Part 54 (1/2)
”Oceanica, Asia, Africa, America, and Europe.”
”Perfectly so. Now we'll take Oceanica first; where are we at this moment? What are the princ.i.p.al divisions?”
”Australia, belonging to the English; New Zealand, belonging to the English; Tasmania, belonging to the English. The islands of Chatham, Auckland, Macquarie, Kermadec, Makin, Maraki, are also belonging to the English.”
”Very good, and New Caledonia, the Sandwich Islands, the Mendana, the Pomotou?”
”They are islands under the Protectorate of Great Britain.”
”What!” cried Paganel, ”under the Protectorate of Great Britain. I rather think on the contrary, that France--”
”France,” said the child, with an astonished look.
”Well, well,” said Paganel; ”is that what they teach you in the Melbourne Normal School?”
”Yes, sir. Isn't it right?”
”Oh, yes, yes, perfectly right. All Oceanica belongs to the English.
That's an understood thing. Go on.”
Paganel's face betrayed both surprise and annoyance, to the great delight of the Major.
”Let us go on to Asia,” said the geographer.
”Asia,” replied Toline, ”is an immense country. Capital--Calcutta. Chief Towns--Bombay, Madras, Calicut, Aden, Malacca, Singapore, Pegu, Colombo.
The Lacca-dive Islands, the Maldives, the Chagos, etc., belonging to the English.”
”Very good, pupil Toline. And now for Africa.”
”Africa comprises two chief colonies--the Cape on the south, capital Capetown; and on the west the English settlements, chief city, Sierra Leone.”
”Capital!” said Paganel, beginning to enter into this perfectly taught but Anglo-colored fanciful geography. ”As to Algeria, Morocco, Egypt--they are all struck out of the Britannic cities.”
”Let us pa.s.s on, pray, to America.”
”It is divided,” said Toline, promptly, ”into North and South America.
The former belongs to the English in Canada, New Brunswick, New Scotland, and the United States, under the government of President Johnson.”
”President Johnson,” cried Paganel, ”the successor of the great and good Lincoln, a.s.sa.s.sinated by a mad fanatic of the slave party. Capital; nothing could be better. And as to South America, with its Guiana, its archipelago of South Shetland, its Georgia, Jamaica, Trinidad, etc., that belongs to the English, too! Well, I'll not be the one to dispute that point! But, Toline, I should like to know your opinion of Europe, or rather your professor's.”
”Europe?” said Toline not at all understanding Paganel's excitement.
”Yes, Europe! Who does Europe belong to?”
”Why, to the English,” replied Toline, as if the fact was quite settled.
”I much doubt it,” returned Paganel. ”But how's that, Toline, for I want to know that?”