AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS(环游世界80天)-第10部分

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CHAPTER　XII
IN　WHICH　PHILEAS　FOGG　AND　HIS　COMPANIONS　VENTURE　ACROSS　THE　INDIAN　FORESTS；　AND　WHAT　ENSUED。
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In　order　to　shorten　the　journey；　the　guide　passed　to　the　left　of　the　line　where　the　railway　was　still　in　process　of　being　built。　This　lined　owing　to　the　capricious　turnings　of　the　Vindhia　Mountains；　did　not　pursue　a　straight　course。　The　Parsee；　who　was　quite　familiar　with　the　roads　and　paths　in　the　district；　declared　that　they　would　gain　twenty　miles　by　striking　directly　through　the　forest。　
Phileas　Fogg　and　Sir　Francis　Cromarty　plunged　to　the　neck　in　the　peculiar　howdahs　provided　for　theme　were　horribly　jostled　by　the　swift　trotting　of　the　elephant；　spurred　on　as　he　was　by　the　skilful　Parsee；　but　they　endured　the　discomfort　with　true　British　phlegm；　talking　little；　and　scarcely　able　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　each　other。　As　for　Passepartout；　who　was　mounted　on　the　beast's　back；　and　received　the　direct　force　of　each　concussion　as　he　trod　along；　he　was　very　careful；　in　acomordance　with　his　master's　advice；　to　keep　his　tongue　from　between　his　teeth；　as　it　would　other　have　been　bitten　off　short。　The　worthy　fellow　bounced　from　the　elephant's　neck　to　his　rump；　and　vaulted　like　a　clown　on　a　spring…board；　yet　he　laughed　in　the　midst　of　his　bouncing；　and　from　time　to　time　took　a　piece　of　sugar　out　of　his　pocket；　and　inserted　it　in　Kiouni's　trunks　who　received　it　without　in　the　least　slackening　his　regular　trot。　
After　two　hours　the　guide　stopped　the　elephant；　and　gave　him　an　hour　for　rest；　during　which　Kiouni；　after　quenching　his　thirst　at　a　neighbouring　spring；　set　to　devouring　the　branches　and　shrubs　round　about　him。　Neither　Sir　Francis　nor　Mr　Fogg　regretted　the　delay；　and　both　descended　with　a　feeling　of　relief。　‘Why；　he's　made　of　iron！'　exclaimed　the　general；　gazing　admiringly　on　Kiouni。　
‘Of　…　forged　iron；'　replied　Passepartout；　as　he　set　about　preparing　a　hasty　breakfast。　
At　noon　the　Parsee　gave　the　signal　of　departure。　
The　country　soon　presented　a　very　savage　aspect。　Copses　of　dates　and　dwarf…palms　sucomeeded　the　dense　forests；　then　vast；　dry　plains；　dotted　with　scanty　shrubs；　and　sown　with　great　blocks　of　syenite。　All　this　portion　of　Bundelcund；　which　is　little　frequented　by　travellers；　is　inhabited　by　a　fanatical　population；　hardened　in　the　most　horrible　practices　of　the　Hindoo　faith。　The　English　have　not　been　able　to　secure　complete　dominion　over　this　territory；　which　is　subjected　to　the　influence　of　rajahs；　whom　it　is　almost　impossible　to　reach　in　their　inacomessible　mountain　fastnesses。　The　travellers　several　times　saw　bands　of　ferocious　Indians；　who；　when　they　perceived　the　elephant　striding　across　country；　made　angry　and　threatening　motions。　The　Parsee　avoided　them　as　much　as　possible。　Few　animals　were　observed　on　the　route；　even　the　monkeys　hurried　from　their　path　with　contortions　and　grimaces　which　convulsed　Passepartout　with　laughter。　
In　the　midst　of　his　gaiety；　however；　one　thought　troubled　the　worthy　servant。　What　would　Mr　Fogg　do　with　the　elephant；　when　he　got　to　Allahabad？　Would　he　carry　him　on　with　him？　Impossible！　The　cost　of　transporting　him　would　make　him　ruinously　expensive。　Would　he　sell　him；　or　set　him　free？　The　estimable　beast　certainly　deserved　some　consideration。　Should　Mr　Fogg　choose　to　make　him；　Passepartout；　a　present　of　Kiouni；　he　would　be　very　much　embarrassed；　and　these　thoughts　did　not　cease　worrying　him　for　a　long　time。　
The　principal　chain　of　the　Vindhias　was　crossed　by　eight　in　the　evening；　and　another　halt　was　made　on　the　northern　slope；　in　a　Bed　bungalow。　They　had　gone　nearly　twenty…five　miles　that　day；　and　an　equal　distance　still　separated　them　from　the　station　of　Allahabad。　
The　night　was　cold。　The　Parsee　lit　a　fire　in　the　bungalow　with　a　few　dry　branches；　and　the　warmth　was　very　grateful。　The　provisions　purchased　at　Kholby　sufficed　for　supper；　and　the　travellers　ate　ravenously。　The　conversation；　beginning　with　a　few　disconnected　phrases；　soon　gave　place　to　loud　and　steady　snores。　The　guide　watched　Kiouni；　who　slept　standing；　bolstering　himself　against　the　trunk　of　a　large　tree。　Nothing　ocomurred　during　the　night　to　disturb　the　slumberers；　although　ocomasional　growls　from　panthers　and　chatterings　of　monkeys　broke　the　silence；　the　more　formidable　beasts　made　no　cries　or　hostile　demonstration　against　the　ocomupants　of　the　bungalow。　Sir　Francis　slept　heavily；　like　an　honest　soldier　overcome　with　fatigue。　Passepartout　was　wrapped　in　uneasy　dreams　of　the　bouncing　of　the　day　before。　As　for　Mr　Fogg；　he　slumbered　as　peak　fully　as　if　he　had　been　in　his　serene　mansion　in　Saville　Row。　
The　journey　was　resumed　at　six　in　the　morning；　the　guide　hoped　to　reach　Allahabad　by　evening。　In　that　case；　Mr　Fogg　would　only　lose　a　part　of　the　forty…eight　hours　saved　since　the　beginning　of　the　tour。　Kiouni；　resuming　his　rapid　gait；　soon　descended　the　lower　spurs　of　the　Vindhias；　and　towards　noon　they　passed　by　the　age　of　Kallenger；　on　the　Cani；　one　of　the　branches　of　the　Ganges。　The　guide　avoided　inhabited　places；　tag　it　safer　to　keep　the　open　country；　which　lies　along　the　first　depressions　of　the　basin　of　the　great　river。　Allahabad　was　now　only　twelve　miles　to　the　northeast。　They　stopped　under　a　clump　of　bananas；　the　fruit　of　which；　as　healthy　as　bread　and　as　sucomulent　as　cream；　was　amply　partaken　of　and　appreciated。　
At　two　o'clock　the　guide　entered　a　thick　forest　which　extended　several　miles；　he　preferred　to　travel　under　cover　of　the　woods。　They　had　not　as　yet　had　any　unpleasant　encounters；　and　the　journey　seemed　on　the　point　of　being　sucomessfully　acomomplished；　when　the　elephant；　becoming　restless；　suddenly　stopped。　
It　was　then　four　o'clock。　
‘What's　the　matter？'　asked　Sir　Francis；　putting　out　his　head。　
‘I　don't　know；　officer；'　replied　the　Parsee；　listening　attentively　to　a　confused　murmur　which　came　through　the　thick　branches。　
The　murmur　soon　became　more　distinct；　it　now　seemed　like　a　distant　concert　of　human　voices　acomompanied　by　brass　instruments。　Passepartout　was　all　eyes　and　ears。　Mr　Fogg　patiently　waited　without　a　word。　The　Parsee　jumped　to　the　ground；　fastened　the　elephant　to　a　tree；　and　plunged　into　the　thicket。　He　soon　returned；　saying；　
‘A　procession　of　Brahmins　is　coming　this　way。　We　must　prevent　their　seeing　us；　if　possible。'　
The　guide　unloosed　the　elephant　and　led　him　into　a　thicket；　at　the　same　time　asking　the　travellers　not　to　stir。　He　held　himself　ready　to　bestride　the　animal　at　a　moment's　notice；　should　flight　become　necessary；　but　he　evidently　thought　that　the　procession　of　the　faithful　would　pass　without　perceiving　them　amid　the　thick　foliage；　in　which　they　were　wholly　concealed。　
The　discordant　tones　of　the　voices　and　instruments　drew　nearer；　and　now　droning　songs　mingled　with　the　sound　of　the　tambourines　and　cymbals。　The　head　of　the　procession　soon　appeared　beneath　the　trees；　a　hundred　paces　away；　and　the　strange　figures　who　performed　the　religious　ceremony　were　easily　distinguished　through　the　branches。　First　came　the　priests；　with　mitres　on　their　heads；　and　clothed　in　long　lace　robes。　They　were　surrounded　by　men；　women；　and　children；　who　sang　a　kind　of　lugubrious　psalm；　interrupted　at　regular　intervals　by　the　tambourines　and　cymbals；　while　behind　them　was　drawn　a　car　with　large　wheels；　the　spokes　of　which　represented　serpents　entwined　with　each　other。　Upon　the　car；　which　was　drawn　by　four　richly　caparisoned　zebus　stood　a　hideous　statue　with　four　arms；　the　body　coloured　a　dull　red；　with　haggard　eyes；　dishevelled　hair；　protruding　tongue；　and　lips　tinted　with　betel。　It　stood　upright　upon　the　figure　of　a　prostrate　and　headless　giant。　
Sir　Francis；　recognizing　the　statue；　whispered；　‘The　goddess　Kali；　the　goddess　of　love　and　death。'　
‘Of　death；　perhaps；'　muttered　back　Passepartout；　‘but　of　love　…　that　ugly　old　hag？　Never！'　
The　Parsee　made　a　motion　to　keep　silence。　
A　group　of　old　fakirs　were　capering　and　making　a　wild　ado　round　the　statue；　te　were　striped　with　ochre；　and　covered　with　cuts　whence　their　blood　issued　drop　by　drop　…　stupid　fanatics；　who；　in　the　great　Indian　ceremonies；　still　throw　themselves　under　the　wheels　of　Juggernaut。　Some　Brahmins；　clad　in　all　the　sumptuousness　of　Oriental　apparel；　and　leading　a　woman　who　faltered　at　every　step；　followed。　This　woman　was　young；　and　as　fair　as　a　European。　Her　head　and　neck；　shoulders；　ears；　arms；　hands　and　toes；　were　loaded　down　with　jewels　and　gems；　…　with　bracelets；　earrings；　and　rings；　while　a　tunic　bordered　with　gold；　and　covered　with　a　light　muslin　robe；　betrayed　the　outline　of　her　form。　
The　guards　who　followed　the　young　woman　presented　a　violent　contrast　to　her；　armed　as　they　were　with　naked　sabres　hung　at　their　waists；　and　long　damascened　pistols；　and　bearing　a　corpse　on　a　palanquin。　It　was　the　body　of　an　old　man；　gorgeously　arrayed　in　the　habiliments　of　a　rajah；　wearing；　as　in　life；　a　turban　embroidered　with　pearls；　a　robe　of　tissue　of　silk　and　gold；　a　scarf　of　cashmere　sewed　with　diamonds；　and　the　magnificent　weapons　of　a　Hindoo　prince。　Next　came　the　musicians　and　a　rearguard　of　capering　fakirs；　whose　cries　sometimes　drowned　the　noise　of　the　instruments；　these　closed　the　procession。　
Sir　Francis　watched　the　procession　with　a　sad　countenance；　and；　turning　to　the　guide；　said；　‘A　suttee。'　
The　Parsee　nodded；　and　put　his　finger　to　his　lips。　The　procession　slowly　wound　under　the　trees；　and　soon　its　last　ranks　disappeared　in　the　depths　of　the　wood。　The　songs　gradually　died　away；　ocomasionally　cries　were　heard　in　the　distance；　until　at　last　all　was　silence　again。　
Phileas　Fogg　had　heard　what　Sir　Francis　said；　and；　as　soon　as　the　procession　had　disappeared；　asked：　
‘What　is　a　〃suttee〃？'　
‘A　suttee；'　returned　the　general；　‘is　a　human　sacrifice　but　a　voluntary　one。　The　woman　you　have　just　seen　will　be　burned　tomorrow　at　the　dawn　of　day。'　
‘Oh；　the　scoundrels！'　cried　Passepartout；　who　could　not　repress　his　indignation。　
‘And　the　corpse？'　asked　Mr　Fogg。　
‘Is　that　of　the　prince；　her　husband；'　said　the　guide；　‘an　independent　rajah　of　Bundelcund。'　
‘Is　it　possible；'　resumed　Phileas　Fogg；　his　voice　betraying　not　the　least　emotion；　‘that　these　barbarous　customs　s