Chapter 11 Chapter Eleven Phileas Fogg Buys an Elephant at a High Price

The train left the station on time.It carried away a group of passengers, including military officers, civil servants, and opium and indigo merchants.Passepartout was in the same carriage as M. Fogg.In the opposite corner sat another guest, Mr Francis Cromartti, the brigade commander.He was the partner who played cards with Fokker on the way from Suez to Bombay.Now he was going back to his troops stationed near Benares. Mr Francis Cromartti was a tall, fair-haired man in his fifties.He was known for his ferocity during the Great Indian Soldier Revolt.He is indeed an "Indian hand".He has lived in India since his youth and rarely returns to his native land.He is a learned man.If Mr. Fogg had asked him, Cromarty would have been more than happy to tell him about Indian history, customs, and social organization; but Mr. Fogg asked nothing, because he was not traveling, he just wanted to Go around the earth in a circle.He is a solemn and solemn figure, and he will circle the earth as rigidly as the laws of mechanical motion.Now he was calculating in his mind the time it would take him since his departure from London.If he'd been a guy who liked to do random moves, he'd be rubbing his hands in satisfaction by now.

Although Mr. Francis Cromartti observed Fogg only when he was playing cards or counting the points, he was not unaware of the eccentricity of his traveling companion.Of course he would have doubts: Does a person as cold as Mr. Fogg have a beating heart inside?Will he also be moved by the beauty of nature?Does he have his own hopes and ambitions like ordinary people?For the Cromartti, these are problems.He has seen many eccentric people in his life, but none of them can compare with Fogg, who is as rigid as mathematics. Mr Fogg did not conceal from Cromarty his plans to circumnavigate the globe; he even informed his fellow traveler under the conditions under which it would be accomplished.But the Brigadier considered the bet to be nothing more than a senseless eccentricity.Anyone who has this eccentricity must lack a factor that is necessary to guide all sane people-intellect.This eccentric gentleman, if things go on like this, he will surely waste his years and accomplish nothing.It is neither good for oneself nor good for others.

An hour after leaving Bombay, the train from Salset Island crossed those elevated iron bridges and was quickly racing across the Indian mainland.At Kallian, the train left the right-hand branch of the railway to Kandalaha and Pune to the southeast and headed for Powell.From here, the train travels through the vertical and horizontal ghats.The main geological formations of this mountain range are eruptive rocks and alabasters.Thick jungles grow on the highest peaks of these mountains.During the trip, Cromarty and Fogg chatted occasionally.The brigade commander always started every conversation, but in the end, he still couldn't continue.

"Mr. Fogg," said the Brigadier, "you would have missed the place in the first few years, and your plan would have been blown." "Why, Mr. Francis?" "Because the train has to stop as soon as it reaches the bottom of the mountain. Then you have to take a sedan chair or ride a pony to Kandalaha on the opposite hillside to change trains." "Even such a delay is unlikely to disturb the plans of my travels," replied Fogg, "as for the chance of some hindrances, I am not unforeseen." "But, Monsieur Fogg," continued the Brigadier, "this incident of your own entourage almost ruined your business."

Passepartout was now soundly asleep, wrapping his bare feet in a traveling rug.He never dreamed that anyone was talking about him. "The British government takes this type of violation very seriously, and for good reason," the brigade commander continued. "The British government believes that respect for the religious customs of Indians should be above all else. If your entourage has been arrested..." "Come on, Mr. Francis. If he is arrested," said Mr. Fogg, "he will be sentenced to his own sentence, which is his own fault. And then he will go back to Europe safe and sound. I don't see any chance." Why should he leave his master for this matter?"

At this point, the conversation stopped.During the night, the train crossed the Ghats and passed Nashik. On the second day, October 21, the train passed through a relatively flat land in the Kandah area.On the intensively cultivated fields, some small towns are dotted here and there.Above these small towns, you can't see the bell towers of European-style chapels, but you can see the spiers of some monasteries.Numerous streams - mostly tributaries or forks of the Godavari - irrigate this fertile land. Passepartout woke up, opened his eyes and looked, unable to believe that he was passing through the fields of India in a train of the Peninsula Railway.Although this scene made him unbelievable, it was not fake at all.The train was driven by British drivers and burned with British coal.Smoke from the train swept over patches of plantation.Cotton is grown there, as well as coffee; beans are grown onions, but also cloves and red pepper.In the tops of a clump of palm trees there is a rising cloud of smoke.Among the trees, there were elegant and beautiful one-story houses, the ruins of several desolate monasteries, and several strange and amazing temples.The ever-changing decorative art in Indian architecture enriches the content of these temples.Beyond that, there is a vast field, boundless as far as the eye can see.In those bushes, there are poisonous snakes and tigers, and the whistle of the train whistle makes them tremble with fear.Farther on, the rails cut a passage through the woods.Elephants are also often seen there, they stay on the sidelines and watch the speeding train inexplicably.

This morning, the travellers, passing through Maligam, entered a treacherous region where worshipers of Kali, the goddess of death, used to kill.Not far away is the Elora Temple, where there are many solemn and beautiful pagodas standing in the sky.Beyond that is the famous city of Elungaba, which was the capital of the mighty and unyielding King Aulunzabu.Now it is only the capital of a province under King Nizan.This land is ruled by the leaders of the Speed ​​Society, King Feilin and Alai, who are the hangers.Those murderers formed secret societies that could not be cracked, in the name of offering sacrifices to the goddess of death, hanged all people regardless of age, and never let the dead shed a drop of blood.There was a time when dead bodies could be found anywhere here.Although the British government has tried its best to ban a large part of this kind of killing, this kind of horrible gang still exists, and it continues to do murder.

At half past twelve the train stopped at Burhanpur.There Passepartout paid a great price for a pair of slippers adorned with false pearls.He wore these slippers with a sense of pomp and respect. Near Surat, there is a Tap River that flows into the Bay of Kombai. Passengers finished their meal in a hurry, walked along the Tap River for a while, and then boarded the train again to Azugur. It is very appropriate to take this opportunity to introduce Passepartout's plan.Before arriving in Mumbai, he always thought and believed that it was time to rest when he arrived in Mumbai.But what about now?As soon as the trains started speeding across the Indian continent, his old thoughts changed instantly.His old temper immediately revived.The fantasies of his youth reappeared.He also became serious about his master's travel plans.He believed the bet was indeed true.In this way, he also believed that he was going to circumnavigate the world; and that he believed that the trip would be completed in such a limited time that he was even apprehensive about possible delays: he was afraid that accidents might happen during the trip.He felt as if he, too, had something to do with the bet.He could not help being afraid when he thought of the unforgivable folly he had committed the night before which might have ruined the bet.Just because he was not as calm and calm as Fogg, his heart was a hundred times heavier.He counted and recounted and reckoned the days passed, cursing the train for stopping at every station, blaming the train for going too slowly, and secretly complaining that Mr. Fogg hadn't promised the driver a bonus.The young man didn't know that it was possible to do this on a ship, but not on a train, because the speed of the train was regulated.

In the evening, between Kandispan and Benderhand, the train entered the narrow passage of the Sutph Mountains.The next day, October 22, Francis Cromartti asked what time it was.Passepartout, looking at his silver watch, answered that it was three o'clock in the morning.In fact, the time of his precious watch is still calculated according to the Greenwich meridian, which is about seventy-seven degrees west of Greenwich. Of course, his watch is getting slower and slower, and it is actually four hours behind. . Francis pointed out the discrepancy in the time reported by Passepartout.In fact, Fix had already raised this point with him.Francis wanted the roads to be clear, and he had to dial his watch according to the local meridian every time he arrived.Because since you are always walking eastward and always facing the sun, the days are getting shorter and shorter, and each degree of meridian is shortened by four minutes.It's a pity that talking for a long time is tantamount to talking for nothing.I don't know if this stubborn young man has figured out what the brigade commander said.But he resolutely refused to turn his watch, and kept the London time unchanged.Then again, no matter what, this kind of innocent temper is harmless to others.

At eight o'clock in the morning, fifteen miles from Rothalle, the train stopped in a wide clearing in the woods.There are several bungalows with cloisters and workers' cottages.At this moment, the conductor shouted along the carriages: "Passengers, get off here!" Mr. Fogg looked at Cromarty, who obviously didn't understand why he stopped in the ebony forest. Passepartout was also surprised. He jumped out of the carriage, and came back after a while, calling out: "Sir, the railway has come to an end." "What did you say?" Cromarty asked. "I said the train couldn't go any further."

The brigade commander immediately jumped out of the car.Fogg also got out of the car without haste.Together they went to ask the conductor. "Where are we?" Cromarty said. "We're at Kerby," replied the conductor. "That's where we stopped?" "Of course it stops here, because the railway is not finished yet..." "What! Not finished yet?" "No. From here to Allahabad, there is a road of more than fifty miles to be built to catch the train over there." "However, the newspapers have said that the whole line is open to traffic." "Then what can be done, sir, it is a mistake in the paper." "But you're selling tickets from Bombay to Calcutta!" Cromarty said, getting a little excited. "You are right, but travelers know that the road from Kerbi to Allahabad is to be managed by oneself." At this moment, Cromarty was so angry that Passepartout wanted to beat the impotent conductor.Passepartout could hardly now look at his master. "Mr. Francis," said Fogg flatly, "if you agree, we will go together and find another way to get to Allahabad." "Mr. Fogg, is this unexpected delay too injurious to you?" "No, Mr. Francis, it was expected." "What! You already knew that the railway was closed..." "I don't know a thing about that, but I know that sooner or later there will always be an obstacle in the way of the journey. But it can't be bad anyway. For I have two days to spare. There is a steamer from Calcutta at noon on the 25th." Heading for Hong Kong. It's only the 22nd today, and we'll arrive in Calcutta on time." Since his answer was so confident, what was there to say.It is true that the road is not finished, so far.The news reports in the newspapers, like some old clocks, announced the completion of the railway ahead of time.Most travelers know that this section of the railway has not yet been repaired, and when they get off the train, they rent out all the means of transportation in the town.Be it a cart, a cart drawn by camels and oxen, a wagon like a traveling temple, a pole or a pony, Fokker and Cromarty searched all over the town and found nothing, and had to leave empty-handed. return. "I'm going to Allahabad on foot," said Mr. Fogg. Passepartout now approached his master, and, having looked at his handsome slippers, which were ill-suited for the journey, made a face at Fogg.But fortunately, he has now made a new discovery, but he is still a little hesitant. "Sir," said he, "I believe I have found a means of transportation." "What kind of tool?" "An elephant! A hundred paces from here lives an Indian who has an elephant." "Come on, let's go and see," said Fogg. Five minutes later, Fogg, Cromarty, and Passepartout came to a small mud hut.Close to this small earthen house, there is a high fence surrounded by a fence.An Indian lived in a small mud hut.There is an elephant in the enclosure.At the request of the travelers, the Indian led Mr. Fogg and his two companions into the fence. Inside the fence, they saw the elephant.The elephant is on the verge of being domesticated.The owner of the elephant does not intend to train it to be a pack elephant, but to train it to be a war elephant.For this purpose, he first slowly changed the docile nature of the elephant, making it gradually ferocious, and became a beast called "Machi" in Indian.So for three months, feed it with sugar and milk.It seems unlikely that this method would produce that effect, but those who keep elephants have, in the majority, succeeded in this method.For Mr. Fogg, this was nothing short of luck.Because this elephant has just been trained in this way, and it hasn't become a "Machi" at all.The elephant, named Chiuni, can still travel long distances like any other elephant, and run very fast.Since no other mounts could be found, Fokker decided to use the elephant. However, elephants are considered precious animals in India, because there are fewer and fewer elephants in India.In particular, male elephants suitable for circus performances are even more difficult to find.Once these animals become domestic animals, they seldom reproduce and can only be replenished by hunting, so they have become people's special cherished treasures.When Fogg asked the Indian if he would rent out the elephant, the other party refused very simply.Mr. Fogg was determined to hire the elephant, and so he offered a high price: ten pounds (two hundred and fifty francs) for every hour of use.But the master doesn't do it.What about twenty pounds?Or not.What about forty pounds?Always say no.Every time M. Fogg raised his price, Passepartout jumped.Although the price was not low, the owner of the elephant was not moved at all.Calculated on the basis of fifteen hours to Allahabad, the elephant owner can earn six hundred pounds (15,000 gold francs). Mr Fogg, still not at all excited, offered the Indian to buy the elephant.He started with a high price of £1,000 (25,000 francs). Elephant owner refused to sell!Eighty percent of this old slicker is sure that this deal will make a lot of money.Francis Cromartti took Falk aside and told him to think carefully about raising the price.Fogg replied that he had never been in the habit of doing things without thinking, and that he had done so in order to win a bet of twenty thousand pounds; . Mr. Fogg came to see the Indian again.Indians have a pair of small eyes, revealing a greedy look, and people will understand at a glance: "Whether the transaction is successful or not, it is only a matter of whether the price is high or not".M. Fogg raised the price one after another, to eleven hundred pounds, fifteen hundred pounds, eighteen hundred pounds, and finally to two thousand pounds (fifty thousand francs).Passepartout's normally ruddy face turned pale with rage from his overexcitement. The elephant owner finally surrendered to two thousand pounds. "I can't go a long way with my slippers, and why does his elephant meat cost so much!" cried Passepartout. The deal is done, now it's just a matter of finding a guide.It's easier!There was a young, bright-looking Parsi who was willing to oblige.Mr. Fogg agreed to hire him, and promised to pay him well, which, of course, would redouble the efforts of the Parsees.After the elephant was pulled out, it was immediately equipped.This Parsi is very adept at acting as a elephant boy or as a guide.He spread saddle pads on the back of the elephant, and hung two uncomfortable saddle chairs on both sides of the elephant. Mr. Fogg took the banknotes from his precious bag and paid them to the owner of the elephant.The money seemed to be taken from Passepartout's heart.Mr. Fogg asked Mr. Komarati to go to Allahabad on an elephant, and the brigade commander accepted his invitation. They bought some food in Kerby.Cromartti sat in a saddle chair on one side of the elephant, Fogg on the other.Passepartout stood high between his master and the brigadier, with his legs straddled on the saddle.The elephant boy lay on the elephant's neck.At nine o'clock, the elephant set off, left Kebir, and entered the dense palm forest from the shortest route.