Chapter 39 Chapter 7 Discussion of Maps

During the preparations for the winter, Altamon recovered his strength and health so completely that he could even take part in the unloading of ships.His strong constitution finally prevailed, and his pale complexion could not resist the freshness of blood for long. In him was seen to be reborn a strong, bloody American, a man of firmness and intelligence, of firm character, a man of action, boldness, and courage, who came from New York, sailed from boyhood, That's what he told his companions; his ship had been outfitted by a wealthy body of wholesale merchants in the United States, headed by the eminent Grinnell.

There was some connection between Hatteras and him, a similarity in character, but not the same sympathy.This similarity does not inherently make two people friends, quite the opposite.For an observant man would have discerned a serious dissonance between them, and thus it appears that Altamon, though outwardly more frank, was not so frank as Hatteras; It was integrity; his outgoing nature could not win as much confidence as the captain's dour nature.The latter speaks his opinion once and then keeps silent.The other talked a lot, but often couldn't say anything. Such was the character of the American, as the Doctor came to know it, and he was quite justified in his presentiment that there would be an animosity, or animosity, between the Pearl Boise and the captain of the March.

However, only one of the two commanders should command.After all, Hatteras has the right to subject Americans in every way, from first come first to first serve and in terms of strength.But one is the head of his own, and the other is in his own ship.You can feel it. From tact or instinct, Altamon first leaned over to the doctor's side, to whom he had saved his life, but his inclination to the venerable man was not so much out of gratitude as out of sympathy.Such was the inevitable result of the character of the venerable Crawford; friends gathered about him like wheat in the sun.One can make enemies of oneself by citing people who get up at five o'clock in the morning; a doctor cannot do that by getting up at four o'clock.

But he decides to use Altamon's friendship to find out the real reason for his presence in the polar sea.But what the Americans said was all empty words, and the answer was tantamount to no answer. As usual, they talked about the topic of the Northwest Route. The doctor suspected that the voyage had some other purpose, which was what worried Hatteras.He resolved never to bring these two opponents together on the same subject, and the simplest conversation was in danger of being involuntarily sidetracked, every word setting off a clash of gunpowder between competing interests. This happened very quickly.When the igloo was finished, the Doctor resolved to inaugurate it with a good dinner; Mr. Croubney's brilliant idea to bring to this continent the habits and pleasures of European life.Bell had just shot some large waterfowl and the white hare, the first herald of another spring.

The feast was held on the fourteenth of April, the second Sunday after Easter, and the weather was fine but very dry, but the cold could not enter the igloo, for obvious reasons by the blazing fires. They ate well; the fresh meat gave them a change from patties and bacon, and the doctor's own pudding was so delicious that they asked for another; the scholar wore a chef's hat, With an apron around his waist and a knife in his belt, he was no less a cook than a British Lord Chancellor. When dessert was served, the wine appeared, the American does not abide by the British rule that strictly prohibits any alcoholic beverages, he has no reason not to have a glass of gin or brandy, other guests usually do not drink, can do no harm I freely allowed myself to violate this rule, so everyone could clink glasses at the end of the merry dinner, as ordered by the doctor.While toasting the United States.Hatteras simply remained silent.

At this moment, the doctor put an interesting question on the table. My friends, he said, having crossed channels, floes, and ice-fields, and come here with no end in sight, I come to propose to you a name for this friendly land, where we found rest and salvation; is the custom observed by all navigators all over the world, and no one misses the opportunity; when we go back, we will give the names of these capes, bays, headlands and headlands, while sketching the hydrogeographical outlines of these coasts. , to distinguish them.This is absolutely necessary. Well said, Johnson exclaimed, after all, when one calls all these places by a peculiar name, which gives them a serious aspect, one has no right to think oneself cast upon a strange continent.

Not to mention, replied Bell, that it makes the nautical passwords easier and convenient to carry out, and that when we have to be parted in the middle of some voyage or a hunt, there is nothing like knowing Its name is more convenient now. Well, said the doctor, since we have agreed on this, let us name as much as we can, not forgetting our country or our friends in terms of technical vocabulary.For me, when I look at a map, nothing gives me greater pleasure than seeing the name of a fellow man at the end of a promontory, beside an island, or in the middle of an ocean.This is the embodiment of geographically fascinating friendship.

You are right.The Americans replied, in addition, you said that these things are used to increase their value. Let's see, the doctor replied, in order. Hatteras didn't join in the conversation, he was thinking.But the eyes of his companion were fixed on him, and he rose and said: No one here will disagree with me unless I have a better idea, I thought, and Hatteras looked at Altamon at this moment, and I think it would be better to give our dwellings a good architect, the best of us The name, called the doctor's house. That's it, Bell replied. good!shouted Johnson, Doctor's house!

For want of a better name, replied Altamon, long live Dr. Crowburni! Three Ullas yelled at the same time, and Dak yelled in agreement. So, said Hatteras again, let this house be called that, till another new piece of land will allow us to give it our friend's name. ah!Old Johnson said that if heaven on earth had a name, it would be Crawford's! The doctor was so excited that he wanted to decline out of modesty, but he couldn't help it, and it should have been passed.It is certain that the merry supper was taken in the great drawing-room of the doctor's house.It was previously prepared in the kitchen of the doctor's house and they are going to sleep happily in the bedroom of the doctor's house.

Now, says the doctor, comes the most important part of our discovery. And, replied Hatteras, the wide seas that surround us do not have a ship to pierce the waves. Not a single boat!But it seems to me, said Altamon, that the Perleboise should not be forgotten, unless it came by land.he added jokingly. Believe it, Hatteras retorted, just look at the rocks that float on it. Indeed, Hatteras, said Altamon angrily, isn't it worse than looting in broad daylight, as the Forward did? Hatteras was about to protest violently when the doctor intervened. My friends, he said, this is not a ship, but a new sea.

Not new, replied Altamon, it has names on all polar maps.It's called the Arctic Ocean, and I think it would be inauspicious to change its name; and we'll see what to do about it some time later, if we find it has only one strait or one bay. All right, said Hatteras. That made it clear, replied the doctor, regretting almost provoking a great discussion of national rivalry. Look, then, at this land we now tread, continued Hatteras, and I do not know what it is called on the nearest maps! Having said that, he looked straight at Altamon, who did not bow his head and replied: You may be mistaken, Hatteras. I was wrong!What!This strange land, this new region There are already names, the American replied calmly. Hatteras was silent, his lips trembling. what name?asked the doctor, feeling a little strange about what the Americans said. My dear Crawford, answered Altamon, it is the custom, if not the right, that any navigator name the continent he first sets foot on, and it seems to me that in this case I can, I should use this indisputable right But Johnson said Altamon's decided calm displeased him. I find it difficult to say, said the latter, that Perboise did not land on this coast, and even if he admitted that it came by land, he added, looking at Hatteras, that would not be a problem. I can't accept that, Hatteras answered gravely, restraining himself, to take a name, or at least to discover something, which is not what you do, I think.Where are you, sir, without us, to make terms on us?You are in twenty feet of snow! Without me, sir, retorted the American vehemently, without my ship, what are you now?Frozen and starved to death! My friends, said the doctor, he tried to mediate, well, calm down, everything will work out, listen to me. Sir, continued Altamon, pointing to the captain, he may name all the other lands he finds, if he finds them; but this land belongs to me!I can't even stand him being called two names like Grinnell's Land, also known as Prince Albert's Land, because an Englishman and an American discovered it almost at the same time.Here, it is something else; I come first, the right is unquestionable.Before me, no one set foot on this land, so I named it, and its name will be passed down. what name?the doctor asked. New America, Altamon replied. Hatteras clenched his fists under the table.However, he had a hard time controlling himself. Can you prove to me, says Altamon again, that an Englishman set foot on this land before an American? Johnson and Bell fell silent, though they were as indignant at their opponent's swaggering certainty as the captain.But I can't answer. After a moment of awkward silence, the doctor took over: My friends, he says, the first law of mankind is the law of justice; and it contains all other laws.We must be fair and not have a bad heart.I think Altamon's priority is indisputable, there is nothing to discuss, we will compensate later, and the British will make up a large part of our future discoveries.Let this land be called New America.But after Altamont is so named, I suppose you have no right to the bay, promontory, headland, and promontory it includes, and I don't think anyone will prevent us from calling this bay Victoria Bay? No, answered Altamon, except the headland that plunges into the sea and is called Cape Washington. Johnson, should you, sir, cried Hatteras, unable to restrain himself any longer, choose a name that would sound less harsh to an Englishman? But Americans couldn't sound more genial, Altamon said triumphantly. all right!all right!The doctor replied that he has to do a lot to maintain the peace of this small world, don't discuss this issue!An American should be proud of his great man!He haphazardly named the places he visited after geniuses, for Altamon had his choice, and now about us and our names.let's captain Doctor, the latter replied, this is an American landmass, and I don't want my name to appear here. Is this an immutable decision?The doctor said. Absolutely, Hatteras replied. The doctor didn't insist anymore. Well, it was our turn, and he turned to the old sailor and carpenter, leaving here our trail.In honor of our boatswain, I propose to call an island three miles away Johnson's Island! oh!said the latter, he was a little ashamed, Mr. Crawburn! As for the mountain we see to the west, we'll call it Bell's Mountain, if our carpenter agrees! I can't afford the honor, Bell replied. That makes sense, the doctor replied. Nothing better, Altamon said. Only our castle was left without a name, and the doctor said, we have nothing to discuss in this respect, it is neither the grace of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, nor the favor of Washington, we are here at this moment, but the grace of God , He brought us together and saved us.Call this castle the fortress of God! Just what I was looking for!said Altamon again. Fortress of God, Johnson said, what a name!So it seems that we returned from our northern expedition, passed Cape Washington, and came to Victoria Bay, where God's fortress was, we rested and fed in the doctor's house! So settle it, replied the doctor, that in the future, as we gradually discover new places, we shall have other names, and it is best not to cause any controversy, I hope, because, my friends, one should support each other here , love each other, we on this shore represent the whole of humanity; do not indulge in repulsive desires to disturb society, we are united, strong and unshakable, against the enemy.Who knows if God will still let us risk and suffer until we return to our homeland!Bring five together and put aside gratuitous rivalries, here more than anywhere else.Do you understand, Altamon?And you, Hatteras? Neither of them answered, but the doctor acted as if they had. Then they talked about something else.It was about organizing a hunt for a variety of meat, and with the coming of spring, hares and partridges and even foxes and bears were coming back; soil of.