首页 >出版文学> Travels and Researches in South Africa>第51章
  Nyamoana’sPresentCharmsManenko’spedestrianPowersAnIdol
  BalondaArmsRainHungerPalisadesDenseForests
  ArtificialBeehivesMushroomsVillagerslendtheRoofsoftheirHousesDivinationandIdolsManenko’sWhimsAnightAlarm
  Shinte’sMessengersandPresentTheproperWaytoapproachaVillage
  AMermanEnterShinte’sTown:itsAppearance
  Meettwohalf-casteSlave-tradersTheMakololoscornthem
  TheBalondarealNegroesGrandReceptionfromShinte
  HisKotlaCeremonyofIntroductionTheOratorsWomen
  MusiciansandMusicalInstrumentsAdisagreeableRequest
  PrivateInterviewswithShinteGivehimanOxFertilityofSoil
  Manenko’snewHutConversationwithShinteKolimbota’sProposal
  Balonda’sPunctiliousnessSellingChildrenKidnapping
  Shinte’sOfferofaSlaveMagicLanternAlarmofWomen
  DelaySambanzareturnsintoxicatedThelastandgreatestProofofShinte’sFriendship。
  11THOFJANUARY,1854Onstartingthismorning,SamoanaorratherNyamoana,fortheladiesarethechiefshere
  presentedastringofbeads,andashellhighlyvaluedamongthem,asanatonementforhavingassistedManenko,astheythought,tovexmethedaybeforeTheyseemedanxioustoavertanyevilwhichmightarisefrommydispleasure;buthavingrepliedthatIneverkeptmyangerupallnight,theyweremuchpleasedtoseemesatisfiedWehadtocross,inacanoe,astreamwhichflowspastthevillageofNyamoanaManenko’sdoctorwavedsomecharmsoverher,andshetooksomeinherhandandonherbodybeforesheventureduponthewaterOneofmymenspokeratherloudlywhennearthedoctor’sbasketofmedicinesThedoctorreprovedhim,andalwaysspokeinawhisperhimself,glancingbacktothebasketasifafraidofbeingheardbysomethingthereinSomuchsuperstitionisquiteunknowninthesouth,andismentionedheretoshowthedifferenceinthefeelingsofthisnewpeople,andthecomparativewantofreverenceonthesepointsamongCaffresandBechuanas。
  Manenkowasaccompaniedbyherhusbandandherdrummer;
  thelattercontinuedtothumpmostvigorouslyuntilaheavy,drizzlingmistsetinandcompelledhimtodesistHerhusbandusedvariousincantationsandvociferationstodriveawaytherain,butdownitpouredincessantly,andonourAmazonwent,intheverylightestmarchingorder,andatapacethatfewofthemencouldkeepupwithBeingonox-back,Ikeptprettyclosetoourleader,andaskedherwhyshedidnotclotheherselfduringtherain,andlearnedthatitisnotconsideredproperforachieftoappeareffeminate。
  Heorshemustalwaysweartheappearanceofrobustyouth,andbearvicissitudeswithoutwincingMymen,inadmirationofherpedestrianpowers,everynowandthenremarked,“Manenkoisasoldier;“
  andthoroughlywetandcold,wewereallgladwhensheproposedahalttoprepareournight’slodgingonthebanksofastream。
  Thecountrythroughwhichwewerepassingwasthesamesuccessionofforestandopenlawnsasformerlymentioned:thetreeswerenearlyallevergreens,andofgood,thoughnotverygiganticsize。
  Thelawnswerecoveredwithgrass,which,inthicknessofcrop,lookedlikeordinaryEnglishhayWepassedtwosmallhamletssurroundedbygardensofmaizeandmanioc,andneareachoftheseIobserved,forthefirsttime,anuglyidolcommoninLondathefigureofananimal,resemblinganalligator,madeofclayItisformedofgrass,plasteredoverwithsoftclay;twocowrie-shellsareinsertedaseyes,andnumbersofthebristlesfromthetailofanelephantarestuckinabouttheneckItiscalledalion,though,ifonewerenottoldso,hewouldconcludeittobeanalligatorItstoodinashed,andtheBalondaprayandbeatdrumsbeforeitallnightincasesofsickness。
  SomeofthemenofManenko’strainhadshieldsmadeofreeds,neatlywovenintoasquareshape,aboutfivefeetlongandthreebroad。
  Withthese,andshortbroadswordsandsheavesofiron-headedarrows,theyappearedratherferociousButtheconstanthabitofwearingarmsisprobablyonlyasubstituteforthecouragetheydonotpossess。
  Wealwaysdepositedourfire-armsandspearsoutsideavillagebeforeenteringit,whiletheBalonda,onvisitingusatourencampment,alwayscamefullyarmed,untilweorderedthemeithertolaydowntheirweaponsorbeoffNextdaywepassedthroughapieceofforestsodensethatnoonecouldhavepenetrateditwithoutanaxeItwasflooded,notbytheriver,butbytheheavyrainswhichpoureddowneveryday,andkeptthosewhohadclothingconstantlywetIobserved,inthispieceofforest,averystrongsmellofsulphuretedhydrogen。
  ThisIhadobservedrepeatedlyinotherpartsbefore。
  Ihadattacksoffeveroftheintermittenttypeagainandagain,inconsequenceofrepeateddrenchingsintheseunhealthyspots。
  Onthe11thand12thweweredetainedbyincessantrains,andsoheavyIneversawthelikeinthesouthIhadalittletapiocaandasmallquantityofLibontameal,whichIstillreservedforworsetimes。
  Thepatienceofmymenunderhungerwasadmirable;theactualwantofthepresentisneversopainfulasthethoughtofgettingnothinginthefutureWethoughtthepeopleofsomelargehamletsveryniggardlyandveryindependentoftheirchiefs,fortheygaveusandManenkonothing,thoughtheyhadlargefieldsofmaizeinaneatablestatearoundthem。
  Whenshewentandkindlybeggedsomeforme,theygaveherfiveearsonly。
  Theyweresubjectsofheruncle;and,hadtheybeenMakololo,wouldhavebeenlavishintheirgiftstothenieceoftheirchief。
  IsuspectedthattheyweredependentsofsomeofShinte’sprincipalmen,andhadnopowertopartwiththemaizeoftheirmasters。
  Eachhouseofthesehamletshasapalisadeofthickstakesaroundit,andthedoorismadetoresembletherestofthestockade;
  thedoorisneverseenopen;whentheownerwishestoenter,heremovesastakeortwo,squeezeshisbodyin,thenplantsthemagainintheirplaces,sothatanenemycominginthenightwouldfinditdifficulttodiscovertheentranceThesepalisadesseemtoindicateasenseofinsecurityinregardtotheirfellow-men,fortherearenowildbeaststodisturbthem;thebowsandarrowshavebeennearlyasefficaciousinclearingthecountryhereasgunshaveinthecountryfarthersouthThiswasadisappointmenttous,forweexpectedacontinuanceoftheabundanceofgameinthenorthwhichwefoundwhenwefirstcameuptotheconfluenceoftheLeebaandLeeambye。
  Aspeciesofthesilver-treeoftheCape`Leucodendronargenteum’
  isfoundinabundanceinthepartsthroughwhichwehavetraveledsinceleavingSamoana’sAsitgrowsataheightofbetweentwoandthreethousandfeetabovethelevelofthesea,ontheCapeTableMountain,andagainonthenorthernslopeoftheCashanMountains,andhereatconsiderablygreaterheightsfourthousandfeet,thedifferenceofclimatepreventsthebotanicalrangebeingconsideredasaffordingagoodapproximationtothealtitude。
  TherapidflowoftheLeeambye,whichonceseemedtomeevidenceofmuchelevationofthecountryfromwhichitcomes,Inowfound,bytheboilingpointofwater,wasfallacious。*
  *OnexaminingthissubjectwhenIreturnedtoLinyanti,Ifoundthat,accordingtoDrArnott,adeclivityofthreeinchespermilegivesavelocityinasmooth,straightchannelofthreemilesanhour。
  ThegeneralvelocityoftheZambesiisthreemilesandthreequartersperhour,thoughintherockypartsitissometimesasmuchasfourandahalfIf,however,wemakeallowancesforroughnessofbottom,bendingsofchannel,andsuddendescentsatcataracts,andsaythedeclivityisevenseveninchespermile,those800milesbetweentheeastcoastandthegreatfallswouldrequirelessthan500feettogivetheobservedvelocity,andtheadditionaldistancetothispointwouldrequirebut150feetofaltitudemoreIfmyobservationofthisaltitudemaybedependedon,wehaveasteeperdeclivityfortheZambesithanforsomeothergreatriversTheGanges,forinstance,issaidtobeat1800milesfromitsmouthonly800feetabovethelevelofthesea,andwaterrequiresamonthtocomethatdistance。
  Buttherearesomanymodifyingcircumstances,itisdifficulttodrawanyreliableconclusionfromthecurrentsTheChobeissometimesheardofasflooded,about40milesaboveLinyanti,afortnightbeforetheinundationreachesthatpoint,butitisverytortuous。
  ThegreatriverMagdalenafallsonly500feetinathousandmiles;
  otherriversmuchmore。
  TheforestsbecamemoredenseaswewentnorthWetraveledmuchmoreinthedeepgloomoftheforestthaninopensunlightNopassageexistedoneithersideofthenarrowpathmadebytheaxeLargeclimbingplantsentwinedthemselvesaroundthetrunksandbranchesofgigantictreeslikeboaconstrictors,andtheyoftendoconstrictthetreesbywhichtheyrise,and,killingthem,standerectthemselves。
  Thebarkofafinetreefoundinabundancehere,andcalled“motuia“,isusedbytheBarotseformakingfish-linesandnets,andthe“molompi“,sowelladaptedforpaddlesbyitslightnessandflexibility,wasabundantTherewereothertreesquitenewtomycompanions;
  manyofthemranuptoaheightoffiftyfeetofonethickness,andwithoutbranches。
  IntheseforestswefirstencounteredtheartificialbeehivessocommonlymetwithallthewayfromthistoAngolaTheyconsistofaboutfivefeetofthebarkofatreefifteenoreighteeninchesindiameter。
  Twoincisionsaremaderightroundthetreeatpointsfivefeetapart,thenonelongitudinalslitfromoneofthesetotheother;
  theworkmannextliftsupthebarkoneachsideofthisslit,anddetachesitfromthetrunk,takingcarenottobreakit,untilthewholecomesfromthetreeTheelasticityofthebarkmakesitassumetheformithadbefore;theslitissewedorpeggedupwithwoodenpins,andendsmadeofcoiledgrass-ropeareinserted,oneofwhichhasaholefortheingressofthebeesinthecentre,andthehiveiscompleteThesehivesareplacedinahorizontalpositiononhightreesindifferentpartsoftheforest,andinthiswayallthewaxexportedfromBenguelaandLoandaiscollected。
  ItisalltheproduceoffreelaborA“pieceofmedicine“istiedroundthetrunkofthetree,andprovessufficientprotectionagainstthieves。
  Thenativesseldomrobeachother,forallbelievethatcertainmedicinescaninflictdiseaseanddeath;andthoughtheyconsiderthattheseareonlyknowntoafew,theyactontheprinciplethatitisbesttoletthemallaloneThegloomoftheseforestsstrengthensthesuperstitiousfeelingsofthepeopleInotherquarters,wheretheyarenotsubjectedtothisinfluence,Ihaveheardthechiefsissueproclamationstotheeffectthatrealwitchcraftmedicineshadbeenplacedatcertaingardensfromwhichproducehadbeenstolen,thethieveshavingriskedthepoweroftheordinarycharmspreviouslyplacedthere。
  Thisbeingtherainyseason,greatquantitiesofmushroomsweremetwith,andwereeagerlydevouredbymycompanions:theediblevarietyisalwaysfoundgrowingoutofant-hills,andattainsthediameterofthecrownofahat;theyarequitewhite,andverygood,evenwheneatenraw;
  theyoccupyanextensiveregionoftheinterior;some,notedible,areofabrilliantred,andothersareofthesamelightblueasthepaperusedbyapothecariestoputuptheirmedicines。
  Therewasaconsiderablepleasure,inspiteofrainandfever,inthisnewsceneryThedeepgloomcontrastedstronglywiththeshadelessglareoftheKalahari,whichhadleftanindelibleimpressiononmymemoryThoughdrencheddaybydayatthistime,andformonthsafterward,itwaslongbeforeIcouldbelievethatweweregettingtoomuchofagoodthingNorcouldIlookatwaterbeingthrownawaywithoutaslight,quickimpressionflittingacrossthemindthatwewereguiltyofwastingitEverynowandthenweemergedfromthedeepgloomintoaprettylittlevalley,havingadampportioninthemiddle;which,thoughnowfilledwithwater,atothertimescontainsmoistureenoughforwellsonlyThesewellshaveshadesputoverthemintheformoflittlehuts。
  Wecrossed,incanoes,alittlenever-failingstream,whichpassesbythenameofLefuje,or“therapid“Itcomesfromagoodlyhighmountain,calledMonakadzithewoman,whichgladdenedoureyesasitrosetooursightabouttwentyorthirtymilestotheeastofourcourse。
  Itisofanoblongshape,andseemedatleasteighthundredfeetabovetheplainsTheLefujeprobablyderivesitsnamefromtherapiddescentoftheshortcourseithastoflowfromMonakadzitotheLeeba。
  Thenumberoflittlevillagesseemedaboutequaltothenumberofvalleys。
  Atsomewestoppedandrested,thepeoplebecomingmoreliberalasweadvancedOtherswefounddeserted,asuddenpanichavingseizedtheinhabitants,thoughthedrumofManenkowaskeptbeatenprettyconstantly,inordertogivenoticeoftheapproachofgreatpeopleWhenwehaddecidedtoremainforthenightatanyvillage,theinhabitantslentustheroofsoftheirhuts,whichinformresemblethoseoftheMakololo,oraChinaman’shat,andcanbetakenoffthewallsatpleasure。
  Theyliftedthemoff,andbroughtthemtothespotwehadselectedasourlodging,and,whenmymenhadproppedthemupwithstakes,theywerethensafelyhousedforthenightEveryonewhocomestosaluteeitherManenkoorourselvesrubstheupperpartsofthearmsandchestwithashes;thosewhowishtoshowprofounderreverenceputsomealsoontheface。
  WefoundthateveryvillagehaditsidolsnearitThisisthecaseallthroughthecountryoftheBalonda,sothat,whenwecametoanidolinthewoods,wealwaysknewthatwewerewithinaquarterofanhourofhumanhabitationsOneveryuglyidolwepassedrestedonahorizontalbeamplacedontwouprightposts。