tale.fyi

Five Weeks in a Balloon ▾
contents
  1. I 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.
  2. II 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.
  3. III 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.
  4. IV African explorations—Barth, Richardson, Overweg, Werne, Brun-Roliet, Penney, Andrea, Debono, Miani, Guillaume Lejean, Bruce, Krapf and Rebmann, Maizan, Roscher, Burton and Speke.
  5. V 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.
  6. VI 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.
  7. VII 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.
  8. VIII 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.
  9. IX 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.
  10. X Former experiments—The doctor’s five receptacles—The gas cylinder—The calorifere—The system of maneuvering—Success certain.
  11. XI The arrival at Zanzibar—The English consul—Ill-will of the inhabitants—The island of Koumbeni—The rainmakers—Inflation of the balloon—Departure on the 18th of April—The last goodbye—The Victoria.
  12. XII 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.
  13. XIII Change of weather—Kennedy has the fever—The doctor’s medicine—Travels on land—The basin of Imengé—Mount Rubeho—Six thousand feet elevation—A halt in the daytime.
  14. XIV The forest of gum-trees—The blue antelope—The rallying-signal—An unexpected attack—The Kanyemé—A night in the open air—The Mabunguru—Jihoue-la-Mkoa—A supply of water—Arrival at Kazeh.
  15. XV Kazeh—The noisy marketplace—The appearance of the balloon—The Wangaga—The sons of the moon—The doctor’s walk—The population of the place—The royal Tembé—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.
  16. XVI 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.
  17. XVII The mountains of the moon—An ocean of verdure—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.
  18. XVIII The Karagwah—Lake Ukéréoué—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.
  19. XIX 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 gauntlet—Aerostatic ascensions—Madame Blanchard.
  20. XX 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.
  21. XXI 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.
  22. XXII 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.
  23. XXIII 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.
  24. XXIV The wind dies away—The vicinity of the desert—The mistake in the water-supply—The nights of the equator—Dr. Ferguson’s anxieties—The situation flatly stated—Energetic replies of Kennedy and Joe—One night more.
  25. XXV 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.
  26. XXVI 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.
  27. XXVII Terrific heat—Hallucinations—The last drops of water—Nights of despair—An attempt at suicide—The simoom—The oasis—The lion and lioness.
  28. XXVIII An evening of delight—Joe’s culinary performance—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.
  29. XXIX 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 Benoué—The city of Yola—The Bagelé—Mount Mendif.
  30. XXX 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.
  31. XXXI Departure in the nighttime—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.
  32. XXXII The capital of Bornou—The islands of the Biddiomahs—The condors—The doctor’s anxieties—His precautions—An attack in midair—The balloon covering torn—The fall—Sublime self-sacrifice—The northern coast of the lake.
  33. XXXIII 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.
  34. XXXIV The hurricane—A forced departure—Loss of an anchor—Melancholy reflections—The resolution adopted—The sandstorm—The buried caravan—A contrary yet favorable wind—The return southward—Kennedy at his post.
  35. XXXV 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.
  36. XXXVI 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.
  37. XXXVII 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.
  38. XXXVIII A rapid passage—Prudent resolves—Caravans in sight—Incessant rains—Goa—The Niger—Golberry, Geoffroy, and Gray—Mungo park—Laing—René Caillié—Clapperton—John and Richard Lander.
  39. XXXIX The country in the elbow of the Niger—A fantastic view of the Hombori mountains—Kabra—Timbuktu—The Chart of Dr. Barth—A decaying city—Whither heaven wills.
  40. XL Dr. Ferguson’s anxieties—Persistent movement southward—A cloud of grasshoppers—A view of Jenné—A view of Sego—Change of the wind—Joe’s regrets.
  41. XLI 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.
  42. XLII 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.
  43. XLIII The Talabas—The pursuit—A devastated country—The wind begins to fail—The Victoria sinks—The last of the provisions—The leaps of the balloon—A defence with firearms—The wind freshens—The Senegal river—The cataracts of Gouina—The hot air—The passage of the river.
  44. XLIV Conclusion—The certificate—The French settlements—The post of Medina—The Basilic—Saint Louis—The English frigate—The return to London.
  45. Endnotes
English ▾

Five Weeks in a Balloon

Jules Verne, translated by William Lackland

free · 90,892 words · ~6 h read · first published 1863

text from Standard Ebooks

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I

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.

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 Bering’s Straits to Cape Farewell.

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genres

  • Adventure

appears in

  • Jules Verne: Extraordinary Voyages

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thank you for reading

Five Weeks in a Balloon by Jules Verne, translated by William Lackland. The text is in the US public domain, from the Standard Ebooks edition. Served from our own copy; read on their site for the full edition with images and typography.

First published in 1863.

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