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little greater, the thermometer showing 2@ below zero. The fog was rising, and I hoped that that day our
observations might be taken. Captain Nemo not having yet appeared, the boat took Conseil and myself to
land. The soil was still of the same volcanic nature; everywhere were traces of lava, scoriae, and basalt; but
the crater which had vomited them I could not see. Here, as lower down, this continent was alive with myriads
of birds. But their rule was now divided with large troops of sea-mammals, looking at us with their soft eyes.
There were several kinds of seals, some stretched on the earth, some on flakes of ice, many going in and out
of the sea. They did not flee at our approach, never having had anything to do with man; and I reckoned that
there were provisions there for hundreds of vessels.
"Sir," said Conseil, "will you tell me the names of these creatures?"
"They are seals and morses."
It was now eight in the morning. Four hours remained to us before the sun could be observed with advantage.
I directed our steps towards a vast bay cut in the steep granite shore. There, I can aver that earth and ice were
lost to sight by the numbers of sea-mammals covering them, and I involuntarily sought for old Proteus, the
mythological shepherd who watched these immense flocks of Neptune. There were more seals than anything
else, forming distinct groups, male and female, the father watching over his family, the mother suckling her
little ones, some already strong enough to go a few steps. When they wished to change their place, they took
little jumps, made by the contraction of their bodies, and helped awkwardly enough by their imperfect fin,
which, as with the lamantin, their cousins, forms a perfect forearm. I should say that, in the water, which is
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their element--the spine of these creatures is flexible; with smooth and close skin and webbed feet--they
swim admirably. In resting on the earth they take the most graceful attitudes. Thus the ancients, observing
their soft and expressive looks, which cannot be surpassed by the most beautiful look a woman can give, their
clear voluptuous eyes, their charming positions, and the poetry of their manners, metamorphosed them, the
male into a triton and the female into a mermaid. I made Conseil notice the considerable development of the
lobes of the brain in these interesting cetaceans. No mammal, except man, has such a quantity of brain matter;
they are also capable of receiving a certain amount of education, are easily domesticated, and I think, with
other naturalists, that if properly taught they would be of great service as fishing-dogs. The greater part of
them slept on the rocks or on the sand. Amongst these seals, properly so called, which have no external ears
(in which they differ from the otter, whose ears are prominent), I noticed several varieties of seals about three
yards long, with a white coat, bulldog heads, armed with teeth in both jaws, four incisors at the top and four at
the bottom, and two large canine teeth in the shape of a fleur-de-lis. Amongst them glided sea-elephants, a
kind of seal, with short, flexible trunks. The giants of this species measured twenty feet round and ten yards
and a half in length; but they did not move as we approached.
"These creatures are not dangerous?" asked Conseil.
"No; not unless you attack them. When they have to defend their young their rage is terrible, and it is not
uncommon for them to break the fishing-boats to pieces."
"They are quite right," said Conseil.
"I do not say they are not."
Two miles farther on we were stopped by the promontory which shelters the bay from the southerly winds.
Beyond it we heard loud bellowings such as a troop of ruminants would produce.
"Good!" said Conseil; "a concert of bulls!"
"No; a concert of morses."
"They are fighting!"
"They are either fighting or playing."
We now began to climb the blackish rocks, amid unforeseen stumbles, and over stones which the ice made
slippery. More than once I rolled over at the expense of my loins. Conseil, more prudent or more steady, did
not stumble, and helped me up, saying:
"If, sir, you would have the kindness to take wider steps, you would preserve your equilibrium better."
Arrived at the upper ridge of the promontory, I saw a vast white plain covered with morses. They were
playing amongst themselves, and what we heard were bellowings of pleasure, not of anger.
As I passed these curious animals I could examine them leisurely, for they did not move. Their skins were
thick and rugged, of a yellowish tint, approaching to red; their hair was short and scant. Some of them were
four yards and a quarter long. Quieter and less timid than their cousins of the north, they did not, like them,
place sentinels round the outskirts of their encampment. After examining this city of morses, I began to think
of returning. It was eleven o'clock, and, if Captain Nemo found the conditions favourable for observations, I
wished to be present at the operation. We followed a narrow pathway running along the summit of the steep
shore. At half-past eleven we had reached the place where we landed. The boat had run aground, bringing the
Captain. I saw him standing on a block of basalt, his instruments near him, his eyes fixed on the northern
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horizon, near which the sun was then describing a lengthened curve. I took my place beside him, and waited
without speaking. Noon arrived, and, as before, the sun did not appear. It was a fatality. Observations were
still wanting. If not accomplished to-morrow, we must give up all idea of taking any. We were indeed exactly
at the 20th of March. To-morrow, the 21st, would be the equinox; the sun would disappear behind the horizon
for six months, and with its disappearance the long polar night would begin. Since the September equinox it
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