noon
`` Why , he 's made of iron ! '' exclaimed the general , gazing admiringly on Kiouni . `` Of forged iron , '' replied Passepartout , as he set about preparing a hasty breakfast . At noon the Parsee gave the signal of departure . The country soon presented a very savage aspect . Copses of dates and dwarf-palms succeeded the dense forests ; then vast , dry plains , dotted with scanty shrubs , and sown with great blocks of syenite . All this portion of Bundelcund , which is little frequented by travellers , is inhabited by a fanatical population , hardened in the most horrible practices of the Hindoo faith .