‘Around the World in 80 Days’ — GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN THE PLAY

Baring’s Bank. "I have a deposit of twenty thousand at Baring’s which I will willingly risk upon it." (Fogg) Baring’s Bank is a London financial institution founded as Baring Brothers Bank in 1740 by Sir Francis Baring. It was one of the most respected banking institutions in the world until 1995, when it went through a huge international scandal. Before opening the bank, Francis Baring made his fortune in the West Indian slave trade.

Barrister. "Perhaps he's [the bank robber] a barrister then." (John Sullivan) A British lawyer who usually pleads cases in the higher courts of law.

Board of Directors. "He's [Fogg] not on any board of directors, as far as I know." (Gauthier Ralph) A board of directors is a group of persons chosen to govern the affairs of a corporation or other large institution.

Bordeaux. "Will you carry me to Bordeaux?" (Fogg) A city in Southwestern France that is most famous for its winemaking and shipbuilding.

Bradshaw's Continental Railway Steam Transit and General Guide. "Here is a copy of Bradshaw's....Guide." (Fogg) Created by George Bradshaw, Bradshaw's travel timetables were the most respected guides to British and world travel to be found. In 1839 Bradshaw printed Bradshaw's Railway Timetable for British train travel, and in 1847, published the continental (European) train and steamer guide, which included timetables, guidebooks, and a hotel directory. Bradshaw's guides were published until 1961.

Brahmin. "These Brahmin fanatics are scattered throughout the country..." (Sir Francis) Brahmins are considered the highest of the four "castes, " or classes of the Hindu religion. The castes are ranked by heredity, profession, or wealth. They are Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaisya, and Sudra .

Celestial Empire. "In the Celestial Empire, opium is smoked everywhere." (Actor 1) The Celestial Empire is the former name of China, so called from the Chinese "tien chan" which literally means Heavenly Dynasty.

Charing Cross. "Then we are off to Charing Cross." (Fogg) Charing Cross was one of the grand Victorian train stations in London. Charing Cross station, built in 1863, is in the Charing Cross district in London, and is so named because Edward I erected a cross there around 1290 in memory of his Queen, Eleanor of Castile.

Consulate. "Could you point me in the direction of the English Consulate?" (Passepartout) The Consulate holds the offices of the Consul, who is an official placed in a foreign country to look after the home country's commercial interests and citizens.

Counting Rooms. "I've never seen him at...any of the counting rooms in the city." (John Sullivan) Counting rooms, or counting houses, were business offices or establishments responsible for finances, records, and monetary transactions. Today, they are referred to as business offices or accounting departments.

Daily Telegraph. "According to the Daily Telegraph..." (Phileas Fogg) The Daily Telegraph was a London newspaper founded in 1855. By 1877 it claimed to have the largest circulation of any newspaper in the world. The telegraph was a fairly new communication invention in the 1850's when the paper was founded, having been perfected by William Morse in the 1840's.

Esquire. "It is Phileas Fogg, Esquire." (Aouda) Esquire is a title of respect for an English gentleman, and is just one step below a knight.

Feringhea. "Thanks to Feringhea, the King of the Stranglers." (Sir Francis) Feringhea is a fictional Thuggee (where our word thug comes from). Thuggees were roving bands of thieves and murderers who preyed on travelers in nineteenth century India. They would strangle their victims with scarves, steal all their possessions, and dedicate the corpses to Kali (see below). Though Thuggees never preyed on British tourists, the English were responsible for wiping out these criminals by 1890.

Fort Kearney. "...Fort Kearney’s about four miles from here." (Proctor) Fort Kearney, now a Nebraska State Historical Site, was a major stopping place for tens of thousands of travelers on the Oregon Trail. Built in 1847, Fort Kearney was the home of the First Nebraska Cavalry, and in 1864, the central point for the fight with the American Indians during the Indian Wars. Oddly enough, the Fort was abandoned in 1871, a year before Verne began writing AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS.

The Ganges. "...fast steamboats ply on the Indus and the Ganges..." (Passepartout) The Ganges River in India is one of the longest rivers in the world, and is a sacred river for the Hindu population. Hindus come every year to cleanse themselves in the Ganges, and the banks are lined with temples and funeral pyres.

Himalaya. "...as in the sacred lakes of Himalaya..." (Fogg) The Himalayas are a mountain range in southeastern Asia (including northern India). The name means "snowy range" in Sanskrit. The Himalayas include nine of the ten tallest mountains in the world, including Mt. Everest.

The Indus. "...fast steamboats ply on the Indus..." (Passepartout) The Indus was the second longest river in India at that time, and now is within the borders of Pakistan. The Indus River plains were the site of one of the first great civilizations in history. The Indus were prosperous from about 2500 B.C. to about 1500 B.C.

Kali. "They are making a final offering to Kali, the Goddess of Death." (Young Parsi) Kali is the Hindu goddess of death and destruction. She is depicted as dark, red-eyed, bloodstained, and wearing a necklace of skulls.

Medicine Bow. "...but it won’t reach Medicine Bow for another six hours" (U.S. Conductor) Medicine Bow is a small town in southeastern Wyoming up in the Medicine Bow Mountains. It is approximately halfway between Casper and the capital city of Cheyenne.

Mon Dieu. "Mon Dieu!" (Passepartout) French "Good Heavens," or literally, "My God!" Pronunciation: "mon-dyuh"

Opium. Passepartout: "What is that smell?" Fix: "Opium." Opium is a highly addictive narcotic prepared from the dried juice of the unripe pod of the opium poppy. Today, morphine and codeine, both opium derivatives, are prescribed for pain and and to stop coughing and diarrhea.

Oui. "Oui, Monsieur." (Passepartout) Yes, in French. Monsieur translates as Mister or Sir. Pronunciation: "wee muh-syuh."

Parsi. "...a sacred Parsi burial ground." (Passepartout) Parsis, also known as Zoroastrians, fled Persia to India over a thousand years ago when Persia converted to Islam. The Parsi, who believe the Earth and fire are sacred, do not contaminate either to bury their dead. They remove them to "towers of silence" where they are picked clean by birds.

Pagoda. "The Pagoda at Malabar Hill..." (Passepartout) Pagodas originated in India with early Buddhists, and spread eastward with Buddhism. Pagodas are temple towers that are usually three to fifteen stories high and intricately carved.

The Reform Club. "Mr. Fogg...attends the Reform Club at eleven-thirty..." (James Forster) The Reform Club, an exclusive London men's club, was founded by the Liberal Party members of the two Houses of Parliament in 1836. The splendid clubhouse in Pall Mall, designed by architect Sir Charles Barry, opened five years later. Barry based his design on the Farnese Palace in Rome. The name of the club is derived from the Liberal Party's 1832 legislative masterpiece, The Reform Bill, which gave more than just the aristocracy the right to vote in Parliamentary elections. The exclusive Reform Club is still in existence today, and cannot be entered without membership.

S’il vous plait. "Cabins for four people, s’il vous plait." (Passepartout) French for "if you please," pronounced "see voo play."

Sandy Hook. "The Henrietta turns the point of Sandy Hook and puts to sea." (Detective Fix) Sandy Hook, which is in New Jersey, is the gateway to the Atlantic Ocean from New York harbor. The lighthouse on Sandy Hook, completed in 1764, is the oldest lighthouse in the United States still in use.

Stock Exchange. "I've never seen him [Fogg] at the Stock Exchange..." (John Sullivan) One of the oldest in the world, the London Stock Exchange is where business stocks are bought and sold. In 1761, a group of 150 stock traders created a trading club at Jonathon's coffee house, and in 1773 built their own building, calling the structure the Stock Exchange. In 1801, the Exchange formally opened on a subscription basis, and the modern Stock Exchange was born.

Suttee. "They are bringing a suttee." (Young Parsi) Suttee is the Hindu act of a widow willingly cremating herself on the funeral pyre of her dead husband. It was supposed to be an act that showed wifely duty. Suttee was abolished by the British in 1829, but continued for many years.

Toilet. "Toilet at twenty minutes before ten." (Passepartout) Pronounced "twa-let, " this word originally meant the act or process of grooming and dressing oneself or one's master.