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Chapter 17. From Cape Horn to the Amazon

           TheNautiluspassedbeyondthelargeestuaryformedbytheUraguay.Itsdirectionwasnorthwards,andfollowedthelongwindingsofthecoastofSouthAmerica.Wehadthenmade1,600milessinceourembarkationintheseasofJapan.Abouteleveno’clockinthemorningtheTropicofCapricornwascrossedonthethirty-seventhmeridian,andwepassedCapeFriostandingouttosea.CaptainNemo,toNedLand’sgreatdispleasure,didnotliketheneighbourhoodoftheinhabitedcoastsofBrazil,forwewentatagiddyspeed.Notafish,notabirdoftheswiftestkindcouldfollowus,andthenaturalcuriositiesoftheseseasescapedallobservation.

           Thisspeedwaskeptupforseveraldays,andintheeveningofthe9thofAprilwesightedthemostwesterlypointofSouthAmericathatformsCapeSanRoque.ButthentheNautilusswervedagain,andsoughtthelowestdepthofasubmarinevalleywhichisbetweenthisCapeandSierraLeoneontheAfricancoast.ThisvalleybifurcatestotheparalleloftheAntilles,andterminatesatthemouthbytheenormousdepressionof9,000yards.Inthisplace,thegeologicalbasinoftheoceanforms,asfarastheLesserAntilles,aclifftothreeandahalfmilesperpendicularinheight,and,attheparalleloftheCapeVerdeIslands,anotherwallnotlessconsiderable,thatenclosesthusallthesunkcontinentoftheAtlantic.Thebottomofthisimmensevalleyisdottedwithsomemountains,thatgivetothesesubmarineplacesapicturesqueaspect.Ispeak,moreover,fromthemanuscriptchartsthatwereinthelibraryoftheNautiluschartsevidentlyduetoCaptainNemo’shand,andmadeafterhispersonalobservations.Fortwodaysthedesertanddeepwaterswerevisitedbymeansoftheinclinedplanes.TheNautiluswasfurnishedwithlongdiagonalbroadsideswhichcarriedittoallelevations.

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