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Chapter 4. The Red Sea

           Picturetoyourselfthosefirstnavigatorsventuringinshipsmadeofplankssewnwiththecordsofthepalmtree,saturatedwiththegreaseoftheseadog,andcoveredwithpowderedresin!Theyhadnoteveninstrumentswherewithtotaketheirbearings,andtheywentbyguessamongstcurrentsofwhichtheyscarcelyknewanything.Undersuchconditionsshipwreckswere,andmusthavebeen,numerous.Butinourtime,steamersrunningbetweenSuezandtheSouthSeashavenothingmoretofearfromthefuryofthisgulf,inspiteofcontrarytrade-winds.Thecaptainandpassengersdonotpreparefortheirdeparturebyofferingpropitiatorysacrifices;and,ontheirreturn,theynolongergoornamentedwithwreathsandgiltfilletstothankthegodsintheneighbouringtemple."

           "Iagreewithyou,"saidI;"andsteamseemstohavekilledallgratitudeintheheartsofsailors.But,Captain,sinceyouseemtohaveespeciallystudiedthissea,canyoutellmetheoriginofitsname?"

           "Thereexistseveralexplanationsonthesubject,M.Aronnax.Wouldyouliketoknowtheopinionofachroniclerofthefourteenthcentury?"

           "Willingly."

           "ThisfancifulwriterpretendsthatitsnamewasgiventoitafterthepassageoftheIsraelites,whenPharaohperishedinthewaveswhichclosedatthevoiceofMoses."

           "Apoet’sexplanation,CaptainNemo,"Ireplied;"butIcannotcontentmyselfwiththat.Iaskyouforyourpersonalopinion."

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