演講在熱烈的掌聲中結束——介紹弗格森·弗格森博士——“Excelsior” ——博士的風貌——徹頭徹尾的宿命論者——“旅行者俱樂部”的晚宴——不失時機的頻頻祝酒
1862年1月14日， 滑鐵盧廣場13號，倫敦皇傢地理學會的一次會議上，聽衆如雲。 學會主席弗朗西斯·M××爵士在嚮他可敬的同行們作一場重要的學術報告。他的話常常被陣陣掌聲打斷。爵士最後用幾句慷慨激昂的話結束了這次少有的動人演講。這幾句話中洋溢着無比飽滿的愛國主義：
“英國一直領先於世界各國（因為大傢已註意到，國傢的前進總是有前有後），這完全是英國旅行傢在地理探險中的大無畏精神所至（全場發出贊同聲）。弗格森·弗格森博士，就是英國光榮兒女中的一位。他是不會辜負祖國的重托的（四處響起附和聲：不會的！不會的！）。這次嘗試假如成功（會成功的！），就能把我們在非洲地圖學方面零散的基本知識補充完整，使之成為一體。不過如果失敗了（决不會！决不會！），至少也將作為人類最大膽的設想之一而永存（全場狂熱頓足）！”
“烏拉！烏拉！”這番撩人心動的話使得群情激奮，齊聲高呼。
“無畏的弗格森萬歲！”一位極度動情的聽衆不由地喊叫道。
熱情的歡呼聲四起，衆人異口同聲地發出弗格森的名字，整個會議廳被震得抖動起來。我們有充分理由相信，經過英國人的嗓門呼喊，弗格森這個名字將更受人尊敬了。
這兒許多人曾是大膽的探險傢。好動的天性使得他們多麽想走遍世界的五大洲！不過他們雖人數衆多，卻都老了，疲憊了。所有的人在肉體上、精神上或多或少地逃脫過一次次死亡的威脅：海上失事、火災、印地安人的戰斧、野人的棍棒、酷刑、波利尼西亞人①的捕食。 不過，當弗朗西斯·M××爵士演講時，他們的心仍然禁不住地怦怦跳起來。要知道，這場演說肯定是倫敦皇傢地理學會有史以來最為精彩的。
①中太平洋的群島，意為“多島群島”，主要包括夏威夷群島，湯加群島等。
但是在英國，熱情不僅僅停留在口頭上。用它鑄造錢幣比“皇傢造幣廠”的鑄幣機來得還要快。會議過程中，立即表决通過了給弗格森博士一筆促進活動金，且數目高達2500英鎊（即62500法郎） 。這麽一大筆款子恰恰說明這項事業有多麽重要。
一位學會成員嚮主席打了個招呼，詢問是否能把弗格森博士正式介紹給大傢。
“博士在聽候大傢的吩咐。”弗朗西斯·M××爵士答道。
“讓他進來！讓他進來！”人們高呼，“應該親眼見見這位傑出、勇敢的人！”
“這個探險主張令人難以置信，也許衹是騙騙我們罷了！”一位身體中風的老船長說。
“也許，弗格森博士根本就不存在！”一個人惡意地叫道。
“那就該把他虛構出來！”這個嚴肅的學會中一位愛開玩笑的會員答道。
“請弗格森博士進來吧。”弗朗西斯·M××爵士爽快地說。
於是，博士在雷鳴般的掌聲中從容不迫地步入大廳，絲毫不露聲色。
這是位四十歲左右的男子，中等身材，體格平常，過於紅潤的面容顯露出多血質的特徵。他神色鎮定，相貌端正，臉上長着一個大鼻子。人類巨輪船頭般的這個鼻子就像天生為探險而生的。慈祥的眼睛裏閃爍着勇敢，更多是智慧的光芒，他的容貌産生一種強大的魔力。他的雙臂很長，雙腳以大步行傢特有的平穩牢牢地踩在大地上。
博士的整個外貌顯露出安靜與嚴肅。他怎麽能是那種幹最無知的欺騙勾當的人呢，誰都不會對他有這種想法。
因此，直到弗格森博士用友好的手勢請大傢安靜時，叫好聲和掌聲纔平息下來。他嚮為他作自我介紹準備的安樂椅走去，隨後，站在那兒一動不動，目光炯炯有神地凝視會場。衹見他舉起右手，食指指嚮空中，張開口，衹說了一個字：
“Excelsior！”
絶了！無論布賴特①和科布登②國會上的意外質詢，還是帕斯頓公爵為加固英國峭壁海防工事申請特別資金，都從未獲得過如此歡迎。其熱烈程度超過弗朗西斯·M××爵士的演講， 甚至更高。博士表現得既高尚、偉大，又謙虛、審慎。他剛纔說了一個很合時宜的字：
①1811—1889，英國自由黨的傢，以雄辯著稱。
②1804—1865，英國傢，下院議員。
“Excelsior③！”
③拉丁語，意思是高尚的，不斷嚮上的。
老船長折服了，轉而堅决地站到這位外來人一邊。他請求把弗格森的演說“完整地” 刊登在 “the Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society ofLondon”《倫敦皇傢地理學會會報》上。
這位博士到底是何許人？他打算投身於什麽事業？
年輕的弗格森，父親是英國海運業一名正直的船長。在弗格森很小的時候，船長就讓兒子跟他一同體驗他那種職業生涯中危險的滋味和冒險的樂趣。這個可愛的孩子似乎從來不知道害怕，很快就顯示出頭腦靈活，善於思考，無比鐘情於科學事業的長處。此外，他還表現出了擺脫睏境的非凡才智。他從未被難住過，甚至初次用叉子吃飯時就顯得很老練。大傢都清楚，一般說來孩子們很少一開始就會用叉子的。
對冒險和航海探險之類書籍的閱讀很快燃起了他的幻想。他執迷地關註起十九世紀初期的那些重要發現。他夢想獲得蒙戈·帕剋①、布魯斯②、卡耶③、勒瓦楊獲得的那種榮譽。哪怕獲得少許塞爾扣剋④那種魯濱遜式的榮譽，他覺得也不壞。他與塞爾扣剋一起在鬍安·費爾南德斯島上度過了多少時光啊！他常常贊成這位被拋棄的水手的看法，有時也對他的計劃和設計提出異議。年青的弗格森認為，如果換了他，他會采取別的做法，那樣或許更好，起碼幹得不會賴！然而，事情明擺着，如果換了他，决不會躲避開那個令人非常快樂的小島的。在那兒，他會快活得像一個沒有臣民的君王……。即使叫他當海軍部大臣，也决不離開！
①1771—約1806，蘇格蘭探險傢，曾到尼日兒河探險，着有《非洲內地旅行》一書。
②1730—1794，蘇格蘭探險傢，1790年出版《尼羅河源頭探行記》。
③1799—約1838，法國探險傢，訪問廷巴圖剋後生還的第一位歐洲人。
④1676—1721，蘇格蘭水手，海盜，因與船長爭吵而在鬍安·費爾南德斯群島中的馬薩鐵拉島逗留了5年。他是笛福所着《魯濱遜漂流記》中主人公的原型。
可以想象得到，弗格森年青時代在世界各地進行冒險活動期間，他的這些傾嚮發展到了什麽地步。弗格森的父親是位有見識的人，自然不會忽略發展孩子敏捷的智力。他讓兒子認真學習了水文學、物理學和力學，此外，又附帶讓他學了一點兒植物學、醫學和天文學方面的知識。
可敬的船長去世時，弗格森·弗格森22歲，但是已經周遊了世界。他曾加入過孟加拉工程兵部隊，而且在好多次戰鬥中立功。然而，他對這種軍人生活並不滿意。他不願意指揮別人，也不喜歡別人對他吆三喝四。他提出了退役。而後，他邊打獵，邊採集植物，重新登程去印度半島北方旅行。從加爾哥答到蘇拉特，他穿越了整個半島。對他來說，這不過是旅行愛好者的一次平常散步而已。
在蘇拉特，我們看見他動身去了澳大利亞。1845年，他在那裏參加了斯特爾特①船長的遠征探險隊，這支探險隊受委托尋找人們猜想存在於新荷蘭②中部的那個內陸海。
①1759—1869， 澳大利亞探險傢， 着有《深入澳大利亞南部的兩次探險》和《澳大利亞中部探險記》。
②澳大利亞的舊名。
弗格森·弗格森在1850年前後返回英國，而且比以往任何時候都更着魔於旅行探險。他又去遠征隊陪同麥剋·魯爾船長一起從白令海峽環繞美洲大陸到達費爾韋爾角③。這次遠征直到1853年纔告結束。
③位於新西蘭。
不管什麽樣的勞頓困苦，無論氣候如何惡劣，弗格森的體質居然不可思議地抵擋得住。甚至在一無所有的最惡劣環境中，他也能生活得悠然自得。他是那類地道的旅行傢：胃可以任意收縮、擴張；腿可以按臨時床鋪的長短蜷屈伸展；白天隨時可以入睡，晚間隨時能醒來。
因此，我們發現這位永不知疲倦的旅行傢，在施拉京特魏特兄弟的陪同下，從1855到1857年訪問了的整個西部地區，並且帶回一些稀奇的人種學方面的觀察報告，也就不足為怪了。
在這幾次旅遊期間，弗格森·弗格森成了《每日電信報》最活躍、最引人註目的通信員。這傢報紙很便宜，一便士就能買一份。該報的日發行量雖高達14萬份，不過僅勉強滿足數萬讀者的需要而已。所以，儘管弗格森博士不是任何學者團體的成員，既不是倫敦、巴黎、柏林、維也納或聖·彼得堡皇傢地理學會成員，也不是旅行者俱樂部的成員，更不是皇傢工藝學會成員（他的朋友統計學家科剋伯恩是該會頭面人物），他的名字仍然為人熟知。有一天，他的這位學者朋友逗他尋開心，甚至要他解答這麽一個問題：已知博士環繞地球走過的裏數，由於半徑不同，問他的頭比腳多行多少裏路？或者說已知博士的腳和頭經過的裏數，精確算出他的身高，誤差不超過1法寸（1法寸約合2.25毫米）。但是，弗格森對那些學者團體總是敬而遠之。因為他是埋頭實幹、不願多言的人，他認為把時間用於探索和發現比爭來論去、高談闊論強得多。
據說，一天一位英國人特意來日內瓦觀賞日內瓦湖。他上了一輛老式馬車，這種車像公共馬車一樣，座位在車內的兩側。無巧不成書，我們這位英國人恰恰被安排坐在背對湖的一側。車穩穩地繞湖一圈，這期間他甚至就沒想到扭回頭去瞧一眼，最後，竟然還高高興興地離開日內瓦湖回倫敦了。
弗格森博士在旅行期間卻回過頭，而且還不止一次。正因為如此，他纔看到了許多東西。再說，這也是他的天性所至。我們有充分理由相信他有點宿命論思想。其實他就是位徹頭徹尾的宿命論者。他相信命運，甚至相信天意。他覺得自己與其說是被吸引，倒不如說是被某種力量驅使，去旅行和周遊世界的。就像一輛火車頭，不是自己引着自己走，而是道路領着走。
“我是不趕路的，是路在趕我。”他常常這樣說。所以，難怪他那麽鎮靜地面對皇傢學會的掌聲了。他沒有絲毫傲氣，也沒半點虛榮。他不在意這些小事。他認為給弗朗西斯·M××爵士談的這個建議很平常， 因此，壓根兒就沒發覺自己竟由此引起巨大波瀾，成了風雲人物。
會議結束後，有人陪同博士來到帕爾瑪爾大街的“旅行者俱樂部”。在那裏，大傢為他舉辦了一場盛大的宴會。從飯桌上魚的大小可看出被邀的人物何等重要。尤其是搬到筵席中的那條鱘魚，身子幾乎與弗格森·弗格森本人一樣長。
人們痛飲着各種法國葡萄酒，為在非洲大陸探險而享有盛譽的旅行傢們頻頻舉杯致意。為他們的健康而幹，為他們的榮譽而喝。人們甚至按照旅行傢們名字的字母順序（這可是地地道道英國化的）依次祝酒：阿巴迪、亞當斯、亞當森安德森、為……①。最後，為弗格森·弗格森博士舉杯。後者意欲用他非同尋常的嘗試，把前面這些著名旅行傢的勞動成果匯成一體，補充完備有關非洲大發現方面的係列材料。
①原着此處列舉了近一百二十個旅行傢的名字，本文省略。
OR,
JOURNEYS AND DISCOVERIES IN AFRICA BY THREE ENGLISHMEN.
COMPILED IN FRENCH
BY JULES VERNE,
FROM THE ORIGINAL NOTES OF DR. FERGUSON.
AND DONE INTO ENGLISH BY
"WILLIAM LACKLAND."
PUBLISHERS' NOTE.
"Five Weeks in a Balloon" is, in a measure, a satire on modern books of African travel. So far as the geography, the inhabitants, the animals, and the features of the countries the travellers pass over are described, it is entirely accurate. It gives, in some particulars, a survey of nearly the whole field of African discovery, and in this way will often serve to refresh the memory of the reader. The mode of locomotion is, of course, purely imaginary, and the incidents and adventures fictitious. The latter are abundantly amusing, and, in view of the wonderful "travellers' tales" with which we have been entertained by African explorers, they can scarcely be considered extravagant; while the ingenuity and invention of the author will be sure to excite the surprise and the admiration of the reader, who will find M. VERNE as much at home in voyaging through the air as in journeying "Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Seas."
CONTENTS.
-----
CHAPTER FIRST.
The End of a much-applauded Speech.--The Presentation of Dr. Samuel Ferguson. --Excelsior.--Full-length Portrait of the Doctor.--A Fatalist convinced. --A Dinner at the Travellers' Club.--Several Toasts for the Occasion
CHAPTER SECOND.
The Article in the Daily Telegraph.--War between the Scientific Journals.-- Mr. Petermann backs his Friend Dr. Ferguson.--Reply of the Savant Koner. --Bets made.--Sundry Propositions offered to the Doctor
CHAPTER THIRD.
The Doctor's Friend.--The Origin of their Friendship.--Dick Kennedy at London. --An unexpected but not very consoling Proposal.--A Proverb by no means cheering.--A few Names from the African Martyrology.--The Advantages of a Balloon.--Dr. Ferguson's Secret
CHAPTER FOURTH.
African Explorations.--Barth, Richardson, Overweg, Werne, Brun-Rollet, Penney, Andrea, Debono, Miani, Guillaume Lejean, Brace, Krapf and Rebmann, Maizan, Roscher, Burton and Speke
CHAPTER FIFTH.
Kennedy's Dreams.--Articles and Pronouns in the Plural.--Dick's Insinuations. --A Promenade over the Map of Africa.--What is contained between two Points of the Compass.--Expeditions now on foot.--Speke and Grant.--Krapf, De Decken, and De Heuglin
CHAPTER SIXTH.
A Servant--match him!--He can see the Satellites of Jupiter.--Dick and Joe hard at it.--Doubt and Faith.--The Weighing Ceremony.--Joe and Wellington. --He gets a Half-crown
CHAPTER SEVENTH.
Geometrical Details.--Calculation of the Capacity of the Balloon.--The Double Receptacle.--The Covering.--The Car.--The Mysterious Apparatus.--The Provisions and Stores.--The Final Summing up
CHAPTER EIGHTH.
Joe's Importance.--The Commander of the Resolute.--Kennedy's Arsenal. --Mutual Amenities.--The Farewell Dinner.--Departure on the 21st of February.-- The Doctor's Scientific Sessions.--Duveyrier.--Livingstone.--Details of the Aerial Voyage.--Kennedy silenced
CHAPTER NINTH.
They double the Cape.--The Forecastle.--A Course of Cosmography by Professor Joe.--Concerning the Method of guiding Balloons.--How to seek out Atmospheric Currents.--Eureka
CHAPTER TENTH.
Former Experiments.--The Doctor's Five Receptacles.--The Gas Cylinder.-- The Calorifere.--The System of Manoeuvring.--Success certain
CHAPTER ELEVENTH.
The Arrival at Zanzibar.--The English Consul.--Ill-will of the Inhabitants.--The Island of Koumbeni.--The Rain-Makers.--Inflation of the Balloon.--Departure on the 18th of April.--The last Good-by.--The Victoria
CHAPTER TWELFTH.
Crossing the Strait.--The Mrima.--Dick's Remark and Joe's Proposition.--A Recipe for Coffee-making.--The Uzaramo.--The Unfortunate Maizan.-- Mount Duthumi.--The Doctor's Cards.--Night under a Nopal
CHAPTER THIRTEENTH.
Change of Weather.--Kennedy has the Fever.--The Doctor's Medicine.--Travels on Land.--The Basin of Imenge.--Mount Rubeho.--Six Thousand Feet Elevation.--A Halt in the Daytime
CHAPTER FOURTEENTH.
The Forest of Gum-Trees.--The Blue Antelope.--The Rallying-Signal.--An Unexpected Attack.--The Kanyeme.--A Night in the Open Air.--The Mabunguru.--Jihoue-la-Mkoa.--A Supply of Water.--Arrival at Kazeh
CHAPTER FIFTEENTH.
Kazeh.--The Noisy Market-place.--The Appearance of the Balloon.--The Wangaga. --The Sons of the Moon.--The Doctor's Walk.--The Population of the Place.--The Royal Tembe.--The Sultan's Wives.--A Royal Drunken-Bout.-- Joe an Object of Worship.--How they Dance in the Moon.--A Reaction.-- Two Moons in one Sky.--The Instability of Divine Honors
CHAPTER SIXTEENTH.
Symptoms of a Storm.--The Country of the Moon.--The Future of the African Continent.--The Last Machine of all.--A View of the Country at Sunset.-- Flora and Fauna.--The Tempest.--The Zone of Fire.--The Starry Heavens.
CHAPTER SEVENTEENTH.
The Mountains of the Moon.--An Ocean of Venture.--They cast Anchor.--The Towing Elephant.--A Running Fire.--Death of the Monster.--The Field Oven.--A Meal on the Grass.--A Night on the Ground
CHAPTER EIGHTEENTH.
The Karagwah.--Lake Ukereoue.--A Night on an Island.--The Equator. --Crossing the Lake.--The Cascades.--A View of the Country.--The Sources of the Nile.--The Island of Benga.--The Signature of Andrea Debono.--The Flag with the Arms of England
CHAPTER NINETEENTH.
The Nile.--The Trembling Mountain.--A Remembrance of the Country.--The Narratives of the Arabs.--The Nyam-Nyams.--Joe's Shrewd Cogitations.-- The Balloon runs the Gantlet.--Aerostatic Ascensions.--Madame Blanchard.
CHAPTER TWENTIETH.
The Celestial Bottle.--The Fig-Palms.--The Mammoth Trees.--The Tree of War. --The Winged Team.--Two Native Tribes in Battle.--A Massacre.--An Intervention from above
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIRST.
Strange Sounds.--A Night Attack.--Kennedy and Joe in the Tree.--Two Shots. --"Help! help!"--Reply in French.--The Morning.--The Missionary.--The Plan of Rescue
CHAPTER TWENTY-SECOND.
The Jet of Light.--The Missionary.--The Rescue in a Ray of Electricity.--A Lazarist Priest.--But little Hope.--The Doctor's Care.--A Life of Self-Denial. --Passing a Volcano
CHAPTER TWENTY-THIRD.
Joe in a Fit of Rage.--The Death of a Good Man.--The Night of watching by the Body.--Barrenness and Drought.--The Burial.--The Quartz Rocks.--Joe's Hallucinations.--A Precious Ballast.--A Survey of the Gold-bearing Mountains. --The Beginning of Joe's Despair
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOURTH.
The Wind dies away.--The Vicinity of the Desert.--The Mistake in the WaterSupply.--The Nights of the Equator.--Dr. Ferguson's Anxieties. --The Situation flatly stated.--Energetic Replies of Kennedy and Joe. --One Night more
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIFTH.
A Little Philosophy.--A Cloud on the Horizon.--In the Midst of a Fog.--The Strange Balloon.--An Exact View of the Victoria.--The Palm-Trees.--Traces of a Caravan.--The Well in the Midst of the Desert
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIXTH.
One Hundred and Thirteen Degrees.--The Doctor's Reflections.--A Desperate Search.--The Cylinder goes out.--One Hundred and Twenty-two Degrees.-- Contemplation of the Desert.--A Night Walk.--Solitude.--Debility.--Joe's Prospects.--He gives himself One Day more
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVENTH.
Terrific Heat.--Hallucinations.--The Last Drops of Water.--Nights of Despair. --An Attempt at Suicide.--The Simoom.--The Oasis.--The Lion and Lioness.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHTH.
An Evening of Delight.--Joe's Culinary Performances.--A Dissertation on Raw Meat.--The Narrative of James Bruce.--Camping out.--Joe's Dreams.--The Barometer begins to fall.--The Barometer rises again.--Preparations for Departure.--The Tempest
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINTH.
Signs of Vegetation.--The Fantastic Notion of a French Author.--A Magnificent Country.--The Kingdom of Adamova.--The Explorations of Speke and Burton connected with those of Dr. Barth.--The Atlantika Mountains.--The River Benoue.--The City of Yola.--The Bagele.--Mount Mendif
CHAPTER THIRTIETH.
Mosfeia.--The Sheik.--Denham, Clapperton, and Oudney.--Vogel.--The Capital of Loggoum.--Toole.--Becalmed above Kernak.--The Governor and his Court. --The Attack.--The Incendiary Pigeons
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIRST.
Departure in the Night-time.--All Three.--Kennedy's Instincts.--Precautions.-- The Course of the Shari River.--Lake Tchad.--The Water of the Lake.--The Hippopotamus.--One Bullet thrown away
CHAPTER THIRTY-SECOND.
The Capital of Bornou.--The Islands of the Biddiomahs.--The Condors.--The Doctor's Anxieties.--His Precautions.--An Attack in Mid-air.--The Balloon Covering torn.--The Fall.--Sublime Self-Sacrifice.--The Northern Coast of the Lake
CHAPTER THIRTY-THIRD.
Conjectures.--Reestablishment of the Victoria's Equilibrium.--Dr. Ferguson's New Calculations.--Kennedy's Hunt.--A Complete Exploration of Lake Tchad.--Tangalia.--The Return.--Lari
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOURTH.
The Hurricane.--A Forced Departure.--Loss of an Anchor.--Melancholy Reflections.--The Resolution adopted.--The Sand-Storm.--The Buried Caravan.-- A Contrary yet Favorable Wind.--The Return southward.--Kennedy at his Post
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIFTH.
What happened to Joe.--The Island of the Biddiomahs.--The Adoration shown him.--The Island that sank.--The Shores of the Lake.--The Tree of the Serpents.--The Foot-Tramp.--Terrible Suffering.--Mosquitoes and Ants.-- Hunger.--The Victoria seen.--She disappears.--The Swamp.--One Last Despairing Cry
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIXTH.
A Throng of People on the Horizon.--A Troop of Arabs.--The Pursuit.--It is He.--Fall from Horseback.--The Strangled Arab.--A Ball from Kennedy.-- Adroit Manoeuvres.--Caught up flying.--Joe saved at last
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVENTH.
The Western Route.--Joe wakes up.--His Obstinacy.--End of Joe's Narrative. --Tagelei.--Kennedy's Anxieties.--The Route to the North.--A Night near Aghades
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHTH.
A Rapid Passage.--Prudent Resolves.--Caravans in Sight.--Incessant Rains.-- Goa.--The Niger.--Golberry, Geoffroy, and Gray.--Mungo Park.--Laing.-- Rene Caillie.--Clapperton.--John and Richard Lander
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINTH.
The Country in the Elbow of the Niger.--A Fantastic View of the Hombori Mountains.--Kabra.--Timbuctoo.--The Chart of Dr. Barth.--A Decaying City.-- Whither Heaven wills
CHAPTER FORTIETH.
Dr. Ferguson's Anxieties.--Persistent Movement southward.--A Cloud of Grasshoppers.--A View of Jenne.--A View of Sego.--Change of the Wind.-- Joe's Regrets
CHAPTER FORTY-FIRST.
The Approaches to Senegal.--The Balloon sinks lower and lower.--They keep throwing out, throwing out.--The Marabout Al-Hadji.--Messrs. Pascal, Vincent, and Lambert.--A Rival of Mohammed.--The Difficult Mountains. --Kennedy's Weapons.--One of Joe's Manoeuvres.--A Halt over a Forest
CHAPTER FORTY-SECOND.
A Struggle of Generosity.--The Last Sacrifice.--The Dilating Apparatus.--Joe's Adroitness.--Midnight.--The Doctor's Watch.--Kennedy's Watch.--The Latter falls asleep at his Post.--The Fire.--The Howlings of the Natives.--Out of Range
CHAPTER FORTY-THIRD.
The Talabas.--The Pursuit.--A Devastated Country.--The Wind begins to fall.--The Victoria sinks.--The last of the Provisions.--The Leaps of the Balloon.--A Defence with Fire-arms.--The Wind freshens.--The Senegal River.--The Cataracts of Gouina.--The Hot Air.--The Passage of the River
CHAPTER FORTY-FOURTH.
Conclusion.--The Certificate.--The French Settlements.--The Post of Medina.-- The Battle.--Saint Louis.--The English Frigate.--The Return to London.
1862年1月14日， 滑鐵盧廣場13號，倫敦皇傢地理學會的一次會議上，聽衆如雲。 學會主席弗朗西斯·M××爵士在嚮他可敬的同行們作一場重要的學術報告。他的話常常被陣陣掌聲打斷。爵士最後用幾句慷慨激昂的話結束了這次少有的動人演講。這幾句話中洋溢着無比飽滿的愛國主義：
“英國一直領先於世界各國（因為大傢已註意到，國傢的前進總是有前有後），這完全是英國旅行傢在地理探險中的大無畏精神所至（全場發出贊同聲）。弗格森·弗格森博士，就是英國光榮兒女中的一位。他是不會辜負祖國的重托的（四處響起附和聲：不會的！不會的！）。這次嘗試假如成功（會成功的！），就能把我們在非洲地圖學方面零散的基本知識補充完整，使之成為一體。不過如果失敗了（决不會！决不會！），至少也將作為人類最大膽的設想之一而永存（全場狂熱頓足）！”
“烏拉！烏拉！”這番撩人心動的話使得群情激奮，齊聲高呼。
“無畏的弗格森萬歲！”一位極度動情的聽衆不由地喊叫道。
熱情的歡呼聲四起，衆人異口同聲地發出弗格森的名字，整個會議廳被震得抖動起來。我們有充分理由相信，經過英國人的嗓門呼喊，弗格森這個名字將更受人尊敬了。
這兒許多人曾是大膽的探險傢。好動的天性使得他們多麽想走遍世界的五大洲！不過他們雖人數衆多，卻都老了，疲憊了。所有的人在肉體上、精神上或多或少地逃脫過一次次死亡的威脅：海上失事、火災、印地安人的戰斧、野人的棍棒、酷刑、波利尼西亞人①的捕食。 不過，當弗朗西斯·M××爵士演講時，他們的心仍然禁不住地怦怦跳起來。要知道，這場演說肯定是倫敦皇傢地理學會有史以來最為精彩的。
①中太平洋的群島，意為“多島群島”，主要包括夏威夷群島，湯加群島等。
但是在英國，熱情不僅僅停留在口頭上。用它鑄造錢幣比“皇傢造幣廠”的鑄幣機來得還要快。會議過程中，立即表决通過了給弗格森博士一筆促進活動金，且數目高達2500英鎊（即62500法郎） 。這麽一大筆款子恰恰說明這項事業有多麽重要。
一位學會成員嚮主席打了個招呼，詢問是否能把弗格森博士正式介紹給大傢。
“博士在聽候大傢的吩咐。”弗朗西斯·M××爵士答道。
“讓他進來！讓他進來！”人們高呼，“應該親眼見見這位傑出、勇敢的人！”
“這個探險主張令人難以置信，也許衹是騙騙我們罷了！”一位身體中風的老船長說。
“也許，弗格森博士根本就不存在！”一個人惡意地叫道。
“那就該把他虛構出來！”這個嚴肅的學會中一位愛開玩笑的會員答道。
“請弗格森博士進來吧。”弗朗西斯·M××爵士爽快地說。
於是，博士在雷鳴般的掌聲中從容不迫地步入大廳，絲毫不露聲色。
這是位四十歲左右的男子，中等身材，體格平常，過於紅潤的面容顯露出多血質的特徵。他神色鎮定，相貌端正，臉上長着一個大鼻子。人類巨輪船頭般的這個鼻子就像天生為探險而生的。慈祥的眼睛裏閃爍着勇敢，更多是智慧的光芒，他的容貌産生一種強大的魔力。他的雙臂很長，雙腳以大步行傢特有的平穩牢牢地踩在大地上。
博士的整個外貌顯露出安靜與嚴肅。他怎麽能是那種幹最無知的欺騙勾當的人呢，誰都不會對他有這種想法。
因此，直到弗格森博士用友好的手勢請大傢安靜時，叫好聲和掌聲纔平息下來。他嚮為他作自我介紹準備的安樂椅走去，隨後，站在那兒一動不動，目光炯炯有神地凝視會場。衹見他舉起右手，食指指嚮空中，張開口，衹說了一個字：
“Excelsior！”
絶了！無論布賴特①和科布登②國會上的意外質詢，還是帕斯頓公爵為加固英國峭壁海防工事申請特別資金，都從未獲得過如此歡迎。其熱烈程度超過弗朗西斯·M××爵士的演講， 甚至更高。博士表現得既高尚、偉大，又謙虛、審慎。他剛纔說了一個很合時宜的字：
①1811—1889，英國自由黨的傢，以雄辯著稱。
②1804—1865，英國傢，下院議員。
“Excelsior③！”
③拉丁語，意思是高尚的，不斷嚮上的。
老船長折服了，轉而堅决地站到這位外來人一邊。他請求把弗格森的演說“完整地” 刊登在 “the Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society ofLondon”《倫敦皇傢地理學會會報》上。
這位博士到底是何許人？他打算投身於什麽事業？
年輕的弗格森，父親是英國海運業一名正直的船長。在弗格森很小的時候，船長就讓兒子跟他一同體驗他那種職業生涯中危險的滋味和冒險的樂趣。這個可愛的孩子似乎從來不知道害怕，很快就顯示出頭腦靈活，善於思考，無比鐘情於科學事業的長處。此外，他還表現出了擺脫睏境的非凡才智。他從未被難住過，甚至初次用叉子吃飯時就顯得很老練。大傢都清楚，一般說來孩子們很少一開始就會用叉子的。
對冒險和航海探險之類書籍的閱讀很快燃起了他的幻想。他執迷地關註起十九世紀初期的那些重要發現。他夢想獲得蒙戈·帕剋①、布魯斯②、卡耶③、勒瓦楊獲得的那種榮譽。哪怕獲得少許塞爾扣剋④那種魯濱遜式的榮譽，他覺得也不壞。他與塞爾扣剋一起在鬍安·費爾南德斯島上度過了多少時光啊！他常常贊成這位被拋棄的水手的看法，有時也對他的計劃和設計提出異議。年青的弗格森認為，如果換了他，他會采取別的做法，那樣或許更好，起碼幹得不會賴！然而，事情明擺着，如果換了他，决不會躲避開那個令人非常快樂的小島的。在那兒，他會快活得像一個沒有臣民的君王……。即使叫他當海軍部大臣，也决不離開！
①1771—約1806，蘇格蘭探險傢，曾到尼日兒河探險，着有《非洲內地旅行》一書。
②1730—1794，蘇格蘭探險傢，1790年出版《尼羅河源頭探行記》。
③1799—約1838，法國探險傢，訪問廷巴圖剋後生還的第一位歐洲人。
④1676—1721，蘇格蘭水手，海盜，因與船長爭吵而在鬍安·費爾南德斯群島中的馬薩鐵拉島逗留了5年。他是笛福所着《魯濱遜漂流記》中主人公的原型。
可以想象得到，弗格森年青時代在世界各地進行冒險活動期間，他的這些傾嚮發展到了什麽地步。弗格森的父親是位有見識的人，自然不會忽略發展孩子敏捷的智力。他讓兒子認真學習了水文學、物理學和力學，此外，又附帶讓他學了一點兒植物學、醫學和天文學方面的知識。
可敬的船長去世時，弗格森·弗格森22歲，但是已經周遊了世界。他曾加入過孟加拉工程兵部隊，而且在好多次戰鬥中立功。然而，他對這種軍人生活並不滿意。他不願意指揮別人，也不喜歡別人對他吆三喝四。他提出了退役。而後，他邊打獵，邊採集植物，重新登程去印度半島北方旅行。從加爾哥答到蘇拉特，他穿越了整個半島。對他來說，這不過是旅行愛好者的一次平常散步而已。
在蘇拉特，我們看見他動身去了澳大利亞。1845年，他在那裏參加了斯特爾特①船長的遠征探險隊，這支探險隊受委托尋找人們猜想存在於新荷蘭②中部的那個內陸海。
①1759—1869， 澳大利亞探險傢， 着有《深入澳大利亞南部的兩次探險》和《澳大利亞中部探險記》。
②澳大利亞的舊名。
弗格森·弗格森在1850年前後返回英國，而且比以往任何時候都更着魔於旅行探險。他又去遠征隊陪同麥剋·魯爾船長一起從白令海峽環繞美洲大陸到達費爾韋爾角③。這次遠征直到1853年纔告結束。
③位於新西蘭。
不管什麽樣的勞頓困苦，無論氣候如何惡劣，弗格森的體質居然不可思議地抵擋得住。甚至在一無所有的最惡劣環境中，他也能生活得悠然自得。他是那類地道的旅行傢：胃可以任意收縮、擴張；腿可以按臨時床鋪的長短蜷屈伸展；白天隨時可以入睡，晚間隨時能醒來。
因此，我們發現這位永不知疲倦的旅行傢，在施拉京特魏特兄弟的陪同下，從1855到1857年訪問了的整個西部地區，並且帶回一些稀奇的人種學方面的觀察報告，也就不足為怪了。
在這幾次旅遊期間，弗格森·弗格森成了《每日電信報》最活躍、最引人註目的通信員。這傢報紙很便宜，一便士就能買一份。該報的日發行量雖高達14萬份，不過僅勉強滿足數萬讀者的需要而已。所以，儘管弗格森博士不是任何學者團體的成員，既不是倫敦、巴黎、柏林、維也納或聖·彼得堡皇傢地理學會成員，也不是旅行者俱樂部的成員，更不是皇傢工藝學會成員（他的朋友統計學家科剋伯恩是該會頭面人物），他的名字仍然為人熟知。有一天，他的這位學者朋友逗他尋開心，甚至要他解答這麽一個問題：已知博士環繞地球走過的裏數，由於半徑不同，問他的頭比腳多行多少裏路？或者說已知博士的腳和頭經過的裏數，精確算出他的身高，誤差不超過1法寸（1法寸約合2.25毫米）。但是，弗格森對那些學者團體總是敬而遠之。因為他是埋頭實幹、不願多言的人，他認為把時間用於探索和發現比爭來論去、高談闊論強得多。
據說，一天一位英國人特意來日內瓦觀賞日內瓦湖。他上了一輛老式馬車，這種車像公共馬車一樣，座位在車內的兩側。無巧不成書，我們這位英國人恰恰被安排坐在背對湖的一側。車穩穩地繞湖一圈，這期間他甚至就沒想到扭回頭去瞧一眼，最後，竟然還高高興興地離開日內瓦湖回倫敦了。
弗格森博士在旅行期間卻回過頭，而且還不止一次。正因為如此，他纔看到了許多東西。再說，這也是他的天性所至。我們有充分理由相信他有點宿命論思想。其實他就是位徹頭徹尾的宿命論者。他相信命運，甚至相信天意。他覺得自己與其說是被吸引，倒不如說是被某種力量驅使，去旅行和周遊世界的。就像一輛火車頭，不是自己引着自己走，而是道路領着走。
“我是不趕路的，是路在趕我。”他常常這樣說。所以，難怪他那麽鎮靜地面對皇傢學會的掌聲了。他沒有絲毫傲氣，也沒半點虛榮。他不在意這些小事。他認為給弗朗西斯·M××爵士談的這個建議很平常， 因此，壓根兒就沒發覺自己竟由此引起巨大波瀾，成了風雲人物。
會議結束後，有人陪同博士來到帕爾瑪爾大街的“旅行者俱樂部”。在那裏，大傢為他舉辦了一場盛大的宴會。從飯桌上魚的大小可看出被邀的人物何等重要。尤其是搬到筵席中的那條鱘魚，身子幾乎與弗格森·弗格森本人一樣長。
人們痛飲着各種法國葡萄酒，為在非洲大陸探險而享有盛譽的旅行傢們頻頻舉杯致意。為他們的健康而幹，為他們的榮譽而喝。人們甚至按照旅行傢們名字的字母順序（這可是地地道道英國化的）依次祝酒：阿巴迪、亞當斯、亞當森安德森、為……①。最後，為弗格森·弗格森博士舉杯。後者意欲用他非同尋常的嘗試，把前面這些著名旅行傢的勞動成果匯成一體，補充完備有關非洲大發現方面的係列材料。
①原着此處列舉了近一百二十個旅行傢的名字，本文省略。
OR,
JOURNEYS AND DISCOVERIES IN AFRICA BY THREE ENGLISHMEN.
COMPILED IN FRENCH
BY JULES VERNE,
FROM THE ORIGINAL NOTES OF DR. FERGUSON.
AND DONE INTO ENGLISH BY
"WILLIAM LACKLAND."
PUBLISHERS' NOTE.
"Five Weeks in a Balloon" is, in a measure, a satire on modern books of African travel. So far as the geography, the inhabitants, the animals, and the features of the countries the travellers pass over are described, it is entirely accurate. It gives, in some particulars, a survey of nearly the whole field of African discovery, and in this way will often serve to refresh the memory of the reader. The mode of locomotion is, of course, purely imaginary, and the incidents and adventures fictitious. The latter are abundantly amusing, and, in view of the wonderful "travellers' tales" with which we have been entertained by African explorers, they can scarcely be considered extravagant; while the ingenuity and invention of the author will be sure to excite the surprise and the admiration of the reader, who will find M. VERNE as much at home in voyaging through the air as in journeying "Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Seas."
CONTENTS.
-----
CHAPTER FIRST.
The End of a much-applauded Speech.--The Presentation of Dr. Samuel Ferguson. --Excelsior.--Full-length Portrait of the Doctor.--A Fatalist convinced. --A Dinner at the Travellers' Club.--Several Toasts for the Occasion
CHAPTER SECOND.
The Article in the Daily Telegraph.--War between the Scientific Journals.-- Mr. Petermann backs his Friend Dr. Ferguson.--Reply of the Savant Koner. --Bets made.--Sundry Propositions offered to the Doctor
CHAPTER THIRD.
The Doctor's Friend.--The Origin of their Friendship.--Dick Kennedy at London. --An unexpected but not very consoling Proposal.--A Proverb by no means cheering.--A few Names from the African Martyrology.--The Advantages of a Balloon.--Dr. Ferguson's Secret
CHAPTER FOURTH.
African Explorations.--Barth, Richardson, Overweg, Werne, Brun-Rollet, Penney, Andrea, Debono, Miani, Guillaume Lejean, Brace, Krapf and Rebmann, Maizan, Roscher, Burton and Speke
CHAPTER FIFTH.
Kennedy's Dreams.--Articles and Pronouns in the Plural.--Dick's Insinuations. --A Promenade over the Map of Africa.--What is contained between two Points of the Compass.--Expeditions now on foot.--Speke and Grant.--Krapf, De Decken, and De Heuglin
CHAPTER SIXTH.
A Servant--match him!--He can see the Satellites of Jupiter.--Dick and Joe hard at it.--Doubt and Faith.--The Weighing Ceremony.--Joe and Wellington. --He gets a Half-crown
CHAPTER SEVENTH.
Geometrical Details.--Calculation of the Capacity of the Balloon.--The Double Receptacle.--The Covering.--The Car.--The Mysterious Apparatus.--The Provisions and Stores.--The Final Summing up
CHAPTER EIGHTH.
Joe's Importance.--The Commander of the Resolute.--Kennedy's Arsenal. --Mutual Amenities.--The Farewell Dinner.--Departure on the 21st of February.-- The Doctor's Scientific Sessions.--Duveyrier.--Livingstone.--Details of the Aerial Voyage.--Kennedy silenced
CHAPTER NINTH.
They double the Cape.--The Forecastle.--A Course of Cosmography by Professor Joe.--Concerning the Method of guiding Balloons.--How to seek out Atmospheric Currents.--Eureka
CHAPTER TENTH.
Former Experiments.--The Doctor's Five Receptacles.--The Gas Cylinder.-- The Calorifere.--The System of Manoeuvring.--Success certain
CHAPTER ELEVENTH.
The Arrival at Zanzibar.--The English Consul.--Ill-will of the Inhabitants.--The Island of Koumbeni.--The Rain-Makers.--Inflation of the Balloon.--Departure on the 18th of April.--The last Good-by.--The Victoria
CHAPTER TWELFTH.
Crossing the Strait.--The Mrima.--Dick's Remark and Joe's Proposition.--A Recipe for Coffee-making.--The Uzaramo.--The Unfortunate Maizan.-- Mount Duthumi.--The Doctor's Cards.--Night under a Nopal
CHAPTER THIRTEENTH.
Change of Weather.--Kennedy has the Fever.--The Doctor's Medicine.--Travels on Land.--The Basin of Imenge.--Mount Rubeho.--Six Thousand Feet Elevation.--A Halt in the Daytime
CHAPTER FOURTEENTH.
The Forest of Gum-Trees.--The Blue Antelope.--The Rallying-Signal.--An Unexpected Attack.--The Kanyeme.--A Night in the Open Air.--The Mabunguru.--Jihoue-la-Mkoa.--A Supply of Water.--Arrival at Kazeh
CHAPTER FIFTEENTH.
Kazeh.--The Noisy Market-place.--The Appearance of the Balloon.--The Wangaga. --The Sons of the Moon.--The Doctor's Walk.--The Population of the Place.--The Royal Tembe.--The Sultan's Wives.--A Royal Drunken-Bout.-- Joe an Object of Worship.--How they Dance in the Moon.--A Reaction.-- Two Moons in one Sky.--The Instability of Divine Honors
CHAPTER SIXTEENTH.
Symptoms of a Storm.--The Country of the Moon.--The Future of the African Continent.--The Last Machine of all.--A View of the Country at Sunset.-- Flora and Fauna.--The Tempest.--The Zone of Fire.--The Starry Heavens.
CHAPTER SEVENTEENTH.
The Mountains of the Moon.--An Ocean of Venture.--They cast Anchor.--The Towing Elephant.--A Running Fire.--Death of the Monster.--The Field Oven.--A Meal on the Grass.--A Night on the Ground
CHAPTER EIGHTEENTH.
The Karagwah.--Lake Ukereoue.--A Night on an Island.--The Equator. --Crossing the Lake.--The Cascades.--A View of the Country.--The Sources of the Nile.--The Island of Benga.--The Signature of Andrea Debono.--The Flag with the Arms of England
CHAPTER NINETEENTH.
The Nile.--The Trembling Mountain.--A Remembrance of the Country.--The Narratives of the Arabs.--The Nyam-Nyams.--Joe's Shrewd Cogitations.-- The Balloon runs the Gantlet.--Aerostatic Ascensions.--Madame Blanchard.
CHAPTER TWENTIETH.
The Celestial Bottle.--The Fig-Palms.--The Mammoth Trees.--The Tree of War. --The Winged Team.--Two Native Tribes in Battle.--A Massacre.--An Intervention from above
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIRST.
Strange Sounds.--A Night Attack.--Kennedy and Joe in the Tree.--Two Shots. --"Help! help!"--Reply in French.--The Morning.--The Missionary.--The Plan of Rescue
CHAPTER TWENTY-SECOND.
The Jet of Light.--The Missionary.--The Rescue in a Ray of Electricity.--A Lazarist Priest.--But little Hope.--The Doctor's Care.--A Life of Self-Denial. --Passing a Volcano
CHAPTER TWENTY-THIRD.
Joe in a Fit of Rage.--The Death of a Good Man.--The Night of watching by the Body.--Barrenness and Drought.--The Burial.--The Quartz Rocks.--Joe's Hallucinations.--A Precious Ballast.--A Survey of the Gold-bearing Mountains. --The Beginning of Joe's Despair
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOURTH.
The Wind dies away.--The Vicinity of the Desert.--The Mistake in the WaterSupply.--The Nights of the Equator.--Dr. Ferguson's Anxieties. --The Situation flatly stated.--Energetic Replies of Kennedy and Joe. --One Night more
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIFTH.
A Little Philosophy.--A Cloud on the Horizon.--In the Midst of a Fog.--The Strange Balloon.--An Exact View of the Victoria.--The Palm-Trees.--Traces of a Caravan.--The Well in the Midst of the Desert
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIXTH.
One Hundred and Thirteen Degrees.--The Doctor's Reflections.--A Desperate Search.--The Cylinder goes out.--One Hundred and Twenty-two Degrees.-- Contemplation of the Desert.--A Night Walk.--Solitude.--Debility.--Joe's Prospects.--He gives himself One Day more
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVENTH.
Terrific Heat.--Hallucinations.--The Last Drops of Water.--Nights of Despair. --An Attempt at Suicide.--The Simoom.--The Oasis.--The Lion and Lioness.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHTH.
An Evening of Delight.--Joe's Culinary Performances.--A Dissertation on Raw Meat.--The Narrative of James Bruce.--Camping out.--Joe's Dreams.--The Barometer begins to fall.--The Barometer rises again.--Preparations for Departure.--The Tempest
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINTH.
Signs of Vegetation.--The Fantastic Notion of a French Author.--A Magnificent Country.--The Kingdom of Adamova.--The Explorations of Speke and Burton connected with those of Dr. Barth.--The Atlantika Mountains.--The River Benoue.--The City of Yola.--The Bagele.--Mount Mendif
CHAPTER THIRTIETH.
Mosfeia.--The Sheik.--Denham, Clapperton, and Oudney.--Vogel.--The Capital of Loggoum.--Toole.--Becalmed above Kernak.--The Governor and his Court. --The Attack.--The Incendiary Pigeons
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIRST.
Departure in the Night-time.--All Three.--Kennedy's Instincts.--Precautions.-- The Course of the Shari River.--Lake Tchad.--The Water of the Lake.--The Hippopotamus.--One Bullet thrown away
CHAPTER THIRTY-SECOND.
The Capital of Bornou.--The Islands of the Biddiomahs.--The Condors.--The Doctor's Anxieties.--His Precautions.--An Attack in Mid-air.--The Balloon Covering torn.--The Fall.--Sublime Self-Sacrifice.--The Northern Coast of the Lake
CHAPTER THIRTY-THIRD.
Conjectures.--Reestablishment of the Victoria's Equilibrium.--Dr. Ferguson's New Calculations.--Kennedy's Hunt.--A Complete Exploration of Lake Tchad.--Tangalia.--The Return.--Lari
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOURTH.
The Hurricane.--A Forced Departure.--Loss of an Anchor.--Melancholy Reflections.--The Resolution adopted.--The Sand-Storm.--The Buried Caravan.-- A Contrary yet Favorable Wind.--The Return southward.--Kennedy at his Post
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIFTH.
What happened to Joe.--The Island of the Biddiomahs.--The Adoration shown him.--The Island that sank.--The Shores of the Lake.--The Tree of the Serpents.--The Foot-Tramp.--Terrible Suffering.--Mosquitoes and Ants.-- Hunger.--The Victoria seen.--She disappears.--The Swamp.--One Last Despairing Cry
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIXTH.
A Throng of People on the Horizon.--A Troop of Arabs.--The Pursuit.--It is He.--Fall from Horseback.--The Strangled Arab.--A Ball from Kennedy.-- Adroit Manoeuvres.--Caught up flying.--Joe saved at last
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVENTH.
The Western Route.--Joe wakes up.--His Obstinacy.--End of Joe's Narrative. --Tagelei.--Kennedy's Anxieties.--The Route to the North.--A Night near Aghades
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHTH.
A Rapid Passage.--Prudent Resolves.--Caravans in Sight.--Incessant Rains.-- Goa.--The Niger.--Golberry, Geoffroy, and Gray.--Mungo Park.--Laing.-- Rene Caillie.--Clapperton.--John and Richard Lander
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINTH.
The Country in the Elbow of the Niger.--A Fantastic View of the Hombori Mountains.--Kabra.--Timbuctoo.--The Chart of Dr. Barth.--A Decaying City.-- Whither Heaven wills
CHAPTER FORTIETH.
Dr. Ferguson's Anxieties.--Persistent Movement southward.--A Cloud of Grasshoppers.--A View of Jenne.--A View of Sego.--Change of the Wind.-- Joe's Regrets
CHAPTER FORTY-FIRST.
The Approaches to Senegal.--The Balloon sinks lower and lower.--They keep throwing out, throwing out.--The Marabout Al-Hadji.--Messrs. Pascal, Vincent, and Lambert.--A Rival of Mohammed.--The Difficult Mountains. --Kennedy's Weapons.--One of Joe's Manoeuvres.--A Halt over a Forest
CHAPTER FORTY-SECOND.
A Struggle of Generosity.--The Last Sacrifice.--The Dilating Apparatus.--Joe's Adroitness.--Midnight.--The Doctor's Watch.--Kennedy's Watch.--The Latter falls asleep at his Post.--The Fire.--The Howlings of the Natives.--Out of Range
CHAPTER FORTY-THIRD.
The Talabas.--The Pursuit.--A Devastated Country.--The Wind begins to fall.--The Victoria sinks.--The last of the Provisions.--The Leaps of the Balloon.--A Defence with Fire-arms.--The Wind freshens.--The Senegal River.--The Cataracts of Gouina.--The Hot Air.--The Passage of the River
CHAPTER FORTY-FOURTH.
Conclusion.--The Certificate.--The French Settlements.--The Post of Medina.-- The Battle.--Saint Louis.--The English Frigate.--The Return to London.
《每日電訊報》上的一篇文章——學術刊物之間的爭論——彼得曼博士支持他的朋友弗格森博士——學者科內爾的答復——衆人紛紛打賭——給博士提的各種建議
第二天，1月15日，這一期的《每日電訊報》中刊登了一篇妙筆生花的文章：
“非洲終於要公開它那遼闊荒野的秘密了。一位現代俄狄浦斯①將告訴我們60個世紀的學者文人沒能識破的這個謎底。 過去探尋尼羅河發源地 （fontesNiliquoereres）總被視為異想天開，一個實現不了的夢。
①希臘神話中的英雄人物。
“巴爾特②博士沿着丹納姆③和剋拉珀頓④開闢的道路一直到了蘇丹；利文斯通⑤博士從好望角到贊比西亞盆地反復進行了不屈不撓的調查；伯頓⑥上尉和斯皮剋⑦上尉發現了內陸大湖；他們為現代文明打通了三條道路。三條道路的交叉點可謂是非洲的心髒。但至今還沒有一位旅行傢能涉足該地區。我們的全部力量正應該使在那兒。
②1821—1865，德國地理學家、非洲探險傢，着有五捲本巨着《中北非遊記和發現》。
③1786—1828，英國早期探險傢，曾任塞拉利昂總督。
④1788—1827，蘇格蘭探險傢，着有《1822，1823和1824年北非旅行和發現記事》。
⑤1813—1873，英國傳教士、探險傢，在非洲南部、中部和東部旅行，傳教達30年之久。
⑥1821—1890，英國探險傢，曾翻譯《天方夜談》。
⑦1827—1864，英國探險傢，第一個發現東非維多利亞湖的歐洲人。
“不過，這些勇敢的科學攀登者們未竟的事業就要由弗格森·弗格森博士的大膽嘗試來完成。他以往的神奇探險活動早已得到了讀者們的賞識。
“這位無畏的發現者打算乘氣球由東至西穿越整個非洲。據可靠消息，這次驚人旅行的出發點將設在非洲東海岸的桑給巴爾島①。至於終點，衹有上帝知道了。
①位於坦桑尼亞東北部，港口城市。
“這次科學探險的計劃已於昨天正式提交給皇傢地理學會。學會大會表决通過撥發一筆2500英鎊的款項作該活動的費用。
“這次嘗試是地理探險大事記中史無前例的，我們將隨時嚮讀者提供消息。”
正如我們所料，該文引起了巨大反響。它首先激起懷疑的浪潮：弗格森博士被當成是一個純粹虛幻的人物，是巴納姆②博士的發明。後者在美國“工作”了一段時間，現在又準備打英倫三島的“主意”了。
②1810—1891，美國遊藝節目演出經紀人，常搞些稀奇古怪的展覽、演出等，自稱“鬍謅王子”。
日內瓦出版的《地理學會學報》二月號上刊登了一篇風趣的答讀者信。文章巧妙地戲謔了倫敦皇傢學會、旅行者俱樂部和那條鱒魚。
但是，彼得曼博士在哥達出版的“公報”中發表的文章，使日內瓦的這傢學刊徹底閉上了口。彼得曼博士自己瞭解弗格森博士，而且願意為他的勇敢朋友的無畏嘗試擔保。
另一方面，很快就不可能再有懷疑了：旅行的準備工作正在倫敦進行着；裏昂的幾傢工廠已接到生産製造氣球用塔夫綢的大量訂單。最終，不列顛政府允許弗格森博士使用《决心號》運輸艦。該艦的艦長叫皮耐特。
隨即，成千上萬件鼓勵信、賀電紛至沓來。有關探險隊舉動的詳情細節隨着準備工作的進展全部發表在巴黎地理學會的學報中。在V·A·莫爾特一布倫①先生主編的《旅行、 地理、歷史和考古新年鑒》中登出了一篇引人註目的文章。W·科內爾博士在《德國地理學報》上發表的一份詳細分析報告，令人信服地證論了這次旅行探險的可行性、成功的機會、睏難的性質和空中航行這種方式帶來的種種好處。他僅僅對出發地點提出了批評。他指出，從馬蘇亞這個阿比西尼的小港口出發更好些。1768年，詹姆士·布魯斯就是從馬蘇亞出發去尋找尼羅河源頭的。另外，他毫無保留地贊賞弗格森博士的這種積極進取精神和這種想到、做到、决不回頭的堅強毅力。
①法國地理學家，其父是巴黎地理學會的創始人和第一任董事長。
《北美評論》看到英國得到這樣的榮譽尤為不快。它把博士的計劃當成了笑話，並不懷好意地慫恿博士半途中徑直飛到美國來。
總而言之，從《福音教會公報》到《阿爾及利亞與殖民地雜志》，從《傳教年鑒》到《傳教士新聞》，沒有哪傢科學雜志不用各種形式詳敘此事的，更不用說全世界的報刊了。
在倫敦，甚至在全英國，人們紛紛拿下面的問題打賭：第一，弗格森博士存在不存在；第二，旅行會不會進行；第三，這次探險活動能不能成功；第四，弗格森博士可不可能回得來。許多人投下了巨額賭註，活像是在埃普索姆②的賽馬會上。
②英國的一個城市，以賽馬聞名。
這樣以來，相信的、不相信的，外行、內行，所有的人都把眼睛盯住了弗格森博士。他不自覺地成了衆人心目中的英雄。博士樂意提供有關遠征探險的詳細情況。他平易近人、淳樸自然，可以說是世界上最誠懇的人了。不止一位膽大的冒險傢找他毛遂自薦，想與他同甘共苦，但都被他不加解釋地一律回絶了。
許多研究氣球轉嚮機械結構的發明傢嚮他推薦自己的發明，但他一個也不願接受。有人問弗格森博士是不是已經發明了什麽新的轉嚮係統，但他概不回答。他更加積極地忙於探險的準備工作。
There was a large audience assembled on the 14th of January, 1862, at the session of the Royal Geographical Society, No. 3 Waterloo Place, London. The president, Sir Francis M----, made an important communication to his colleagues, in an address that was frequently interrupted by applause.
This rare specimen of eloquence terminated with the following sonorous phrases bubbling over with patriotism:
"England has always marched at the head of nations" (for, the reader will observe, the nations always march at the head of each other), "by the intrepidity of her explorers in the line of geographical discovery." (General assent). "Dr. Samuel Ferguson, one of her most glorious sons, will not reflect discredit on his origin." ("No, indeed!" from all parts of the hall.)
"This attempt, should it succeed" ("It will succeed!"), "will complete and link together the notions, as yet disjointed, which the world entertains of African cartology" (vehement applause); "and, should it fail, it will, at least, remain on record as one of the most daring conceptions of human genius!" (Tremendous cheering.)
"Huzza! huzza!" shouted the immense audience, completely electrified by these inspiring words.
"Huzza for the intrepid Ferguson!" cried one of the most excitable of the enthusiastic crowd.
The wildest cheering resounded on all sides; the name of Ferguson was in every mouth, and we may safely believe that it lost nothing in passing through English throats. Indeed, the hall fairly shook with it.
And there were present, also, those fearless travellers and explorers whose energetic temperaments had borne them through every quarter of the globe, many of them grown old and worn out in the service of science. All had, in some degree, physically or morally, undergone the sorest trials. They had escaped shipwreck; conflagration; Indian tomahawks and war-clubs; the fagot and the stake; nay, even the cannibal maws of the South Sea Islanders. But still their hearts beat high during Sir Francis M----'s address, which certainly was the finest oratorical success that the Royal Geographical Society of London had yet achieved.
But, in England, enthusiasm does not stop short with mere words. It strikes off money faster than the dies of the Royal Mint itself. So a subscription to encourage Dr. Ferguson was voted there and then, and it at once attained the handsome amount of two thousand five hundred pounds. The sum was made commensurate with the importance of the enterprise.
A member of the Society then inquired of the president whether Dr. Ferguson was not to be officially introduced.
"The doctor is at the disposition of the meeting," replied Sir Francis.
"Let him come in, then! Bring him in!" shouted the audience. "We'd like to see a man of such extraordinary daring, face to face!"
"Perhaps this incredible proposition of his is only intended to mystify us," growled an apoplectic old admiral.
"Suppose that there should turn out to be no such person as Dr. Ferguson?" exclaimed another voice, with a malicious twang.
"Why, then, we'd have to invent one!" replied a facetious member of this grave Society.
"Ask Dr. Ferguson to come in," was the quiet remark of Sir Francis M----.
And come in the doctor did, and stood there, quite unmoved by the thunders of applause that greeted his appearance.
He was a man of about forty years of age, of medium height and physique. His sanguine temperament was disclosed in the deep color of his cheeks. His countenance was coldly expressive, with regular features, and a large nose--one of those noses that resemble the prow of a ship, and stamp the faces of men predestined to accomplish great discoveries. His eyes, which were gentle and intelligent, rather than bold, lent a peculiar charm to his physiognomy. His arms were long, and his feet were planted with that solidity which indicates a great pedestrian.
A calm gravity seemed to surround the doctor's entire person, and no one would dream that he could become the agent of any mystification, however harmless.
Hence, the applause that greeted him at the outset continued until he, with a friendly gesture, claimed silence on his own behalf. He stepped toward the seat that had been prepared for him on his presentation, and then, standing erect and motionless, he, with a determined glance, pointed his right forefinger upward, and pronounced aloud the single word--
"Excelsior!"
Never had one of Bright's or Cobden's sudden onslaughts, never had one of Palmerston's abrupt demands for funds to plate the rocks of the English coast with iron, made such a sensation. Sir Francis M----'s address was completely overshadowed. The doctor had shown himself moderate, sublime, and self-contained, in one; he had uttered the word of the situation--
"Excelsior!"
The gouty old admiral who had been finding fault, was completely won over by the singular man before him, and immediately moved the insertion of Dr. Ferguson's speech in "The Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society of London."
Who, then, was this person, and what was the enterprise that he proposed?
Ferguson's father, a brave and worthy captain in the English Navy, had associated his son with him, from the young man's earliest years, in the perils and adventures of his profession. The fine little fellow, who seemed to have never known the meaning of fear, early revealed a keen and active mind, an investigating intelligence, and a remarkable turn for scientific study; moreover, he disclosed uncommon address in extricating himself from difficulty; he was never perplexed, not even in handling his fork for the first time--an exercise in which children generally have so little success.
His fancy kindled early at the recitals he read of daring enterprise and maritime adventure, and he followed with enthusiasm the discoveries that signalized the first part of the nineteenth century. He mused over the glory of the Mungo Parks, the Bruces, the Caillies, the Levaillants, and to some extent, I verily believe, of Selkirk (Robinson Crusoe), whom he considered in no wise inferior to the rest. How many a well-employed hour he passed with that hero on his isle of Juan Fernandez! Often he criticised the ideas of the shipwrecked sailor, and sometimes discussed his plans and projects. He would have done differently, in such and such a case, or quite as well at least--of that he felt assured. But of one thing he was satisfied, that he never should have left that pleasant island, where he was as happy as a king without subjects-- no, not if the inducement held out had been promotion to the first lordship in the admiralty!
It may readily be conjectured whether these tendencies were developed during a youth of adventure, spent in every nook and corner of the Globe. Moreover, his father, who was a man of thorough instruction, omitted no opportunity to consolidate this keen intelligence by serious studies in hydrography, physics, and mechanics, along with a slight tincture of botany, medicine, and astronomy.
Upon the death of the estimable captain, Samuel Ferguson, then twenty-two years of age, had already made his voyage around the world. He had enlisted in the Bengalese Corps of Engineers, and distinguished himself in several affairs; but this soldier's life had not exactly suited him; caring but little for command, he had not been fond of obeying. He, therefore, sent in his resignation, and half botanizing, half playing the hunter, he made his way toward the north of the Indian Peninsula, and crossed it from Calcutta to Surat--a mere amateur trip for him.
From Surat we see him going over to Australia, and in 1845 participating in Captain Sturt's expedition, which had been sent out to explore the new Caspian Sea, supposed to exist in the centre of New Holland.
Samuel Ferguson returned to England about 1850, and, more than ever possessed by the demon of discovery, he spent the intervening time, until 1853, in accompanying Captain McClure on the expedition that went around the American Continent from Behring's Straits to Cape Farewell.
Notwithstanding fatigues of every description, and in all climates, Ferguson's constitution continued marvellously sound. He felt at ease in the midst of the most complete privations; in fine, he was the very type of the thoroughly accomplished explorer whose stomach expands or contracts at will; whose limbs grow longer or shorter according to the resting-place that each stage of a journey may bring; who can fall asleep at any hour of the day or awake at any hour of the night.
Nothing, then, was less surprising, after that, than to find our traveller, in the period from 1855 to 1857, visiting the whole region west of the Thibet, in company with the brothers Schlagintweit, and bringing back some curious ethnographic observations from that expedition.
During these different journeys, Ferguson had been the most active and interesting correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, the penny newspaper whose circulation amounts to 140,000 copies, and yet scarcely suffices for its many legions of readers. Thus, the doctor had become well known to the public, although he could not claim membership in either of the Royal Geographical Societies of London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, or St. Petersburg, or yet with the Travellers' Club, or even the Royal Polytechnic Institute, where his friend the statistician Cockburn ruled in state.
The latter savant had, one day, gone so far as to propose to him the following problem: Given the number of miles travelled by the doctor in making the circuit of the Globe, how many more had his head described than his feet, by reason of the different lengths of the radii?--or, the number of miles traversed by the doctor's head and feet respectively being given, required the exact height of that gentleman?
This was done with the idea of complimenting him, but the doctor had held himself aloof from all the learned bodies--belonging, as he did, to the church militant and not to the church polemical. He found his time better employed in seeking than in discussing, in discovering rather than discoursing.
There is a story told of an Englishman who came one day to Geneva, intending to visit the lake. He was placed in one of those odd vehicles in which the passengers sit side by side, as they do in an omnibus. Well, it so happened that the Englishman got a seat that left him with his back turned toward the lake. The vehicle completed its circular trip without his thinking to turn around once, and he went back to London delighted with the Lake of Geneva.
Doctor Ferguson, however, had turned around to look about him on his journeyings, and turned to such good purpose that he had seen a great deal. In doing so, he had simply obeyed the laws of his nature, and we have good reason to believe that he was, to some extent, a fatalist, but of an orthodox school of fatalism withal, that led him to rely upon himself and even upon Providence. He claimed that he was impelled, rather than drawn by his own volition, to journey as he did, and that he traversed the world like the locomotive, which does not direct itself, but is guided and directed by the track it runs on.
"I do not follow my route;" he often said, "it is my route that follows me."
The reader will not be surprised, then, at the calmness with which the doctor received the applause that welcomed him in the Royal Society. He was above all such trifles, having no pride, and less vanity. He looked upon the proposition addressed to him by Sir Francis M---- as the simplest thing in the world, and scarcely noticed the immense effect that it produced.
When the session closed, the doctor was escorted to the rooms of the Travellers' Club, in Pall Mall. A superb entertainment had been prepared there in his honor. The dimensions of the dishes served were made to correspond with the importance of the personage entertained, and the boiled sturgeon that figured at this magnificent repast was not an inch shorter than Dr. Ferguson himself.
Numerous toasts were offered and quaffed, in the wines of France, to the celebrated travellers who had made their names illustrious by their explorations of African territory. The guests drank to their health or to their memory, in alphabetical order, a good old English way of doing the thing. Among those remembered thus, were: Abbadie, Adams, Adamson, Anderson, Arnaud, Baikie, Baldwin, Barth, Batouda, Beke, Beltram, Du Berba, Bimbachi, Bolognesi, Bolwik, Belzoni, Bonnemain, Brisson, Browne, Bruce, Brun-Rollet, Burchell, Burckhardt, Burton, Cailland, Caillie, Campbell, Chapman, Clapperton, Clot-Bey, Colomieu, Courval, Cumming, Cuny, Debono, Decken, Denham, Desavanchers, Dicksen, Dickson, Dochard, Du Chaillu, Duncan, Durand, Duroule, Duveyrier, D'Escayrac, De Lauture, Erhardt, Ferret, Fresnel, Galinier, Galton, Geoffroy, Golberry, Hahn, Halm, Harnier, Hecquart, Heuglin, Hornemann, Houghton, Imbert, Kauffmann, Knoblecher, Krapf, Kummer, Lafargue, Laing, Lafaille, Lambert, Lamiral, Lampriere, John Lander, Richard Lander, Lefebvre, Lejean, Levaillant, Livingstone, MacCarthy, Maggiar, Maizan, Malzac, Moffat, Mollien, Monteiro, Morrison, Mungo Park, Neimans, Overweg, Panet, Partarrieau, Pascal, Pearse, Peddie, Penney, Petherick, Poncet, Prax, Raffenel, Rabh, Rebmann, Richardson, Riley, Ritchey, Rochet d'Hericourt, Rongawi, Roscher, Ruppel, Saugnier, Speke, Steidner, Thibaud, Thompson, Thornton, Toole, Tousny, Trotter, Tuckey, Tyrwhitt, Vaudey, Veyssiere, Vincent, Vinco, Vogel, Wahlberg, Warrington, Washington, Werne, Wild, and last, but not least, Dr. Ferguson, who, by his incredible attempt, was to link together the achievements of all these explorers, and complete the series of African discovery.
第二天，1月15日，這一期的《每日電訊報》中刊登了一篇妙筆生花的文章：
“非洲終於要公開它那遼闊荒野的秘密了。一位現代俄狄浦斯①將告訴我們60個世紀的學者文人沒能識破的這個謎底。 過去探尋尼羅河發源地 （fontesNiliquoereres）總被視為異想天開，一個實現不了的夢。
①希臘神話中的英雄人物。
“巴爾特②博士沿着丹納姆③和剋拉珀頓④開闢的道路一直到了蘇丹；利文斯通⑤博士從好望角到贊比西亞盆地反復進行了不屈不撓的調查；伯頓⑥上尉和斯皮剋⑦上尉發現了內陸大湖；他們為現代文明打通了三條道路。三條道路的交叉點可謂是非洲的心髒。但至今還沒有一位旅行傢能涉足該地區。我們的全部力量正應該使在那兒。
②1821—1865，德國地理學家、非洲探險傢，着有五捲本巨着《中北非遊記和發現》。
③1786—1828，英國早期探險傢，曾任塞拉利昂總督。
④1788—1827，蘇格蘭探險傢，着有《1822，1823和1824年北非旅行和發現記事》。
⑤1813—1873，英國傳教士、探險傢，在非洲南部、中部和東部旅行，傳教達30年之久。
⑥1821—1890，英國探險傢，曾翻譯《天方夜談》。
⑦1827—1864，英國探險傢，第一個發現東非維多利亞湖的歐洲人。
“不過，這些勇敢的科學攀登者們未竟的事業就要由弗格森·弗格森博士的大膽嘗試來完成。他以往的神奇探險活動早已得到了讀者們的賞識。
“這位無畏的發現者打算乘氣球由東至西穿越整個非洲。據可靠消息，這次驚人旅行的出發點將設在非洲東海岸的桑給巴爾島①。至於終點，衹有上帝知道了。
①位於坦桑尼亞東北部，港口城市。
“這次科學探險的計劃已於昨天正式提交給皇傢地理學會。學會大會表决通過撥發一筆2500英鎊的款項作該活動的費用。
“這次嘗試是地理探險大事記中史無前例的，我們將隨時嚮讀者提供消息。”
正如我們所料，該文引起了巨大反響。它首先激起懷疑的浪潮：弗格森博士被當成是一個純粹虛幻的人物，是巴納姆②博士的發明。後者在美國“工作”了一段時間，現在又準備打英倫三島的“主意”了。
②1810—1891，美國遊藝節目演出經紀人，常搞些稀奇古怪的展覽、演出等，自稱“鬍謅王子”。
日內瓦出版的《地理學會學報》二月號上刊登了一篇風趣的答讀者信。文章巧妙地戲謔了倫敦皇傢學會、旅行者俱樂部和那條鱒魚。
但是，彼得曼博士在哥達出版的“公報”中發表的文章，使日內瓦的這傢學刊徹底閉上了口。彼得曼博士自己瞭解弗格森博士，而且願意為他的勇敢朋友的無畏嘗試擔保。
另一方面，很快就不可能再有懷疑了：旅行的準備工作正在倫敦進行着；裏昂的幾傢工廠已接到生産製造氣球用塔夫綢的大量訂單。最終，不列顛政府允許弗格森博士使用《决心號》運輸艦。該艦的艦長叫皮耐特。
隨即，成千上萬件鼓勵信、賀電紛至沓來。有關探險隊舉動的詳情細節隨着準備工作的進展全部發表在巴黎地理學會的學報中。在V·A·莫爾特一布倫①先生主編的《旅行、 地理、歷史和考古新年鑒》中登出了一篇引人註目的文章。W·科內爾博士在《德國地理學報》上發表的一份詳細分析報告，令人信服地證論了這次旅行探險的可行性、成功的機會、睏難的性質和空中航行這種方式帶來的種種好處。他僅僅對出發地點提出了批評。他指出，從馬蘇亞這個阿比西尼的小港口出發更好些。1768年，詹姆士·布魯斯就是從馬蘇亞出發去尋找尼羅河源頭的。另外，他毫無保留地贊賞弗格森博士的這種積極進取精神和這種想到、做到、决不回頭的堅強毅力。
①法國地理學家，其父是巴黎地理學會的創始人和第一任董事長。
《北美評論》看到英國得到這樣的榮譽尤為不快。它把博士的計劃當成了笑話，並不懷好意地慫恿博士半途中徑直飛到美國來。
總而言之，從《福音教會公報》到《阿爾及利亞與殖民地雜志》，從《傳教年鑒》到《傳教士新聞》，沒有哪傢科學雜志不用各種形式詳敘此事的，更不用說全世界的報刊了。
在倫敦，甚至在全英國，人們紛紛拿下面的問題打賭：第一，弗格森博士存在不存在；第二，旅行會不會進行；第三，這次探險活動能不能成功；第四，弗格森博士可不可能回得來。許多人投下了巨額賭註，活像是在埃普索姆②的賽馬會上。
②英國的一個城市，以賽馬聞名。
這樣以來，相信的、不相信的，外行、內行，所有的人都把眼睛盯住了弗格森博士。他不自覺地成了衆人心目中的英雄。博士樂意提供有關遠征探險的詳細情況。他平易近人、淳樸自然，可以說是世界上最誠懇的人了。不止一位膽大的冒險傢找他毛遂自薦，想與他同甘共苦，但都被他不加解釋地一律回絶了。
許多研究氣球轉嚮機械結構的發明傢嚮他推薦自己的發明，但他一個也不願接受。有人問弗格森博士是不是已經發明了什麽新的轉嚮係統，但他概不回答。他更加積極地忙於探險的準備工作。
There was a large audience assembled on the 14th of January, 1862, at the session of the Royal Geographical Society, No. 3 Waterloo Place, London. The president, Sir Francis M----, made an important communication to his colleagues, in an address that was frequently interrupted by applause.
This rare specimen of eloquence terminated with the following sonorous phrases bubbling over with patriotism:
"England has always marched at the head of nations" (for, the reader will observe, the nations always march at the head of each other), "by the intrepidity of her explorers in the line of geographical discovery." (General assent). "Dr. Samuel Ferguson, one of her most glorious sons, will not reflect discredit on his origin." ("No, indeed!" from all parts of the hall.)
"This attempt, should it succeed" ("It will succeed!"), "will complete and link together the notions, as yet disjointed, which the world entertains of African cartology" (vehement applause); "and, should it fail, it will, at least, remain on record as one of the most daring conceptions of human genius!" (Tremendous cheering.)
"Huzza! huzza!" shouted the immense audience, completely electrified by these inspiring words.
"Huzza for the intrepid Ferguson!" cried one of the most excitable of the enthusiastic crowd.
The wildest cheering resounded on all sides; the name of Ferguson was in every mouth, and we may safely believe that it lost nothing in passing through English throats. Indeed, the hall fairly shook with it.
And there were present, also, those fearless travellers and explorers whose energetic temperaments had borne them through every quarter of the globe, many of them grown old and worn out in the service of science. All had, in some degree, physically or morally, undergone the sorest trials. They had escaped shipwreck; conflagration; Indian tomahawks and war-clubs; the fagot and the stake; nay, even the cannibal maws of the South Sea Islanders. But still their hearts beat high during Sir Francis M----'s address, which certainly was the finest oratorical success that the Royal Geographical Society of London had yet achieved.
But, in England, enthusiasm does not stop short with mere words. It strikes off money faster than the dies of the Royal Mint itself. So a subscription to encourage Dr. Ferguson was voted there and then, and it at once attained the handsome amount of two thousand five hundred pounds. The sum was made commensurate with the importance of the enterprise.
A member of the Society then inquired of the president whether Dr. Ferguson was not to be officially introduced.
"The doctor is at the disposition of the meeting," replied Sir Francis.
"Let him come in, then! Bring him in!" shouted the audience. "We'd like to see a man of such extraordinary daring, face to face!"
"Perhaps this incredible proposition of his is only intended to mystify us," growled an apoplectic old admiral.
"Suppose that there should turn out to be no such person as Dr. Ferguson?" exclaimed another voice, with a malicious twang.
"Why, then, we'd have to invent one!" replied a facetious member of this grave Society.
"Ask Dr. Ferguson to come in," was the quiet remark of Sir Francis M----.
And come in the doctor did, and stood there, quite unmoved by the thunders of applause that greeted his appearance.
He was a man of about forty years of age, of medium height and physique. His sanguine temperament was disclosed in the deep color of his cheeks. His countenance was coldly expressive, with regular features, and a large nose--one of those noses that resemble the prow of a ship, and stamp the faces of men predestined to accomplish great discoveries. His eyes, which were gentle and intelligent, rather than bold, lent a peculiar charm to his physiognomy. His arms were long, and his feet were planted with that solidity which indicates a great pedestrian.
A calm gravity seemed to surround the doctor's entire person, and no one would dream that he could become the agent of any mystification, however harmless.
Hence, the applause that greeted him at the outset continued until he, with a friendly gesture, claimed silence on his own behalf. He stepped toward the seat that had been prepared for him on his presentation, and then, standing erect and motionless, he, with a determined glance, pointed his right forefinger upward, and pronounced aloud the single word--
"Excelsior!"
Never had one of Bright's or Cobden's sudden onslaughts, never had one of Palmerston's abrupt demands for funds to plate the rocks of the English coast with iron, made such a sensation. Sir Francis M----'s address was completely overshadowed. The doctor had shown himself moderate, sublime, and self-contained, in one; he had uttered the word of the situation--
"Excelsior!"
The gouty old admiral who had been finding fault, was completely won over by the singular man before him, and immediately moved the insertion of Dr. Ferguson's speech in "The Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society of London."
Who, then, was this person, and what was the enterprise that he proposed?
Ferguson's father, a brave and worthy captain in the English Navy, had associated his son with him, from the young man's earliest years, in the perils and adventures of his profession. The fine little fellow, who seemed to have never known the meaning of fear, early revealed a keen and active mind, an investigating intelligence, and a remarkable turn for scientific study; moreover, he disclosed uncommon address in extricating himself from difficulty; he was never perplexed, not even in handling his fork for the first time--an exercise in which children generally have so little success.
His fancy kindled early at the recitals he read of daring enterprise and maritime adventure, and he followed with enthusiasm the discoveries that signalized the first part of the nineteenth century. He mused over the glory of the Mungo Parks, the Bruces, the Caillies, the Levaillants, and to some extent, I verily believe, of Selkirk (Robinson Crusoe), whom he considered in no wise inferior to the rest. How many a well-employed hour he passed with that hero on his isle of Juan Fernandez! Often he criticised the ideas of the shipwrecked sailor, and sometimes discussed his plans and projects. He would have done differently, in such and such a case, or quite as well at least--of that he felt assured. But of one thing he was satisfied, that he never should have left that pleasant island, where he was as happy as a king without subjects-- no, not if the inducement held out had been promotion to the first lordship in the admiralty!
It may readily be conjectured whether these tendencies were developed during a youth of adventure, spent in every nook and corner of the Globe. Moreover, his father, who was a man of thorough instruction, omitted no opportunity to consolidate this keen intelligence by serious studies in hydrography, physics, and mechanics, along with a slight tincture of botany, medicine, and astronomy.
Upon the death of the estimable captain, Samuel Ferguson, then twenty-two years of age, had already made his voyage around the world. He had enlisted in the Bengalese Corps of Engineers, and distinguished himself in several affairs; but this soldier's life had not exactly suited him; caring but little for command, he had not been fond of obeying. He, therefore, sent in his resignation, and half botanizing, half playing the hunter, he made his way toward the north of the Indian Peninsula, and crossed it from Calcutta to Surat--a mere amateur trip for him.
From Surat we see him going over to Australia, and in 1845 participating in Captain Sturt's expedition, which had been sent out to explore the new Caspian Sea, supposed to exist in the centre of New Holland.
Samuel Ferguson returned to England about 1850, and, more than ever possessed by the demon of discovery, he spent the intervening time, until 1853, in accompanying Captain McClure on the expedition that went around the American Continent from Behring's Straits to Cape Farewell.
Notwithstanding fatigues of every description, and in all climates, Ferguson's constitution continued marvellously sound. He felt at ease in the midst of the most complete privations; in fine, he was the very type of the thoroughly accomplished explorer whose stomach expands or contracts at will; whose limbs grow longer or shorter according to the resting-place that each stage of a journey may bring; who can fall asleep at any hour of the day or awake at any hour of the night.
Nothing, then, was less surprising, after that, than to find our traveller, in the period from 1855 to 1857, visiting the whole region west of the Thibet, in company with the brothers Schlagintweit, and bringing back some curious ethnographic observations from that expedition.
During these different journeys, Ferguson had been the most active and interesting correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, the penny newspaper whose circulation amounts to 140,000 copies, and yet scarcely suffices for its many legions of readers. Thus, the doctor had become well known to the public, although he could not claim membership in either of the Royal Geographical Societies of London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, or St. Petersburg, or yet with the Travellers' Club, or even the Royal Polytechnic Institute, where his friend the statistician Cockburn ruled in state.
The latter savant had, one day, gone so far as to propose to him the following problem: Given the number of miles travelled by the doctor in making the circuit of the Globe, how many more had his head described than his feet, by reason of the different lengths of the radii?--or, the number of miles traversed by the doctor's head and feet respectively being given, required the exact height of that gentleman?
This was done with the idea of complimenting him, but the doctor had held himself aloof from all the learned bodies--belonging, as he did, to the church militant and not to the church polemical. He found his time better employed in seeking than in discussing, in discovering rather than discoursing.
There is a story told of an Englishman who came one day to Geneva, intending to visit the lake. He was placed in one of those odd vehicles in which the passengers sit side by side, as they do in an omnibus. Well, it so happened that the Englishman got a seat that left him with his back turned toward the lake. The vehicle completed its circular trip without his thinking to turn around once, and he went back to London delighted with the Lake of Geneva.
Doctor Ferguson, however, had turned around to look about him on his journeyings, and turned to such good purpose that he had seen a great deal. In doing so, he had simply obeyed the laws of his nature, and we have good reason to believe that he was, to some extent, a fatalist, but of an orthodox school of fatalism withal, that led him to rely upon himself and even upon Providence. He claimed that he was impelled, rather than drawn by his own volition, to journey as he did, and that he traversed the world like the locomotive, which does not direct itself, but is guided and directed by the track it runs on.
"I do not follow my route;" he often said, "it is my route that follows me."
The reader will not be surprised, then, at the calmness with which the doctor received the applause that welcomed him in the Royal Society. He was above all such trifles, having no pride, and less vanity. He looked upon the proposition addressed to him by Sir Francis M---- as the simplest thing in the world, and scarcely noticed the immense effect that it produced.
When the session closed, the doctor was escorted to the rooms of the Travellers' Club, in Pall Mall. A superb entertainment had been prepared there in his honor. The dimensions of the dishes served were made to correspond with the importance of the personage entertained, and the boiled sturgeon that figured at this magnificent repast was not an inch shorter than Dr. Ferguson himself.
Numerous toasts were offered and quaffed, in the wines of France, to the celebrated travellers who had made their names illustrious by their explorations of African territory. The guests drank to their health or to their memory, in alphabetical order, a good old English way of doing the thing. Among those remembered thus, were: Abbadie, Adams, Adamson, Anderson, Arnaud, Baikie, Baldwin, Barth, Batouda, Beke, Beltram, Du Berba, Bimbachi, Bolognesi, Bolwik, Belzoni, Bonnemain, Brisson, Browne, Bruce, Brun-Rollet, Burchell, Burckhardt, Burton, Cailland, Caillie, Campbell, Chapman, Clapperton, Clot-Bey, Colomieu, Courval, Cumming, Cuny, Debono, Decken, Denham, Desavanchers, Dicksen, Dickson, Dochard, Du Chaillu, Duncan, Durand, Duroule, Duveyrier, D'Escayrac, De Lauture, Erhardt, Ferret, Fresnel, Galinier, Galton, Geoffroy, Golberry, Hahn, Halm, Harnier, Hecquart, Heuglin, Hornemann, Houghton, Imbert, Kauffmann, Knoblecher, Krapf, Kummer, Lafargue, Laing, Lafaille, Lambert, Lamiral, Lampriere, John Lander, Richard Lander, Lefebvre, Lejean, Levaillant, Livingstone, MacCarthy, Maggiar, Maizan, Malzac, Moffat, Mollien, Monteiro, Morrison, Mungo Park, Neimans, Overweg, Panet, Partarrieau, Pascal, Pearse, Peddie, Penney, Petherick, Poncet, Prax, Raffenel, Rabh, Rebmann, Richardson, Riley, Ritchey, Rochet d'Hericourt, Rongawi, Roscher, Ruppel, Saugnier, Speke, Steidner, Thibaud, Thompson, Thornton, Toole, Tousny, Trotter, Tuckey, Tyrwhitt, Vaudey, Veyssiere, Vincent, Vinco, Vogel, Wahlberg, Warrington, Washington, Werne, Wild, and last, but not least, Dr. Ferguson, who, by his incredible attempt, was to link together the achievements of all these explorers, and complete the series of African discovery.