Music Welcome to snoozecast, the podcast is on to help you fall asleep. Find us at snoozecast.com and if you enjoy our show, please share us with a friend. This episode is brought to you by Bay Glimmerings. Tonight, we'll read the next part to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jewel's Vern. In the last episode, Nimo proposes an expedition to the Salon Pearl Fisheries. Aronax explains pearls to netland, including their value, shape, size, types, and a method of harvesting. The group reached the vast oyster beds and followed Nemo to a deep grotto where he shows them an enormous oyster. Nemo opens the oyster's shells to reveal a pearl the size of a coconut. When Aaron Axe reaches to touch it, Nemo stops him, revealing his intention to allow the giant pearl to continue to grow. They also spot a free diver attached to canoe, but the diver does not see them as he steals oysters in hopes of finding pearls as well. Let's get cozy. Close your eyes. Relax your body into the softness of your bed. Now, take a few deep breaths. Therefore, the Red Sea.

In the course of the day of the 29th of January, the island of Salon disappeared under their horizon, and the notalless at a speed of 20 miles an hour slid into the labyrinth of canals which separate the Maldives from the Lockadevs.

It coasted even the island of Kiltan, a land originally Coraline discovered by Vasco de Gama in 1499. And one of the 19 principal islands situated between 10 degrees and 14 cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold 16,220 miles or 7,500 French leagues from our starting point in the Japanese seas. The next day, 30th of January, when the Nautilus went to the surface of the ocean, there was no land in sight. Its course was north-north-east, in the direction of the sea of Oman, between Arabia and the Indian Peninsula, which serves as an outlet to the Persian Gulf. It was evidently a block without any possible egress. Where was Captain Nemo taking us to? I could not say. This, however, did not satisfy the Canadian, who that day came to me asking where we were going? We are going where our captains fancy takes us, Master Ned. His fancy cannot take us far then," said the Canadian. The Persian Gulf has no outlet. And if we do go in, it will not be long before we are out again. Very well then, we will come out again, Masterland, and if, after the Persian Gulf, the Nautilus would like to visit the Red Sea, the Straits will give us entrance. I need not tell you, sir, said that land, that the Red Sea is as much closed as the Gulf, as the ismeth of Suez is not yet cut, and if it was, a boat as mysterious as ours would not risk itself in a canal cut with sluices. And again, the Red sea is not the road to take us back to Europe.

But I never said we were going back to Europe. What do you suppose then? I suppose that after visiting the curious coasts of Arabia and Egypt, the Nautilus will go down the Indian Ocean again and perhaps across the Channel of Mozambique.

So as to gain the Cape of Good Hope, and once at the Cape of Good Hope, ask the Canadian with emphasis, well, we shall penetrate into that Atlantic, which we do not yet know, huh, friend Ned. You are getting tired of this journey under the sea. You are surfated with the incessantly varying spectacle of submarine wonders. For my part, I shall be sorry to see the end of a voyage which it is given to so few men to make. For four days, till the third of February, the Nautilus scoured the sea of Oman, at various speeds and at various depths, it seemed to go at random, as if hesitating as to which road it should follow, but we never passed the tropic of cancer. In quitting this sea we sighted Musket for an instant, one of the most important towns of the country of Oman. I admired its strange aspect, surrounded by black rocks upon which its white houses and forts stood in relief. I saw the rounded domes of its mosques, the elegant points of its minarets, its fresh and veridant terraces. But it was only a vision. The Nautilus soon sank under the waves of that part of the sea. We passed along the Arabian coast of Mara and Hadramat for a distance of six miles. Its undulating line of mountains being occasionally relieved by some ancient ruin. The fifth of February, we at last entered the Gulf of Aden, a perfect funnel introduced into the neck of Babel Mandep through which the Indian waters entered the Red Sea. The 6th of February, the Nautilus floated inside of Aden, perched upon a promontory which Nero-Ismeth joins to the mainland, a kind of inaccessible Gibraltar. The fortifications of which were rebuilt by the English after taking possession in 1839.

I caught a glimpse of the octagon minarets of this town,

which was at one time the richest commercial magazine on the coast.

I certainly thought that Captain Nemo arrived at this point, would back out again, but I was mistaken, for he did no such thing much to my surprise. The next day, the 7th of February, we entered the straits of Babel Mandeb, the name of which in the Arab tongue means the Gate of Tears. To twenty miles in breadth, it is only thirty-two in length, and for the Nautilus, starting at full speed, the crossing was scarcely the work of an hour. But I saw nothing, not even the island of Parim, with which the British government has fortified. There were too many English or French steamers of the line of Suez de Bombay, Calcutta, to Melbourne, furrowing this narrow passage for the non-list of ensure to show itself, so it remained prudently below. At last about noon, we were in the waters of the Red Sea. I would not even seek to understand the Caprice, which had decided Captain Nemo upon entering the Gulf, but I quite approved of the Nautilus entering it. Its speed was lessened, sometimes it kept on the surface, sometimes it dived to avoid a vessel, and thus I was able to observe the upper and lower parts of this curious sea. The 8th of February, from the first dawn of day, Moka came in sight. Now a ruined town, yet which shelters here and there, some verdant date trees, once an important city containing six public markets and 26 mosques, and whose walls defended by 14 forts,

formed a girdle of two miles in circumference. The Nautilus then approached the African shore, where the depth of the sea was greater. There, between two waters clear as crystal. Through the open panels, we were allowed to contemplate the beautiful bushes of brilliant coral and large blocks of rock with a splendid fur of green variety of sights and landscapes along these sandbanks and algae. What an indescribable spectacle and what variety of sights and landscapes along these sandbanks and of Arcanic volcanic islands which bound the Libyan coast. But where these shrubs appeared in all their beauty was on the eastern coast, which the the Nautilus soon gained.

It was on the coast of Teyama. For they're not only did this display of zoolophytes flourish beneath the level of the sea, but they also formed picturesque interlacings which unfolded themselves about 60 feet above the surface. More capricious, but less highly colored than those whose freshness was kept up by the vital power of the waters. charming hours I passed thus at the window of the saloon. What new specimens of submarine, flora and fauna did I admire under the brightness of our electric lantern? 9th of February, the Nautilus floated in the broadest part of the Red Sea, which is comprised between Suicain on the west coast and Comfida on the east coast with a diameter of 90 miles. day day at noon, after the bearings were taken, Captain Nemo mounted the platform where I happened to be, and I was determined not to let him go down again without at least pressing him regarding his ulterior projects. As soon as he saw me, he approached and graciously offered me a cigar. Well sir, does this red sea please you? Have you sufficiently observed the wonders it covers? Its fishes, its suites, its sponges, its forests of coral, did you catch a glimpse of the towns on its borders? Yes, Captain Nemo, I replied, and the Nautilus is wonderfully fitted for such a study. Huh, it is an intelligent boat. Yes, sir, intelligent and invulnerable. It fears neither the terrible tempests of the Red Sea, nor its currents, nor's sandbanks. Certainly, said I, the sea is quoted as one of the worst, and in the time of the ancients, if I am not mistaken, its reputation was detestable. Detestable Messier Aeronax, the Greek and Latin historians do not speak favorably of it, and Strabo says it is very dangerous during the winds and in the rainy season. Their Arabian adrissi portrays it under the name of the Gulf of Khzum, and relates that vessels perish there in great numbers on the sandbanks, and that no one would risk sailing in the night. It is, he pretends, a sea subject to fearful hurricanes, strewn with inhospitable islands, and which offers nothing good either on its surface or in its depths. One may see, I replied, that these historians never sailed on board the Nautilus. So, replied the captain smiling, and in that respect, moderns are not more advanced than the ancients. It required many ages to find out the mechanical power of steam. Who knows if, in another hundred years, we may not see a second non-alice? Progress is slow, measure Aeronax. It is true, I answered. Your boat is at least a century before its time. Perhaps an era. What a misfortune that the secret of such an invention should die with its inventor. Captain Nemo did not reply. After some minutes, he continued. You were speaking of the opinions of ancient historians upon the dangerous navigation of the Red Sea. It is true, said I, but we're not there fear is exaggerated. Yes and no, measure Aeronax, replied Captain Nemo, who seemed to know the Red Sea by heart. That which is no longer dangerous for a modern vessel, well rigged, strongly built, and master of its own course, thanks to obedient steam, offered all sorts of perils to the ships of the ancients.

Picture to yourself those first navigators venturing in ships made of planks sewn with the cords of the palm tree, saturated with the grease of the sea-dog, and covered with powdered resin. They had not even instruments wherewith to take their bearings.

And they went by...

GAMES and covered with powdered resin. They had not even instruments wherewith to take their bearings, and they went by guess amongst currents of which they scarcely knew anything. Under such conditions shipwrecks wore and must have been numerous. But in our time, steamers running between Suez and the South Seas have nothing more to fear from the fury of this gulf in spite of contrary trade winds. The captain and passengers do not prepare for their departure by offering proprietary sacrifices. And on their return, they no longer go ornamented with wreaths and guiltfulays to thank the gods in the neighboring temple. I agree with you, said I, and steam seems to have killed all gratitude in the hearts of

sailors, but Captain, since you seem to have especially studied this sea, can you tell me the origin of its name? There exists several explanations on the subject, Missouri Aernax. Would you like to know the opinion of a chronicler of the 14th century? Willingly, this fancful writer pretends that its name was given to it after the passage of the Israelites when Pharaoh perished in the waves which closed at the voice of Moses. A poet's explanation kept in Nemo, I replied, but I cannot content myself with that. I ask for your personal opinion. Here it is, Messier Aeronax. According to my idea, we must see in this appellation of the Red Sea, a translation of the Hebrew word, Edom. And if the ancients gave it that name, it was on account of the particular color of its waters. But up to this time I have seen nothing but transparent waves and without any particular color. Very likely, but as we advance to the bottom of the Gulf, you will see this singular appearance. I remember seeing the Bay of Tour entirely red. And you attribute this color to the presence of a microscopic seaweed? Yes. So, Captain Nemo, it is not the first time you have overrun the Red Sea on board the Nautilus. No, sir. As you spoke a while ago of the passage of the Israelites and of the catastrophe to the Egyptians, I will ask whether you have met with the traces under the water of this great historical fact. No, sir. And for a good reason. What is it? It is that the spot where Moses and his people passed is now so blocked up with sand that the camels can barely bathe their legs there. You can well understand that there would not be water enough for my notteles. And the spot, I asked. The spot is situated a little above the ismeth of Suez in the arm which formerly made a deep estuary when the red sea extended to the salt lakes. Now, whether this passage were miraculous or not, the Israelites nevertheless, cross there

to reach the promised land, and Pharaoh's army perished precisely on that spot. And I think

that excavations made in the middle of the sand would bring to light a large number of arms and instruments of Egyptian origin. That is evident, I replied, and for the sake of archaeologists, let us hope that these excavations will be made sooner or later, when new towns are established on the Ismas, after the construction of the Suez Canal. Now, Canal, however, very useless to a vessel like the Nautilus. Very likely, but useful to the whole world, said Gapennimo. The ancients well understood the utility of a communication between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean for their commercial affairs. But they did not think of Diggand Canal direct and took the Nile as an intermediate. Probably the canal which united the Nile to the red sea was begun by Cestros if we may believe tradition. One thing is certain that in the year 615 before Jesus Christ, Niko's undertook the works of a canal to the waters of the Nile across the plain of Egypt, looking towards Arabia. It took four days to go up this canal, and it was so wide that two treremes could go abreast. It was carried on by Darius, and probably finished by Ptolemy II. Strabo saw it navigated, but it's declined from the point of departure. Near Bubostas, to the Red Sea, was so slight that it was only navigable for a few months in the year. This canal answered all commercial purposes to the age of Antonius when it was abandoned and blocked up with sand. Restored by the order of the Caliph Omar, it was definitely destroyed in 761 or 762 by Al Mansor who wished to prevent the arrival of provisions to Muhammad bin Abdullah who had revolted against him. During the expedition into Egypt, your general Bonaparte discovered traces of the works in the desert of Suez, and, surprised by the tide, he nearly perished at the very place where Moses had encamped 3,000 years before him. Well, Captain, what the ancients dared not undertake, this junction between the two seas, which will shorten the road from Catas to India, Mesier Lesseps has succeeded in doing, and before long he will have changed Africa into an immense island.

Yes, Missyre Aeronax, you have the right to be proud of your countrymen.

Such a man brings more honor to a nation than great captains.

He began, like so many others, with disgust and rebuffs. But he has triumphed, for he has the genius of will. And it is sad to think that a work like that, which ought to have been an international work, and which would have suffice to make a rain illustrious, should have succeeded by the energy of one man, all honored to him. Yes, honor to the great citizen, I replied, surprised by the manner in which Captain Nemo had just spoken. Unfortunately, he continued, and cannot take you through the Suez Canal, but you will be able to see the long jetty of Port Said after tomorrow when we shall be in the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean? I exclaimed. Yes, sir. Does that astonish you? What astonishes me is to think that we shall be there the day after tomorrow. Indeed, yes, Captain. Although by this time I ought to have accustomed myself to be surprised at nothing since I have been on board your boat. But the cause of this surprise? Well, it is the fearful speed you will have to put on the non-aless if the day after tomorrow she is to be in the Mediterranean, having made

the round of Africa and doubled the Cape of Good Hope. Who told you that she would make the round of Africa and doubled the Cape of Good Hope, sir? Well, unless the Nautilus sails on dry land, and passes above the isthmus, or beneath that mesmerion acts.

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