Wailea Bay

Wailea Bay, located in the Fiji Islands, is a location visited by the Nautilus during its underwater tour of the world. The bay is marked by its connection to the unresolved fate of the French explorer the Count de La Pérouse, whose ships vanished in the late 18th century, and by its rich natural resources, particularly its extensive oyster beds.

Location and Historical Significance

The Nautilus drew near Wailea Bay, a place described as unlucky for England's Captain Peter Dillon, who was the first to shed light on the longstanding mystery surrounding the disappearance of ships under the Count de La Pérouse. The bay is situated within the Fiji Islands, an island group extending over an expanse of 100 leagues north to south and 90 leagues east to west, lying between latitude 2° and 6° south and longitude 174° and 179° west. The group includes the islands of Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, and Kadavu. The Dutch navigator Abel Tasman discovered this group in 1643, the same year the Italian physicist Torricelli invented the barometer and King Louis XIV ascended the French throne. Later, Captain James Cook in 1774, Rear Admiral Bruni d'Entrecasteaux in 1793, and Captain Dumont d'Urville in 1827 untangled the chaotic geography of this island group.

The Oyster Bank and the Nautilus's Visit

The bay's waters were repeatedly dredged by the Nautilus, furnishing a huge supply of excellent oysters. These mollusks belonged to the species Ostrea lamellosa, which are quite common off Corsica. The Wailea oyster bank was extensive, and the text notes that if they hadn't been controlled by numerous natural checks, these clusters of shellfish would have ended up jam-packing the bay, since as many as 2,000,000 eggs have been counted in a single individual. The visit to the bay also provided an opportunity for the crew to indulge in the oysters. Ned Land, the Canadian harpooner, did not repent of his gluttony at this oyster fest, because oysters are the only dish that never causes indigestion. It takes no less than sixteen dozen of these headless mollusks to supply the 315 grams that satisfy one man's minimum daily requirement for nitrogen.

Narrative and Thematic Significance

Wailea Bay serves as a geographical marker in the Nautilus's journey, a point where the narrative pauses to reflect on the mysteries of the sea and the fate of those who have ventured across it. The bay's association with the La Pérouse expedition, a real historical tragedy, deepens the novel's atmosphere of maritime peril and the unknown. The abundance of oysters also provides a moment of respite and pleasure for the characters, contrasting with the more dangerous and dramatic episodes of their voyage. The bay is a place where the natural world's fecundity is on display, and where the characters can engage in a simple, satisfying activity before the Nautilus continues its journey.