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After wandering over these vast continents； the eye is attracted
by the still greater seas。 Not only their formation； but their
situation and aspect remind one of the terrestrial oceans； but
again； as on earth； these seas occupy the greater portion of
the globe。 But in point of fact； these are not liquid spaces；
but plains； the nature of which the travelers hoped soon
to determine。 Astronomers； we must allow； have graced these
pretended seas with at least odd names； which science has
respected up to the present time。 Michel Ardan was right when
he compared this map to a 〃Tendre card；〃 got up by a Scudary or
a Cyrano de Bergerac。 〃Only；〃 said he； 〃it is no longer the
sentimental card of the seventeenth century； it is the card of
life； very neatly divided into two parts； one feminine； the
other masculine； the right hemisphere for woman； the left for man。〃
In speaking thus； Michel made his prosaic companions shrug
their shoulders。 Barbicane and Nicholl looked upon the lunar
map from a very different point of view to that of their
fantastic friend。 Nevertheless； their fantastic friend was a
little in the right。 Judge for yourselves。
In the left hemisphere stretches the 〃Sea of Clouds；〃 where
human reason is so often shipwrecked。 Not far off lies the 〃Sea
of Rains；〃 fed by all the fever of existence。 Near this is the
〃Sea of Storms；〃 where man is ever fighting against his
passions； which too often gain the victory。 Then； worn out by
deceit； treasons； infidelity； and the whole body of terrestrial
misery； what does he find at the end of his career？ that vast
〃Sea of Humors；〃 barely softened by some drops of the waters
from the 〃Gulf of Dew！〃 Clouds； rain； storms； and humors does
the life of man contain aught but these？ and is it not summed up
in these four words？
The right hemisphere； 〃dedicated to the ladies；〃 encloses
smaller seas； whose significant names contain every incident of
a feminine existence。 There is the 〃Sea of Serenity；〃 over
which the young girl bends； 〃The Lake of Dreams；〃 reflecting a
joyous future； 〃The Sea of Nectar；〃 with its waves of tenderness
and breezes of love； 〃The Sea of Fruitfulness；〃 〃The Sea of
Crises；〃 then the 〃Sea of Vapors；〃 whose dimensions are perhaps
a little too confined； and lastly； that vast 〃Sea of
Tranquillity；〃 in which every false passion； every useless
dream； every unsatisfied desire is at length absorbed； and whose
waves emerge peacefully into the 〃Lake of Death！〃
What a strange succession of names！ What a singular division of
the moon's two hemispheres； joined to one another like man and
woman； and forming that sphere of life carried into space！
And was not the fantastic Michel right in thus interpreting the
fancies of the ancient astronomers？ But while his imagination
thus roved over 〃the seas；〃 his grave companions were considering
things more geographically。 They were learning this new world
by heart。 They were measuring angles and diameters。
CHAPTER XII
OROGRAPHIC DETAILS
The course taken by the projectile； as we have before remarked； was
bearing it toward the moon's northern hemisphere。 The travelers
were far from the central point which they would have struck；
had their course not been subject to an irremediable deviation。
It was past midnight； and Barbicane then estimated the distance
at seven hundred and fifty miles； which was a little greater than
the length of the lunar radius； and which would diminish as it
advanced nearer to the North Pole。 The projectile was then not
at the altitude of the equator； but across the tenth parallel；
and from that latitude； carefully taken on the map to the pole；
Barbicane and his two companions were able to observe the moon
under the most favorable conditions。 Indeed； by means of glasses；
the above…named distance was reduced to little more than
fourteen miles。 The telescope of the Rocky Mountains brought
the moon much nearer； but the terrestrial atmosphere singularly
lessened its power。 Thus Barbicane； posted in his projectile；
with the glasses to his eyes； could seize upon details which were
almost imperceptible to earthly observers。
〃My friends；〃 said the president； in a serious voice； 〃I do not
know whither we are going； I do not know if we shall ever see
the terrestrial globe again。 Nevertheless； let us proceed as if
our work would one day by useful to our fellow…men。 Let us keep
our minds free from every other consideration。 We are
astronomers； and this projectile is a room in the Cambridge
University； carried into space。 Let us make our observations！〃
This said； work was begun with great exactness； and they
faithfully reproduced the different aspects of the moon；
at the different distances which the projectile reached。
At the time that the projectile was as high as the tenth
parallel； north latitude； it seemed rigidly to follow the
twentieth degree； east longitude。 We must here make one
important remark with regard to the map by which they were
taking observations。 In the selenographical maps where； on
account of the reversing of the objects by the glasses； the
south is above and the north below； it would seem natural that；
on account of that inversion； the east should be to the left
hand； and the west to the right。 But it is not so。 If the map
were turned upside down； showing the moon as we see her； the
east would be to the left； and the west to the right； contrary
to that which exists on terrestrial maps。 The following is the
reason of this anomaly。 Observers in the northern hemisphere
（say in Europe） see the moon in the south according to them。
When they take observations； they turn their backs to the north；
the reverse position to that which they occupy when they study
a terrestrial map。 As they turn their backs to the north； the
east is on their left； and the west to their right。 To observers
in the southern hemisphere （Patagonia for example）； the moon's
west would be quite to their left； and the east to their right；
as the south is behind them。 Such is the reason of the apparent
reversing of these two cardinal points； and we must bear it in mind
in order to be able to follow President Barbicane's observations。
With the help of Boeer and Moedler's _Mappa Selenographica_；
the travelers were able at once to recognize that portion
of the disc enclosed within the field of their glasses。
〃What are we looking at； at this moment？〃 asked Michel。
〃At the northern part of the ‘Sea of Clouds；'〃 answered Barbicane。
〃We are too far off to recognize its nature。 Are these plains
composed of arid sand； as the first astronomer maintained？
Or are they nothing but immense forests； according to M。 Warren
de la Rue's opinion； who gives the moon an atmosphere； though
a very low and a very dense one？ That we shall know by and by。
We must affirm nothing until we are in a position to do so。〃
This 〃Sea of Clouds〃 is rather doubtfully marked out upon the maps。
It is supposed that these vast plains are strewn with blocks of
lava from the neighboring volcanoes on its right； Ptolemy；
Purbach； Arzachel。 But the projectile was advancing； and sensibly
nearing it。 Soon there a