A Jungle Book

 I am now sitting at the port in Calcutta, awaiting the steamer that is due at noon to take us Hong Kong. Since I last wrote here, I have lost my two extra days and gained a young Indian girl as a companion. It happened thus:



Elephant, 1879

 The train that was to take us from Bombay to Calcutta, was halted just after Rothal. When asked what was the matter, it appeared the track was not finished, and the passengers were forced to get some manner of vehicle to Allahabad, where the track was again laid. Apparently we were the only ones not to have known of this circumstance, so we had a time of procuring a ride. We in the end had to purchase an elephant from a villager, and hire a guide.

 We, meaning Sir Francis Cromarty, Passepartout, and myself, were making good headway through the jungle, enjoying the varying sights of exotic animals and plants. The guide suddenly halted us however, on the second day of traveling in this mode, at four PM. It was then that we encountered a burial procession of Brahmins. They were quite dangerous, I perceive, from the guide's evident fear of them and his reluctance to been seen by them. This parade of people slowly filed past our hiding place, moaning, chanting, and generally lamenting the death of their Rajah, whose body soon appeared on a cart. Following him, was the young girl afore mentioned, being led by guards, evidently the dead ruler's wife. Here the guide informed us of the Brahmins' barbaric custom of burning to death the girl as well as the body. She seemed drugged, as we found out she was by the fumes of hemp and opium, but you could still perceive her reluctance as the crowd made their way to the pagoda of Pilaji.

 We decided to try and rescue the wretched creature and followed at a safe distance. It was after midnight before we tried to break through the walls, a proceeding made necessary by
 the guards stationed outside. We were nearly done, when a cry was heard from the inside and guards were immediately stationed at the hole we had tried to make. Thus, it seemed, the only hope of helping the woman was to rush in a dawn, when she was to be executed. During our vigil, we did not notice that Passepartout had left our group. Dawn was now coming on, and the people inside the pagoda stirred. Soon the procession was led out and the body and the girl, again drugged, were put onto a pile of wood soaked in oil. The flames immediately took and were raging when all the people fell to the ground shaking. There, in the mass of flames, stood the rajah holding his wife! He descended and passed through the trembling crowd before hissing to us to be off. It was none other then Passepartout himself, and we quickly made towards the elephant. But the Brahmins were not long deceived and we had a long time getting out of reach of their arrows and bullets.

 After this we had a safe a peaceful journey, reaching Allahabad on time, and Calcutta. We parted from Sir Frances in Benares, where his regiment was stationed. In Calcutta, we bought the young girl, whose name is Aouda, some clothes and offered to escort her to Hong Kong, where it was necessary to go for her safety, as India would be searching for her. The result of it is, that I am sitting here waiting for the ship to come in, with Passepartout and Aouda as my companions at 8:35 in the morning. But breakfast as arrived, and I must be going.


                                                                Phileas Fogg
                                                                   8:37 AM
                                                                   Friday
                                                                   25th of October, 1872

Idiots Abroad

The blundering Idiot! Passepartout has gone and set foot in an Indian temple with shoes. Everyone knows that no Christian can go into one of them and not even Hindus can go in with shoes. Of course three priests found him out and proceeded to beat him (as would have liked to have done if I had been there). He then made things worse by knocking down two of them completely and escaped the third. Now he has no shoes, no hat, and none of the articles he bought that were necessary to our journey. He barely made it in time to catch the eight o' clock train for Calcutta, on which we are now.

Indian Temple, India, 1870's

There was another fool who tried to make me believe that my meal was native rabbit from the jungle. The dish was decidedly unpalatable. I caught him out by asking if the 'rabbit' had mewed when killed. Of course the meat was cat, how I wish those animals were still sacred to the natives!

 We are now on our way to Calcutta, we have been running now for 35 minutes. The train will pass through Salcette, after that we shall go across to the continent opposite Tannah, go over the chain of the Western Ghauts, run thence north-east as far as Burhampoor, skirt the territory of Bundelcund, ascend to Allahabad, turn eastwardly to meet the Ganges at Benares, then depart from the river a little, descend by Burdivan and the French town of Chandernagor, and arrive at Calcutta.

                                                               Phileas Fogg
                                                                   8:37 PM
                                                                   Sunday
                                                                   20th of October, 1872

Bombay, India

Bombay, India, 1870's

We are now in Bombay, India. The voyage was pleasant all the way from Suez, with the exception of a trifle rough weather in the Red Sea. There was much dancing and music and gaiety on board, with the ladies dressed in their finery. I preferred to play whist with a few choice companions. It did not interest me to go up on deck, something, I think, that Passepartout did not appreciate in me.

 I know not where Passepartout has been roaming these last days, I seldom see him except when he is performing his duties. I trust he has taken care of himself, he does not seem to be the worse for the journey.

 I am exceedingly pleased with the Mongolia, she was 15 hours early at Aden, and, by the time we reached India, she came into port no less the two days early! That helps greatly with the expedition.

 It is now time to land and to wait for the train to Calcutta. I am, I admit, rather sorry to say goodbye to the old ship, but there is no time for wasted sentimentality on this journey. Passepartout is here to gather my bags.


                                                              Phileas Fogg
                                                                   5:15 PM
                                                                   Sunday
                                                                   20th of October, 1872

Suez, Egypt

We have just arrived in Suez after a smooth trip. It has been six days and one half, which pleases me exceedingly as we are neither behind or ahead, but precisely on time. I have got my passport visaed to prove I have come by the Suez canal to India. I am now back aboard the Mongolia, awaiting her departure for Bombay. As I have some leisure time, I might as well recount my journey so far.

Suez Canal, Egypt

 We reached Paris on the Thursday after our departure from London at twenty minutes past seven in the morning. We left Paris for Turin by Mont Cenis at 8:40 the same morning. We reached Turin the following morning on Friday, October 4th at 6:35 AM. We then left Turin at 7:20 am and arrived at Brindisi on the Saturday at PM. We sailed on the Mongolia at 5 PM. It took us four days to arrive at Suez, Saturday being October 5th, and today being Wednesday October 9th. It is now 11:40 AM, having arrived at 11 exactly.

 Passepartout is not on the ship at this time, as I gave him some directions as to my luggage and the like. I suppose he will go to see the sights afterwards, for the ship does not weigh anchor until this afternoon. I am glad he is to enjoy himself with the strange wonders of Egypt, though I prefer to sit here and contemplate. I wonder how he will get on, with the language he knows nothing about being screamed at him from every side, for today the streets are crowded; it must be market day. I feel weary, so I will now close both this entry and my eyes until Passepartout comes back.




                                                                Phileas Fogg
                                                                  11:41 PM
                                                                  Wednesday
                                                                  9nd of October, 1872

On Board The Train to Dover

 Here we are at last. Passepartout and I are now in first class aboard the train to Dover at ten minutes to nine. The night is dark tonight and the rain is ever falling.

Dover, 1870's

 It was rather comical to see Passepartout quite bewildered when I told him we were leaving to go around the world in 80 days. But I am not accustomed to laughing; it is not my habit. Speaking of habits I was very much mortified that I have made my departure from the club so early this evening. It showed to my companions a great want of discipline, but perhaps they will overlook it as they review the causes for my weakness. I surely will not forget it, I must be more rigid in other areas to make up for it.

 I am glad that I had to call Passepartout twice this evening, though it sounds quite wrong. It means he is aware of my habits. But it is a shame that I should so shamefully breach my schedule on his first day. He seemed quite able to be prepared at short notice which is exactly to my liking. But in the flurry of packing he forgot to turn off the gas in his room. Well, it was his mistake, it shall be at his cost.


                                                                 Phileas Fogg
                                                                  8:53 PM
                                                                   Wednesday
                                                                   2nd of October, 1872
                                                

A Journey, a Wager, and 80 Days

A robbery was committed at the bank three days ago. The newspapers say that it was a gentleman and not a petty thief who took a package of notes worth 55 000 pounds. Detectives have been sent around the world to different ports to try and catch him, and I am in the firm belief that he will be apprehended very shortly. Some of my worthy companions disagreed with me and Ralph about the ever diminishing dimensions of the world as we know it. Out of this discussion has come a wager of 20 000 pounds and a journey around the world in 80 days undertaken by me and Passepartout. 20 000 pounds is a lot of money, half my fortune in fact, but I am willing to wager it all in the good name of mathematics, science, and technology. I trust everything shall go as planned, for I do not know if Passepartout is used to such traveling, such running around the world at a great speed, but he will have to make the best of it. The deadline for my arrival is Saturday, December 21, 1872, at 8:45 PM in the room in which I am now sitting at the club. One minute more and I shall forfeit my wager. The train leaves for Dover at a quarter to nine. I intend to take it.
   
                                                             Phileas Fogg
                                                                  12:13 PM
                                                                   Wednesday
                                                                   2nd of October, 1872

Not Quite to My Liking, But Suitable

 London, 1870

  I have just taken a new fellow into my service. That idle John let my shaving-water cool two degrees  this morning, so of course I have dismissed him. This new man is rather lively, which does not suit my tastes completely, but as he craves a tranquil life I have given him a chance. He seems to have done many things in the course of his life in France, of which country he is a native.



  His name is Jean, while he gives his last name as Passepartout. Though he seems to want to forget it, I am  determined to call him so. It suits me, and I hope he will become reconciled to it, for it is unpleasant to have
someone in the house who discontented simply because he cannot be called what he likes.

  Passepartout has not accompanied me to the Club of course. He has remained at the house to settle in and start his work. I suppose it will be difficult for him to learn everything when there is no one else in the place, but then again, life is difficult. I certainly do hope he will NOT allow my shaving-water cool to eighty-four degrees instead of eighty-six. The matter does weigh on my mind this afternoon. It is, of course, not a matter of temperature, but of punctuality and regularity. Well, we shall see in the morning.

                                                              Phileas Fogg
                                                                  12:13 PM
                                                                   Wednesday
                                                                   2nd of October, 1872