*Borderedbyorangetrees,aloes,cactus,andmaritimepinetrees,perfumedwiththescentofmyrtle,framedbyruggedmountains,saturatedwithclean,transparentairbutcontinuouslyunderconstructionbyfiresintheearth,thisseaisagenuinebattlefieldwhereNeptuneandPlutostillstruggleforworlddomination.
Hereonthesebeachesandwaters,saystheFrenchhistorianMichelet,amanisrevivedbyoneofthemostinvigoratingclimatesintheworld.
Butasbeautifulasitwas,Icouldgetonlyaquicklookatthisbasinwhosesurfaceareacomprises2,000,000squarekilometers.
EvenCaptainNemo'spersonalinsightsweredeniedme,becausethatmystifyingindividualdidn'tappearonesingletimeduringourhigh–speedcrossing.
IestimatethattheNautiluscoveredatrackofsome600leaguesunderthewavesofthissea,andthisvoyagewasaccomplishedinjusttwenty–fourhourstimestwo.
DepartingfromthewaterwaysofGreeceonthemorningofFebruary16,weclearedtheStraitofGibraltarbysunriseonthe18th.
ItwasobvioustomethatthisMediterranean,pinnedinthemiddleofthoseshoreshewantedtoavoid,gaveCaptainNemonopleasure.
Herehenolongerhadtheeaseofmovementandfreedomofmaneuverthattheoceansallowedhim,andhisNautilusfeltcrampedsoclosetothecoastsofbothAfricaandEurope.
LeavingtheNautilusundertheseconditionswouldhavebeenlikejumpingoffatrainracingatthisspeed,arashmoveifthereeverwasone.
Moreover,torenewourairsupply,thesubmersiblerosetothesurfaceofthewavesonlyatnight,andrelyingsolelyoncompassandlog,itsteeredbydeadreckoning.
InsidetheMediterranean,then,Icouldcatchnomoreofitsfast–passingscenerythanatravelermightseefromanexpresstrain;inotherwords,Icouldviewonlythedistanthorizonsbecausetheforegroundsflashedbylikelightning.
ButConseilandIwereabletoobservethoseMediterraneanfishwhosepowerfulfinskeptpaceforawhileintheNautilus'swaters.
Westayedonwatchbeforetheloungewindows,andournotesenablemetoreconstruct,inafewwords,theichthyologyofthissea.
Amongthevariousfishinhabitingit,someIviewed,othersIglimpsed,andtherestImissedcompletelybecauseoftheNautilus'sspeed.
Inthemidstofthewaterymass,brightlylitbyourelectricbeams,theresnakedpastthoseone–meterlampreysthatarecommontonearlyeveryclime.
AtypeofrayfromthegenusOxyrhynchus,fivefeetwide,hadawhitebellywithaspotted,ash–graybackandwascarriedalongbythecurrentslikeahuge,wide–openshawl.
OtherrayspassedbysoquicklyIcouldn'ttelliftheydeservedthatname"eagleray"coinedbytheancientGreeks,orthosedesignationsof"ratray,""batray,"and"toadray"thatmodernfishermenhaveinflictedonthem.
Lookinglikebigbluishshadows,threshersharkswentby,eightfeetlongandgiftedwithanextremelyacutesenseofsmell.
DoradosfromthegenusSparus,somemeasuringuptothirteendecimeters,appearedinsilverandazurecostumesencircledwithribbons,whichcontrastedwiththedarkcoloroftheirfins;fishsacredtothegoddessVenus,theireyessetinbrowsofgold;avaluablespeciesthatpatronizesallwatersfreshorsalt,equallyathomeinrivers,lakes,andoceans,livingineveryclime,toleratinganytemperature,theirlinedatingbacktoprehistorictimesonthisearthyetpreservingallitsbeautyfromthosefar–offdays.
Magnificentsturgeons,ninetotenmeterslongandextremelyfast,bangedtheirpowerfultailsagainsttheglassofourpanels,showingbluishbackswithsmallbrownspots;theyresemblesharks,withoutequalingtheirstrength,andareencounteredineverysea;inthespringtheydelightinswimmingupthegreatrivers,fightingthecurrentsoftheVolga,Danube,Po,Rhine,Loire,andOder,whilefeedingonherring,mackerel,salmon,andcodfish;althoughtheybelongtotheclassofcartilaginousfish,theyrateasadelicacy;they'reeatenfresh,dried,marinated,orsalt–preserved,andinoldentimestheywereborneintriumphtothetableoftheRomanepicureLucullus.
ButwhenevertheNautilusdrewnearthesurface,thosedenizensoftheMediterraneanIcouldobservemostproductivelybelongedtothesixty–thirdgenusofbonyfish.
TheseweretunafromthegenusScomber,blue–blackontop,silveronthebellyarmor,theirdorsalstripesgivingoffagoldengleam.
Theyaresaidtofollowshipsinsearchofrefreshingshadefromthehottropicalsun,andtheydidjustthatwiththeNautilus,astheyhadoncedonewiththevesselsoftheCountdeLaPérouse.
Icouldn'tstopmarvelingattheseanimalssoperfectlycutoutforracing,theirheadssmall,theirbodiessleek,spindle–shaped,andinsomecasesoverthreemeterslong,theirpectoralfinsgiftedwithremarkablestrength,theircaudalfinsforked.
Likecertainflocksofbirds,whosespeedtheyequal,thesetunaswimintriangleformation,whichpromptedtheancientstosaythey'dbonedupongeometryandmilitarystrategy.
Andyettheycan'tescapetheProvençalfishermen,whoprizethemashighlyasdidtheancientinhabitantsofTurkeyandItaly;andthesevaluableanimals,asobliviousasiftheyweredeafandblind,leaprightintotheMarseillestunanetsandperishbythethousands.
TherewerewhitisheelsofthespeciesGymnotusfasciatusthatpassedlikeelusivewispsofsteam,congereelsthreetofourmeterslongthatweretrickedoutingreen,blue,andyellow,three–foothakewithaliverthatmakesadaintymorsel,wormfishdriftinglikethinseaweed,searobinsthatpoetscalllyrefishandseamenpipersandwhosesnoutshavetwojaggedtriangularplatesshapedlikeoldHomer'slyre,swallowfishswimmingasfastasthebirdthey'renamedafter,redheadedgrouperswhosedorsalfinsaretrimmedwithfilaments,someshad(spottedwithblack,gray,brown,blue,yellow,andgreen)thatactuallyrespondtotinklinghandbells,splendiddiamond–shapedturbotthatwerelikeaquaticpheasantswithyellowishfinsstippledinbrownandthelefttopsidemostlymarbledinbrownandyellow,finallyschoolsofwonderfulredmullet,realoceanicbirdsofparadisethatancientRomansboughtforasmuchas10,000sestercesapiece,andwhichtheykilledatthetable,sotheycouldheartlesslywatchitchangecolorfromcinnabarredwhenalivetopallidwhitewhendead.
AndasforotherfishcommontotheAtlanticandMediterranean,Iwasunabletoobservemiralets,triggerfish,puffers,seahorses,jewelfish,trumpetfish,blennies,graymullet,wrasse,smelt,flyingfish,anchovies,seabream,porgies,garfish,oranyofthechiefrepresentativesoftheorderPleuronecta,suchassole,flounder,plaice,dab,andbrill,simplybecauseofthedizzyingspeedwithwhichtheNautilushustledthroughtheseopulentwaters.
Asformarinemammals,onpassingbythemouthoftheAdriaticSea,IthoughtIrecognizedtwoorthreespermwhalesequippedwiththesingledorsalfindenotingthegenusPhyseter,somepilotwhalesfromthegenusGlobicephalusexclusivetotheMediterranean,theforepartoftheheadstripedwithsmalldistinctlines,andalsoadozensealswithwhitebelliesandblackcoats,knownbythenamemonksealsandjustassolemnasiftheywerethree–meterDominicans.
Forhispart,Conseilthoughthespottedaturtlesixfeetwideandadornedwiththreeprotrudingridgesthatranlengthwise.
Iwassorrytomissthisreptile,becausefromConseil'sdescription,IbelieveIrecognizedtheleatherbackturtle,aprettyrarespecies.
Asforzoophytes,forafewmomentsIwasabletomarvelatawonderful,orange–huedhydrafromthegenusGaleolariathatclungtotheglassofourportpanel;itconsistedofalong,leanfilamentthatspreadoutintocountlessbranchesandendedinthemostdelicatelaceeverspunbythefollowersofArachne.
UnfortunatelyIcouldn'tfishupthiswonderfulspecimen,andsurelynootherMediterraneanzoophyteswouldhavebeenofferedtomygaze,if,ontheeveningofthe16th,theNautilushadn'tsloweddowninanoddfashion.Thiswasthesituation.
Itformsanactualridgewithonlyseventeenmetersofwaterremainingaboveit,whilethedepthoneithersideis170meters.
"ButwithallduerespecttoMaster,"Conseilventuredtoobserve,"it'slikeanactualisthmusconnectingEuropetoAfrica."
"Yes,myboy,"Ireplied,"itcutsacrossthewholeStraitofSicily,andSmith'ssoundingsprovethatinthepast,thesetwocontinentsweregenuinelyconnectedbetweenCapeBoeoandCapeFarina."
"Imightadd,"Iwenton,"thatthere'sasimilarbarrierbetweenGibraltarandCeuta,andinprehistorictimesitclosedofftheMediterraneancompletely."
"IfMasterwillallowmetofinish,Imeanthatifthisphenomenonoccurs,itmightprovedistressingtoMr.deLesseps,whohasgonetosuchpainstocutthroughhisisthmus!"
Volcanoeswerequitenumerousintheworld'searlydays,butthey'regoingextinctonebyone;theheatinsidetheearthisgrowingweaker,thetemperatureintheglobe'slowerstrataiscoolingappreciablyeverycentury,andtoourglobe'sdetriment,becauseitsheatisitslife."
"Well,myfriend,somedaytheearthwillbejustsuchacoldcorpse.Likethemoon,whichlongagolostitsvitalheat,ourglobewillbecomelifelessandunlivable."
Ontherocky,volcanicseafloor,therebloomedquiteacollectionofmovingflora:sponges,seacucumbers,jellyfishcalledseagooseberriesthatwereadornedwithreddishtendrilsandgaveoffasubtlephosphorescence,membersofthegenusBeroethatarecommonlyknownbythenamemelonjellyfishandarebathedintheshimmerofthewholesolarspectrum,free–swimmingcrinoidsonemeterwidethatreddenedthewaterswiththeircrimsonhue,treelikebasketstarsofthegreatestbeauty,seafansfromthegenusPavonaceawithlongstems,numerousedibleseaurchinsofvariousspecies,plusgreenseaanemoneswithagrayishtrunkandabrowndisklostbeneaththeolive–coloredtressesoftheirtentacles.
Conseilkeptespeciallybusyobservingmollusksandarticulates,andalthoughhiscatalogisalittledry,Iwouldn'twanttowrongthegallantladbyleavingouthispersonalobservations.
FromthebranchMollusca,hementionsnumerouscomb–shapedscallops,hooflikespinyoysterspiledontopofeachother,triangularcoquina,three–prongedglasssnailswithyellowfinsandtransparentshells,orangesnailsfromthegenusPleurobranchusthatlookedlikeeggsspottedorspeckledwithgreenishdots,membersofthegenusAplysiaalsoknownbythenameseahares,otherseaharesfromthegenusDolabella,plumppaper–bubbleshells,umbrellashellsexclusivetotheMediterranean,abalonewhoseshellproducesamother–of–pearlmuchindemand,pilgrimscallops,saddleshellsthatdinersintheFrenchprovinceofLanguedocaresaidtolikebetterthanoysters,someofthosecockleshellssodeartothecitizensofMarseilles,fatwhitevenusshellsthatareamongtheclamssoabundantoffthecoastsofNorthAmericaandeateninsuchquantitiesbyNewYorkers,variouslycoloredcombshellswithgillcovers,burrowingdatemusselswithapepperyflavorIrelish,furrowedheartcockleswhoseshellshaveriblikeridgesontheirarchingsummits,tritonshellspockedwithscarletbumps,carniairasnailswithbackward–curvingtipsthatmakethemresembleflimsygondolas,crownedferolasnails,atlantasnailswithspiralshells,graynudibranchsfromthegenusTethysthatwerespottedwithwhiteandcoveredbyfringedmantles,nudibranchsfromthesuborderEolideathatlookedlikesmallslugs,seabutterfliescrawlingontheirbacks,seashellsfromthegenusAuriculaincludingtheoval–shapedAuriculamyosotis,tanwentletrapsnails,commonperiwinkles,violetsnails,cinerairasnails,rockborers,earshells,cabochonsnails,pandorashells,etc.
Asforthearticulates,inhisnotesConseilhasveryappropriatelydividedthemintosixclasses,threeofwhichbelongtothemarineworld.TheseclassesaretheCrustacea,Cirripedia,andAnnelida.
Crustaceansaresubdividedintonineorders,andthefirstoftheseconsistsofthedecapods,inotherwords,animalswhoseheadandthoraxareusuallyfused,whosecheek–and–mouthmechanismismadeupofseveralpairsofappendages,andwhosethoraxhasfour,five,orsixpairsofwalkinglegs.
ConseilusedthemethodsofourmentorProfessorMilne–Edwards,whoputsthedecapodsinthreedivisions:Brachyura,Macrura,andAnomura.
AmongtheBrachyura,Conseilmentionssomeamanthiacrabswhosefrontswerearmedwithtwobigdivergingtips,thoseinachusscorpionsthat—lordknowswhy—symbolizedwisdomtotheancientGreeks,spidercrabsofthemassenaandspinimanevarietiesthathadprobablygoneastrayintheseshallowsbecausetheyusuallyliveinthelowerdepths,xanthidcrabs,pilumnacrabs,rhomboidcrabs,granularboxcrabs(easyonthedigestion,asConseilventuredtoobserve),toothlessmaskedcrabs,ebaliacrabs,cymopoliacrabs,woolly–handedcrabs,etc.
AmongtheMacrura(whicharesubdividedintofivefamilies:hardshells,burrowers,crayfish,prawns,andghostcrabs)Conseilmentionssomecommonspinylobsterswhosefemalessupplyameathighlyprized,slipperlobstersorcommonshrimp,watersidegebiashrimp,andallsortsofediblespecies,buthesaysnothingofthecrayfishsubdivisionthatincludesthetruelobster,becausespinylobstersaretheonlytypeintheMediterranean.
Finally,amongtheAnomura,hesawcommondrocinacrabsdwellinginsidewhateverabandonedseashellstheycouldtakeover,homolacrabswithspinyfronts,hermitcrabs,hairyporcelaincrabs,etc.
ThereConseil'sworkcametoahalt.Hedidn'thavetimetofinishofftheclassCrustaceathroughanexaminationofitsstomatopods,amphipods,homopods,isopods,trilobites,branchiopods,ostracods,andentomostraceans.
Andinordertocompletehisstudyofmarinearticulates,heneededtomentiontheclassCirripedia,whichcontainswaterfleasandcarplice,plustheclassAnnelida,whichhewouldhavedividedwithoutfailintotubifexwormsanddorsibranchianworms.
DuringthenightofFebruary16–17,weenteredthesecondMediterraneanbasin,whosemaximumdepthwefoundat3,000meters.
ComparedtothevastliquidplainsofthePacific,theMediterraneanisamerelake,butit'sanunpredictablelakewithficklewaves,todaykindlyandaffectionatetothosefrailsingle–mastersdriftingbetweenadoubleultramarineofskyandwater,tomorrowbad–temperedandturbulent,agitatedbythewinds,demolishingthestrongestshipsbeneathsuddenwavesthatsmashdownwithaheadlongwallop.
So,inourswiftcruisethroughthesedeepstrata,howmanyvesselsIsawlyingontheseafloor,somealreadycakedwithcoral,otherscladonlyinalayerofrust,plusanchors,cannons,shells,ironfittings,propellerblades,partsofengines,crackedcylinders,staved–inboilers,thenhullsfloatinginmidwater,hereupright,thereoverturned.
Theylookedliketheywereatanchorbysomeimmense,open,offshoremooringwheretheywerewaitingfortheirdeparturetime.
WhentheNautiluspassedbetweenthem,coveringthemwithsheetsofelectricity,theyseemedreadytosaluteuswiththeircolorsandsendustheirserialnumbers!
IobservedthattheseMediterraneandepthsbecamemoreandmoreclutteredwithsuchgruesomewreckageastheNautilusdrewnearertotheStraitofGibraltar.
ThereIsawnumerousironundersides,thephantasmagoricruinsofsteamers,somelyingdown,othersrearinguplikefearsomeanimals.
Oneoftheseboatsmadeadreadfulfirstimpression:sidestornopen,funnelbent,paddlewheelsstrippedtothemountings,rudderseparatedfromthesternpostandstillhangingfromanironchain,theboardonitssterneatenawaybymarinesalts!
Hadsomesailoronboardlivedtotellthestoryofthisdreadfuldisaster,ordothewavesstillkeepthiscasualtyasecret?
Itoccurredtome,lordknowswhy,thatthisboatburiedundertheseamighthavebeentheAtlas,lostwithallhandssometwentyyearsagoandneverheardfromagain!
Oh,whatagruesometaletheseMediterraneandepthscouldtell,thishugeboneyardwheresomuchwealthhasbeenlost,wheresomanyvictimshavemettheirdeaths!
Therearetwocurrentshere:anuppercurrent,longknowntoexist,thatcarriestheocean'swatersintotheMediterraneanbasin;thenalowercountercurrent,theonlypresent–dayproofofitsexistencebeinglogic.
Inessence,theMediterraneanreceivesacontinualinfluxofwaternotonlyfromtheAtlanticbutfromriversemptyingintoit;sincelocalevaporationisn'tenoughtorestorethebalance,thetotalamountofaddedwatershouldmakethissea'slevelhighereveryyear.
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