otherwise 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 trunk, 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 succeeded 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 com-
plete dominion over this territory, which is subjected
to the influence of rajahs, whom it is almost impossible

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