In one respect his equipment was neces{56}sarily poor. His financial resources were so meagre that he had to fall back on very lean kine to draw his waggon21, which is why the journey to Kuruman took a full three months. There a broken wheel detained him, and possibly saved his life; for this was the time selected by the band of Dutch marauders to wreak22 their vengeance23 on him, and on the hapless tribe of Sechele. It is a shocking story, and in his sympathy with Sechele, sixty of whose people had been massacred, Livingstone could almost forget his own personal loss, though he grieved sorely over the wanton destruction of his books. Amid all his sorrow and heartbreak, he can yet smile at the humorous side. “We shall move more easily now that we are lightened of our furniture. They have taken away our sofa. I never had a good rest on it. We had only got it ready when we left. Well, they can’t have taken away all the stones. We shall have a seat in spite of them, and that, too, with a merry heart which doeth good like a medicine.” Never in this world was anyone who had so{57} stout24 a philosophy for times of misfortune. He could jest that “the Boers had saved him the trouble of making a will.”
Poor Sechele in his despair resolved on a personal appeal for justice to the great White Queen, and actually travelled to the Cape to take ship to England. He was shown much kindness there, and eventually returned, gathered the people around him, and became a stronger chief than before, while he continued to instruct his tribe in the Bible, without any assistance from a missionary. There are few more striking proofs of the enduring power of Livingstone’s personal influence and Christian5 faith.
The journey through our old friend the desert to the Chobe river, and across it to where Sekeletu, the son of Sebituane, was now reigning25, was more arduous and perilous than it had been previously26. The floods from the annual inundation27 of the Chobe were an almost invincible28 obstacle; yet where the waters did not lie the heat was torrid. “At the surface of the ground in the sun the thermometer registered 125°. The hand{58} cannot be held on the earth, and even the horny feet of the natives must be protected by sandals of hide.” The battle with the waters of the Chobe and its tributaries29 would have ended in the defeat of anyone less lion-hearted than this traveller. Many of the natives retired30 from the encounter on the easy pretext31 of throwing dice32 and declaring that the gods willed their return. Some of them feigned33 sickness, to ride in the waggons34; and it required infinite patience and humouring to get them forward. Part of the journey lay through dense35 forest, and laborious36 days were spent swinging the axe37 to make a waggon track. The rivers effectually stopped the waggons; and Livingstone took to a pontoon, and afterwards to canoes. But there was much wading38 to do under a blistering39 sun, and through reeds that “made our hands all raw and bloody,” and thorns that tore even leather trousers. They were glad to sleep in a filthy40 deserted41 hut; and at night the cold dews descended42, and the mosquitoes gathered in clouds. They were disturbed by the hippopotami,{59} and the eerie43 waters were alive with water-snakes. But no combination of perils44 had any terror for one the alphabet of whose creed45 was that “man is immortal46 till his work is done.” At twilight47 of one day, a village was descried48 on the river bank. It was Morémi, and Livingstone had reached his beloved Makololo at last. “The inhabitants looked like people who had seen a ghost,” he says; but what he himself really looked like he forbears to add. “He has dropped among us from the clouds, yet came riding on the back of a hippopotamus,”—this was their appropriate description of the pontoon. “We Makololo thought no one could cross the Chobe without our knowledge, but here he drops among us like a bird.” They returned with him, “took the waggons to pieces and carried them across on a number of canoes lashed49 together.” On the 23rd of May, 1853, they reached Linyanti, the capital town of the Makololo, where the new chief, Sekeletu, received them “in royal style.”
Livingstone’s problem had now definitely{60} to be solved. Sekeletu was not a whit4 behind Sebituane in friendliness50, and not much inferior in intelligence. He had no desire for the Bible, fearing that it might compel him to content himself with one wife. But he set an example to the tribe in reverent51 attention to Livingstone’s simple preaching, and he had absolute faith in the protection afforded to his people by Livingstone’s presence and skill. But exactly a week after the arrival at Linyanti, Livingstone had his first taste of malaria52, nor did the well-meant efforts of the native doctors do much to cure him. He experienced its weakening effect. If he looked up suddenly he was affected53 with a strange giddiness. “Everything appeared to rush to the left, and if I did not catch hold of some support I fell heavily on the ground.” The same horrible sensations occurred at night, “whenever I turned suddenly round.” One thing was clear—Linyanti was no place for a healthy settlement. Some might add that with fever in the system it was idle to think of a journey of a thousand miles or more. But this was{61} not Livingstone’s way of looking at things. “There is a good deal in not giving in to this disease,” he writes; “he who is low-spirited will die sooner than the man who is not of a melancholic54 nature.” Ill as he was, he was resolute55 to continue his explorations, and with Sekeletu and a large band of Makololo for companions, he travelled some hundreds of miles of waterway, ascending56 the great river to the north-west from Seshéke. Here the Zambesi is called the Leeambye, and Livingstone expresses his delight at skimming along in great canoes, gazing on a wonderful inland river which no white man had hitherto explored. He finds, as ever, in the wonders and beauties of nature, the splendour of the wild birds, and the curious fascination57 of the river-beasts some relief from the awful spectacle, constantly present, of human cruelty and degradation58. “The sciences,” he writes, “exhibit such wonderful intelligence and design in all their various ramifications59, some time ought to be devoted60 to them before engaging in missionary work.... We may feel that we are{62} leaning on His bosom61 while living in a world clothed in beauty, and robed with the glorious perfection of its Maker62 and Preserver.... He who stays his mind on his ever-present, ever-energetic God, will not fret63 himself because of evil-doers. He that believeth shall not make haste.” It was indeed well for him that he had this power to absorb himself in “whatsoever things are lovely,” for the nightmare of heathenism was always with him. He has to witness Sekeletu’s revenge on those who had plotted against him. Some of the scenes are incredibly horrible; and his protests are unavailing. The miseries64 of slavery wrung65 his heart, and as he advances into the dark interior, the chorus of human agonies is ever in his ears. “I was in closer contact with heathens than I had ever been before, and though all were as kind to me as possible, yet to endure the dancing, roaring and singing, the jesting, the grumbling66, quarrellings and murderings of these children of nature was the severest penance67 I had yet undergone in the course of my missionary duties.{63}” Again he exclaims in his Diary, “the more intimately I become acquainted with barbarians68, the more disgusting does heathenism become. It is inconceivably vile69 ... they never visit anywhere but for the purpose of plunder70 and oppression. They never go anywhere but with a club or spear in hand.... They need a healer. May God enable me to be such to them.” Slowly but surely the whole tragedy of Africa is unveiled before him. The fair landscape of its rivers and forests, the gay plumage of its birds, and beauty of its living creatures, is like a gorgeous curtain covering unspeakable depths of pain and sin. The people gather in hundreds to hear him, and especially to see the wonders of his magic lantern, but he cannot in a brief stay undo71 the superstitions72 and inhumanities of centuries. His eye is on the future. “A minister who has not seen so much pioneer service as I have done would have been shocked to see so little effect produced.... We can afford to work in faith.... Future missionaries73 will be rewarded by conversions74 for every sermon.{64} We are their pioneers. They will doubtless have more light than we, but we served our Master earnestly and proclaimed the Gospel they will do.”
Baffled in the hope of finding a healthy situation for a permanent mission station near Linyanti, the final determination to make a way to the coast crystallised in his mind. “I shall open up a path to the interior or perish,” he writes, in his terse75, decisive way to Dr. Moffat; “I never have had the shadow of a shade of doubt as to the propriety76 of my course.” On November 8th he writes home to his father what he evidently feels may be his last will and testament77: ‘May God in mercy permit me to do something for the cause of Christ in these dark places of the earth. May He accept my children for His service and sanctify them for it. My blessing78 on my wife. May God comfort her! If my watch comes back after I am cut off, it belongs to Agnes. If my sextant, it is Robert’s. The Paris medal to Thomas. Double-barrelled gun to Zouga. Be a father to the fatherless and a husband{65} to the widow for Jesus’ sake,” That was all. The Boers had relieved him of the necessity of willing any other belongings79. He had none. The Chancellor80 of the Exchequer81 would not have made much out of the death duties on this property.
点击收听单词发音
1 summarise | |
vt.概括,总结 | |
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2 penetrated | |
adj. 击穿的,鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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3 cape | |
n.海角,岬;披肩,短披风 | |
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4 whit | |
n.一点,丝毫 | |
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5 Christian | |
adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒 | |
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6 remarkable | |
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
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7 hymns | |
n.赞美诗,圣歌,颂歌( hymn的名词复数 ) | |
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8 invaluable | |
adj.无价的,非常宝贵的,极为贵重的 | |
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9 flora | |
n.(某一地区的)植物群 | |
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10 fauna | |
n.(一个地区或时代的)所有动物,动物区系 | |
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11 vowed | |
起誓,发誓(vow的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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12 arduous | |
adj.艰苦的,费力的,陡峭的 | |
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13 perilous | |
adj.危险的,冒险的 | |
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14 consecrated | |
adj.神圣的,被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣,给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 );奉献 | |
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15 sojourn | |
v./n.旅居,寄居;逗留 | |
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16 astronomer | |
n.天文学家 | |
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17 unprecedented | |
adj.无前例的,新奇的 | |
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18 judgment | |
n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见 | |
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19 thoroughly | |
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地 | |
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20 missionary | |
adj.教会的,传教(士)的;n.传教士 | |
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21 waggon | |
n.运货马车,运货车;敞篷车箱 | |
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22 wreak | |
v.发泄;报复 | |
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23 vengeance | |
n.报复,报仇,复仇 | |
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25 reigning | |
adj.统治的,起支配作用的 | |
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26 previously | |
adv.以前,先前(地) | |
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27 inundation | |
n.the act or fact of overflowing | |
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28 invincible | |
adj.不可征服的,难以制服的 | |
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29 tributaries | |
n. 支流 | |
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30 retired | |
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 | |
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31 pretext | |
n.借口,托词 | |
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32 dice | |
n.骰子;vt.把(食物)切成小方块,冒险 | |
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33 feigned | |
a.假装的,不真诚的 | |
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34 waggons | |
四轮的运货马车( waggon的名词复数 ); 铁路货车; 小手推车 | |
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35 dense | |
a.密集的,稠密的,浓密的;密度大的 | |
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36 laborious | |
adj.吃力的,努力的,不流畅 | |
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37 axe | |
n.斧子;v.用斧头砍,削减 | |
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38 wading | |
(从水、泥等)蹚,走过,跋( wade的现在分词 ) | |
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39 blistering | |
adj.酷热的;猛烈的;使起疱的;可恶的v.起水疱;起气泡;使受暴晒n.[涂料] 起泡 | |
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40 filthy | |
adj.卑劣的;恶劣的,肮脏的 | |
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41 deserted | |
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的 | |
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42 descended | |
a.为...后裔的,出身于...的 | |
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43 eerie | |
adj.怪诞的;奇异的;可怕的;胆怯的 | |
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44 perils | |
极大危险( peril的名词复数 ); 危险的事(或环境) | |
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45 creed | |
n.信条;信念,纲领 | |
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46 immortal | |
adj.不朽的;永生的,不死的;神的 | |
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47 twilight | |
n.暮光,黄昏;暮年,晚期,衰落时期 | |
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48 descried | |
adj.被注意到的,被发现的,被看到的 | |
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49 lashed | |
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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50 friendliness | |
n.友谊,亲切,亲密 | |
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51 reverent | |
adj.恭敬的,虔诚的 | |
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52 malaria | |
n.疟疾 | |
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53 affected | |
adj.不自然的,假装的 | |
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54 melancholic | |
忧郁症患者 | |
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55 resolute | |
adj.坚决的,果敢的 | |
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56 ascending | |
adj.上升的,向上的 | |
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57 fascination | |
n.令人着迷的事物,魅力,迷恋 | |
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58 degradation | |
n.降级;低落;退化;陵削;降解;衰变 | |
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59 ramifications | |
n.结果,后果( ramification的名词复数 ) | |
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60 devoted | |
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的 | |
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61 bosom | |
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的 | |
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62 maker | |
n.制造者,制造商 | |
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63 fret | |
v.(使)烦恼;(使)焦急;(使)腐蚀,(使)磨损 | |
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64 miseries | |
n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 );痛苦的事;穷困;常发牢骚的人 | |
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65 wrung | |
绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 ); 握紧(尤指别人的手); 把(湿衣服)拧干; 绞掉(水) | |
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66 grumbling | |
adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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67 penance | |
n.(赎罪的)惩罪 | |
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68 barbarians | |
n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 );外国人;粗野的人;无教养的人 | |
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69 vile | |
adj.卑鄙的,可耻的,邪恶的;坏透的 | |
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70 plunder | |
vt.劫掠财物,掠夺;n.劫掠物,赃物;劫掠 | |
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71 undo | |
vt.解开,松开;取消,撤销 | |
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72 superstitions | |
迷信,迷信行为( superstition的名词复数 ) | |
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73 missionaries | |
n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 ) | |
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74 conversions | |
变换( conversion的名词复数 ); (宗教、信仰等)彻底改变; (尤指为居住而)改建的房屋; 橄榄球(触地得分后再把球射中球门的)附加得分 | |
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75 terse | |
adj.(说话,文笔)精炼的,简明的 | |
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76 propriety | |
n.正当行为;正当;适当 | |
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77 testament | |
n.遗嘱;证明 | |
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78 blessing | |
n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿 | |
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79 belongings | |
n.私人物品,私人财物 | |
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80 chancellor | |
n.(英)大臣;法官;(德、奥)总理;大学校长 | |
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81 exchequer | |
n.财政部;国库 | |
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