A young intelligent man offered his services as a guide. The elephant was led out and equipped. The skilled driver covered the elephant’s back with a sort of saddle-cloth and attached to each of its side some uncomfortable howdahs. While Sir Francis and Mr. Fogg took the howdahs on either side, Passepartout got on to the saddle-cloth between them. The driver positioned himself on the elephant’s neck and they set out from the village at nine o’clock by short cuts through the dense forests of palms.
