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[page 193:]
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CHAPTER XXIV [[XXV]].
WE now found
ourselves in
the
wide and desolate Antarctic Ocean, in a latitude exceeding eighty-four
degrees, in a frail canoe, and with no provision but the three turtles.
The long Polar winter, too, could not be considered as far distant, and
it became necessary that we should deliberate well upon the course to
be
pursued. There were six or seven islands in sight belonging to the same
group, and distant from each other about five or six leagues; but upon
neither of these had we any intention to venture. In coming from the
northward
in the Jane Guy we had been gradually leaving behind us the severest
regions
of ice — this, however little it may be in accordance with the
generally-received
notions respecting the Antarctic, was a fact experience would not
permit
us to deny. To attempt, therefore, getting back, would be folly —
especially
at so late a period of the season. Only one course seemed to be left
open
for hope. We resolved to steer boldly to the southward, where there was
at least a probability of discovering other lands, and more than a
probability
of finding a still milder climate.
So far we had found the Antarctic,
like the
Arctic
Ocean, peculiarly free from violent storms or immoderately rough water;
but our canoe was, at best, of frail structure, although large, and we
set busily to work with a view of rendering her as safe as the limited
means in our possession would admit. The body of the boat was of no
better
material than bark — the bark of a tree unknown. The ribs were of a
tough
osier, well adapted to the purpose for which it was used. We had fifty
feet room from stem to stern, from four to six in breadth, and in depth
throughout four feet and a half — the boats thus differing vastly in
shape
from those of any other inhabitants of the Southern Ocean with whom
civilized
nations [page 194:] are acquainted. We never did
believe
them the workmanship of the ignorant islanders who owned them; and some
days after this period discovered, by questioning our captive, that
they
were in fact made by the natives of a group to the southwest of the
country
where we found them, having fallen accidentally into the hands of our
barbarians.
What we could do for the security of our boat was very little indeed.
Several
wide rents were discovered near both ends, and these we contrived to
patch
up with pieces of woollen jacket. With the help of the superfluous
paddles,
of which there were a great many, we erected a kind of framework about
the bow, so as to break the force of any seas which might threaten to
fill
us in that quarter. We also set up two paddle-blades for masts, placing
them opposite each other, one by each gunwale, thus saving the
necessity
of a yard. To these masts we attached a sail made of our shirts — doing
this with some difficulty, as here we could get no assistance from our
prisoner whatever, although he had been willing enough to labour in all
the other operations. The sight of the linen seemed to affect him in a
very singular manner. He could not be prevailed upon to touch it or go
near it, shuddering when we attempted to force him, and shrieking out, Tekeli-li!
Having completed our arrangements in
regard to
the
security of the canoe, we now set sail to the south southeast for the
present,
with the view of weathering the most southerly of the group in sight.
This
being done, we turned the bow full to the southward. The weather could
by no means be considered disagreeable. We had a prevailing and very
gentle
wind from the northward, a smooth sea, and continual daylight. No ice
whatever
was to be seen; nor did I ever see one particle of this after
leaving
the parallel of Bennet's Islet. Indeed, the temperature of the
water
was here far too warm for its existence in any quantity. Having killed
the largest of our tortoises, and obtained from him not only food, but
a copious supply of water, we continued on our course, without any
incident
of moment, for perhaps seven or eight days, during which period we must
have proceeded [page 195:] a vast distance to the
southward,
as the wind blew constantly with us, and a very strong current set
continually
in the direction we were pursuing.
March 1.* Many
unusual phenomena
now
indicated that we were entering upon a region of novelty and wonder. A
high range of light gray vapour appeared constantly in the southern
horizon,
flaring up occasionally in lofty streaks, now darting from east to
west,
now from west to east, and again presenting a level and uniform summit
— in short, having all the wild variations of the Aurora Borealis. The
average height of this vapour, as apparent from our station, was about
twenty-five degrees. The temperature of the sea seemed to be increasing
momentarily, and there was a very perceptible alteration in its
colour.
March 2. To-day, by
repeated
questioning
of our captive, we came to the knowledge of many particulars in regard
to the island of the massacre, its inhabitants, and customs — but with
these how can I now detain the reader? I may say, however, that
we learned there were eight islands in the group — that they were
governed
by a common king, named Tsalemon or Psalemoun, who
resided
in one of the smallest of the islands — that the black skins forming
the
dress of the warriors came from an animal of huge size to be found only
in a valley near the court of the king — that the inhabitants of the
group
fabricated no other boats than the flat-bottomed rafts; the four canoes
being all of the kind in their possession, and these having been
obtained,
by mere accident, from some large island to the southwest — that his
own
name was Nu-Nu — that he had no knowledge of Bennet's Islet — and that
the appellation of the island we had left was Tsalal. The
commencement
of the words Tsalemon and Tsalal was given with a
prolonged
hissing sound, which we found it impossible to imitate, even after
repeated
endeavours, and which was precisely [page 196:]
the
same with the note of the black bittern we had eaten upon the summit of
the hill.
March 3. The heat of
the water was
now
truly remarkable, and in colour was undergoing a rapid change, being no
longer transparent, but of a milky consistency and hue. In our
immediate
vicinity it was usually smooth, never so rough as to endanger the canoe
— but we were frequently surprised at perceiving, to our right and
left,
at different distances, sudden and extensive agitations of the surface
— these, we at length noticed, were always preceded by wild flickerings
in the region of vapour to the southward.
March 4. To-day, with
the view of
widening
our sail, the breeze from the northward dying away perceptibly, I took
from my coat-pocket a white handkerchief. Nu-Nu was seated at my elbow,
and the linen accidentally flaring in his face, he became violently
affected
with convulsions. These were succeeded by drowsiness and stupor, and
low
murmurings of Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li!
March 5. The wind had
entirely
ceased,
but it was evident that we were still hurrying on to the southward,
under
the influence of a powerful current. And now, indeed, it would seem
reasonable
that we should experience some alarm at the turn events were taking —
but
we felt none. The countenance of Peters indicated nothing of this
nature,
although it wore at times an expression I could not fathom. The Polar
winter
appeared to be coming on — but coming without its terrors. I felt a numbness
of body and mind — a dreaminess of sensation — but this was all.
March 6. The gray
vapour had now
arisen
many more degrees above the horizon, and was gradually losing its
grayness
of tint. The heat of the water was extreme, even unpleasant to the
touch,
and its milky hue was more evident than ever. To-day a violent
agitation
of the water occurred very close to the canoe. It was attended, as
usual,
with a wild flaring up of the vapour at its summit, and a momentary
division
at its base. A fine white powder, resembling ashes — but certainly not
such — fell over the canoe and over a large surface of the water, as [page
197:] the flickering died away among the vapour and the
commotion
subsided in the sea. Nu-Nu now threw himself on his face in the bottom
of the boat, and no persuasions could induce him to arise.
March 7. This day we
questioned
Nu-Nu
concerning the motives of his countrymen in destroying our companions;
but he appeared to be too utterly overcome by terror to afford us any
rational
reply. He still obstinately lay in the bottom of the boat; and, upon
reiterating
the questions as to the motive, made use only of idiotic
gesticulations,
such as raising with his forefinger the upper lip, and displaying the
teeth
which lay beneath it. These were black. We had never before seen the
teeth
of an inhabitant of Tsalal.
March 8. To-day there
floated by us
one of the white animals whose appearance upon the beach at Tsalal had
occasioned so wild a commotion among the savages. I would have picked
it
up, but there came over me a sudden listlessness, and I forbore. The
heat
of the water still increased, and the hand could no longer be endured
within
it. Peters spoke little, and I knew not what to think of his apathy.
Nu-Nu
breathed, and no more.
March 9. The white ashy
material
fell
now continually around us, and in vast quantities. The range of vapour
to the southward had arisen prodigiously in the horizon, and began to
assume
more distinctness of form. I can liken it to nothing but a limitless
cataract,
rolling silently into the sea from some immense and far-distant rampart
in the heaven, The gigantic curtain ranged along the whole extent of
the
southern horizon. It emitted no sound.
March 21. A sullen
darkness now
hovered
above us — but from out the milky depths of the ocean a luminous glare
arose, and stole up along the bulwarks of the boat. We were nearly
overwhelmed
by the white ashy shower which settled upon us and upon the canoe, but
melted into the water as it fell. The summit of the cataract was
utterly
lost in the dimness and the distance. Yet we were evidently approaching
it with a hideous velocity. At intervals there were visible in it wide,
yawning, but [page 198:] momentary rents, and
from
out these rents, within which was a chaos of flitting and indistinct
images,
there came rushing and mighty, but soundless winds, tearing up the
enkindled
ocean in their course.
March 22. The darkness
had
materially
increased, relieved only by the glare of the water thrown back from the
white curtain before us. Many gigantic and pallidly white birds flew
continuously
now from beyond the veil, and their scream was the eternal Tekeli-li!
as they retreated from our vision. Hereupon Nu-Nu stirred in the bottom
of the boat; but, upon touching him, we found his spirit departed. And
now we rushed into the embraces of the cataract, where a chasm threw
itself
open to receive us. But there arose in our pathway a shrouded human
figure,
very far larger in its proportions than any dweller among men. And the
hue of the skin of the figure was of the perfect whiteness of the snow.
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