the works of edgar allan poe-3-第29章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


we　sup。　posed　to　be　the　name　of　the　village；　or　perhaps　the　generic
name　for　villages。

　　　　　The　dwellings　were　of　the　most　miserable　description　imaginable；
and；　unlike　those　of　even　the　lowest　of　the　savage　races　with　which
mankind　are　acquainted；　were　of　no　uniform　plan。　Some　of　them　（and
these　we　found　belonged　to　the　Wampoos　or　Yampoos；　the　great　men　of
the　land）　consisted　of　a　tree　cut　down　at　about　four　feet　from　the
root；　with　a　large　black　skin　thrown　over　it；　and　hanging　in　loose
folds　upon　the　ground。　Under　this　the　savage　nestled。　Others　were
formed　by　means　of　rough　limbs　of　trees；　with　the　withered　foliage
upon　them；　made　to　recline；　at　an　angle　of　forty…five　degrees；
against　a　bank　of　clay；　heaped　up；　without　regular　form；　to　the
height　of　five　or　six　feet。　Others；　again；　were　mere　holes　dug　in　the
earth　perpendicularly；　and　covered　over　with　similar　branches；　these
being　removed　when　the　tenant　was　about　to　enter；　and　pulled　on　again
when　he　had　entered。　A　few　were　built　among　the　forked　limbs　of　trees
as　they　stood；　the　upper　limbs　being　partially　cut　through；　so　as　to
bend　over　upon　the　lower；　thus　forming　thicker　shelter　from　the
weather。　The　greater　number；　however；　consisted　of　small　shallow
caverns；　apparently　scratched　in　the　face　of　a　precipitous　ledge　of
dark　stone；　resembling　fuller's　earth；　with　which　three　sides　of　the
village　were　bounded。　At　the　door　of　each　of　these　primitive　caverns
was　a　small　rock；　which　the　tenant　carefully　placed　before　the
entrance　upon　leaving　his　residence；　for　what　purpose　I　could　not
ascertain；　as　the　stone　itself　was　never　of　sufficient　size　to　close
up　more　than　a　third　of　the　opening。

　　　　　This　village；　if　it　were　worthy　of　the　name；　lay　in　a　valley　of
some　depth；　and　could　only　be　approached　from　the　southward；　the
precipitous　ledge　of　which　I　have　already　spoken　cutting　off　all
access　in　other　directions。　Through　the　middle　of　the　valley　ran　a
brawling　stream　of　the　same　magical…looking　water　which　has　been
described。　We　saw　several　strange　animals　about　the　dwellings；　all
appearing　to　be　thoroughly　domesticated。　The　largest　of　these
creatures　resembled　our　common　hog　in　the　structure　of　the　body　and
snout；　the　tail；　however；　was　bushy；　and　the　legs　slender　as　those　of
the　antelope。　Its　motion　was　exceedingly　awkward　and　indecisive；　and
we　never　saw　it　attempt　to　run。　We　noticed　also　several　animals　very
similar　in　appearance；　but　of　a　greater　length　of　body；　and　covered
with　a　black　wool。　There　were　a　great　variety　of　tame　fowls　running
about；　and　these　seemed　to　constitute　the　chief　food　of　the　natives。
To　our　astonishment　we　saw　black　albatross　among　these　birds　in　a
state　of　entire　domestication；　going　to　sea　periodically　for　food；
but　always　returning　to　the　village　as　a　home；　and　using　the　southern
shore　in　the　vicinity　as　a　place　of　incubation。　There　they　were
joined　by　their　friends　the　pelicans　as　usual；　but　these　latter　never
followed　them　to　the　dwellings　of　the　savages。　Among　the　other　kinds
of　tame　fowls　were　ducks；　differing　very　little　from　the　canvass…back
of　our　own　country；　black　gannets；　and　a　large　bird　not　unlike　the
buzzard　in　appearance；　but　not　carnivorous。　Of　fish　there　seemed　to
be　a　great　abundance。　We　saw；　during　our　visit；　a　quantity　of　dried
salmon；　rock　cod；　blue　dolphins；　mackerel；　blackfish；　skate；　conger
eels；　elephantfish；　mullets；　soles；　parrotfish；　leather…jackets；
gurnards；　hake；　flounders；　paracutas；　and　innumerable　other
varieties。　We　noticed；　too；　that　most　of　them　were　similar　to　the
fish　about　the　group　of　Lord　Auckland　Islands；　in　a　latitude　as　low
as　fifty…one　degrees　south。　The　Gallipago　tortoise　was　also　very
plentiful。　We　saw　but　few　wild　animals；　and　none　of　a　large　size；　or
of　a　species　with　which　we　were　familiar。　One　or　two　serpents　of　a
formidable　aspect　crossed　our　path；　but　the　natives　paid　them　little
attention；　and　we　concluded　that　they　were　not　venomous。

　　　　　As　we　approached　the　village　with　Too…wit　and　his　party；　a　vast
crowd　of　the　people　rushed　out　to　meet　us；　with　loud　shouts；　among
which　we　could　only　distinguish　the　everlasting　Anamoo…moo！　and
Lama…Lama！　We　were　much　surprised　at　perceiving　that；　with　one　or　two
exceptions；　these　new　comers　were　entirely　naked；　and　skins　being
used　only　by　the　men　of　the　canoes。　All　the　weapons　of　the　country
seemed　also　to　be　in　the　possession　of　the　latter；　for　there　was　no
appearance　of　any　among　the　villagers。　There　were　a　great　many　women
and　children；　the　former　not　altogether　wanting　in　what　might　be
termed　personal　beauty。　They　were　straight；　tall；　and　well　formed；
with　a　grace　and　freedom　of　carriage　not　to　be　found　in　civilized
society。　Their　lips；　however；　like　those　of　the　men；　were　thick　and
clumsy；　so　that；　even　when　laughing；　the　teeth　were　never　disclosed。
Their　hair　was　of　a　finer　texture　than　that　of　the　males。　Among　these
naked　villagers　there　might　have　been　ten　or　twelve　who　were　clothed；
like　the　party　of　Too…wit；　in　dresses　of　black　skin；　and　armed　with
lances　and　heavy　clubs。　These　appeared　to　have　great　influence　among
the　rest；　and　were　always　addressed　by　the　title　Wampoo。　These；　too；
were　the　tenants　of　the　black　skin　palaces。　That　of　Too…wit　was
situated　in　the　centre　of　the　village；　and　was　much　larger　and
somewhat　better　constructed　than　others　of　its　kind。　The　tree　which
formed　its　support　was　cut　off　at　a　distance　of　twelve　feet　or
thereabouts　from　the　root；　and　there　were　several　branches　left　just
below　the　cut；　these　serving　to　extend　the　covering；　and　in　this　way
prevent　its　flapping　about　the　trunk。　The　covering；　too；　which
consisted　of　four　very　large　skins　fastened　together　with　wooden
skewers；　was　secured　at　the　bottom　with　pegs　driven　through　it　and
into　the　ground。　The　floor　was　strewed　with　a　quantity　of　dry　leaves
by　way　of　carpet。

　　　　　To　this　hut　we　were　conducted　with　great　solemnity；　and　as　many
of　the　natives　crowded　in　after　us　as　possible。　Too…wit　seated
himself　on　the　leaves；　and　made　signs　that　we　should　follow　his
example。　This　we　did；　and　presently　found　ourselves　in　a　situation
peculiarly　uncomfortable；　if　not　indeed　critical。　We　were　on　the
ground；　twelve　in　number；　with　the　savages；　as　many　as　forty；　sitting
on　their　hams　so　closely　around　us　that；　if　any　disturbance　had
arisen；　we　should　have　found　it　impossible　to　make　use　of　our　arms；
or　indeed　to　have　risen　to　our　feet。　The　pressure　was　not　only　inside
the　tent；　but　outside；　where　probably　was　every　individual　on　the
whole　island；　the　crowd　being　prevented　from　trampling　us　to　death
only　by　the　incessant　exertions　and　vociferations　of　Too…wit。　Our
chief　security　lay；　however；　in　the　presence　of　Too…wit　himself　among
us；　and　we　resolved　to　stick　by　him　closely；　as　the　best　chance　of
extricating　ourselves　from　the　dilemma；　sacrificing　him　immediately
upon　the　first　appearance　of　hostile　design。

　　　　　After　some　trouble　a　certain　degree　of　quiet　was　restored；　when
the　chief　addressed　us　in　a　speech　of　great　length；　and　very　nearly
resembling　the　one　delivered　in　the　canoes；　with　the　exception　that
the　Anamoo…moos！　were　now　somewhat　more　strenuously　insisted　upon
than　the　Lama…Lamas！　We　listened　in　profound　silence　until　the
conclusion　of　this　harangue；　when　Captain　Guy　replied　by　assuring　the
chief　of　his　eternal　friendship　and　goodwill；　concluding　what　he　had
to　say　be　a　present　of　several　strings　of　blue　beads　and　a　knife。　At
the　former　the　monarch；　much　to　our　surprise；　turned　up　his　nose　with
some　expression　of　contempt；　but　the　knife　gave　him　the　most
unlimited　satisfaction；　and　he　immediately　ordered　dinner。　This　was
handed　into　the　tent　over　the　heads　of　the　attendants；　and　consisted
of　the　palpitating　entrails　of　a　specials　of　unknown　animal；　probably
one　of　the　slim…legged　hogs　which　we　had　observed　in　our　approach　to
the　village。　Seeing　us　at　a　loss　how　to　proceed；　he　began；　by　way　of
setting　us　an　example；　to　devour　yard　after　yard　of　the　enticing
food；　until　we　could　positively　stand　it　no　longer；　and　evinced　such
manifest　symptoms　of　rebellion　of　stomach　as　inspired　his　majesty
with　a　degree　of　astonishment　only　inferior　to　that　brought　about　by
the　looking…glasses。　We　declined；　however；　partaking　of　the
delicacies　before　us；　and　endeavoured　to　make　him　understand　that　we
had　no　appetite　whatever；　having　just　finished　a　hearty　dejeuner。

　　　　　When　the　monarch　had　made　an　end　of　his　meal；　we　commenced　a
series　of　cross…questioning　in　every　ingenious　manner　we　could
devise；　with　a　view　of　discovering　what　were　the　chief　productions　of
the　country；　and　whether　any　of　them　might　be　turned　to　profit。　At
length　he　seemed　to　have　some　idea　of　our　meaning；　and　offered　to
accompany　us　to　a　part　of　coast　where　he　assured　us　the　biche　de　mer
（pointing　to　a　specimen　of　that　animal）　was　to　be　found　in　great
abundance。　We　were　glad　of　this　early　opportunity　of　escaping　from
the　oppression　of　the　crowd；　and　signified　our　eagerness　to　proceed。
We　now　left　the　tent；　and；　accompanied　by　the　whole　population　of　the
village；　followed　the　chief　to　the　southeastern　extremity　of　the
island；　nor　far　from　the　bay　where　our　vessel　lay　at　anchor。　We
waited　here　for　about　an　hour；　until　the　four　canoes　were　brought
around　by　some　of　the　savages　to　our　station。　the　whole　of　our　party
then　getting　into　one　of　them；　we　were　paddled　along　the　edge　of　the
reef　before　mentioned；　and　of　another　still　farther　out；　where　we　saw
a　far　greater　quantity　of　biche　de　mer　than　the　oldest　seamen　among
us　had　ever　seen　in　those　groups　of　the　lower　latitudes　most
celebrated　for　this　article　of　commerce。　We　stayed　near　these　reefs
only　long　enough　to　satisfy　ourselves　that　we　could　easily　load　a
dozen　vessels　with　the　animal　if　necessary；　when　we　were　taken
alongside　the　schooner；　and　parted　with　Too…wit；　after　obtaining　from
him　a　promise　that　he　would　bring　us；　in　the　course　of　twenty…four
hours；　as　many　of　the　canvass…back　ducks　and　Gallipago　tortoises　as
his　canoes　would　hold。　In　the　whole　of　this　adventure　we　saw　nothing
in　the　demeanour　of　the　natives　calculated　to　create　suspicion；　with
the　single　exception　of　the　systematic　manner　in　which　their　party
was　strengthened　during　our　route　from　the　schooner　to　the　village。

~~~　End　of　Text　of　Chapter　19　~~~

CHAPTER　20



　　　　THE　chief　was　as　good　as　his　word；　and　we　were　soon　plentifully
sup。　plied　with　fresh　provisions。　We　found　the　tortoises　as　fine　as
we　had　ever　seen；　and　the　ducks　surpassed　our　best　species　of　wild
fowl；　being　exceedingly　tender；　juicy；　and　well…flavoured。　Besides
these；　the　savages　brought　us；　upon　our　making　them　comprehend　our
wishes；　a　vast　quantity　of　brown　celery　and　scurvy　grass；　with　a
canoe…load　of　fresh　fish　and　some　dried。　The　celery　was　a　treat
indeed；　and　the　scurvy　grass　proved　of　incalculable　benefit　in
restoring　those　of　our　men　who　had　shown　symptoms　of　disease。　In　a
very　short　time　we　had　not　a　single　person　on　the　sick…list。　We　had
also　plenty　of　other　kinds　of　fresh　provisions；　among　which　may　be
mentioned　a　species　of　shellfish　resembling　the　mussel　in　shape；　but
with　the　taste　of　an　oyster。　Shrimps；　too；　and　prawns　were　abundant；
and