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Re: The Blog of Phileas Fogg: October 25th 1872

From: <samuelmaida~at~peoplepc.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Oct 2006 00:16:49 -0700
To: "Jules Verne Forum" <jvf~at~Gilead.org.il>

Hello! Please, may you send me "The Blog of Phileas Fogg" from the begining?
Thank you.
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Harry Hayfield
  To: Jules Verne Forum
  Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 2:41 PM
  Subject: The Blog of Phileas Fogg: October 25th 1872


  "A life on the ocean wave, a home on the rolling deep. Where the scattered waters rave, and the winds their revels keep! Like an eagle caged, I pine, on this dull, unchanging shore. Oh! Give me the flashing brine, The spray and the tempest's roar! Once more on the deck I stand of my own swift-gliding craft. Set sail! Farewell to the land! The gale follows fair abaft. A life on the ocean wave, a home on the rolling deep. Where the scattered waters rave, and the winds their revels keep!"

  You can tell I'm back on a ship can't you! Welcome aboard the Rangoon our home from home for the next fortnight or so as we head towards Hong Kong, but we very nearly didn't all board this morning due to a slight case of legal difficulties. We'd just arrived in Calcutta when a policeman came up and asked who we were. I replied that I was Phileas Fogg and that I was being accompanied by Passepartout and the Princess. He then asked us to follow him. Well, as you can imagine I was scratching my head as to what was going on, but this soon became clear when he invited us into a small house and informed us that we would be seeing a judge about eighty minutes later.

  At 8.30 this morning, we were led into a courtroom and a judge entered followed by his clerk. After a slight confusion over wigs, the case was formally put. This box of tricks came up trumps again and recorded the trial word for word and I've now had a chance to review precisely what happened. It turns out that myself and Passepartout were both being charged with sacrilege and as an accomplice to the charge of sacrilege. Well, as you can imagine this took me a little by suprise but as soon as the prosecuters arrived it all started to make sense. The charge related to the act of suttee that we stopped. When we were asked if we understood the charge, I answered in the postive and asked if the priests could explain what they were doing at the same time. Passepartout got a little carried away and shouted "Yes, at the pagoda of Pillaji, where they were on the point of burning their victim". The priests didn't seem to understand the question and the judge even asked "What victim?". It turned out that we'd got the wrong end of the stick. These priests belonged to the temple at Bombay where Passepartout lost his shoes and sure enough a few seconds later the shoes were presented as evidence!

  This made things a lot easier. We both admitted our guilt and our punishment was delivered. Passepartout was to be jailed for fifteen days and fined £300 and I was to be jailed for seven days and fined £150. Just as the case was about to be concluded I stood up and announced "I offer bail!". The judge agreed and a sum of £2,000 was decided (which I paid instantly) and we were both released on bail. And with that little problem sorted (and Passepartout reunited with his shoes) we all made our way on board the Rangoon.

  So here we are back on the ocean waves and throughly enjoying a chance to relax. In fact Passepartout has taken the time to relax as well and this evening was taking a stab at the open theatre session. He sang a song (in French of course) which he said was a traditional French folksong. Well, if it is a traditional song it seems very apt indeed as my box of tricks translated the song into English for me and the Princess to read. The song is called "Tout Autour Le Monde" which translates as "All Around the World!" (as I said quite apt!)

  "All around the world, we'll go together day by day (Whistles), Anytime you want me you can whistle in this way (Whistles), And I will be there ready to help you anywhere (Whistles). Hand in hand, we'll always go to many places we don't know and we'll sing along the way and every time we'll find a way to carry on! All around the world, we'll go together day by day (Whistles), And we'll see new people, white or black or any way (Whistles), Mr. Fogg will the be the boss and Aouda'll be there too (Whistles). Hand in hand, we'll always go to many places we don't know and we'll sing along the way and every time we'll find a way to carry on!!"

Received on Sat 28 Oct 2006 - 11:31:06 IST

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