From Cape Horn to the Amazon

How I got on to the platform, I have no idea; perhaps the Canadian had carried me there. But I breathed, I inhaled the vivifying sea-air. My two companions were getting drunk with the fresh particles. The other unhappy men had been so long without food, that they could not with impunity indulge in the simplest aliments that were given them. We, on the contrary, had no end to restrain ourselves; we could draw this air freely into our lungs, and it was the breeze, the breeze alone, that filled us with this keen enjoyment.

I have no idea how I got onto the platform. Perhaps the Canadian had carried me there. But I was breathing again, taking in the life-giving sea air. My two companions were drunk on the fresh air. The other unfortunate men had gone without food for so long that even the simplest food they were given could harm them. We, on the other hand, had no need to hold back. We could draw the air freely into our lungs. The breeze alone filled us with this intense delight.

“Ah!” said Conseil, “how delightful this oxygen is! Master need not fear to breathe it. There is enough for everybody.”

“Ah!” said Conseil, “this oxygen is wonderful! Master, you need not be afraid to breathe it. There is enough for everyone.”

Ned Land did not speak, but he opened his jaws wide enough to frighten a shark. Our strength soon returned, and, when I looked round me, I saw we were alone on the platform. The foreign seamen in the Nautilus were contented with the air that circulated in the interior; none of them had come to drink in the open air.

Ned Land said nothing, but he opened his jaws wide enough to frighten a shark. Our strength soon returned. When I looked around, I saw that we were alone on the platform. The foreign sailors in the Nautilus were content with the air circulating inside. None had come up to breathe the open air.

The first words I spoke were words of gratitude and thankfulness to my two companions. Ned and Conseil had prolonged my life during the last hours of this long agony. All my gratitude could not repay such devotion.

The first words I spoke were to thank my two companions. Ned and Conseil had kept me alive during the final hours of this long ordeal. All my gratitude could not repay their devotion.

“My friends,” said I, “we are bound one to the other for ever, and I am under infinite obligations to you.”

“My friends,” I said, “we are bound to each other forever, and I owe you more than I can say.”

“Which I shall take advantage of,” exclaimed the Canadian.

“And I’ll take advantage of it!” exclaimed the Canadian.

“What do you mean?” said Conseil.

“What do you mean?” said Conseil.

“I mean that I shall take you with me when I leave this infernal Nautilus.”

“I mean I'll take you with me when I leave this hellish Nautilus.”

“Well,” said Conseil, “after all this, are we going right?”

“Well,” said Conseil, “after all this, are we going in the right direction?”

“Yes,” I replied, “for we are going the way of the sun, and here the sun is in the north.”

“Yes,” I replied, “because we’re going in the same direction as the sun, and here the sun is in the north.”

“No doubt,” said Ned Land; “but it remains to be seen whether he will bring the ship into the Pacific or the Atlantic Ocean, that is, into frequented or deserted seas.”

“No doubt,” said Ned Land. “But we don't yet know whether he will bring the ship into the Pacific or the Atlantic Ocean, into busy or deserted seas.”

I could not answer that question, and I feared that Captain Nemo would rather take us to the vast ocean that touches the coasts of Asia and America at the same time. He would thus complete the tour round the submarine world, and return to those waters in which the Nautilus could sail freely. We ought, before long, to settle this important point. The Nautilus went at a rapid pace. The polar circle was soon passed, and the course shaped for Cape Horn. We were off the American point, March 31st, at seven o’clock in the evening. Then all our past sufferings were forgotten. The remembrance of that imprisonment in the ice was effaced from our minds. We only thought of the future. Captain Nemo did not appear again either in the drawing-room or on the platform. The point shown each day on the planisphere, and, marked by the lieutenant, showed me the exact direction of the Nautilus. Now, on that evening, it was evident, to my great satisfaction, that we were going back to the North by the Atlantic. The next day, April 1st, when the Nautilus ascended to the surface some minutes before noon, we sighted land to the west. It was Terra del Fuego, which the first navigators named thus from seeing the quantity of smoke that rose from the natives’ huts. The coast seemed low to me, but in the distance rose high mountains. I even thought I had a glimpse of Mount Sarmiento, that rises 2,070 yards above the level of the sea, with a very pointed summit, which, according as it is misty or clear, is a sign of fine or of wet weather. At this moment the peak was clearly defined against the sky. The Nautilus, diving again under the water, approached the coast, which was only some few miles off. From the glass windows in the drawing-room, I saw long seaweeds and gigantic fuci and varech, of which the open polar sea contains so many specimens, with their sharp polished filaments; they measured about 300 yards in length—real cables, thicker than one’s thumb; and, having great tenacity, they are often used as ropes for vessels. Another weed known as velp, with leaves four feet long, buried in the coral concretions, hung at the bottom. It served as nest and food for myriads of crustacea and molluscs, crabs, and cuttlefish. There seals and otters had splendid repasts, eating the flesh of fish with sea-vegetables, according to the English fashion. Over this fertile and luxuriant ground the Nautilus passed with great rapidity. Towards evening it approached the Falkland group, the rough summits of which I recognised the following day. The depth of the sea was moderate. On the shores our nets brought in beautiful specimens of sea weed, and particularly a certain fucus, the roots of which were filled with the best mussels in the world. Geese and ducks fell by dozens on the platform, and soon took their places in the pantry on board.

I could not answer that question. I feared that Captain Nemo would instead take us to the vast ocean touching both Asia and America. That would complete his tour of the underwater world. He would return to waters where the Nautilus could sail freely. Before long, we would have to settle this important question. The Nautilus moved rapidly. We soon crossed the polar circle and set course for Cape Horn. We were off the tip of America at seven in the evening on March 31st. Then we forgot all our past suffering. The memory of our imprisonment in the ice faded from our minds. We thought only of the future. Captain Nemo did not appear again in either the drawing-room or on the platform. Each day, his lieutenant marked our position on the world map, showing me the exact course of the Nautilus. That evening, I was delighted to see that we were heading north again by way of the Atlantic. The next day, April 1st, the Nautilus rose to the surface a few minutes before noon. We saw land to the west. It was Terra del Fuego. The first navigators gave it that name because they saw so much smoke rising from the natives’ huts. The coast seemed low, but high mountains rose in the distance. I thought I even caught sight of Mount Sarmiento. It rises 2,070 yards above sea level and has a sharply pointed summit. When the summit is clear, it signals fine weather. When it is misty, it signals rain. At that moment, the peak stood clearly against the sky. The Nautilus dived again and approached the coast, which was only a few miles away. Through the drawing-room windows, I saw long seaweeds and gigantic fuci and varech. The open polar sea contains many such plants. Their tough, smooth strands were about 300 yards long, like real cables thicker than a thumb. Because they are so strong, they are often used as ropes for vessels. Another weed, known as velp, hung from the bottom, rooted in coral formations. Its leaves were four feet long. It provided nesting places and food for countless crustaceans and molluscs, crabs, and cuttlefish. Seals and otters enjoyed splendid meals there, eating fish with sea vegetables, in the English fashion. The Nautilus passed rapidly over this fertile, luxuriant ground. Toward evening, it approached the Falkland group. I recognized their rugged peaks the following day. The sea was moderately deep. Near the shores, our nets brought in beautiful specimens of seaweed. Among them was a particular fucus, whose roots were filled with the best mussels in the world. Geese and ducks landed on the platform by the dozen. Soon they took their places in the pantry on board.

When the last heights of the Falklands had disappeared from the horizon, the Nautilus sank to between twenty and twenty-five yards, and followed the American coast. Captain Nemo did not show himself. Until the 3rd of April we did not quit the shores of Patagonia, sometimes under the ocean, sometimes at the surface. The Nautilus passed beyond the large estuary formed by the Plata, and was, on the 4th of April, fifty-six miles off Uraguay. Its direction was northwards, and followed the long windings of the coast of South America. We had then made 1,600 miles since our embarkation in the seas of Japan. About eleven o’clock in the morning the Tropic of Capricorn was crossed on the thirty-seventh meridian, and we passed Cape Frio standing out to sea. Captain Nemo, to Ned Land’s great displeasure, did not like the neighbourhood of the inhabited coasts of Brazil, for we went at a giddy speed. Not a fish, not a bird of the swiftest kind could follow us, and the natural curiosities of these seas escaped all observation.

When the last heights of the Falklands disappeared over the horizon, the Nautilus sank to a depth of twenty to twenty-five yards. It followed the American coast. Captain Nemo did not appear. We stayed off the shores of Patagonia until April 3, sometimes underwater and sometimes on the surface. The Nautilus passed the large estuary formed by the Plata. On April 4, it was fifty-six miles off Uraguay. It headed north, following the long curves of the South American coast. By then, we had traveled 1,600 miles since we boarded in the seas of Japan. At about eleven in the morning, we crossed the Tropic of Capricorn on the thirty-seventh meridian. We passed Cape Frio, which jutted out into the sea. To Ned Land’s great displeasure, Captain Nemo disliked being near the inhabited coasts of Brazil, so we traveled at a dizzying speed. Not even the fastest fish or bird could follow us, and we could not observe any of the natural wonders of these seas.

This speed was kept up for several days, and in the evening of the 9th of April we sighted the most easterly point of South America that forms Cape San Roque. But then the Nautilus swerved again, and sought the lowest depth of a submarine valley which is between this Cape and Sierra Leone on the African coast. This valley bifurcates to the parallel of the Antilles, and terminates at the north by the enormous depression of 9,000 yards. In this place, the geological basin of the ocean forms, as far as the Lesser Antilles, a cliff of three and a half miles perpendicular in height, and, at the parallel of the Cape Verde Islands, another wall not less considerable, that encloses thus all the sunk continent of the Atlantic. The bottom of this immense valley is dotted with some mountains, that give to these submarine places a picturesque aspect. I speak, moreover, from the manuscript charts that were in the library of the Nautilus—charts evidently due to Captain Nemo’s hand, and made after his personal observations. For two days the desert and deep waters were visited by means of the inclined planes. The Nautilus was furnished with long diagonal broadsides which carried it to all elevations. But on the 11th of April it rose suddenly, and land appeared at the mouth of the Amazon River, a vast estuary, the embouchure of which is so considerable that it freshens the sea-water for the distance of several leagues.

The Nautilus maintained this speed for several days. On the evening of April 9, we sighted Cape San Roque, the easternmost point of South America. But then the Nautilus changed course again. It headed for the bottom of an underwater valley between the cape and Sierra Leone on the African coast. The valley divides into two branches near the latitude of the Antilles. At its northern end lies an enormous depression 9,000 yards deep. There, the ocean basin forms a cliff three and a half miles high, extending as far as the Lesser Antilles. At the latitude of the Cape Verde Islands, another wall is no less impressive. Together, these walls enclose the whole sunken continent of the Atlantic. Mountains dot the bottom of this immense valley, giving the underwater landscape a picturesque appearance. I know this from the handwritten charts in the library of the Nautilus. Captain Nemo had evidently drawn them himself, based on his own observations. For two days, we explored the deep, deserted waters using the inclined planes. The Nautilus had long planes on its sides, which allowed it to travel at any depth. But on April 11, it rose suddenly, and land appeared at the mouth of the Amazon River. The river's vast estuary is so large that it freshens the seawater for several leagues.

The equator was crossed. Twenty miles to the west were the Guianas, a French territory, on which we could have found an easy refuge; but a stiff breeze was blowing, and the furious waves would not have allowed a single boat to face them. Ned Land understood that, no doubt, for he spoke not a word about it. For my part, I made no allusion to his schemes of flight, for I would not urge him to make an attempt that must inevitably fail. I made the time pass pleasantly by interesting studies. During the days of April 11th and 12th, the Nautilus did not leave the surface of the sea, and the net brought in a marvellous haul of zoophytes, fish and reptiles. Some zoophytes had been fished up by the chain of the nets; they were for the most part beautiful phyctallines, belonging to the actinidian family, and among other species the phyctalis protexta, peculiar to that part of the ocean, with a little cylindrical trunk, ornamented with vertical lines, speckled with red dots, crowning a marvellous blossoming of tentacles. As to the molluscs, they consisted of some I had already observed—turritellas, olive porphyras, with regular lines intercrossed, with red spots standing out plainly against the flesh; odd pteroceras, like petrified scorpions; translucid hyaleas, argonauts, cuttle-fish (excellent eating), and certain species of calmars that naturalists of antiquity have classed amongst the flying-fish, and that serve principally for bait for cod-fishing. I had now an opportunity of studying several species of fish on these shores. Amongst the cartilaginous ones, petromyzons-pricka, a sort of eel, fifteen inches long, with a greenish head, violet fins, grey-blue back, brown belly, silvered and sown with bright spots, the pupil of the eye encircled with gold—a curious animal, that the current of the Amazon had drawn to the sea, for they inhabit fresh waters—tuberculated streaks, with pointed snouts, and a long loose tail, armed with a long jagged sting; little sharks, a yard long, grey and whitish skin, and several rows of teeth, bent back, that are generally known by the name of pantouffles; vespertilios, a kind of red isosceles triangle, half a yard long, to which pectorals are attached by fleshy prolongations that make them look like bats, but that their horny appendage, situated near the nostrils, has given them the name of sea-unicorns; lastly, some species of balistae, the curassavian, whose spots were of a brilliant gold colour, and the capriscus of clear violet, and with varying shades like a pigeon’s throat.

We crossed the equator. Twenty miles to the west were the Guianas, a French territory where we could easily have found refuge. But a strong wind was blowing, and no boat could have faced the furious waves. Ned Land understood that, no doubt, because he said nothing about it. I did not mention his plans to escape. I would not urge him to make an attempt that was certain to fail. Instead, I passed the time pleasantly with interesting studies. On April 11th and 12th, the Nautilus stayed on the surface of the sea. The net brought in a marvelous haul of zoophytes, fish, and reptiles. The chains of the nets had caught some zoophytes. Most were beautiful phyctallines, members of the actinidian family. Among them was the phyctalis protexta, a species found only in that part of the ocean. It had a small cylindrical trunk, marked with vertical lines and red spots, beneath a marvelous blossom of tentacles. The molluscs included some I had seen before. There were turritellas and olive porphyras, with regular crossing lines and red spots that stood out against the flesh. There were also odd pteroceras, like petrified scorpions, as well as translucent hyaleas, argonauts, and cuttlefish, which were excellent eating. We also caught certain species of calmars. Ancient naturalists had classified these among the flying fish. They are used mainly as bait for cod fishing. I now had a chance to study several species of fish along these shores. Among the cartilaginous fish were petromyzons-pricka, a kind of eel fifteen inches long. Each had a greenish head, violet fins, a gray-blue back, and a brown belly. Its body was silvered and covered with bright spots, and each pupil was ringed with gold. It was a curious animal. These fish live in fresh water, and the Amazon's current had carried them out to sea. There were tuberculated streaks, with pointed snouts and long, loose tails armed with long, jagged stings. There were also small sharks, a yard long, with grayish-white skin and several rows of backward-curving teeth. They are generally known as pantouffles. The vespertilios looked like red isosceles triangles, half a yard long. Their pectoral fins were attached by fleshy extensions that made them look like bats. But the horny appendage near their nostrils had given them the name sea-unicorns. Finally, there were some species of balistae. The curassavian had brilliant gold spots, while the capriscus was pale violet, with changing shades like a pigeon's throat.

I end here this catalogue, which is somewhat dry perhaps, but very exact, with a series of bony fish that I observed in passing belonging to the apteronotes, and whose snout is white as snow, the body of a beautiful black, marked with a very long loose fleshy strip; odontognathes, armed with spikes; sardines nine inches long, glittering with a bright silver light; a species of mackerel provided with two anal fins; centronotes of a blackish tint, that are fished for with torches, long fish, two yards in length, with fat flesh, white and firm, which, when they arc fresh, taste like eel, and when dry, like smoked salmon; labres, half red, covered with scales only at the bottom of the dorsal and anal fins; chrysoptera, on which gold and silver blend their brightness with that of the ruby and topaz; golden-tailed spares, the flesh of which is extremely delicate, and whose phosphorescent properties betray them in the midst of the waters; orange-coloured spares with long tongues; maigres, with gold caudal fins, dark thorn-tails, anableps of Surinam, etc.

I end this catalogue, perhaps somewhat dry but very exact, with a series of bony fish I observed in passing. There were apteronotes, with snow-white snouts and beautiful black bodies marked by a very long, loose strip of flesh. There were odontognathes armed with spikes, and nine-inch sardines glittering with a bright silver light. There was a species of mackerel with two anal fins, and blackish centronotes, which are caught using torches. Centronotes are long fish, two yards in length, with fatty, white, firm flesh. When fresh, they taste like eel, and when dried, like smoked salmon. There were labres, half red and covered with scales only at the base of their dorsal and anal fins. There were chrysoptera, whose gold and silver shine alongside the brightness of ruby and topaz. Golden-tailed spares have extremely delicate flesh, and their phosphorescence reveals them in the water. There were orange-colored spares with long tongues, maigres with gold tail fins, dark thorn-tails, anableps of Surinam, and so on.

Notwithstanding this “et cetera,” I must not omit to mention fish that Conseil will long remember, and with good reason. One of our nets had hauled up a sort of very flat ray fish, which, with the tail cut off, formed a perfect disc, and weighed twenty ounces. It was white underneath, red above, with large round spots of dark blue encircled with black, very glossy skin, terminating in a bilobed fin. Laid out on the platform, it struggled, tried to turn itself by convulsive movements, and made so many efforts, that one last turn had nearly sent it into the sea. But Conseil, not wishing to let the fish go, rushed to it, and, before I could prevent him, had seized it with both hands. In a moment he was overthrown, his legs in the air, and half his body paralysed, crying—

Despite this “et cetera,” I must mention a fish that Conseil will long remember, and with good reason. One of our nets had brought up a very flat kind of ray. With its tail cut off, it formed a perfect disc and weighed twenty ounces. It was white underneath and red on top, with large, round, dark blue spots ringed with black. Its skin was very glossy, and it ended in a two-lobed fin. Laid on the platform, it struggled and tried to turn itself over with jerky movements. It tried so hard that one last turn nearly sent it into the sea. But Conseil did not want to let the fish escape. He rushed toward it and seized it with both hands before I could stop him. In an instant, he was knocked down, his legs in the air and half his body paralyzed, crying:

“Oh! master, master! help me!”

“Oh! Master, master! Help me!”

It was the first time the poor boy had spoken to me so familiarly. The Canadian and I took him up, and rubbed his contracted arms till he became sensible. The unfortunate Conseil had attacked a cramp-fish of the most dangerous kind, the cumana. This odd animal, in a medium conductor like water, strikes fish at several yards’ distance, so great is the power of its electric organ, the two principal surfaces of which do not measure less than twenty-seven square feet. The next day, April 12th, the Nautilus approached the Dutch coast, near the mouth of the Maroni. There several groups of sea-cows herded together; they were manatees, that, like the dugong and the stellera, belong to the sirenian order. These beautiful animals, peaceable and inoffensive, from eighteen to twenty-one feet in length, weigh at least sixteen hundredweight. I told Ned Land and Conseil that provident nature had assigned an important role to these mammalia. Indeed, they, like the seals, are designed to graze on the submarine prairies, and thus destroy the accumulation of weed that obstructs the tropical rivers.

It was the first time the poor boy had spoken to me so familiarly. The Canadian and I lifted him up and rubbed his cramped arms until he regained consciousness. The unfortunate Conseil had attacked a cumana, one of the most dangerous kinds of electric fish. This strange animal can strike fish several yards away through a conducting medium such as water. Its electric organ is so powerful that its two main surfaces measure at least twenty-seven square feet. The next day, April 12th, the Nautilus approached the Dutch coast near the mouth of the Maroni. There, several groups of sea-cows gathered in herds. They were manatees, which, like the dugong and the stellera, belong to the sirenian order. These beautiful, peaceful, harmless animals are eighteen to twenty-one feet long and weigh at least sixteen hundredweight. I told Ned Land and Conseil that provident nature had given these mammals an important role. Like seals, they are meant to graze on underwater prairies, clearing away the weeds that clog tropical rivers.

“And do you know,” I added, “what has been the result since men have almost entirely annihilated this useful race? That the putrefied weeds have poisoned the air, and the poisoned air causes the yellow fever, that desolates these beautiful countries. Enormous vegetations are multiplied under the torrid seas, and the evil is irresistibly developed from the mouth of the Rio de la Plata to Florida. If we are to believe Toussenel, this plague is nothing to what it would be if the seas were cleaned of whales and seals. Then, infested with poulps, medusæ, and cuttle-fish, they would become immense centres of infection, since their waves would not possess ‘these vast stomachs that God had charged to infest the surface of the seas.’”

“And do you know,” I added, “what has happened since humans nearly wiped out this useful species? Rotting weeds have poisoned the air, and the poisoned air causes yellow fever, which devastates these beautiful countries. Vast quantities of plants multiply in the tropical seas, and the problem grows unchecked from the mouth of the Rio de la Plata to Florida. If we believe Toussenel, this plague is nothing compared with what would happen if whales and seals were cleared from the seas. The seas would then be infested with octopuses, jellyfish, and cuttlefish, and would become vast centers of infection. Their waters would no longer have ‘these vast stomachs that God had assigned to inhabit the surface of the seas.’”