Chapter 5 5.Little Robert

No one was unhappy when it became known that Paganel was determined to stay.Little Robert jumped up and hugged him around the neck, and his impatience was enough to explain his mood.The venerable geographer was almost knocked over by him. "Good boy! I'm going to teach him geography." We know that Menger has taken charge of teaching little Robert a sailor, Glenarvan a man of courage, the Major a calm boy, Lady Helene a A kind and generous man, Mary will make him a student who will live up to these enthusiastic teachers. In this way, little Robert will surely become a perfect "gentleman" in the future.

The Duncan was quickly coaled, and left this dismal sea, and sailed westward, along the coast of Brazil, where on September 7 a northerly wind blew her across the equator into the southern hemisphere. The transatlantic voyage thus proceeded smoothly.Everyone has great hopes.The odds of success in this expedition to find Captain Grant seemed to increase day by day.The most confident is the captain.His confidence comes from his desire, and his desire is to make Miss Mary happy and comfort with all his heart.He was very concerned about Mary, and he tried his best to hide this feeling, but in fact, only Mary and he didn't feel it, and everyone else knew it in their hearts.

As for the learned geographer, he is perhaps the happiest man in the southern hemisphere.He was busy studying maps all day long, and the dining table in the square hall was covered with maps.Therefore, Mr. Aubinet quarreled with him every day because he could not set the table.Everyone in the cabin, however, supported Paganel, except the major, who was not too interested in geography.Also, Paganel, having found in the mate's chest a large pile of tattered books, among which were several works in Spanish, resolved to learn the Spanish language, which no one on board could speak.He believed that learning Spanish would enable him to carry out his investigation work in the Chilean coastal area smoothly.With his knack for learning languages, Hope will be fluent in the language once he arrives in Concepcion.So he read desperately, and people could hear him babbling and practicing complex language all day long.

In his spare time, he taught little Robert some practical scientific knowledge, and told him the history of the coast where the Duncan passed. On September 10, the ship was sailing at latitude 5° 73' south and longitude 31° 15' west.On this day, Sir heard a historical fact, which perhaps the learned people do not know.Paganel told everyone about the history of the discovery of America. Before he talked about the great navigators pursued by the Duncan, he first talked about Columbus. He discovered a new world.The whole audience screamed, but Paganel was sure. "Nothing could be more certain," he added, "and I don't mean to discredit Columbus, but facts are always facts. At the end of the fifteenth century, people were preoccupied with only one thing: how to find a route to Asia." How to get to the East by the way of the West. In a word, how to find a shortcut to India. This is the problem Columbus tried to solve. He made four voyages, he reached America, at Cumana , Honduras, Mosquito, Nicaragua, Veragua, Costa Rica, and Panama landed. He only thought of this coast as Japan and China. He didn’t know the existence of the new continent until his death. No name is left to this new continent as a souvenir!"

"I would like to believe you, my dear Paganel, but I cannot but be astonished to ask you, who were the navigators who later found out the discovery of Columbus?" asked the Sir. . "Those who came after Columbus: first Oheda, who sailed with Columbus, and Pinton, Vespucci, Mendoza, Bastidas, Gabriel, Saolis, Barber. These navigators sailed along the east coast of America. They explored the limits of the American coast from north to south. They were pushed forward by this current just like we are today! Do you know that, my friends? , we crossed the line of the equator where Pinton sailed at the end of the fifteenth century. We are now near eight degrees south latitude. Didn't Pinton reach the land of Brazil at eight degrees south latitude? A year later, the Portuguese Gabriel came to the port of Sejuro. Later, Vespucci pushed further south in the third expedition in 1502. In 1508, Pinton and Solis jointly sailed to explore the coasts of America. In 1514, Sao Liz found the mouth of the La Balata River, where he was eaten by the natives. The task of rounding the southern tip of America was left to Magellan. The great navigator set out in 1519 with five ships. , he went south along the coast of Patagonia, and found Port Desedo, Port of San Julian, where he anchored for a long time. Then he sailed to 52 degrees south latitude, and found 1100 Gorge, which is now known as his The Strait of Magellan named after him. On November 28, 1520, he crossed the strait and entered the Pacific Ocean. When he saw a new sea surface shining in the sun, how excited and excited he was at that time!"

"Yes, Monsieur Paganel, I should like to live in that environment," cried little Robert excitedly. "I think so too, my child. If God had allowed me to be born 300 years earlier, I would not have lost my chance!" "It would be a pity for us, sir," went on Lady Helene, "for if you were born three hundred years earlier, how could you come to the cabins of this ship and tell us this story? " "That's all right, ma'am, and someone else will tell you in my place. He'll also tell you that the West Coast expedition was the work of the Pisar brothers. These two daring adventurers were the great masters of many cities. Founders: Cusco, Quito, Lima, Santiago, Villarrica, Valparaicón, and Concepion, where the Duncan is going, are all their achievements. At that time, their brothers' discoveries and Magellan's discoveries This connection, to the great satisfaction of Old World scholars, puts America's coastlines on the map."

"Well! If it were me, I wouldn't be satisfied," said Robert. "Why?" asked Mary, staring at his discovery-loving little brother. "Yes, my boy, why are you not satisfied?" asked Sir, with a very excited smile. "Because if it were me, I'd have to see what else is south of the Strait of Magellan." "That's right, my little friend, and even I want to know whether the American continent extends all the way to the South Pole, or whether there is a sea between it and the South Pole, as Delek surmised. Well... this Delek is your countryman, sir... So, if Robert, Grant and Jacques Paganel were born in the 17th century, they must have followed Shuzen and Lemaire , because it was this geographical riddle that these two Dutch navigators wanted to unravel."

"Are they both scholars too?" asked the lady. "No, two bold businessmen who hadn't thought of the scientific significance of expedition travel. At that time there was an East India Company in Holland, which had absolute control over all trade across the Strait of Magellan. You know, that In the era, the only way from western countries to Asia was through the Strait of Magellan, so this privilege formed a real monopoly. Some businessmen wanted to fight against this monopoly, and they wanted to find another strait. One of them was named Isa C. Lemmel, a wise and educated man, paid for an expedition led by his nephew, Jacob Lemmel, and a fine sailor, originally from Horn, named Shu Zeng. These two daring navigators set out in June 1615, about a hundred years after Magellan, and they discovered the Lemmel Strait between Yandi and Staten Island. On February 16, 1616, they Bypassing the famous Cape of Horn, this Cape is called "The Cape of Storms", which should be more worthy of its name than its real brother, the Cape of Good Hope!"

"Sure! I really want to explore that place!" exclaimed Robert. "When you get there, my boy, you will in fact be infinitely happier," Paganel went on, with increasing vigor.Think about it, a navigator marks his new discoveries bit by bit on his nautical map. Is there anything happier in the world than this?Watching the land gradually appear in front of his eyes, each small island and each strait seemed to emerge from the waves!Initially, the lines drawn are blurred, broken, and disconnected!Here is a piece of isolated land, that is a small isolated port, and a little farther away is a remote bay.Then, the previously discovered land complement each other, the line and the line are connected, the dotted line on the map becomes a solid line, the harbor shows a definite bow-shaped coast, the cape is connected to the definite coastal land, and finally, a new continent , There are lakes, rivers, rivers, mountains, valleys, plains, villages, towns, cities, and the splendor and magnificence spread out on the earth.what!Friends, the discoverer of the new land is a real inventor!He is as amazing as an inventor!It's a pity that this kind of business is like a mine, and it has been exploited by others!New continents, new worlds, everything has been found, probed, discovered, we are latecomers to geography, we are useless! "

"What a useless place, my dear Paganel!" said Glenarvan. "Where are there more?" "What we do now is where we come in!" At this time, the Duncan was galloping at an incomparable speed on the channel passed by celebrities such as Weesp Hall and Magellan. On September 15, it crossed the winter solstice line, and the bow turned to the entrance of the famous Strait of Magellan.Several times the southern coast of Patagonia became visible, but only as a line, looming on the horizon.The ship went south along this coast at a distance of 6 kilometers. Even if Paganel looked at the American coast with his large telescope, he could only see a vague outline.

On September 25, the Duncan sailed to the same latitude as the Strait of Magellan.It drove in without hesitation.Generally speaking, steamers are happy to sail to the Pacific Ocean by this route.The correct length of the strait is only 700 kilometers, and there are deep waters everywhere, and ships of the largest tonnage can sail even by sailing.The bottom is flat, there are many freshwater stations, there are many inland rivers, rich in fish, the forests are full of game, and safe and convenient anchorages are everywhere.In short, this strait has many advantages, which are not found in Lemaire and Cape Horn. During the first few hours of the voyage into the Channel, that is to say, during the first 110 to 148 kilometers of the voyage, until Cape Gregory is reached, the coast is flat and sandy.Jacques Paganel had his eye on every point of the Channel.It takes 36 hours to sail in the strait, and the moving scenery on both sides of the strait is worth watching patiently under the bright sunshine of the southern hemisphere.The north bank is uninhabited, and there are a few poor Firelanders wandering on the bare rocks of Fireland to the south.Paganel did not see the Patagonians, much to his disappointment, while his companions were amused. "Patagonia wouldn't be Patagonia without Patagonians." He said. "Don't worry, my dear geographer, we'll always meet the Patagonians," said the sir. "Not yet." "Why? There are Patagonians," said Lady Helene. "I doubt it, ma'am, because I can't see them." "At least, the name Patagonia comes from the Spanish word patagon, which means big foot! Patagonians are called big feet; Is it out of imagination?" "Ah! Names are irrelevant," replied Paganel, who seemed to be deliberately obstinate to provoke controversy, "and people don't know what names these people should be called!" "No reason!" exclaimed Corinarvan, "major, do you know?" "I don't know, I'm not that interested!" Paganel went on, "the people of this place are called the Patagonians, after Magellan named them, and the Fuegoians called They are the Tilmens, the Chileans call them the Gaucahuis, the Carmen immigrants call them the Tilmens, the Aroganians call them the Wellishes, the traveler Bogenville calls them the Shoha, the Farr Kerner called them Twhirlhet! They called themselves Inaken, and Inaken is a common name for people! I ask you, how do we know so many names! And there are so many names in one nation. Name, whether this nation really exists is still a question!" "What a great argument!" said Madame. "Let's admit his argument, but I think you have to admit one fact: there should be a problem with the name of the Patagonians, and their stature is at least confirmed by everyone!" Sir said to the geographer Say. "I can never admit such a mistake," replied Paganel. "They are tall," said the sergeant. "I don't know that." "You are too much," exclaimed the sergeant, "travelers who have seen these Patagonians..." "Travelers who have seen these Patagonians with their own eyes disagree, and Magellan says his head does not reach the Patagonian's girdle!" replied the geographer. "Doesn't this prove that they are tall?!" "Yes, but Delek thinks the average Englishman is taller than the tallest Patagonian." "Ah! It's possible to compare with the English," retorted the major contemptuously, "and it's not so good to compare with the Scots!" "Gavindisch sure they are big and strong," Paganel continued. "Hawkins said they were giants. Lemer and Shu Zeng said they were 3.3 meters tall." "Isn't that all right? The words of these people can be trusted." Sir said. "Yes, but the words of Wood, Napolo, and Falconer are equally reliable, and they say that the Patagonians are of medium stature, and that famous geographer Byron La Giraud , Bogenville, Wallis, and Carter, all confirmed that the Patagonians were more than 1.6 meters tall." "So, among these conflicting claims, which one is true?" Lady Helene asked. "Is it true, ma'am?" Paganel said, "the truth should be like this: Patagonians have short legs and long upper bodies. So some people joked: Those Patagonians sit 1.8 meters tall." He is only 1.5 meters tall when standing." "Very well! My dear scholar, that is very well said!" said the sergeant. "It's even better that they don't exist, so all the contradictions are united. Now, to end this debate, friends, I will add a word of reassurance: The Strait of Magellan is very beautiful, but there is no Barbados." Tagonians are pretty enough!" At this time, the Duncan was sailing around the Brunswick Peninsula, and the scenery on both sides was very beautiful.It traveled another 130 kilometers after rounding Cape Gregory, leaving the Bend, Arizona jail beyond the starboard side.For a while, the flag of Chile and the bell tower of the church appeared among the trees.At this time, granite cliffs protruded on both sides of the strait, which looked a little scary.The foothills of many mountains are hidden in the boundless forest, and the heads are covered with snow that does not melt all the year round, reaching into the sky.In the southwest, Tayunen Peak is 2100 meters high and stands tall in the sky.Night fell, and the hours of twilight were long.The sunlight melts imperceptibly into a variety of pastel colors.The sky is full of stars.The constellations at the South Pole show the way for voyagers.In this obscurity, starlight takes the place of lighthouses on the shores of civilization.The cruise ship continued its voyage boldly without breaking anchor in the harbor along the way.Sometimes, its sail frame brushes the branches of the Antarctic beech (a deciduous tree) overlooking the waves; sometimes, its propeller beats the waves of the big river, awakening geese, ducks, gulls, and sandpipers. All kinds of birds in the swamp.Soon, many ruins of broken walls appeared, and several collapsed buildings looked extraordinarily huge in the night scene. They were all bleak remnants of an abandoned colony.The name of the colony is always a protest to the fertile coast and forests rich in game.The Duncan was now sailing ahead of Port Starvation. In this place, the Spaniard Salmondo brought 400 immigrants to live here in 1581.Here he founded the city of St. Philip.After a few years, more than half of the immigrants died. In addition to the famine, the people who survived the cold winter starved to death. In 1587 the warship Cavendish came here and found the last of the 400 wretches who had been starving to death for six years on the ruins of the 600-year-old city. The Duncan sailed along this desolate coast.At sunrise, it sails through this important gorge, with interlaced forests of zelkova, hazel, maple, etc. on both sides, with many green round ridges emerging from the forest, and many fields with lush gorse. There are hills and many pointed peaks, among which the Buckland Memorial Tower stands tall.The Duncan again passed the mouth of St. Nicholas' Bay, originally named "Frenchman's Bay" by Bogenville.In the distance, there are large groups of seals and whales playing. The whales seem to be huge, because the water jets they spout can be seen from 3 kilometers away.Finally, the boat rounded Cape Frovois, where sharp ice remains densely covered on the corner. On the other side of the strait, on the fire ground, stands the 2,000-meter-high Samindo Peak, which is a dangerous rock like a belt. The same clouds separated them, and they looked like islands in the sky.The continent of America really came to an end at Cape Frois, for Cape Horn was but a rock in the wild sea at latitude 56 degrees south. Once this point has passed, the strait narrows, with the Brunswick peninsula on one side, and the Isle of Dessoracion on the other, which is a long island surrounded on both sides by thousands of islets. Like a great whale landing on a pebble beach.How different are the ends of South America from the neat and clear tips of Africa, Oceania, and India!It is a large corner of earth extending into the Atlantic Ocean. I don’t know what kind of natural disaster smashed it into pieces. Behind this piece of fertile land is a continuous barren coast, which looks very desolate.The coast is crescent-shaped by numerous tributaries.The Duncan proceeded round and round along that arbitrarily tortuous channel without making any mistakes or hesitating, mixing clouds of thick smoke into the broken sea fog along the way.The Duncan passed in front of the Spanish trading houses on this deserted coast without slowing her speed.After Cape Tamar, the strait turned and the cruise ship had room to turn. It turned around the steep coast of the Napolo Islands, sailed close to the south bank, and finally, after 36 hours of sailing into the port, it saw the sight of Cape Pilar. A cliff rises abruptly at the very end of De Soracion Island.A rippling sea unfolds in front of the ship.Paganel was very excited, waved his hands, cheered enthusiastically, and almost lost his footing.