Page 111 - AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

Around the World in 80 Days

hours. Phileas Fogg would thus be able to arrive in time to
take the steamer which left Calcutta the next day, October
25th, at noon, for Hong Kong.
The young woman was placed in one of the waiting-

rooms of the station, whilst Passepartout was charged with
purchasing for her various articles of toilet, a dress, shawl,
and some furs; for which his master gave him unlimited
credit. Passepartout started off forthwith, and found
himself in the streets of Allahabad, that is, the City of God,
one of the most venerated in India, being built at the
junction of the two sacred rivers, Ganges and Jumna, the
waters of which attract pilgrims from every part of the
peninsula. The Ganges, according to the legends of the
Ramayana, rises in heaven, whence, owing to Brahma’s
agency, it descends to the earth.
Passepartout made it a point, as he made his purchases,
to take a good look at the city. It was formerly defended
by a noble fort, which has since become a state prison; its
commerce has dwindled away, and Passepartout in vain
looked about him for such a bazaar as he used to frequent
in Regent Street. At last he came upon an elderly, crusty
Jew, who sold second-hand articles, and from whom he
purchased a dress of Scotch stuff, a large mantle, and a fine
otter-skin pelisse, for which he did not hesitate to pay

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