Chapter 9
In Which the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean ProvePropitious to the Designs of Phileas Fogg
The distance between Suez and Aden is precisely thirteen hundredand ten miles, and the regulations of the company allow thesteamers one hundred and thirty-eight hours in which to traverseit. The Mongolia, thanks to the vigorous exertions of theengineer, seemed likely, so rapid was her speed, to reach herdestination considerably within that time. The greater part ofthe passengers from Brindisi were bound for India--some forBombay, others for Calcutta by way of Bombay, the nearest routethere, now that a railway crosses the Indian peninsula.
Among the passengers was a number of officials and militaryofficers of various grades, the latter being either attached tothe regular British forces or commanding the Sepoy troops, andreceiving high salaries ever since the central government hasassumed the powers of the East India Company.
What with the military men, a number of rich young Englishmen ontheir travels, and the hospitable efforts of the purser, the timepassed quickly on the Mongolia. The best of fare was spread uponthe cabin tables at breakfast, lunch, dinner and the eighto'clock supper, and the ladies scrupulously changed their attiretwice a day. The hours were whirled away, when the sea wastranquil, with music, dancing and games.
But the Red Sea is full of caprice, and often boisterous, likemost long and narrow gulfs. When the wind came from the Africanor Asian coast the Mongolia, with her long hull, rolledfearfully. Then the ladies speedily disappeared below; the pianoswere silent; singing and dancing suddenly ceased. Yet the goodship ploughed straight on, unretarded by wind or wave, towardsthe straits of Bab-el-Mandeb. What was Phileas Fogg doing allthis time? It might be thought that, in his anxiety, he would beconstantly watching the changes of the wind, the disorderlyraging of the billows--every change, in short, which might forcethe Mongolia to slacken her speed, and thus interrupt hisjourney. But, if he thought of these possibilities, he did notbetray the fact by any outward sign.
Always the same impassible member of the Reform Club, whom noincident could surprise, as unvarying as the ship's chronometers,and seldom having the curiosity even to go upon the deck, hepassed through the memorable scenes of the Red Sea with coldindifference. He did not care to recognize the historic towns andvillages which, along its borders, raised their picturesqueoutlines against the sky; and betrayed no fear of the dangers ofthe Arabic Gulf, which the old historians always spoke of withhorror, and upon which the ancient navigators never venturedwithout propitiating the gods by ample sacrifices. How did thiseccentric personage pass his time on the Mongolia? He made hisfour hearty meals every day, regardless of the most persistentrolling and pitching on the part of the steamer; and he playedwhist indefatigably, for he had found partners as enthusiastic inthe game as himself. A tax-collector, on the way to his post atGoa; the Rev. Decimus Smith, returning to his parish at Bombay;and a brigadier-general of the English army, who was about torejoin 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 tookhis meals conscientiously in the forward cabin. He rather enjoyedthe voyage, for he was well fed and well lodged, took a greatinterest in the scenes through which they were passing, andconsoled himself with the delusion that his master's whim wouldend at Bombay. He was pleased, on the day after leaving Suez, tofind on deck the obliging person with whom he had walked andchatted on the quays.
"If I am not mistaken," he said, approaching this person, withhis most amiable smile, "you are the gentleman who so kindlyvolunteered to guide me at Suez?"
"Ah! I quite recognize you. You are the servant of the strangeEnglishman--"
"Just so, monsieur--"
"Fix."
"Monsieur Fix," resumed Passepartout. "I'm charmed to find you onboard. 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 PeninsularCompany."
"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 seethe sights."
"I hope so, Monsieur Fix. You see, a man of sound sense ought notto spend his life jumping from a steamer upon a railway train,and from a railway train upon a steamer again, pretending to makethe 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 naturaltone in the world.
"Quite well, and I too. I eat like a famished ogre. It's the seaair.
"But I never see your master on deck."
"Never. He hasn't the least curiosity."
"Do you know, Mr. Passepartout, that this pretended tour ineighty days may conceal some secret errand--perhaps adiplomatic mission?"
"Faith, Monsieur Fix, I assure you I know nothing about it, norwould I give half a crown to find out."
After this meeting, Passepartout and Fix got into the habit ofchatting together, the latter making it a point to gain theworthy man's confidence. He frequently offered him a glass ofwhiskey or pale ale in the steamer bar-room, which Passepartoutnever failed to accept with graceful alacrity, mentallypronouncing 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 weregrowing, was sighted, and on the mountains beyond vastcoffee-fields were seen. Passepartout was ravished to behold thiscelebrated place, and thought that, with its circular walls anddismantled fort, it looked like an immense coffee-cup and saucer.
The following night they passed through the Strait ofBab-el-Mandeb, which means in Arabic "The Bridge of Tears," andthe next day they put in at Steamer Point, northwest of Adenharbor, to take in coal. This matter of fueling steamers is aserious one at such distances from the coal-mines. It costs thePeninsular Company some eight hundred thousand pounds a year. Inthese distant seas, coal is worth three or four pounds sterling aton.
The Mongolia had still sixteen hundred and fifty miles totraverse before reaching Bombay, and was obliged to remain fourhours at Steamer Point to coal up. But this delay, as it wasforeseen, did not affect Phileas Fogg's program; besides, theMongolia, instead of reaching Aden on the morning of the 15th,when she was due, arrived there on the evening of the 14th, again of fifteen hours.
Mr. Fogg and his servant went ashore at Aden to have thepassport again visaed. Fix, unobserved, followed them. The visaprocured, Mr. Fogg returned on board to resume his former habits;while Passepartout, according to custom, sauntered about amongthe mixed population of Somanlis, Banyas, Parsees, Jews, Arabsand Europeans who comprise the twenty-five thousand inhabitantsof Aden. He gazed with wonder upon the fortifications which makethis place the Gibraltar of the Indian Ocean, and the vastcisterns where the English engineers were still at work, twothousand years after the engineers of Solomon.
"Very curious, very curious," said Passepartout to himself, onreturning to the steamer. "I see that it is by no means uselessto travel, if a man wants to see something new."
At six P.M. the Mongolia slowly moved out of the roadstead, andwas soon once more on the Indian Ocean. She had a hundred andsixty-eight hours in which to reach Bombay, and the sea wasfavorable, the wind being in the north-west, and all sails aidingthe engine. The steamer rolled but little; the ladies, in freshdresses, reappeared on deck; and the singing and dancing wereresumed. The trip was being accomplished most successfully, andPassepartout was enchanted with the congenial companion whichchance had secured him in the person of the delightful Fix.
On Sunday, October 20th, towards noon, they came in sight of theIndian coast. Two hours later the pilot came on board. A range ofhills lay against the sky in the horizon, and soon the rows ofpalms which adorn B
ombay came distinctly into view. The steamerentered the road formed by the islands in the bay, and athalf-past four she hauled up at the quays of Bombay.
Phileas Fogg was in the act of finishing the thirty-third rubberof the voyage, and his partner and himself having, by a boldstroke, captured all thirteen of the tricks, concluded this finecampaign with a brilliant victory.
The Mongolia was due at Bombay on the 22nd; she arrived on the20th. This was a gain to Phileas Fogg of two days since hisdeparture from London, and he calmly entered the fact in theitinerary, in the column of gains.