Cousin Benedict

Dick Sands

Cousin Benedict is an eccentric entomologist who interacts with Dick as a fellow traveler, often oblivious to danger.

Mrs. Weldon

Cousin Benedict is Mrs. Weldon's relative, traveling with her as a somewhat absent-minded family member.

Hercules

Cousin Benedict interacts with Hercules as a fellow traveler, often distracted by his insect collecting.

Tom

Cousin Benedict and Tom are fellow passengers with little direct connection beyond shared circumstances.

Jack Weldon

Cousin Benedict is Jack's eccentric relative, often amusing or ignoring him.

Dick Sands

Cousin Benedict is an eccentric entomologist who interacts with Dick as a fellow traveler, often oblivious to danger.

Mrs. Weldon

Cousin Benedict is Mrs. Weldon's relative, traveling with her as a somewhat absent-minded family member.

Dick Sands

Cousin Benedict is an eccentric entomologist who interacts with Dick as a fellow traveler, often oblivious to danger.

Mrs. Weldon

Cousin Benedict is Mrs. Weldon's relative, traveling with her as a somewhat absent-minded family member.

Tom

Cousin Benedict and Tom are fellow passengers with little direct connection beyond shared circumstances.

Jack Weldon

Cousin Benedict is Jack's eccentric relative, often amusing or ignoring him.

Tom

Cousin Benedict and Tom are fellow passengers with little direct connection beyond shared circumstances.

The Pilgrim

An eccentric entomologist of about fifty, obsessed with insect collecting. He accompanies Mrs. Weldon and carries a prized specimen of Staphylin Neo-Zelandus.

The Apprentice

A passenger on the Pilgrim, accommodated near Mrs. Weldon's cabin. Mentioned as part of the group taking meals with the captain.

Dingo's Sagacity

Obsessively searches for insects on deck, disappointed by Dingo's lack of parasitic specimens; displays single-minded entomological enthusiasm.

A Whale in Sight

Benedict dismisses the whale food as uninteresting, insisting his entomological studies are confined to Hexapoda.

XIV: Ashore

Obsessed with entomology, wanders off to find specimens despite warnings, and shows little concern for the group's situation.

Through the Forest

Wanders off repeatedly to collect insects, is threatened by Mrs. Weldon, and is eventually escorted back by Hercules.

Misgivings

Benedict is overjoyed to capture a tsetse fly, an insect he recognizes as foreign to America, inadvertently revealing the truth.

XVIII: A Terrible Discovery

Oblivious to the danger, he is the only one who sleeps soundly, his mind detached from reality.

Accomplices

Mentioned as the 'old fool of a cousin' who was bent on finding cocuyos.

On the March Again

Misplaced his spectacles and magnifying-glass; kept between Actaeon and Austin to stay in line.

Rough Travelling

Excitedly identifies the termite mounds and insists on their African origin.

White Ants

Delivers a detailed lecture on termites, completely unaware that their presence indicates they are in Africa.

A Diving-Bell

Exclaims that the termites left their home because they knew the storm was coming; sleeps soundly during the crisis; is captured and taken to the camp.

A Slave Caravan

Also taken by Negoro and Harris; Dick considers him helpless and unable to assist Mrs. Weldon.

XII: Royal Obsequies

His spectacles are affixed to the wicker effigy of the king, adding a grotesque and ironic touch to the funeral preparations.

In Captivity

Preoccupied with entomology, he is allowed to roam the enclosure and is indifferent to the captivity.

An Exciting Chase

Becomes obsessed with capturing a rare manticora beetle, follows it through a mole-track, and inadvertently escapes the enclosure without realizing his newfound freedom.

A Magician

Missing; escaped through a mole-track, causing Alvez's rage and Mrs. Weldon's grief.

Drifting Down the Stream

Taciturn and missing his manticora, but delighted by a six-legged spider brought by Hercules.

An Anxious Voyage

Identifies an indicator bird leading to honey, and later notes that natives eat grasshoppers, providing a food source.

A Happy Reunion

Returns to his studies but is devastated to discover that his 'Hexapodes benedictus' is actually a common spider with broken legs, causing him a fit of illness.