Reading Help Around the world in eighty days Ch.VII-XIII
Passepartout saw, too, begging friars, long-robed pilgrims, `
` and simple civilians, with their warped and jet-black hair, `
` big heads, long busts, slender legs, short stature, and complexions `
` varying from copper-colour to a dead white, but never yellow, `
` like the Chinese, from whom the Japanese widely differ. `
` He did not fail to observe the curious equipages--carriages and palanquins, `
` barrows supplied with sails, and litters made of bamboo; nor the women-- `
` whom he thought not especially handsome--who took little steps with their `
` little feet, whereon they wore canvas shoes, straw sandals, and clogs `
` of worked wood, and who displayed tight-looking eyes, flat chests, `
` teeth fashionably blackened, and gowns crossed with silken scarfs, `
` tied in an enormous knot behind an ornament which the modern `
` Parisian ladies seem to have borrowed from the dames of Japan. `
` `
` Passepartout wandered for several hours in the midst of this motley crowd, `
` looking in at the windows of the rich and curious shops, the jewellery `
` establishments glittering with quaint Japanese ornaments, the restaurants `
` decked with streamers and banners, the tea-houses, where the odorous beverage `
` was being drunk with saki, a liquor concocted from the fermentation of rice, `
` and the comfortable smoking-houses, where they were puffing, not opium, `
` which is almost unknown in Japan, but a very fine, stringy tobacco. `
` He went on till he found himself in the fields, in the midst of vast `
` rice plantations. There he saw dazzling camellias expanding themselves, `
` with flowers which were giving forth their last colours and perfumes, `
` not on bushes, but on trees, and within bamboo enclosures, cherry, plum, `
` and apple trees, which the Japanese cultivate rather for their blossoms `
` than their fruit, and which queerly-fashioned, grinning scarecrows `
` protected from the sparrows, pigeons, ravens, and other voracious birds. `
` On the branches of the cedars were perched large eagles; amid the foliage `
` of the weeping willows were herons, solemnly standing on one leg; `
` and on every hand were crows, ducks, hawks, wild birds, and a `
` multitude of cranes, which the Japanese consider sacred, `
` and which to their minds symbolise long life and prosperity. `
` `
` As he was strolling along, Passepartout espied some violets among the shrubs. `
` `
` "Good!" said he; "I'll have some supper." `
` `
` But, on smelling them, he found that they were odourless. `
` `
` "No chance there," thought he. `
` `
` The worthy fellow had certainly taken good care to eat as `
` hearty a breakfast as possible before leaving the Carnatic; `
` but, as he had been walking about all day, the demands of hunger `
` were becoming importunate. He observed that the butchers stalls `
` contained neither mutton, goat, nor pork; and, knowing also that `
` it is a sacrilege to kill cattle, which are preserved solely for farming, `
` he made up his mind that meat was far from plentiful in Yokohama-- `
` nor was he mistaken; and, in default of butcher's meat, `
` he could have wished for a quarter of wild boar or deer, `
` a partridge, or some quails, some game or fish, which, with rice, `
` the Japanese eat almost exclusively. But he found it necessary `
` to keep up a stout heart, and to postpone the meal he craved till `
` the following morning. Night came, and Passepartout re-entered `
` the native quarter, where he wandered through the streets, `
` lit by vari-coloured lanterns, looking on at the dancers, `
` who were executing skilful steps and boundings, and the astrologers `
` who stood in the open air with their telescopes. Then he came `
` to the harbour, which was lit up by the resin torches of the fishermen, `
` who were fishing from their boats. `
` `
` The streets at last became quiet, and the patrol, the officers `
` of which, in their splendid costumes, and surrounded by their suites, `
` Passepartout thought seemed like ambassadors, succeeded the bustling crowd. `
` Each time a company passed, Passepartout chuckled, and said to himself: `
` "Good! another Japanese embassy departing for Europe!" `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter XXIII `
` `
` IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT'S NOSE BECOMES OUTRAGEOUSLY LONG `
` `
` `
` The next morning poor, jaded, famished Passepartout said to `
` himself that he must get something to eat at all hazards, and the `
` sooner he did so the better. He might, indeed, sell his watch; `
` but he would have starved first. Now or never he must use the `
` strong, if not melodious voice which nature had bestowed upon him. `
` He knew several French and English songs, and resolved to try them `
` upon the Japanese, who must be lovers of music, since they were `
` for ever pounding on their cymbals, tam-tams, and tambourines, and `
` could not but appreciate European talent. `
` `
` It was, perhaps, rather early in the morning to get up a `
` concert, and the audience prematurely aroused from their slumbers, `
` might not possibly pay their entertainer with coin bearing the `
` Mikado's features. Passepartout therefore decided to wait several `
` hours; and, as he was sauntering along, it occurred to him that he `
` would seem rather too well dressed for a wandering artist. The `
` idea struck him to change his garments for clothes more in harmony `
` with his project; by which he might also get a little money to `
` satisfy the immediate cravings of hunger. The resolution taken, `
` it remained to carry it out. `
` `
` It was only after a long search that Passepartout discovered a `
` native dealer in old clothes, to whom he applied for an exchange. `
` The man liked the European costume, and ere long Passepartout `
` issued from his shop accoutred in an old Japanese coat, and a sort `
` of one-sided turban, faded with long use. A few small pieces of silver, `
` moreover, jingled in his pocket. `
` `
` "Good!" thought he. "I will imagine I am at the Carnival!" `
` `
` His first care, after being thus "Japanesed," was to enter a tea-house `
` of modest appearance, and, upon half a bird and a little rice, `
` to breakfast like a man for whom dinner was as yet a problem to be solved. `
` `
` "Now," thought he, when he had eaten heartily, "I mustn't lose my head. `
` I can't sell this costume again for one still more Japanese. I must `
` consider how to leave this country of the Sun, of which I shall not retain `
` the most delightful of memories, as quickly as possible." `
` `
` It occurred to him to visit the steamers which were about to `
` leave for America. He would offer himself as a cook or servant, `
` in payment of his passage and meals. Once at San Francisco, `
` he would find some means of going on. The difficulty was, `
` how to traverse the four thousand seven hundred miles `
` of the Pacific which lay between Japan and the New World. `
` `
` Passepartout was not the man to let an idea go begging, `
` and directed his steps towards the docks. But, as he approached `
` them, his project, which at first had seemed so simple, began to grow `
` more and more formidable to his mind. What need would they have `
` of a cook or servant on an American steamer, and what confidence would `
` they put in him, dressed as he was? What references could he give? `
` `
` As he was reflecting in this wise, his eyes fell upon an immense `
` placard which a sort of clown was carrying through the streets. `
` This placard, which was in English, read as follows: `
` `
` ACROBATIC JAPANESE TROUPE, `
` HONOURABLE WILLIAM BATULCAR, PROPRIETOR, `
` LAST REPRESENTATIONS, `
` PRIOR TO THEIR DEPARTURE TO THE UNITED STATES, `
` OF THE `
` LONG NOSES! LONG NOSES! `
` UNDER THE DIRECT PATRONAGE OF THE GOD TINGOU! `
` GREAT ATTRACTION! `
` `
` "The United States!" said Passepartout; "that's just what I want!" `
` `
` He followed the clown, and soon found himself once more `
` in the Japanese quarter. A quarter of an hour later `
` he stopped before a large cabin, adorned with several `
` clusters of streamers, the exterior walls of which `
` were designed to represent, in violent colours `
` and without perspective, a company of jugglers. `
` `
` This was the Honourable William Batulcar's establishment. `
` That gentleman was a sort of Barnum, the director of a troupe `
` of mountebanks, jugglers, clowns, acrobats, equilibrists, `
` and gymnasts, who, according to the placard, was giving `
` his last performances before leaving the Empire of the Sun `
` for the States of the Union. `
` `
` Passepartout entered and asked for Mr. Batulcar, who straightway `
` appeared in person. `
` `
` "What do you want?" said he to Passepartout, whom he at first `
` took for a native. `
` `
` "Would you like a servant, sir?" asked Passepartout. `
` `
` "A servant!" cried Mr. Batulcar, caressing the thick grey beard `
` which hung from his chin. "I already have two who are obedient `
` and faithful, have never left me, and serve me for their nourishment `
` and here they are," added he, holding out his two robust arms, `
` furrowed with veins as large as the strings of a bass-viol. `
` `
` "So I can be of no use to you?" `
` `
` "None." `
` `
` "The devil! I should so like to cross the Pacific with you!" `
` `
` "Ah!" said the Honourable Mr. Batulcar. "You are no more a Japanese `
` than I am a monkey! Who are you dressed up in that way?" `
` `
` "A man dresses as he can." `
` `
` "That's true. You are a Frenchman, aren't you?" `
` `
` "Yes; a Parisian of Paris." `
` `
` "Then you ought to know how to make grimaces?" `
` `
` "Why," replied Passepartout, a little vexed that his nationality `
` should cause this question, "we Frenchmen know how to make grimaces, `
` it is true but not any better than the Americans do." `
` `
` "True. Well, if I can't take you as a servant, I can as a clown. `
` You see, my friend, in France they exhibit foreign clowns, `
` and in foreign parts French clowns." `
` `
` "Ah!" `
` `
` "You are pretty strong, eh?" `
` `
`
` and simple civilians, with their warped and jet-black hair, `
` big heads, long busts, slender legs, short stature, and complexions `
` varying from copper-colour to a dead white, but never yellow, `
` like the Chinese, from whom the Japanese widely differ. `
` He did not fail to observe the curious equipages--carriages and palanquins, `
` barrows supplied with sails, and litters made of bamboo; nor the women-- `
` whom he thought not especially handsome--who took little steps with their `
` little feet, whereon they wore canvas shoes, straw sandals, and clogs `
` of worked wood, and who displayed tight-looking eyes, flat chests, `
` teeth fashionably blackened, and gowns crossed with silken scarfs, `
` tied in an enormous knot behind an ornament which the modern `
` Parisian ladies seem to have borrowed from the dames of Japan. `
` `
` Passepartout wandered for several hours in the midst of this motley crowd, `
` looking in at the windows of the rich and curious shops, the jewellery `
` establishments glittering with quaint Japanese ornaments, the restaurants `
` decked with streamers and banners, the tea-houses, where the odorous beverage `
` was being drunk with saki, a liquor concocted from the fermentation of rice, `
` and the comfortable smoking-houses, where they were puffing, not opium, `
` which is almost unknown in Japan, but a very fine, stringy tobacco. `
` He went on till he found himself in the fields, in the midst of vast `
` rice plantations. There he saw dazzling camellias expanding themselves, `
` with flowers which were giving forth their last colours and perfumes, `
` not on bushes, but on trees, and within bamboo enclosures, cherry, plum, `
` and apple trees, which the Japanese cultivate rather for their blossoms `
` than their fruit, and which queerly-fashioned, grinning scarecrows `
` protected from the sparrows, pigeons, ravens, and other voracious birds. `
` On the branches of the cedars were perched large eagles; amid the foliage `
` of the weeping willows were herons, solemnly standing on one leg; `
` and on every hand were crows, ducks, hawks, wild birds, and a `
` multitude of cranes, which the Japanese consider sacred, `
` and which to their minds symbolise long life and prosperity. `
` `
` As he was strolling along, Passepartout espied some violets among the shrubs. `
` `
` "Good!" said he; "I'll have some supper." `
` `
` But, on smelling them, he found that they were odourless. `
` `
` "No chance there," thought he. `
` `
` The worthy fellow had certainly taken good care to eat as `
` hearty a breakfast as possible before leaving the Carnatic; `
` but, as he had been walking about all day, the demands of hunger `
` were becoming importunate. He observed that the butchers stalls `
` contained neither mutton, goat, nor pork; and, knowing also that `
` it is a sacrilege to kill cattle, which are preserved solely for farming, `
` he made up his mind that meat was far from plentiful in Yokohama-- `
` nor was he mistaken; and, in default of butcher's meat, `
` he could have wished for a quarter of wild boar or deer, `
` a partridge, or some quails, some game or fish, which, with rice, `
` the Japanese eat almost exclusively. But he found it necessary `
` to keep up a stout heart, and to postpone the meal he craved till `
` the following morning. Night came, and Passepartout re-entered `
` the native quarter, where he wandered through the streets, `
` lit by vari-coloured lanterns, looking on at the dancers, `
` who were executing skilful steps and boundings, and the astrologers `
` who stood in the open air with their telescopes. Then he came `
` to the harbour, which was lit up by the resin torches of the fishermen, `
` who were fishing from their boats. `
` `
` The streets at last became quiet, and the patrol, the officers `
` of which, in their splendid costumes, and surrounded by their suites, `
` Passepartout thought seemed like ambassadors, succeeded the bustling crowd. `
` Each time a company passed, Passepartout chuckled, and said to himself: `
` "Good! another Japanese embassy departing for Europe!" `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter XXIII `
` `
` IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT'S NOSE BECOMES OUTRAGEOUSLY LONG `
` `
` `
` The next morning poor, jaded, famished Passepartout said to `
` himself that he must get something to eat at all hazards, and the `
` sooner he did so the better. He might, indeed, sell his watch; `
` but he would have starved first. Now or never he must use the `
` strong, if not melodious voice which nature had bestowed upon him. `
` He knew several French and English songs, and resolved to try them `
` upon the Japanese, who must be lovers of music, since they were `
` for ever pounding on their cymbals, tam-tams, and tambourines, and `
` could not but appreciate European talent. `
` `
` It was, perhaps, rather early in the morning to get up a `
` concert, and the audience prematurely aroused from their slumbers, `
` might not possibly pay their entertainer with coin bearing the `
` Mikado's features. Passepartout therefore decided to wait several `
` hours; and, as he was sauntering along, it occurred to him that he `
` would seem rather too well dressed for a wandering artist. The `
` idea struck him to change his garments for clothes more in harmony `
` with his project; by which he might also get a little money to `
` satisfy the immediate cravings of hunger. The resolution taken, `
` it remained to carry it out. `
` `
` It was only after a long search that Passepartout discovered a `
` native dealer in old clothes, to whom he applied for an exchange. `
` The man liked the European costume, and ere long Passepartout `
` issued from his shop accoutred in an old Japanese coat, and a sort `
` of one-sided turban, faded with long use. A few small pieces of silver, `
` moreover, jingled in his pocket. `
` `
` "Good!" thought he. "I will imagine I am at the Carnival!" `
` `
` His first care, after being thus "Japanesed," was to enter a tea-house `
` of modest appearance, and, upon half a bird and a little rice, `
` to breakfast like a man for whom dinner was as yet a problem to be solved. `
` `
` "Now," thought he, when he had eaten heartily, "I mustn't lose my head. `
` I can't sell this costume again for one still more Japanese. I must `
` consider how to leave this country of the Sun, of which I shall not retain `
` the most delightful of memories, as quickly as possible." `
` `
` It occurred to him to visit the steamers which were about to `
` leave for America. He would offer himself as a cook or servant, `
` in payment of his passage and meals. Once at San Francisco, `
` he would find some means of going on. The difficulty was, `
` how to traverse the four thousand seven hundred miles `
` of the Pacific which lay between Japan and the New World. `
` `
` Passepartout was not the man to let an idea go begging, `
` and directed his steps towards the docks. But, as he approached `
` them, his project, which at first had seemed so simple, began to grow `
` more and more formidable to his mind. What need would they have `
` of a cook or servant on an American steamer, and what confidence would `
` they put in him, dressed as he was? What references could he give? `
` `
` As he was reflecting in this wise, his eyes fell upon an immense `
` placard which a sort of clown was carrying through the streets. `
` This placard, which was in English, read as follows: `
` `
` ACROBATIC JAPANESE TROUPE, `
` HONOURABLE WILLIAM BATULCAR, PROPRIETOR, `
` LAST REPRESENTATIONS, `
` PRIOR TO THEIR DEPARTURE TO THE UNITED STATES, `
` OF THE `
` LONG NOSES! LONG NOSES! `
` UNDER THE DIRECT PATRONAGE OF THE GOD TINGOU! `
` GREAT ATTRACTION! `
` `
` "The United States!" said Passepartout; "that's just what I want!" `
` `
` He followed the clown, and soon found himself once more `
` in the Japanese quarter. A quarter of an hour later `
` he stopped before a large cabin, adorned with several `
` clusters of streamers, the exterior walls of which `
` were designed to represent, in violent colours `
` and without perspective, a company of jugglers. `
` `
` This was the Honourable William Batulcar's establishment. `
` That gentleman was a sort of Barnum, the director of a troupe `
` of mountebanks, jugglers, clowns, acrobats, equilibrists, `
` and gymnasts, who, according to the placard, was giving `
` his last performances before leaving the Empire of the Sun `
` for the States of the Union. `
` `
` Passepartout entered and asked for Mr. Batulcar, who straightway `
` appeared in person. `
` `
` "What do you want?" said he to Passepartout, whom he at first `
` took for a native. `
` `
` "Would you like a servant, sir?" asked Passepartout. `
` `
` "A servant!" cried Mr. Batulcar, caressing the thick grey beard `
` which hung from his chin. "I already have two who are obedient `
` and faithful, have never left me, and serve me for their nourishment `
` and here they are," added he, holding out his two robust arms, `
` furrowed with veins as large as the strings of a bass-viol. `
` `
` "So I can be of no use to you?" `
` `
` "None." `
` `
` "The devil! I should so like to cross the Pacific with you!" `
` `
` "Ah!" said the Honourable Mr. Batulcar. "You are no more a Japanese `
` than I am a monkey! Who are you dressed up in that way?" `
` `
` "A man dresses as he can." `
` `
` "That's true. You are a Frenchman, aren't you?" `
` `
` "Yes; a Parisian of Paris." `
` `
` "Then you ought to know how to make grimaces?" `
` `
` "Why," replied Passepartout, a little vexed that his nationality `
` should cause this question, "we Frenchmen know how to make grimaces, `
` it is true but not any better than the Americans do." `
` `
` "True. Well, if I can't take you as a servant, I can as a clown. `
` You see, my friend, in France they exhibit foreign clowns, `
` and in foreign parts French clowns." `
` `
` "Ah!" `
` `
` "You are pretty strong, eh?" `
` `
`