Вокруг света за 80 дней

Chapter 11

           Theconversationfellagain. Duringthenightthetrainleftthemountainsbehind,andpassedNassik,andthenextdayproceededovertheflat,well-cultivatedcountryoftheKhandeish,withitsstragglingvillages,abovewhichrosetheminaretsofthepagodas.Thisfertileterritoryiswateredbynumeroussmallriversandlimpidstreams,mostlytributariesoftheGodavery. 

           Passepartout,onwakingandlookingout,couldnotrealisethathewasactuallycrossingIndiainarailwaytrain. Thelocomotive,guidedbyanEnglishengineerandfedwithEnglishcoal,threwoutitssmokeuponcotton,coffee,nutmeg,clove,andpepperplantations, whilethesteamcurledinspiralsaroundgroupsofpalm-trees,inthemidstofwhichwereseenpicturesquebungalows,viharis(sortofabandonedmonasteries),andmarvelloustemplesenrichedbytheexhaustlessornamentationofIndianarchitecture. Thentheycameuponvasttractsextendingtothehorizon,withjunglesinhabitedbysnakesandtigers,whichfledatthenoiseofthetrain;succeededbyforestspenetratedbytherailway,andstillhauntedbyelephantswhich,withpensiveeyes,gazedatthetrainasitpassed. Thetravellerscrossed,beyondMilligaum,thefatalcountrysooftenstainedwithbloodbythesectariesofthegoddessKali. NotfaroffroseEllora,withitsgracefulpagodas,andthefamousAurungabad,capitaloftheferociousAureng-Zeb,nowthechieftownofoneofthedetachedprovincesofthekingdomoftheNizam. ItwasthereaboutsthatFeringhea,theThuggeechief,kingofthestranglers,heldhissway.Theseruffians,unitedbyasecretbond,strangledvictimsofeveryageinhonourofthegoddessDeath,withouteversheddingblood;therewasaperiodwhenthispartofthecountrycouldscarcelybetravelledoverwithoutcorpsesbeingfoundineverydirection. TheEnglishGovernmenthassucceededingreatlydiminishingthesemurders,thoughtheThuggeesstillexist,andpursuetheexerciseoftheirhorriblerites. 

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