a journey in other worlds-第33章
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great processional march towards the equator； but it is the
result simply of winds and waves； there being no indication of
subsidence。 Along the coast of New Jersey we see denudation and
sinking going on together； the well…known SUNKEN FOREST being an
instance of the latter。 The border of the continent proper also
extends many miles under the ocean before reaching the edge of
the Atlantic basin。 Volcanic eruptions sometimes demolish parts
of headlands and islands； though these recompense us in the
amount of material brought to the surface； and in the increased
distance they enable water to penetrate by relieving the interior
of part of its heat； for any land they may destroy。〃
CHAPTER XI。
A JOVIAN NIAGARA。
Four days later； after crossing a ridge of mountains that the
pressure on the aneroid barometer showed to be about thirty…two
thousand feet high； and a stretch of flat country a few miles in
width； they came to a great arm of the sea。 It was about thirty
miles wide at its mouth； which was narrowed like the neck of a
bottle； and farther inland was over one hundred miles across； and
though their glasses； the clear air； and the planet's size
enabled them to see nearly five hundred miles； they could not
find its end。 In the shallow water along its shores； and on
the islands rising but a few feet above the waves； they saw
all kinds of amphibians and sea…monsters。 Many of these were
almost the exact reproduction in life of the giant plesiosaurs；
dinosaurs； and elasmosaurs； whose remains are preserved in the
museums on earth。 The reptilian bodies of the elasmosaurs；
seventy…five feet in length； with the forked tongues； distended
jaws and fangs of a snake； were easily taken for the often
described but probably mythical sea… serpent； as partially coiled
they occasionally raised their heads twelve or fifteen feet。
〃Man in his natural state；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃would have but small
chance of surviving long among such neighbours。 Buckland； I
think； once indulged in the jeu d'esprit of supposing an
ichthyosaur lecturing on the human skull。 'You will at once
perceive；' said the lecturer； 'that the skull before us belonged
to one of the lower order of animals。 The teeth are very
insignificant； the power of the jaws trifling； and altogether it
seems wonderful how the creature could have procured food。'
Armed with modern weapons； and in this machine； we are； of
course； superior to the most powerful monster； but it is not
likely that； had man been so surrounded during the whole of his
evolution； he could have reached his present plane。〃
Notwithstanding the striking similarity of these creatures to
their terrestrial counterparts that existed on earth during its
corresponding period； there were some interesting modifications。
The organs of locomotion in the amphibians were more developed；
while the eyes of all were larger； the former being of course
necessitated by the power of gravity； and the latter by the
greater distance from the sun。
〃The adaptability and economy of Nature；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃have
always amazed me。 In the total blackness of the Kentucky Mammoth
Cave； where eyes would be of no use to the fishes； our common
mother has given them none； while if there is any light； though
not as much as we are accustomed to； she may be depended upon to
rise to the occasion by increasing the size of the pupil and the
power of the eye。 In the development of the ambulatory muscles
we again see her handiwork； probably brought about through the
'survival of the fittest。' The fishes and those wholly immersed
need no increase in power； for； though they weigh more than they
would on earth； the weight of the water they displace is
increased at the same rate also； and their buoyancy remains
unchanged。 If the development of life here so closely follows
its lines on earth； with the exception of comparatively slight
modifications； which are exactly what； had we stopped to think；
we should have expected to find； may we not reasonably ask
whether she will not continue on these lines； and in time produce
beings like ourselves； but with more powerful muscles and eyes
capable of seeing clearly with less light？ Reasoning by analogy；
we can come to no other conclusion； unless their advent is
anticipated by the arrival of ready…made colonists from the more
advanced earth； like ourselves。 In that case man； by pursuing
the same destructive methods that he has pursued in regard to
many other species； may exterminate the intervening links； and so
arrest evolution。〃
Before leaving Deepwaters Bay they secured a pail of its water；
which they found； on examination； contained a far larger
percentage of salt and solid material than the oceans on earth；
while a thermometer that they immediately immersed in it soon
registered eighty…five degrees Fahrenheit； both of which
discoveries confirmed them in what they already knew； namely；
that Jupiter had advanced comparatively little from the condition
in which the water on the surface is hot； in which state the
earth once was。
They were soon beyond the estuary at which they had stopped to
study the forms of life and to make this test； and kept on due
north for several days； occasionally rising above the air。 As
their familiarity with their surroundings increased； they made
notes of several things。 The mountains covered far more
territory at their bases than the terrestrial mountains； and they
were in places very rugged and showed vast yawning chasms。 They
were also wooded farther up their sides； and bore but little
snow； but so far the travellers had not found them much higher
than those on earth； the greatest altitude being the thirty…two
thousand feet south of Deepwaters Bay； and one other ridge that
was forty thousand； so that； compared with the size of the planet
and its continents； they seemed quite small； and the continents
themselves were comparatively level。 They also noted that spray
was blown in vast sheets； till the ocean for miles was white as
milk。 The wind often attained tornado strength； and the whole
surface of the water； about what seemed to be the storm centre；
frequently moved with rapidity in the form of foam。 Yet；
notwithstanding this； the waves were never as large as those to
which they were accustomed on earth。 This they accounted for
very easily by the fact that； while water weighed 2。55 times as
much as on earth； the pressure of air was but little more than
half as much again； and consequently its effect on all but the
very surface of the heavy liquid was comparatively slight。
〃Gravity is a useful factor here；〃 observed Cortlandt； as they
made a note of this； 〃for； in addition to giving immunity from
waves； it is most effective in checking the elevation of high
mountains or table…lands in the high latitudes； which we shall
doubtless find sufficiently cool； or even cold； while in tropical
regions； which might otherwise be too hot； it interferes with
them least； on account of being partly neutralized by the rapid
rotation with which all four of the major planets are blessed。〃
At sunrise the following morning they saw they were approaching
another great arm of the sea。 It was over a thousand miles wide
at its mouth； and； had not the photographs showed the contrary；
they would have thought the Callisto had reached the northern end
of the continent。 It extended into the land fifteen thousand
miles； and； on account of the shape of its mouth； they called it
Funnel Bay。 Rising to a height； they flew across； and came to a
great table…land peninsula； with a chain of mountains on either
side。 The southern range was something over； and the northern
something less than； five thousand feet in height； while the
table…land between sloped almost imperceptibly towards the
middle； in which； as they expected； they found a river compared
to which the Mississippi or the Amazon would be but a brook。 In
honour of the President of the Terrestrial Axis Straightening
Company； they called this great projection； which averaged about
four thousand miles across by twelve thousand miles lon
