首页 >出版文学> Travels and Researches in South Africa>第107章
  AnElephant-huntOfferingandPrayerstotheBarimoforSuccess
  NativeModeofExpressionWorkingofGame-lawsAFeast
  LaughingHyaenasNumerousInsectsCuriousNotesofBirdsofSong
  CaterpillarsButterfliesSilicaTheFruitMakorongaandElephantsRhinocerosAdventureKorweBirdItsNestArealConfinement
  HoneyandBeeswaxSuperstitiousReverencefortheLion
  SlowTravelingGrapesTheUeMonina’sVillage
  NativeNamesGovernmentoftheBanyaiElectingaChief
  Youthsinstructedin“Bonyai“SuspectedofFalsehood
  War-danceInsanityandDisappearanceofMonahinFruitlessSearch
  Monina’sSympathyTheSand-riverTangweTheOrdealMuavi:
  itsVictimsAnunreasonableMan“Woman’sRights“
  PresentsTemperanceAwindingCoursetoshunVillages
  BanyaiComplexionandHairMushroomsTheTubers,Mokuri
  TheTreeShekabakadziFaceoftheCountryPot-holes
  PursuedbyaPartyofNativesUnpleasantThreat
  ArousedbyaCompanyofSoldiersAcivilizedBreakfast
  ArrivalatTete。
  14THWeleftNyampungothismorningThepathwounduptheMolinge,anothersand-riverwhichflowsintotheNakeWhenwegotclearofthetangledjunglewhichcoversthebanksoftheserivulets,weenteredtheMopanecountry,wherewecouldwalkwithcomfort。
  Whenwehadgoneonafewhours,mymenespiedanelephant,andweresooninfullpursuitTheywereinwantofmeat,havingtastednothingbutgrainforseveraldaysThedesireforanimalfoodmadethemalleagertoslayhim,and,thoughanoldbull,hewassoonkilled。
  ThepeopleofNyampungohadneverseensuchdesperadoesbefore。
  Onerushedupandhamstrungthebeast,whilestillstanding,byablowwithanaxeSomeBanyaielephant-huntershappenedtobepresentwhenmymenwerefightingwithhimOneofthemtookouthissnuff-box,andpouredoutallitscontentsattherootofatreeasanofferingtotheBarimoforsuccessAssoonastheanimalfell,thewholeofmypartyengagedinawild,savagedanceroundthebody,whichquitefrightenedtheBanyai,andhewhomadetheofferingsaidtome,“Iseeyouaretravelingwithpeoplewhodon’tknowhowtopray:
  IthereforeofferedtheonlythingIhadintheirbehalf,andtheelephantsoonfell。”OneofNyampungo’smen,whoremainedwithme,ranalittleforward,whenanopeninginthetreesgaveusaviewofthechase,andutteredloudprayersforsuccessinthecombat。
  Iadmiredthedevoutbelieftheyallpossessedintheactualexistenceofunseenbeings,andprayedthattheymightyetknowthatbenignantOnewhoviewsusallashisownMyownpeople,whoareratheradegradedlot,remarkedtomeasIcameup,“GodgaveittousHesaidtotheoldbeast,`Goupthere;menarecomewhowillkillandeatyou。’“Theseremarksarequotedtogivethereaderanideaofthenativemodeofexpression。
  Aswewerenowinthecountryofstringentgame-laws,wewereobligedtosendallthewaybacktoNyampungo,togiveinformationtoacertainpersonwhohadbeenlefttherebytherealownerofthisdistricttowatchoverhisproperty,theownerhimselflivingneartheZambesi。
  Thesideuponwhichtheelephantfellhadashort,brokentusk;
  theupperone,whichwasours,waslargeandthickTheBanyairemarkedonourgoodluckThemensenttogivenoticecamebacklateintheafternoonofthefollowingdayTheybroughtabasketofcorn,afowl,andafewstringsofhandsomebeads,asasortofthank-offeringforourhavingkilleditontheirland,andsaidtheyhadthankedtheBarimobesidesforoursuccess,adding,“Thereitis;eatitandbeglad。”
  Hadwebeguntocutitupbeforewegotthispermission,weshouldhavelostthewholeTheyhadbroughtalargepartytoeattheirhalf,andtheydivideditwithusinafriendlyway。
  Mymenweredelightedwiththefeast,though,bylyingunopenedawholeday,thecarcasswasprettyfargoneAnastonishingnumberofhyaenascollectedround,andkeptupaloudlaughterfortwowholenights。
  SomeofthemdomakeaverygoodimitationofalaughIaskedmymenwhatthehyaenaswerelaughingat,astheyusuallygiveanimalscreditforashareofintelligenceTheysaidthattheywerelaughingbecausewecouldnottakethewhole,andthattheywouldhaveplentytoeataswellaswe。
  Oncomingtothepartwheretheelephantwasslain,wepassedthroughgrasssotallthatitremindedmeofthatinthevalleyofCassange。
  InsectsareverynumerousaftertherainscommenceWhilewaitingbytheelephant,Iobservedagreatnumberofinsects,likegrainsoffinesand,movingonmyboxesOnexaminationwithaglass,fourspecieswereapparent;oneofgreenandgoldpreeningitswings,whichglancedinthesunwithmetalliclustre;anotherclearascrystal;
  athirdofthecolorofvermilion;andafourthblackTheseareprobablysomeofthosewhichconsumetheseedsofeveryplantthatgrows。
  Almosteverykindhasitsownpeculiarinsect,andwhentherainsareoververyfewseedsremainuntouchedTherankestpoisons,astheKongwhaneandEuphorbia,aresoondevoured;theformerhasascarletinsect;andeventhefierybird’s-eyepepper,whichwillkeepoffmanyothersfromtheirownseeds,isitselfdevouredbyamaggotIobservedhere,whatIhadoftenseenbefore,thatcertaindistrictsaboundincentipedesHeretheyhavelightreddishbodiesandbluelegs;greatmyriapedesareseencrawlingeverywhereAlthoughtheydonoharm,theyexciteinmanafeelingofloathingPerhapsourappearanceproducesasimilarfeelingintheelephantandotherlargeanimalsWheretheyhavebeenmuchdisturbed,theycertainlylookuponuswithgreatdistrust,asthehorridbipedthatruinstheirpeaceInthequietestpartsoftheforestthereisheardafaintbutdistincthum,whichtellsofinsectjoy。
  Onemayseemanywhiskingaboutintheclearsunshineinpatchesamongthegreenglancingleaves;butthereareinvisiblemyriadsworkingwithnever-tiringmandiblesonleaves,andstalks,andbeneaththesoilTheyareallbrimfulofenjoymentIndeed,theuniversalityoforganiclifemaybecalledamantleofhappyexistenceencirclingtheworld,andimpartstheideaofitsbeingcausedbytheconsciousnessofourbenignantFather’ssmileonalltheworksofHishands。
  ThebirdsofthetropicshavebeendescribedasgenerallywantinginpowerofsongIwasdecidedlyofopinionthatthiswasnotapplicabletomanypartsinLonda,thoughbirdsthereareremarkablyscarce。
  Herethechorus,orbodyofsong,wasnotmuchsmallerinvolumethanitisinEnglandItwasnotsoharmonious,andsoundedalwaysasifthebirdsweresinginginaforeigntongueSomeresemblethelark,and,indeed,thereareseveralofthatfamily;twohavenotesnotunlikethoseofthethrushOnebroughtthechaffinchtomymind,andanothertherobin;buttheirsongsareintermixedwithseveralcuriousabruptnotesunlikeanythingEnglishOneuttersdeliberately“peek,pak,pok“;
  anotherhasasinglenotelikeastrokeonaviolin-string。
  Themokwarezagivesforthascreamingsetofnoteslikeourblackbirdwhendisturbed,thenconcludeswithwhatthenativessayis“pula,pula“rain,rain,butmorelike“weep,weep,weep“Thenwehavetheloudcryoffrancolins,the“pumpuru,pumpuru“ofturtle-doves,andthe“chiken,chiken,chik,churr,churr“ofthehoney-guide。
  Occasionally,nearvillages,wehaveakindofmocking-bird,imitatingthecallsofdomesticfowlsTheseAfricanbirdshavenotbeenwantinginsong;theyhaveonlylackedpoetstosingtheirpraises,whichourshavehadfromthetimeofAristophanesdownward。
  Ourshavebothaclassicandamoderninteresttoenhancetheirfame。
  Inhot,dryweather,oratmiddaywhenthesunisfierce,allarestill:
  let,however,agoodshowerfall,andallburstforthatonceintomerrylaysandlovingcourtshipTheearlymorningsandthecooleveningsaretheirfavoritetimesforsingingTherearecomparativelyfewwithgaudyplumage,beingtotallyunlike,inthisrespect,thebirdsoftheBrazilsThemajorityhavedecidedlyasoberdress,thoughcollectors,havinggenerallyselectedthegaudiestasthemostvaluable,haveconveyedtheideathatthebirdsofthetropicsforthemostpartpossessgorgeousplumage。
  15THSeveralofmymenhavebeenbittenbyspidersandotherinsects,butnoeffectexceptpainhasfollowedAlargecaterpillarisfrequentlyseen,calledlezuntabueaItiscoveredwithlonggrayhairs,and,thebodybeingdark,itresemblesaporcupineinminiature。
  Ifonetouchesit,thehairsrunintotheporesoftheskin,andremainthere,givingsharppricksThereareotherswhichhaveasimilarmeansofdefense;
  andwhenthehandisdrawnacrossthem,asinpassingabushonwhichtheyhappentobe,thecontactresemblesthestingingofnettles。
  Fromthegreatnumberofcaterpillarsseen,wehaveaconsiderablevarietyofbutterfliesOneparticularkindfliesmorelikeaswallowthanabutterflyTheyarenotremarkableforthegaudinessoftheircolors。
  InpassingalongwecrossedthehillsVungueorMvungwe,whichwefoundtobecomposedofvariouseruptiverocks。
  Atonepartwehavebrecciaofalteredmarlorslateinquartz,andvariousamygdaloidsItiscurioustoobservethedifferentformswhichsilicaassumesWehaveitinclaystoneporphyryhere,inminuteroundglobules,nolargerthanturnip-seed,dottedthicklyoverthematrix;orcrystallizedroundthewallsofcavities,oncefilledwithairorotherelasticfluid;oritmayappearinsimilarcavitiesastuftsofyellowasbestos,orasred,yellow,orgreencrystals,orinlaminaesoarrangedastoappearlikefossilwood。
  VungueformsthewatershedbetweenthosesandrivuletswhichruntotheN。E。,andotherswhichflowsouthward,astheKapopo,Ue,andDue,whichrunintotheLuia。
  WefoundthatmanyelephantshadbeenfeedingonthefruitcalledMokoronga。
  Thisisablack-coloredplum,havingpurplejuiceWeallateitinlargequantities,aswefounditdeliciousTheonlydefectithasisthegreatsizeoftheseedincomparisonwiththepulp。
  Thisisthechieffaultofalluncultivatedwildfruits。
  TheMokorongaexiststhroughoutthispartofthecountrymostabundantly,andthenativeseagerlydevourit,asitissaidtobeperfectlywholesome,or,astheyexpressit,“Itispurefat。”andfatisbythemconsideredthebestoffoodThoughonlyalittlelargerthanacherry,wefoundthattheelephantshadstoodpickingthemoffpatientlybythehourWeobservedthefootprintsofablackrhinoceros`Rhinocerosbicornis’,Linn。
  andhercalfWesawotherfootprintsamongthehillsofSemalembue,buttheblackrhinocerosisremarkablyscarceinallthecountrynorthoftheZambesiThewhiterhinoceros`Rhinocerossimus’ofBurchell,orMohohuoftheBechuanas,isquiteextincthere,andwillsoonbecomeunknowninthecountrytothesouthItfeedsalmostentirelyongrasses,andisofatimid,unsuspectingdisposition:thisrendersitaneasyprey,andtheyareslaughteredwithoutmercyontheintroductionoffire-arms。
  Theblackpossessesamoresavagenature,and,liketheill-naturedingeneral,isneverfoundwithanounceoffatinitsbody。
  Fromitsgreaterfiercenessandwariness,itholdsitsplaceinadistrictmuchlongerthanitsmoretimidandbetter-conditionedneighbor。
  MrOswellwasoncestalkingtwoofthesebeasts,and,astheycameslowlytohim,he,knowingthatthereisbutlittlechanceofhittingthesmallbrainofthisanimalbyashotinthehead,layexpectingoneofthemtogivehisshouldertillhewaswithinafewyards。
  Thehunterthenthoughtthatbymakingarushtohissidehemightsucceedinescaping,buttherhinoceros,tooquickforthat,turneduponhim,and,thoughhedischargedhisgunclosetotheanimal’shead,hewastossedintheairMyfriendwasinsensibleforsometime,and,onrecovering,foundlargewoundsonthethighandbody:
  Isawthatontheformerpartstillopen,andfiveincheslong。
  Thewhite,however,isnotalwaysquitesafe,forone,evenafteritwasmortallywounded,attackedMrOswell’shorse,andthrustthehornthroughtothesaddle,tossingatthetimebothhorseandriderIoncesawawhiterhinocerosgiveabuffalo,whichwasgazingintentlyatmyself,apokeinthechest,butitdidnotwoundit,andseemedonlyahinttogetoutoftheway。
  Fourvarietiesoftherhinocerosareenumeratedbynaturalists,butmyobservationledmetoconcludethattherearebuttwo,andthattheextraspecieshavebeenformedfromdifferencesintheirsizes,ages,andthedirectionofthehorns,asifweshouldreckontheshort-hornedcattleadifferentspeciesfromtheAlderneysortheHighlandbreedIwasledtothisfromhavingonceseenablackrhinoceroswithahornbentdownwardlikethatofthekuabaoba,andalsobecausetheanimalsofthetwogreatvarietiesdifferverymuchinappearanceatdifferentstagesoftheirgrowth。
  Ifind,however,thatDrSmith,thebestjudgeinthesematters,isquitedecidedastotheproprietyofthesubdivisionintothreeorfourspeciesForcommonreaders,itissufficienttorememberthattherearetwowell-definedspecies,thatdifferentirelyinappearanceandfoodTheabsenceofboththeserhinocerosesamongthereticulatedriversinthecentralvalleymayeasilybeaccountedfor,theywouldbesuchaneasypreytothenativesintheircanoesattheperiodsofinundation;butonecannotsoreadilyaccountforthetotalabsenceofthegiraffeandostrichonthehighopenlandsoftheBatoka,northoftheZambesi,unlesswegivecredencetothenativereportwhichboundsthecountrystillfarthernorthbyanothernetworkofwatersnearLakeShuia,andsupposethatitalsopreventedtheirprogresssouthward。
  TheBatokahavenonameforthegiraffeortheostrichintheirlanguage;
  yet,astheformerexistsinconsiderablenumbersintheangleformedbytheLeeambyeandChobe,theymayhavecomefromthenorthalongthewesternridgeTheChobewouldseemtohavebeentoonarrowtoactasanobstacletothegiraffe,supposingittohavecomeintothatdistrictfromthesouth;butthebroadriverintowhichthatstreamflowsseemsalwaystohavepresentedanimpassablebarriertoboththegiraffeandtheostrich,thoughtheyaboundonitssouthernborder,bothintheKalahariDesertandthecountryofMashona。
  WepassedthroughlargetractsofMopanecountry,andmymencaughtagreatmanyofthebirdscalledKorwe`Tockuserythrorhynchus’
  intheirbreeding-places,whichwereinholesinthemopane-trees。
  Onthe19thwepassedthenestofakorwejustreadyforthefemaletoenter;
  theorificewasplasteredonbothsides,butaspacewasleftofaheartshape,andexactlythesizeofthebird’sbody。