Since speed is of the essence in this novel, Verne faced the problem of quickly, yet convincingly describing a vast array of settings, customs, scenarios, characters, and plot twists. He handles this problem cleverly; rather than describe them in detail, he offers the reader an itemized list of all the things Fogg did not see, thus adding to the feeling of urgent speed. About Bombay, for instance, he says: Fogg didn't think of seeing the city hall, nor the magnificent library, nor the forts, nor the docks, not the cotton market, not the bazaars, the mosques, the synagogues, the Armenian churches, nor the splendid pagoda of Malebar Hill, with its two polygonal towers. He would not examine the masterpieces of Elephanta, . . . no, nothing!

At another time, the entire Ganges Valley flashes past the train windows "without Phileas Fogg ever thinking of seeing it:"

The panorama passed before their...