Part 12

Even the sick Arab turned his dim eyes thither, and his feeble lips uttered a faint cry of joy. The sight so revived him that he was able, lying on a camel’s back, to go with the others to this oasis.

But, alas! the nearer they drew to the palm grove the more distant it appeared; and, at last, they lost sight of it altogether.

Then the travelers knew it to have been a _mirage_, and they looked at each other in despair. But Calvert encouraged them. A mirage, he said, was a picture of some object painted in the air by the refraction of the sun’s rays through a peculiar atmosphere. It was a deceptive appearance, but it was caused by a real thing. In order to produce the picture of an oasis in the sky the oasis itself must be _somewhere_. True, it might be at a long distance from them; but he thought it more probable that it was quite near. And he indicated in what direction it was likely they would find it.

Calvert spoke so earnestly that the courage of the party revived. They immediately started off again under his direction. And, after seven hours’ march, they did come upon a real oasis. Whether it was the one they had seen pictured in the air they did not know, but this was no matter. It was smaller than the picture, but images of things are often distorted.

The sick Arab recovered after a couple of days’ rest, and the caravan renewed its march, men and beasts strengthened and refreshed. They took with them a liberal supply of water.

At this oasis they also found guides, who conducted them into the regular caravan route; and they all arrived safely at Damascus.

CORAL.

Coral had been used many hundreds of years before men found out what it was. The savages used to fashion it into ornaments for their knife and axe handles; and, when men were more civilized, and had learned to work in iron, and to make armor, they liked to adorn their shields and helmets with coral. Women made of this beautiful red substance, necklaces for the neck, bracelets for the arms, and ornaments for the hair. But it is not likely that any of these savages or partially civilized people made any attempt to find out what kind of substance this coral was. They gathered it near the surface of the sea, and never stopped to think how it got there.

But when men became still more highly civilized they thought more deeply about things, and began to ask each other what caused day, and night; and heat, and cold; why the Moon grew from a little bright streak into the brilliant full orb, and a multitude of other questions. There was no one to answer these questions, and so the wisest men set to work to study it all out. They found out a great deal, but, of course they made a great many mistakes that had to be set right afterwards by other learned men.

Very early they made investigations into the nature of coral. For a long time they were sorely puzzled. In the first place they decided it was a mineral because it was so very hard, and took such a beautiful polish. But, after further examination the wise men all came to the conclusion that it was a plant.

It looked like a plant. There could be no doubt about that. The large specimens examined had trunks composed of layers or rings, very much like many trees. From this trunk were branches, covered with a rose-colored bark in which were some curious depressions.

Others made a still closer examination, and discovered that these depressions were really little star-shaped flowers, with several colored rays. This settled the question. Of course, if coral produced flowers it must be a plant; and, as a plant, it was spoken of, and written about for two thousand years.

“But,” it was asked, “how can a plant grow into a substance as hard as a stone? There is nothing else of such growth known in nature. It is impossible.”

The sailors and coral fishers answered this question by asserting that the coral was in a soft state under the water, like any other plant; but when it was exposed to the air it became petrified—that is, turned into stone. It would not have been a very difficult thing for the learned men to have investigated this matter, and tried for themselves whether it was soft and flexible under the water. But they never did, and so _that_ question was settled.

It was settled for twenty centuries. At the close of that long period of time a French physician, named Peyssonnel, while traveling along the Mediterranean coast, became much interested in the coral fisheries carried on there. He examined the coral flowers with great care, and found that they were not flowers at all, but animals! The ancients had been deceived by their flower-like form, for they were unlike flowers in every other respect, having no stamens, or pistils, or pollen, and producing no seed.

But the opinions of people were not to be overturned all at once by a country doctor. Was it reasonable to suppose he should know more about this matter than all the learned men who had ever lived, or who were living then? So everybody, but Peyssonnel himself, went on believing that coral was a plant, and bore flowers; that it grew in the sea like other marine plants; and that, when broken off, and brought to the surface, it suddenly hardened into stone.

Not long, however, did they continue in this belief. Nicolai, an Inspector of coral fisheries, thought it was about time that an investigation should be made deep down in the ocean to see whether the coral there was flexible, and soft. He sent down one of his best divers, and the man brought back word that the coral was just as hard in the sea, as in the air. This was such surprising news that Nicolai went down himself to make sure of the fact. There was no doubt about it. The coral in the ocean was as hard as a stone.

For hundreds of years wise men had been accepting the statements of ignorant fishermen without investigation.

Further research into the subject proved Peyssonnel to be right. The little star-like ornaments on the coral branches are animals. We show here a section of a coral branch as it looks under a magnifying glass, that you may understand how easy it would be for an ordinary observer to suppose the little stars to be blossoms. You can also see the different stages of development of the very singular little coral animal. B is the _ovule_, or egg, from which it comes, C the _larva_, or young creature before it undergoes its last change, and A is the full-grown animal.

Since then, the habits of these coral animals have been more carefully studied, and their ways are truly wonderful.

They are so small that it requires a magnifying glass to get a good view of them. They are in the form of tiny cylinders, at one end of which there is a mouth, surrounded by branching arms, called _tentacles_. These give them their flower-like form. With these _tentacles_ they convey their food to their mouths. The food consists of the smallest particles of dead fish, or other animal matter that may have escaped the jaws of the larger fish. But, although they feed in this manner and must therefore possess the senses of touch and taste, there is no indication that they can see, or hear, or that they are sensitive when handled. They cannot move about, but remain always in the place where they were born.

And yet this minute being, which belongs to the very lowest class of animals, not only makes the branching masses of coral that look like great stone forests under the water, but they also build immense walls, and piles of rocks, sometimes hundreds of miles in extent. The coral is made from a lime-like substance within the animal, which soon becomes very hard, and also from their lime-like bodies after they die.

Coral reefs are found only in the warm regions of the globe, for the little workmen cannot endure the cold of the northern ocean. They cannot live in the air, and so they never work above the surface of the water.

Of the branching coral there are three kinds; white, red, and pink. The white is the most porous and the least valuable, and the pink is the rarest, and most costly.

These animals are called polyps, or polypi. In some parts of the ocean there are islands that were formed by them. That is, the coral builders commenced the business by gradually piling up in the wave a mass of coral. This they began upon some sand bar far down in the ocean, and they kept at work until they got a rocky wall up to the surface of the water; and then they could go no farther. These walls are generally circular.

When the rocky coral walls reach the surface, the waves rush over them constantly, carrying with them sand, and broken fragments of corals. Some of these are left on the rocks, until, finally, they are piled up so high that the waves cannot roll over them. Thus is formed a singular-looking island, consisting of a circle of rock, with a pond of still water in the centre. This little lake is called a lagoon. Sand is strewn by the waves over the rocky reef, and rolled down into the lake, which it fills up, and, after a long time the soil becomes of sufficient depth to support coarse grasses, and sea plants. These die, and enrich the soil; and the winds, bringing from other shores the seeds of palm trees, and various plants, scatter them over the island, which is soon crowned with verdure and flowers.

THE GREAT EASTERN.

The Great Eastern is the largest steamship in the world; and is, indeed, the largest vessel of any kind in the world. You can see from the portion of the deck given in the picture that the whole ship must be of an enormous size.

The scene on the deck is a busy one, for the vessel is being prepared for a voyage; the workmen are putting on the finishing touches in the way of carpenter-work and painting; and the sailors are busy with the sails and rigging. Hundreds of people are employed with steam engines, hoisting cranes, and various machines, and yet there is plenty of room for them to do their work without confusion.

For the upper deck of this great steamer measures 680 feet from stem to stern, which is twice the length of the largest of other ocean steamers. The deck, in the widest part, is 82 feet wide. From this deck rise six great masts, and five smoke stacks.

Great care has been taken to make the vessel proof against very heavy seas. The hull is double, and is made of iron plates. Ten thousand tons of iron were used to build the hull, and it took no less than 3,000,000 rivets to fasten on the iron plates.

The Great Eastern carries a cargo of 28,500 tons; and can accommodate 10,000 passengers. So, if you went across the ocean in her, when she has her full complement of passengers, it is not at all likely that you would know all your fellow-voyagers. It would be very strange if you were even to see them all.

She is an English vessel, and has been to this country several times. She was visited by crowds of people while lying at the wharf in New York. She also went to Norfolk, and Baltimore. And, everywhere she was an object of curiosity and wonder. But the expense of sailing so monstrous a vessel is very great, and her owners have not always known exactly what to do with their ship. She was very useful in laying the Atlantic Telegraph Cable a few years ago. She was the only ship that could conveniently carry such a tremendous weight as this cable which was to cross the Atlantic Ocean, and connect two continents.

The vessel, as you see her in the picture, does not lie close to the wharf, and small steamers are employed to take the passengers out to the ship when she is ready to sail. These steamers seem like baby vessels when they are lying alongside the Great Eastern. Her great hull rises far above their chimneys. The “gangway” is a long flight of stairs; and it is quite a slow process to get all the people out of the small steamers, up the stairs, and on to the deck of the Great Eastern.

The great deck is pretty well filled during the embarkation. The passengers are all there; and their friends who have come to bid them good-bye; and there are piles of baggage of every description. But, after the small steamers have gone back to the shore with the visitors, the decks are cleared, and the baggage stowed away in the proper places for it; and everything is trim and orderly.

Every arrangement is made for the comfort of the passengers. There are two saloons, a large, and a small one. These are beautiful rooms lighted by sky-lights, and elegantly ornamented, and furnished. There are a great number of state-rooms; and three dining-rooms. In these last are long rows of tables.

But one of the advantages that the Great Eastern possesses is that she does not roll and pitch much, even in stormy weather, because she is so large and heavy. Consequently people are not so apt to be sea-sick on this ship, as on most of the ocean steamers.

The great saloon is a very pleasant place for promenading, conversation or reading, when it is too cold or stormy to be on deck. People meet here from all parts of the world, perhaps. They get acquainted and have long talks with each other, and have music, and get up games to help pass away the time. And, when the voyage is over, they separate, with no expectation of ever meeting again, unless some chance should make them fellow-travelers another time.

All the children on board are sure to make friends with each other; and they have plenty of room to play on the long decks, and in the saloons, without interfering with the comfort of older persons.

It would be a delightful thing to take a voyage on such a magnificent steamer as this. Apart from the pleasure that the ship itself, with all its great machinery and its splendid appointments would afford, there would be the satisfaction of knowing that there is some chance of escaping sea-sickness when on board of the Great Eastern.

And any one who ever has been sea-sick would be very apt to appreciate the advantages of a vessel that does not pitch and toss on every ordinary wave.

KANGAROOS.

In the continent of Australia where there are so many queer plants and animals, lives the numerous, and droll-looking family of the kangaroos.

There are several varieties of this family, but all have the same general characteristics; a very large tail, very long hind legs, and very short fore legs.

Kangaroos can out-jump the very best jumpers you ever saw, or heard of. They use their long hind legs something in the grasshopper style; and their tails are not only big, but strong, and are of great assistance to them in their leaps.

Their flesh is good to eat, and so they are hunted a great deal. Instead of running from their pursuers like the swift-footed hares and antelopes, they jump away from them, and in this manner they get over a great extent of country in a very short time. Running would be impossible to creatures with such ridiculously short front legs; but leaping answers the same purpose; and, as this is their natural mode of progression, they do not get tired any sooner than other animals do by running.

The kangaroos are by no means ugly animals; and, though they look awkward when standing on all fours (which they seldom do) they are very graceful while making their leaps.

One of the prettiest species of the kangaroo family is called the antelope kangaroo. Its head and ears are similar to those of the antelope in appearance.

Kangaroos are common enough in menageries, and the next time you visit such a place look for one. It seems a pity to shut them up in cages, where they have no room to take even the smallest jump. But, then, if they were not caged there is no knowing where they would jump to. Some of the old kangaroos are rough customers when brought to bay. A big fellow will sometimes seize a dog in his short fore legs and with one of his great hind feet give him a scrape that will make him wish he had never seen a kangaroo.

Just as you have seen a quiet peaceable boy when he had been worried and annoyed by a teasing and quarrelsome fellow, suddenly blaze up and astonish the young rascal by giving him a good thrashing.

THE STORY OF POLARGNO.

Polargno was an Esquimaux boy. At the time the things happened to him that I am going to relate to you he was sixteen years old, and as merry a fellow as you could find anywhere. Here is his portrait.

Perhaps you think him ugly, but our ideas of beauty depend a good deal upon what we are accustomed to see around us. You like a white skin, regular features, and fine, soft, wavy hair. But the negroes of Central Africa do not admire this style in the least. They prefer thick lips, flat noses, shining black skins, and hair as tightly twisted and as wiry as possible. And Polargno’s friends looked upon him as a boy of a remarkably fine appearance, for they considered it very proper that he should have a stubby nose, thick lips, small eyes, and lank, coarse hair. His parents thought him handsome, but his mother was grieved because he was not quite as fat as other Esquimaux boys of his age. To be very beautiful in the eyes of an Esquimaux one must be very fat. Polargno’s father was not much taller than his son, but he was very much broader. He consoled his wife, however, by assuring her that he was no larger than Polargno at the same age.

In this picture, Polargno is dressed in the suit he wears out of doors in the winter. It is a complete suit of seal-skin, with the fur outside. This is put on over the in-door suit, boots and all. This in-door suit is also of seal-skin, but it is made up with the fur turned inside. To make the costume complete, he should have on his head a fur hood. People have to dress warmly in the Esquimaux country where the ground is covered with snow three-fourths of the year.

Polargno’s father owned a winter and a summer residence; which sounds very grandly, to be sure, but he was no richer than the rest of the tribe. There was much similarity among the families of the settlement in regard to wealth. One family might possess a few more skins than the others, or softer beds, or an extra lamp; but, on the whole, one man was about as well off as his neighbors, and they visited each other in the most sociable manner, knowing nothing of rank and riches.

The winter residence of Loonerkoo, the father of Polargno, was constructed in the following manner: Blocks of snow two feet long, and six inches wide and several inches thick, were cut out from the great snow heaps that abounded everywhere. These were carefully pared with a large knife and made even and smooth. They were then built into a dome. A good many layers of blocks were used to make the walls very thick and solid. There were two windows in this dome, and what do you think they were made of? Each one was a single, inch thick square of transparent, fresh water ice. There was not the least danger of its melting from the heat of the house, the outside cold being too intense for that to happen.

There was no door to this house, but there was quite a large doorway. A hole was left in the wall. It was not more than three feet high, and everybody, except very little children crawled into it on their hands and knees. The passage way was no higher, and was about sixteen feet long, so that this crawling back and forth was somewhat wearing on the clothes, although the floor was of ice and snow instead of the rough ground. This entrance was made low and narrow, so as to shut out as much cold air as possible.

The next thing was to make a chimney. This was easy enough. They simply cut a hole in the roof of the dome of snow. This contrivance did not always work well, as the wind sometimes blew the smoke back into the room as fast as it came out of it, but the Esquimaux are used to smoke in their houses; and, supposing it to be one of the necessary evils of life, are quite content to have it when it cannot be helped.

Inside of this dome there was one large, circular room. In most Esquimaux houses this was reception-room, dining-room, bed-room, and kitchen, all in one. But a few very elegant dwellings, and, among them Loonerkoo’s, had curtains of skins hung up so as to make a couple of bed-rooms.

It may make you shiver when I tell you how they made their bedsteads. These were blocks of snow, making a platform a couple of feet high, and five and six feet long. On them whalebones and seal skins were laid for mattresses. The coverlets consisted of nice, warm furs.

Exactly in the middle of the large room a circular platform was made with blocks of snow. On this stood the lamp for cooking purposes, and over it was a wooden scaffolding on which the cooking utensils were hung.

The lamp was nothing but a dish, filled with whale oil and blubber, with a long wick of dry moss.

Around the walls the weapons and clothes of the family were hung.

This was all the furniture the house contained, and it was quite enough for these simple people. Warm clothing, plenty to eat, and comfortable places to sleep were all they required.

It is difficult for us to believe that these snow houses are comfortable, but they are very warm indeed; or, rather, I should say they are the warmest houses that could be made for the very severe climate of Greenland. The Esquimaux is hardened to the cold, and can bear it much better than we can. He wraps himself up in his furs, and lays down on his icy couch, and sleeps as peacefully and comfortably as we do on our soft mattresses.

It only required a few hours to build the winter house of Loonerkoo, and to put it into perfect order.

A still shorter time sufficed for constructing his summer residence, which was nothing more than a large tent, made of dressed skins.

The Arctic summer is short. It really lasts only about six weeks. For, after the worst of the wintry weather is over, it takes the sun a good while to melt the heavy masses of snow and ice, and to send them floating down the rivers and bays, and out into the ocean, where they finally disappear. This season is scarcely warm enough to call Spring; it is, more properly, the breaking up of Winter. It is a time when icebergs abound, and boating is a very dangerous amusement.

But, after the ground is freed from its icy envelope, everything starts into life, and grows with the most astonishing rapidity. A plant will spring up, grow two or three feet high perhaps, bud, blossom, and bear fruit in the time our plants of the temperate zone will be producing a foot or so of stalk and leaves. In a few days after the fir trees have dropped the last of their snow-wreaths their branches will be covered with delicate spears of fresh green. A field that a week or two before was white with snow will be carpeted with flowers. The reason of this growth, which seems magical, is that in the Arctic zone, after the sun once gets well up above the horizon, it stays up—it does not set again for a long time, but shines steadily on, day and night.

I use the words day and night in the sense we generally use them to mark the division of time into twenty-four hours. In our latitude this division of time also marks the periods of light and darkness, but it is not so in the Arctic countries. There, you know, the day is six months long, and the night six months. But the Esquimaux have their regular times for sleeping, for, of course, they can’t stay awake six months, or sleep six months; but they naturally spend more time in sleep in their dreary winter than during their beautiful summer.