On the 28th of February, when at noon the Nautilus came to the surface of the sea, in 9" 4' N. lat., there was land in sight about eight miles to westward1. The first thing I noticed was a range of mountains about two thousand feet high, the shapes of which were most capricious. On taking the bearings, I knew that we were nearing the island of Ceylon, the pearl which hangs from the lobe2 of the Indian Peninsula. Captain Nemo and his second appeared at this moment. The Captain glanced at the map. Then turning to me, said: "The Island of Ceylon, noted3 for its pearl-fisheries. Would you like to visit one of them, M. Aronnax?" "Certainly, Captain." "Well, the thing is easy. Though, if we see the fisheries, we shall not see the fishermen. The annual exportation has not yet begun. Never mind, I will give orders to make for the Gulf4 of Manaar, where we shall arrive in the night." The Captain said something to his second, who immediately went out. Soon the Nautilus returned to her native element, and the manometer showed that she was about thirty feet deep. "Well, sir," said Captain Nemo, "you and your companions shall visit the Bank of Manaar, and if by chance some fisherman should be there, we shall see him at work." "Agreed, Captain!" "By the bye, M. Aronnax you are not afraid of sharks?" "Sharks!" exclaimed I.
This question seemed a very hard one. "Well?" continued Captain Nemo. "I admit, Captain, that I am not yet very familiar with that kind of fish." "We are accustomed to them," replied Captain Nemo, "and in time you will be too. However, we shall be armed, and on the road we may be able to hunt some of the tribe. It is interesting. So, till to-morrow, sir, and early." This said in a careless tone, Captain Nemo left the saloon. Now, if you were invited to hunt the bear in the mountains of Switzerland, what would you say? "Very well! to-morrow we will go and hunt the bear." If you were asked to hunt the lion in the plains of Atlas5, or the tiger in the Indian jungles, what would you say? "Ha! ha! it seems we are going to hunt the tiger or the lion!" But when you are invited to hunt the shark in its natural element, you would perhaps reflect before accepting the invitation. As for myself, I passed my hand over my forehead, on which stood large drops of cold perspiration6. "Let us reflect," said I, "and take our time. Hunting otters7 in submarine forests, as we did in the Island of Crespo, will pass; but going up and down at the bottom of the sea, where one is almost certain to meet sharks, is quite another thing! I know well that in certain countries, particularly in the Andaman Islands, the negroes never hesitate to attack them with a dagger8 in one hand and a running noose9 in the other; but I also know that few who affront10 those creatures ever return alive. However, I am not a negro, and if I were I think a little hesitation11 in this case would not be ill-timed." At this moment Conseil and the Canadian entered, quite composed, and even joyous12. They knew not what awaited them. "Faith, sir," said Ned Land, "your Captain Nemo--the devil take him!-has just made us a very pleasant offer." "Ah!" said I, "you know?" "If agreeable to you, sir," interrupted Conseil, "the commander of the Nautilus has invited us to visit the magnificent Ceylon fisheries to-morrow, in your company; he did it kindly13, and behaved like a real ge
ntleman." "He said nothing more?" "Nothing more, sir, except that he had already spoken to you of this little walk." "Sir," said Conseil, "would you give us some details of the pearl fishery?" "As to the fishing itself," I asked, "or the incidents, which?" "On the fishing," replied the Canadian; "before entering upon the ground, it is as well to know something about it." "Very well; sit down, my friends, and I will teach you." Ned and Conseil seated themselves on an ottoman, and the first thing the Canadian asked was: "Sir, what is a pearl?" "My worthy14 Ned," I answered, "to the poet, a pearl is a tear of the sea; to the Orientals, it is a drop of dew solidified15; to the ladies, it is a jewel of an oblong shape, of a brilliancy of mother-of-pearl substance, which they wear on their fingers, their necks, or their ears; for the chemist it is a mixture of phosphate and carbonate of lime, with a little gelatine; and lastly, for naturalists16, it is simply a morbid17 secretion18 of the organ that produces the mother-of-pearl amongst certain bivalves." "Branch of molluscs," said Conseil. "Precisely19 so, my learned Conseil; and, amongst these testacea the earshell, the tridacnae, the turbots, in a word, all those which secrete20 mother-of-pearl, that is, the blue, bluish, violet, or white substance which lines the interior of their shells, are capable of producing pearls." "Mussels too?" asked the Canadian. "Yes, mussels of certain waters in Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Saxony, Bohemia, and France." "Good! For the future I shall pay attention," replied the Canadian. "But," I continued, "the particular mollusc which secretes21 the pearl is the pearl-oyster22. The pearl is nothing but a formation deposited in a globular form, either adhering to the oyster-shell or buried in the folds of the creature. On the shell it is fast: in the flesh it is loose; but always has for a kernel23 a small hard substance, maybe a barren egg, maybe a grain of sand, around which the pearly matter deposits itself year after year successively, and by thin concen
tric layers." {this paragraph is edited} "Are many pearls found in the same oyster?" asked Conseil. "Yes, my boy. Some are a perfect casket. One oyster has been mentioned, though I allow myself to doubt it, as having contained no less than a hundred and fifty sharks." "A hundred and fifty sharks!" exclaimed Ned Land. "Did I say sharks?" said I hurriedly. "I meant to say a hundred and fifty pearls. Sharks would not be sense." "Certainly not," said Conseil; "but will you tell us now by what means they extract these pearls?" "They proceed in various ways. When they adhere to the shell, the fishermen often pull them off with pincers; but the most common way is to lay the oysters24 on mats of the seaweed which covers the banks. Thus they die in the open air; and at the end of ten days they are in a forward state of decomposition25. They are then plunged26 into large reservoirs of sea-water; then they are opened and washed." "The price of these pearls varies according to their size?" asked Conseil. "Not only according to their size," I answered, "but also according to their shape, their water (that is, their colour), and their lustre27: that is, that bright and diapered sparkle which makes them so charming to the eye. The most beautiful are called virgin28 pearls, or paragons29. They are formed alone in the tissue of the mollusc, are white, often opaque30, and sometimes have the transparency of an opal; they are generally round or oval. The round are made into bracelets31, the oval into pendants, and, being more precious, are sold singly. Those adhering to the shell of the oyster are more irregular in shape, and are sold by weight. Lastly, in a lower order are classed those small pearls known under the name of seed-pearls; they are sold by measure, and are especially used in embroidery32 for church ornaments33." "But," said Conseil, "is this pearl-fishery dangerous?" "No," I answered, quickly; "particularly if certain precautions are taken." "What does one risk in such a calling?" said Ned Land, "the swallowing of some mouthfuls
of sea-water?" "As you say, Ned. By the bye," said I, trying to take Captain Nemo's careless tone, "are you afraid of sharks, brave Ned?" "I!" replied the Canadian; "a harpooner35 by profession? It is my trade to make light of them." "But," said I, "it is not a question of fishing for them with an iron-swivel, hoisting36 them into the vessel37, cutting off their tails with a blow of a chopper, ripping them up, and throwing their heart into the sea!" "Then, it is a question of----" "Precisely." "In the water?" "In the water." "Faith, with a good harpoon34! You know, sir, these sharks are ill-fashioned beasts. They turn on their bellies38 to seize you, and in that time----" Ned Land had a way of saying "seize" which made my blood run cold. "Well, and you, Conseil, what do you think of sharks?" "Me!" said Conseil. "I will be frank, sir." "So much the better," thought I. "If you, sir, mean to face the sharks, I do not see why your faithful servant should not face them with you."
1月28日正午，当诺第留斯号浮上水面来的时候，它在北纬9度4分，望见西边八海里远有一块陆地。我首先注意一群山岭，这群山岭约二千英尺高，山形起伏，很不整齐。测定了这陆地的方位后，我回到客厅中，把测好的经纬度跟地图一对时，我发现我们是在锡兰岛面前了，它是挂在印度半岛下端的一颗宝珠。
我到图书室去找一部关于这座岛的著作，它是地球上的岛屿中最富饶的一个岛。我正好找到西尔所写、题名为《锡兰和锡兰人>的一部书。回到客厅中来，我首先记下锡兰的方位，并且知道古时候这岛有各种不同的名称。它的位置是在北纬5度55分和9度49分2red，东经79度42分和82度4分之间，“岛长二百七十五英里，最宽的地方一瓦五十英里，周围丸首英里，面积二万四千四百四十八平方英里，就是说，比爱尔兰岛面积小一些尼摩船长和他的副手这时候进来了。船长在地图上看了一下，然后回过来对我说：”“锡兰岛：是以采珍珠闻名的地方。柯龙纳斯先生，您高兴去看采珠场吗？”
“船长，当然高兴。”
“好，这是容易的事。不过，我们仅能看到采珠场，却看不见采珠人。每年定期的采珠现在还没有开始。但这没关系。我吩咐船驶到马纳尔湾，夜间我们就可以到达。”
船长对船副说了几句话，船副立即出去。不久诺第留斯号潜入水中，压力表指出它是在水深三十英尺的地方。
面前摆着地图，我找马纳尔湾。我在锡兰岛的西北海岸，纬度9度上找到了。这海湾由马纳尔小岛的延长海岸线所形成。要到这湾，必须上溯锡兰岛整个西部海岸。
“教授，”尼摩船长这时说话了，“在孟加拉湾，在印度海，在中国海和日本海，在美洲南部的海，在巴拿马湾，在加利福尼亚湾，都有人采珍珠，但采珠成绩最优良的地方是在锡兰岛。我们来这里，时候是早了一些。每年三月采珠人才齐集在马纳尔湾，为期整整有三十天，他们的三百只船一齐做这种采取海中珠宝的有利事业。每只船有十个划船手和十个采珠人。采珠人分做两组，彼此轮流潜入水中，他们是用两只脚夹着一块很重的石头，再用一根长绳把他系在船上，他们下至十二米深的地方采珠。”
“那么，”我说，“他们总是使用这种原始方法吗？”
“总是使用这种原始方法，”尼摩船长回答我，“虽然这些采珠场是属于地球上最灵巧的人民一英国人——因为 1802年的阿米恩条约①把采珠场转让给他们了。”
。“不过，我觉得，像您使用的那种潜水衣对于采珠可以大有用处。”
“是的，很有用，因为那些可怜的采珠人不能在水底下留得很久，英国人培西华在他写的锡兰岛游记中，说有一个加非列利②人在水下留了五分钟，没有上水面来，这件事我觉得不甚可靠。我知道有些潜水人可以留到五十六秒，最有能耐的可以留到八十六秒，不过这种人是很少的，并且，回到船上来，这些可怜人的鼻孔和耳朵都流出带血的水来。。我认为这些采珠人可以留在水里面忍受的平均时间为三十秒，在这三十秒内，他们得赶快把自己采得的珍珠贝塞在一个小网中。一般的说，这些采珠人不能活得很久，他们的眼力很早就衰退，眼睛上发生溃疡，他们的身上有许多创伤，他们有时甚至于在水底下就中凤了。”
“是的，”我说，“这是一种凄惨的职业，这是为满足少数人的偏好的。不过，船长，请您告诉我，一只船一整天可以采得多少珍珠贝呢？”
“大约四万至五万左右。甚至有人说， 1814年，英国政府实行公营采珠，它的采珠人在二十天的工作中，一共采得七千六百万珍珠贝。”
“至少，”我问，“这些采珠人可以得到足够的工资吧？”
“哪能说足够呢，教授。在巴拿马，他们每星期得一元。
平常采到一个有珍珠的贝，他们才能得一分钱，何况他们采得的贝里面多数是没有珍珠的！”
“这些可怜人，使他们的东家发了财，自己只能在采封一颗有珠子的贝才得到一分钱！真可恨！”
“教授，就这样吧，”尼摩船长对我说，“您跟您的同伴们一同去参观马纳尔的礁石岩脉，如果有早来的采珠人已经在那里，那我们就看看他们采珍珠。”
“船长，就这么办吧。”
“请问一下，阿龙纳斯先生，您怕鲛鱼吗？”
“鲛鱼吗？"我喊。
这个问题，至少对我来说，没有兴味。
“怎样？”尼摩船长立即又问。
“船长，我老实对您说，我没有习惯跟这鱼打交道。”
“我们已经很习惯了，”尼摩船长回答，“过些时候，你们也会习惯的。此外，我们是带着武器的，这样，我们或者可以猎得一条鲛鱼。那是很有兴味的打猎。那么，教授，明天，明天一清早再会吧。"尼摩船长语气从容地说了这话，他就离开了客厅。
“我们要考虑一下，”我自言自语他说，“我们不要忙，到海底森林中打水獭，像我们在克利斯波岛树林中做的那样。
可以去。但是，跑到海底下去，准知道会不会碰到鲛鱼，那就不一样了！”
我于是幻想着鲛鱼了，想到它阔大的；有一排一排尖科牙齿的牙床，一下就可以把人咬为两段，我腰上已经感到有点痛了。其次，尼摩船长提出这次令人为难的邀请时，他那种满不在乎的样子，我简直猜不透！人们不是要以为这就等于要到树下去捉一只不咬人的狐狸那样容易吗？我心中想：“不错！康塞尔一定不愿意参加，这样我就可以有借口不去奉陪船长了。”至于尼德·兰，我老实说，我觉得他去不去就不大靠得祝不管怎么大的危险，对于他的战斗性总有一种诱惑力。
我又拿西尔的书来读，但我只是无心地翻一翻。我在书中的字里行间，看见那大大张开的怕人的牙床。这时候，康塞尔和尼德·兰，神气安静，并且快活地走进来。他们不知道有什么等待着他们。“好哇，”尼德·兰对我说，“先生，您那尼摩船长——一个鬼物！——向我们作了一个很客气。
的提议。”
“啊！"我说，“你们知道……”
“对不起先生，”康塞尔回答，“诺第留斯号船长请我们明天跟先生一齐去参观锡兰岛很好看的采珠常他说的话很漂亮，简直是一位地道的绅士。”
“他对你们没有说别的吗？”
“先生，”加拿大人回答，“除了他已经给您讲过的这次散步外，什么也没有说。”
“是的，”我说，“他没有对你们介绍详细的情形，关于。.."“没有，生物学家。您跟我们一同去，是吗？，“我……当然！兰师傅，我觉得您对这事很有兴趣。”
“对了！这事很新奇，十分新奇。”
“或者很危险呢！”我用暗示的语气又加上一句。
“很危险！”尼德·兰回答，“到珍珠贝礁石上走一走！”
一定是尼摩船长认为没有必要让我的同伴想到鲛鱼，“所以他不对他们说。我眼光有些慌张地注视他们，好像他·们的肢体已经被咬走了一部分似的。我应该事先通知他们吗？当然应该的，不过我不知道怎样跟他们说才好。
“先生，”康塞尔对我说，“先生愿意给我们讲一些关于采珍珠的情形吗？”
“是讲采珍珠这事情本身呢，”我问，“还是讲有关·…·。
的故事呢？”
“讲采珍珠的事情，"加拿大人回答，“到实地去看之前，先知道一点是好的。”
“好吧，朋友们，你们坐下，我从英国人西尔写的书中所知道的一切，都讲给你们听吧。"尼德·兰和康塞尔在长沙发上坐下，加拿大人首先对我说：先生，珍珠是什么呢？"“老实的尼德，”我回答；“对诗人来说，珍珠是大海的眼泪；对东方人来说，它是一滴固体化的露水；对妇女们来说，它是她们带在手指上。脖子上或耳朵上的，长圆形，透明色，螺铀质的饰物；对化学家来说，它是带了些胶质的磷酸盐和碳酸钙的混合物；最后，对生物学家来说，它不过是某种双壳类动物产生螺钢质的器官的病态分泌物。”
“软体门，”康塞尔说，“无头纲，甲壳属。”
“不过，"我又说，一在体内能凝结成珍珠的最好软体动物，就是那珍珠贝，乳白珠贝，宝贵的小纹贝。珍珠不过是成为圆形的螺铀体的凝结物。它或者粘在珠贝的壳上，或者嵌在动物本身的皱折上。在介壳上的是粘着固定的，在肉上的是活动自由的。不过，珍珠总有一个小小的固体物，或一颗石卵，或一粒沙，作为它的核心，螺铀质在好几年中间连续不停地、薄薄一层地环绕着这核心累积起来。”
“人们可以在同一个贝中，找到好几颗珍珠吗？”康塞尔们“可以的、老实人。有些小纹贝，简直就是一个珍珠筐。"“有人甚至这样说，一个珍珠贝里面——这点我很怀疑：含有不下于一百五十个鲛鱼。”
“一百五十个鲛鱼？"尼德·兰喊。
“我是说鲛鱼来着吗？”我急忙喊道，“我是要说一百五十个珍珠。说鲛鱼那就没有意义了。”
“正是，”康塞尔说，“先生现在可以让我们知道用什么方法把珍珠取出来吗？”
“把珍珠取出来有好几种方法，珍珠粘在壳上的时候，采珠人就时常用钳子把它突出来。不过，最平常的办法是把小纹贝摊在海岸边的草席上面。它们这样摆在露夭中就死了，十天后，它们到了相当腐败的程度了；于是把它们浸在宽大的海水池沼里面，然后打开它们，洗刷它们。就在这个时候，进行双重的刮削工作。首先，把商业中称为‘真银白混杂白，和·混杂黑，的螺铀片一类一类分开，分盛在一百二十五公斤到一百五十公斤的箱子里。然后把珍珠贝的腺组织取开，把它煎煮，用筛子筛，把最小的珍珠都取出来。" "珍珠的价格是看它们的大小吗？"康塞尔问。
“不仅看它们的大小，”我回答，“并且看它们的形状，看它们的水质，就是看它们的颜色，看它们的明亮——也就是看那种迷人眼睛的变化不定的亮光。最美丽的珍珠称为童贞珠或模范珠；它们在软体动物的纤维上孤立长成；它们是白色的，时常不透明，但有的是蛋白的透明，最常有的形状是球形或梨形。球形的，做手锡；梨形的，做耳环；因为这是最宝贵的珍珠，它们论粒卖。其他的珍珠粘在贝壳上，形状比较不规律，它们论重量卖。最后，小珍珠是分在低级的一类，称为小粒。它们论堆卖。”
“不过，”康塞尔说，“采珍珠很危险吗？”
“不，”我急急地回答，“要是事前采取一些预防办法”，就更没有什么危险。”
“这种职业有什么冒险的呢？”尼德·兰说，“顶多喝几口海水罢了！”
“尼德·兰，就是跟你说的那样，”我也试用尼摩船长满不在乎的语气来说，“老实的尼德，我问你，你怕鲛鱼吗？”
“我，怕？"加拿大人回答，“职业的鱼叉手！捕捉它们是我的本行哩！"“我不是说拿大钩钩它们，，我说，“把它们拉到船甲板上来，用斧子砍断它们的尾巴，割开它们的肚腹，挖出它们的心肝扔到海里面去！”
“那是说，碰见……？”。
“正是。”
“在水中碰见吗？”
“在水中碰见。”、
“手拿一很好鱼叉，不：先生，您知道，鲛鱼的形态是夭生有缺点的。它们要咬人的话，先得把肚子翻转，倒过身子来，在这个时候……”尼德。兰带某种口气说出这个“咬”字，简直使人脊背上都发凉了。
“康塞尔，你呢，你觉得鲛鱼怎样？”·“我对先生总是但白说实话的。”康塞尔说。
我心中想：“这样就好了。，
“如果先生去攻打鲛鱼，”康塞尔说，“我想性的助手有什么理由不跟他一起去攻打它们！”
收听单词发音 |
1
westward
|
|
| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
lobe
|
|
| n.耳垂，（肺，肝等的）叶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
gulf
|
|
| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
atlas
|
|
| n.地图册，图表集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
perspiration
|
|
| n.汗水；出汗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
otters
|
|
| n.（水）獭( otter的名词复数 )；獭皮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
dagger
|
|
| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
noose
|
|
| n.绳套，绞索（刑）；v.用套索捉；使落入圈套；处以绞刑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
affront
|
|
| n./v.侮辱，触怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
hesitation
|
|
| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
joyous
|
|
| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
solidified
|
|
| （使）成为固体，（使）变硬，（使）变得坚固( solidify的过去式和过去分词 )； 使团结一致； 充实，巩固； 具体化 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
naturalists
|
|
| n.博物学家( naturalist的名词复数 )；（文学艺术的）自然主义者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
morbid
|
|
| adj.病的；致病的；病态的；可怕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
secretion
|
|
| n.分泌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
precisely
|
|
| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
secrete
|
|
| vt.分泌；隐匿，使隐秘 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
secretes
|
|
| v.（尤指动物或植物器官）分泌( secrete的第三人称单数 )；隐匿，隐藏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
oyster
|
|
| n.牡蛎；沉默寡言的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
kernel
|
|
| n.(果实的)核，仁；(问题)的中心，核心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
oysters
|
|
| 牡蛎( oyster的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
decomposition
|
|
| n. 分解, 腐烂, 崩溃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
plunged
|
|
| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
lustre
|
|
| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
virgin
|
|
| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
paragons
|
|
| n.模范( paragon的名词复数 )；典型；十全十美的人；完美无缺的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
opaque
|
|
| adj.不透光的；不反光的，不传导的；晦涩的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
bracelets
|
|
| n.手镯，臂镯( bracelet的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
embroidery
|
|
| n.绣花，刺绣；绣制品 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
ornaments
|
|
| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
harpoon
|
|
| n.鱼叉；vt.用鱼叉叉，用鱼叉捕获 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
harpooner
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
hoisting
|
|
| 起重，提升 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
bellies
|
|
| n.肚子( belly的名词复数 )；腹部；（物体的）圆形或凸起部份；腹部…形的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |