In the course of the day of the 29th of January, the island of Ceylon disappeared under the horizon, and the Nautilus, at a speed of twenty miles an hour, slid into the labyrinth1 of canals which separate the Maldives from the Laccadives. It coasted even the Island of Kiltan, a land originally coraline, discovered by Vasco da Gama in 1499, and one of the nineteen principal islands of the Laccadive Archipelago, situated2 between 10" and 14" 30' N. lat., and 69" 50' 72" E. long. We had made 16,220 miles, or 7,500 (French) leagues from our starting-point in the Japanese Seas.
The next day (30th January), when the Nautilus went to the surface of the ocean there was no land in sight. Its course was N.N.E., in the direction of the Sea of Oman, between Arabia and the Indian Peninsula, which serves as an outlet3 to the Persian Gulf4. It was evidently a block without any possible egress5. Where was Captain Nemo taking us to? I could not say. This, however, did not satisfy the Canadian, who that day came to me asking where we were going. "We are going where our Captain's fancy takes us, Master Ned." "His fancy cannot take us far, then," said the Canadian. "The Persian Gulf has no outlet: and, if we do go in, it will not be long before we are out again." "Very well, then, we will come out again, Master Land; and if, after the Persian Gulf, the Nautilus would like to visit the Red Sea, the Straits of Bab-el-mandeb are there to give us entrance." "I need not tell you, sir," said Ned Land, "that the Red Sea is as much closed as the Gulf, as the Isthmus6 of Suez is not yet cut; and, if it was, a boat as mysterious as ours would not risk itself in a canal cut with sluices7. And again, the Red Sea is not the road to take us back to Europe." "But I never said we were going back to Europe." "What do you suppose, then?" "I suppose that, after visiting the curious coasts of Arabia and Egypt, the Nautilus will go down the Indian Ocean again, perhaps cross the Channel of Mozambique, perhaps off the Mascarenhas, so as to gain the Cape8 of Good Hope." "And once at the Cape of Good Hope?" asked the Canadian, with peculiar9 emphasis. "Well, we shall penetrate10 into that Atlantic which we do not yet know. Ah! friend Ned, you are getting tired of this journey under the sea; you are surfeited11 with the incessantly12 varying spectacle of submarine wonders. For my part, I shall be sorry to see the end of a voyage which it is given to so few men to make." For four days, till the 3rd of February, the Nautilus scoured13 the Sea of Oman, at various speeds and at various depths. It seemed to go at random14, as if hesitating as t
o which road it should follow, but we never passed the Tropic of Cancer. In quitting this sea we sighted Muscat for an instant, one of the most important towns of the country of Oman. I admired its strange aspect, surrounded by black rocks upon which its white houses and forts stood in relief. I saw the rounded domes15 of its mosques16, the elegant points of its minarets17, its fresh and verdant18 terraces. But it was only a vision! The Nautilus soon sank under the waves of that part of the sea.
We passed along the Arabian coast of Mahrah and Hadramaut, for a distance of six miles, its undulating line of mountains being occasionally relieved by some ancient ruin. The 5th of February we at last entered the Gulf of Aden, a perfect funnel19 introduced into the neck of Bab-el-mandeb, through which the Indian waters entered the Red Sea. The 6th of February, the Nautilus floated in sight of Aden, perched upon a promontory21 which a narrow isthmus joins to the mainland, a kind of inaccessible22 Gibraltar, the fortifications of which were rebuilt by the English after taking possession in 1839. I caught a glimpse of the octagon minarets of this town, which was at one time the richest commercial magazine on the coast. I certainly thought that Captain Nemo, arrived at this point, would back out again; but I was mistaken, for he did no such thing, much to my surprise.
The next day, the 7th of February, we entered the Straits of Bab-el-mandeb, the name of which, in the Arab tongue, means The Gate of Tears.
To twenty miles in breadth, it is only thirty-two in length. And for the Nautilus, starting at full speed, the crossing was scarcely the work of an hour. But I saw nothing, not even the Island of Perim, with which the British Government has fortified23 the position of Aden. There were too many English or French steamers of the line of Suez to Bombay, Calcutta to Melbourne, and from Bourbon to the Mauritius, furrowing24 this narrow passage, for the Nautilus to venture to show itself. So it remained prudently25 below. At last about noon, we were in the waters of the Red Sea.
I would not even seek to understand the caprice which had decided26 Captain Nemo upon entering the gulf. But I quite approved of the Nautilus entering it. Its speed was lessened27: sometimes it kept on the surface, sometimes it dived to avoid a vessel28, and thus I was able to observe the upper and lower parts of this curious sea.
The 8th of February, from the first dawn of day, Mocha came in sight, now a ruined town, whose walls would fall at a gunshot, yet which shelters here and there some verdant date-trees; once an important city, containing six public markets, and twenty-six mosques, and whose walls, defended by fourteen forts, formed a girdle of two miles in circumference29. The Nautilus then approached the African shore, where the depth of the sea was greater. There, between two waters clear as crystal, through the open panels we were allowed to contemplate30 the beautiful bushes of brilliant coral and large blocks of rock clothed with a splendid fur of green variety of sites and landscapes along these sandbanks and algae31 and fuci. What an indescribable spectacle, and what variety of sites and landscapes along these sandbanks and volcanic32 islands which bound the Libyan coast! But where these shrubs33 appeared in all their beauty was on the eastern coast, which the Nautilus soon gained. It was on the coast of Tehama, for there not only did this display of zoophytes flourish beneath the level of the sea, but they also formed picturesque34 interlacings which unfolded themselves about sixty feet above the surface, more capricious but less highly coloured than those whose freshness was kept up by the vital power of the waters. What charming hours I passed thus at the window of the saloon! What new specimens35 of submarine flora36 and fauna37 did I admire under the brightness of our electric lantern! The 9th of February the Nautilus floated in the broadest part of the Red Sea, which is comprised between Souakin, on the west coast, and Komfidah, on the east coast, with a diameter of ninety miles. That day at noon, after the bearings were taken, Captain Nemo mounted the platform, where I happened to be, and I was determined38 not to let him go down again without at least pressing him regarding his ulterior projects. As soon as he saw me he approached and graciously offered me a cigar. "Well, sir, does this Red Sea please you? Have you sufficiently39 obs
erved the wonders it covers, its fishes, its zoophytes, its parterres of sponges, and its forests of coral? Did you catch a glimpse of the towns on its borders?" "Yes, Captain Nemo," I replied; "and the Nautilus is wonderfully fitted for such a study. Ah! it is an intelligent boat!" "Yes, sir, intelligent and invulnerable. It fears neither the terrible tempests of the Red Sea, nor its currents, nor its sandbanks." "Certainly," said I, "this sea is quoted as one of the worst, and in the time of the ancients, if I am not mistaken, its reputation was detestable." "Detestable, M. Aronnax. The Greek and Latin historians do not speak favourably40 of it, and Strabo says it is very dangerous during the Etesian winds and in the rainy season. The Arabian Edrisi portrays41 it under the name of the Gulf of Colzoum, and relates that vessels42 perished there in great numbers on the sandbanks and that no one would risk sailing in the night. It is, he pretends, a sea subject to fearful hurricanes, strewn with inhospitable islands, and `which offers nothing good either on its surface or in its depths.'" "One may see," I replied, "that these historians never sailed on board the Nautilus." "Just so," replied the Captain, smiling; "and in that respect moderns are not more advanced than the ancients. It required many ages to find out the mechanical power of steam. Who knows if, in another hundred years, we may not see a second Nautilus? Progress is slow, M. Aronnax." "It is true," I answered; "your boat is at least a century before its time, perhaps an era. What a misfortune that the secret of such an invention should die with its inventor!" Captain Nemo did not reply. After some minutes' silence he continued: "You were speaking of the opinions of ancient historians upon the dangerous navigation of the Red Sea." "It is true," said I; "but were not their fears exaggerated?" "Yes and no, M. Aronnax," replied Captain Nemo, who seemed to know the Red Sea by heart. "That which is no longer dangerous for a modern vessel, well rigged, st
rongly built, and master of its own course, thanks to obedient steam, offered all sorts of perils43 to the ships of the ancients. Picture to yourself those first navigators venturing in ships made of planks44 sewn with the cords of the palmtree, saturated45 with the grease of the seadog, and covered with powdered resin46! They had not even instruments wherewith to take their bearings, and they went by guess amongst currents of which they scarcely knew anything. Under such conditions shipwrecks47 were, and must have been, numerous. But in our time, steamers running between Suez and the South Seas have nothing more to fear from the fury of this gulf, in spite of contrary trade-winds. The captain and passengers do not prepare for their departure by offering propitiatory48 sacrifices; and, on their return, they no longer go ornamented49 with wreaths and gilt50 fillets to thank the gods in the neighbouring temple." "I agree with you," said I; "and steam seems to have killed all gratitude51 in the hearts of sailors. But, Captain, since you seem to have especially studied this sea, can you tell me the origin of its name?" "There exist several explanations on the subject, M. Aronnax. Would you like to know the opinion of a chronicler of the fourteenth century?" "Willingly." "This fanciful writer pretends that its name was given to it after the passage of the Israelites, when Pharaoh perished in the waves which closed at the voice of Moses." "A poet's explanation, Captain Nemo," I replied; "but I cannot content myself with that. I ask you for your personal opinion." "Here it is, M. Aronnax. According to my idea, we must see in this appellation52 of the Red Sea a translation of the Hebrew word `Edom'; and if the ancients gave it that name, it was on account of the particular colour of its waters." "But up to this time I have seen nothing but transparent53 waves and without any particular colour." "Very likely; but as we advance to the bottom of the gulf, you will see this singular appearance. I remember seeing the Bay of Tor entirely54 red, l
ike a sea of blood." "And you attribute this colour to the presence of a microscopic55 seaweed?" "Yes." "So, Captain Nemo, it is not the first time you have overrun the Red Sea on board the Nautilus?" "No, sir." "As you spoke56 a while ago of the passage of the Israelites and of the catastrophe57 to the Egyptians, I will ask whether you have met with the traces under the water of this great historical fact?" "No, sir; and for a good reason." "What is it?" "It is that the spot where Moses and his people passed is now so blocked up with sand that the camels can barely bathe their legs there. You can well understand that there would not be water enough for my Nautilus." "And the spot?" I asked. "The spot is situated a little above the Isthmus of Suez, in the arm which formerly58 made a deep estuary59, when the Red Sea extended to the Salt Lakes. Now, whether this passage were miraculous60 or not, the Israelites, nevertheless, crossed there to reach the Promised Land, and Pharaoh's army perished precisely61 on that spot; and I think that excavations62 made in the middle of the sand would bring to light a large number of arms and instruments of Egyptian origin." "That is evident," I replied; "and for the sake of archaeologists let us hope that these excavations will be made sooner or later, when new towns are established on the isthmus, after the construction of the Suez Canal; a canal, however, very useless to a vessel like the Nautilus." "Very likely; but useful to the whole world," said Captain Nemo. "The ancients well understood the utility of a communication between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean63 for their commercial affairs: but they did not think of digging a canal direct, and took the Nile as an intermediate. Very probably the canal which united the Nile to the Red Sea was begun by Sesostris, if we may believe tradition. One thing is certain, that in the year 615 before Jesus Christ, Necos undertook the works of an alimentary64 canal to the waters of the Nile across the plain of Egypt, looking towards Arabia. It took four
days to go up this canal, and it was so wide that two triremes could go abreast65. It was carried on by Darius, the son of Hystaspes, and probably finished by Ptolemy II. Strabo saw it navigated66: but its decline from the point of departure, near Bubastes, to the Red Sea was so slight that it was only navigable for a few months in the year. This canal answered all commercial purposes to the age of Antonius, when it was abandoned and blocked up with sand. Restored by order of the Caliph Omar, it was definitely destroyed in 761 or 762 by Caliph Al-Mansor, who wished to prevent the arrival of provisions to Mohammed-ben-Abdallah, who had revolted against him. During the expedition into Egypt, your General Bonaparte discovered traces of the works in the Desert of Suez; and, surprised by the tide, he nearly perished before regaining67 Hadjaroth, at the very place where Moses had encamped three thousand years before him." "Well, Captain, what the ancients dared not undertake, this junction68 between the two seas, which will shorten the road from Cadiz to India, M. Lesseps has succeeded in doing; and before long he will have changed Africa into an immense island." "Yes, M. Aronnax; you have the right to be proud of your countryman. Such a man brings more honour to a nation than great captains. He began, like so many others, with disgust and rebuffs; but he has triumphed, for he has the genius of will. And it is sad to think that a work like that, which ought to have been an international work and which would have sufficed to make a reign69 illustrious, should have succeeded by the energy of one man. All honour to M. Lesseps!" "Yes! honour to the great citizen," I replied, surprised by the manner in which Captain Nemo had just spoken. "Unfortunately," he continued, "I cannot take you through the Suez Canal; but you will be able to see the long jetty of Port Said after to-morrow, when we shall be in the Mediterranean." "The Mediterranean!" I exclaimed. "Yes, sir; does that astonish you?" "What astonishes me is to think that we
shall be there the day after to-morrow." "Indeed?" "Yes, Captain, although by this time I ought to have accustomed myself to be surprised at nothing since I have been on board your boat." "But the cause of this surprise?" "Well! it is the fearful speed you will have to put on the Nautilus, if the day after to-morrow she is to be in the Mediterranean, having made the round of Africa, and doubled the Cape of Good Hope!" "Who told you that she would make the round of Africa and double the Cape of Good Hope, sir?" "Well, unless the Nautilus sails on dry land, and passes above the isthmus----" "Or beneath it, M. Aronnax." "Beneath it?" "Certainly," replied Captain Nemo quietly. "A long time ago Nature made under this tongue of land what man has this day made on its surface." "What! such a passage exists?" "Yes; a subterranean70 passage, which I have named the Arabian Tunnel. It takes us beneath Suez and opens into the Gulf of Pelusium." "But this isthmus is composed of nothing but quick sands?" "To a certain depth. But at fifty-five yards only there is a solid layer of rock." "Did you discover this passage by chance?" I asked more and more surprised. "Chance and reasoning, sir; and by reasoning even more than by chance. Not only does this passage exist, but I have profited by it several times. Without that I should not have ventured this day into the impassable Red Sea. I noticed that in the Red Sea and in the Mediterranean there existed a certain number of fishes of a kind perfectly71 identical. Certain of the fact, I asked myself was it possible that there was no communication between the two seas? If there was, the subterranean current must necessarily run from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, from the sole cause of difference of level. I caught a large number of fishes in the neighbourhood of Suez. I passed a copper72 ring through their tails, and threw them back into the sea. Some months later, on the coast of Syria, I caught some of my fish ornamented with the ring. Thus the communication between the two was pro20
ved. I then sought for it with my Nautilus; I discovered it, ventured into it, and before long, sir, you too will have passed through my Arabian tunnel!"
1月29日，锡兰岛远在天边看不见了，诺第留斯号的速度是每小时二十海里，驶人把马尔代夫群岛和拉克代夫群岛分开的弯弯曲曲的水道中。它又沿吉檀岛行驶，这岛原是珊瑚岛，1499年被法斯科·德·嘉马①发现，为拉克代夫群岛的十九座主要岛屿之一，位于北纬10度和14度 30分之间，东经69度和50度72分之间。
我们从日本海出发以来，到现在，我们已经走了一万六千二百二十海里，即七千五百里了。
第二天，1月30日，当诺第留斯号浮出洋面来的时候，看不见陆地了。船对着西北偏北方向，向阿曼海驶去，这海位于阿拉伯和印度岛之间，是波斯湾的出口。
很明白，波斯湾是不可能有出路的，是不能通行的海湾。那么尼摩船长带我们到哪里去呢？我说不上。这点）加拿大人很不满意，因为他那一天问我，我们要到哪里去。
“尼德·兰师傅，随船长的意思，他愿意带我们到哪里，我们就到哪里。”
“随船长的意思，”加拿大人回答，“那他可不能带我们走得很远哩。波斯湾是没有出路的，我们进去，我们不久就要从原路回来。”
"好吧！兰师傅，我们回来就是了，走过波斯湾，诺第留斯号要走红海，巴布厄尔曼特海峡总在那里，可以给它一条通路驶过去。”
“先生，”尼德·兰回答，“我用不着告诉您，红海跟波斯湾一样是没有通路的，因为苏伊土地峡还没有凿通，即使凿通，我们这只怪船，恐怕也不方便在这些有堤堰和闸口的水道间冒险吧。所以，红海并不是带我们回到欧洲的路。”
“所以，我只是说，我们可能要回欧洲去。”
“那您是怎么设想的呢？"
“我设想，走过阿拉伯和埃及一带的新奇海水后，诺第留斯号重回到印度洋：或者经莫三鼻给海峡，或者走马斯加’林群岛海面，驶到好望角。”
"到了好望角怎样呢？”加拿大人特别坚持地问。
"那么我们就要走入我们还不认得的大西洋了。朋友！
您对这种海底旅行感到疲倦了吗？您看见海底新奇的、时常变换的景象，难道无动于衷吗？对我来说，这种旅行将来差不多是没有人能做的了，要是这这样完结了，我真觉得十分遗憾。"“不过，”加拿大人回答，“阿龙纳斯先生，您知道我们被禁在这只诺第留斯号船上快要到三个月了吗？”
“不，尼德，我不知道，我不想知道，我不计日，我也不计“结论呢？”
“结论将有一夭到来。并且我们一点不能作主，我们现在讨论，完全无用。老实的尼德，如果您来跟我说：‘逃走的机会有了。’那我就来和您讨论。可是情形并不是这样，并且但白地对您说，我想尼摩船长可能永远不会冒险到欧洲海中去。”
在四天内，直至2月3日，诺第留斯号在不同速度和不同深度下走过了阿曼海。船好像是随意地行驶，因为它沿着走的航线很不一定，不过它从不越过北回归线。
离开阿曼海的时候，我们有一个短时间去认识马斯喀特城，它是阿曼地方最重要的城市。我很赞美它的奇异外表。但这仅仅是一瞬间的感觉，诺第留斯号不久就潜人这海面的深水中。、，随后，它在距岸六海里的海面，沿马拉和哈达拉毛一带的阿拉伯海岸行驶，这一带海岸线上有起伏不平的山岭，间有一些古代遗迹。2月5月，我们进人亚丁湾，这湾是巴布厄尔曼特长颈形海峡的真正漏斗，把印度洋的水倒流入红海中。
2月6日，诺第留斯号浮出水面，远远看见亚丁港，港筑在海呷上，一条很窄的地峡把它跟大陆连接起来。
我认为尼摩船长到了这个地方，一定要退回来，可是我错了，我很惊异，他并不这样做。
第二天，2月7日，我们走进巴布厄尔曼特海峡，这个’名字照阿拉伯语是“泪门”的意思。海峡二十海里宽，只有五十二公里长，对诺底留斯号来说。开足马力走过去，不过是1小时的事，但是我看不见什么，就是丕林岛也没有看到这岛是英国政府拿来使亚丁港的防卫更加巩固的。过多的英国船和法国船，从苏伊士到孟买、到加尔各答、到墨尔本到波旁、到毛利斯，都经过这狭窄的海峡，使诺第留斯号不慈浮出来。所以它很小心地只在水底下行驶。
到了中午，我们就走在红海里面了。
红海是《圣经》传说中的名湖，下雨也不凉爽，又没有一条大河流入，过度的蒸发使水量不断消失，平均每年有一米半厚的水面损失呢！真是奇怪的海湾，四面封闭，要是照一般湖沼的情况来说，应当早就完全干涸了。
我甚至于不想了解尼摩船长的意思，他为什么决定把我们带到这海湾中来。我完全赞同诺第留斯号进入红海。
它以中常速度行驶，有时浮出水面，有时潜入水底，躲避往来的船只，这样，我可以从水里面和水面上来观察这浪新奇的海。
2月8日，这一天的早晨，摩卡港出现在我们面前。
随后，诺第留斯号走近非洲海岸，这一带的海就深得多了。这里，在水晶一般清澈的海水中间，从打开的嵌板，我可以细细看那色彩鲜明的珊瑚的奇妙丛林，那披上海带和黑角莱的华美青绿毛皮的一片片宽大岩石。与利比亚海岸相接的这些火山的暗礁和小岛，铺排成地毯一般，景色变化无穷，真是无法形容，无法描写！但是，海底这些丛生的枝状动物表现得最美丽的地方；还是在诺第留斯号就要驶到的东部的海岸附近。那是在铁哈马海岸一带，因为在这一带海岸，不单海面下有一层一层的花一般的植虫动物，而且这些植虫动物在二十米水深左右满是组成五色斑烂的图象花纹，但水底下的比接近水面的一层变化更多，颜色较为黯淡，因为近水面的一层受海水的湿润，保持着鲜艳的颜色。
我这样在客厅的玻璃窗户边，不知道度过了多少惬意进人的时间！我在我们的电光探照灯下，不知道欣赏了多少海底下的新品种动植物！有伞形菌；有石板色的多须峭；特别是晶形峭；有管珊瑚，像笛子一般，等着潘神①来吹，有这一带海中特产的贝壳，附生在造礁珊瑚的空洞中，下部有，很短的螺丝纹环绕，最后有成千成万的那种水媳类，那些就是我还没有看到过的普通海绵。
海绵纲是水熄类的第一纲，这一纲就是由这种非常有用处的新奇产物组成的。海绵并不是植物，像现在还有些…生物学家承认的那样。它是动物，不过是最低一目的动物，是比珊瑚更低的水熄丛。它的动物性是无可怀疑的，我们不能接受古代人的意见，认为它是动植物间的中介物。不过我要说，关于海绵的机体组织，生物学家还没有共同一致的意见。有些生物学家说海绵是水熄丛：另外一些，像爱德华先生，却认为它是独立的、单一的个体。
海绵纲大约共有三百种，大多数的海中都有，并且也生在某部分淡水流里面，被称为“河水海绵”。不过海绵特别“繁殖的地方是地中海、希腊半岛、叙利亚海岸和红海一带。
在这一带海中，那些柔软细嫩的海绵繁殖得很快，每块价值达一百五十法郎，比如叙利亚的金色海绵，巴巴利亚的坚韧“海绵等。既然我们被苏伊土地峡分开，走不过去，我不可能·在近东各港湾里来研究这些植虫动物，我只得在红海中来观察它们了。所以，当诺第留斯号在平均八至九米的水层，慢慢溜过这些东部海岸的美丽岩石的时候，我叫康塞尔到我身边来。
在这一带海水里面，生长着各种形状的海绵，脚形海绵、卅状海绵、球形海绵、指形海绵。看见这些形状的海绵，诗人意味比学者意味重的渔人们给它们取的名字很美妙，例如花篮、花枣、羚羊角、狮子蹄、孔雀尾、海王手套等等…··，都是非常恰当的。从它们附有半液体胶质的纤维组织中，不断流出线一样的水，这线水把生命带进了每一个细胞中，成后就被收缩的运动排除出来。这种半液体胶质在水熄死后便不再分泌，它同时腐烂了，发出阿摩尼亚气体来。这时候就只剩下那日用海绵所有的角质纤维或胶质纤维了。刀用海绵是茶褐色，根据它的弹力、渗透力或抵抗浸渍力的程度大小，可以安排它作各种不同的用途。
这些水螅丛附在岩石上，软体动物的介壳上，并且附在蛇婆茎上8它们把最轻微的凹凸都铺平了，有的是摆开来）有的是竖起或垂下，像珊瑚形成的瘤一样。我告诉了康塞尔，海绵可用两种方法来采取，或用打捞机，或用手。后一种方法要使用潜水的采绵人，这种方法比较好，因为不损伤水螅丛的纤维，可以给它保留了很高的使用价值。
在海绵类旁边繁殖着的其他植虫动物，主要是形状很美观的一种水母。软体类有各种各样的枪乌贼，据奥比尼①说，这些枪乌贼是红海的特产。爬虫类有属于龟鳖属的条纹甲鱼，这种甲鱼可以供应我们餐桌上一盘又卫生又好吃砌食品。”
至于鱼类；这里有很多，并且很值得注意。下面是诺络留斯号的鱼网时常拉到船上来的鱼：鳃鱼类，里面有椭圆形、砖石色，身上有不等的蓝黑斑点的稣鱼，从它们身上带有双重的齿形刺就可以认出来。背色银白的白鳍鱼，尾带小点的赤醇鱼，以及锦带谭鱼，像长两米的宽大套子，在水中间滚来滚去。没齿稣，完全没有牙齿，是跟鲛鱼相近的软骨鱼。驼峰牡蛎，峰顶是弯的尖刺，身长一英尺半。蛇鱼类，像尾色银白、背上淡蓝、褐色胸部带灰色边线的海鳗一样。有光鱼，属鳍科的一种，身上有窄条的金色纹，带法国国旗的红蓝白三色。长四分米的楔形硬鳍鱼；美丽的加郎鱼，身上有漆黑的六条横带，蓝色和黄色的鳍）金色和银色的鳞。还有团足鱼，黄头耳形豚鱼，硬鳍斯加鱼，海婆鱼，箭鱼，虾虎鱼以及我们已经走过的海洋都有的其他千百种鱼类。
2月9日，诺第留斯号浮出在红海最宽阔的一部分海面上，海面的西岸是苏阿京，东岸是光享达，直径是一百丸十海里。
这一天中午，在地图上记录了船行的方位后，尼摩船长走上平台来，正好我也在那里。我心中打算，对于他此后的航行计划如果得不到一些了解，我就不让他回船里面去。
他一看见我就走向前来，很礼貌地送我一支雪前烟，对我说："“喂！教授，您喜欢这红海吗？您曾充分观察它所蕴藏伪奇异东西吗？它的鱼类和它的植虫类，它的海绵花坛和它的珊瑚森林吗？您曾望见散在海边的城市吗？”
"是的，尼摩船长，”我回答，“诺第留斯号是奇妙的最便于做这种研究的。啊！农真是一只聪明的有智慧的船！”
“不错，先生，又聪明，叉大胆，叉是不会受损伤的！它、不伯红海的厉害风暴，汹涌波涛，危险暗礁。”
“是的，，我说，“红海常被称为最厉害多风浪的海，如果、我没有记错，在上古时代，它的声名听来就使人讨厌。｛“阿龙纳斯先生，是的，使人讨厌。希腊和拉丁的历史家没有说它好，史杜拉宾说，红海在刮北风和雨季的时期特别难航，特别厉害。阿捡伯人艾德利西是用哥尔藏海湾的名字来写红海的，他说有很多的船只在它的浮洲上就沉役了、没有人敢在夜间冒险航行。他认为，这海受厉害台风伪控制，处处有损害船只的小岛，不管在海底下和海面上，‘一点都没有好处。’”“很明白，·我马上说，“那就是因为这些历史家并没有在诺第留斯号船上航行过。”
“是的，船长带着微笑回答，“关于这一点，近代人并没有比古代入进步。发明蒸汽力是要好几千百年的时间呢！
谁知道在一百年后，是否将有第二只诺第留斯号出现呢！
啊龙纳斯先生，进步是很慢的呢。”
"真的，·我回答，“您的船比它的时代进步了一世纪，或者好几世纪。这样一个秘密要跟它的发明人一同消逝，是多么不幸：，尼摩船长并不回答我的话。
静默了几分钟后，我问：“船长，您好像是特别研究过这海，您可以让我知道红海这名字的来源吗？”
“阿龙纳斯先生，关于这问题有很多的解释。您愿意知道一个十四世纪的史学家的意见吗？”
“当然愿意知道。”
“这位空想家认为‘红海’这个名字是在以色列人走过这海之后才有的，当时法老军队追赶他们到海上，海听到摩西的声音就涌上来，把法老军队淹没了①：为表示这种神奇，变成为鲜红的海，自后除了”红海’的称呼再不能叫它别的名字了。”
“尼摩船长，”我回答，“这是诗人的解释，我不能满足。
所以我要问问您个人的意见。”
“阿龙纳斯先生，照我的意思，我们要把红海名字看作为希伯来语‘爱德龙’一词的转译，古代的人所以称它这个名字，是由于这海的水有一种特殊颜色。”
“可是，直到目前，我看见的都是清澈的水波，没有什么特殊颜色。”
“当然，’不过您走进这海湾的内部时，您就会看到这奇异现象。我回想起从前看过的多尔湾，完全红色，好像血湖一样。”
“这颜色，您认为是由于海中有某种微生海藻的存在吗？"“是的。那是称为‘三棱藻’的细小植物所产生的朱红色的粘性物质，四万个这种植物，才占面积一平方厘米。说不定我们到多尔湾的时候，您就可以看到这些植物。”
“尼摩船长，这样说来，您乘诺第留斯号经过红海，难道这回不是第一次吗？”
“不是第一次，先生。”
“那么，您上面说过以色列人走过这海和埃及军队淹没水中的事，我要问问您，您在海底下曾经看到这件历史大事的一些痕迹吗？”
“没看见，教授，因为有一个显明的理由。”
"什么理由呢？”
“就是赐西带领他的人民走过的地方，现在完全是沙土了，差不多骆驼的腿也泡不湿了。您很明白，我的诺第留斯号没有足够的水，是不可能驶过那里。”
“这地方在哪儿？……”我问。
"这地方在苏伊士上面一点，在从前是很深的河口的海汉里面，因为当时红海的水面还一直伸到这些咸水湖中。
现在这条水道是不是能发生奇迹，暂且不管，但从前以色列人就是通过这里走到巴勒斯但去的，法老的军队也就是在这里被水淹没的。所以我想，在这些沙土中间来做发掘工作，一定可以发现埃及制造的大量武器和用具。”
“那很显然，”我回答，”同时希望考古学家有一天要把这种发掘工作赶快进行，因为苏伊士运flpffi穿后，许多新的城市就要在这地峡上建设起来了。对于诺第留斯号这样的一只船来说，这条运河实在没有什么用处！”
“不错，不过对全世界很有用。”船长回答，“古时的人很明白，在红海与地中海之间建立交通，对于他们的商业有很大的好处，可是他们没有想到发掘一条直通的运河，他们是利用尼罗河来作居间。按照传说，这条连接尼罗河和红海的运河，很可能在薛索斯土利斯王朝①就开始有了。其中确定的事实是，纪元前615年，尼哥斯②进行了一条运河的工程，引尼罗河水，穿过与阿拉伯相望的埃及平原。这条运河上溯航行需要四天的时间，河宽是两艘有三排桨的船可以并行无阻。运河工程由伊他斯比的儿子大流士③继续进行，大约在蒲图连美二世时代完工，史杜拉宾看见了这河作航行使用。不过在运河近布巴斯提地方的起点和红海之间的何床坡度大小，一年中只有几个月可以行船。直到安敦难②时代，这运河一直是商业贸易的途径：后来，由于‘哈利发’峨默尔⑤命令把运河放弃，就淤塞了，随后又修复起来； 761年或762年，‘哈利发’阿利·蒙索尔要阻止粮食运到反抗他的穆罕默德·宾·阿比多拉那里，这运河便完全被：填平了。”
“船长，那么，古代人不敢开凿的、把两个海连结起来并使加的斯到印度的航程缩短九千公里的这条运河，现在由德，勒赛普干起来了，不久，就要把非洲变为一个巨大的海岛了。”
“很可惜，”他又说，“我不能带您穿过苏伊士运河，但后夫，我们在地中海的时候，您可以望见塞得港的长堤。"“在地中海！”我喊道。
“是的，教授，这事您觉得奇怪吗？”
"我觉得奇怪的是，后天我们就到地中海了。”
"为什么要奇怪呢？”
“因为诺第留斯号经好望角，绕非洲一周，后天要在地中海，您必定要它以惊人的速度航行！”
“教授谁告诉您，它要绕非洲一周呢？谁告诉您，它要经过好望角呢？"“除非是它在陆地上行驶，和从地峡上面过去，那……” "或从底下穿过去，阿龙纳斯先生。”
“从底下穿过去吗？”
"当然，”尼摩船长用很安静的语气回答，"很久以来，人们在这舌形地面上所做的，大自然早就在它底下做了。”
怎么！原来底下有条通路！”
"是的、底下有一条地道，我称它为阿拉伯海底地道。
地道在苏伊士下面，通到北路斯海湾。”
“那么，这地峡只是由松动的沙土形成的吗？”
“由沙上形成的部分达到某种深度。但是到了五十米以下，就有一层很坚固的不可动的岩石。”
“您发现这地道是由于偶然的机会吗？”我愈来愈惊奇地问。
“由于偶然的机会，同时也由于推理，教授，甚至推理的：戍分多于偶然的成分。”
“船长，我心里虽然在听您讲，但我的耳朵却抗拒它听到的话。”
“先生啊！怯卸洌翘患雹郏庵秩耸裁词贝加械摹Ｕ馓鹾５椎氐啦唤鍪谴嬖冢⑶椅乙怖霉眉复巍Ｈ绻皇钦庋医裉煲膊坏秸馕蘼房赏ǖ暮旌Ｖ欣此姹忝跋樟恕！泵拔饰誓跹⑾终馓鹾５椎氐溃恢劣诿懊谅穑俊彼尽跋壬贝せ卮鹞遥霸诒舜瞬荒芊挚娜嗣侵屑洌豢梢杂腥魏蚊孛艿拇嬖凇！?
我不理他这句别有所指的话，我等待尼摩船长关于这事的讲述。他说：“教授，使我发现这条只有我一人认识的海底地道的，是一个生物学家的简单推理。我曾经注意到，在红海中和在地中海中有某一些完全相同的鱼类，比如蛇鱼，车鱼，绞车鱼，簇鱼，愚鱼，飞鱼。我确定了这事实，我就问，在这两、个海中间是不是有交通路线的存在。如果有交通路线存在，地下水流仅仅由于两海的水平面不同，必然要从红海流到地中海。因此我在苏伊士附近打了很多鱼，我把铜圈套在鱼尾上，然后把鱼放人海中。几个月后，在叙利亚海岸，我找到了一些我从前放走的尾上有铜圈的鱼。因此两海之间有路可通的想法就得到了证明小我利用诺第留斯号去找寻这条通路，要于把它发现了，我也冒险走过去了。教授。
不久：您也要通过我的阿拉伯海底地道！”
收听单词发音 |
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labyrinth
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| n.迷宫；难解的事物；迷路 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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outlet
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| n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄 | |
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gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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egress
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| n.出去；出口 | |
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isthmus
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| n.地峡 | |
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sluices
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| n.水闸( sluice的名词复数 )；（用水闸控制的）水；有闸人工水道；漂洗处v.冲洗( sluice的第三人称单数 )；（指水）喷涌而出；漂净；给…安装水闸 | |
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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surfeited
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| v.吃得过多( surfeit的过去式和过去分词 )；由于过量而厌腻 | |
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incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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scoured
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| 走遍（某地）搜寻（人或物）( scour的过去式和过去分词 )； （用力）刷； 擦净； 擦亮 | |
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random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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domes
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| n.圆屋顶( dome的名词复数 )；像圆屋顶一样的东西；圆顶体育场 | |
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mosques
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| 清真寺； 伊斯兰教寺院，清真寺； 清真寺，伊斯兰教寺院( mosque的名词复数 ) | |
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minarets
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| n.（清真寺旁由报告祈祷时刻的人使用的）光塔( minaret的名词复数 ) | |
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verdant
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| adj.翠绿的，青翠的，生疏的，不老练的 | |
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funnel
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pro
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| n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者 | |
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promontory
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| n.海角；岬 | |
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inaccessible
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fortified
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furrowing
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prudently
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| adv. 谨慎地，慎重地 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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lessened
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| 减少的，减弱的 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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circumference
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| n.圆周，周长，圆周线 | |
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contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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algae
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| n.水藻，海藻 | |
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volcanic
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| adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的 | |
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shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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flora
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| n.(某一地区的)植物群 | |
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fauna
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| n.(一个地区或时代的)所有动物，动物区系 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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favourably
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| adv. 善意地，赞成地 =favorably | |
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portrays
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| v.画像( portray的第三人称单数 )；描述；描绘；描画 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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saturated
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| a.饱和的，充满的 | |
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resin
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| n.树脂，松香，树脂制品；vt.涂树脂 | |
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shipwrecks
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| 海难，船只失事( shipwreck的名词复数 )； 沉船 | |
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propitiatory
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| adj.劝解的；抚慰的；谋求好感的；哄人息怒的 | |
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ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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appellation
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| n.名称，称呼 | |
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transparent
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| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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microscopic
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| adj.微小的，细微的，极小的，显微的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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estuary
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| n.河口，江口 | |
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miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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excavations
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| n.挖掘( excavation的名词复数 )；开凿；开凿的洞穴（或山路等）；（发掘出来的）古迹 | |
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Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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alimentary
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| adj.饮食的，营养的 | |
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abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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navigated
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| v.给（船舶、飞机等）引航，导航( navigate的过去式和过去分词 )；（从海上、空中等）横越；横渡；飞跃 | |
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regaining
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| 复得( regain的现在分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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junction
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| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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