Chapter 2. A New Proposition from Captain Nemo

           Onthe28thofFebruary,whenatnoontheNautiluscametothesurfaceofthesea,in9°4’N.lat.,therewaslandinsightabouteightmilestowestward.ThefirstthingInoticedwasarangeofmountainsabouttwothousandfeethigh,theshapesofwhichweremostcapricious.Ontakingthebearings,IknewthatwewerenearingtheislandofCeylon,thepearlwhichhangsfromthelobeoftheIndianPeninsula.

           CaptainNemoandhissecondappearedatthismoment.TheCaptainglancedatthemap.Thenturningtome,said:

           "TheIslandofCeylon,notedforitspearl-fisheries.Wouldyouliketovisitoneofthem,M.Aronnax?"

           "Certainly,Captain."

           "Well,thethingiseasy.Though,ifweseethefisheries,weshallnotseethefishermen.Theannualexportationhasnotyetbegun.Nevermind,IwillgiveorderstomakefortheGulfofManaar,whereweshallarriveinthenight."

           TheCaptainsaidsomethingtohissecond,whoimmediatelywentout.SoontheNautilusreturnedtohernativeelement,andthemanometershowedthatshewasaboutthirtyfeetdeep.

           "Well,sir,"saidCaptainNemo,"youandyourcompanionsshallvisittheBankofManaar,andifbychancesomefishermanshouldbethere,weshallseehimatwork."

           "Agreed,Captain!"