The Wonders of the Ocean

By Anonymous

Annotations by Kristina Bowers

COLLECTED AND ARRANGED FROM AUTHENTIC SOURCES.

[Continued.]

In general the bed of the ocean is tolerably level, but sometimes in the midst of the furious waves, an island raises its head and braves their utmost force. Such islands may be considered as the mountains of the sea. In fact, the surface of the earth below the sea is evidently similar to that above it; here rising into mountains, the summits of which may be called islands and continents, and sinking into vallies[sic]. 

The bottom of the ocean, wherever opportunities of examining it have occurred, is found to resemble the dry land in materials as well as in features; if it is dug to any considerable depth, rock is uniformly met with as in the land. The strata, are similar, and supposed in the same manner, and springs of fresh water, so voluminous as to displace the current of the salt, for a considerable distance, issue from the bed of the sea; neither are there wanting to complete the resemblance, volcanoes, which vomit forth their perpetual fires. 

The earth, therefore, whether dry or covered with water, forms but one whole; the surface of the water being to that of the land as three to one.[1] 

This account of the ocean, its properties, movements, and effects, may be appropriately concluded with the extraordinary history of a Sicilian diver, which is related on the authority of Kircher,[2] and some other ancient authors, but it has so much the air of a fable that it is difficult to determine on the exact degree of credit which it merits. 

Nicola pesce[3] lived in the reign of Frederick, king of Sicily, and obtained his surname from his amazing skill in swimming, and his ability to remain under water for an astonishing length of time. He earned a poor subsistence by diving for corals and oysters; and his long familiarity with the sea made him regard it almost as his natural element. He frequently spent five days at a time in the midst of the waves, with no other provision for his sustenance than raw fish. He often swam from Sicily to Calabria,[4] a tempestuous and dangerous passage, being employed to carry letters of importance. Some mariners at sea one day observed an object at a distance, which they imagined to be a sea monster, but on approaching nearer, they discovered it to be Nicola who was bound on one of his expeditions. They took him with them into their ship, and enquired[sic] whither[5] he was going in so rough and stormy a sea, and at such a distance from land; he showed them a packet of letters, fastened up in a leather bag, which he was carrying to one of the towns of Italy. He remained with them for some time; and after eating, and refreshing himself, he took his leave, and jumped into the sea, to pursue his strange voyage. Nature seemed to have prepared him in a very singular manner for these aquatic expeditions, for the spaces between his toes and fingers were webbed, like the feet of a goose, and his chest became so very capacious,[6] that he could take in at one inspiration, as much breath as would serve him for a whole day.

The account of so extraordinary a person, soon reached the ears of the king; who actuated by a strong curiosity, not unmixed with incredulity, ordered Nicola to be brought before him. It was no easy matter to find an amphibious animal who spent the greater part of his time, in the watery deserts; but at length, after much research, he was discovered and presented to the monarch. The king had conceived a strong desire to gain some knowledge of the bottom of the Gulf of Charybdis;[7] and he gladly availed himself of so unlooked for an opportunity of gratifying it, and disregarding entirely, in his eagerness to obtain the fulfilment[sic] of his wishes, the imminent risk to the life of a fellow-creature, he commanded the poor diver to examine the dreadful whirlpool. To stimulate his efforts he commanded a golden cup to be thrown in and promised that it should be the prize of his success. The poor fisherman was not insensible to the dangers of the enterprize[sic], and ventured to remonstrate[8] against undertaking it; but at last the hope of reward, the desire of pleasing the king, and above all the pride of showing his skill, prevailed, and he consented. He leaped into the gulf, and was instantaneously swallowed up in its abyss.

He continued under water for three quarters of an hour, and re-appeared on the surface, holding the cup triumphantly in one hand, and the other buffetting[sic] the waves. He was received with universal applause, and the golden goblet was his reward. When he was in some measure recovered from his fatigue, which had been excessive he gave an account of what he had seen. According to his statement, four circumstances rendered this gulf terrible, not only to men but even to fish; the force of the water bursting upwards from the bottom; the steepness of the surrounding rocks; the violence of the whirlpool dashing against those rocks; and the vast number of polypus,[9] some as large as a man, adhering to them, and projecting their fibrous arms to entangle every thing that came within their reach.

The curiosity of the king being still unsatisfied, he desired him to descend again into the tremendous gulf. At first he refused compliance with this inhuman mandate; but being earnestly requested, and tempted by the promise of a much more valuable reward, than that bestowed on him before, the unfortunate man plunged again into the whirlpool, and never was heard of more.—Ed.

Anonymous. “The Wonders of the Ocean.” Youth’s Literary Messenger. 1, No. 9 (January 1838): 306-312.