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Thepartoftheplanetearththattheseasoccupyhasbeenassessedat3,832,558squaremyriameters,hencemorethan38,000,000,000hectares.
Thisliquidmasstotals2,250,000,000cubicmilesandcouldformaspherewithadiameterofsixtyleagues,whoseweightwouldbethreequintillionmetrictons.
Toappreciatesuchanumber,weshouldrememberthataquintillionistoabillionwhatabillionistoone,inotherwords,thereareasmanybillionsinaquintillionasonesinabillion!
Nowthen,thisliquidmassnearlyequalsthetotalamountofwaterthathaspouredthroughalltheearth'sriversforthepast40,000years!
Duringprehistorictimes,aneraoffirewasfollowedbyaneraofwater.Atfirsttherewasoceaneverywhere.
Then,duringtheSilurianperiod,thetopsofmountainsgraduallyappearedabovethewaves,islandsemerged,disappearedbeneathtemporaryfloods,roseagain,werefusedtoformcontinents,andfinallytheearth'sgeographysettledintowhatwehavetoday.
Solidmatterhadwrestedfromliquidmattersome37,657,000squaremiles,hence12,916,000,000hectares.
Theoutlinesofthecontinentsallowtheseastobedividedintofivemajorparts:thefrozenArcticandAntarcticoceans,theIndianOcean,theAtlanticOcean,andthePacificOcean.
ThePacificOceanextendsnorthtosouthbetweenthetwopolarcirclesandeasttowestbetweenAmericaandAsiaoveranexpanseof145°oflongitude.
It'sthemosttranquiloftheseas;itscurrentsarewideandslow–moving,itstidesmoderate,itsrainfallabundant.
AndthiswastheoceanthatIwasfirstdestinedtocrossunderthesestrangestofauspices.
"Ifyoudon'tmind,professor,"CaptainNemotoldme,"we'lldetermineourexactpositionandfixthestartingpointofourvoyage.It'sfifteenminutesbeforenoon.
I'mgoingtorisetothesurfaceofthewater."
Thecaptainpressedanelectricbellthreetimes.
Thepumpsbegantoexpelwaterfromtheballasttanks;onthepressuregauge,aneedlemarkedthedecreasingpressuresthatindicatedtheNautilus'supwardprogress;thentheneedlestopped.
"Hereweare,"theCaptainsaid.
Imademywaytothecentralcompanionway,whichledtotheplatform.Iclimbeditsmetalsteps,passedthroughtheopenhatches,andarrivedtopsideontheNautilus.
Theplatformemergedonlyeightycentimetersabovethewaves.
TheNautilus'sbowandsternboastedthatspindle–shapedoutlinethathadcausedtheshiptobecomparedappropriatelytoalongcigar.
Inotedtheslightoverlapofitssheet–ironplates,whichresembledthescalescoveringthebodiesofourbiglandreptiles.
SoIhadaperfectlynaturalexplanationforwhy,despitethebestspyglasses,thisboathadalwaysbeenmistakenforamarineanimal.
Nearthemiddleoftheplatform,theskiffwashalfsetintheship'shull,makingaslightbulge.
Foreandaftstoodtwocupolasofmoderateheight,theirsidesslantingandpartlyinsetwithheavybiconvexglass,onereservedforthehelmsmansteeringtheNautilus,theotherforthebrillianceofthepowerfulelectricbeaconlightinghisway.
Theseawasmagnificent,theskiesclear.
Thislongaquaticvehiclecouldbarelyfeelthebroadundulationsoftheocean.
Amildbreezeoutoftheeastrippledthesurfaceofthewater.
Freeofallmist,thehorizonwasidealfortakingsights.
Therewasnothingtobeseen.Notareef,notanislet.NomoreAbrahamLincoln.Adesertedimmenseness.
Raisinghissextant,CaptainNemotookthealtitudeofthesun,whichwouldgivehimhislatitude.
Hewaitedforafewminutesuntiltheorbtouchedtherimofthehorizon.
Whilehewastakinghissights,hedidn'tmoveamuscle,andtheinstrumentcouldn'thavebeensteadierinhandsmadeoutofmarble.
"Noon,"hesaid."Professor,wheneveryou'reready...."
Itookonelastlookatthesea,alittleyellowishnearthelandingplacesofJapan,andIwentbelowagaintothemainlounge.
Therethecaptainfixedhispositionandusedachronometertocalculatehislongitude,whichhedouble–checkedagainsthispreviousobservationsofhourangles.Thenhetoldme:
"ProfessorAronnax,we'reinlongitude137°15'west—"
"Westofwhichmeridian?"Iaskedquickly,hopingthecaptain'sreplymightgivemeacluetohisnationality.
"Sir,"heansweredme,"IhavechronometersvariouslysettothemeridiansofParis,Greenwich,andWashington,D.C.Butinyourhonor,I'llusetheoneforParis."
Thisreplytoldmenothing.Ibowed,andthecommanderwenton:
"We'reinlongitude137°15'westofthemeridianofParis,andlatitude30°7'north,inotherwords,about300milesfromtheshoresofJapan.
AtnoononthisdayofNovember8,weherebybeginourvoyageofexplorationunderthewaters."
"MayGodbewithus!"Ireplied.
"Andnow,professor,"thecaptainadded,"I'llleaveyoutoyourintellectualpursuits.
I'vesetourcourseeast–northeastatadepthoffiftymeters.
Herearesomelarge–scalechartsonwhichyou'llbeabletofollowthatcourse.
Theloungeisatyourdisposal,andwithyourpermission,I'lltakemyleave."
CaptainNemobowed.Iwaslefttomyself,lostinmythoughts.
TheyallcenteredontheNautilus'scommander.
WouldIeverlearnthenationalityofthiseccentricmanwhohadboastedofhavingnone?
Hisswornhateforhumanity,ahatethatperhapswasbentonsomedreadfulrevenge—whathadprovokedit?
Washeoneofthoseunappreciatedscholars,oneofthosegeniuses"embitteredbytheworld,"asConseilexpressedit,alatter–dayGalileo,ormaybeoneofthosemenofscience,likeAmerica'sCommanderMaury,whosecareerswereruinedbypoliticalrevolutions?Icouldn'tsayyet.
Asforme,whomfatehadjustbroughtaboardhisvessel,whoselifehehadheldinthebalance:hehadreceivedmecoollybuthospitably.
Only,henevertookthehandIextendedtohim.Heneverextendedhisown.
ForanentirehourIwasdeepinthesemusings,tryingtoprobethismysterythatfascinatedmeso.
Thenmyeyesfocusedonahugeworldmapdisplayedonthetable,andIputmyfingerontheveryspotwhereourjust–determinedlongitudeandlatitudeintersected.
Likethecontinents,theseahasitsrivers.
Theseareexclusivecurrentsthatcanbeidentifiedbytheirtemperatureandcolor,themostremarkablebeingtheonecalledtheGulfStream.
Sciencehasdefinedtheglobalpathsoffivechiefcurrents:oneinthenorthAtlantic,asecondinthesouthAtlantic,athirdinthenorthPacific,afourthinthesouthPacific,andafifthinthesouthernIndianOcean.
Alsoit'slikelythatasixthcurrentusedtoexistinthenorthernIndianOcean,whentheCaspianandAralSeasjoinedupwithcertainlargeAsianlakestoformasingleuniformexpanseofwater.
Nowthen,atthespotindicatedontheworldmap,oneoftheseseagoingriverswasrollingby,theKuroshiooftheJapanese,theBlackCurrent:heatedbyperpendicularraysfromthetropicalsun,itleavestheBayofBengal,crossestheStraitofMalacca,goesuptheshoresofAsia,andcurvesintothenorthPacificasfarastheAleutianIslands,carryingalongtrunksofcamphortreesandotherlocalitems,thepureindigoofitswarmwaterssharplycontrastingwiththeocean'swaves.
ItwasthiscurrenttheNautiluswasabouttocross.
Iwatcheditonthemapwithmyeyes,IsawitloseitselfintheimmensenessofthePacific,andIfeltmyselfsweptalongwithit,whenNedLandandConseilappearedintheloungedoorway.
Mytwogallantcompanionsstoodpetrifiedatthesightofthewondersondisplay.
"Wherearewe?"theCanadianexclaimed."IntheQuebecMuseum?"
"Beggingmaster'spardon,"Conseilanswered,"butthisseemsmoreliketheSommerardartifactsexhibition!"
"Myfriends,"Ireplied,signalingthemtoenter,"you'reinneitherCanadanorFrance,butsecurelyaboardtheNautilus,fiftymetersbelowsealevel."
"Ifmastersaysso,thensobeit,"Conseilanswered."Butinallhonesty,thisloungeisenoughtoastonishevensomeoneFlemishlikemyself."
"Indulgeyourastonishment,myfriend,andhavealook,becausethere'splentyofworkhereforaclassifierofyourtalents."
Conseilneedednoencouraging.Bendingovertheglasscases,thegallantladwasalreadymutteringchoicewordsfromthenaturalist'svocabulary:classGastropoda,familyBuccinoidea,genusCowry,speciesCypraeamadagascariensis,etc.
MeanwhileNedLand,lessdedicatedtoconchology,questionedmeaboutmyinterviewwithCaptainNemo.
HadIdiscoveredwhohewas,wherehecamefrom,wherehewasheading,howdeephewastakingus?
Inshort,athousandquestionsIhadnotimetoanswer.
ItoldhimeverythingIknew—or,rather,everythingIdidn'tknow—andIaskedhimwhathehadseenorheardonhispart.
"Haven'tseenorheardathing!"theCanadianreplied."Ihaven'tevenspottedthecrewofthisboat.Byanychance,couldtheybeelectrictoo?"
"Electric?"
"Ohyegods,I'mhalftemptedtobelieveit!
Butbacktoyou,ProfessorAronnax,"NedLandsaid,stillhangingontohisideas.
"Can'tyoutellmehowmanymenareonboard?Ten,twenty,fifty,ahundred?"
"I'munabletoansweryou,Mr.Land.Andtrustmeonthis:forthetimebeing,getridofthesenotionsoftakingovertheNautilusorescapingfromit.
Thisboatisamasterpieceofmoderntechnology,andI'dbesorrytohavemissedit!
Manypeoplewouldwelcomethecircumstancesthathavebeenhandedus,justtowalkinthemidstofthesewonders.
Sokeepcalm,andlet'sseewhat'shappeningaroundus."
"See!"theharpoonerexclaimed."There'snothingtosee,nothingwe'lleverseefromthissheet–ironprison!We'resimplyrunningaroundblindfolded—"
NedLandwasjustpronouncingtheselastwordswhenweweresuddenlyplungedintodarkness,utterdarkness.
Theceilinglightswentoutsoquickly,myeyesliterallyached,justasifwehadexperiencedtheoppositesensationofgoingfromthedeepestgloomtothebrightestsunlight.
Westoodstock–still,notknowingwhatsurprisewaswaitingforus,whetherpleasantorunpleasant.Butaslidingsoundbecameaudible.
YoucouldtellthatsomepanelswereshiftingovertheNautilus'ssides.
"It'sthebeginningoftheend!"NedLandsaid.
"...orderHydromedusa,"Conseilmuttered.
Suddenly,throughtwooblongopenings,daylightappearedonbothsidesofthelounge.
Theliquidmassescameintoview,brightlylitbytheship'selectricoutpourings.
Wewereseparatedfromtheseabytwopanesofglass.
InitiallyIshudderedatthethoughtthatthesefragilepartitionscouldbreak;butstrongcopperbandssecuredthem,givingthemnearlyinfiniteresistance.
Theseawasclearlyvisibleforaone–mileradiusaroundtheNautilus.Whatasight!Whatpencoulddescribeit?
Whocouldportraytheeffectsofthislightthroughthesetranslucentsheetsofwater,thesubtletyofitsprogressiveshadingsintotheocean'supperandlowerstrata?
Thetransparencyofsaltwaterhaslongbeenrecognized.
Itsclarityisbelievedtoexceedthatofspringwater.
Themineralandorganicsubstancesitholdsinsuspensionactuallyincreaseitstranslucency.
IncertainpartsoftheCaribbeanSea,youcanseethesandybottomwithstartlingdistinctnessasdeepas145metersdown,andthepenetratingpowerofthesun'sraysseemstogiveoutonlyatadepthof300meters.
ButinthisfluidsettingtraveledbytheNautilus,ourelectricglowwasbeinggeneratedintheveryheartofthewaves.
Itwasnolongerilluminatedwater,itwasliquidlight.
IfweacceptthehypothesesofthemicrobiologistEhrenberg—whobelievesthattheseunderwaterdepthsarelitupbyphosphorescentorganisms—naturehascertainlysavedoneofhermostprodigioussightsforresidentsofthesea,andIcouldjudgeformyselffromthethousandfoldplayofthelight.
OnbothsidesIhadwindowsopeningovertheseunexploreddepths.
Thedarknessintheloungeenhancedthebrightnessoutside,andwestaredasifthisclearglasswerethewindowofanimmenseaquarium.
TheNautilusseemedtobestandingstill.Thiswasduetothelackoflandmarks.Butstreaksofwater,partedbytheship'sspur,sometimesthreadedbeforeoureyeswithextraordinaryspeed.
Inwonderment,weleanedonourelbowsbeforetheseshowwindows,andourstunnedsilenceremainedunbrokenuntilConseilsaid:
"Youwantedtoseesomething,Nedmyfriend;well,nowyouhavesomethingtosee!"
"Howunusual!"theCanadianputin,settingasidehistantrumsandgetawayschemeswhilesubmittingtothisirresistibleallure.
"Amanwouldgoanevengreaterdistancejusttostareatsuchasight!"
"Ah!"Iexclaimed."Iseeourcaptain'swayoflife!He'sfoundhimselfaseparateworldthatsavesitsmostastonishingwondersjustforhim!"
"Butwherearethefish?"theCanadianventuredtoobserve."Idon'tseeanyfish!"
"Whywouldyoucare,Nedmyfriend?"Conseilreplied."Sinceyouhavenoknowledgeofthem."
"Me?Afisherman!"NedLandexclaimed.
Andonthissubjectadisputearosebetweenthetwofriends,sincebothwereknowledgeableaboutfish,butfromtotallydifferentstandpoints.
Everyoneknowsthatfishmakeupthefourthandlastclassinthevertebratebranch.Theyhavebeenquiteaptlydefinedas:
"cold–bloodedvertebrateswithadoublecirculatorysystem,breathingthroughgills,anddesignedtoliveinwater."
Theyconsistoftwodistinctseries:theseriesofbonyfish,inotherwords,thosewhosespineshavevertebraemadeofbone;andcartilaginousfish,inotherwords,thosewhosespineshavevertebraemadeofcartilage.
PossiblytheCanadianwasfamiliarwiththisdistinction,butConseilknewfarmoreaboutit;andsinceheandNedwerenowfastfriends,hejusthadtoshowoff.Sohetoldtheharpooner:
"Nedmyfriend,you'reaslayeroffish,ahighlyskilledfisherman.You'vecaughtalargenumberofthesefascinatinganimals.ButI'llbetyoudon'tknowhowthey'reclassified."
"SureIdo,"theharpoonerrepliedinallseriousness."They'reclassifiedintofishweeatandfishwedon'teat!"
"Spokenlikeatrueglutton,"Conseilreplied."Buttellme,areyoufamiliarwiththedifferencesbetweenbonyfishandcartilaginousfish?"
"Justmaybe,Conseil."
"Andhowaboutthesubdivisionsofthesetwolargeclasses?"
"Ihaven'tthefoggiestnotion,"theCanadianreplied.
"Allright,listenandlearn,Nedmyfriend!
Bonyfisharesubdividedintosixorders.
Primo,theacanthopterygians,whoseupperjawisfullyformedandfree–moving,andwhosegillstaketheshapeofacomb.
Thisorderconsistsoffifteenfamilies,inotherwords,three–quartersofallknownfish.Example:thecommonperch."
"Prettyfaireating,"NedLandreplied.
"Secundo,"Conseilwenton,"theabdominals,whosepelvicfinshangundertheabdomentotherearofthepectoralsbutaren'tattachedtotheshoulderbone,anorderthat'sdividedintofivefamiliesandmakesupthegreatmajorityoffreshwaterfish.Examples:carp,pike."
"Ugh!"theCanadianputinwithdistinctscorn."Youcankeepthefreshwaterfish!"
"Tertio,"Conseilsaid,"thesubbrachians,whosepelvicfinsareattachedunderthepectoralsandhangdirectlyfromtheshoulderbone.Thisordercontainsfourfamilies.
Examples:flatfishsuchassole,turbot,dab,plaice,brill,etc."
"Excellent,reallyexcellent!"theharpoonerexclaimed,interestedinfishonlyfromanedibleviewpoint.
"Quarto,"Conseilwenton,unabashed,"theapods,withlongbodiesthatlackpelvicfinsandarecoveredbyaheavy,oftenglutinousskin,anorderconsistingofonlyonefamily.
Examples:commoneelsandelectriceels."
"So–so,justso–so!"NedLandreplied.
"Quinto,"Conseilsaid,"thelophobranchians,whichhavefullyformed,free–movingjawsbutwhosegillsconsistoflittletuftsarrangedinpairsalongtheirgillarches.Thisorderincludesonlyonefamily.Examples:seahorsesanddragonfish."
"Bad,verybad!"theharpoonerreplied.
"Sextoandlast,"Conseilsaid,"theplectognaths,whosemaxillaryboneisfirmlyattachedtothesideoftheintermaxillarythatformsthejaw,andwhosepalatearchislockedtotheskullbysuturesthatrenderthejawimmovable,anorderlackingtruepelvicfinsandwhichconsistsoftwofamilies.Examples:puffersandmoonfish."
"They'reaninsulttoafryingpan!"theCanadianexclaimed.
"Areyougraspingallthis,Nedmyfriend?"askedthescholarlyConseil.
"Notalickofit,Conseilmyfriend,"theharpoonerreplied."Butkeepgoing,becauseyoufillmewithfascination."
"Asforcartilaginousfish,"Conseilwentonunflappably,"theyconsistofonlythreeorders."
"Goodnews,"Nedputin.
"Primo,thecyclostomes,whosejawsarefusedintoaflexibleringandwhosegillopeningsaresimplyalargenumberofholes,anorderconsistingofonlyonefamily.Example:thelamprey."
"Anacquiredtaste,"NedLandreplied.
"Secundo,theselacians,withgillsresemblingthoseofthecyclostomesbutwhoselowerjawisfree–moving.
Thisorder,whichisthemostimportantintheclass,consistsoftwofamilies.Examples:therayandtheshark."
"What!"NedLandexclaimed."Raysandman–eatersinthesameorder?Well,Conseilmyfriend,onbehalfoftherays,Iwouldn'tadviseyoutoputtheminthesamefishtank!"
"Tertio,"Conseilreplied,"Thesturionians,whosegillopeningistheusualsingleslitadornedwithagillcover,anorderconsistingoffourgenera.Example:thesturgeon."
"Ah,Conseilmyfriend,yousavedthebestforlast,inmyopinionanyhow!Andthat'sallof'em?"
"Yes,mygallantNed,"Conseilreplied."Andnotewell,evenwhenonehasgraspedallthis,onestillknowsnexttonothing,becausethesefamiliesaresubdividedintogenera,subgenera,species,varieties—"
"Allright,Conseilmyfriend,"theharpoonersaid,leaningtowardtheglasspanel,"herecomeacoupleofyourvarietiesnow!"
"Yes!Fish!"Conseilexclaimed."Onewouldthinkhewasinfrontofanaquarium!"
"No,"Ireplied,"becauseanaquariumisnothingmorethanacage,andthesefishareasfreeasbirdsintheair!"
"Well,Conseilmyfriend,identifythem!Startnamingthem!"NedLandexclaimed.
"Me?"Conseilreplied."I'munableto!That'smyemployer'sbailiwick!"
Andintruth,althoughthefineladwasaclassifyingmaniac,hewasnonaturalist,andIdoubtthathecouldtellabonitofromatuna.
Inshort,hewastheexactoppositeoftheCanadian,whoknewnothingaboutclassificationbutcouldinstantlyputanametoanyfish.
"Atriggerfish,"Isaid.
"It'saChinesetriggerfish,"NedLandreplied.
"GenusBalistes,familyScleroderma,orderPlectognatha,"Conseilmuttered.
Assuredly,NedandConseilincombinationaddeduptooneoutstandingnaturalist.
TheCanadianwasnotmistaken.CavortingaroundtheNautiluswasaschooloftriggerfishwithflatbodies,grainyskins,armedwithstingsontheirdorsalfins,andwithfourpricklyrowsofquillsquiveringonbothsidesoftheirtails.
Nothingcouldhavebeenmorewonderfulthantheskincoveringthem:whiteunderneath,grayabove,withspotsofgoldsparklinginthedarkeddiesofthewaves.
Aroundthem,rayswereundulatinglikesheetsflappinginthewind,andamongtheseIspotted,muchtomyglee,aChineseray,yellowishonitstopside,adaintypinkonitsbelly,andarmedwiththreestingsbehinditseyes;ararespecieswhoseveryexistencewasstilldoubtedinLacépède'sday,sincethatpioneeringclassifieroffishhadseenoneonlyinaportfolioofJapanesedrawings.
FortwohoursawholeaquaticarmyescortedtheNautilus.
Inthemidstoftheirleapingandcavorting,whiletheycompetedwitheachotherinbeauty,radiance,andspeed,Icoulddistinguishsomegreenwrasse,bewhiskeredmulletmarkedwithpairsofblacklines,whitegobiesfromthegenusEleotriswithcurvedcaudalfinsandvioletspotsontheback,wonderfulJapanesemackerelfromthegenusScomberwithbluebodiesandsilverheads,glitteringazuregoldfishwhosenamebyitselfgivestheirfulldescription,severalvarietiesofporgyorgilthead(somebandedgiltheadwithfinsvariouslyblueandyellow,somewithhorizontalheraldicbarsandenhancedbyablackstriparoundtheircaudalarea,somewithcolorzonesandelegantlycorsetedintheirsixwaistbands),trumpetfishwithflutelikebeaksthatlookedlikegenuineseafaringwoodcocksandweresometimesameterlong,Japanesesalamanders,serpentinemorayeelsfromthegenusEchidnathatweresixfeetlongwithsharplittleeyesandahugemouthbristlingwithteeth;etc.
Ourwondermentstayedatanall–timefeverpitch.Ourexclamationswereendless.
Nedidentifiedthefish,Conseilclassifiedthem,andasforme,Iwasinecstasyovertheverveoftheirmovementsandthebeautyoftheirforms.
NeverbeforehadIbeengiventhechancetoglimpsetheseanimalsaliveandatlargeintheirnativeelement.
GivensuchacompletecollectionfromtheseasofJapanandChina,Iwon'tmentioneveryvarietythatpassedbeforeourdazzledeyes.
Morenumerousthanbirdsintheair,thesefishracedrightuptous,nodoubtattractedbythebrilliantglowofourelectricbeacon.
Suddenlydaylightappearedinthelounge.Thesheet–ironpanelsslidshut.Themagicalvisiondisappeared.
ButforagoodwhileIkeptdreamingaway,untilthemomentmyeyesfocusedontheinstrumentshangingonthewall.
Thecompassstillshowedourheadingaseast–northeast,thepressuregaugeindicatedapressureoffiveatmospheres(correspondingtoadepthoffiftymeters),andtheelectricloggaveourspeedasfifteenmilesperhour.
IwaitedforCaptainNemo.Buthedidn'tappear.Theclockmarkedthehouroffive.
NedLandandConseilreturnedtotheircabin.Asforme,Irepairedtomystateroom.ThereIfounddinnerreadyforme.
Itconsistedofturtlesoupmadefromthedaintiesthawksbill,aredmulletwithwhite,slightlyflakyflesh,whoseliver,whenseparatelyprepared,makesdeliciouseating,plusloinofimperialangelfish,whoseflavorstruckmeasevenbetterthansalmon.
Ispenttheeveninginreading,writing,andthinking.
Thendrowsinessovertookme,Istretchedoutonmyeelgrassmattress,andIfellintoadeepslumber,whiletheNautilusglidedthroughtheswiftlyflowingBlackCurrent.
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