The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-06-21
CHAPTER NJ.

CHAPTER NJ.
Passepartout occupied the same compart-
ment as his master, and a third traveller oc-
cupied the opposite corner. 1t was the brig
adler general, Sir Francis Cromarty, one of
the partners of Mr.. Fog during their voyage
from Suez to India-who was going to rejoin
his troops at Benares. Sir Francis Cromarty
was tall, blond, and near fifty years of age.
He had distinguished himself during the last
revolt of the Sepoys. He deserved really the
title of native, for since his youth he had
lived in India, and made only rare visits to
his native land. He was cultivated man,
and could have given much information upon
the customs, manners and history of this
Hindoo country to Phileas Fogg, if he had
inquired; but he asked no questions; he did
not travel-he only described a circumference.
He was body running in orbit around the
terrestrial globe, following the laws of rational
mechanics. At that moment he was mental
ly calculating the hours passed since his de.
parture from London, and he would have
rubbed his hands with satisfaction if it had
been in his nature to make a useless move
ment. Sir Francis CrOmarty could not help
recognizing the originality of his trave'ing
companion, though he had only studied him
cards in hand and between the Iubbers. He
asked himself if a human heart beat under
this cold exterior, if Phileas Fogg had a soul
sensible to the beauties of nature, or moral
aspirations 1t was still aquestion to him.
OF all originals that the brigadier had ever
met, no one was comparable to this product
of the exact sciences. Phleas Fogg had not
concealed from Sir Francis his project of
tour round the world, or the conditions under
which he made it. The brigadier saw in this
bet only an eccentrieity without a useful end.
At the rate the strange gentleman journeyed,
he would make nothing for himself or any one
else.
Half an hour after leaving Bombay, the
train. crossing the Viaducts, had passed over
the isle of Salcette upon the continent. At
Pauwell they entered the chain of the Yves
tern Gathes-ranges of mountains, their base
trap and basalt, and their highest summits
covered with thick woods. From time to
time Sir Francis and Mr.. Fogg exchanged a
few words. At this moment the brigadier,
taking up the conversation, said ga few years
ago you would have experienced at this place
delay which would probably have COM
promised your journey"
why SO, Sir Francis?"
because the railroad termipated at the
base of these mountains, and they could only
be crossed in a palanquin or on the back of
pony, as far as the station of Kandallah, stu
ated on the opposite slope"
''The delay could not endanger my pro-
gramme in any way" said Mr.. Fogg. Il
foresaw the possibility of certain obstacles
'You risked also some delay in the adven-
lures of this servant" added the brigadier.
Inc Enghsn government Is extremely Sc
we're, ana WIN reason, on TINS KIND OF offenc-
e3. Ine rellglous customs OF the HIndoo are
carefully respected, aud II your servant had
been taken-'
''Well, If he had been taken, Sir Francis,
he would have been condemned, he would
nave submitted to his punishment, he would
nave returned TRANQUILITY to Europe-but do
not see now this affair could have delayed his
master" And there the conversation drop
ped.
During the night the train crossed the
Gathes, passed to Nassik, and the next day,
2lst October, they crossed a country compar.
atively level, the territory of Kandeish. 1t
was well cultivated and strewn with hamlets.
above which the minaret of the pagoda re-
placed the steeple of the European church.
Numerous little streams, tributaries of the
Godavery, irrigated this fertile country. Pas
separtout, awakening from his long sleep.
could not believe that he was crossing the
Hndoo country in train of the Great Pc
ninsular Railway. 1t appeared 10 him like a
dream. 1t was real to him nevertheless. The
locomotive, directed by the arm of an Eng
fish engineer, and fed by English coal, threw
its smoke over plantations of cotton, coffee,
nutmegs, peppers and cloves. Its vapor curl
ell in spirals among groups of palm trees,
between which were seen picturesque bunga-
lows, and some marvellous temples adorned
with the fanciful ornaments of Indian archi-
lecture. Then vast plains, extending as far
as the eye could see; jungles haunted by SER
penis and tigers; forests broken only by the
line of the road vet inhabited by elephants.
who atched with passive eyes the passing of
the noisy train.
During the morning, beyond the station of
Malligum, the travellers crossed the fatal
country which had been so often stained with
blood by the followers of the goddess Kali.
1t was in this territory that Feringhea, the
cnle1 OF the Thugs, exercised his power.
ihese assassins, united in a secret associa-
Ion, sdangleo, IN honor OF the Goddess OF
Dealn' yIGtilhs OF an ages, without shedding
oiVou' Inc EnSisn government has been
aple W resirain these murderers In q great de-
ouS .aJ 'o".ul assoclatlon Is SUI actPe
alu pome, -. a., ~ Hal past Twelve the tram
ssoppeu ~ .ne st1IioL Vi burhampour, and
Az r., ,,atod ,,.t, Gu lne.e pau VI san
he was very proud. The travellers breakfast
u o f ~, ene e I;a. " A as
sonSui aisei having IonoMeu Ior HUE uiS-
an,'s Sno AZ SousI USE " Sne iaPy INSr, WHICH
Towards evening they entered the defiles
the territory OF Kandeish from Bundelkund.
G. IN. ne next DAY, In answer to question of
;na f bs CromarIy rassepartout, consult
in ;b ms waucn, repnea that 1t was theee O'Clock
regulated bv lie m ms famous Waacn, always
Sir Francis corrected the hour oaes S aiirsady
MAUI 'ne 9elne ieS .da y. NJ nau pelore made
bend that he must regulate his watch at each
the east. to meet the SIM. the davs were short.
or by fonr minutes for every degree they mass
ed. 1t was useless; whether the foolish SER
yant understood, or not, the words OF the
brlgadler general, he obstinately refused to