An inventory of the instruments was then begun.  The thermometers and barometers were undamaged, with the exception of a minimum thermometer the glass of which was broken.  An excellent aneroid was taken out of its padded box and hung upon the wall.  Of course it was only acted upon by and indicated the pressure of the air inside the projectile; but it also indicated the quantity of moisture it contained.  At that moment its needle oscillated between 25.24 and 25.08.  It was at “set fair.”

Barbicane had brought several compasses, which were found intact.  It will be easily understood that under those circumstances their needles were acting at random, without any constant direction.  In fact, at the distance the projectile was from the earth the magnetic pole could not exercise any sensible action upon the apparatus.  But these compasses, taken upon the lunar disc, might show particular phenomena.  In any case it would be interesting to verify whether the earth’s satellite, like the earth herself, submitted to magnetical influence.

A hypsometer to measure the altitude of the lunar mountains, a sextant to take the height of the sun, a theodolite, an instrument for surveying, telescopes to be used as the moon approached—­all these instruments were carefully inspected and found in good condition, notwithstanding the violence of the initial shock.

As to the utensils—­pickaxes, spades, and different tools—­of which Nicholl had made a special collection, the sacks of various kinds of grain, and the shrubs which Michel Ardan counted upon transplanting into Selenite soil, they were in their places in the upper corners of the projectile.  There was made a sort of granary, which the prodigal Frenchman had filled.  What was in it was very little known, and the merry fellow did not enlighten anybody.  From time to time he climbed up the cramp-irons riveted in the walls to this store-room, the inspection of which he had reserved to himself.  He arranged and re-arranged, plunged his hand rapidly into certain mysterious boxes, singing all the time in a voice very out of tune some old French song to enliven the situation.

Barbicane noticed with interest that his rockets and other fireworks were not damaged.  These were important, for, powerfully loaded, they were meant to slacken the speed with which the projectile would, when attracted by the moon after passing the point of neutral attraction, fall upon her surface.  This fall besides would be six times less rapid than it would have been upon the surface of the earth, thanks to the difference of volume in the two bodies.

The inspection ended, therefore, in general satisfaction.  Then they all returned to their posts of observation at the lateral and lower port-lights.