Can you believe that we are crying out for rain already, and anxiously scanning the clouds as they bank up over the high hills to the south-west? But so it is. It would be a dreadful misfortune if the real dry weather were to set in so early, and without the usual heavy downfall of rain which fills the tanks and spruits, and wards4 off the evil day of a short water-supply and no grass. Besides which, everybody here faithfully promises pleasanter weather—weather more like one’s preconceived idea of the climate of Natal5—after a regular three days’ rain. It is high time—for my temper, as well as for the tanks—that this rain should come, for the slow, dragging summer days are now only broken by constant gales6 of hot wind. These same hot winds are worse than anything—more exasperating7 and more exhausting—nor does a drop of dew fall at night to refresh the fast-browning vegetation over which they scatter8 a thick haze9 of dust. Hot winds are bad enough in India, lived through in large, airy, lofty rooms, with mats of fragrant10 grass kept constantly wet and hung at every door and window—with punkahs and ice, and all the necessary luxury and idle calm of Indian life. What must they be here—and remember, the wind is just as hot, only it blows for shorter intervals11, instead of continuously for months—in small houses, with low rooms of eight or ten feet square, and in a country where the mistress of the house is head-cook, head-nurse, head-housemaid, and even head-coachman and gardener, and where a glass of cold water is a luxury only dreamed of in one’s feverish12 slumbers13? Nature demands that we should all be lotos-eaters and lie “propt on beds of amaranth and moly”—at all events from November to April. Necessity insists on our rising early and going to bed late, and eating the bread of carefulness during all those hot weeks. That is to say, one must work very hard one’s self if one desires to have a tolerably clean and comfortable house and to live in any sort of rational and civilized14 fashion. For my part, I like hard work, speaking generally, but not in a hot wind. Yet people seem to be pretty well, except their tempers—again speaking for myself—so I suppose the climate is disagreeable rather than actually unhealthy.
I feel it is exceedingly absurd the way I dilate15 incessantly17 upon three topics—roads (I promise faithfully not to say a word about them this time), weather (I have had my grumble18 at that, and feel all the better for it), and servants. We have lately added to our establishment a Kafir-girl who is a real comfort and help. Malia—for Kafirs cannot pronounce the letter r: “red” is always “led” with them, and so on—is a short, fat, good-humored-looking damsel of fifteen years of age, but who looks thirty. Regarded as a servant, there is still much to be desired, in spite of the careful and excellent training she has enjoyed in the household of the bishop19 of Natal, but as a playmate for G——, who is teaching her the noble game of cricket, or as a nursemaid for the baby, she is indeed a treasure of sweet-temper and willingness. To be sure, she did race the perambulator down a steep hill the other day, upsetting the baby and breaking the small vehicle into bits, but still English nursemaids do the same, and do not tell the truth about it at once, as Malia did. It was done to amuse the two children, and answered that part of the programme excellently well, even the final upset eliciting20 peals21 of laughter from both the mischievous22 monkeys. It is also rather singular that in spite of the extreme slowness and deliberation of her movements she breaks quite as much crockery in a week as any one else would in a year. And she is so inexpressibly quaint23 about it all that one has neither the heart nor the command of countenance24 requisite25 to scold. I handed her a saucer last night to put down. The next moment she remarked in her singularly sweet and gentle voice and pretty, musical accent, “Now, here is the saucer in three pieces.” So it was; and how she broke it without dropping it must ever be a mystery to me. It was like a conjuring26 trick, but it occurs somewhat too often. Malia ought not to be a housemaid at all, for she has a thirst for knowledge which is very remarkable27, and a good deal of musical talent. She speaks and reads three languages—Kafir, English and Dutch—with perfect ease and fluency28; and is trying hard to learn to write, practicing incessantly on a slate29; she is always whistling or singing, or picking out tunes30 on a sort of pipe, on which she plays some airs very prettily31. Every spare moment of her time she is poring over a book, and her little Kafir Bible is ever at hand. I wish with all my heart that I had time to teach her to write and to learn Kafir from her myself, but except on Sunday, when I read with her and hear her say some hymns32, I never have a moment. She is so anxious to learn, poor girl! that she watches her opportunity, and when I sit down to brush my hair or lace my boots she drops on one knee by my side, produces her book from her pocket, and says in the most calinante voice, “Sall I lead to you a little, inkosa casa?” Who could have the heart to say no, although my gravity is sorely tried by some peculiarities34 of pronunciation? She cannot say “such:” it is too harsh, and the nearest we can arrive at, after many efforts, is “sush.” Almost every word has a vowel35 tacked36 on to the end, so as to bring it as near to her own liquid, soft-sounding Zulu as possible. I think what upsets me most is to hear our first parents perseveringly37 called “’Dam and Eva,” but indeed most of the Bible names are difficult of recognition. Yet her idioms are perfect, and she speaks in well-chosen, rather elegant phraseology. Every alternate Sunday, Malia goes down to town dressed in the smartest of bright pink cotton frocks, made very full and very short, a clean white apron38, and a sky-blue kerchief arranged on her head in a becoming turban. Malia’s shy grins of delight and pride as she comes thus arrayed to make me her parting curtsey are quite charming to behold39, and display a set of teeth which it would be hard to match for beauty anywhere out of Kafirland. Indeed, all these people seem to possess most exquisite40 teeth, and they take great care of them, rinsing41 their mouths and polishing these even, glistening42 pearls at every opportunity.
The more I see of the Kafirs, the more I like them. People tell me they are unreliable, but I find them gay and good-humored, docile43 and civil. Every cowherd on the veldt has his pretty “sako” bow (phonetic spelling again, on my part) as he passes me when I am fern or grass-seed hunting in the early morning, and I hear incessant16 peals of laughter from kitchen and stable. Of course, laughter probably means idleness, but I have not the heart to go out every time (as indeed I ought, I believe) and make them, as Mr. Toots calls it, “resume their studies.” Their mirth is very different from that of my old friends the West Indian negroes, who are always chattering45 and grinning. The true Kafirs wear a stolid46 expression of countenance in public, and are not easily moved to signs of surprise or amusement, but at home they seem to me a very merry and sociable47 people. Work is always a difficulty and a disagreeable to them, and I fear that many generations must pass before a Kafir will do a hand’s turn more than is actually necessary to keep his body and soul together. They are very easily trained as domestic servants, in spite of the drawback of not understanding half what is said to them, and they make especially good grooms49. The most discouraging part of the training process, however, is that it is wellnigh perpetual, for except gypsies I don’t believe there is on the face of the earth a more restless, unsettled human being than your true Kafir. Change he seems to crave50 for, and change he will have, acknowledging half his time that he knows it must be for the worse. He will leave a comfortable, easy place, where he is well treated and perfectly51 happy, for harder work, and often blows, just for the sake of a change. No kindness can attach him, except in the rarest instances, and nothing upon earth could induce him to forego his periodical visits to his own kraal. This means a return, for the time being, to barbarism, which seems very strange when a man has had time to get accustomed to clothes and a good room and good food, and the hundred and one tastes which civilization teaches. Imagine laying aside the comforts and decencies of life to creep in at the low door of a big beehive, and squat52 naked round a huge fire, smoking filthy53 tobacco and drinking a kind of beer which is made from mealies! I’ve often seen this beer, and Charlie is very anxious I should taste it, bringing me some occasionally in an old biscuit-tin with assurances that “Ma’” will find it very good. But I cannot get beyond looking at it, for it is difficult to associate the idea of beer with a thick liquid resembling dirty chocolate more than anything else. So I always stave off the evil day of tasting with ingenious excuses.
Perhaps the Kafirs are more behindhand in medical faith than in any other respect. The other day one of our Kafirs had a bad bilious54 attack, and, declining all offers of more civilized treatment, got one of his own physicians to bleed him in the great toe, with, as he declared, the happiest effect. Certain it is that in the afternoon he reported himself as perfectly well. But the most extraordinary kind of remedy came before me quite lately. Tom had a frightful55 headache, which is not to be wondered at, considering how that boy smokes the strongest tobacco out of a cow’s horn morning, noon and night, to say nothing of incessant snuff-taking. The first I heard of Tom’s headache was when Charlie came to ask me for a remedy; which I thought very nice on his part, because he and Tom live in a chronic56 state of quarreling, and half my time is taken up in keeping the peace between them. However, I told Charlie that I knew of no remedy for a bad headache except going to bed, and that was what I should advise Tom to do. Charlie smiled rather contemptuously, as if pitying my ignorance, and asked if I would give him a box of wooden matches. Now, matches are a standing48 grievance57 in a Kafir establishment, and go at the rate of a box a day if not carefully locked up; so I, failing to connect wooden matches and Tom’s headache together, began a reproachful catalogue of how many boxes he had asked for lately. Charlie, however, hastily cut me short by saying, “But, ma’, it for make Tom well.” So of course I produced a box of Bryant & May, and stood by to watch Charlie doctoring Tom. Match after match did Charlie strike, holding the flaming splinter up Tom’s exceedingly wide nostrils58, until the box was empty. Tom winced59 a good deal, but bore this singeing60 process with great fortitude61. Every now and then he cried out, as well he might, when Charley thrust a freshly-lighted match up his nose, but on the whole he stood it bravely, and by the time the matches were all burned out he declared his headache was quite cured, and that he was ready to go and chop wood; nor would he listen to the idea of going to bed. “It very good stuff to smell, ma’,” said Charlie: “it burn de sickness away.” Kafirs are inexpressibly queer, too, about their domestic arrangements; and I had a long argument with a Kafir-woman only the other day, through Malia’s interpretation62, as to the propriety63 of killing64 one of her babies when she chanced to have twins. My dusky friend declared it was much the best plan, and one which was always followed when the whites did not interfere65. If both children were kept alive, she averred66 they would both be wretched, puny67 little creatures, and would be quite sure to die eventually; so, as a Kafir looks to his children to take care of and work for him, even in his middle age, the sons by their wages, the daughters by their dowries, or rather by the prices paid for them, she declared it was very bad economy to try and rear two babies at once, and calmly recapitulated68 the instances in her own and her neighbors’ families where one wretched twin had been killed to give the other a better chance. She confessed she had been much puzzled upon one occasion when the twins were a girl and a boy, for both would have been useful hereafter. “I thought of the cows I should get for the girl,” she said, “and then I thought of the boy’s wages, and I didn’t know which to keep; but the girl, she cry most, so I kill her, and the boy grow up very good boy—earn plenty money.” That was Malia’s interpretation, for, although she speaks excellent English, when another person’s words have to be reproduced her tenses get a little confused and jumbled69 up. But she is a capital mouthpiece, and it always amuses me to bargain, through her, for my eggs and chickens and mealies. Sorry bargaining it is, generally resulting in my paying double the market-price for these commodities. Lately I have been even more fleeced than usual, especially by my egg-man, who is an astute70 old Kafir, very much adorned71 with circlets of copper72 wire on his legs and arms. He brings his eggs in a bag, which he swings about so recklessly that it is a perpetual marvel73 to me how they escape annihilation. Every time he comes he adds threepence to the price of his eggs per dozen on account of the doubled hut-tax; and I assure him that in time it will end in my having paid the whole amount instead of him. Hitherto, the natives have paid a tax of seven shillings per annum on each hut, but this year it has been doubled; so the Kafirs very sensibly make their white customers pay a heavy percentage on the necessaries of life with which they supply them. It is exactly what it used to be in London three or four years ago, when coals were so costly74: everything rose in price, from china vases down to hairpins75; so now this doubled hut-tax is the excuse for a sudden rise in the value of eggs, fowls76, cows, mealies and what not. I don’t understand political economy myself, but it always seems to me a curious fact that although every article of food or clothing is only too ready to jump up in price on the smallest excuse, it never comes down again. I try to chaff77 my old Kafir egg-merchant, and show him by figures that his extra charge for eggs pays his extra seven shillings in about six weeks. I endeavor to persuade him, after this increased tax is thus provided for, to go back to his original price, but he smiles knowingly and shakes his head, murmuring, “Ka, ka,” which appears to mean “No.”
All this time, however, I am longing79 to tell you of a famous tea-party I have had here lately—a regular “drum,” only it beat all the London teas hollow, even with dear little “Minas”[1] thrown into the bargain, because in the corner of my cards were the words “Tea and witches.” Now, I ask you, could any one wish for a greater excitement than that to enliven a summer afternoon? Attractive as was the bait, it was a blunder or a fib—which you choose—for, so far from being witches, my five extraordinary performers were the sworn enemies of witches, being, in fact, “witch-finders,” or “witch-doctors,” as they are just as often called. I am quite sure that no one has ever suffered so much anxiety about a small entertainment as I did about that tea-party. Of course, there was the usual thunderstorm due that afternoon, and not until the last moment, when the clouds rolled off toward the Umgeni valley, leaving us a glorious sky and a pleasant breeze, did I cease to fear that the whole thing might prove a fiasco. By the time I had begun to have confidence in the weather came a distracted message from the obliging neighbor who supplies me with milk, to say that, as ill-luck would have it, her cows had selected this particular afternoon of all the year to stray away and get themselves impounded, and that consequently the delivery of sundry80 bottles (everything is sold in bottles here) of new milk was as uncertain as—what shall I say?—Natal weather, for nothing can be more uncertain than that. Imagine my dismay! No one even dared to suggest preserved milk to me, so well known is my antipathy81 to that miserable82 makeshift. I should have sat me down and wept if at that moment I had not discovered a small herd44 of cattle wending their way across the veldt to my neighbor’s gate. Oh joy! the milk and the weather were all right! But what was that enormous mob of shouting, singing Kafirs clamoring outside my garden fence? They were my witch-finders, escorted by nearly the whole black population of Maritzburg: they had arrived about three hours before the proper time, and were asking for some place to dress in, not from any fastidiousness, but simply because they didn’t want profane83 eyes to witness the details of assuming their professional decorations. Remember, there was not a white man nearer than Maritzburg, and there was nothing upon earth to prevent any number of these excited, shouting men and boys from walking into my little house, or at least helping85 themselves to anything off the tea-tables, which the servants were beginning to arrange in the verandah. But they were as docile and obedient as possible, readily acceding86 to my desire that they should remain outside the fence, and asking for nothing except copious87 draughts88 of water. Certainly, I was armed with a talisman89, for I went out to them myself, with one of my numerous “Jacks” as an interpreter, and told them they must all sit down and wait patiently until Mr. S—— (their own beloved inkosi) came, adding that he would be there immediately. That was a fib, for he could not come until late, but an excellent substitute very soon appeared and set my mind partly at rest. I say, only “partly,” because I had been so teased about my party. F—— had been especially aggravating90, observing from time to time that my proceedings91 were at once illegal and improper92, adding that “he was surprised at me.” Can you imagine anything more trying? And yet I knew quite well all the time that he was just as anxious to see these people as we were, only he persisted in being semi-official and disagreeable. Never mind: I triumphed over him afterward93, when it all went off so well. When I had leisure to think of anything but whether there would be a riot or not, I had horrible misgivings94 about the compulsory95 scantiness96 of my invitations. I should have liked to ask all my acquaintances, as well as the few friends I had invited, but what is one to do with a doll’s house and a dozen tea-cups? Those were my resources, and I taxed them to the uttermost as it was. One cannot hire things here, and I had no place to put them if I could; but it is horrid97 to feel, as I did, that heaps of people must have wondered why they were left out.
[1] A wonderful performing dog exhibited by Madame H?ger, and much in request last season.
At last five o’clock came, bringing with it a regiment98 of riders, thirsting for tea and clamorous99 to see the witches, wanting their fortunes told, their lost trinkets found, and Heaven knows what besides. “They are not witches at all,” I said gravely: “they are witch-finders, and I believe the whole thing is very wrong.” There was a depressing announcement for one’s hostess to make! But it had a good effect for the moment, and sent my guests quietly off to console themselves with their tea: that, at least, could not be wrong, especially as the milk had arrived, new and delicious. In the mean time, kind Mr. F—— had gone off to fetch the witches, as everybody persisted in calling them, and presently they appeared in full official dress, walking along in a measured, stately step, keeping time and tune3 to the chanting of a body-guard of girls and women who sang continuously, in a sort of undertone, a monotonous100 kind of march. They made an excellent stage-entrance—grave, composed, erect101 of carriage and dauntless of mien102. These Amazonian women walked past the verandah, raising their hand, as the men do, with the low cry of “Inkosi!” in salutation. Their pride is to be looked upon as men when once they take up this dread2 profession, which is also shared with them by men. They are permitted to bear shield and spear as warriors103, and they hunt and kill with their own hands the wild beasts and reptiles104 whose skins they wear. Their day is over and ended, however, for the cruelties practiced under their auspices105 had risen to a great height, and it is now against the law to seek out a witch by means of these pitiless women. It is not difficult to understand—bearing in mind the superstition106 and cruelty which existed in remote parts of England not so very long ago—how powerful such women became among a savage107 people, or how tempting108 an opportunity they could furnish of getting rid of an enemy. Of course, they are exceptional individuals, more observant, more shrewd and more dauntless than the average fat, hard-working Kafir-women, besides possessing the contradictory109 mixture of great physical powers and strong hysterical110 tendencies. They work themselves up to a pitch of frenzy111, and get to believe as firmly in their own supernatural discernment as any individual among the trembling circle of Zulus to whom a touch from the whisk they carry in their hands is a sentence of instant death. It gave a certain grim interest to what a Scotch112 friend called the “ploy” to know that it had once been true, and I begged Mr. F—— to explain to them before they began that the only reason I had wanted to see them arose from pure curiosity to know what they looked like, how they were dressed, and so forth113, and that I quite understood that it was all nonsense and very wrong and against the law to do, really, but that this was only a play and pretence114. Shall I confess that I felt rather ashamed at making this public avowal115? But my conscience demanded it clamorously, and I felt many misgivings lest I should indeed be causing any “weak brother to offend.” However, it was too late now for scruples116, and a sort of shout came up from the good-humored, well-behaved crowd outside, assuring me they knew it was only for fun and that it was quite right, and they were glad for the English “inkosa-casa” and her friends to see an old custom which it was a good thing to have done with. This little speech, so full of true tact117, put me at my ease at once, and we all took up our position at one side of the little semicircular lawn, where the dance-crescent was already formed, supplying ourselves the place of the supposed ring of spectators and victims. I wish I could make you see the scene as I saw it, and shall ever see it when I look back upon it. The first original “tail” of my witch-finders had been supplemented by a crowd of people who formed a background, keeping perfectly quiet, and, though uninvited and unexpected, giving not the slightest trouble. That is the odd part of a colony: individuals are rougher, less polite and more brusque and overbearing than the people one is accustomed to see in England, but the moment it comes to a great concourse of people, then the absolute respectability of class asserts itself, and the crowd—the “rough” element being conspicuous118 by its absence—is far more orderly than any assemblage of a dozen people elsewhere. Imagine a villa119 at Wimbledon or Putney, and some four or five hundred uninvited people calmly walking into the grounds to look at something they wished to see, without a ghost of a policeman or authority in charge! Yet that was our predicament for an hour or two, and not a leaf or rosebud120 or blade of grass was touched or injured in any way, nor was there a sound to be heard to mar1 the tranquil121 beauty of that summer evening. It was indeed “a beauteous evening, calm and free”—in spite of my chronic state of grumbling122 at the climate and weather, I must acknowledge that—an evening which might have been made to order. Recent rains had washed the surrounding hills, brightened the dust-laden grass to green once more, and freshened up everything. The amphitheatre of rising ground which surrounds Maritzburg had never looked more beautiful, with purple and blue shadows passing over it from the slow-sailing clouds above. Toward the west the sky was gently taking that peculiar33 amethystic glow which precedes a fine sunset, and the sun itself laid long, parting lances of pure golden light across hill and dale around. A fresh air came up from the south, blowing softly across the downs, and sleepy, picturesque123 little Maritzburg—empty for the afternoon of its inhabitants, I should fancy—nestled cozily up against the undulating ground opposite. Then, to come nearer home, just outside our sod-fence a line of dusky faces rose above the ferns and waving grasses— faces whose gleaming eyes were riveted124 on the performers within. The little drive and garden-paths were crowded with strangers, white and colored—all, as I said before, perfectly quiet and orderly, but evidently interested and amused. A semicircle of girls and women—some in gay civilized garb125, some in coarsest drapery, some with drowsy126 babies hung at their backs, some with bright beads127 on wrist and neck, but all earnest and intent on their part—stood like the chorus of a Greek play, beating their hands together and singing a low monotonous chant, the measure and rhythm of which changed every now and again with a stamp and a swing. A pace or two in front of these singers were the witch-finders in full ceremonial dress. Collectively, they are known by the name of the “Izinyanga” or “Abangoma,” but each had of course her distinctive129 name, and each belonged to a separate tribe. Conspicuous from her great height, Nozinyanga first caught my eye, her floating, helmet-like plume130 of the tail-feathers of the saka-bula bird shading her fierce face, made still more gruesome by wafers of red paint on cheek and brow. In her right hand she held a light sheaf of assegais or lances, and on her left arm was slung131 a small pretty shield of dappled ox hide. Her petticoat was less characteristic than that of her sister-performers, being made of a couple of large gay handkerchiefs worn kiltwise. But she made up for the shortcomings of characteristic decoration in her skirts by the splendor132 of the bead128 necklaces and armlets, fringes of goat’s hair and scarlet133 tassels134, with which she was covered from throat to waist. A baldric of leopard135 skin was fastened across her capacious chest, and down her back hung a beautifully dried and flattened136 skin of an enormous boa constrictor. This creature must have been of a prodigious137 length, for, whilst its hooded138 head was fastened at the broad nape of Nozinyanga’s neck, its tail dragged some two feet or so on the ground behind her. Now, Nozinyanga stood something like six feet two inches on her bare feet, but although I first looked at her, attracted by her tall stature139 and defiant140 pose, the proceedings were really opened by a small, lithe141 woman with a wonderfully pathetic, wistful face, who seemed more in earnest than her big sisters, and who in her day must doubtless have brushed away many a man’s life with the quagga’s tail she brandished142 so lightly.
To make you understand the terrible interest attaching to these women, I ought to explain to you here that it used to be the custom whenever anything went wrong, either politically or socially, among the Zulus and other tribes, to attribute the shortcomings to witch-agency. The next step to be taken, after coming to this resolution, was to seek out and destroy the witch or witches; and for this purpose a great meeting would be summoned by order of the king and under his superintendence, and a large ring of natives would sit trembling and in fear of their lives on the ground. In the centre of these danced the witch-finders or witch-doctors; and as they gradually lashed143 themselves up to a frantic144 state of frenzy—bordering, in fact, on demoniacal possession—they lightly switched with their quagga tail one or other of the quivering spectators. No sooner had the fatal brush passed over the victim than he was dragged away and butchered on the spot; and not only he, but all the live things in his hut—wives and children, dogs and cats—not a stick left standing or a living creature breathing. Sometimes a whole kraal was exterminated145 in this fashion; and it need not be told what a method it became of gratifying private revenge and paying off old scores. Of all the blessings146, so unwillingly147 and grudgingly148 admitted, which ever so partial a civilization has brought to these difficult, lazy, and yet pugnacious149 Kafir people, none can be greater, surely, than the rule which strictly150 forbids this sort of Lynch law from being carried out anywhere, under any circumstances, by these priestesses of a cruel faith. Now, perhaps, you see why there was such a strong undercurrent of interest and excitement beneath the light laughter and frolic of our summer-afternoon tea-party.
Nozilwane was the name of this terrible little sorceress, who frightened more than one of us more thoroughly151 than we should like to acknowledge, peering up in our faces, as she hung about the group of guests, with a weird152 and wistful glance which was both uncanny and uncomfortable. She was really beautifully dressed for her part in lynx skins folded over and ever from waist to knee, and the upper part of her body covered by strings153 of wild beasts’ teeth and fangs154, skeins of brilliantly-hued yarn155, beads, strips of snake skin and fringes of Angora goat fleece. This was a singularly effective and graceful156 decoration, worn round the body and above each elbow, and falling in soft white flakes157 among the gay coloring and against the dusky skin. Lynx tails hung down like lappets on each side of her face, which was overshadowed, almost hidden, by the profusion158 of saka-bula feathers. This bird has a very beautiful plumage, and is sufficiently159 rare for the natives to attach a peculiar value and charm to the tail-feathers. They are like those of a young cock, curved and slender, and of a dark-chestnut color, with a white eye at the extreme tip of each feather. Among this floating, thick plumage small bladders were interspersed160, and skewers161 and pins fashioned out of tusks162. All the witch-finders wear their own hair (or rather wool) alike; that is, highly greased and twisted up with twine163 until it loses the appearance of hair completely, and hangs around their faces like a thick fringe dyed deep red.
Nozilwane stepped out with a creeping, cat-like gesture, bent164 double, as if she were seeking out a trail. Every movement of her undulating body kept time to the beat of the girls’ hands and the low, crooning chant. Presently, she affected165 to find the clew she sought, and sprang aloft with a series of wild pirouettes, shaking her spears and brandishing166 her little shield in a frenzied167 fashion. But Nomaruso, albeit168 much taller and in less good condition than the lady of the lynx skins, was determined169 that she should not remain the cynosure170 of our eyes; and she too, with a yell and a caper171, cut into the dance to the sound of louder grunts172 and faster hand-claps. Nomaruso turned her back to us a good deal in her performances, conscious of a magnificent snake skin, studded besides in a regular pattern with brass-headed nails, which floated like a streamer down her back. She wore a magnificent jupon of leopard skins decorated with red rosettes, and her toilette was altogether more recherché and artistic174 than any of the others. Her bangles were brighter, her goat fringes whiter, and her face more carefully painted. Yet Nozilwane held her own gallantly175 in virtue176 of being a mere177 bag of bones, and also having youth and a firm belief in herself on her side. The others, though they all joined in hunting out a phantom178 foe179, and triumphed over his discovery in turn, were soon breathless and exhausted180, and glad to be led away by some of the attendant women to be anointed and to drink water. Besides which, they were all of a certain age, and less inclined to frisk about than the agile181 Nozilwane. As for great big Nozinyanga, she danced like Queen Elizabeth, “high and disposedly;” and no wonder, for I should think she weighed at least fifteen stone. Umgiteni, in a petticoat of white Angora skin and a corsage of bladders and teeth, beads and viper182 skins, was nothing remarkable; nor was Umànonjazzla, a melancholy-looking woman with an enormous wig-like coiffure of red woolen183 ringlets and white skewers. Her physiognomy, too, was a trifle more stolid and commonplace than that of her comrades; and altogether she gave me the impression of being a sensible, respectable woman who was very much ashamed of herself for playing such antics. However, she brandished her divining-brush with the rest, and cut in now and then to “keep the flure” with the untiring Nozilwane.
All this time the chanting and hand-beating never ceased, the babies dozed184 placidly185 behind their mothers’ backs, and we all began to think fondly of a second cup of tea. The sun had now quite dropped behind the high hills to the west, and was sending long rays right up across the tranquil sky. We felt we had enough of imaginary witch-finding, and looked about for some means of ending the affair. “Let us test their powers of finding things,” said one of the party: “I have lost a silver pipe-stem, which I value much.” So the five wise women were bidden to discover what was lost, and where it was to be found. They set about this in a curious and interesting way, which reminded one of the children’s game of “magic music.” In the first place, it was a relief to know there were not any ghastly recollections attached to this performance; and in the next, one could better understand by the pantomime what they were about. In front of us squatted186 on heels and haunches a semicircle of about a dozen men, who were supposed to have invoked187 the aid of the sisterhood to find some lost property. These men, however, did not in the least know what was asked for, and were told to go on with their part until a signal was given that the article had been named. They were all highly respectable head-men—“indunas,” in fact—each worth a good herd of cows at least, and much portable property. In every-day life it would have been hard to beat them for shrewd common sense. Yet it was easy to perceive that the old savage instincts and beliefs were there strong as ever, and that though they affected to take it all, as we did, as an afternoon’s frolic, they were firm believers in the mystic power of the Abangoma, else they never could have played their parts so well, so eagerly and with such vivid interest.
“What is it the inkosi has lost?” they cried. “Discover, reveal, make plain to us.”
It was a good moment in which to try the experiment, because all the singing and dancing had worked the Izinyanga up to a high pitch of enthusiasm and excitement, and the inspiration was held to be complete; so, without hesitation188, Nomaruso accepted the men’s challenge and cried, “Sing for me: make a cadence189 for me.” Then, after a moment’s hesitation, she went on in rapid, broken utterance190, “Is this real? is it a test? is it but a show? do the white chiefs want to laugh at our pretensions191? Has the white lady called us only to show other white people that we can do nothing? Is anything really lost? is it not hidden? No, it is lost. Is it lost by a black person? No, a white person has lost it. Is it lost by the great white chief?” (meaning their own King of Hearts, their native minister). “No, it is lost by an ordinary white man. Let me see what it is that is lost. Is it money? No. Is it a weighty thing? No, it can be always carried about: it is not heavy. All people like to carry it, especially the white inkosi. It is made of the same metal as money. I could tell you more, but there is no earnestness in all this: it is only a spectacle.”
Between each of these short sentences the seeress made a pause and eagerly scanned the faces of the men before her. For safe reply they gave a loud, simultaneous snap of their finger and thumb, pointing toward the ground as they did so and shouting but one word, “Y-i-z-wa!” (the first syllable192 tremendously accented and drawn193 out), “discover—reveal.” That is all they can say to urge her on, for in this case they know not themselves; but the priestesses watch their countenances194 eagerly to see if happily there may be, consciously or unconsciously, some sign or token whether, as children say in their games, they are “hot” or not.
Nomaruso will say no more—she suspects a trick—but Nozilwane rushes about like one possessed195, sobbing196 and quivering with excitement. “It is this—it is that.” Gigantic Nozinyanga strikes her lance firmly into the ground and cries haughtily197, in her own tongue, “It is his watch,” looking round as though she dared us to contradict her. The other three join hands and gallopade round and round, making the most impossible suggestions; but the “inquirers,” as the kneeling men are called, give them no clew or help, nothing but the rapid finger-snap, the hand pointed198 sternly down to the ground, as though they were to seek it there, and the fast-following cry, “Yizwa, yizwa!”
At last Nozilwane has it: “His pipe.” (“Yizwa, yizwa!”) “A thing which has come off his pipe;” and so it is. Nozilwane’s pluck and perseverance199 and cunning watching of our faces at each hit she made have brought her off triumphantly200. A grunt173 and a murmur78 of admiration201 go round. The indunas jump up and subside202 into ebony images of impassive respectability; the chorus, sorely weary by this time, breaks up into knots, and the weird sisterhood drop as if by one accord on their knees, sitting back on their heels, before me, raise their right hands in salutation and deliver themselves of a little speech, of which this is as close a translation as it is possible to get of so dissimilar a language: “Messages were sent to us at our kraals that an English lady wished to see us and witness our customs. When we heard these messages our hearts said, ‘Go to the English lady.’ So we have come, and now our hearts are filled with pleasure at having seen this lady, and ourselves heard her express her thanks to us. We would also, on our part, thank the lady for her kindness and her presents. White people do not believe in our powers, and think that we are mad; but still we know it is not so, and that we really have the powers we profess84. So it comes that we are proud this day at being allowed to show ourselves before our great white chief and so many great white people. We thank the lady again; and say for us, O son of Mr. F——! that we wish her ever to dwell in peace, and we desire for her that her path may have light.” It was not easy to find anything equally pretty to say in return for this, but I, in my turn, invoked the ready wit and fluent tongue of the “son of Mr. F——,” and I dare say he turned out, as if from me, something very neat and creditable.
So we were all mutually pleased with each other; only I was haunted all the time of this pretty speech-making by the recollection of a quaint saying, often used by a funny old Scotch nurse we had when we were children: I don’t think I have ever heard it since, but it darted203 into my mind with my first platitude204: “When gentlefolks meet compliments pass.” We were all anxious to outdo each other in politeness, but unless my niaiseries gained a good deal by being changed into Zulu, I fear the witch-finders did the best in that line.
The twilight205, sadly short now, was fast coming on, and all the black people were anxious to get back to their homes. Already the crowd of spectators had melted away like magic, streaming down the green hillsides by many a different track: only a remnant of the body-guard lingered to escort the performers home. As they passed the corner of the verandah where the tea-table was set, I fancied they glanced wistfully at the cakes; so I rather timidly handed a substantial biscuit, as big as a saucer, to the huge Nozinyanga, who graciously accepted it as joyfully206 as a child would. Another little black hand was thrust out directly, and yet another, and so the end was that the tea-tables were cleared, then and there, of all the eatables; and it was not until every dish was empty that the group moved on, raising a parting cry of “Inkosa casa!” and a sort of cheer or attempt at a cheer. They were so unfeignedly delighted with this sudden “happy thought” about the cakes and biscuits that it was quite a pleasure to see them, so good-humored and docile, moving off the moment they saw I really had exhausted my store, with pretty gestures of gratitude207 and thanks. We had to content ourselves with bread and butter with our second cups of tea, but we were so tired and thirsty, and so glad of a little rest and quiet, that I don’t think we missed the cakes.
As we sat there enjoying the last lovely gleams of daylight and chatting over the strange, weird scene, we could just hear the distant song of the escort as they took the tired priestesses home, and we all fell to talking of the custom when it was in all its savage force. Many of the friends present had seen or heard terrible instances of the wholesale208 massacre209 which would have followed just such an exhibition as this had it been in earnest. But I will repeat for you some of the less ghastly stories. One shall be modern and one ancient—as ancient as half a century ago, which is ancient for modern tradition. The modern one is the tamest, so it shall come first.
Before the law was passed making it wrong to consult these Izinyanga or witch-doctors a servant belonging to one of the English settlers lost his savings210, some three or four pounds. He suspected one of his fellow-servants of being the thief, summoned the Izinyanga, and requested his master to “assist” at the ceremony. All the other servants were bidden to assemble themselves, and to do exactly what the witch-finder bade them. She had them seated in a row in front of her, and ordered them, one and all, to bare their throats and chests, for, you must remember, they were clothed as the law obliges them to be in the towns—in a shirt and knickerbockers. This they did, the guilty one with much trepidation211, you may be sure, and she fixed212 her eyes on that little hollow in the neck where the throat joins the body, watching carefully the accelerated pulsation213: “It is thou: no, it is not. It must then be you;” and so on, dodging214 about, pointing first to one, and then rapidly wheeling round to fix on another, until the wretched criminal was so nervous that when she made one of her sudden descents upon him, guided by the bewraying pulse, which fluttered and throbbed215 with anxiety and terror, he was fain to throw up his hands and confess, praying for mercy. In this case the Izinyanga was merely a shrewd, observant woman with a strong spice of the detective in her; but they are generally regarded not only as sorceresses, whose superior incantations can discover and bring to light the machinations of the ordinary witch, but as priestesses of a dark and obscure faith.
The other instance of their discernment we talked of happened some fifty years ago, when Chaka the Terrible was king of the Zulus. The political power of these Izinyanga had then reached a great height in Zululand, and they were in the habit of denouncing as witches—or rather wizards—one after the other of the king’s ministers and chieftains. It was difficult to put a stop to these wholesale murders, for the sympathy of the people was always on the side of the witch-finders, cruel though they were. At last the king thought of an expedient216. He killed a bullock, and with his own hands smeared217 its blood over the royal hut in the dead of night. Next day he summoned a council, and announced that some one had been guilty of high treason in defiling218 the king’s hut with blood, and that, too, when it stood, apparently219 secure from outrage220, in the very middle of the kraal. What was to be done? The Izinyanga were summoned, and commanded, on pain of death, to declare who was the criminal. This they were quite ready to do, and named without hesitation one after another the great inkosi who sat trembling around. But instead of dooming221 the wretched victim to death, the dénouement closely resembled that of the famous elegy222: “The dog it was that died.” In other words, the witch-finders who named an inkosi heard to their astonishment223 that they were to be executed and the denounced victim kept alive. This went on for some time, until one, cleverer than the rest, and yet afraid of committing himself too much, rose up and said oracularly, “I smell the heavens above.” Chaka took this as a compliment, as well as a guess in the right direction, ordered all the remaining Izinyanga to be slain224 on the spot, and appointed the fortunate oracle225 to be his one and only witch-finder for ever after.
Chaka’s name will be remembered for many and many a day in Zululand and the provinces which border it by both black and white. In the first decade of this century, when Napoleon was mapping out Europe afresh with the bayonet for a stylus, and we were pouring out blood and money like water to check him here and there—at that very time Ranpehera in New Zealand and Chaka in Zululand were playing a precisely226 similar game. Here, Chaka had a wider field for his Alexander-like rage for conquest, and he and his wild warriors dashed over the land like a mountain-stream. No place was safe from him, and he was the terror of the unhappy first settlers. Even now his name brings a sense of uneasiness with it, for it is still a spell to rouse the warrior-spirit, which only sleeps in the breasts of his wild subjects across the border.
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1
mar
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| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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4
wards
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| 区( ward的名词复数 )； 病房； 受监护的未成年者； 被人照顾或控制的状态 | |
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natal
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| adj.出生的，先天的 | |
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gales
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| 龙猫 | |
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exasperating
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| adj. 激怒的 动词exasperate的现在分词形式 | |
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scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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haze
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| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
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fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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12
feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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13
slumbers
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| 睡眠，安眠( slumber的名词复数 ) | |
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civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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15
dilate
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| vt.使膨胀，使扩大 | |
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16
incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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18
grumble
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| vi.抱怨；咕哝；n.抱怨，牢骚；咕哝，隆隆声 | |
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bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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eliciting
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| n. 诱发, 引出 动词elicit的现在分词形式 | |
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peals
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| n.（声音大而持续或重复的）洪亮的响声( peal的名词复数 )；隆隆声；洪亮的钟声；钟乐v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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requisite
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| adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品 | |
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conjuring
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| n.魔术 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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fluency
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| n.流畅，雄辩，善辩 | |
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slate
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| n.板岩，石板，石片，石板色，候选人名单；adj.暗蓝灰色的，含板岩的；vt.用石板覆盖，痛打，提名，预订 | |
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tunes
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| n.曲调，曲子( tune的名词复数 )v.调音( tune的第三人称单数 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调 | |
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prettily
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| adv.优美地；可爱地 | |
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hymns
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌( hymn的名词复数 ) | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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peculiarities
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| n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪 | |
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vowel
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| n.元音；元音字母 | |
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tacked
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| 用平头钉钉( tack的过去式和过去分词 )； 附加，增补； 帆船抢风行驶，用粗线脚缝 | |
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perseveringly
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| 坚定地 | |
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apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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41
rinsing
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| n.清水，残渣v.漂洗( rinse的现在分词 )；冲洗；用清水漂洗掉（肥皂泡等）；（用清水）冲掉 | |
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42
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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43
docile
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| adj.驯服的，易控制的，容易教的 | |
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44
herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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45
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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46
stolid
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| adj.无动于衷的，感情麻木的 | |
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sociable
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| adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的 | |
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48
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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49
grooms
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| n.新郎( groom的名词复数 )；马夫v.照料或梳洗（马等）( groom的第三人称单数 )；使做好准备；训练；（给动物）擦洗 | |
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50
crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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51
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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52
squat
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| v.蹲坐，蹲下；n.蹲下；adj.矮胖的，粗矮的 | |
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53
filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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54
bilious
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| adj.胆汁过多的；易怒的 | |
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55
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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chronic
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| adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的 | |
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57
grievance
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| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
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58
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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59
winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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singeing
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| v.浅表烧焦( singe的现在分词 )；（毛发）燎，烧焦尖端[边儿]；烧毛 | |
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61
fortitude
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| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
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62
interpretation
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| n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理 | |
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63
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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64
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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65
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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66
averred
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| v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；证明…属实；作为事实提出 | |
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67
puny
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| adj.微不足道的，弱小的 | |
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68
recapitulated
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| v.总结，扼要重述( recapitulate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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69
jumbled
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| adj.混乱的；杂乱的 | |
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70
astute
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| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
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71
adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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72
copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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73
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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74
costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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75
hairpins
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| n.发夹( hairpin的名词复数 ) | |
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76
fowls
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| 鸟( fowl的名词复数 )； 禽肉； 既不是这； 非驴非马 | |
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77
chaff
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| v.取笑，嘲笑；n.谷壳 | |
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78
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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79
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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80
sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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81
antipathy
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| n.憎恶；反感，引起反感的人或事物 | |
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82
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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83
profane
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| adj.亵神的，亵渎的；vt.亵渎，玷污 | |
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84
profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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85
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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86
acceding
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| v.（正式）加入( accede的现在分词 )；答应；（通过财产的添附而）增加；开始任职 | |
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87
copious
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| adj.丰富的，大量的 | |
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88
draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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89
talisman
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| n.避邪物，护身符 | |
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90
aggravating
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| adj.恼人的，讨厌的 | |
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91
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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92
improper
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| adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的 | |
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93
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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94
misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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95
compulsory
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| n.强制的，必修的；规定的，义务的 | |
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96
scantiness
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| n.缺乏 | |
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97
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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98
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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99
clamorous
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| adj.吵闹的，喧哗的 | |
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100
monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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101
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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102
mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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103
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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104
reptiles
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| n.爬行动物，爬虫( reptile的名词复数 ) | |
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105
auspices
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| n.资助，赞助 | |
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106
superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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107
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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108
tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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109
contradictory
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| adj.反驳的，反对的，抗辩的；n.正反对，矛盾对立 | |
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110
hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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111
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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112
scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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113
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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114
pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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115
avowal
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| n.公开宣称，坦白承认 | |
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116
scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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117
tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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118
conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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119
villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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120
rosebud
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| n.蔷薇花蕾，妙龄少女 | |
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121
tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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122
grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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123
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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124
riveted
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| 铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意 | |
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125
garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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126
drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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127
beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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128
bead
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| n.念珠；(pl.)珠子项链；水珠 | |
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129
distinctive
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| adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的 | |
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130
plume
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| n.羽毛；v.整理羽毛，骚首弄姿，用羽毛装饰 | |
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131
slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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132
splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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133
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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134
tassels
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| n.穗( tassel的名词复数 )；流苏状物；（植物的）穗；玉蜀黍的穗状雄花v.抽穗， （玉米）长穗须( tassel的第三人称单数 )；使抽穗， （为了使作物茁壮生长）摘去穗状雄花；用流苏装饰 | |
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135
leopard
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| n.豹 | |
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136
flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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137
prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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138
hooded
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| adj.戴头巾的；有罩盖的；颈部因肋骨运动而膨胀的 | |
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139
stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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140
defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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141
lithe
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| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
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142
brandished
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| v.挥舞( brandish的过去式和过去分词 )；炫耀 | |
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143
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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144
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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145
exterminated
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| v.消灭，根绝( exterminate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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146
blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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147
unwillingly
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| adv.不情愿地 | |
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148
grudgingly
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149
pugnacious
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| adj.好斗的 | |
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150
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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151
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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152
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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153
strings
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| n.弦 | |
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154
fangs
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| n.（尤指狗和狼的）长而尖的牙( fang的名词复数 )；（蛇的）毒牙；罐座 | |
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155
yarn
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| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
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156
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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157
flakes
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| 小薄片( flake的名词复数 )； （尤指）碎片； 雪花； 古怪的人 | |
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158
profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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159
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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160
interspersed
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| adj.[医]散开的；点缀的v.intersperse的过去式和过去分词 | |
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161
skewers
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| n.串肉扦( skewer的名词复数 )；烤肉扦；棒v.（用串肉扦或类似物）串起，刺穿( skewer的第三人称单数 ) | |
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162
tusks
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| n.（象等动物的）长牙( tusk的名词复数 )；獠牙；尖形物；尖头 | |
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163
twine
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| v.搓，织，编饰；（使）缠绕 | |
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164
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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165
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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166
brandishing
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| v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀 | |
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167
frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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168
albeit
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| conj.即使；纵使；虽然 | |
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169
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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170
cynosure
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| n.焦点 | |
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171
caper
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| v.雀跃，欢蹦；n.雀跃，跳跃；续随子，刺山柑花蕾；嬉戏 | |
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172
grunts
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的第三人称单数 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说； 石鲈 | |
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173
grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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174
artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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175
gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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176
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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177
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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178
phantom
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| n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的 | |
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179
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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180
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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181
agile
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| adj.敏捷的，灵活的 | |
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182
viper
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| n.毒蛇；危险的人 | |
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183
woolen
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| adj.羊毛(制)的；毛纺的 | |
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184
dozed
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| v.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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185
placidly
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| adv.平稳地，平静地 | |
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186
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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187
invoked
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| v.援引( invoke的过去式和过去分词 )；行使（权利等）；祈求救助；恳求 | |
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188
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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189
cadence
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| n.（说话声调的）抑扬顿挫 | |
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190
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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191
pretensions
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| 自称( pretension的名词复数 )； 自命不凡； 要求； 权力 | |
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192
syllable
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| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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193
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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194
countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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195
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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196
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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197
haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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198
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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199
perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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200
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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201
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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202
subside
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| vi.平静，平息；下沉，塌陷，沉降 | |
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203
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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204
platitude
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| n.老生常谈，陈词滥调 | |
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205
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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206
joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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207
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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208
wholesale
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| n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售 | |
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209
massacre
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| n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀 | |
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210
savings
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| n.存款，储蓄 | |
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211
trepidation
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| n.惊恐，惶恐 | |
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212
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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213
pulsation
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| n.脉搏，悸动，脉动；搏动性 | |
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214
dodging
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| n.避开，闪过，音调改变v.闪躲( dodge的现在分词 )；回避 | |
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215
throbbed
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| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
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216
expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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217
smeared
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| 弄脏； 玷污； 涂抹； 擦上 | |
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218
defiling
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| v.玷污( defile的现在分词 )；污染；弄脏；纵列行进 | |
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219
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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220
outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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221
dooming
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| v.注定( doom的现在分词 )；判定；使…的失败（或灭亡、毁灭、坏结局）成为必然；宣判 | |
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222
elegy
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| n.哀歌，挽歌 | |
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223
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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224
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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225
oracle
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| n.神谕，神谕处，预言 | |
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226
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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