首页 >出版文学> Travels and Researches in South Africa>第54章
  theBalondamenremarkedthatthepicturewasmuchmorelikeagodthanthethingsofwoodorclaytheyworshipedIexplainedthatthismanwasthefirstofaracetowhomGodhadgiventheBiblewenowheld,andthatamonghischildrenourSaviorappearedTheladieslistenedwithsilentawe;but,whenImovedtheslide,theuplifteddaggermovingtowardthem,theythoughtitwastobesheathedintheirbodiesinsteadofIsaac’s“Mother!mother!”allshoutedatonce,andofftheyrushedhelter-skelter,tumblingpell-mellovereachother,andoverthelittleidol-hutsandtobacco-bushes:wecouldnotgetoneofthembackagainShinte,however,satbravelythroughthewhole,andafterwardexaminedtheinstrumentwithinterestAnexplanationwasalwaysaddedaftereachtimeofshowingitspowers,sothatnooneshouldimaginetherewasaughtsupernaturalinit;
  andhadMrMurray,whokindlybroughtitfromEngland,seenitspopularityamongbothMakololoandBalonda,hewouldhavebeengratifiedwiththedirectionhisgenerositythentookItwastheonlymodeofinstructionIwaseverpressedtorepeatThepeoplecamelongdistancesfortheexpresspurposeofseeingtheobjectsandhearingtheexplanations。
  Onecannotgetawayquicklyfromthesechiefs;theyliketohavethehonorofstrangersresidingintheirvillagesHerewehadanadditionalcauseofdelayinfrequentrains;twenty-fourhoursneverelapsedwithoutheavyshowers;everythingisaffectedbythedampness;
  surgicalinstrumentsbecomeallrusty,clothingmildewed,andshoesmouldy;
  mylittletentwasnowsorottenandsofullofsmallholesthateverysmartshowercausedafinemisttodescendonmyblanket,andmademefaintocovertheheadwithitHeavydewslayoneverythinginthemorning,eveninsidethetent;thereisonlyashorttimeofsunshineintheafternoon,andeventhatissointerruptedbythunder-showersthatwecannotdryourbedding。
  Thewindscomingfromthenorthalwaysbringheavycloudsandrain;
  inthesouth,theonlyheavyrainsnoticedarethosewhichcomefromthenortheastoreastThethermometerfallsaslowas72Degreeswhenthereisnosunshine,though,whentheweatherisfair,theprotectedthermometergenerallyrisesashighas82Degrees,eveninthemorningsandevenings。
  24THWeexpectedtohavestartedto-day,butSambanza,whohadbeensentoffearlyinthemorningforguides,returnedatmiddaywithoutthem,anddrunkThiswasthefirstcaseofrealbabblingintoxicationwehadseeninthisregionTheboyaloa,orbeerofthecountry,hasmoreofastupefyingthanexcitingnature;hencethebeer-bibbersaregreatsleepers;theymayfrequentlybeseenlyingontheirfacessoundasleepThispeculiarityofposturewasascribed,bynolessanauthoritythanAristotle,towine,whilethosewhoweresentasleepbybeerwerebelieved“tolieupontheirbacks。”
  Sambanzahadgotintoastateofinebriationfromindulginginmead,similartothatwhichShintepresentedtous,whichismuchmorepowerfulthanboyaloaAsfaraswecouldcollectfromhisincoherentsentences,Shintehadsaidtherainwastooheavyforourdeparture,andtheguidesstillrequiredtimeforpreparationShintehimselfwasbusygettingsomemealreadyformyuseinthejourneyAsitrainednearlyallday,itwasnosacrificetosubmittohisadviceandremain。
  SambanzastaggeredtoManenko’shut;she,however,whohadneverpromised“tolove,honor,andobeyhim。”hadnotbeen“nursingherwrathtokeepitwarm。”soshecoollybundledhimintothehut,andputhimtobed。
  Asthelastproofoffriendship,Shintecameintomytent,thoughitcouldscarcelycontainmorethanoneperson,lookedatallthecuriosities,thequicksilver,thelooking-glass,books,hair-brushes,comb,watch,etc。,etc。,withthegreatestinterest;
  thenclosingthetent,sothatnoneofhisownpeoplemightseetheextravaganceofwhichhewasabouttobeguilty,hedrewoutfromhisclothingastringofbeads,andtheendofaconicalshell,whichisconsidered,inregionsfarfromthesea,ofasgreatvalueastheLordMayor’sbadgeisinLondonHehungitroundmyneck,andsaid,“There,nowyouHAVEaproofofmyfriendship。”
  Mymeninformedmethattheseshellsaresohighlyvaluedinthisquarter,asevidencesofdistinction,thatfortwoofthemaslavemightbebought,andfivewouldbeconsideredahandsomepriceforanelephant’stuskworthtenpoundsAtourlastinterviewoldShintepointedoutourprincipalguide,Intemese,amanaboutfifty,whowas,hesaid,orderedtoremainbyustillweshouldreachthesea;
  thatIhadnowleftSekeletufarbehind,andmusthenceforthlooktoShintealoneforaid,andthatitwouldalwaysbemostcheerfullyrendered。
  Thiswasonlyapolitewayofexpressinghiswishesformysuccess。
  Itwasthegoodwordsonlyoftheguideswhichweretoaidmefromthenextchief,Katema,ontothesea;theyweretoturnbackonreachinghim;buthegaveagoodsupplyoffoodforthejourneybeforeus,and,aftermentioningasareasonforlettingusgoevennowthatnoonecouldsaywehadbeendrivenawayfromthetown,sincewehadbeenseveraldayswithhim,hegaveamostheartysalutation,andwepartedwiththewishthatGodmightblesshim。
  LeaveShinteManiocGardensModeofpreparingthepoisonouskind
  ItsgeneralUsePresentsofFoodPunctiliousnessoftheBalonda
  TheirIdolsandSuperstitionDressoftheBalonda
  VillagesbeyondLonajeCazembeOurGuidesandtheMakololo
  NightRainsInquiriesforEnglishcottonGoodsIntemese’sFiction
  VisitfromanoldManTheftIndustryofourGuide
  LossofPontoonPlainscoveredwithWaterAffectionoftheBalondafortheirMothersANightonanIslandTheGrassonthePlains
  SourceoftheRiversLoanoftheRoofsofHutsAHalt
  FertilityoftheCountrythroughwhichtheLokaluejeflows
  OmnivorousFishNatives’Modeofcatchingthem
  TheVillageofaHalf-brotherofKatema,hisSpeechandPresent
  OurGuide’sPerversityMozenkwa’spleasantHomeandFamily
  ClearWaterofthefloodedRiversAMessengerfromKatema
  Quendende’sVillage:hisKindnessCropofWool
  MeetPeoplefromtheTownofMatiamvoFiresideTalk
  Matiamvo’sCharacterandConductPresentationatKatema’sCourt:
  hisPresent,goodSense,andAppearanceInterviewonthefollowingDay
  CattleAFeastandaMakololoDanceArrestofaFugitive
  DignifiedoldCourtierKatema’slaxGovernment
  ColdWindfromtheNorthCanariesandothersingingBirds
  Spiders,theirNestsandWebsLakeDiloloTradition
  SagacityofAnts。
  26THLeavingShinte,witheightofhismentoaidincarryingourluggage,wepassed,inanortherlydirection,downthelovelyvalleyonwhichthetownstands,thenwentalittletothewestthroughprettyopenforest,andsleptatavillageofBalonda。
  Inthemorningwehadafinerangeofgreenhills,calledSaloisho,onourright,andwereinformedthattheywereratherthicklyinhabitedbythepeopleofShinte,whoworkediniron,theoreofwhichaboundsinthesehills。
  ThecountrythroughwhichwepassedpossessedthesamegeneralcharacterofflatnessandforestthatwenoticedbeforeThesoilisdark,withatingeofredinsomeplacesitmightbecalledredandappearedveryfertileEveryvalleycontainedvillagesoftwentyorthirtyhuts,withgardensofmanioc,whichhereislookeduponasthestaffoflife。
  VerylittlelaborisrequiredforitscultivationTheearthisdrawnupintooblongbeds,aboutthreefeetbroadandoneinheight,andintheseareplantedpiecesofthemaniocstalk,atfourfeetapart。
  Acropofbeansorground-nutsissownbetweenthem,andwhenthesearereapedthelandaroundthemaniocisclearedofweeds。
  Infromtentoeighteenmonthsafterplanting,accordingtothequalityofthesoil,therootsarefitforfoodThereisnonecessityforreapingsoon,astherootsdonotbecomebitteranddryuntilafterthreeyearsWhenawomantakesuptheroots,shethrustsapieceortwooftheupperstalksintotheholeshehasmade,drawsbackthesoil,andanewcropistherebybegunTheplantgrowstoaheightofsixfeet,andeverypartofitisuseful:theleavesmaybecookedasavegetableTherootsarefromthreetofourinchesindiameter,andfromtwelvetoeighteenincheslong。
  Therearetwovarietiesofthemaniocorcassavaonesweetandwholesome,theotherbitterandcontainingpoison,butmuchmorespeedyinitsgrowththantheformerThislastpropertycausesitsperpetuation。
  WhenwereachedthevillageofKapende,onthebanksoftherivuletLonaje,wewerepresentedwithsomuchofthepoisonouskindthatwewereobligedtoleaveitTogetridofthepoison,thepeopleplaceitfourdaysinapoolofwaterItthenbecomespartiallydecomposed,andistakenout,strippedofitsskin,andexposedtothesunWhendried,itiseasilypoundedintoafinewhitemeal,closelyresemblingstarch,whichhaseitheralittleofthepeculiartastearisingfromdecomposition,ornomoreflavorthanstarchWhenintendedtobeusedasfood,thismealisstirredintoboilingwater:theyputinasmuchascanbemoistened,onemanholdingthevesselandtheotherstirringtheporridgewithallhismightThisisthecommonmessofthecountryThoughhungry,wecouldjustmanagetoswallowitwiththeaidofalittlehoney,whichIsharedwithmymenaslongasitlastedItisveryunsavoryScottice:wersh;andnomatterhowmuchonemayeat,twohoursafterwardheisashungryaseverWhenlessmealisemployed,themessisexactlylikeabasinofstarchinthehandsofalaundress;andifthestarchweremadefromdiseasedpotatoes,someideamightbeformedoftheBalondaporridge,whichhungeraloneforcedustoeatSanturuforbadehisnoblestoeatit,asitcausedcoughingandexpectoration。
  Ourchiefguide,Intemese,sentorderstoallthevillagesaroundourroutethatShinte’sfriendsmusthaveabundanceofprovisionsOurprogresswasimpededbythetimerequisiteforcommunicatingthechief’sdesireandconsequentpreparationofmealWereceivedfarmorefoodfromShinte’speoplethanfromhimselfKapende,forinstance,presentedtwolargebasketsofmeal,threeofmaniocrootssteepedanddriedinthesunandreadytobeconvertedintoflour,threefowls,andseveneggs,withthreesmoke-driedfishes;
  andothersgavewithsimilarliberalityIgavetotheheadmensmallbunchesofmystockofbeads,withanapologythatwewerenowonourwaytothemarketforthesegoodsThepresentwasalwayspolitelyreceived。
  WehadanopportunityofobservingthatourguideshadmuchmoreetiquettethananyofthetribesfarthersouthTheygaveusfood,butwouldnotpartakeofitwhenwehadcookedit,norwouldtheyeattheirownfoodinourpresenceWhenitwascookedtheyretiredintoathicketandatetheirporridge;thenallstoodup,andclappedtheirhands,andpraisedIntemeseforitTheMakololo,whoareaccustomedtothemostfreeandeasymanners,heldouthandfulsofwhattheyhadcookedtoanyoftheBalondanear,buttheyrefusedtotasteTheyareverypunctiliousintheirmannerstoeachotherEachhuthasitsownfire,andwhenitgoesouttheymakeitafreshforthemselvesratherthantakeitfromaneighborIbelievemuchofthisarisesfromsuperstitiousfears。
  Inthedeep,darkforestsneareachvillage,asalreadymentioned,youseeidolsintendedtorepresentthehumanheadoralion,oracrookedsticksmearedwithmedicine,orsimplyasmallpotofmedicineinalittleshed,orminiaturehutswithlittlemoundsofearthinthem。
  Butinthedarkerrecesseswemeetwithhumanfacescutinthebarkoftrees,theoutlinesofwhich,withthebeards,closelyresemblethoseseenonEgyptianmonumentsFrequentcutsaremadeonthetreesalongallthepaths,andofferingsofsmallpiecesofmaniocrootsorearsofmaizeareplacedonbranchesTherearealsotobeseeneveryfewmilesheapsofsticks,whicharetreatedincairnfashion,byeveryonethrowingasmallbranchtotheheapinpassing;orafewsticksareplacedonthepath,andeachpasser-byturnsfromhiscourse,andformsasuddenbendintheroadtoonesideItseemsasiftheirmindswereeverindoubtanddreadinthesegloomyrecessesoftheforest,andthattheywerestrivingtopropitiate,bytheirofferings,somesuperiorbeingsresidingthere。
  ThedressoftheBalondamenconsistsofthesoftenedskinsofsmallanimals,asthejackalorwildcat,hungbeforeandbehindfromagirdleroundtheloinsThedressofthewomenisofanondescriptcharacter;
  buttheywerenotimmodestTheystoodbeforeusasperfectlyunconsciousofanyindecorumaswecouldbewithourclotheson。
  But,whileignorantoftheirowndeficiency,theycouldnotmaintaintheirgravityatthesightofthenudityofmymenbehind。
  Muchtotheannoyanceofmycompanions,theyounggirlslaughedoutrightwhenevertheirbackswereturnedtothem。
  AftercrossingtheLonaje,wecametosomeprettyvillages,embowered,asthenegrovillagesusuallyare,inbananas,shrubs,andmanioc,andnearthebanksoftheLeebaweformedourencampmentinanestofserpents,oneofwhichbitoneofourmen,butthewoundwasharmlessThepeopleofthesurroundingvillagespresenteduswithlargequantitiesoffood,inobediencetothemandateofShinte,withoutexpectinganyequivalent。
  OnevillagehadlatelybeentransferredhitherfromthecountryofMatiamvo。
  They,ofcourse,continuetoacknowledgehimasparamountchief;
  butthefrequentinstanceswhichoccurofpeoplechangingfromonepartofthecountrytoanother,showthatthegreatchiefspossessonlyalimitedpowerTheonlypeculiarityweobservedinthesepeopleisthehabitofplaitingthebeardintoathree-foldcord。
  ThetownoftheBalondachiefCazembewaspointedouttousaslyingtotheN。EandbyEfromthetownofShinte,andgreatnumbersofpeopleinthisquarterhavegonethitherforthepurposeofpurchasingcopperanklets,madeatCazembe’s,andreportthedistancetobeaboutfivedays’journey。
  ImadeinquiriesofsomeoftheoldestinhabitantsofthevillagesatwhichwewerestayingrespectingthevisitofPereiraandLacerdatothattownAnoldgray-headedmanrepliedthattheyhadoftenheardofwhitemenbefore,butneverhadseenone,andaddedthatonehadcometoCazembewhenourinformantwasyoung,andreturnedagainwithoutenteringthispartofthecountryThepeopleofCazembeareBalondaorBaloi,andhiscountryhasbeentermedLonda,Lunda,orLui,bythePortuguese。