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<h2> CHAPTER 25 </h2>
<p>WE now found ourselves in the wide and desolate Antarctic Ocean, in a
latitude exceeding eighty-four degrees, in a frail canoe, and with no
provision but the three turtles. The long polar winter, too, could not be
considered as far distant, and it became necessary that we should
deliberate well upon the course to be pursued. There were six or seven
islands in sight belonging to the same group, and distant from each other
about five or six leagues; but upon neither of these had we any intention
to venture. In coming from the northward in the <i>Jane Guy</i> we had
been gradually leaving behind us the severest regions of ice-this, however
little it maybe in accordance with the generally received notions
respecting the Antarctic, was a fact—experience would not permit us
to deny. To attempt, therefore, getting back would be folly—especially
at so late a period of the season. Only one course seemed to be left open
for hope. We resolved to steer boldly to the southward, where there was at
least a probability of discovering other lands, and more than a
probability of finding a still milder climate.</p>
<p>So far we had found the Antarctic, like the Arctic Ocean, peculiarly free
from violent storms or immoderately rough water; but our canoe was, at
best, of frail structure, although large, and we set busily to work with a
view of rendering her as safe as the limited means in our possession would
admit. The body of the boat was of no better material than bark—the
bark of a tree unknown. The ribs were of a tough osier, well adapted to
the purpose for which it was used. We had fifty feet room from stem to
stern, from four to six in breadth, and in depth throughout four feet and
a half-the boats thus differing vastly in shape from those of any other
inhabitants of the Southern Ocean with whom civilized nations are
acquainted. We never did believe them the workmanship of the ignorant
islanders who owned them; and some days after this period discovered, by
questioning our captive, that they were in fact made by the natives of a
group to the southwest of the country where we found them, having fallen
accidentally into the hands of our barbarians. What we could do for the
security of our boat was very little indeed. Several wide rents were
discovered near both ends, and these we contrived to patch up with pieces
of woollen jacket. With the help of the superfluous paddles, of which
there were a great many, we erected a kind of framework about the bow, so
as to break the force of any seas which might threaten to fill us in that
quarter. We also set up two paddle-blades for masts, placing them opposite
each other, one by each gunwale, thus saving the necessity of a yard. To
these masts we attached a sail made of our shirts-doing this with some
difficulty, as here we could get no assistance from our prisoner whatever,
although he bad been willing enough to labor in all the other operations.
The sight of the linen seemed to affect him in a very singular manner. He
could not be prevailed upon to touch it or go near it, shuddering when we
attempted to force him, and shrieking out, <i>"Tekeli-li!"</i></p>
<p>Having completed our arrangements in regard to the security of the canoe,
we now set sail to the south-southeast for the present, with the view of
weathering the most southerly of the group in sight. This being done, we
turned the bow full to the southward. The weather could by no means be
considered disagreeable. We had a prevailing and very gentle wind from the
northward, a smooth sea, and continual daylight. No ice whatever was to be
seen; <i>nor did I ever see one particle of this after leaving the
parallel of Bennet's Islet. </i>Indeed, the temperature of the water was
here far too warm for its existence in any quantity. Having killed the
largest of our tortoises, and obtained from him not only food but a
copious supply of water, we continued on our course, without any incident
of moment, for perhaps seven or eight days, during which period we must
have proceeded a vast distance to the southward, as the wind blew
constantly with us, and a very strong current set continually in the
direction we were pursuing.</p>
<p><i>March 1st</i>. {*7}-Many unusual phenomena now—indicated that we
were entering upon a region of novelty and wonder. A high range of light
gray vapor appeared constantly in the southern horizon, flaring up
occasionally in lofty streaks, now darting from east to west, now from
west to east, and again presenting a level and uniform summit-in short,
having all the wild variations of the Aurora Borealis. The average height
of this vapor, as apparent from our station, was about twenty-five
degrees. The temperature of the sea seemed to be increasing momentarily,
and there was a very perceptible alteration in its color.</p>
<p><i>March 2d.</i>-To-day by repeated questioning of our captive, we came to
the knowledge of many particulars in regard to the island of the massacre,
its inhabitants, and customs-but with these how can I now detain the
reader? I may say, however, that we learned there were eight islands in
the group-that they were governed by a common king, named <i>Tsalemon </i>or
<i>Psalemoun, </i>who resided in one of the smallest of the islands; that
the black skins forming the dress of the warriors came from an animal of
huge size to be found only in a valley near the court of the king-that the
inhabitants of the group fabricated no other boats than the flat-bottomed
rafts; the four canoes being all of the kind in their possession, and,
these having been obtained, by mere accident, from some large island in
the southwest-that his own name was Nu-Nu-that he had no knowledge of
Bennet's Islet-and that the appellation of the island he had left was
Tsalal. The commencement of the words <i>Tsalemon </i>and Tsalal was given
with a prolonged hissing sound, which 'we found it impossible to imitate,
even after repeated endeavors, and which was precisely the same with the
note of the black bittern we had eaten up on the summit of the hill.</p>
<p><i>March 3d.</i>-The heat of the water was now truly remarkable, and in
color was undergoing a rapid change, being no longer transparent, but of a
milky consistency and hue. In our immediate vicinity it was usually
smooth, never so rough as to endanger the canoe-but we were frequently
surprised at perceiving, to our right and left, at different distances,
sudden and extensive agitations of the surface; these, we at length
noticed, were always preceded by wild flickerings in the region of vapor
to the southward.</p>
<p><i>March 4th.</i>-To-day, with the view of widening our sail, the breeze
from the northward dying away perceptibly, I took from my coat-pocket a
white handkerchief. Nu-Nu was seated at my elbow, and the linen
accidentally flaring in his face, he became violently affected with
convulsions. These were succeeded by drowsiness and stupor, and low
murmurings of <i>"'Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li!"</i></p>
<p><i>March </i>5th.-The wind had entirely ceased, but it was evident that we
were still hurrying on to the southward, under the influence of a powerful
current. And now,—indeed, it would seem reasonable that we should
experience some alarm at the turn events were taking-but we felt none. The
countenance of Peters indicated nothing of this nature, although it wore
at times an expression I could not fathom. The polar winter appeared to be
coming on—but coming without its terrors. I felt a numbness of body
and mind—a dreaminess of sensation but this was all.</p>
<p><i>March 6th.</i>-The gray vapor had now arisen many more degrees above
the horizon, and was gradually losing its grayness of tint. The heat of
the water was extreme, even unpleasant to the touch, and its milky hue was
more evident than ever. Today a violent agitation of the water occurred
very close to the canoe. It was attended, as usual, with a wild flaring up
of the vapor at its summit, and a momentary division at its base. A fine
white powder, resembling ashes-but certainly not such-fell over the canoe
and over a large surface of the water, as the flickering died away among
the vapor and the commotion subsided in the sea. Nu-Nu now threw himself
on his face in the bottom of the boat, and no persuasions could induce him
to arise.</p>
<p><i>March 7th.</i>-This day we questioned Nu-Nu concerning the motives of
his countrymen in destroying our companions; but he appeared to be too
utterly overcome by terror to afford us any rational reply. He still
obstinately lay in the bottom of the boat; and, upon reiterating the
questions as to the motive, made use only of idiotic gesticulations, such
as raising with his forefinger the upper lip, and displaying the teeth
which lay beneath it. These were black. We had never before seen the teeth
of an inhabitant of Tsalal.</p>
<p><i>March 8th.</i>-To-day there floated by us one of the white animals
whose appearance upon the beach at Tsalal had occasioned so wild a
commotion among the savages. I would have picked it up, but there came
over me a sudden listlessness, and I forbore. The heat of the water still
increased, and the hand could no longer be endured within it. Peters spoke
little, and I knew not what to think of his apathy. Nu-Nu breathed, and no
more.</p>
<p><i>March 9th.</i>-The whole ashy material fell now continually around us,
and in vast quantities. The range of vapor to the southward had arisen
prodigiously in the horizon, and began to assume more distinctness of
form. I can liken it to nothing but a limitless cataract, rolling silently
into the sea from some immense and far-distant rampart in the heaven. The
gigantic curtain ranged along the whole extent of the southern horizon. It
emitted no sound.</p>
<p><i>March 21st.</i>-A sullen darkness now hovered above us-but from out the
milky depths of the ocean a luminous glare arose, and stole up along the
bulwarks of the boat. We were nearly overwhelmed by the white ashy shower
which settled upon us and upon the canoe, but melted into the water as it
fell. The summit of the cataract was utterly lost in the dimness and the
distance. Yet we were evidently approaching it with a hideous velocity. At
intervals there were visible in it wide, yawning, but momentary rents, and
from out these rents, within which was a chaos of flitting and indistinct
images, there came rushing and mighty, but soundless winds, tearing up the
enkindled ocean in their course.</p>
<p><i>March 22d.</i>-The darkness had materially increased, relieved only by
the glare of the water thrown back from the white curtain before us. Many
gigantic and pallidly white birds flew continuously now from beyond the
veil, and their scream was the eternal <i>Tekeli-li! </i>as they retreated
from our vision. Hereupon Nu-Nu stirred in the bottom of the boat; but
upon touching him we found his spirit departed. And now we rushed into the
embraces of the cataract, where a chasm threw itself open to receive us.
But there arose in our pathway a shrouded human figure, very far larger in
its proportions than any dweller among men. And the hue of the skin of the
figure was of the perfect whiteness of the snow.</p>
<p>NOTE</p>
<p>THE circumstances connected with the late sudden and distressing death of
Mr. Pym are already well known to the public through the medium of the
daily press. It is feared that the few remaining chapters which were to
have completed his narrative, and which were retained by him, while the
above were in type, for the purpose of revision, have been irrecoverably
lost through the accident by which he perished himself. This, however, may
prove not to be the case, and the papers, if ultimately found, will be
given to the public.</p>
<p>No means have been left untried to remedy the deficiency. The gentleman
whose name is mentioned in the preface, and who, from the statement there
made, might be supposed able to fill the vacuum, has declined the
task-this, for satisfactory reasons connected with the general inaccuracy
of the details afforded him, and his disbelief in the entire truth of the
latter portions of the narration. Peters, from whom some information might
be expected, is still alive, and a resident of Illinois, but cannot be met
with at present. He may hereafter be found, and will, no doubt, afford
material for a conclusion of Mr. Pym's account.</p>
<p>The loss of two or three final chapters (for there were but two or three)
is the more deeply to be regretted, as it can not be doubted they
contained matter relative to the Pole itself, or at least to regions in
its very near proximity; and as, too, the statements of the author in
relation to these regions may shortly be verified or contradicted by means
of the governmental expedition now preparing for the Southern Ocean.</p>
<p>On one point in the narrative some remarks may well be offered; and it
would afford the writer of this appendix much pleasure if what he may here
observe should have a tendency to throw credit, in any degree, upon the
very singular pages now published. We allude to the chasms found in the
island of Tsalal, and to the whole of the figures upon pages 245-47 {of
the printed edition—ed.}.</p>
<p>(Note: No figures were included with this text)</p>
<p>Mr. Pym has given the figures of the chasms without comment, and speaks
decidedly of the <i>indentures </i>found at the extremity of the most
easterly of these chasms as having but a fanciful resemblance to
alphabetical characters, and, in short, as being positively <i>not such.
</i>This assertion is made in a manner so simple, and sustained by a
species of demonstration so conclusive (viz., the fitting of the
projections of the fragments found among the dust into the indentures upon
the wall), that we are forced to believe the writer in earnest; and no
reasonable reader should suppose otherwise. But as the facts in relation
to all the figures are most singular (especially when taken in connection
with statements made in the body of the narrative), it may be as well to
say a word or two concerning them all-this, too, the more especially as
the facts in question have, beyond doubt, escaped the attention of Mr.
Poe.</p>
<p>Figure 1, then, figure 2, figure 3, and figure 5, when conjoined with one
another in the precise order which the chasms themselves presented, and
when deprived of the small lateral branches or arches (which, it will be
remembered, served only as a means of communication between the main
chambers, and were of totally distinct character), constitute an Ethiopian
verbal root-the root "To be shady,'—whence all the inflections of
shadow or darkness.</p>
<p>In regard to the "left or most northwardly" of the indentures in figure 4,
it is more than probable that the opinion of Peters was correct, and that
the hieroglyphical appearance was really the work of art, and intended as
the representation of a human form. The delineation is before the reader,
and he may, or may not, perceive the resemblance suggested; but the rest
of the indentures afford strong confirmation of Peters' idea. The upper
range is evidently the Arabic verbal root "To be white," whence all the
inflections of brilliancy and whiteness. The lower range is not so
immediately perspicuous. The characters are somewhat broken and
disjointed; nevertheless, it can not be doubted that, in their perfect
state, they formed the full Egyptian word. "The region of the south.' It
should be observed that these interpretations confirm the opinion of
Peters in regard to the "most northwardly" of the figures. The arm is
outstretched toward the south.</p>
<p>Conclusions such as these open a wide field for speculation and exciting
conjecture. They should be regarded, perhaps, in connection with some of
the most faintly detailed incidents of the narrative; although in no
visible manner is this chain of connection complete. Tekeli-li! was the
cry of the affrighted natives of Tsalal upon discovering the carcase of
the <i>white </i>animal picked up at sea. This also was the shuddering
exclamatives of Tsalal upon discovering the carcass of the <i>white </i>materials
in possession of Mr. Pym. This also was the shriek of the swift-flying, <i>white,
</i>and gigantic birds which issued from the vapory <i>white </i>curtain
of the South. Nothing <i>white </i>was to be found at Tsalal, and nothing
otherwise in the subsequent voyage to the region beyond. It is not
impossible that "Tsalal," the appellation of the island of the chasms, may
be found, upon minute philological scrutiny, to betray either some
alliance with the chasms themselves, or some reference to the Ethiopian
characters so mysteriously written in their windings.</p>
<p><i>"I have graven it within the hills, and my vengeance upon the dust
within the rock."</i></p>
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<h2> Notes </h2>
<p>{*1} Whaling vessels are usually fitted with iron oil-tanks—why the
<i>Grampus</i> was not I have never been able to ascertain.</p>
<p>{*2} The case of the brig <i>Polly</i>, of Boston, is one so much in
point, and her fate, in many respects, so remarkably similar to our own,
that I cannot forbear alluding to it here. This vessel, of one hundred and
thirty tons burden, sailed from Boston, with a cargo of lumber and
provisions, for Santa Croix, on the twelfth of December, 1811, under the
command of Captain Casneau. There were eight souls on board besides the
captain—the mate, four seamen, and the cook, together with a Mr.
Hunt, and a negro girl belonging to him. On the fifteenth, having cleared
the shoal of Georges, she sprung a leak in a gale of wind from the
southeast, and was finally capsized; but, the masts going by the board,
she afterward righted. They remained in this situation, without fire, and
with very little provision, for the period of one hundred and ninety-one
days (from December the fifteenth to June the twentieth), when Captain
Casneau and Samuel Badger, the only survivors, were taken off the wreck by
the Fame, of Hull, Captain Featherstone, bound home from Rio Janeiro. When
picked up, they were in latitude 28 degrees N., longitude 13 degrees W.,
having drifted above two thousand miles! On the ninth of July the Fame
fell in with the brig Dromero, Captain Perkins, who landed the two
sufferers in Kennebeck. The narrative from which we gather these details
ends in the following words:</p>
<p>"It is natural to inquire how they could float such a vast distance, upon
the most frequented part of the Atlantic, and not be discovered all this
time. They were passed by more than a dozen sail, one of which came so
nigh them that they could distinctly see the people on deck and on the
rigging looking at them; but, to the inexpressible disappointment of the
starving and freezing men, they stifled the dictates of compassion,
hoisted sail, and cruelly abandoned them to their fate."</p>
<p>{*3} Among the vessels which at various times have professed to meet with
the Auroras may be mentioned the ship San Miguel, in 1769; the ship
Aurora, in 1774; the brig Pearl, in 1779; and the ship Dolores, in 1790.
They all agree in giving the mean latitude fifty-three degrees south.</p>
<p>{*4} The terms morning and evening, which I have made use of to avoid
confusion in my narrative, as far as possible, must not, of course, be
taken in their ordinary sense. For a long time past we had had no night at
all, the daylight being continual. The dates throughout are according to
nautical time, and the bearing must be understood as per compass. I would
also remark, in this place, that I cannot, in the first portion of what is
here written, pretend to strict accuracy in respect to dates, or latitudes
and longitudes, having kept no regular journal until after the period of
which this first portion treats. In many instances I have relied
altogether upon memory.</p>
<p>{*5} This day was rendered remarkable by our observing in the south
several huge wreaths of the grayish vapour I have spoken of.</p>
<p>{*6} The marl was also black; indeed, we noticed no light colored
substances of any kind upon the island.</p>
<p>{*7}For obvious reasons I cannot pretend to strict accuracy in these
dates. They are given principally with a view to perspicity of narrative,
and as set down in my pencil memorandum..</p>
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