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1IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG AND HIS COMPANIONS VENTURE ACROSS THE INDIAN FORESTS, AND WHAT ENSUED In order to shorten the
2journey, the guide passed to the left of the line where the railway was still in process of being built. This line,
3owing to the capricious turnings of the Vindhia Mountains, did not pursue a straight course. The Parsee, who was quite
4familiar with the roads and paths in the district, declared that they would gain twenty miles by striking directly
5through the forest. Phileas Fogg and Sir Francis Cromarty, plunged to the neck in the peculiar howdahs provided for
6them, were horribly jostled by the swift trotting of the elephant, spurred on as he was by the skilful Parsee; but they
7endured the discomfort with true British phlegm, talking little, and scarcely able to catch a glimpse of each other. As
8for Passepartout, who was mounted on the beast's back, and received the direct force of each concussion as he trod
9along, he was very careful, in accordance with his master's advice, to keep his tongue from between his teeth, as it
10would otherwise have been bitten off short. The worthy fellow bounced from the elephant's neck to his rump, and vaulted
11like a clown on a spring-board; yet he laughed in the midst of his bouncing, and from time to time took a piece of sugar
12out of his pocket, and inserted it in Kiouni's trunk, who received it without in the least slackening his regular trot.
13After two hours the guide stopped the elephant, and gave him an hour for rest, during which Kiouni, after quenching his
14thirst at a neighbouring spring, set to devouring the branches and shrubs round about him. Neither Sir Francis nor Mr.
15Fogg regretted the delay, and both descended with a feeling of relief. "Why, he's made of iron!" exclaimed the general,
16gazing admiringly on Kiouni. "Of forged iron," replied Passepartout, as he set about preparing a hasty breakfast. At
17noon the Parsee gave the signal of departure. The country soon presented a very savage aspect. Copses of dates and
18dwarf-palms succeeded the dense forests; then vast, dry plains, dotted with scanty shrubs, and sown with great blocks of
19syenite. All this portion of Bundelcund, which is little frequented by travellers, is inhabited by a fanatical
20population, hardened in the most horrible practices of the Hindoo faith. The English have not been able to secure
21complete dominion over this territory, which is subjected to the influence of rajahs, whom it is almost impossible to
22reach in their inaccessible mountain fastnesses. The travellers several times saw bands of ferocious Indians, who, when
23they perceived the elephant striding across-country, made angry and threatening motions. The Parsee avoided them as much
24as possible. Few animals were observed on the route; even the monkeys hurried from their path with contortions and
25grimaces which convulsed Passepartout with laughter. In the midst of his gaiety, however, one thought troubled the
26worthy servant. What would Mr. Fogg do with the elephant when he got to Allahabad? Would he carry him on with him?
27Impossible! The cost of transporting him would make him ruinously expensive. Would he sell him, or set him free? The
28estimable beast certainly deserved some consideration. Should Mr. Fogg choose to make him, Passepartout, a present of
29Kiouni, he would be very much embarrassed; and these thoughts did not cease worrying him for a long time. The principal
30chain of the Vindhias was crossed by eight in the evening, and another halt was made on the northern slope, in a ruined
31bungalow. They had gone nearly twenty-five miles that day, and an equal distance still separated them from the station
32of Allahabad. The night was cold. The Parsee lit a fire in the bungalow with a few dry branches, and the warmth was very
33grateful, provisions purchased at Kholby sufficed for supper, and the travellers ate ravenously. The conversation,
34beginning with a few disconnected phrases, soon gave place to loud and steady snores. The guide watched Kiouni, who
35slept standing, bolstering himself against the trunk of a large tree. Nothing occurred during the night to disturb the
36slumberers, although occasional growls from panthers and chatterings of monkeys broke the silence; the more formidable
37beasts made no cries or hostile demonstration against the occupants of the bungalow. Sir Francis slept heavily, like an
38honest soldier overcome with fatigue. Passepartout was wrapped in uneasy dreams of the bouncing of the day before. As
39for Mr. Fogg, he slumbered as peacefully as if he had been in his serene mansion in Saville Row. The journey was resumed
40at six in the morning; the guide hoped to reach Allahabad by evening. In that case, Mr. Fogg would only lose a part of
41the forty-eight hours saved since the beginning of the tour. Kiouni, resuming his rapid gait, soon descended the lower
42spurs of the Vindhias, and towards noon they passed by the village of Kallenger, on the Cani, one of the branches of the
43Ganges. The guide avoided inhabited places, thinking it safer to keep the open country, which lies along the first
44depressions of the basin of the great river. Allahabad was now only twelve miles to the north-east. They stopped under a
45clump of bananas, the fruit of which, as healthy as bread and as succulent as cream, was amply partaken of and
46appreciated. At two o'clock the guide entered a thick forest which extended several miles; he preferred to travel under
47cover of the woods. They had not as yet had any unpleasant encounters, and the journey seemed on the point of being
48successfully accomplished, when the elephant, becoming restless, suddenly stopped. It was then four o'clock. "What's the
49matter?" asked Sir Francis, putting out his head. "I don't know, officer," replied the Parsee, listening attentively to
50a confused murmur which came through the thick branches. The murmur soon became more distinct; it now seemed like a
51distant concert of human voices accompanied by brass instruments. Passepartout was all eyes and ears. Mr. Fogg patiently
52waited without a word. The Parsee jumped to the ground, fastened the elephant to a tree, and plunged into the thicket.
53He soon returned, saying: "A procession of Brahmins is coming this way. We must prevent their seeing us, if possible."
54The guide unloosed the elephant and led him into a thicket, at the same time asking the travellers not to stir. He held
55himself ready to bestride the animal at a moment's notice, should flight become necessary; but he evidently thought that
56the procession of the faithful would pass without perceiving them amid the thick foliage, in which they were wholly
57concealed. The discordant tones of the voices and instruments drew nearer, and now droning songs mingled with the sound
58of the tambourines and cymbals. The head of the procession soon appeared beneath the trees, a hundred paces away; and
59the strange figures who performed the religious ceremony were easily distinguished through the branches. First came the
60priests, with mitres on their heads, and clothed in long lace robes. They were surrounded by men, women, and children,
61who sang a kind of lugubrious psalm, interrupted at regular intervals by the tambourines and cymbals; while behind them
62was drawn a car with large wheels, the spokes of which represented serpents entwined with each other. Upon the car,
63which was drawn by four richly caparisoned zebus, stood a hideous statue with four arms, the body coloured a dull red,
64with haggard eyes, dishevelled hair, protruding tongue, and lips tinted with betel. It stood upright upon the figure of
65a prostrate and headless giant. Sir Francis, recognising the statue, whispered, "The goddess Kali; the goddess of love
66and death." "Of death, perhaps," muttered back Passepartout, "but of love--that ugly old hag? Never!" The Parsee made a
67motion to keep silence. A group of old fakirs were capering and making a wild ado round the statue; these were striped
68with ochre, and covered with cuts whence their blood issued drop by drop--stupid fanatics, who, in the great Indian
69ceremonies, still throw themselves under the wheels of Juggernaut. Some Brahmins, clad in all the sumptuousness of
70Oriental apparel, and leading a woman who faltered at every step, followed. This woman was young, and as fair as a
71European. Her head and neck, shoulders, ears, arms, hands, and toes were loaded down with jewels and gems with
72bracelets, earrings, and rings; while a tunic bordered with gold, and covered with a light muslin robe, betrayed the
73outline of her form.
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