Robur-le-conquerant. English

by Jules Verne

  Chapter XV

  A SKIRMISH IN DAHOMEY

  At this point in the circumnavigatory voyage of the "Albatross" it isonly natural that some such questions as the following should beasked. Who was this Robur, of whom up to the present we know nothingbut the name? Did he pass his life in the air? Did his aeronef neverrest? Had he not some retreat in some inaccessible spot in which, ifhe had need of repose or revictualing, he could betake himself? Itwould be very strange if it were not so. The most powerful flyershave always an eyrie or nest somewhere.

  And what was the engineer going to do with his prisoners? Was hegoing to keep them in his power and condemn them to perpetualaviation? Or was he going to take them on a trip over Africa, SouthAmerica, Australasia, the Indian Ocean, the Atlantic and the Pacific,to convince them against their will, and then dismiss them with, "Andnow gentlemen, I hope you will believe a little more in heavier thanair?"

  To these questions, it is now impossible to reply. They are thesecrets of the future. Perhaps the answers will be revealed. Anyhowthe bird-like Robur was not seeking his nest on the northern frontierof Africa. By the end of the day he had traversed Tunis from Cape Bonto Cape Carthage, sometimes hovering, and sometimes darting along attop speed. Soon he reached the interior, and flew down the beautifulvalley of Medjeida above its yellow stream hidden under its luxuriantbushes of cactus and oleander; and scared away the hundreds ofparrots that perch on the telegraph wires and seem to wait for themessages to pass to bear them away beneath their wings.

  Two hours after sunset the helm was put up and the "Albatross" boreoff to the southeast; and on the morrow, after clearing the TellMountains, she saw the rising of the morning star over the sands ofthe Sahara.

  On the 30th of July there was seen from the aeronef the littlevillage of Geryville, founded like Laghouat on the frontier of thedesert to facilitate the future conquest of Kabylia. Next, notwithout difficulty, the peaks of Stillero were passed against asomewhat boisterous wind. Then the desert was crossed, sometimesleisurely over the Ksars or green oases, sometimes at terrific speedthat far outstripped the flight of the vultures. Often the crew hadto fire into the flocks of these birds which, a dozen or so at atime, fearlessly hurled them selves on to the aeronef to the extremeterror of Frycollin.

  But if the vultures could only reply with cries and blows of beaksand talons, the natives, in no way less savage, were not sparing oftheir musket-shots, particularly when crossing the Mountain of Sel,whose green and violet slope bore its cape of white. Then the"Albatross" was at last over the grand Sahara; and at once she roseinto the higher zones so as to escape from a simoom which wassweeping a wave of ruddy sand along the surface of the ground like abore on the surface of the sea.

  Then the desolate tablelands of Chetka scattered their ballast inblackish waves up to the fresh and verdant valley of Ain-Massin. Itis difficult to conceive the variety of the territories which couldbe seen at one view. To the green hills covered with trees and shrubsthere succeeded long gray undulations draped like the folds of anArab burnous and broken in picturesque masses. In the distance couldbe seen the wadys with their torrential waters, their forests ofpalm-trees, and blocks of small houses grouped on a hill around amosque, among them Metlili, where there vegetates a religious chief,the grand marabout Sidi Chick.

  Before night several hundred miles had been accomplished above aflattish country ridged occasionally with large sandhills. If the"Albatross" had halted, she would have come to the earth in thedepths of the Wargla oasis hidden beneath an immense forest ofpalm-trees. The town was clearly enough displayed with its threedistinct quarters, the ancient palace of the Sultan, a kind offortified Kasbah, houses of brick which had been left to the sun tobake, and artesian wells dug in the valley--where the aeronef couldhave renewed her water supply. But, thanks to her extraordinaryspeed, the waters of the Hydaspes taken in the vale of Cashmere stillfilled her tanks in the center of the African desert.

  Was the "Albatross" seen by the Arabs, the Mozabites, and the Negroeswho share amongst them the town of Wargla? Certainly, for she wassaluted with many hundred gunshot, and the bullets fell back beforethey reached her.

  Then came the night, that silent night in the desert of whichFelicien David has so poetically told us the secrets.

  During the following hours the course lay southwesterly, cuttingacross the routes of El Golea, one of which was explored in 1859 bythe intrepid Duveyrier.

  The darkness was profound. Nothing could be seen of the Trans-SaharanRailway constructing on the plans of Duponchel--a long ribbon ofiron destined to bind together Algiers and Timbuktu by way ofLaghouat and Gardaia, and destined eventually to run down into theGulf of Guinea.

  Then the "Albatross" entered the equatorial region below the tropicof Cancer. Six hundred miles from the northern frontier of the Saharashe crossed the route on which Major Laing met his, death in 1846,and crossed the road of the caravans from Morocco to the Sudan, andthat part of the desert swept by the Tuaregs, where could be heardwhat is called "the song of the sand," a soft and plaintive murmurthat seems to escape from the ground.

  Only one thing happened. A cloud of locusts came flying along, andthere fell such a cargo of them on board as to threaten to sink theship. But all hands set to work to clear the deck, and the locustswere thrown over except a few hundred kept by Tapage for his larder.And he served them up in so succulent a fashion that Frycollin forgotfor the moment his perpetual trances and said, "these are as good asprawns."

  The aeronef was then eleven hundred miles from the Wargla oasis andalmost on the northern frontier of the Sudan. About two o'clock inthe afternoon a city appeared in the bend of a large river. The riverwas the Niger. The city was Timbuktu.

  If, up to then, this African Mecca had only been visited by thetravelers of the ancient world Batouta, Khazan, Imbert, Mungo Park,Adams, Laing, Caille, Barth, Lenz, on that day by a most singularchance the two Americans could boast of having seen, heard, and smeltit, on their return to America--if they ever got back there.

  Of having seen it, because their view included the whole triangle ofthree or four miles in circumference; of having heard it, because theday was one of some rejoicing and the noise was terrible; of havingsmelt it, because the olfactory nerve could not but be verydisagreeably affected by the odors of the Youbou-Kamo square, wherethe meatmarket stands close to the palace of the ancient Somai kings.

  The engineer had no notion of allowing the president and secretary ofthe Weldon Institute to be ignorant that they had the honor ofcontemplating the Queen of the Sudan, now in the power of the Tuaregsof Taganet.

  "Gentlemen, Timbuktu!" he said, in the same tone as twelve daysbefore he had said, "Gentlemen, India!" Then he continued, "Timbuktuis an important city of from twelve to thirteen thousand inhabitants,formerly illustrious in science and art. Perhaps you would like tostay there for a day or two?"

  Such a proposal could only have been made ironically. "But,"continued he, "it would be dangerous among the Negroes, Berbers, andFoullanes who occupy, it--particularly as our arrival in an aeronefmight prejudice them against you."

  "Sir," said Phil Evans, in the same tone, "for the pleasure ofleaving you we would willingly risk an unpleasant reception from thenatives. Prison for prison, we would rather be in Timbuktu than onthe "Albatross.""

  "That is a matter of taste," answered the engineer. "Anyhow, I shallnot try the adventure, for I am responsible for the safety of theguests who do me the honor to travel with me."

  "And so," said Uncle Prudent, explosively, "you are not content withbeing our jailer, but you insult us."

  "Oh! a little irony, that is all!"

  "Are there any weapons on board?"

  "Oh, quite an arsenal."

  "Two revolvers will do, if I hold one and you the other."

  "A duel!" exclaimed Robur, "a duel, which would perhaps cause thedeath of one of us."

  "Which certainly would cause it."

  "Well! No, Mr. President of the Weldon Institute, I very much pre
ferkeeping you alive."

  "To be sure of living yourself. That is wise."

  "Wise or not, it suits me. You are at liberty to think as you like,and to complain to those who have the power to help you--if you can."

  "And that we have done, Mr. Robur."

  "Indeed!"

  "Was it so difficult when we were crossing the inhabited part ofEurope to drop a letter overboard?"

  "Did you do that?" said Robur, in a paroxysm of rage.

  "And if we have done it?"

  "If you have done it--you deserve--"

  "What, sir?"

  "To follow your letter overboard."

  "Throw us over, then. We did do it."

  Robur stepped towards them. At a gesture from him Tom Turner and someof the crew ran up. The engineer was seriously tempted to put histhreat into execution, and, fearful perhaps of yielding to it, heprecipitately rushed into his cabin.

  "Good!" exclaimed Phil Evans.

  "And what he will dare not do," said Uncle Prudent, "I Will do! Yes,I Will do!"

  At the moment the population of Timbuktu were crowding onto thesquares and roads and the terraces built like amphitheaters. In therich quarters of Sankere and Sarahama, as in the miserable huts atRaguidi, the priests from the minarets were thundering their loudestmaledictions against the aerial monster. These were more harmlessthan the rifle-bullets; though assuredly, if the aeronef had come toearth she would have certainly been torn to pieces.

  For some miles noisy flocks of storks, francolins, and ibisesescorted the "Albatross" and tried to race her, but in her rapidflight she soon distanced them.

  The evening came. The air was troubled by the roarings of thenumerous herds of elephants and buffaloes which wander over thisland, whose fertility is simply marvelous. For forty-eight hours thewhole of the region between the prime meridian and the second degree,in the bend of the Niger, was viewed from the "Albatross."

  If a geographer had only such an apparatus at his command, with whatfacility could he map the country, note the elevations, fix thecourses of the rivers and their affluents, and determine thepositions of the towns and villages! There would then be no hugeblanks on the map of Africa, no dotted lines, no vague designationswhich are the despair of cartographers.

  In the morning of the 11th the "Albatross" crossed the mountains ofnorthern Guinea, between the Sudan and the gulf which bears theirname. On the horizon was the confused outline of the Kong mountainsin the kingdom of Dahomey.

  Since the departure from Timbuktu Uncle Prudent and Phil Evansnoticed that the course had been due south. If that direction waspersisted in they would cross the equator in six more degrees. The"Albatross" would then abandon the continents and fly not over theBering Sea, or the Caspian Sea, or the North Sea, or theMediterranean, but over the Atlantic Ocean.

  This look-out was not particularly pleasing to the two friends, whosechances of escape had sunk to below zero. But the "Albatross" hadslackened speed as though hesitating to leave Africa behind. WasRobur thinking of going back? No; but his attention had beenparticularly attracted to the country which he was then crossing.

  We know--and he knew--that the kingdom of Dahomey is one of themost powerful on the West Coast of Africa. Strong enough to hold itsown with its neighbor Ashantee, its area is somewhat small, beingcontained within three hundred and sixty leagues from north to south,and one hundred and eighty from east to west. But its populationnumbers some seven or eight hundred thousand, including theneighboring independent territories of Whydah and Ardrah.

  If Dahomey is not a large country, it is often talked about. It iscelebrated for the frightful cruelties which signalize its annualfestivals, and by its human sacrifices--fearful hecatombs intendedto honor the sovereign it has lost and the sovereign who hassucceeded him. It is even a matter of politeness when the King ofDahomey receives a visit from some high personage or some foreignambassador to give him a surprise present of a dozen heads, cut offin his honor by the minister of justice, the "minghan," who iswonderfully skillful in that branch of his duties.

  When the "Albatross" came flying over Dahomey, the old King Bahadouhad just died, and the whole population was proceeding to theenthronization of his successor. Hence there was great agitation allover the country, and it did not escape Robur that everybody was onthe move.

  Long lines of Dahomians were hurrying along the roads from thecountry into the capital, Abomey. Well kept roads radiating amongvast plains clothed with giant trees, immense fields of manioc,magnificent forests of palms, cocoa-trees, mimosas, orange-trees,mango-trees--such was the country whose perfumes mounted to the"Albatross," while many parrots and cardinals swarmed among the trees.

  The engineer, leaning over the rail, seemed deep in thought, andexchanged but a few words with Tom Turner. It did not look as thoughthe "Albatross" had attracted the attention of those moving masses,which were often invisible under the impenetrable roof of trees. Thiswas doubtless due to her keeping at a good altitude amid a bank oflight cloud.

  About eleven o'clock in the morning the capital was sighted,surrounded by its walls, defended by a fosse measuring twelve milesround, with wide, regular streets on the flat plain, and a largesquare on the northern side occupied by the king's palace. This hugecollection of buildings is commanded by a terrace not far from theplace of sacrifice. During the festival days it is from this highterrace that they throw the prisoners tied up in wicker baskets, andit can be imagined with what fury these unhappy wretches are cut inpieces.

  In one of the courtyards which divide the king's palace there weredrawn up four thousand warriors, one of the contigents of the royalarmy--and not the least courageous one. If it is doubtful if thereare any Amazons an the river of that name, there is no doubt of therebeing Amazons at Dahomey. Some have a blue shirt with a blue or redscarf, with white-and-blue striped trousers and a white cap; others,the elephant-huntresses, have a heavy carbine, a short-bladed dagger,and two antelope horns fixed to their heads by a band of iron. Theartillery-women have a blue-and-red tunic, and, as weapons,blunderbusses and old cast cannons; and another brigade, consistingof vestal virgins, pure as Diana, have blue tunics and whitetrousers. If we add to these Amazons, five or six thousand men incotton drawers and shirts, with a knotted tuft to increase theirstature, we shall have passed in review the Dahomian army.

  Abomey on this day was deserted. The sovereign, the royal family, themasculine and feminine army, and the population had all gone out ofthe capital to a vast plain a few miles away surrounded bymagnificent forests.

  On this plain the recognition of the new king was to take place. Hereit was that thousands of prisoners taken during recent razzias wereto be immolated in his honor.

  It was about two o'clock when the "Albatross" arrived over the plainand began to descend among the clouds which still hid her from theDahomians.

  There were sixteen thousand people at least come from all parts ofthe kingdom, from Whydah, and Kerapay, and Ardrah, and Tombory, andthe most distant villages.

  The new king--a sturdy fellow named Bou-Nadi--some five-and-twentyyears old, was seated on a hillock shaded by a group of wide-branchedtrees. Before him stood his male army, his Amazons, and his people.

  At the foot of the mound fifty musicians were playing on theirbarbarous instruments, elephants' tusks giving forth a husky note,deerskin drums, calabashes, guitars, bells struck with an ironclapper, and bamboo flutes, whose shrill whistle was heard over all.Every other second came discharges of guns and blunderbusses,discharges of cannons with the carriages jumping so as to imperil thelives of the artillery-women, and a general uproar so intense thateven the thunder would be unheard amidst it.

  In one corner of the plain, under a guard of soldiers, were groupedthe prisoners destined to accompany the defunct king into the otherworld. At the obsequies of Ghozo, the father of Bahadou, his son haddispatched three thousand, and Bou-Nadi could not do less than hispredecessor. For an hour there was a series of discourses, harangues,palavers and dances, executed not only by pr
ofessionals, but by theAmazons, who displayed much martial grace.

  But the time for the hecatomb was approaching. Robur, who knew thecustoms of Dahomey, did not lose sight of the men, women, andchildren reserved for butchery.

  The minghan was standing at the foot of the hillock. He wasbrandishing his executioner's sword, with its curved blade surmountedby a metal bird, whose weight rendered the cut more certain.

  This time he was not alone. He could not have performed the task.Near him were grouped a hundred executioners, all accustomed to cutoff heads at one blow.

  The "Albatross" came slowly down in an oblique direction. Soon sheemerged from the bed of clouds which hid her till she was withinthree hundred feet of the ground, and for the first time she wasvisible from below.

  Contrary to what had hitherto happened, the savages saw in her acelestial being come to render homage to King Baha-dou. Theenthusiasm was indescribable, the shouts were interminable, theprayers were terrific--prayers addressed to this supernaturalhippogriff, which "had doubtless come to" take the king's body to thehigher regions of the Dahomian heaven. And now the first head fellunder the minghan's sword, and the prisoners were led up in hundredsbefore the horrible executioners.

  Suddenly a gun was fired from the "Albatross." The minister ofjustice fell dead on his face!

  "Well aimed, Tom!" said Robur,

  His comrades, armed as he was, stood ready to fire when the order wasgiven.

  But a change came over the crowd below. They had understood. Thewinged monster was not a friendly spirit, it was a hostile spirit.And after the fall of the minghan loud shouts for revenge arose onall sides. Almost immediately a fusillade resounded over the plain.

  These menaces did not prevent the "Albatross" from descending boldlyto within a hundred and fifty feet of the ground. Uncle Prudent andPhil Evans, whatever were their feelings towards Robur, could nothelp joining him in such a work of humanity.

  "Let us free the prisoners!" they shouted.

  "That is what I am going to do!" said the engineer.

  And the magazine rifles of the "Albatross" in the hands of thecolleagues, as in the hands of the crew, began to rain down thebullets, of which not one was lost in the masses below. And thelittle gun shot forth its shrapnel, which really did marvels.

  The prisoners, although they did not understand how the help had cometo them, broke their bonds, while the soldiers were firing at theaeronef. The stern screw was shot through by a bullet, and a fewholes were made in the hull. Frycollin, crouching in his cabin,received a graze from a bullet that came through the deck-house.

  "Ah! They will have them!" said Tom Turner. And, rushing to themagazine, he returned with a dozen dynamite cartridges, which hedistributed to the men. At a sign from Robur, these cartridges werefired at the hillock, and as they reached the ground exploded like somany small shells.

  The king and his court and army and people were stricken with fear atthe turn things had taken. They fled under the trees, while theprisoners ran off without anybody thinking of pursuing them.

  In this way was the festival interfered with. And in this way didUncle Prudent and, Phil Evans recognize the power of the aeronef andthe services it could render to humanity.

  Soon the "Albatross" rose again to a moderate height, and passingover Whydah lost to view this savage coast which the southwest windhems round with an inaccessible surf. And she flew out over theAtlantic.