首页 >出版文学> Travels and Researches in South Africa>第122章
  “Fromacountryfullofrivers。”wasthereply;“somanythatnomancantelltheirnumber,andfulloflargetrees。”
  ThiswasthefirstactualconfirmationofthereportoftheBakwainsthatthecountrybeyondwasnotthelarge“sandyplateau“ofgeographers。
  TheprospectofahighwaycapableofbeingtraversedbyboatstoanunexploredfertileregionsofilledthemindofLivingstonethat,whenhecametothelake,thisdiscoveryseemedofcomparativelylittleimportanceTous,indeed,whoseideasofalakeareformedfromSuperiorandHuron,theNgamiseemsbutaninsignificantaffair。
  Itscircumferencemaybeseventyorahundredmiles,anditsmeandepthisbutafewfeetItliestwothousandfeetabovethelevelofthesea,andasmuchbelowthesouthernborderoftheKalahari,whichslopesgraduallytowardtheinterior。
  TheirdesiretovisitSebituane,whoseresidencewasconsiderablyfartherintheinterior,wasfrustratedbythejealousyofLechulatebe,achiefnearthelake,andtheexpeditionreturnedtothestationatKolobeng。
  TheattemptwasrenewedthefollowingyearMrsLivingstone,theirthreechildren,andSecheleaccompaniedhimThelakewasreached。
  Lechulatebe,propitiatedbythepresentofavaluablegun,agreedtofurnishguidestoSebituane’scountry;butthechildrenandservantsfellill,andtheattemptwasforthetimeabandoned。
  Athirdexpeditionwassuccessful,althoughthewholepartycamenearperishingforwantofwater,andtheircattle,whichhadbeenbittenbythe`Tsetse’,died。
  Thisinsectthe`Glossinamoritans’ofthenaturalists
  deservesaspecialparagraphItisabrowninsectaboutaslargeasourcommonhouse-fly,withthreeorfouryellowbarsacrossitshinderpartAlively,buzzing,harmless-lookingfellowisthetsetseItsbiteproducesaslightitchingsimilartothatcausedbythemosquito,andinthecaseofmenandsomespeciesofanimalsnofurtherilleffectsfollowButwoetothehorse,theox,andthedog,whenoncebittenbythetsetseNoimmediateharmappears;
  theanimalisnotstartledasbythegad-fly;butinafewdaystheeyesandthenosebegintorun;thejawsandnavelswell;
  theanimalgrazesforawhileasusual,butgrowsemaciatedandweak,anddies,itmaybe,weeksormonthsafterWhendissected,thecellulartissueseemsinjectedwithair,thefatisgreenandoily,themusclesareflabby,theheartissosoftthatthefingermaybepushedthroughitTheantelopeandbuffalo,thezebraandgoat,arenotaffectedbyitsbite;whiletotheox,thehorse,andthedogitiscertaindeathThemuleanddonkeyarenottroubledbyit,noraresuckingcalves,whiledogs,thoughfeduponmilk,perish。
  Suchdifferenteffectsproduceduponanimalswhosenatureissimilar,constituteoneofthemostcuriousphenomenainnaturalhistory。
  Sebituane,whohadheardoftheapproachofhisvisitors,camemorethanahundredmilestomeetthemHewasatall,wiry,coffee-and-milkcoloredman,offive-and-fortyHisoriginalhomewasathousandmilestothesouth,intheBakwaincountry,whencehehadbeendrivenbytheGriquasaquarterofacenturybefore。
  Heflednorthward,fightinghisway,sometimesreducedtotheutmoststraits,butstillkeepinghispeopletogetherAtlengthhecrossedthedesert,andconqueredthecountryaroundLakeNgami;thenhavingheardofwhitemenlivingonthewestcoast,hepassedsouthwestwardintothedesert,hopingtobeabletoopenintercoursewiththemTheresufferingfromthethirst,hecametoasmallwell;thewaterwasnotsufficientforhismenandhiscattle;oneortheothermustperish;heorderedthementodrink,foriftheysurvivedtheycouldfightformorecattle。
  Inthemorninghiscattlewereallgone,andhereturnedtothenorth。
  Herealongcourseofwarfareawaitedhim,butintheendhetriumphedoverhisenemies,andestablishedhimselfforatimeonthegreatriverZambesiHauntedwithalongingforintercoursewiththewhites,heproposedtodescendtherivertotheeasterncoast。
  Hewasdissuadedfromthispurposebythewarningsofanativeprophet。
  “Thegodssay,Gonotthither!”hecried;thenturningtothewest,“Iseeacityandanationofblackmenmenofthewater;
  theircattlearered;thineowntribeareperishing,andwillallbeconsumed;
  thouwiltgovernblackmen,andwhenthywarriorshavecapturedtheredcattle,letnottheirownersbekilled;theyarethyfuturetribe;
  letthembesparedtocausetheetobuild。”SoSebituanewentwestward,conqueredtheblacksofanimmenseregion,sparedthelivesofthemen,andmadethemhissubjects,rulingthemgentlyHisoriginalpeoplearecalledtheMakololo;thesubjecttribesarestyledMakalaka。
  Sebituane,thoughthegreatestwarriorinthesouth,alwaysleadinghismentobattleinperson,wasstillanxiousforpeaceHehadheardofcannon,andhadsomehowacquiredtheideathatifhecouldonlyprocureonehemightliveinquietHereceivedhisvisitorswithmuchfavor。
  “Yourcattlehaveallbeenbittenbythetsetse。”hesaid,“andwilldie;butnevermind,Iwillgiveyouasmanyasyouwant。”
  HeofferedtoconductthemthroughhiscountrythattheymightchooseasiteforamissionarystationButatthismomenthefellillofaninflammationofthelungs,fromwhichhesoondied。
  “Hewas。”writesMrLivingstone,“thebestspecimenofanativechiefIevermet;anditwasimpossiblenottofollowhiminthoughtintotheworldofwhichhehadjustheardwhenhewascalledaway,andtorealizesomewhatofthefeelingofthosewhoprayforthedead。
  Thedeep,darkquestionofwhatistobecomeofsuchashemustbeleftwherewefindit,believingthatassuredlytheJudgeofalltheearthwilldoright。”
  Althoughhehadsons,SebituaneleftthechieftainshiptohisdaughterMamochisane,whoconfirmedherfather’spermissionthatthemissionariesmightvisithercountryTheyproceededahundredandthirtymilesfarther,andwererewardedbythediscoveryofthegreatriverZambesi,theveryexistenceofwhich,inCentralAfrica,hadneverbeensuspectedItwasthedryseason,andtheriverwasatitslowest;butitwasfromthreetosixhundredyardsbroad,flowingwithadeepcurrenttowardtheeast。
  AgranderideathanthemerefoundingofamissionarystationnowdevelopeditselfinthemindofMrLivingstoneEuropeangoodshadjustbeguntobeintroducedintothisregionfromthePortuguesesettlementsonthecoast;atpresentslavesweretheonlycommodityreceivedinpaymentforthemLivingstonethoughtifagreathighwaycouldbeopened,ivory,andtheotherproductsofthecountry,mightbebarteredforthesegoods,andthetrafficinslaveswouldcometoanend。
  HethereforeresolvedtotakehisfamilytoCapeTown,andthencesendthemtoEngland,whilehereturnedalonetotheinterior,withthepurposeofmakinghiswayeithertotheeastorthewestcoast。
  HereachedtheCapeinApril,1852,beingthefirsttimeduringelevenyearsthathehadvisitedthescenesofcivilization,andplacedhisfamilyonboardashipboundforEngland,promisingtorejointhemintwoyears。
  InJunehesetoutfromCapeTownuponthatlongjourneywhichwastooccupyfiveyearsWhenheapproachedthemissionarystationsintheinterior,helearnedthatthelong-threatenedattackbytheBoershadtakenplace。
  AletterfromSecheletoMrMoffattoldthestoryThusitran:
  “Friendofmyheart’sloveandofalltheconfidenceofmyheart,IamSecheleIamundonebytheBoers,whoattackedme,thoughIhadnoguiltwiththemTheydemandedthatIshouldbeintheirkingdom,andIrefusedTheydemandedthatIshouldpreventtheEnglishandGriquasfrompassingIreplied,Thesearemyfriends,andIcannotpreventthemTheycameonSaturday,andIbesoughtthemnottofightonSunday,andtheyassentedTheybeganonMondaymorningattwilight,andfiredwithalltheirmight,andburnedthetownwithfire,andscatteredusTheykilledsixtyofmypeople,andcapturedwomen,andchildren,andmenTheytookallthecattleandallthegoodsoftheBakwains;andthehouseofLivingstonetheyplundered,takingawayallhisgoodsOftheBoerswekilledtwenty-eight。”
  Twohundredchildren,whohadbeengatheredintoschools,werecarriedawayasslavesMrLivingstone’slibrarywaswantonlydestroyed,notcarriedaway;hisstockofmedicineswassmashed,andhisfurnitureandclothingsoldatauctiontodefraytheexpensesoftheforay。
  MrPretorius,theleaderofthemaraudingparty,diednotlongafter,andanobituarynoticeofhimwaspublished,endingwiththewords,“BlessedarethedeadwhodieintheLord。”
  Leavinghisdesolatehome,LivingstoneproceededonhisjourneyOnthewayhemetSechele,whowasgoing,hesaid,toseetheQueenofEngland。
  Livingstonetriedtodissuadehim。
  “WillnottheQueenlistentome?”askedthechief。
  “Ibelieveshewouldlisten,butthedifficultyistogettoher。”
  “Well,Ishallreachher。”
  AndsotheypartedSecheleactuallymadehiswaytotheCape,adistanceofathousandmiles,butcouldgetnofarther,andreturnedtohisowncountryTheremnantsofthetribeswhohadformerlylivedamongtheBoersgatheredaroundhim,andheisnowmorepowerfulthanever。
  ItisslowtravelinginAfricaLivingstonewasalmostayearinaccomplishingthe1500milesbetweenCapeTownandthecountryoftheMakololoHefoundthatMamochisane,thedaughterofSebituane,hadvoluntarilyresignedthechieftainshiptoheryoungerbrother,Sekeletu。
  Shewishedtobemarried,shesaid,andhaveafamilylikeotherwomen。
  TheyoungchiefSekeletuwasveryfriendly,butshowednodispositiontobecomeaconvertHerefusedtolearntoreadtheBible,forfearitmightchangehisheart,andmakehimcontentwithonlyonewife,likeSecheleForhisparthewantedatleastfive。
  Somemonthswerepassedinthiscountry,whichisdescribedasfertileandwell-cultivatedproducingmillet,maize,yams,sweetpotatoes,cassava,beans,pumpkins,water-melons,andthelike。
  Thesugar-canegrowsplentifully,butthepeoplehadneverlearnedtheprocessofmakingsugarTheyhavegreatnumbersofcattle,andgameofvariousspeciesaboundsOnoneoccasionatroopofeighty-onebuffaloesdefiledslowlybeforetheireveningfire,whileherdsofsplendidelandsstood,withoutfear,attwohundredyards’distanceThecountryisratherunhealthy,fromthemassofdecayedvegetationexposedtothetorridsun。
  Afterdueconsideration,LivingstoneresolvedtomakehiswaytoLoanda,aPortuguesesettlementonthewesterncoastSekeletu,anxioustoopenatradewiththecoast,appointedtwenty-sevenmentoaccompanythetraveler;
  andonthe11thofNovember,1853,hesetoutonhisjourney。
  Threeorfoursmallboxescontainedallthebaggageoftheparty。
  Theonlyprovisionswereafewpoundsofbiscuits,coffee,tea,andsugar;
  theirmainreliancebeinguponthegamewhichtheyexpectedtokill,and,thisfailing,upontheproceedsofabouttendollars’worthofbeads。
  Theyalsotookwiththemafewelephants’tusks,whichSekeletusentbywayofatradingventure。
  Theriverupwhichtheypaddledaboundsinhippopotami。
  Theseareingeneralharmless,thoughnowandthenasolitaryoldbullwhohasbeenexpelledfromtheherdventshisspleenbypitchingintoeverycanoethatpassesOncetheircanoewasattackedbyafemalewhosecalfhadbeenspeared,andnearlyoverturnedThefemalecarriesheryounguponherback,itslittleroundheadfirstappearingabovethesurfacewhenshecomesuptobreathe。
  Bytheorderofthechiefthepartyhadbeenfurnishedwitheightoxenforriding,andsevenintendedforslaughterSomeofthetrooppaddledthecanoes,whileothersdrovethecattlealongthebank。
  Africanetiquetterequiresthatacompanyoftravelers,whentheycomeinsightofavillage,shallseatthemselvesunderatree,andsendforwardamessengertoannouncetheirarrivalandstatetheirobject。
  Thechiefthengivesthemaceremoniousreception,withabundanceofspeech-makinganddrummingItisnoeasymattertogetawayfromthesevillages,forthechiefsesteemitanhonortohavestrangerswiththemThesedelays,andthefrequentheavyrains,greatlyretardedtheprogressofthetravelers。
  Theyhadtraveledfourmonths,andaccomplishedhalfoftheirjourneybeforeencounteringanyshowofhostilityfromthetribesthroughwhichtheypassedAchief,namedNjambi,thendemandedtributeforpassingthroughhiscountry;whenthiswasrefusedhesaidthatoneofLivingstone’smenhadspitonthelegofoneofhispeople,andthiscrimemustbepaidforbyafineofaman,anox,oragun。
  Thisreasonabledemandwaslikewiserefused,andthenativesseemedabouttocommencehostilities;butchangedtheirmindsuponwitnessingthedeterminedattitudeofthestrangersLivingstoneatlastyieldedtotheentreatiesofhismenandgavethemanox,uponthepromisethatfoodshouldbesentinexchangeTheniggardlychiefsentthemonlyasmallbagofmeal,andtwoorthreepoundsofthemeatoftheirownox。
  Fromthistimetheyweresubjecttofrequentattemptsatextortion。
  ThelastofthesewasmadeonthebanksoftheRiverQuango,theboundaryofthePortuguesepossessionsABashinjechief,whoseportraitisgivenbyMrLivingstone,madetheusualdemandofaman,agun,oranox,otherwisetheymustreturnthewaytheycameWhilenegotiationswereinprogresstheopportunearrivalofaPortuguesesergeantfreedthetravelersfromtheirtroublesTheriverwascrossed,andonceonPortugueseterritorytheirdifficultieswereover。
  AtCassange,thefrontiersettlement,theysoldSekeletu’sivory。
  TheMakololo,whohadbeenaccustomedtogivetwotusksforonegun,weredelightedatthepricestheyobtainedForonetusktheygottwomuskets,threekegsofpowder,largebunchesofbeads,andcalicoandbaizeenoughtoclothealltheparty。
  Onthe31stofMay,aftermorethansixmonths’travel,LivingstoneandhiscompanionsreachedthePortuguesesea-portofLoanda。
  TheMakololowerelostinwonderwhentheyfirstcaughtsightofthesea。
  “Wemarchedalong。”theysaid,“believingthatwhattheancientshadtolduswastrue,thattheworldhasnoend;butallatoncetheworldsaidtous,Iamfinished,thereisnomoreofme。”Stillgreaterwastheirwonderwhentheybeheldthelargestonehousesofthetown“Thesearenothuts。”
  theysaid,“butmountainswithcavesinthem。”Livingstonehadinvaintriedtomakethemcomprehendahouseoftwostories。
  Theyknewofnodwellingsexcepttheirownconicalhuts,madeofpolesstuckintotheground,andcouldnotconceivehowonehutcouldbebuiltonthetopofanother,orhowpeoplecouldliveintheupperstory,withthepointedroofoftheloweronestickingupinthemiddleofthefloor。
  Thevesselsintheharborwere,theysaid,notcanoes,buttowns,intowhichonemustclimbbyarope。