The Sea Tales of Master Catrame

THE ENGLISHMAN'S BELL

MEMO

The following text may present outdated depictions that are in no way or form shared by the translator themself, and neither are they shared by the original author of these stories.

Please understand that these stories' depictions are a depiction of their time.

A good translator strives to transfer the originality, tone, and idea of a text from its language of birth to its guest language, all the while respecting the intent and style of the original author.

These translated texts do not intend to bring offense, but just to share the adventures

written by Captain Emilio Salgari.

Adventures inspired by his love for traveling around the world, especially to far, foreign lands, his passion for ships and sailing in general, as well as his endless curiosity about other cultures and what's out there, beyond the horizon line.

VOCABULARY

papa = pet name for one's grandfather (or grandfather figure, in this case). (Source. 11.12.2025)

deck = the floorlike covering of the horizontal sections, or compartments, of a ship or boat. Small vessels have only one deck; larger ships have two or three decks. (Source. 15.01.2026)

mast = a tall, slim post or tower, usually tapering upward, used to support, for example, sails or observation platforms on a ship. (Source. 19.01.2026)

mast (alternative definition) = a tall spar*, or arrangement of spars, erected vertically or near-vertically on the median line of a ship or boat. A mast may carry sails, spars, and derricks**. (Source. 19.01.2026)

*spar = a pole of wood or metal used in the rigging*** of a sailing vessel to carry or support its sail. (Source. 28.10.2025).

**derrick = a device that is used for lifting and moving large objects. (Source. 19.01.2026)

***rigging = term used for the system of ropes, cables, and chains, which support and control the sailing ship's masts and sails. (Source. 28.10. 2025).

(sailing) vessel = a boat or ship powered by wind in its sails; a sailboat* or sailing ship. (Source. 19.01.2026)

*sailboat = a boat propelled by a sail. (Source. 19.01.2026)

Note: A vessel is not the same as a ship. A vessel is a broad term that includes all watercraft used for transportation and other maritime functions. Ships are a type of vessel. (Source. 19.01.2026)

atoll = a ring-shaped island, including a coral rim that encircles a lagoon and that supports, in most cases, one to many islets on the reef platform. (Source 1. 19.01.2026) (Source 2. 19.01.2026)

Erin = another name for Ireland. Taken from the Hiberno-English word for Ireland, it originates from the Irish word "Éirinn". According to Irish mythology and folklore, the name was originally given to the island by the Milesians (the Milesians/sons of Míl are the final race to settle in Ireland), after the goddess Ériu (matron goddess of Ireland in Irish mythology). (Source 1. 19.01.2026) (Source 2. 19.01.2026) (Source 3. 19.01.2026)

austral = southern. (Source. 15.01.2026)

vise = an instrument that consists of two jaws, closing by a screw, lever, cam, or the like, for holding work, as in filing. (Source. 21.01.2026)

stern = the rear of the hulls* of all nautical means of transportation. (Source. 02.12.2025)

*hull = the body or frame of a vessel, such as a ship or plane. (Source. 29.11.2025)

squal (nautical) = a sudden storm, as found in a squall line*. (Source. 22.01.2026)

*squall line = a line of thunderstorms, hundreds of miles long, with squalls at the advancing edge. (Source. 22.01.2026)

contropappafico (an archaic Italian nautical term; present-day term is controvelaccino) = the royal yard or sail of the foremast*. (Source. 30.10.2025)

foremast = the mast nearest the bow, on a sailing ship with more than one mast or a non-sailing ship with any masts. (Source. 30.10.2025)

Note: I haven't been able to find the exact English equivalent of contropappafico, nor for its more modern equivalent, controvelaccino. I am not sure, but it could be that its English equivalent is topgallant sail. A topgallant sail is a square-rigged sail immediately above the topsail (the latter one being a sail rigged just above the course sail and supported by the topmast on a square-rigged sailing ship). (Source 1. 30.10.2025) (Source 2. 30.10.2025).

22.01.2026 UPDATE: According to the Salgarian dictionary put together by Mister Fabio Negro over here, contropappafico is a term that derives from the Spanish word contro-papahigos, a term that never actually did make it in the vocabulary of the Italian navy, and which is used to refer to the highest sails of a mast.

Mister Fabio Negro, once again, bless you for putting this dictionary together!

command deck* (of a ship) (also known as: bridge; wheelhouse; pilothouse) = a room or platform of a ship, submarine, airship, or spaceship from which the ship can be commanded. (Source. 13.01.2026)

*deck = the floorlike covering of the horizontal sections, or compartments, of a ship or boat. Small vessels have only one deck; larger ships have two or three decks. (Source. 15.01.2026)

prow = may be used as a synonym for the more commonly used term, bow*, but it can also mean the most forward part of the bow that is above the waterline (the waterline is where the body of a ship meets the water). (Source. 17.10.2025).

*bow = the most forward point of a boat or ship. (Source. 17.10.2025).

sandbank = a landform consisting of a sand bar in water, which creates a shallow area which may pose a hazard to watercraft. (Source. 22.01.2026)

reef = a chain or range of rocks, sand, or coral lying at or near the surface of the water. (Source. 22.01.2026)

buoy = a float moored in water to mark a location, warn of danger, indicate a navigational channel or for other purposes. (Source. 22.01.2026) (You can see a picture of it here (22.01.2026)).

admiralty = the department or officers having authority over naval affairs generally. (Source. 22.01.2026)

🌊👨🔔

Just like the previous two days, neither on the third day did Papa Catrame show up on deck during the whole day. Did he want to be alone so he could search through his memories, so as to prepare another one of his sombre tales for us, or was his age weighing on his shoulders? Who could say?

But when, in the evening, he left the cargo hold and climbed up on deck, it seemed to me as if he was in a bad mood. He hadn't greeted anyone, hadn't even glanced at the sea, or at the masts, and hadn't even asked if anything unusual had happened on board. He went to sit on the barrel, took his head in his hands and seemed to have dozed off.

We were expecting some kind of frightening story, seeing as the narrator himself was not in a mood that inspired laughter. What could have his superstition-soaked brain possibly pondered this time?

Certainly nothing merry, even more so seeing as he was an old, sad man, as sad as the tales he would tell us, and as fantastical as the populations that live under the foggy horizons of the northern seas.

"Papa Catrame", the captain addressed him, "what's swirling around in your head tonight, given that you have a face as if you've just been to a funeral?"

"I am sad", the old man answered, shaking his head.

"It is possible that it is my Cipro* wine that is making you melancholic? If so, I will proceed to go wring the neck of that dodgy Muslim whom has sold it to me."

"Your Cipro wine is excellent."

"Then could it be that you are ill?"

Master Catrame shook his head, as if to say that that wasn't the case; then he slowly raised his gaze and setting it on us, spoke up with a voice that had a certain something to it:

"Do you believe in the bell of the dead?"

We all looked at one another, all under shock, mixed with fear. About what kind of bell did the old Master wish to speak about?

Not receiving a response, he asked again:

"Have you ever heard the ring of a bell, under the sea, during storms, before or after a catastrophy took place?"

"Papa Catrame", the captain said, "are you delirious or just dreaming...?"

"No", the old man answered energetically, "I am nor delirious nor dreaming; and one of you must have heard it on occasion."

"The ancient tales say that", he resumed, after a few moments of silence, "that during storms, the victims of the sea come up to the surface and ring the bell, in order to request a prayer from the sailors. You are grinning now, because you don't believe in these old sailors' tales; but wait! Later on, all of you whom will have listened, will believe in the bell of the dead, because Papa Catrame heard it ring right in the middle of the vast ocean."

"What a funereal story is that which you are going to tell us!", the captain exclaimed. "If you'll keep at it, you'll scare all of my small sea pups, causing them to disembark at our first dock, never again to return to sea."

Papa Catrame shrugged, lit up his piece of cigar so as to moisten his tongue, then began his third novella, amidst everyone's attention.

"I had become friends with an English sailor, whom had boarded the same vessel that I had gotten on. I couldn't paint you an accurate picture of the kind of man he was for he was bizarre, as eccentric as all of his compatriots were known to be, as superstitious as a girl, and always gloomy.

He was a man of few words, but he'd drink a lot, and once he'd reach the staggering state, he'd do nothing but talk about the dead, because, you see, he always had this lugubrious idea in his brain, that he was going to die very soon.

Each time would leave a port, he would come on board with his pockets completely empty, for he was certain that that would have been his last voyage. Outside of that, he was an excellent crewmate, his heart as big as could be, and would often buy drinks for the poorer crewmates, would do everyone a favour or another, and above all, he was a skilled sailor, respectful towards the officers, brave during storms, and overall a good fellowman; although he was British by birth, he was of Irish descent, and you know that the Irish are Catholics, just like us."

Master Catrame scratched his head, as if to chase away something from his mind, then resumed:

"His name was... Give a minute... My memory has weakened and it also has never been able to remember names... Yes... I think that was it... That eccentric man was called Morthon**, a not-quite-so-merry name, as you can see; and it could be that it was for this reason that he was constantly talking about the dead.

We had just left the ports of South America, and were headed to the Mascarene Islands***, I no longer remember if we were headed to the island of Bourbon or to that of the Union****. Morthon, holding true to his habits, had frittered all of his savings away in those taverns in both Brazil and the Argentine Republic, and had returned to the ship an hour before we left, with his pockets hanging loose.

I had, however, noticed that he had boarded in a rather bad mood, and that his visage, which had been scarred by smallpox, had a funereal vibe, just as I must have had it earlier, when the captain had pointed it out. Could he have been sensing his imminent end? I think so, for that sailor would never again see the foggy beaches of his England, neither the verdant shores of Erin*****.

One day, rather, one evening, as we were on guard duty on deck, he approached me, his face exhausted and his eyes wide, and asked:"Can you hear it...?"

"Hear what?", I asked, surprised.

"You really don't hear anything?"

"No, I don't hear anything except for the wind that's groaning through the rigging and the sails."

"That's odd!", he replied.

"Morthon, my friend, you're sleepy tonight: go to your old bed.", I told him.

He looked at me, his eyes full of terror, and walked away, gloomier than ever.

The next evening he approached me again, his expression still distraught and bathed in a cold sweat, asking me the same questions as the day before. I was starting to think that the brain of that poor Englishman had broken down and stopped paying him any kind of attention.

Five nights later, finding ourselves almost in the middle of the austral Atlantic Ocean, Morthon, whom was day by day becoming more and more despondent and taciturn, grabbed me by the arm, locking it as if a vise would had and violently dragged me to the stern as he asked me in a gasping breath:

"Can you really not hear it?"

"You're crazy, Morthon", I answered him."What kind of weird ideas are tormenting that head of yours?"

He looked straight at me, almost in disbelief of my words, then let out a deep sigh, as if a great burden that was weighing down on his heart had just been lifted off it, and wiped away the sweat that was flooding his pale visage.

"Are you not lying to me?", he asked me again after a few moments. "Are you truly not hearing anything? Listen, Catrame, listen intently."

I bent over the edge, pricked up my ears and listened for a long time, but I couldn't hear anything unusual except for the crashing of the waves. I looked at Morthon; he was staring at me with a horrified, extremely anxious expression, as if his life depended on my answer to him.

"I can't hear anything that could possibly scare you so.", I said. "Speak up: what can you hear?"

"A short time ago, I heard a bell, and it's been five nights since those funereal rings have been reaching my ears.", he answered me, his voice broken.

I looked at him horrified. An ancient sailors' legend says that when a sailor hear that bell, it's a sign that he's about to die, since the bell that's calling for him is the bell of his crewmates that are resting at the bottom of the oceanic abysses. If Morthon was hearing it, clearly he was about to die, seeing as his crewmates were waiting for him in the humid tomb, in the corals' kingdom.

I didn't want to scare him, so I told him it was crazy to believe in the ancient sailors' legends, that his was an obsessive thought inside his head, and not to worry. He didn't answer me; he walked away pensive, gloomy, mumbling to himself words I couldn't quite make out.

I hadn't seen him again for several days. I found out later that he had gotten ill, and that every now and then he'd have fits of rage. Two weeks later he showed up on deck once more, and the moment he saw me, he said:"Catrame, I know I am doomed for I am always hearing the bell. If I die, please remember me; and when they'll throw me overboard, please spare a prayer for your old friend. But careful, Catrame! Should you forget, I too, will return and ring the bell for you..."

That same night a violent squal unleashed itself over the Atlantic Ocean, and Morthon had fallen down from the highest sails of the mast (contropappafico), breaking his head on the steps of the command deck of the ship...! The bell of the shipwrecked sailors had summoned him!"

Papa Catrame came to a sudden stop: his emotions seemed to overwhelm him and had just become paler than usual. He grabbed the bottle of Cipro wine, gulping down half of it, as if trying to suffocate those painful memories, then, in a slow, monotone voice, resumed:

"The next day, while the squal continued to rage, the body of my ill-fated friend was being thrown overboard, but without the usual funeral rites seeing as the waves wouldn't cut us any slack and the ship being in serious danger. Amidst all that confusion, I had forgotten about the words of the departed and the request for the prayer had gone up in smoke.

I no longer thought about Morthon, until, on the third night after his death, while the sea was calm and a deep silence was reigning on board, I heard in the depths of the abysses the ringing of a bell.

I thought that I must've been hearing things, and I bent over the edge to hear better. I distinctly heard a bell ring under the sea; I shivered in fear, and for a moment, I thought I would have gone mad from the terror I had felt! Morthon was keeping his word!

I kneeled on the bow of the ship and murmured a prayer for the soul of that poor Englishman. Immediately, that funereal sound ceased, nor have I heard it since then."

We all remained silent, frightened as we looked at Papa Catrame, and pricking up our ears, we thought we also were hearing the Englishman's bell under waves of the Indian Ocean******. A roaring laughter tore us away from our meditation.

It was the captain that was laughing like so.

"What a lugubrious story!", he exclaimed. "Do tell, Papa Catrame: had you too much to drink that night?"

The old man furiously glared at him, then replied:

"Not even a drop of water."

"Then you were deceived, my good old man."

"Could it be that your famous scientists found the explication for that funereal sound?", the old master asked in a sharply sarcastic voice.

"The scientists have nothing to do with it; but a man of the sea will be the one to give you the explanation."

"Ah!", the sailors all exclaimed, incredulous.

"Tell me, Catrame", the captain resumed, "when you had heard the bell, where was your ship?"

"Near the island of Los Picos*******."

"Let me be the one to tell you that that's where the sound was coming from."

"Now that's a thing I'll never believe, cap'n."

"And why not?"

"Because there are neither churches, nor convents over there."

"I know."

"Nor are there men."

"I know."

"So? Did the rocks ring the bell?"

"No: the waves", the captain answered in a serious voice.

"You're driving me crazy!", the master exclaimed. "I can't understand you anymore."

"Catrame", the captain resumed after a few moments of silence, "do you what is used when a deserted island surrounded by sandbanks or by dangerous reefs does not have a lighthouse to warn of them?"

"I don't know", the master answered brusquely.

"A floating barrel or any old buoy is used as a bell is hanged from an iron cage.

My conclusion: your Englishman was a crazy man, a maniac that was set on dying, and the funereal sound that you have heard was coming from the bell that was placed there by the British admiralty near the sandbanks of Los Picos, so as to warn the ships about the existent dangers over there. It was nor men nor the dead that were ringing that bell, it's just that the waves shook the floating buoy. Got it, you superstitious old man?"

In that moment we heard in the belly of our ship the ringing of a bell. We all quickly stood up, pale, filled with terror; papa Catrame fell off the barrel and let a scream out.

The captain burst into a second, louder laughter.

"This is what fear does to one!", he said. "You think it's the bell of the dead, when it's our own, calling men on guard duty and at their posts on deck!... Have a good night, papa Catrame, and careful that the Englishman doesn't come here tonight, to pull at your leg!"

🌊👨🔔

Source of the tale. (22.01.2026)

Between fairy tales and reality: tRANSLATOR'S NOTE

Once again, despite Master Catrame's tales of horror, it turns out that this, too, is rooted in a much simpler reality and that it is the Captain that is correct: the type of buoy Master Catrame talks about is something that belongs to a category known as navigational buoy, and which is specifically known as a sea mark (or seamark or navigation mark), which is a form of aid to navigation and pilotage that identifies the approximate position of a maritime channel, hazard, or administrative area to allow boats, ships, and seaplanes to navigate safely, some of those sea marks having wave-activated bells or gongs.

There are three types of sea marks:

beacons (fixed to the seabed or on shore);
towers (built on the shore or on a submerged rock/object (especially in calmer waters), and sometimes made of rocks, too);
and buoys.

The one which Master Catrame talks about in his story and which he has heard is the buoy, which consists of a floating object that is usually anchored to a specific location on the bottom of the sea or to a submerged object (hence why he thought he heard the bell from the depths of the sea).

Sea marks are used to indicate channels, dangerous rocks or shoals, mooring positions, areas of speed limits, traffic separation schemes, submerged shipwrecks, and other navigational purposes.

Some are only intended to be visible in daylight (daymarks), others have some combination of lights, reflectors, fog bells (navigation mark used as an audible aid to navigation in seafaring, especially in fog and poor visibility), foghorns (also known as a fog signal, it is a device that uses sound to warn vehicles of navigational hazards such as rocky coastlines, or boats of the presence of other vessels, in foggy conditions) , whistles and radar reflectors (a retroreflector consisting of three mutually perpendicular, intersecting flat reflective surfaces; a picture can be seen here (22.01.2026)) to make them usable at night and in conditions of reduced visibility.

(Source 1. 22.01.2026) (Source 2. 22.01.2026) (Source 3. 22.01.2026) (Source 4. 22.01.2026) (Source 5. 22.01.2026)

___________________________________________________________________________________

*Cipro is a type of sweet, red wine, that has a sweet-bitter taste accompanied by a scent of roses with nuances of apricots and violets. It is originally from the Slovenian Istria, but it's a variety of wine that has almost died out due to the incredibly demanding cultivation of grapes. It is one of the oldest wines in the world, dating back to 2000 years before Christ. It is also known under the name Muscat rose (Croatian Istria) or Moscato rosa (Trentino, Italy).

(Source 1 (26.08.2025)). (Source 2 (26.08.2025)).

**Morthon is likely what is considered Salgarian penmanship. The original name is Morton, which is an English, Irish, and Scottish surname that derives from British place-names meaning "moor town" or "town on the moor." It combines the Old English words "mor," (which means moor or marsh), and "tun," (which means enclosure, settlement, or town). As a surname, it likely originated from individuals who lived near or in a town located on a moor. As a given name, Morton carries a sense of connection to the landscape and a grounded, established presence. Derivable or associated names include Mort, Morty, and Mortimer.

(Source 1. 19.01.2026) (Source 2. 19.01.2026) (Source 3. 19.01.2026)

*** The Mascarene Islands or Mascarenes or Mascarenhas Archipelago (Portuguese reading) is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar consisting of islands belonging to the Republic of Mauritius* as well as the French department of Réunion**.

*Mauritius, officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an island country in the Indian Ocean, about 2,000 kilometres off the southeastern coast of East Africa, east of Madagascar, which includes the main island (also called Mauritius), as well as the outer island of Rodrigues, two outer islands of Agaléga, St. Brandon (also known as the Cargados Carajos shoals) and the Chagos Archipelagos a group of seven atolls comprising more than 60 islands in the Indian Ocean about 500 kilometres (310 mi) south of the Maldives archipelago).

**Réunion (known as Île Bourbon before 1848) is an island in the Indian Ocean that is an overseas department and region of France within the African region. Part of the Mascarene Islands, it is approximately 679 kilometres (367 nautical miles) east of the island of Madagascar and 175 kilometres (94 nmi) southwest of the island of Mauritius. Its capital and largest city is Saint-Denis.

(Source 1. 19.01.2026) (Source 2. 19.01.2026) (Source 3. 19.01.2026) (Source 4. 19.01.2026) (Source 5. 19.01.2026) (Source 6. 19.01.2026)

****The island of Bourbon most likely refers to Île Bourbon, which was the name of the current island known as Réunion, before 1848, and which is located in the Indian Ocean. (Source. 19.01.2026)

I am unsure which is the Union Island that Captain Salgari refers to; as far as the present day is concerned, I could only find one island that is called Union Island and it is found in the Caribbean Sea.

It is part of the is part of the nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (also known as either Saint Vincent or SVG), which is an island country in the eastern Caribbean that is located in the southeast Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, at the southern end of the eastern border between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

While I find it unlikely that this is the Union Island that Captain Salgari mentions in his story, it is not entirely improbable, either.

(Source 1. 19.01.2026) (Source 2. 19.01.2026)

*****Erin is a personal name taken from the Hiberno-English word for Ireland (an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe), originating from the Irish word "Éirinn". According to Irish mythology and folklore, the name was originally given to the island by the Milesians after the eponymous matron goddess of Ireland, Ériu.

The English name for Ireland comes from the name Ériu and the Germanic (Old Norse or Old English) word land.

The Milesians or sons of Míl are the final race to settle in Ireland, according to the Lebor Gabála Érenn, a medieval Irish Christian history. The Milesians represent the Irish people, whom are Gaels who sail to Ireland from Iberia (Hispania) after spending hundreds of years travelling the Earth.

The name for Ireland in the Irish language itself is Éire.

(Source 1. 21.01.2026) (Source 2. 21.01.2026) (Source 3. 21.01.2026) (Source 4. 21.01.2026) (Source 5. 21.01.2026)

****** The Indian Ocean is the youngest ocean (being directly preceded by the Tethys Ocean, which fragmented into the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean only 20 million years ago), the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions and it is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia to the east. To the south it is bounded by the Southern Ocean or Antarctica, depending on the definition in use. The Indian Ocean has large marginal or regional seas, including the Andaman Sea*, the Arabian Sea**, the Bay of Bengal***, and the Laccadive Sea****. (Source. 22.01.2026)

*The Andaman Sea (also known as the Burma Sea) is a marginal sea of the northeastern Indian Ocean bounded by the coastlines of Myanmar (a country in northwest Southeast Asia) and Thailand (officially the Kingdom of Thailand, and formerly known as Siam until 1939, a country located in mainland Southeast Asia) along the Gulf of Martaban (The Gulf of Martaban or the Gulf of Mottama is an arm of the Andaman Sea in the southern part of Burma. The gulf is named after the port city of Mottama (formerly known as Martaban)) and the west side of the Malay Peninsula (located in Mainland Southeast Asia), and separated from the Bay of Bengal to its west by the Andaman Islands (an archipelago, made up of 200 islands, in the northeastern Indian Ocean) and the Nicobar Islands (archipelagic island chain in the eastern Indian Ocean, located in Southeast Asia). Its southern end is at Breueh Island just north of Sumatra (Breueh Island is an island in Pulo Aceh District, Aceh Besar Regency, part of Aceh Province of Indonesia off the northwest tip of the island of Sumatra (Sumatra is one of the Sunda Islands of western Indonesia. It is the largest island that is fully within Indonesian territory, as well as the sixth-largest island in the world)) , with the Strait of Malacca (a narrow stretch of water between the Malay Peninsula to the northeast and the Indonesian island of Sumatra to the southwest, connecting the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) and the South China Sea (Pacific Ocean)) further southeast. (Source 1. 22.01.2026) (Source 2. 22.01.2026) (Source 3. 22.01.2026) (Source 4. 22.01.2026) (Source 5. 22.01.2026) (Source 6. 22.01.2026) (Source 7. 22.01.2026) (Source 8. 22.01.2026) (Source 9. 22.01.2026) (Source 10. 22.01.2026)

**The Arabian Sea is a region of sea in the northern Indian Ocean, bounded on the west by the Arabian Peninsula (a peninsula in West Asia, situated north-east of Africa on the Arabian plate), Gulf of Aden (a deepwater gulf of the Indian Ocean) and Guardafui Channel (an oceanic strait off the tip of the Horn of Africa (also known as the Somali Peninsula, it's a large peninsula and geopolitical region in East Africa)), on the northwest by Gulf of Oman (a gulf in the Indian Ocean that connects the Arabian Sea with the Strait of Hormuz, which then runs to the Persian Gulf (is a mediterranean sea in West Asia)) and Iran (officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also known as Persia, it is a country in West Asia), on the north by Pakistan (a country in South Asia), on the east by India (a country in South Asia), and on the southeast by the Laccadive Sea and the Maldives (an archipelagic country in South Asia), on the southwest by Somalia (the easternmost country in continental Africa). (Source 1. 22.01.2026) (Source 2. 22.01.2026) (Source 3. 22.01.2026) (Source 4. 22.01.2026) (Source 5. 22.01.2026) (Source 6. 22.01.2026) (Source 7. 22.01.2026) (Source 8. 22.01.2026) (Source 9. 22.01.2026) (Source 10. 22.01.2026) (Source 11. 22.01.2026)

***Bay of Bengal forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean, located between the Indian subcontinent and the Indochinese peninsula, south of the Bengal region. (Source. 22.01.2026)

*****The Laccadive Sea (also known as the Lakshadweep Sea) is a body of water bordering India (including its Lakshadweep islands (an archipelago of 36 islands)), the Maldives (an archipelagic country in South Asia), and Sri Lanka (an island country in South Asia, and formerly known as Ceylon, as we've seen before in Captain Salgari's stories). It is located to the southwest of Karnataka (a state in the southwestern region of India), to the west of Kerala (a state on the Malabar Coast of India. The Malabar Coast is the southwestern region of the Indian subcontinent and it is a term that generally refers to the western coastline of India stretching from Konkan (a stretch of land by the western coast of India) to Kanyakumari (formerly known as Cape Comorin, it is a town and municipality in the state of Tamil Nadu in India)) and to the south of Tamil Nadu (the southernmost state of India). (Source 1. 22.01.2026) (Source 2. 22.01.2026) (Source 3. 22.01.2026) (Source 4. 22.01.2026) (Source 5. 22.01.2026) (Source 6. 22.01.2026) (Source 7. 22.01.2026) (Source 8. 22.01.2026) (Source 9. 22.01.2026) (Source 10. 22.01.2026)

*******I have been unable to find which island is Captain Salgari referring to here. The closest I could find is Pico Island, which is an island in the Central Group of the Portuguese Azores.

Viticulture over there grew rapidly.

However, the industry was disturbed by the last volcanic eruptions, but viticulture expanded commercial livelihood opportunities considerably.

Pico's famous verdelho wine production, dating back two centuries, was widely appreciated in many countries (including England and in the Americas and even in the palaces of the Russian czars).

Unfortunately, viticulture declined with the spread of powdery mildew (a type of fungi) and phylloxera (an insect pest of grapevines worldwide) during the middle of the 19th century, creating a crisis on the island that lasted until the 20th century. The other major economic activity was whaling. Spermwhale hunting became the primary industry around the island until it was abolished in 1986. The whale factory is currently a museum.

I would assume that due to that crisis, that island must've been abandoned back then, since its main livelihood came from viticulture. While nowadays it seems that people are still living there, this island still registers a continuos decline in its population.

(Source 1. 22.01.2026) (Source 2. 22.01.2026) (Source 3. 22.01.2026)

___________________________________________________________________________________

Personal Notes:

It is said that the stories written by Emilio Salgari are stories he would hear from sailors, when he would go to visit the dock.

His best and most known work, "Sandokan, The Tiger of Malaysia" has been proven to bear resemblance to true historical facts, starting with the firstly-thought-of-as-fictional island, Mompracem (currently known as Kuraman Island), and with the strong impression that Sandokan is no other than a fictional representation of Syarif Osman, who ruled Marudu (north of Borneo) (I recommend you go here for more information about Sandokan or Syarif Osman. Miss Bianca has done a marvelous job in finding, gathering, and translating information about Salgari and his works, especially those concerning the character of Sandokan).

Going by this, I strongly suspect that all of Emilio Salgari's stories are based on true, historical happenings and people, the sands of time mercilessly erasing most of their traces.

Emilio Salgari's stories feature places from all around the world; many of them feature places as far as possible from Europe itself. It is not far fetched that a story from your own hometown might be present in one of his writings, regardless of how remote or unknown you might think it might be to others.

If you know how to find the original, historical, sources of any of the stories present on this blog or if you even recognize one of them here as a local, known story (or legend) to you, please feel free to contact me.

I would love to put both the story written by Salgari and the historical one side by side and not let these names become forgotten.

Thank you very much for your assistance.

Search This Blog

The Tales of Captain Salgari