In Which the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean Prove
Propitious to the Designs of Phileas Fogg
The distance between Suez and Aden is precisely thirteen hundred
and ten miles, and the regulations of the company allow the
steamers one hundred and thirty-eight hours in which to traverse
it. The Mongolia, thanks to the vigorous exertions of the
engineer, seemed likely, so rapid was her speed, to reach her
destination considerably within that time. The greater part of
the passengers from Brindisi were bound for India--some for
Bombay, others for Calcutta by way of Bombay, the nearest route
there, now that a railway crosses the Indian peninsula.
Among the passengers was a number of officials and military
officers of various grades, the latter being either attached to
the regular British forces or commanding the Sepoy troops, and
receiving high salaries ever since the central government has
assumed the powers of the East India Company.
What with the military men, a number of rich young Englishmen on
their travels, and the hospitable efforts of the purser, the time
passed quickly on the Mongolia. The best of fare was spread upon
the cabin tables at breakfast, lunch, dinner and the eight
o'clock supper, and the ladies scrupulously changed their attire
twice a day. The hours were whirled away, when the sea was
tranquil, with music, dancing and games.
But the Red Sea is full of caprice, and often boisterous, like
most long and narrow gulfs. When the wind came from the African
or Asian coast the Mongolia, with her long hull, rolled
fearfully. Then the ladies speedily disappeared below; the pianos
were silent; singing and dancing suddenly ceased. Yet the good
ship ploughed straight on, unretarded by wind or wave, towards
the straits of Bab-el-Mandeb. What was Phileas Fogg doing all
this time? It might be thought that, in his anxiety, he would be
constantly watching the changes of the wind, the disorderly
raging of the billows--every change, in short, which might force
the Mongolia to slacken her speed, and thus interrupt his
journey. But, if he thought of these possibilities, he did not
betray the fact by any outward sign.
Always the same impassible member of the Reform Club, whom no
incident could surprise, as unvarying as the ship's chronometers,
and seldom having the curiosity even to go upon the deck, he
passed through the memorable scenes of the Red Sea with cold
indifference. He did not care to recognize the historic towns and
villages which, along its borders, raised their picturesque
outlines against the sky; and betrayed no fear of the dangers of
the Arabic Gulf, which the old historians always spoke of with
horror, and upon which the ancient navigators never ventured
without propitiating the gods by ample sacrifices. How did this
eccentric personage pass his time on the Mongolia? He made his
four hearty meals every day, regardless of the most persistent
rolling and pitching on the part of the steamer; and he played
whist indefatigably, for he had found partners as enthusiastic in
the game as himself. A tax-collector, on the way to his post at
Goa; the Rev. Decimus Smith, returning to his parish at Bombay;
and a brigadier-general of the English army, who was about to
rejoin his brigade at Benares, made up the party, and, with Mr.
Fogg, played whist by the hour together in absorbing silence.
As for Passepartout, he, too, had escaped seasickness, and took
his meals conscientiously in the forward cabin. He rather enjoyed
the voyage, for he was well fed and well lodged, took a great
interest in the scenes through which they were passing, and
consoled himself with the delusion that his master's whim would
end at Bombay. He was pleased, on the day after leaving Suez, to
find on deck the obliging person with whom he had walked and
chatted on the quays.
"If I am not mistaken," he said, approaching this person, with
his most amiable smile, "you are the gentleman who so kindly
volunteered to guide me at Suez?"
"Ah! I quite recognize you. You are the servant of the strange
Englishman--"
"Just so, monsieur--"
"Fix."
"Monsieur Fix," resumed Passepartout. "I'm charmed to find you on
board. Where are you bound?"
"Like you, to Bombay."
"That's capital! Have you made this trip before?"
"Several times. I am one of the agents of the Peninsular
Company."
"Then you know India?"
"Why--yes," replied Fix, who spoke cautiously.
"A curious place, this India?"
"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 where date-trees were
growing, was sighted, and on the mountains beyond vast
coffee-fields were seen. 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, northwest of Aden
harbor, to take in coal. This matter of fueling 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 program; 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 Somanlis, Banyas, 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
favorable, the wind being in the north-west, and all sails aiding
the engine. The steamer rolled but little; the ladies, in fresh
dresses, 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.