Page 11 - Three Adventures

Voyage of the Pomeranian

May 9, 1884. Lat. 8º 37’ S. Long. 15º 14’ W.

Fair weather has enabled us to make good progress. Still no sign of
the kraken. Failure to find it will mean the dashing of all my hopes,
but strangely I am no longer quite as melancholic at the prospect. My
study of the octopus Tristan has taken a new and positive turn since
the demise of his cohort. I do not yet know whether it be my care in
removing the body, a change in its attitude stemming from isolation
and dependence or a simple accommodation to its present
circumstances. Perhaps I shall learn on my own why the creature now
comes forward as if to greet me, leaving its place of relative security
to gather its meal from my hand and linger a while in my vicinity. I
have looked into the texts of natural history stowed in my sea chest
in vain: unless I failed to pack any volumes of greater authority, the
interaction of man and octopus beyond that of predator and prey is
undocumented. Has no one before me treated this species as worthy
of serious scrutiny?

Today I waded into the tank four times. As I increase my contact
with Tristan, I am coming to recognize certain types of activity
undeniably the result of intention and volition. It may well be that the
octopus is as curious and playful as the cat and as loyal and sociable
as the dog. But my speculations race ahead of any careful recording
of phenomena. As soon as I can arrive at a means of testing my
hypothesis concerning the intelligence of a mere invertebrate I will
become more rigorous in my investigations. I will make the most of
whatever time I have with Tristan. Of one thing I am certain: he is
no “devilfish.”

May 10, 1884. Lat. 8º 37’ S. Long. 15º 14’ W.

This morning the moment I set foot in the tank Tristan shot out of
his sanctuary toward me, propelled by a blast of water pumped
through his funnel. He had not been that eager to approach me
yesterday: What could have prompted this behavioral change? Had
something perturbed him in my absence?I realized the most
knowledgeable cephalopod man in England was Professor Planarius,

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