subscription cost is £3 for Europe and $5 for the USA. This particular issue focuses on the Brazilian mermaid, providing historical information, and also delves into pre-1930 reports concerning the Loch Ness Monster. The editor notes a lack of new sightings of seaserpents or giant cephalopods since the previous issue, thus shifting the focus to marine forteana, including unusual lights.

Behemoth Reports

Africa

Herman Regusters, a 51-year-old, reported seeing a 10-meter long-necked, dinosaur-like monster in Lake Tele, 600 km north of Brazzaville, Congo, in 1981. He was unable to film it due to the distance and camera malfunction. He intended to mount a new expedition to find the creature and obtain positive proof on film. The article notes that Walt Disney's film 'Baby' was released around the same time, and German newspapers suggested the film inspired Regusters, rather than the other way around.

Loch Ness

An article details the salvage of a Wellington bomber that crashed into Loch Ness on New Year's Eve 1940. The Loch Ness Wellington Association spent £50,000 to raise the aircraft, with plans to exhibit it at a flight museum in Weybridge, Surrey. The salvage operation began on September 9 and concluded on September 21. The salvaged bomber is noted as the sole survivor of 11,000 that were in active service.

Another section on Loch Ness presents pre-1930 mentions, primarily concerning 'kelpies'. It cites W.G. Steward's 'Popular Superstitions' (1823) which mentions the kelpie of Loch Ness. According to the Stuttgarter Zeitung, William Thackeray (1811-1863) also mentioned the monster of the loch, attributing it to Scottish whiskey and mist. The editor also notes another article from the Inverness Courier dated September 14, 1884, about a 'seaserpent', but is unsure if it refers to a monster in the Moray Firth or Loch Ness, requesting assistance in verifying this information.

ISIS (Inia, Seaserpent, Inhuman, Strange phenomena)

The Brazilian Mermaid

Revisiting the topic from the previous issue, the culprit for the Brazilian mermaid reports is identified as the Amazonian delphin, *Inia geoffrensis*. These are described as ancient animals with hair around their mouths and fins showing five digits, resembling a hand. Their heads are on movable necks, which contributes to the mermaid-like appearance. This information is sourced from R. Stenuit's 'Delphine' (1970).

The issue also references Jean de Lery, a French priest who visited Brazil in 1556-1558. In his 'Historia Navigationis in Brasiliam' (1586), he recounts a story of an Indian fishing in a small boat who saw a large fish that put its fin into the boat. The frightened Indian cut off the fin, revealing it to be a human hand. The fish's head then appeared, resembling a human head. Lery himself did not witness such an animal but suggested that land animals might have counterparts in the sea, an old belief. The motif of a mermaid trying to enter a boat is noted as a common feature in merfolk sightings.

Early mentions of these creatures in Portuguese colonial literature are found in the works of Fernão Cardim ('Trato do da Terra e Gente do Brasil', 1585) and Gabriel Soares de Sousa ('Tratado Descriptivo do Brasil em 1587'). Cardim was a Jesuit priest, and Sousa a sugar producer. They described the merfolk as appearing in summer near freshwater, looking like humans with deep eyes, and women with long hair. They were said to engage in relationships with indigenous people and negroes, then kill and mutilate their victims, consuming body parts. They are distinguished from sharks. Their Tupi names are 'homens marinhos', 'Iqupiára', or 'Upupiára'. This information is drawn from R. Lewinsohn's 'Geschichte der Tiere' (1952) and Herbert Wendt's 'Auf Noahs Spuren' (1956). The article concludes that these folktales have persisted since the 16th century, with people now claiming to see these creatures.

Leviathan

A letter from T.D. Coppin, District Controller of Falmouth Coastguard, dated September 9, 1985, states that the Coastguard does not keep records of sea-serpents and considers 'Morgawr' to be a myth.

Marine Forteana

Strange Lights

Strange lights have been observed since ancient times and were frequently reported by old seamen. The issue references Lery's account from 'Unter Menschenfressern' (1977), describing an event on May 5, 1558. A giant fire-flash was seen at sundown, flashing and flying through the air. The light reflected on the ship's sails, making it appear as if the ship was burning. The apparition vanished without causing harm. The location was near Newfoundland, in a generally cold area where cod fishing occurs.

Hans Staden, a German who visited Brazil in the 16th century, reported seeing a more common type of light (referenced in 'Brasilien', 1982). At the end of 1547 or early 1548, while en route to Brazil, he observed 'many blue lights on the ship' at night, unlike anything he had seen before. These lights disappeared when the waves hit the ship. The Portuguese explained these lights as a sign of good weather, sent by God. The lights are identified as Saint Elmo's Fire or Corpus Sanctum.

Corrections

The issue includes a section for corrections and omissions from previous BILK issues. It notes that the source for the shark attack report in BILK 3 was the Rheinpfalz (March 5, 1985). For the Lake Hanas report in BILK 4, it clarifies that '3 ft = 1 metre'. The credit for the octopus report off Cyprus is given to Michel Raynal, and the Wye River sighting of 'Chessie' occurred on June 26, 1985.

Contact Information and Future Issues

Readers are provided with the address of Ulrich Magin in Mutterstadt, West Germany, and encouraged to send in new reports, letters, or opinions. There is also a request for news regarding the Inverness Courier article mentioned earlier. The editor also encourages support for local Greenpeace groups, referencing recent events in New Zealand.

The next issue of BILK is scheduled for January 1986. The editor extends Christmas and New Year wishes.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are historical accounts of cryptids, specifically the Brazilian mermaid and the Loch Ness Monster, alongside unexplained aerial phenomena (strange lights). The editorial stance appears to be one of diligent archival research, presenting historical accounts and seeking corroboration from readers. The editor is open to various fortean phenomena but also demonstrates a critical approach, as seen in the explanation of the Brazilian mermaid and the mention of the Coastguard's view on 'Morgawr'. There's a clear emphasis on documenting past reports and encouraging reader participation in verifying information.