Reading Help Around the world in eighty days Ch.I-VI
"Oh, very curious. Mosques, minarets, temples, fakirs, pagodas, tigers, `
` snakes, elephants! I hope you will have ample time to see the sights." `
` `
` "I hope so, Monsieur Fix. You see, a man of sound sense ought not `
` to spend his life jumping from a steamer upon a railway train, `
` and from a railway train upon a steamer again, pretending to make the tour `
` of the world in eighty days! No; all these gymnastics, you may be sure, `
` will cease at Bombay." `
` `
` "And Mr. Fogg is getting on well?" asked Fix, in the most natural `
` tone in the world. `
` `
` "Quite well, and I too. I eat like a famished ogre; it's the sea air." `
` `
` "But I never see your master on deck." `
` `
` "Never; he hasn't the least curiosity." `
` `
` "Do you know, Mr. Passepartout, that this pretended tour in eighty days `
` may conceal some secret errand--perhaps a diplomatic mission?" `
` `
` "Faith, Monsieur Fix, I assure you I know nothing about it, `
` nor would I give half a crown to find out." `
` `
` After this meeting, Passepartout and Fix got into the habit `
` of chatting together, the latter making it a point to gain `
` the worthy man's confidence. He frequently offered him a glass `
` of whiskey or pale ale in the steamer bar-room, which Passepartout `
` never failed to accept with graceful alacrity, mentally pronouncing `
` Fix the best of good fellows. `
` `
` Meanwhile the Mongolia was pushing forward rapidly; on the 13th, `
` Mocha, surrounded by its ruined walls whereon date-trees were growing, `
` was sighted, and on the mountains beyond were espied vast coffee-fields. `
` Passepartout was ravished to behold this celebrated place, and thought that, `
` with its circular walls and dismantled fort, it looked like an immense `
` coffee-cup and saucer. The following night they passed through the Strait `
` of Bab-el-Mandeb, which means in Arabic The Bridge of Tears, and the `
` next day they put in at Steamer Point, north-west of Aden harbour, `
` to take in coal. This matter of fuelling steamers is a serious `
` one at such distances from the coal-mines; it costs the Peninsular `
` Company some eight hundred thousand pounds a year. In these `
` distant seas, coal is worth three or four pounds sterling a ton. `
` `
` The Mongolia had still sixteen hundred and fifty miles to traverse `
` before reaching Bombay, and was obliged to remain four hours at `
` Steamer Point to coal up. But this delay, as it was foreseen, `
` did not affect Phileas Fogg's programme; besides, the Mongolia, `
` instead of reaching Aden on the morning of the 15th, when she was due, `
` arrived there on the evening of the 14th, a gain of fifteen hours. `
` `
` Mr. Fogg and his servant went ashore at Aden to have the passport `
` again visaed; Fix, unobserved, followed them. The visa procured, `
` Mr. Fogg returned on board to resume his former habits; while Passepartout, `
` according to custom, sauntered about among the mixed population of Somalis, `
` Banyans, Parsees, Jews, Arabs, and Europeans who comprise the twenty-five `
` thousand inhabitants of Aden. He gazed with wonder upon the fortifications `
` which make this place the Gibraltar of the Indian Ocean, and the vast cisterns `
` where the English engineers were still at work, two thousand years after `
` the engineers of Solomon. `
` `
` "Very curious, very curious," said Passepartout to himself, `
` on returning to the steamer. "I see that it is by no means useless `
` to travel, if a man wants to see something new." At six p.m. `
` the Mongolia slowly moved out of the roadstead, and was soon `
` once more on the Indian Ocean. She had a hundred and sixty-eight hours `
` in which to reach Bombay, and the sea was favourable, the wind being `
` in the north-west, and all sails aiding the engine. The steamer `
` rolled but little, the ladies, in fresh toilets, reappeared `
` on deck, and the singing and dancing were resumed. The trip `
` was being accomplished most successfully, and Passepartout `
` was enchanted with the congenial companion which chance had secured `
` him in the person of the delightful Fix. On Sunday, October 20th, `
` towards noon, they came in sight of the Indian coast: two hours `
` later the pilot came on board. A range of hills lay against the `
` sky in the horizon, and soon the rows of palms which adorn Bombay `
` came distinctly into view. The steamer entered the road formed by `
` the islands in the bay, and at half-past four she hauled up at the `
` quays of Bombay. `
` `
` Phileas Fogg was in the act of finishing the thirty-third rubber `
` of the voyage, and his partner and himself having, by a bold stroke, `
` captured all thirteen of the tricks, concluded this fine campaign `
` with a brilliant victory. `
` `
` The Mongolia was due at Bombay on the 22nd; she arrived on the `
` 20th. This was a gain to Phileas Fogg of two days since his `
` departure from London, and he calmly entered the fact in the `
` itinerary, in the column of gains. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter X `
` `
` IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT IS ONLY TOO GLAD TO GET OFF `
` WITH THE LOSS OF HIS SHOES `
` `
` `
` Everybody knows that the great reversed triangle of land, with its `
` base in the north and its apex in the south, which is called India, `
` embraces fourteen hundred thousand square miles, upon which is spread `
` unequally a population of one hundred and eighty millions of souls. `
` The British Crown exercises a real and despotic dominion over the `
` larger portion of this vast country, and has a governor-general `
` stationed at Calcutta, governors at Madras, Bombay, and in Bengal, `
` and a lieutenant-governor at Agra. `
` `
` But British India, properly so called, only embraces seven `
` hundred thousand square miles, and a population of from `
` one hundred to one hundred and ten millions of inhabitants. `
` A considerable portion of India is still free from British authority; `
` and there are certain ferocious rajahs in the interior who are `
` absolutely independent. The celebrated East India Company `
` was all-powerful from 1756, when the English first gained a foothold `
` on the spot where now stands the city of Madras, down to the time `
` of the great Sepoy insurrection. It gradually annexed province `
` after province, purchasing them of the native chiefs, whom it seldom paid, `
` and appointed the governor-general and his subordinates, civil and military. `
` But the East India Company has now passed away, leaving the British `
` possessions in India directly under the control of the Crown. `
` The aspect of the country, as well as the manners and distinctions of race, `
` is daily changing. `
` `
` Formerly one was obliged to travel in India by the old cumbrous methods `
` of going on foot or on horseback, in palanquins or unwieldy coaches; `
` now fast steamboats ply on the Indus and the Ganges, and a great railway, `
` with branch lines joining the main line at many points on its route, `
` traverses the peninsula from Bombay to Calcutta in three days. `
` This railway does not run in a direct line across India. `
` The distance between Bombay and Calcutta, as the bird flies, `
` is only from one thousand to eleven hundred miles; `
` but the deflections of the road increase this distance by more than a third. `
` `
` The general route of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway is as follows: `
` Leaving Bombay, it passes through Salcette, crossing to the continent `
` opposite Tannah, goes over the chain of the Western Ghauts, `
` runs thence north-east as far as Burhampoor, skirts the nearly `
` independent territory of Bundelcund, ascends to Allahabad, `
` turns thence eastwardly, meeting the Ganges at Benares, `
` then departs from the river a little, and, descending south-eastward `
` by Burdivan and the French town of Chandernagor, has its terminus at Calcutta. `
` `
` The passengers of the Mongolia went ashore at half-past four p.m.; `
` at exactly eight the train would start for Calcutta. `
` `
` Mr. Fogg, after bidding good-bye to his whist partners, left the steamer, `
` gave his servant several errands to do, urged it upon him to be at the station `
` promptly at eight, and, with his regular step, which beat to the second, `
` like an astronomical clock, directed his steps to the passport office. `
` As for the wonders of Bombay its famous city hall, its splendid library, `
` its forts and docks, its bazaars, mosques, synagogues, its Armenian churches, `
` and the noble pagoda on Malabar Hill, with its two polygonal towers-- `
` he cared not a straw to see them. He would not deign to examine `
` even the masterpieces of Elephanta, or the mysterious hypogea, `
` concealed south-east from the docks, or those fine remains of Buddhist `
` architecture, the Kanherian grottoes of the island of Salcette. `
` `
` Having transacted his business at the passport office, Phileas Fogg `
` repaired quietly to the railway station, where he ordered dinner. `
` Among the dishes served up to him, the landlord especially recommended `
` a certain giblet of "native rabbit," on which he prided himself. `
` `
` Mr. Fogg accordingly tasted the dish, but, despite its spiced sauce, `
` found it far from palatable. He rang for the landlord, and, `
` on his appearance, said, fixing his clear eyes upon him, `
` "Is this rabbit, sir?" `
` `
` "Yes, my lord," the rogue boldly replied, "rabbit from the jungles." `
` `
` "And this rabbit did not mew when he was killed?" `
` `
` "Mew, my lord! What, a rabbit mew! I swear to you--" `
` `
` "Be so good, landlord, as not to swear, but remember this: `
` cats were formerly considered, in India, as sacred animals. `
` That was a good time." `
` `
` "For the cats, my lord?" `
` `
` "Perhaps for the travellers as well!" `
` `
` After which Mr. Fogg quietly continued his dinner. Fix had gone `
` on shore shortly after Mr. Fogg, and his first destination was `
` the headquarters of the Bombay police. He made himself known `
` as a London detective, told his business at Bombay, and the `
` position of affairs relative to the supposed robber, and nervously `
` asked if a warrant had arrived from London. It had not reached `
` the office; indeed, there had not yet been time for it to arrive. `
` Fix was sorely disappointed, and tried to obtain an order of arrest `
` from the director of the Bombay police. This the director refused, `
` as the matter concerned the London office, which alone could legally `
` deliver the warrant. Fix did not insist, and was fain to resign himself `
` to await the arrival of the important document; but he was determined `
` not to lose sight of the mysterious rogue as long as he stayed in Bombay. `
` He did not doubt for a moment, any more than Passepartout, that Phileas Fogg `
` would remain there, at least until it was time for the warrant to arrive. `
` `
` Passepartout, however, had no sooner heard his master's orders `
` on leaving the Mongolia than he saw at once that they were to `
` leave Bombay as they had done Suez and Paris, and that the journey `
`
` snakes, elephants! I hope you will have ample time to see the sights." `
` `
` "I hope so, Monsieur Fix. You see, a man of sound sense ought not `
` to spend his life jumping from a steamer upon a railway train, `
` and from a railway train upon a steamer again, pretending to make the tour `
` of the world in eighty days! No; all these gymnastics, you may be sure, `
` will cease at Bombay." `
` `
` "And Mr. Fogg is getting on well?" asked Fix, in the most natural `
` tone in the world. `
` `
` "Quite well, and I too. I eat like a famished ogre; it's the sea air." `
` `
` "But I never see your master on deck." `
` `
` "Never; he hasn't the least curiosity." `
` `
` "Do you know, Mr. Passepartout, that this pretended tour in eighty days `
` may conceal some secret errand--perhaps a diplomatic mission?" `
` `
` "Faith, Monsieur Fix, I assure you I know nothing about it, `
` nor would I give half a crown to find out." `
` `
` After this meeting, Passepartout and Fix got into the habit `
` of chatting together, the latter making it a point to gain `
` the worthy man's confidence. He frequently offered him a glass `
` of whiskey or pale ale in the steamer bar-room, which Passepartout `
` never failed to accept with graceful alacrity, mentally pronouncing `
` Fix the best of good fellows. `
` `
` Meanwhile the Mongolia was pushing forward rapidly; on the 13th, `
` Mocha, surrounded by its ruined walls whereon date-trees were growing, `
` was sighted, and on the mountains beyond were espied vast coffee-fields. `
` Passepartout was ravished to behold this celebrated place, and thought that, `
` with its circular walls and dismantled fort, it looked like an immense `
` coffee-cup and saucer. The following night they passed through the Strait `
` of Bab-el-Mandeb, which means in Arabic The Bridge of Tears, and the `
` next day they put in at Steamer Point, north-west of Aden harbour, `
` to take in coal. This matter of fuelling steamers is a serious `
` one at such distances from the coal-mines; it costs the Peninsular `
` Company some eight hundred thousand pounds a year. In these `
` distant seas, coal is worth three or four pounds sterling a ton. `
` `
` The Mongolia had still sixteen hundred and fifty miles to traverse `
` before reaching Bombay, and was obliged to remain four hours at `
` Steamer Point to coal up. But this delay, as it was foreseen, `
` did not affect Phileas Fogg's programme; besides, the Mongolia, `
` instead of reaching Aden on the morning of the 15th, when she was due, `
` arrived there on the evening of the 14th, a gain of fifteen hours. `
` `
` Mr. Fogg and his servant went ashore at Aden to have the passport `
` again visaed; Fix, unobserved, followed them. The visa procured, `
` Mr. Fogg returned on board to resume his former habits; while Passepartout, `
` according to custom, sauntered about among the mixed population of Somalis, `
` Banyans, Parsees, Jews, Arabs, and Europeans who comprise the twenty-five `
` thousand inhabitants of Aden. He gazed with wonder upon the fortifications `
` which make this place the Gibraltar of the Indian Ocean, and the vast cisterns `
` where the English engineers were still at work, two thousand years after `
` the engineers of Solomon. `
` `
` "Very curious, very curious," said Passepartout to himself, `
` on returning to the steamer. "I see that it is by no means useless `
` to travel, if a man wants to see something new." At six p.m. `
` the Mongolia slowly moved out of the roadstead, and was soon `
` once more on the Indian Ocean. She had a hundred and sixty-eight hours `
` in which to reach Bombay, and the sea was favourable, the wind being `
` in the north-west, and all sails aiding the engine. The steamer `
` rolled but little, the ladies, in fresh toilets, reappeared `
` on deck, and the singing and dancing were resumed. The trip `
` was being accomplished most successfully, and Passepartout `
` was enchanted with the congenial companion which chance had secured `
` him in the person of the delightful Fix. On Sunday, October 20th, `
` towards noon, they came in sight of the Indian coast: two hours `
` later the pilot came on board. A range of hills lay against the `
` sky in the horizon, and soon the rows of palms which adorn Bombay `
` came distinctly into view. The steamer entered the road formed by `
` the islands in the bay, and at half-past four she hauled up at the `
` quays of Bombay. `
` `
` Phileas Fogg was in the act of finishing the thirty-third rubber `
` of the voyage, and his partner and himself having, by a bold stroke, `
` captured all thirteen of the tricks, concluded this fine campaign `
` with a brilliant victory. `
` `
` The Mongolia was due at Bombay on the 22nd; she arrived on the `
` 20th. This was a gain to Phileas Fogg of two days since his `
` departure from London, and he calmly entered the fact in the `
` itinerary, in the column of gains. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter X `
` `
` IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT IS ONLY TOO GLAD TO GET OFF `
` WITH THE LOSS OF HIS SHOES `
` `
` `
` Everybody knows that the great reversed triangle of land, with its `
` base in the north and its apex in the south, which is called India, `
` embraces fourteen hundred thousand square miles, upon which is spread `
` unequally a population of one hundred and eighty millions of souls. `
` The British Crown exercises a real and despotic dominion over the `
` larger portion of this vast country, and has a governor-general `
` stationed at Calcutta, governors at Madras, Bombay, and in Bengal, `
` and a lieutenant-governor at Agra. `
` `
` But British India, properly so called, only embraces seven `
` hundred thousand square miles, and a population of from `
` one hundred to one hundred and ten millions of inhabitants. `
` A considerable portion of India is still free from British authority; `
` and there are certain ferocious rajahs in the interior who are `
` absolutely independent. The celebrated East India Company `
` was all-powerful from 1756, when the English first gained a foothold `
` on the spot where now stands the city of Madras, down to the time `
` of the great Sepoy insurrection. It gradually annexed province `
` after province, purchasing them of the native chiefs, whom it seldom paid, `
` and appointed the governor-general and his subordinates, civil and military. `
` But the East India Company has now passed away, leaving the British `
` possessions in India directly under the control of the Crown. `
` The aspect of the country, as well as the manners and distinctions of race, `
` is daily changing. `
` `
` Formerly one was obliged to travel in India by the old cumbrous methods `
` of going on foot or on horseback, in palanquins or unwieldy coaches; `
` now fast steamboats ply on the Indus and the Ganges, and a great railway, `
` with branch lines joining the main line at many points on its route, `
` traverses the peninsula from Bombay to Calcutta in three days. `
` This railway does not run in a direct line across India. `
` The distance between Bombay and Calcutta, as the bird flies, `
` is only from one thousand to eleven hundred miles; `
` but the deflections of the road increase this distance by more than a third. `
` `
` The general route of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway is as follows: `
` Leaving Bombay, it passes through Salcette, crossing to the continent `
` opposite Tannah, goes over the chain of the Western Ghauts, `
` runs thence north-east as far as Burhampoor, skirts the nearly `
` independent territory of Bundelcund, ascends to Allahabad, `
` turns thence eastwardly, meeting the Ganges at Benares, `
` then departs from the river a little, and, descending south-eastward `
` by Burdivan and the French town of Chandernagor, has its terminus at Calcutta. `
` `
` The passengers of the Mongolia went ashore at half-past four p.m.; `
` at exactly eight the train would start for Calcutta. `
` `
` Mr. Fogg, after bidding good-bye to his whist partners, left the steamer, `
` gave his servant several errands to do, urged it upon him to be at the station `
` promptly at eight, and, with his regular step, which beat to the second, `
` like an astronomical clock, directed his steps to the passport office. `
` As for the wonders of Bombay its famous city hall, its splendid library, `
` its forts and docks, its bazaars, mosques, synagogues, its Armenian churches, `
` and the noble pagoda on Malabar Hill, with its two polygonal towers-- `
` he cared not a straw to see them. He would not deign to examine `
` even the masterpieces of Elephanta, or the mysterious hypogea, `
` concealed south-east from the docks, or those fine remains of Buddhist `
` architecture, the Kanherian grottoes of the island of Salcette. `
` `
` Having transacted his business at the passport office, Phileas Fogg `
` repaired quietly to the railway station, where he ordered dinner. `
` Among the dishes served up to him, the landlord especially recommended `
` a certain giblet of "native rabbit," on which he prided himself. `
` `
` Mr. Fogg accordingly tasted the dish, but, despite its spiced sauce, `
` found it far from palatable. He rang for the landlord, and, `
` on his appearance, said, fixing his clear eyes upon him, `
` "Is this rabbit, sir?" `
` `
` "Yes, my lord," the rogue boldly replied, "rabbit from the jungles." `
` `
` "And this rabbit did not mew when he was killed?" `
` `
` "Mew, my lord! What, a rabbit mew! I swear to you--" `
` `
` "Be so good, landlord, as not to swear, but remember this: `
` cats were formerly considered, in India, as sacred animals. `
` That was a good time." `
` `
` "For the cats, my lord?" `
` `
` "Perhaps for the travellers as well!" `
` `
` After which Mr. Fogg quietly continued his dinner. Fix had gone `
` on shore shortly after Mr. Fogg, and his first destination was `
` the headquarters of the Bombay police. He made himself known `
` as a London detective, told his business at Bombay, and the `
` position of affairs relative to the supposed robber, and nervously `
` asked if a warrant had arrived from London. It had not reached `
` the office; indeed, there had not yet been time for it to arrive. `
` Fix was sorely disappointed, and tried to obtain an order of arrest `
` from the director of the Bombay police. This the director refused, `
` as the matter concerned the London office, which alone could legally `
` deliver the warrant. Fix did not insist, and was fain to resign himself `
` to await the arrival of the important document; but he was determined `
` not to lose sight of the mysterious rogue as long as he stayed in Bombay. `
` He did not doubt for a moment, any more than Passepartout, that Phileas Fogg `
` would remain there, at least until it was time for the warrant to arrive. `
` `
` Passepartout, however, had no sooner heard his master's orders `
` on leaving the Mongolia than he saw at once that they were to `
` leave Bombay as they had done Suez and Paris, and that the journey `
`