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of a milky consistency and hue。 In our immediate vicinity it was
usually smooth； never so rough as to endanger the canoe…but we were
frequently surprised at perceiving； to our right and left； at
different distances； sudden and extensive agitations of the surface
these； we at length noticed； were always preceded by wild flickerings
in the region of vapor to the southward。
_March 4th。_…To…day； with the view of widening our sail； the breeze
from the northward dying away perceptibly； I took from my coat…pocket
a white handkerchief。 Nu…Nu was seated at my elbow； and the linen
accidentally flaring in his face； he became violently affected with
convulsions。 These were succeeded by drowsiness and stupor； and low
murmurings of _〃'Tekeli…li！ Tekeli…Ii！〃_
_March _5th。…The wind had entirely ceased； but it was evident that we
were still hurrying on to the southward； under the influence of a
powerful current。 And now； …indeed； it would seem reasonable that we
should experience some alarm at the turn events were taking…but we
felt none。 The countenance of Peters indicated nothing of this
nature； although it wore at times an expression I could not fathom。
The polar winter appeared to be coming on…but coming without its
terrors。 I felt a _numb_ness of body and mind…a dreaminess of
sensation but this was all。
_March 6th。_…The gray vapor had now arisen many more degrees above
the horizon； and was gradually losing its grayness of tint。 The heat
of the water was extreme； even unpleasant to the touch； and its milky
hue was more evident than ever。 Today a violent agitation of the
water occurred very close to the canoe。 It was attended； as usual；
with a wild flaring up of the vapor at its summit； and a momentary
division at its base。 A fine white powder； resembling ashes…but
certainly not such…fell over the canoe and over a large surface of
the water； as the flickering died away among the vapor and the
commotion subsided in the sea。 Nu…Nu now threw himself on his face in
the bottom of the boat； and no persuasions could induce him to arise。
_March 7th。_…This day we questioned Nu…Nu concerning the motives of
his countrymen in destroying our companions； but he appeared to be
too utterly overcome by terror to afford us any rational reply。 He
still obstinately lay in the bottom of the boat； and； upon
reiterating the questions as to the motive； made use only of idiotic
gesticulations； such as raising with his forefinger the upper lip；
and displaying the teeth which lay beneath it。 These were black。 We
had never before seen the teeth of an inhabitant of Tsalal。 '
_March 8th。_…To…day there floated by us one of the white animals
whose appearance upon the beach at Tsalal had occasioned so wild a
commotion among the savages。 I would have picked it up； but there
came over me a sudden listlessness； and I forbore。 The heat of the
water still increased； and the hand could no longer be endured within
it。 Peters spoke little； and I knew not what to think of his apathy。
Nu…Nu breathed； and no more。
_March 9th。_…The whole ashy material fell now continually around us；
and in vast quantities。 The range of vapor to the southward had
arisen prodigiously in the horizon； and began to assume more
distinctness of form。 I can liken it to nothing but a limitless
cataract； rolling silently into the sea from some immense and
far…distant rampart in the heaven。 The gigantic curtain ranged along
the whole extent of the southern horizon。 It emitted no sound。
_March 21st。_…A sullen darkness now hovered above us…but from out the
milky depths of the ocean a luminous glare arose； and stole up along
the bulwarks of the boat。 We were nearly overwhelmed by the white
ashy shower which settled upon us and upon the canoe； but melted into
the water as it fell。 The summit of the cataract was utterly lost in
the dimness and the distance。 Yet we were evidently approaching it
with a hideous velocity。 At intervals there were visible in it wide；
yawning； but momentary rents； and from out these rents； within which
was a chaos of flitting and indistinct images； there came rushing and
mighty。 but soundless winds； tearing up the enkindled ocean in their
course。
_March 22d。_…The darkness had materially increased； relieved only by
the glare of the water thrown back from the white curtain before us。
Many gigantic and pallidly white birds flew continuously now from
beyond the veil； and their scream was the eternal _Tekeli…li！ _as
they retreated from our vision。 Hereupon Nu…Nu stirred in the bottom
of the boat； but upon touching him we found his spirit departed。 And
now we rushed into the embraces of the cataract； where a chasm threw
itself open to receive us。 But there arose in our pathway a shrouded
human figure； very far larger in its proportions than any dweller
among men。 And the hue of the skin of the figure was of the perfect
whiteness of the snow。
NOTE
THE circumstances connected with the late sudden and distressing
death of Mr。 Pym are already well known to the public through the
medium of the daily press。 It is feared that the few remaining
chapters which were to have completed his narrative； and which were
retained by him； while the above were in type； for the purpose of
revision； have been irrecoverably lost through the accident by which
he perished himself。 This； however； may prove not to be the case； and
the papers； if ultimately found； will be given to the public。
No means have been left untried to remedy the deficiency。 The
gentleman whose name is mentioned in the preface； and who； from the
statement there made； might be supposed able to fill the vacuum； has
declined the task…this； for satisfactory reasons connected with the
general inaccuracy of the details afforded him； and his disbelief in
the entire truth of the latter portions of the narration。 Peters；
from whom some information might be expected； is still alive； and a
resident of Illinois； but cannot be met with at present。 He may
hereafter be found； and will； no doubt； afford material for a
conclusion of Mr。 Pym's account。
The loss of two or three final chapters （for there were but two or
three） is the more deeply to be regretted； as it can not be doubted
they contained matter relative to the Pole itself； or at least to
regions in its very near proximity； and as； too； the statements of
the author in relation to these regions may shortly be verified or
contradicted by means of the governmental expedition now preparing
for the Southern Ocean。
On one point in the narrative some remarks may well be offered； and
it would afford the writer of this appendix much pleasure if what he
may here observe should have a tendency to throw credit； in any
degree； upon the very singular pages now published。 We allude to the
chasms found in the island of Tsalal； and to the whole of the figures
upon pages 245…47 ｛of the printed edition …ed。｝。
Mr。 Pym has given the figures of the chasms without comment； and
speaks decidedly of the _indentures _found at the extremity of the
most easterly of these chasms as having but a fanciful resemblance to
alphabetical characters； and； in short； as being positively _not
such。 _This assertion is made in a manner so simple； and sustained by
a species of demonstration so conclusive （viz。； the fitting of the
projections of the fragments found among the dust into the indentures
upon the wall）； that we are forced to believe the writer in earnest；
and no reasonable reader should suppose otherwise。 But as the facts
in relation to all the figures are most singular （especially when
taken in connection with statements made in the body of the
narrative）； it may be as well to say a word or two concerning them
all…this； too； the more especially as the facts in question have；
beyond doubt； escaped the attention of Mr。 Poe。
Figure 1； then； figure 2； figure 3； and figure 5； when conjoined with
one another in the precise order which the chasms themselves
presented； and when deprived of the small lateral branches or arches
（which； it will be remembered； served only as a means of
communication between the main chambers； and were of totally distinct
character）； constitute an Ethiopian verbal root…the root ｛image｝ 〃To
be shady；' whence all the inflections of shadow or darkness。
In regard to the 〃left or most northwardly〃 of the indentures in
figure 4； it is more than probable that the opinion of Peters was
correct； and that the hieroglyphical appearance was really the work
of art； and intended as the representation of a human form。 The
delineation is before the reader； and he may； or may not； perceive
the resemblance suggested； but the rest of the indentures afford
strong confirmation of Peters' idea。 The upper range is evidently the
Arabic verbal root ｛image｝。 〃To be white；〃 whence all the inflections
of brilliancy and whiteness。 The lower range is not so immediately
perspicuous。 The characters are somewhat broken and disjointed；
nevertheless； it can not be doubted that； in their perfect state；
they formed the full Egyptian word ｛image｝。 〃The region of the
south。' It should be observed that these interpretations confirm the
opinion of Peters in regard to the 〃most northwardly〃 of the；