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The Blog of Phileas Fogg : October 22nd 1872

From: Harry Hayfield <welshliberaldemocrat~at~yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2006 16:11:02 +0100
To: "Jules Verne Forum" <jvf~at~Gilead.org.il>

BlankMmm, you will remember that on October 20th I said that I was likely to
be in Calcutta by the 23rd and able to catch a ship on the 25th which would
take me to Singapore. Well, that plan has come a slight "cropper" as the
Brigadier suggested to me earlier today. The strange thing is though that
this morning there was nothing to suggest that anything was amiss at all.

There we were having spent yesterday at Burhampoor to buy Passepartout some
new shoes (to replace those lost in Bombay) and were making good time when
at 8.00am the train stopped for no apparent reason. The Brigadier, being an
expert on all things Indian, suggested that it was probably due to an
elephant asleep on the line. So you can imagine my dismay and the
Brigadier's anger when the conductor came through the carriage and called
"All Change!", but not half as much as when Passepartout came charging into
the carriage panting "No railway!"

And as per usual he was entirely correct. When I confronted one of the
guards he gave an answer that whilst truthful didn't help matters much. It
turns out that the railway was complete, but with one proviso. Passengers
have to make their own way from Kholby (where the train was forced to
terminate) to Allahabad (and catch the connection onto Calcutta). All of
which meant that we were a little but stuck. Passepartout wanted to deliver
one of his vicious right hooks to the guard but I decided not to let him and
try and find another method of transport, whilst the Brigadier was
apolgising every few minutes. I explained there was no need for him to be so
apolgetic as a delay was bound to happen sooner rather than later. But
thankfully Passepartout came up trumps (or should that be trunks!)

After a little haggling with the owner, I managed to purchase an elephant
for £2,000 and with the help of a local Parsee we were soon on our way again
and by lunchtime were already 8 miles nearer to Allahabad. Mind you I don't
think that either the Brigadier or Passepartout liked the ride as they were
complaining about aches and pains all over, although I can't think what
upset them as I quite enjoyed the ride.

So here we are now in the middle of Indian jungle (and even this box of
tricks hasn't got a clue where we are) and under the lead of this Parsee who
I must say is a very friendly chap indeed. Anyway, time for bed now and
tomorrow we continue on to Allahabad.

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Received on Sun 22 Oct 2006 - 17:11:30 IST

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