第68章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"Travels and Researches in South Africa",免费读到尾

  WecrossedtheLucallabymeansofalargecanoekepttherebyamanwhofarmstheferryfromthegovernment,andchargesaboutapennyperhead。

  AfewmilesbeyondtheLucallawecametothevillageofAmbaca,animportantplaceinformertimes,butnowamerepaltryvillage,beautifullysituatedonalittleelevationinaplainsurroundedonallhandsbyloftymountainsIthasajail,andagoodhouseforthecommandant,butneitherfortnorchurch,thoughtheruinsofaplaceofworshiparestillstanding。

  WeweremostkindlyreceivedbythecommandantofAmbaca,ArseniodeCarpo,whospokealittleEnglishHerecommendedwineformydebility,andhereItookthefirstglassofthatbeverageIhadtakeninAfrica。

  Ifeltmuchrefreshed,andcouldthenrealizeandmeditateontheweakeningeffectsofthefeverTheywerecuriouseventomyself;

  for,thoughIhadtriedseveraltimessinceweleftNgiototakelunarobservations,Icouldnotavoidconfusionoftimeanddistance,neithercouldIholdtheinstrumentsteady,norperformasimplecalculation;

  hencemanyofthepositionsofthispartoftheroutewerelefttillmyreturnfromLoandaOften,ongettingupinthemornings,Ifoundmyclothingaswetfromperspirationasifithadbeendippedinwater。

  InvainhadItriedtolearnorcollectwordsoftheBunda,ordialectspokeninAngolaIforgotthedaysoftheweekandthenamesofmycompanions,and,hadIbeenasked,Iprobablycouldnothavetoldmyown。

  ThecomplaintitselfoccupiedmanyofmythoughtsOnedayIsupposedthatIhadgotthetruetheoryofit,andwouldcertainlycurethenextattack,whetherinmyselforcompanions;butsomenewsymptomswouldappear,andscatterallthefinespeculationswhichhadsprungup,withextraordinaryfertility,inonedepartmentofmybrain。

  Thisdistrictissaidtocontainupwardof40,000souls。

  SometenortwelvemilestothenorthofthevillageofAmbacathereoncestoodthemissionarystationofCahenda,anditisnowquiteastonishingtoobservethegreatnumberswhocanreadandwriteinthisdistrict。

  ThisisthefruitofthelaborsoftheJesuitandCapuchinmissionaries,fortheytaughtthepeopleofAmbaca;andeversincetheexpulsionoftheteachersbytheMarquisofPombal,thenativeshavecontinuedtoteacheachotherThesedevotedmenarestillheldinhighestimationthroughoutthecountrytothisday。

  AllspeakwellofthemospadresJesuitas;and,nowthattheyaregonefromthislowersphere,IcouldnothelpwishingthattheseourRomanCatholicfellow-ChristianshadfeltittobetheirdutytogivethepeopletheBible,tobealighttotheirfeetwhenthegoodmenthemselvesweregone。

  Whensleepinginthehouseofthecommandant,aninsect,wellknowninthesoutherncountrybythenameTampan,bitmyfoot。

  Itisakindoftick,andchoosesbypreferencethepartsbetweenthefingersortoesforinflictingitsbiteItisseenfromthesizeofapin’sheadtothatofapea,andiscommoninallthenativehutsinthiscountryItsuckstheblooduntilquitefull,andisthenofadarkbluecolor,anditsskinsotoughandyieldingthatitisimpossibletoburstitbyanyamountofsqueezingwiththefingers。

  Ihadfelttheeffectsofitsbiteinformeryears,andeschewedallnativehutseverafter;butasIwashereagainassailedinaEuropeanhouse,Ishalldetailtheeffectsofthebite。

  Theseareatinglingsensationofmingledpainanditching,whichcommencesascendingthelimbuntilthepoisonimbibedreachestheabdomen,whereitsooncausesviolentvomitingandpurging。

  Wheretheseeffectsdonotfollow,aswefoundafterwardatTete,feversetsin;andIwasassuredbyintelligentPortuguesetherethatdeathhassometimesbeentheresultofthisfever。

  TheanxietymyfriendsatTetemanifestedtokeepmymenoutofthereachofthetampansofthevillagemadeitevidentthattheyhadseencausetodreadthisinsignificantinsect。

  TheonlyinconvenienceIafterwardsufferedfromthisbitewasthecontinuanceofthetinglingsensationinthepointbittenforaboutaweek。

  MAY12THAswewereabouttostartthismorning,thecommandant,SenhorArsenio,providedbreadandmeatmostbountifullyformyuseonthewaytothenextstation,andsenttwomilitiasoldiersasguides,insteadofourCassangecorporal,wholeftushereAboutmiddayweaskedforshelterfromthesuninthehouseofSenhorMellot,atZangu,and,thoughIwasunabletositandengageinconversation,Ifound,onrisingfromhiscouch,thathehadatonceproceededtocookafowlformyuse;andatpartinghegavemeaglassofwine,whichpreventedtheviolentfitofshiveringIexpectedthatafternoon。

  TheuniversalhospitalityofthePortuguesewasmostgratifying,asitwasquiteunexpected;andevennow,asIcopymyjournal,Irememberitallwithaglowofgratitude。

  WespentSunday,the14thofMay,atCabinda,whichisoneofthestationsofthesub-commandants,whoareplacedatdifferentpointsineachdistrictofAngolaasassistantsofthehead-commandant,orchefe。

  Itissituatedinabeautifulglen,andsurroundedbyplantationsofbananasandmaniocThecountrywasgraduallybecomingmorepicturesquethefartherweproceededwestTherangesofloftybluemountainsofLibollo,which,incomingtowardAmbaca,wehadseenthirtyorfortymilestooursouth,werenowshutfromourviewbyothersnearerathand,andthegrayrangesofCahendaandKiwe,which,whilewewereinAmbaca,stoodclearlydefinedeightortenmilesofftothenorth,werenowcloseuponourrightAswelookedbacktowardtheopenpastoralcountryofAmbaca,thebroadgreengentlyundulatingplainsseemedinahollowsurroundedonallsidesbyruggedmountains,andaswewentwestwardwewereenteringuponquiteawild-lookingmountainousdistrict,calledGolungoAlto。

  WemetnumbersofMambariontheirwaybacktoBiheSomeofthemhadbelongedtothepartieswhichhadpenetratedasfarasLinyanti,andfoolishlyshowedtheirdispleasureattheprospectoftheMakololopreferringtogotothecoastmarketsthemselvestointrustingthemwiththeirivoryTheMambarirepeatedthetaleofthemodeinwhichthewhitemenaresaidtotrade“Theivoryisleftontheshoreintheevening,andnextmorningthesellerfindsaquantityofgoodsplacedthereinitssteadbythewhitemenwholiveinthesea。”

  “Now。”addedtheytomymen,“howcanyouMakololotradewiththese`Mermen’?

  Canyouenterintothesea,andtellthemtocomeashore?”

  Itwasremarkabletohearthisidearepeatedsoneartheseaaswenowwere。

  Mymenrepliedthattheyonlywantedtoseeforthemselves;

  and,astheywerenowgettingsomelightonthenatureofthetradecarriedonbytheMambari,theywerehighlyamusedonperceivingthereasonswhytheMambariwouldratherhavemetthemontheZambesithansonearthesea-coast。

  ThereissomethingsoexhilaratingtooneofHighlandbloodinbeingnearoronhighmountains,thatIforgotmyfeveraswewendedourwayamongtheloftytree-coveredmassesofmicaschistwhichformthehighlandsaroundtheromanticresidenceofthechefeofGolungoAltoLat9d8’30“S。,long15d2’E。Thewholedistrictisextremelybeautiful。

  Thehillsareallbedeckedwithtreesofvarioushuesoffoliage,andamongthemtowersthegracefulpalm,whichyieldstheoilofcommerceformakingoursoaps,andtheintoxicatingtoddySomeclustersofhillslooklikethewavesoftheseadrivenintoanarrowopenbay,andhaveassumedthesameformasif,whenallwerechoppingupperpendicularly,theyhadsuddenlybeencongealedThecottagesofthenatives,perchedonthetopsofmanyofthehillocks,lookedasiftheownerspossessedaneyefortheromantic,buttheywereprobablyinfluencedmorebythedesiretooverlooktheirgardens,andkeeptheirfamiliesoutofthereachofthemalaria,whichissupposedtoprevailmostonthebanksofthenumerouslittlestreamswhichrunamongthehills。

  Weweremostkindlyreceivedbythecommandant,LieutenantAntonioCantoeCastro,ayounggentlemanwhosewholesubsequentconductwillevermakemeregardhimwithgreataffectionLikeeveryotherpersonofintelligencewhomIhadmet,helamenteddeeplytheneglectwithwhichthisfinecountryhasbeentreated。

  Thisdistrictcontainedbythelastcensus26,000hearthsorfires;

  andiftoeachhearthwereckonfoursouls,wehaveapopulationof104,000。

  Thenumberofcarregadorescarrierswhomaybeorderedoutatthepleasureofgovernmenttoconveymerchandisetothecoastisinthisdistrictaloneabout6000,yetthereisnogoodroadinexistence。

  Thissystemofcompulsorycarriageofmerchandisewasadoptedinconsequenceoftheincreaseinnumbersandactivityofourcruisers,whichtookplacein1845Eachtraderwhowent,previoustothatyear,intotheinterior,inthepursuitofhiscalling,proceededontheplanofpurchasingivoryandbeeswax,andasufficientnumberofslavestocarrythesecommoditiesThewholewereintendedforexportationassoonasthetraderreachedthecoastButwhenthemorestringentmeasuresof1845

  cameintooperation,andrenderedtheexportationofslavesalmostimpossible,therebeingnoroadsproperfortheemploymentofwheelconveyances,thisnewsystemofcompulsorycarriageofivoryandbeeswaxtothecoastwasresortedtobythegovernmentofLoandaAtraderwhorequirestwoorthreehundredcarrierstoconveyhismerchandisetothecoastnowappliestothegeneralgovernmentforaidAnorderissenttothecommandantofadistricttofurnishthenumberrequired。

  Eachheadmanofthevillagestowhomtheorderistransmittedmustfurnishfromfivetotwentyorthirtymen,accordingtotheproportionthathispeoplebeartotheentirepopulationofthedistrict。

  Forthisaccommodationthetradermustpayataxtothegovernmentof1000reis,oraboutthreeshillingsperloadcarried。

  Thetraderisobligedtopaythecarrieralsothesumof50reis,orabouttwopenceaday,forhissustenanceAndasaday’sjourneyisnevermorethanfromeighttotenmiles,theexpensewhichmustbeincurredforthiscompulsorylaborisfelttobeheavybythosewhowereaccustomedtoemployslavelaboraloneYetnoefforthasbeenmadetoformagreatlineofroadforwheelcarriagesThefirstgreatwantofacountryhasnotbeenattendedto,andnodevelopmentofitsvastresourceshastakenplaceThefact,however,ofachangefromonesystemofcarriagetoanother,takeninconnectionwiththegreatdepreciationinthepriceofslavesnearthiscoast,provestheeffectivenessofoureffortsatrepressingtheslave-tradeontheocean。

  ThelatitudeofGolungoAlto,asobservedattheresidenceofthecommandant,was9d8’30“S。,longitude15d2’EAfewdays’restwiththisexcellentyoungmanenabledmetoregainmuchofmystrength,andIcouldlookwithpleasureontheluxuriantscenerybeforehisdoor。

  Wewerequiteshutinamonggreenhills,manyofwhichwerecultivateduptotheirtopswithmanioc,coffee,cotton,ground-nuts,bananas,pine-apples,guavas,papaws,custard-apples,pitangas,andjambos,fruitsbroughtfromSouthAmericabytheformermissionariesThehighhillsallaround,withtoweringpalmsonmanypoints,madethisspotappearmoreliketheBayofRiodeJaneiroinminiaturethananysceneIeversaw;

  andallwhohaveseenthatconfessittobeunequaledintheworldbeside。

  Thefertilityevidentineveryspotofthisdistrictwasquitemarveloustobehold,butIshallreservefurthernoticesofthisregiontillourreturnfromLoanda。

  WeleftGolungoAltoonthe24thofMay,thewinterintheseparts。

  Everyeveningcloudscomerollingingreatmassesoverthemountainsinthewest,andpealingthunderaccompaniesthefallofrainduringthenightorearlyinthemorningThecloudsgenerallyremainonthehillstillthemorningiswellspent,sothatwebecomefamiliarwithmorningmists,athingweneveroncesawatKolobengThethermometerstandsat80Degreesbyday,butsinksaslowas76Degreesbynight。

  IngoingwestwardwecrossedseveralfinelittlegushingstreamswhichneverdryTheyuniteintheLuinhapronouncedLueenyaandLucalla。

  Astheyflowovermanylittlecascades,theymighteasilybeturnedtogoodaccount,buttheyareallallowedtorunonidlytotheocean。

  Wepassedthroughforestsofgigantictimber,andatanopenspacenamedCambondo,abouteightmilesfromGolungoAlto,foundnumbersofcarpentersconvertingtheseloftytreesintoplanks,inexactlythesamemanneraswasfollowedbytheillustriousRobinsonCrusoe。

  Atreeofthreeorfourfeetindiameter,andfortyorfiftyfeetuptothenearestbranches,wasfelledItwasthencutintolengthsofafewfeet,andsplitintothickjunks,whichagainwerereducedtoplanksaninchthickbyperseveringlaborwiththeaxe。

  Theobjectofthecarpenterswastomakelittlechests,andtheydriveaconstanttradeinthematCambondoWhenfinishedwithhinges,lock,andkey,alloftheirownmanufacture,onecostsonlyashillingandeightpenceMymenweresodelightedwiththemthattheycarriedseveralofthemontheirheadsallthewaytoLinyanti。

  AtTrombetawewerepleasedtoobserveagreatdealoftastedisplayedbythesub-commandantinthelayingoutofhisgroundandadornmentofhishousewithflowersThistriflingincidentwasthemorepleasing,asitwasthefirstattemptatneatnessIhadseensinceleavingtheestablishmentofMozinkwainLondaRowsoftreeshadbeenplantedalongeachsideoftheroad,withpine-applesandflowersbetween。

  ThisarrangementIhadanopportunityofseeinginseveralotherdistrictsofthiscountry,forthereisnodifficultyinraisinganyplantortreeifitisonlykeptfrombeingchokedbyweeds。

点击下载App,搜索"Travels and Researches in South Africa",免费读到尾