Littlebylittlethesceneonthequaybecamemoreanimated;sailorsofvariousnations,merchants,shipbrokers,porters,fellahs,bustledtoandfroasifthesteamerwereimmediatelyexpected。Theweatherwasclear,andslightlychilly。Theminaretsofthetownloomedabovethehousesinthepaleraysofthesun。Ajettypier,sometwothousandyardsalong,extendedintotheroadstead。Anumberoffishing-smacksandcoastingboats,someretainingthefantasticfashionofancientgalleys,werediscernibleontheRedSea。
Ashepassedamongthebusycrowd,Fix,accordingtohabit,scrutinizedthepassers-bywithakeen,rapidglance。
Itwasnowhalf-pastten。
`Thesteamerdoesn\'tcome!\'heexclaimed,astheportclockstruck。
`Shecan\'tbefaroffnow,\'returnedhiscompanion。
`HowlongwillshestopatSuez?\'
`Fourhours;longenoughtogetinhercoal。ItisthirteenhundredandtenmilesfromSueztoAden,attheotherendoftheRedSea,andshehastotakeinafreshcoalsupply。\'
`AnddoesshegofromSuezdirectlytoBombay?\'
`Withoutputtinginanywhere。\'
`Good,\'saidFix。`IftherobberisonboardhewillnodoubtgetoffatSuez,soastoreachtheDutchorFrenchcoloniesinAsiabysomeotherroute。HeoughttoknowthathewouldnotbesafeanhourinIndia,whichisEnglishsoil。\'
`Unless,\'objectedtheconsul,`heisexceptionallyshrewd。AnEnglishcriminal,youknow,isalwaysbetterconcealedinLondonthananywhereelse。\'
Thisobservationfurnishedthedetectivefoodforthought,andmeanwhiletheconsulwentawaytohisoffice。Fix,leftalone,wasmoreimpatientthanever,havingapresentimentthattherobberwasonboardthe`Mongolia\'。
IfhehadindeedleftLondonintendingtoreachtheNewWorldhewouldnaturallytaketherouteviâ;India,whichwaslesswatchedandmoredifficulttowatchthanthatoftheAtlantic。ButFix\'sreflectionsweresooninterruptedbyasuccessionofsharpwhistles,whichannouncedthearrivalofthe`Mongolia\'。Theportersandfellahsrusheddownthequay,andadozenboatspushedofffromtheshoretogoandmeetthesteamer。
Soonhergigantichullappearedpassingalongbetweenthebanks,andeleveno\'clockstruckassheanchoredintheroad。Shebroughtanunusualnumberofpassengers,someofwhomremainedondecktoscanthepicturesquepanoramaofthetown,whilethegreaterpartdisembarkedintheboats,andlandedonthequay。
Fixtookupaposition,andcarefullyexaminedeachfaceandfigurewhichmadeitsappearance。Presentlyoneofthepassengers,aftervigorouslypushinghiswaythroughtheimportunatecrowdofporters,cameuptohimandpolitelyaskedifhecouldpointouttheEnglishconsulate,atthesametimeshowingapassportwhichhewishedtohavevisaed。Fixinstinctivelytookthepassport,andwitharapidglancereadthedescriptionofitsbearer。Aninvoluntarymotionofsurprisenearlyescapedhim,forthedescriptioninthepassportwasidenticalwiththatofthebankrobberwhichhehadreceivedfromScotlandYard。
`Isthisyourpassport?\'askedhe。
`No,it\'smymaster\'s。\'
`Andyourmasteris——\'
`Hestayedonboard。\'
`Buthemustgototheconsul\'sinperson,soastoestablishhisidentity。\'
`Oh,isthatnecessary?\'
`Quiteindispensable。\'
`Andwhereistheconsulate?\'
`There,onthecornerofthesquare,\'saidFix,pointingtoahousetwohundredstepsoff。
`I\'llgoandfetchmymaster,whowon\'tbemuchpleased,however,tobedisturbed。\'
ThepassengerbowedtoFix,andreturnedtotheSteamer。
CHAPTERVIIWHICHONCEMOREDEMONSTRATESTHEUSELESSNESSOFPASSPORTSASAIDSTODETECTIVES。
Thedetectivepasseddownthequay,andrapidlymadehiswaytotheconsul\'soffice,wherehewasatonceadmittedtothepresenceofthatofficial。
`Consul,\'saidhe,withoutpreamble,`Ihavestrongreasonsforbelievingthatmymanisapassengeronthe\"Mongolia\"。\'Andhenarratedwhathadjustpassedconcerningthepassport。
`Well,MrFix,\'repliedtheconsul;`Ishallnotbesorrytoseetherascal\'sface;butperhapshewon\'tcomehere,-thatis,ifheisthepersonyousupposehimtobe。Arobberdoesn\'tquiteliketoleavetracesofhisflightbehindhim;and,besides,heisnotobligedtohavehispassportcountersigned。\'
`IfheisasshrewdasIthinkheis,consul,hewillcome。\'
`Tohavehispassportvisaed?\'
`Yes。Passportsareonlygoodforannoyinghonestfolks,andaidingintheflightofrogues。Iassureyouitwillbequitethethingforhimtodo;butIhopeyouwillnotvisathepassport。\'
`Whynot?IfthepassportisgenuineIhavenorighttorefuse。\'
`Still,ImustkeepthismanhereuntilIcangetawarranttoarresthimfromLondon。\'
`Ah,that\'syourlook-out。ButIcannot——\'
Theconsuldidnotfinishhissentence,forashespokeaknockwasheardatthedoor,andtwostrangersentered,oneofwhomwastheservantwhomFixhadmetonthequay。Theother,whowashismaster,heldouthispassportwiththerequestthattheconsulwoulddohimthefavourtovisait。Theconsultookthedocumentandcarefullyreadit,whilstFixobserved,orratherdevoured,thestrangerwithhiseyesfromacorneroftheroom。
`YouareMrPhileasFogg?\'saidtheconsul,afterreadingthepassport。
`Iam。\'
`Andthismanisyourservant?\'
`Heis;aFrenchman,namedPassepartout。\'
`YouarefromLondon?\'
`Yes。\'
`Andyouaregoing——\'
`ToBombay。\'
`Verygood,sir。Youknowthatavisaisuseless,andthatnopassportisrequired?\'
`Iknowit,sir,\'repliedPhileasFogg;`ButIwishtoprove,byyourvisa,thatIcamebySuez。\'
`Verywell,Sir。\'
Theconsulproceededtosignanddatethepassport,alterwhichheaddedhisofficialseal。MrFoggpaidthecustomaryfee,coldlybowed,andwentout,followedbyhisservant。
`Well?\'queriedthedetective。
`Well,helooksandactslikeaperfectlyhonestman,\'repliedtheconsul。
`Possibly;butthatisnotthequestion。Doyouthink,consul,thatthisphlegmaticgentlemanresembles,featurebyfeature,therobberwhosedescriptionIhavereceived?\'
`Iconcedethat;butthen,youknow,alldescriptions——\'
`I\'llmakecertainofit,\'interruptedFix。`Theservantseemstomelessmysteriousthanthemaster;besides,he\'saFrenchman,andcan\'thelptalking。Excusemeforalittlewhile,consul。\'
FixstartedoffinsearchofPassepartout。
MeanwhileMrFogg,afterleavingtheconsulate,repairedtothequay,gavesomeorderstoPassepartout,wentofftothe`Mongolia\'inaboat,anddescendedtohiscabin。Hetookuphisnote-book,whichcontainedthefollowingmemoranda:——`LeftLondon,Wednesday,October2nd,at8。45p。m。
`ReachedParis,Thursday,October3rd,at7。20a。m。
`LeftParis,Thursday,at8。40a。m。
`ReachedTurinbyMontCenis,Friday,October4th,at6。35a。m。
`LeftTurin,Friday,at7。20a。m。
`ArrivedatBrindisi,Saturday,October5th,at4p。m。
`Sailedonthe\"Mongolia\",Saturday,at5p。m。
`ReachedSuez,Wednesday,October9th,at11a。m。
`Totalofhoursspent,1581/2;or,indays,sixdaysandahalf。Thesedateswereinscribedinanitinerarydividedintocolumns,indicatingthemonth,thedayofthemonth,andthedayforthestipulatedandactualarrivalsateachprincipalpoint,-Paris,Brindisi,Suez,Bombay,Calcutta,Singapore,HongKong,Yokohama,SanFrancisco,NewYork,andLondon,-
fromthe2ndofOctobertothe21stofDecember;andgivingaspaceforsettingdownthegainmadeorthelosssufferedonarrivalateachlocality。
Thismethodicalrecordthuscontainedanaccountofeverythingneeded,andMrFoggalwaysknewwhetherhewasbehindhandorinadvanceofhistime。OnthisFriday,October9th,henotedhisarrivalatSuez,andobservedthathehadasyetneithergainednorlost。Hesatdownquietlytobreakfastinhiscabin,neveroncethinkingofinspectingthetown,beingoneofthoseEnglishmenwhoarewonttoseeforeigncountriesthroughtheeyesoftheirdomestics。
CHAPTERVIIIINWHICHPASSEPARTOUTTALKSRATHERMORE,PERHAPS,THANISPRUDENT。
FixsoonrejoinedPassepartout,whowasloungingandlookingaboutonthequay,asifhedidnotfeelthathe,atleast,wasobligednottoseeanything。,`Well,myfriend,\'saidthedetective,comingupwithhim,`isyourpassportvisaed?\'
`Ah,it\'syou,isit,monsieur?\'respondedPassepartout。`Thanks,yes,thepassportisallright。\'
`Andyouarelookingaboutyou?\'
`Yes;butwetravelsofastthatIseemtobejourneyinginadream。
SothisisSuez?\'
`Yes。\'
`InEgypt?\'
`Certainly,inEgypt。\'
`AndinAfrica?\'
`InAfrica。\'
`InAfrica!\'repeatedPassepartout。`Justthink,monsieur,IhadnoideathatweshouldgofartherthanParis;andallthatIsawofPariswasbetweentwentyminutespastsevenandtwentyminutesbeforenineinthemorning,betweentheNorthernandtheLyonsstations,throughthewindowsofacar,andinadrivingrain!HowIregretnothavingseenoncemorePè;relaChaiseandthecircusintheChampsElysé;es!\'
`Youareinagreathurry,then?\'
`Iamnot,butmymasteris。Bytheway,Imustbuysomeshoesandshirts。
Wecameawaywithouttrunks,onlywithacarpet-bag。\'
`Iwillshowyouanexcellentshopforgettingwhatyouwant。\'
`Really,monsieur,youareverykind。\'
Andtheywalkedofftogether,Passepartoutchattingvolublyastheywentalong。
`Aboveall,\'saidhe;`don\'tletmelosethesteamer。\'
`Youhaveplentyoftime;it\'sonlytwelveo\'clock。\'
Passepartoutpulledouthisbigwatch。`Twelve!\'heexclaimed;`whyit\'sonlyeightminutesbeforeten。\'
`Yourwatchisslow。\'
`Mywatch?Afamilywatch,monsieur,whichhascomedownfrommygreat-grandfather!
Itdoesn\'tvaryfiveminutesintheyear,it\'saperfectchronometer,lookyou。\'
`Iseehowitis,\'saidFix。`YouhavekeptLondontime,whichistwohoursbehindthatofSuez。Yououghttoregulateyourwatchatnoonineachcountry。\'
`Iregulatemywatch?Never!\'
`Well,then,itwillnotagreewiththesun。\'
`Somuchtheworseforthesun,monsieur。Thesunwillbewrong,then!\'
Andtheworthyfellowreturnedthewatchtoitsfobwithadefiantgesture。
Afterafewminutes\'silence,Fixresumed:`YouleftLondonhastily,then?\'
`Iratherthinkso!LastFridayateighto\'clockintheevening,MonsieurFoggcamehomefromhisclub,andthree-quartersofanhourafterwardswewereoff。\'
`Butwhereisyourmastergoing?\'
`Alwaysstraightahead。Heisgoingroundtheworld。\'
`Roundtheworld?\'criedFix。
`Yes,andineightydays!Hesaysitisonawager;but,betweenus,Idon\'tbelieveawordofit。Thatwouldn\'tbecommonsense。There\'ssomethingelseinthewind。\'
`Ah!MrFoggisacharacter,ishe?\'
`Ishouldsayhewas。\'
`Isherich?\'
`Nodoubt,forheiscarryinganenormoussuminbrand-newbank-noteswithhim。Andhedoesn\'tsparethemoneyontheway,either:hehasofferedalargerewardtotheengineerofthe`Mongolia\'ifhegetsustoBombaywellinadvanceoftime。\'
`Andyouhaveknownyourmasteralongtime?\'
`Why,no;IenteredhisservicetheverydayweleftLondon。\'
Theeffectoftheserepliesuponthealreadysuspiciousandexciteddetectivemaybeimagined。ThehastydeparturefromLondonSoonaftertherobbery;thelargesumcarriedbyMrFogg;hiseagernesstoreachdistantcountries;thepretextofaneccentricandfoolhardybet,-allconfirmedFixinhistheory。HecontinuedtopumppoorPassepartout,andlearnedthathereallyknewlittleornothingofhismaster,wholivedasolitaryexistenceinLondon,wassaidtoberich,thoughnooneknewwhencecamehisriches,andwasmysteriousandimpenetrableinhisaffairsandhabits。
FixfeltsurethatPhileasFoggwouldnotlandatSuez,butwasreallygoingontoBombay。
`IsBombayfarfromhere?\'askedPassepartout。
`Prettyfar。Itisatendays\'voyagebysea。\'
`AndinwhatcountryisBombay?\'
`India。\'
`InAsia?\'
`Certainly。\'
`Thedeuce!Iwasgoingtotellyou-there\'sonethingthatworriesme-myburner!\'
`Whatburner?\'
`Mygas-burner,whichIforgottoturnoff,andwhichisatthismomentburning-atmyexpense。Ihavecalculated,monsieur,thatIlosetwoshillingseveryfourandtwentyhours,exactlysixpencemorethanIearn;andyouwillunderstandthatthelongerourjourney——\'
DidFixpayanyattentiontoPassepartout\'stroubleaboutthegas?Itisnotprobable。Hewasnotlistening,butwascogitatingaproject。Passepartoutandhehadnowreachedtheshop,whereFixlefthiscompaniontomakehispurchases,afterrecommendinghimnottomissthesteamer,andhurriedbacktotheconsulate。Nowthathewasfullyconvinced,Fixhadquiterecoveredhisequanimity。
`Consul,\'saidhe,`Ihavenolongeranydoubt。Ihavespottedmyman。
Hepasseshimselfoffasanoddstick,whoisgoingroundtheworldineightydays。
`Thenhe\'sasharpfellow,\'returnedtheconsul,andcountsonreturningtoLondonafterputtingthepoliceofthetwocontinentsoffhistrack。\'
`We\'llseeaboutthat,\'repliedFix。
`Butareyounotmistaken?\'
`Iamnotmistaken。\'
`Whywasthisrobbersoanxioustoprove,bythevisa,thathehadpassedthroughSuez?\'
`Why?Ihavenoidea;butlistentome。\'
HereportedinafewwordsthemostimportantpartsofhisconversationwithPassepartout。
`Inshort,\'saidtheconsul,`appearancesarewhollyagainstthisman。
Andwhatareyougoingtodo?\'
`SendadespatchtoLondonforawarrantofarresttobedespatchedinstantlytoBombay,takepassageonboardthe\"Mongolia\",followmyroguetoIndia,andthere,onEnglishground,arresthimpolitely,withmywarrantinmyhand,andmyhandonhisshoulder。\'
Havingutteredthesewordswithacool,carelessair,thedetectivetookleaveoftheconsul,andrepairedtothetelegraphoffice,whencehesentthedespatchwhichwehaveseentotheLondonpoliceoffice。A
quarterofanhourlaterfoundFix,withasmallbaginhishand,proceedingonboardthe`Mongolia\';anderemanymomentslonger,thenoblesteamerrodeoutatfullsteamuponthewatersoftheRedSea。
CHAPTERIXINWHICHTHEREDSEAANDTHEINDIANOCEANPROVEPROPITIOUSTOTHEDESIGNS
OFPHILEASFOGG。
ThedistancebetweenSuezandAdenispreciselythirteenhundredandtenmiles,andtheregulationsofthecompanyallowthesteamersonehundredandthirty-eighthoursinwhichtotraverseit。The`Mongolia\',thankstothevigorousexertionsoftheengineer,seemedlikely,sorapidwasherspeed,toreachherdestinationconsiderablywithinthattime。ThegreaterpartofthepassengersfromBrindisiwereboundforIndia-someforBombay,othersforCalcuttabywayofBombay,thenearestroutethither,nowthatarailwaycrossestheIndianpeninsula。Amongthepassengerswasanumberofofficialsandmilitaryofficersofvariousgrades,thelatterbeingeitherattachedtotheregularBritishforces,orcommandingtheSepoytroopsandreceivinghighsalarieseversincethecentralgovernmenthasassumedthepowersoftheEastIndiaCompany:forthesub-lieutenantsget280l。,brigadiers,2400l。,andgeneralsofdivision,4000l。Whatwiththemilitarymen,anumberofrichyoungEnglishmenontheirtravels,andthehospitableeffortsofthepurser,thetimepassedquicklyonthe`Mongolia\'。Thebestoffarewasspreaduponthecabintablesatbreakfast,lunch,dinnerandtheeighto\'clocksupper,andtheladiesscrupulouslychangedtheirtoiletstwiceaday;andthehourswerewhiledaway,whentheseawastranquil,withmusic,dancingandgames。
ButtheRedSeaisfullofcaprice,andoftenboisterous,likemostlongandnarrowgulfs。WhenthewindcamefromtheAfricanorAsiancoastthe`Mongolia\',withherlonghull,rolledfearfully。Thentheladiesspeedilydisappearedbelow;thepianosweresilent;singinganddancingsuddenlyceased。Yetthegoodshipploughedstraighton,unretardedbywindorwave,towardsthestraitsofBab-el-Mandeb。WhatwasPhileasFoggdoingallthistime?Itmightbethoughtthat,inhisanxiety,hewouldbeconstantlywatchingthechangesofthewind,thedisorderlyragingofthebillows-everychance,inshort,whichmightforcethe`Mongolia\'toslackenherspeed,andthusinterrupthisjourney。Butifhethoughtofthesepossibilities,hedidnotbetraythefactbyanyoutwardsign。
AlwaysthesameimpassablememberoftheReformClub,whomnoincidentcouldsurprise,asunvaryingastheship\'schronometers,andseldomhavingthecuriosityeventogouponthedeck,hepassedthroughthememorablescenesoftheRedSeawithcoldindifference;didnotcaretorecognizethehistorictownsandvillageswhich,alongitsborders,raisedtheirpicturesqueoutlinesagainstthesky;andbetrayednofearofthedangersoftheArabicGulf,whichtheoldhistoriansalwaysspokeofwithhorror,anduponwhichtheancientnavigatorsneverventuredwithoutpropitiatingthegodsbyamplesacrifices。Howdidthiseccentricpersonagepassthetimeonthe`Mongolia\'?Hemadehisfourheartymealseveryday,regardlessofthemostpersistentrollingandpitchingonthepartofthesteamer;
andheplayedwhistindefatigably,forhehadfoundpartnersasenthusiasticinthegameashimself。Ataxcollector,onthewaytohispostatGoa;
theRevDecimusSmith,returningtohisparishatBombay;andabrigadier-generaloftheEnglisharmy,whowasabouttorejoinhisbrigadeatBenares,madeuptheparty,and,withMrFogg,playedwhistbythehourtogetherinabsorbingsilence。
AsforPassepartout,he,too,hadescapedseasickness,andtookhismealsconscientiouslyintheforwardcabin。Heratherenjoyedthevoyage,forhewaswellfedandwelllodged,tookagreatinterestinthescenesthroughwhichtheywerepassing,andconsoledhimselfwiththedelusionthathismaster\'swhimwouldendatBombay。Hewaspleased,onthedayafterleavingSuez,tofindondecktheobligingpersonwithwhomhehadwalkedandchattedonthequays。
`IfIamnotmistaken,\'saidhe,approachingthispersonwithhismostamiablesmile,`youarethegentlemanwhosokindlyvolunteeredtoguidemeatSuez?\'
`Ah!Iquiterecognizeyou。YouaretheservantofthestrangeEnglishman——\'
`Justso,Monsieur——\'
`Fix。\'
`MonsieurFix,\'resumedPassepartout,`I\'mcharmedtofindyouonboard。
Whereareyoubound?\'
`Likeyou,toBombay。\'
`That\'scapital!Haveyoumadethistripbefore?\'
`Severaltimes。IamoneoftheagentsofthePeninsulaCompany。\'
`ThenyouknowIndia?\'
`Why-yes,\'repliedFix,whospokecautiously。
`Acuriousplace,thisIndia?\'
`Oh,verycurious。Mosques,minarets,temples,fakirs,pagodas,tigers,snakes,elephants!Ihopeyouwillhaveampletimetoseethesights。\'
`Ihopeso,MonsieurFix。Yousee,amanofsoundsenseoughtnottospendhislifejumpingfromasteameruponarailwaytrain,andfromarailwaytrainuponasteameragain,pretendingtomakethetouroftheworldineightydays!No;allthesegymnastics,youmaybesure,willceaseatBombay。\'
`AndMrFoggisgettingonwell?\'askedFix,inthemostnaturaltoneintheworld。
`Quitewell,andItoo。Ieatlikeafamishedogre;it,theseaair。\'
`ButIneverseeyourmasterondeck。\'
`Never;hehasn\'ttheleastcuriosity。\'
`Doyouknow,MrPassepartout,thatthispretendedtourineightydaysmayconcealsomesecreterrand-perhapsadiplomaticmission?\'
`Faith,MonsieurFix,IassureyouIknownothingaboutit,norwouldIgivehalf-a-crowntofindout。\'
Afterthismeeting,PassepartoutandFixgotintothehabitofchattingtogether,thelattermakingitapointtogaintheworthyman\'sconfidence。
Hefrequentlyofferedhimaglassofwhiskyorpalealeinthesteamerbar-room,whichPassepartoutneverfailedtoacceptwithgracefulalacrity,mentallypronouncingFixthebestofgoodfellows。
Meanwhilethe`Mongolia\'waspushingforwardrapidly;onthe13th,Mocha,surroundedbyitsruinedwallswhereondate-treesweregrowing,wassighted,andonthemountainsbeyondwereespiedvastcoffee-fields。Passepartoutwasravishedtobeholdthiscelebratedplace,andthoughtthat,withitscircularwallsanddismantledfort,itlookedlikeanimmensecoffeecupandsaucer。ThefollowingnighttheypassedthroughtheStraitofBab-el-Mandeb,whichmeansinArabic`TheBridgeofTears\',andthenextdaytheyputinatSteamerPoint,north-westofAdenharbour,totakeincoal。Thismatteroffuellingsteamersisaseriousoneatsuchdistancesfromthecoalmines;itcoststhePeninsularCompanysomeeighthundredthousandpoundsayear。Inthesedistantseas,coalisworththreeorfourpoundssterlingaton。
The`Mongolia\'hadstillsixteenhundredandfiftymilestotraversebeforereachingBombay,andwasobligedtoremainfourhoursatSteamerPointtocoalup。Butthisdelay,asitwasforeseen,didnotaffectPhileasFogg\'sprogramme;besides,the`Mongolia\',insteadofreachingAdenonthemorningofthe15th,whenshewasdue,arrivedthereontheeveningofthe14th,againoffifteenhours。
MrFoggandhisservantwentashoreatAdentohavethepassportagainvisaed;Fix,unobserved,followedthem。Thevisaprocured,MrFoggreturnedonboardtoresumehisformerhabits;whilePassepartout,accordingtocustom,saunteredaboutamongthemixedpopulationofSomalis,Banyans,Parsees,Jews,ArabsandEuropeanswhocomprisethetwenty-fivethousandinhabitantsofAden。HegazedwithwonderuponthefortificationswhichmakethisplacetheGibraltaroftheIndianOcean,andthevastcisternswheretheEnglishengineerswerestillatwork,twothousandyearsaftertheengineersofSolomon。
`Verycurious,verycurious,\'saidPassepartouttohimself,onreturningtothesteamer。`Iseethatitisbynomeansuselesstotravel,ifamanwantstoseesomethingnew。\'Atsixp。m。the`Mongolia\'slowlymovedoutoftheroadstead,andwassoononcemoreontheIndianOcean。
Shehadahundredandsixty-eighthoursinwhichtoreachBombay,andtheseawasfavourable,thewindbeinginthenorth-west,andallsailsaidingtheengine。Thesteamerrolledbutlittle,theladies,infreshtoilets,reappearedondeck,andthesinginganddancingwereresumed。Thetripwasbeingaccomplishedmostsuccessfully,andPassepartoutwasenchantedwiththecongenialcompanionwhichchancehadsecuredhiminthepersonofthedelightfulFix。OnSunday,October20th,towardsnoon,theycameinsightoftheIndiancoast:twohourlaterpilotcameonboard。Arangeofhillslayagainsttheskyinthehorizon,andsoontherowsofpalmswhichadornBombaycamedistinctlyintoview。Thesteamerenteredtheroadformedbytheislandsinthebay,andathalf-pastfourshehauledupatthequaysofBombay。
PhileasFoggwasintheactoffinishingthethirty-thirdrubberofthevoyage,andhispartnerandhimselfhaving,byaboldstroke,capturedallthirteenofthetricks,concludedthisfinecampaignwithabrilliantvictory。
The`Mongolia\'wasdueatBombayonthe22nd;shearrivedonthe20th。
ThiswasagaintoPhileasFoggoftwodayssincehisdeparturefromLondon,andhecalmlyenteredthefactintheitinerary,inthecolumnofgains。
CHAPTERXINWHICHPASSEPARTOUTISONLYTOOGLADTOGETOFFWITHTHELOSSOFHIS
SHOES。
Everybodyknowsthatthegreatreversedtriangleofland,withitsbaseinthenorthanditsapexinthesouth,whichiscalledIndia,embracesfourteenhundredthousandsquaremiles,uponwhichisspreadunequallyapopulationofonehundredandeightymillionsofsouls。TheBritishCrownexercisesarealanddespoticdominionoverthelargerportionofthisvastcountry,andhasagovernor-generalstationedatCalcutta,governorsatMadras,Bombay,andinBengal,andalieutenant-governoratAgra。
ButBritishIndia,properlysocalled,onlyembracessevenhundredthousandsquaremiles,andapopulationoffromonehundredtoonehundredandtenmillionsofinhabitants。AconsiderableportionofIndiaisstillfreefromBritishauthority;andtherearecertainferociousrajahsintheinteriorwhoareabsolutelyindependent。ThecelebratedEastIndiaCompanywasall-powerfulfrom1756,whentheEnglishfirstgainedafootholdonthespotwherenowstandsthecityofMadras,downtothetimeofthegreatSepoyinsurrection。
Itgraduallyannexedprovinceafterprovince,purchasingthemofthenativechiefs,whomitseldompaid,andappointedthegovernor-generalandhissubordinates,civilandmilitary。ButtheEastIndiaCompanyhasnowpassedaway,leavingtheBritishpossessionsinIndiadirectlyunderthecontroloftheCrown。Theaspectofthecountry,aswellasthemannersanddistinctionsofrace,isdailychanging。
FormerlyonewasobligedtotravelinIndiabytheoldcumbrousmethodsofgoingonfootoronhorseback,inpalanquinsorunwieldycoaches;now,faststeamboatsplyontheIndusandtheGanges,andagreatrailway,withbranchlinesjoiningthemainlineatmanypointsonitsroute,traversesthepeninsulafromBombaytoCalcuttainthreedays。ThisrailwaydoesnotruninadirectlineacrossIndia。ThedistancebetweenBombayandCalcutta,asthebirdflies,isonlyfromonethousandtoelevenhundredmiles;butthedeflectionsoftheroadincreasethisdistancebymorethanathird。
ThegeneralrouteoftheGreatIndianPeninsulaRailwayisasfollows:-
LeavingBombay,itpassesthroughSalcette,crossingtothecontinentoppositeTannah,goesoverthechainoftheWesternGhauts,runsthencenorth-eastasfarasBurhampoor,skirtsthenearlyindependentterritoryofBundelcund,ascendstoAllahabad,turnsthenceeastwardly,meetingtheGangesatBenares,thendepartsfromtheriveralittle,and,descendingsouth-eastwardbyBurdivanandtheFrenchtownofChandernagor,hasitsterminusatCalcutta。
Thepassengersofthe`Mongolia\'wentashoreathalf-pastfourp。m。;
atexactlyeightthetrainwouldstartforCalcutta。
MrFogg,afterbiddinggood-byetohiswhistpartners,leftthesteamer,gavehisservantseveralerrandstodo,urgedituponhimtobeatthestationpromptlyateight,and,withhisregularstep,whichbeattothesecond,likeanastronomicalclock,directedhisStepstothepassportoffice。AsforthewondersofBombay-itsfamouscityhall,itssplendidlibrary,itsfortsanddocks,itsbazaars,mosques,synagogues,itsArmenianchurches,andthenoblepagodaonMalabarHillwithitstwopolygonaltowers-hecarednotastrawtoseethem。HewouldnotdeigntoexamineeventhemasterpiecesofElephanta,orthemysterioushypogea,concealedsoutheastfromthedocks,orthosefineremainsofBuddhistarchitecture,theKanheriangrottoesoftheislandofSalcette。
Havingtransactedhisbusinessatthepassportoffice,PhileasFoggrepairedquietlytotherailwaystation,whereheordereddinner。Amongthedishesserveduptohim,thelandlordespeciallyrecommendedacertaingibletof`nativerabbit\',onwhichhepridedhimself。
MrFoggaccordinglytastedthedish,but,despiteitsspicedsauce,founditfarfrompalatable。Herangforthelandlord,andonhisappearance,said,fixinghiscleareyesuponhim,`Isthisrabbit,sir?\'
`Yes,mylord,\'therogueboldlyreplied,`rabbitfromthejungles。\'
`Andthisrabbitdidnotmewwhenhewaskilled?\'
`Mew,mylord!What,arabbitmew!Isweartoyou——\'
`Besogood,landlord,asnottoswear,butrememberthis:catswereformerlyconsidered,inIndia,assacredanimals。Thatwasagoodtime。\'
`Forthecats,mylord?\'
`Perhapsforthetravellersaswell!\'
AfterwhichMrFoggquietlycontinuedhisdinner。FixhadgoneonshoreshortlyafterMrFogg,andhisfirstdestinationwastheheadquartersoftheBombaypolice。HemadehimselfknownasaLondondetective,toldhisbusinessatBombay,andthepositionofaffairsrelativetothesupposedrobber,andnervouslyaskedifawarranthadarrivedfromLondon。Ithadnotreachedtheoffice;indeed,therehadnotyetbeentimeforittoarrive。
Fixwassorelydisappointed,andtriedtoobtainanorderofarrestfromthedirectoroftheBombaypolice。Thisthedirectorrefused,asthematterconcernedtheLondonoffice,whichalonecouldlegallydeliverthewarrant。
Fixdidnotinsist,andwasfaintoresignhimselftoawaitthearrivaloftheimportantdocument;buthewasdeterminednottolosesightofthemysteriousrogueaslongashestayedinBombay。Hedidnotdoubtforamoment,anymorethanPassepartout,thatPhileasFoggwouldremainthere,atleastuntilitwastimeforthewarranttoarrive。
Passepartout,however,hadnosoonerheardhismaster\'sordersonleavingthe`Mongolia\',thanhesawatoncethattheyweretoleaveBombayastheyhaddoneSuezandParis,andthatthejourneywouldbeextendedatleastasfarasCalcutta,andperhapsbeyondthatplace。HebegantoaskhimselfifthisbetthatMrFoggtalkedaboutwasnotreallyingoodearnest,andwhetherhisfatewasnotintruthforcinghim,despitehisloveofrepose,aroundtheworldineightydays!
Havingpurchasedtheusualquotaofshirtsandshoes,hetookaleisurelypromenadeaboutthestreets,wherecrowdsofpeopleofmanynationalities-Europeans,Persianswithpointedcaps,Banyaswithroundturbans,Sindiswithsquarebonnets,Parseeswithblackmitresandlong-robedArmenians-werecollected。IthappenedtobethedayofaParseefestival。ThesedescendantsofthesectofZoroaster-themostthrifty,civilized,intelligentandaustereoftheEastIndians,amongwhomarecountedtherichestnativemerchantsofBombay-werecelebratingasortofreligiouscarnival,withprocessionsandshows,inthemidstofwhichIndiandancing-girls,clothedinrose-colouredgauze,loopedupwithgoldandsilver,dancedairily,butwithperfectmodesty,tothesoundofviolsandtheclangingoftambourines。
ItisneedlesstosaythatPassepartoutwatchedthesecuriousceremonieswithstaringeyesandgapingmouth,andthathiscountenancewasthatofthegreenestboobyimaginable。
Unhappilyforhismaster,aswellashimself,hiscuriositydrewhimunconsciouslyfartheroffthanheintendedtogo。Atlast,havingseentheParseecarnivalwindawayinthedistance,hewasturninghisstepstowardsthestation,whenhehappenedtoespythesplendidpagodaonMalabarHill,andwasseizedwithanirresistibledesiretoseeitsinterior。HewasquiteignorantthatitisforbiddentoChristianstoentercertainIndiantemples,andthateventhefaithfulmustnotgoinwithoutfirstleavingtheirshoesoutsidethedoor。ItmaybesaidherethatthewisepolicyoftheBritishGovernmentseverelypunishesadisregardofthepracticesofthenativereligions。
Passepartout,however,thinkingnoharm,wentinlikeasimpletourist,andwassoonlostinadmirationofthesplendidBrahminornamentationwhicheverywheremethiseyes,whenofasuddenhefoundhimselfsprawlingonthesacredflagging。Helookeduptobeholdthreeenragedpriests,whoforthwithfelluponhim,toreoffhisshoes,andbegantobeathimwithloud,savageexclamations。TheagileFrenchmanwassoonuponhisfeetagain,andlostnotimeinknockingdowntwoofhislong-gownedadversarieswithhisfistsandavigorousapplicationofhistoes;then,rushingoutofthepagodaasfastashislegscouldcarryhim,hesoonescapedthethirdpriestbyminglingwiththecrowdinthestreets。
Atfiveminutesbeforeeight,Passepartout,hatless,shoeless,andhavinginthesquabblelosthispackageofshirtsandshoes,rushedbreathlesslyintothestation。
Fix,whohadfollowedMrFoggtothestation,andsawthathewasreallygoingtoleaveBombay,wasthere,upontheplatform。HehadresolvedtofollowthesupposedrobbertoCalcutta,andfarther,ifnecessary。Passepartoutdidnotobservethedetective,whostoodinanobscurecomer;butFixheardhimrelatehisadventuresinafewwordstoMrFogg。
`Ihopethatthiswillnothappenagain,\'saidPhileasFogg,coldly,ashegotintothetrain。PoorPassepartout,quitecrestfallen,followedhismasterwithoutaword。Fixwasonthepointofenteringanothercarriage,whenanideastruckhimwhichinducedhimtoalterhisplan。
`No,I\'llstay,\'mutteredhe。`AnoffencehasbeencommittedonIndiansoil。I\'vegotmyman。\'
Justthenthelocomotivegaveasharpscreech,andthetrainpassedoutintothedarknessofthenight。
CHAPTERXIINWHICHPHILEASFOGGSECURESACURIOUSMEANSOFCONVEYANCEATAFABULOUS
PRICE。
Thetrainhadstartedpunctually。Amongthepassengerswereanumberofofficers,Governmentofficials,andopiumandindigomerchants,whosebusinesscalledthemtotheeasterncoast。Passepartoutrodeinthesamecarriagewithhismaster,andathirdpassengeroccupiedaseatoppositetothem。ThiswasSirFrancisCromarty,oneofMrFogg\'swhistpartnersonthe`Mongolia\',nowonhiswaytojoinhiscorpsatBenares。SirFranciswasatall,fairmanoffifty,whohadgreatlydistinguishedhimselfinthelastSepoyrevolt。HemadeIndiahishomeronlypayingbriefvisitstoEnglandatrareintervals;andwaralmostasfamiliarasanativewiththecustoms,historyandcharacterofIndiaanditspeople。ButPhileasFogg,whowasnottravelling,butonlydescribingacircumference,tooknopainstoinquireintothesesubjects;hewasasolidbody,traversinganorbitaroundtheterrestrialglobe,accordingtothelawsofrationalmechanics。HewasatthismomentcalculatinginhismindthenumberofhoursspentsincehisdeparturefromLondon,and,haditbeeninhisnaturetomakeauselessdemonstration,wouldhaverubbedhishandsforsatisfaction。
SirFrancisCromartyhadobservedtheoddityofhistravellingcompanion-althoughtheonlyopportunityhehadforstudyinghimhadbeenwhilehewasdealingthecards,andbetweentworubbers-andquestionedhimselfwhetherahumanheartreallybeatbeneaththiscoldexterior,andwhetherPhileasFogghadanysenseofthebeautiesofnature。Thebrigadier-generalwasfreetomentallyconfess,that,ofalltheeccentricpersonshehadevermet,nonewascomparabletothisproductoftheexactsciences。
PhileasFogghadnotconcealedfromSirFrancishisdesignofgoingroundtheworld,northecircumstancesunderwhichhesetout;andthegeneralonlysawinthewagerauselesseccentricityandalackofsoundcommonsense。Inthewaythisstrangegentlemanwasgoingon,hewouldleavetheworldwithouthavingdoneanygoodtohimselforanybodyelse。
AnhourafterleavingBombaythetrainhadpassedtheviaductsandtheislandSalcette,andhadgotintotheopencountry。AtCallyantheyreachedthejunctionofthebranchlinewhichdescendstowardssoutheasternIndiabyKandallahandPounah;and,passingPauwell,theyenteredthedefilesofthemountains,withtheirbasaltbases,andtheirsummitscrownedwiththickandverdantforests。PhileasFoggandSirFrancisCromartyexchangedafewwordsfromtimetotime,andnowSirFrancis,revivingtheconversation,observed,`Someyearsago,MrFogg,youwouldhavemetwithadelayatthispointwhichwouldprobablyhavelostyouyourwager。\'
`Howso,SirFrancis?\'
`Becausetherailwaystoppedatthebaseofthesemountains,whichthepassengerswereobligedtocrossinpalanquinsoronponiestoKandallah,ontheotherside。\'
`Suchadelaywouldnothavederangedmyplansintheleast,\'saidMrFogg。`Ihaveconstantlyforeseenthelikelihoodofcertainobstacles。\'
`But,MrFogg,\'pursuedSirFrancis,`youruntheriskofhavingsomedifficultyaboutthisworthyfellow\'sadventureatthepagoda。\'Passepartout,hisfeetcomfortablywrappedinhistravelling-blanket,wassoundasleep,anddidnotdreamthatanybodywastalkingabouthim。TheGovernmentisverysevereuponthatkindofoffence。IttakesparticularcarethatthereligiouscustomsoftheIndiansshouldberespected,andifyourservantwerecaught——\'
`Verywell,SirFrancis,\'repliedMrFogg;`ifhehadbeencaughthewouldhavebeencondemnedandpunished,andthenwouldhavequietlyreturnedtoEurope。Idon\'tseehowthisaffaircouldhavedelayedhismaster。\'
Theconversationfellagain。Duringthenightthetrainleftthemountainsbehind,andpassedNassik,andthenextdayproceededovertheflat,well-cultivatedcountryofthekhandeish,withitsstragglingvillages,abovewhichrosetheminaretsofthepagodas。Thisfertileterritoryiswateredbynumeroussmallriversandlimpidstreams,mostlytributariesoftheGodavery。
Passepartout,onwakingandlookingout,couldnotrealizethathewasactuallycrossingIndiainarailwaytrain。Thelocomotive,guidedbyanEnglishengineerandfedwithEnglishcoal,threwoutitssmokeuponcotton,coffee,nutmeg,cloveandpepperplantations,whilethesteamcurledinspiralsaroundgroupsofpalm-trees,inthemidstofwhichwereseenpicturesquebungalows,viharis(asortofabandonedmonasteries),andmarvelloustemplesenrichedbytheexhaustlessornamentationofIndianarchitecture。Thentheycameuponvasttractsextendingtothehorizon,withjunglesinhabitedbysnakesandtigers,whichfledatthenoiseofthetrain;succeededbyforestspenetratedbytherailway,andstillhauntedbyelephantswhich,withpensiveeyes,gazedatthetrainasitpassed。Thetravellerscrossed,beyondMalligaum,thefatalcountrysooftenstainedwithbloodbythesectariesofthegoddessKali。NotfaroffroseEllora,withitsgracefulpagodas,andthefamousAurungabad,capitaloftheferociousAureng-Zeb,nowthechieftownofoneofthedetachedprovincesofthekingdomoftheNizam。ItwasthereaboutsthatFeringhea,theThuggeechief,kingofthestranglers,heldhissway。Theseruffians,unitedbyasecretbond,strangledvictimsofeveryageinhonourofthegoddessDeath,withouteversheddingblood;therewasaperiodwhenthispartofthecountrycouldscarcelybetravelledoverwithoutcorpsesbeingfoundineverydirection。TheEnglishGovernmenthassucceededingreatlydiminishingthesemurders,thoughtheThuggeesstillexist,andpursuetheexerciseoftheirhorriblerites。