a geographic society called the institute of incoherent geography plans to make a world tour in such a way as to "surpass in conception and invention all previous expeditions undertaken by the learned world." at a meeting headed by president polehunter, "assisted by secretary rattlebrain, by the archivist mole, by the vice-president humbug, the members of the office, easily-fooled, daredevil, schemer, etc., etc.," the members listen to professor daredevil's plan for the world tour, but reject it for being out-of-date. the president then welcomes the eccentric engineer crazyloff (in french, mabouloff; "maboul" is french for "crazy" or "crackpot"), who explains his project for a new "impossible" voyage, using "all the known means locomotion—railroads, automobiles, dirigible balloons, submarine boats…" the unusual plan is accepted enthusiastically, and preparations begin.