Part 43 (1/2)
This was agreed upon, and Paganel forthwith commenced.
”Mnemosyne! G.o.ddess of Memory, chaste mother of the Muses!” he exclaimed, ”inspire thy faithful servant and fervent wors.h.i.+per! Two hundred and fifty-eight years ago, my friends, Australia was unknown.
Strong suspicions were entertained of the existence of a great southern continent. In the library of your British Museum, Glenarvan, there are two charts, the date of which is 1550, which mention a country south of Asia, called by the Portuguese Great Java. But these charts are not sufficiently authentic. In the seventeenth century, in 1606, Quiros, a Spanish navigator, discovered a country which he named Australia de Espiritu Santo. Some authors imagine that this was the New Hebrides group, and not Australia. I am not going to discuss the question, however. Count Quiros, Robert, and let us pa.s.s on to another.”
”ONE,” said Robert.
”In that same year, Louis Vas de Torres, the second in command of the fleet of Quiros, pushed further south. But it is to Theodore Hertoge, a Dutchman, that the honor of the great discovery belongs. He touched the western coast of Australia in 25 degrees lat.i.tude, and called it Eendracht, after his vessel. From this time navigators increased. In 1618, Zeachen discovered the northern parts of the coast, and called them Arnheim and Diemen. In 1618, Jan Edels went along the western coast, and christened it by his own name. In 1622, Leuwin went down as far as the cape which became his namesake.” And so Paganel continued with name after name until his hearers cried for mercy.
”Stop, Paganel,” said Glenarvan, laughing heartily, ”don't quite crush poor McNabbs. Be generous; he owns he is vanquished.”
”And what about the rifle?” asked the geographer, triumphantly.
”It is yours, Paganel,” replied the Major, ”and I am very sorry for it; but your memory might gain an armory by such feats.”
”It is certainly impossible to be better acquainted with Australia; not the least name, not even the most trifling fact--”
”As to the most trifling fact, I don't know about that,” said the Major, shaking his head.
”What do you mean, McNabbs?” exclaimed Paganel.
”Simply that perhaps all the incidents connected with the discovery of Australia may not be known to you.”
”Just fancy,” retorted Paganel, throwing back his head proudly.
”Come now. If I name one fact you don't know, will you give me back my rifle?” said McNabbs.
”On the spot, Major.”
”Very well, it's a bargain, then.”
”Yes, a bargain; that's settled.”
”All right. Well now, Paganel, do you know how it is that Australia does not belong to France?”
”But it seems to me--”
”Or, at any rate, do you know what's the reason the English give?” asked the Major.
”No,” replied Paganel, with an air of vexation.
”Just because Captain Baudin, who was by no means a timid man, was so afraid in 1802, of the croaking of the Australian frogs, that he raised his anchor with all possible speed, and quitted the coast, never to return.”
”What!” exclaimed Paganel. ”Do they actually give that version of it in England? But it is just a bad joke.”
”Bad enough, certainly, but still it is history in the United Kingdom.”
”It's an insult!” exclaimed the patriotic geographer; ”and they relate that gravely?”
”I must own it is the case,” replied Glenarvan, amidst a general outburst of laughter. ”Do you mean to say you have never heard of it before?”