limpse of brick houses and numerous clay huts, which
gave the place a desolate appearance, without any local colour.

Sir Francis Cromarty had now reached his destination; the troops he
was to command were encamped a few miles to the north of the town. He
took farewell of Phileas Fogg, wished him every success, and expressed
a hope that he would continue his journey in a more profitable and
less original manner. Mr. Fogg gently pressed his companion's hand.
Mrs. Aouda was more demonstrative; she could not forget what she owed
to Sir Francis Cromarty. As for Passe-partout, he was honoured with a
hearty shake of the general's hand, and was much impressed thereby. So
they parted.

From Benares the railway traverses the valley of the Ganges. The
travellers had many glimpses of the varied country of Behar, the hills
covered with verdure, and a succession of barley, wheat, and com
fields, jungles full of alligators, neat villages, and thick forests.
Elephants and other animals were bathing in the sacred river, as were
also bands of Hindoos of both sexes, who, notwithstanding the advanced
season of the year, were accomplishing their pious ablutions. These
devotees were declared enemies of Buddhism, and were strict Brahmins,
believing in Vishnu, the sun god; Shiva, the personification of
nature; and Brahma, the head of priests and rulers. But how do Brahma,
Shiva, and Vishnu regard India, now completely Anglicised, with
hundreds of steamers darting and screaming along the holy waters of
the Ganges, frightening the birds and beasts and faithful followers of
the gods dwelling along the banks?

The landscape passed rapidly by, and was occasionally hidden by the
stream. The travellers could now discern the fort of Chunar, twenty
miles south-west of Benares; then Ghazipore and its important
rose-water manufactories came in sight; then they caught a glimpse of
the tomb of Lord Cornwallis, which rises on the left bank of the
river; then the fortified town of Buxar; Patna, the great commercial
city and principal opium-market of India; Monghir, an European town,
as English as Manchester or Birmingham, with its foundries, factories,
and tall chimneys vomiting forth volumes of black smoke.

Night fell, and still the train rushed on, in the midst of the roaring
and growling of wild animals, which fled from the advancing
locomotive. Nothing could of course then be seen of those wonders of
Bengal, Golconda, the ruins of Gom, and Morschab