CHAPTER in 



THE WORLD BENEATH THE WAVES 



The Bed of the Ocean. River-borne Deposits. Oozes of Animal 

 and Vegetable Origin. The Red Clay of the Still 

 Abysses. The Pressure of the Ocean. The Cold and 

 Darkness of the Depths. The Lampbearers of the Ever- 

 lasting Night. 



Of the world beneath the sea, and of its inhabi- 

 tants, our ancestors — even our immediate predecessors 

 — had little information and scant idea, and it was 

 not until the middle of the nineteenth century, when 

 submarine cables came to be talked about, that our 

 knowledge of the physical geography and natural 

 history of the bed of the ocean began to approach 

 the exact stage. 



Those who wish to know something of the steps 

 by which this knowledge has advanced to its present 

 state should refer to the Swnmary of the Scientific 

 Results, as well as to the early chapters of the Narra- 

 tive of the Voyage of H, M.S. Challenger : the following 

 sketch is meant merely for those who have not yet 

 given any special attention to this interesting subject. 



