–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. The Doctor’s Friend.–The Origin of their Friendship.–Dick Kennedy at London. –Bets made.–Sundry Propositions offered to the Doctor The Article in the Daily Telegraph.–War between the Scientific Journals.– Mr. –A Dinner at the Travellers’ Club.–Several Toasts for the Occasion –Excelsior.–Full-length Portrait of the Doctor.–A Fatalist convinced. The End of a much-applauded Speech.–The Presentation of Dr. VERNE as much at home in voyaging through the air as in journeying “Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Seas.” The latter are abundantly amusing, and, in view of the wonderful “travellers’ tales” with which we have been entertained by African explorers, they can scarcely be considered extravagant while the ingenuity and invention of the author will be sure to excite the surprise and the admiration of the reader, who will find M. The mode of locomotion is, of course, purely imaginary, and the incidents and adventures fictitious. It gives, in some particulars, a survey of nearly the whole field of African discovery, and in this way will often serve to refresh the memory of the reader. So far as the geography, the inhabitants, the animals, and the features of the countries the travellers pass over are described, it is entirely accurate. “Five Weeks in a Balloon” is, in a measure, a satire on modern books of African travel.
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