The Carnatic departed at 6:30 p.m. on November 7 and steamed toward Yokohama, Japan. The ship was completely booked, and only two staterooms in the rear were unoccupied, those reserved for Mr. Fogg and Aouda.
Shortly after Fix had left Passepartout in the opium den, two waiters lifted him to the bed reserved for smokers. Three hours later he woke up and fought off the hypnotic influence of the drug. He hurried to the steamer and, when he reached his room onboard, immediately passed out. When Passepartout woke up the next morning, he staggered onto the deck, wondering what Mr. Fogg would say. "At least I didn't miss the steamer, which is the most important thing!" he said to himself, as he sipped some strong black coffee.
Passepartout suddenly thought of Fix and how the man had left him in the tavern. "As for that rascal, I hope we are rid of him," he said. "A detective on the track of Mr. Fogg, accusing my master of robbing the Bank of England—ridiculous! Mr. Fogg is not a robber."
Passepartout finished his breakfast and then descended to the staterooms. Mr. Fogg and Aouda were nowhere to be found! There was no luggage . . . nothing. Passepartout wondered if he was even on the right ship. He rushed to the purser and asked, "Am I on the Carnatic?"
"Yes, on the way to Yokohama," replied the purser, a little surprised.
"May I look at the passenger list?" asked Passepartout.
"Of course." The purser had the list with him and showed Passepartout.
When he had read every name, Passepartout fell thunderstruck on a seat. Mr. Fogg and Aouda were not on the passenger list! Now he realized what had happened. The time of departure had changed, and he had been unable to tell Mr. Fogg. Mr. Fogg and Aouda had missed the steamer! Passepartout felt sick to his stomach with rage. He tore at his hair and vowed that, if he ever saw Fix again, he would even the score with him indeed!
After his anger calmed, Passepartout thought through his situation. It was certainly not an attractive one. He was on the way to Japan with no money. And what was he going to do when he got there?
At dawn on November 13, the Carnatic reached the port of Yokohama. Passepartout went ashore. He had nothing better to do than wander aimlessly through the city. In the crowded streets, he saw all sorts of people: priests in white robes, police officers with black pointed hats, sailors in blue cotton, and royal guards in stiff armor with long thin swords on their backs. He also saw beautiful groves, tall sacred gates, bridges hidden in the midst of bamboo, and temples shaded by immense cedar trees.
By the next morning, hunger gnawed at Passepartout's empty stomach. With no money, he thought of selling his precious family watch but changed his mind. He would rather starve first! He decided he could earn some money as a vagabond performer but then thought he was too well dressed to be believable. After a long search, he found a small shop that bought old clothes. He asked the owner if he could exchange his European clothes for an old Japanese coat and a faded turban he saw in the window. The owner also gave him a few pieces of silver in the trade. Passepartout immediately found a food stand and ate what little breakfast he could afford.
"Now," he thought to himself, "I mustn't lose my head. I must consider how I am going to feed myself." He walked toward the docks, having decided that passengers from visiting steamers would be the most generous customers. On the way he was surprised to see a sign in English.
It read:
Japanese Acrobats
The Long Noses!
Come and see them before their departure to the United States!
Grand Attraction!
Passepartout was excited. He had been an acrobat in his youth. If he was hired, he could find himself on the way to the United States, exactly where Mr. Fogg was headed! A quarter of an hour later, Passepartout stopped before a large, colorful tent. He entered and asked for the owner of the show. Mr. Batulcar appeared immediately and interviewed Passepartout.
"You are pretty strong, eh?" asked Mr. Batulcar.
"Especially after a good meal!" responded Passepartout.
"And can you sing?" Mr. Batulcar asked.
"Yes," said Passepartout.
"But can you sing standing on your head, with a top spinning on your left foot and a sword balanced on your right?" asked Mr. Batulcar.
"I think so," said Passepartout, and he proceeded to demonstrate his skill.
"You are hired!" exclaimed Mr. Batulcar.
Passepartout's Guidebook
Well, what a day! Wandering the streets of Yokohama with no money and then finding myself hired as an acrobat. Yokohama certainly is a unique place, where East meets West!
In Japan the Meiji period ("Meiji" means "enlightened rule") began in 1868, and so far it has brought many changes to Japan. Leaders have decided to model Japan's government, legal system, military, and economy on the West. And according to a new policy, "knowledge shall be sought throughout the world." So Japan has employed over three-thousand foreign experts in fields such as science, engineering, and English language instruction to help modernize society. The government is also sending many Japanese students overseas to Europe and America to study.
These changes will surely transform the people of Japan. Perhaps some of them will come to see my acrobat performance!