This gentleman, it will be remembered, was the first who in modern times successfully explored the interior. He visited the sites of many ancient cities and towns; copied numerous inscriptions9, by means of which he was enabled to identify the names of fifteen out of eighteen cities; and made sketches11 of the most interesting sculptures and monuments.
It is remarkable that a country so often spoken of by the Greek and Roman historians should not have sooner attracted attention, when districts contiguous to, as well as far beyond, have been so thoroughly14 explored. The ruins on the southern coast of Asia Minor, were first made[70] known by Captain Beaufort, who discovered them when employed in making a survey of this coast. Several travellers subsequently made short excursions into the country; but it was not until Mr. now Sir Charles Fellows, in 1838 and 1840, made his visits and explorations, that the riches of the interior in historical monuments were disclosed.
The relics16 of antiquity brought to light in these researches, consist first of the ruins of large cities, many of which, by reason of their isolated17 situation among the high lands and mountains, seem to have been preserved from the destruction which usually attends depopulated cities situated18 in more accessible places.
These ruined cities contain amphitheatres more or less spacious19, and generally in a good state of preservation20, temples, aqueducts, and sepulchral21 monuments, together with numbers of lesser22 buildings, the dwelling23 houses of the inhabitants. The ruins of Christian24 churches are also found in many places, and in one instance a large and elegant cathedral; the purposes of these are satisfactorily made out by their inscriptions; and the date of their erection, when not otherwise known, may be fixed25 by their style of architecture. The most numerous as well as the most interesting monuments of these ancient cities, are their sepulchres. In some instances where a mountain or high rock is contiguous, it is pierced with thousands of tombs, presenting an appearance similar to Petr?a in Idumea, sometimes called the City of the Dead. The roads in all directions are lined with tombs and sarcophagi, many of them covered with elaborate sculptures and inscriptions. It is by means of the latter, which abound27 and which exist in a fine state of preservation, that the names of the cities are identified and other historical facts brought to light. The following is a translation of the most common form of sepulchral inscription8.
"THIS TOMB APOLLONIDES, SON OF MOLISSAS, MADE
FOR HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN: AND IF ANY ONE
VIOLATES IT, LET HIM PAY A FINE."
[71]
Coins too are found, which possess considerable historic interest.
In architecture, we find excellent specimens28 of the several Grecian orders, exhibiting both the perfection and declension of the art. The works of Sir Charles Fellows abound in architectural representations. A pointed30 arch was discovered by Lieut. Spratt and Professor Forbes in the interior of a tomb (a sketch10 of which is given) among the ruins of Antiphellas. This conclusively31 shows, that this peculiar32 form of the arch was not first introduced with Gothic architecture, as has been generally believed, but belongs to a period anterior33 to the Christian era. An inscription in the Lycian and Latin was found on the monument.
The language of the ancient Lycians is an important discovery which has resulted from these researches. A bilingual inscription in Lycian and Greek first led to the key, and similar inscriptions, subsequently discovered, have furnished sufficient materials for ascertaining35 the values of the several letters of the alphabet, which consists of twenty-seven letters, two of which are still doubtful. Able disquisitions on the language have been written by Mr. Sharpe and Professor Grotefend.
In regard to the antiquity of the monuments, and the people who spoke12 the language called Lycian, now first made known through these inscriptions, we are enabled to arrive at conclusions which fix their era with some degree of certainty. The earliest inscription yet decyphered is a bilingual one, which consists of an edict, in which the name of Harpagus, or his son, a well known personage, is mentioned; which would give a date of 530 to 500 B.C. This is about the period of the earliest arrow-head inscriptions yet known—namely, those at Behistun, of the age of Darius, decyphered by Major Rawlinson. The language belongs to the same family as the Zend and old Persian, and is supposed to have been in use in the same age as the former, and along with that of the Persepolitan[72] inscriptions. The sculptures too, bear some resemblance to the figures on the Persian monuments, particularly the well known figure with an umbrella, so common on the latter.
Other reasons are adduced by scholars for fixing the date of the Lycian language not before the fifth century B.C., or to the age of Herodotus. This historian was from the adjoining province of Caria; and as might be expected, gives accounts of the Lycians before his time, but does not say that they spoke a language different from his own, or from that of the entire region,—a fact that he would not have overlooked had such been the case.
It is believed that Cyrus, when he subjected this country, brought in some people from his Persian dominions38, who afterwards became the dominant39 party, and introduced their language.[62]
It is surprising to find the names of these Lycian cities so well preserved when the descendants of its ancient inhabitants have been so entirely40 swept out of the country, and replaced by a people differing in manners, in religion,[73] and having no interest connected with the locality to induce them to respect the relics or names, and keep alive the memory, of the former possessors of the soil.
Travels in Lycia, Milytas and the Cibyrates, in company with the late Rev2. E.T. Daniel, by Lieut. Spratt, R.N., and Prof. E. Forbes. 2 vols. 8vo. Lond. 1847.
A Journal written during an excursion in Asia Minor, by Charles Fellows. royal 8vo. London, 1839.
An account of Discoveries in Lycia, in 1840. By Charles Fellows, royal 8vo.
An Essay on the Lycian language. By Daniel Sharpe. (In the appendix to Fellows' Journal.)
ARABIA.
If we now turn to the discoveries that have recently been made in the southern part of Arabia, we find much in them worthy41 of attention. This country, called in the Scriptures43 Hazarmaveth, by the natives Hadramaut, and by the classical writers of antiquity, Arabia Felix, is celebrated45 as being the kingdom of the Queen of Sheba, who visited Solomon, as well as for the gold, gems46, frankincense and other precious productions, which it furnished in ancient times. It is represented by the Greek and Roman writers as a populous47 country, with many extensive cities, abounding48 in temples and palaces; though the palpable fables50 with which these accounts are intermingled, show that at least they had no personal knowledge of the facts, but retailed52 them at second hand.
After Europe had awoke from the intellectual slumber53 of the dark ages, the Arabs were long regarded only as objects of religious and political abhorrence54. The discovery of the route to India by the Cape55 of Good Hope, at the close of the fifteenth century, by diverting the channel of Indo-European traffic from the Red Sea, left the countries bordering upon it in such a state of solitude56, that when better feelings began to prevail, there was no means of obtaining any direct information respecting them.
In 1650, the illustrious Pococke, by the publication of his Specimens of Ancient Arabian History, extracted from native authors, created a curiosity respecting Southern Arabia and its ancient inhabitants, which successive collections of a similar nature, down to our own times, have served rather to increase than to gratify. The researches[74] of Niebuhr, Seetzen, and Burckhardt, in the latter part of the last, and the beginning of the present century, made us somewhat acquainted with the western extremity57 of this country, along the shores of the Red Sea; but before the investigations59 of which we are about to speak, its southern coast had never been accurately60 explored, and the great body of the interior, with its once famous capital, Mareb, remained, as it ever had been, completely unknown to and unvisited by the natives of Europe.
The hordes61 of pirates, which until twenty years ago infested62 the Persian Gulf63, caused the government of British India to order a complete survey of its islands and both its shores, with the view of laying bare their haunts, and putting an end to their depredations64. In 1829, after this service had been performed, the project then recently set on foot of establishing a steam communication between England and Bombay, caused orders to be issued for a similar examination of the Red Sea.
The attention of the officers composing the expedition, was not restricted to the technical duties in which they were chiefly engaged. It was well known that information of every kind would be prized by the government which they served; and this, together with the monotony of life on board ship on the one hand, and the novelty of the scenes by which they were surrounded on the other, seems to have created among them a spirit of emulation65 that led to the most interesting discoveries respecting both the geography and the antiquities66 of the adjacent countries.
Among the most intelligent and enterprising of these officers was the late Lieut. Wellsted, who thus describes his reflections on joining the expedition in the Red Sea, on the 12th October, 1830. "From the earliest dawn of history, the northern shores of the Red Sea have figured as the scene of events which both religious and civil records have united to render memorable67. Here Moses and the Patriarchs tended their flocks, and put in motion those springs of civilization, which, from that period, have[75] never ceased to urge forward the whole human race in the career of improvement. On the one hand the Valley of the Wanderings, commencing near the site of Memphis, and opening upon the Red Sea, conducts the fancy along the track pursued by the Hebrews during their flight out of Egypt; on the other hand are Mount Sinai, bearing still upon its face the impress of miraculous68 events, and beyond it that strange, stormy, and gloomy-looking sea, once frequented by Ph?nician merchants' ships, by the fleets of Solomon and Pharaoh, and those barks of later times which bore the incenses69, the gems, the gold and spices of the East, to be consumed or lavishly70 squandered71 upon favorites at the courts of Macedonia or Rome. But the countries lying along this offshoot of the Indian Ocean, have another kind of interest, peculiar perhaps to themselves. On the Arabian side we find society much what it was four thousand years ago; for amidst the children of Ishmael it has undergone but trifling73 modifications74. Their tents are neither better nor worse than they were when they purchased Joseph of his brethren, on their way to Egypt; the Sheikhs possess no other power or influence than they enjoyed then; the relations of the sexes have suffered little or no changes; they eat, drink, clothe themselves, educate their children, make war and peace, just as they did in the day of the Exodus75. But on the opposite shores, all has been change, fluctuation76, and decay. While the Bedouins have wandered with their camels and their flocks, unaspiring, unimproving, they have looked across the gulf and beheld77 the Egyptian overthrown78 by the Persian, the Persian by the Greek, the Greek by the Roman, and the Roman in his turn by a daring band from their own burning deserts. They have seen empires grow up like Jonah's gourd80. War has swept away some; the varieties and luxuries of peace have brought others to the ground; and every spot along these shores is celebrated."
When the northeastern and the western shores of the[76] Arabian peninsula had thus been investigated, there still remained to be explored the south eastern shore, the coast of the anciently renowned81 province of Hadramaut, extending from Tehama, on the Red Sea, to the province of Oman, at the entrance to the Persian Gulf; and it is to the discoveries made in this almost unknown part of the world that I now wish more particularly to allude82.
In the year 1839 Capt. Haines, the commander of the expedition and the present governor of Aden, published his survey of about two fifths of this coast, extending from the straits of Bab-el-Mandeb as far east as Missenaat, in long. 51° east of Greenwich.[63] In the year 1845, he published his further survey of about an equal portion extending to Cape Isolette, in long. 57° 51', leaving about one fifth of the whole extent on the eastern end still to be explored.[64]
In June, 1843, Adolphe Baron83 Wrede, a Hanoverian gentleman, made an excursion from Makallah on the coast, into the interior of the country. He visited among other places an extensive valley called Wadi Doan, which he thus describes. "The sudden appearance of the Wadi Doan, took me by surprise and impressed me much with the grandeur84 of the scene. The ravine, five hundred feet wide and six hundred feet in depth, is enclosed between perpendicular85 rocks, the debris86 of which form in one part a slope reaching to half their height. On this slope, towns and villages rise contiguously in the form of an amphitheatre; while below the date grounds, which are covered with a forest of trees, the river about twenty feet broad and enclosed by high and walled embankments is seen winding87 through fields laid out in terraces, then pursuing its course in the open plain, irrigated88 by small canals branching from it. My first view of the valley disclosed to me four towns and four villages, within the space of an hour's[77] distance." He also gives an account of some curious spots of quicksand, in the midst of the great desert of El-Akkaf, which are regarded with superstitious89 horror by the wandering Bedouins. A cord of sixty fathoms90 in length with a plummet91 at the end, which he cast into one of them, disappeared in the course of five minutes. His narrative92 is published in the fourteenth volume of the Journal of the Royal Geographical94 Society of London.
In spite of the glowing descriptions of ancient authors, the idea hitherto entertained of this region in modern times, has been that of a succession of desert plains and sand-hills, with nothing to give animation96 to the arid97 scene but solitary98 groups of Bedouins and occasionally a passing caravan99. The recent explorations, however, of which the one just quoted is a specimen29, show that this is far from being a correct view of the entire country. The coast is thickly studded with fishing-villages and small seaports100, which still carry on, though on a diminished scale, the trade with India and the Persian gulf, which has existed ever since the dawn of history. It is true, the general appearance of the country along the coast, consisting as it does of successive ranges of sand-hills, is such as to naturally give rise to the views entertained and promulgated101 by navigators, who have had no opportunity of visiting the interior. But the deeper researches that have been made during the last ten or twelve years, show that these opinions are very erroneous; for besides that there are a number of green valleys running down to the coast, produced by streams provided with water for at least a good part of the year, no sooner has the traveller surmounted102 the first range of sand-hills, than his sight begins to be regaled with numerous well watered valleys and mountains covered with verdure. Besides this, even in those parts of the country where the surface is naturally a desert plain, the inhabitants have possessed103 from the remotest times the art of forming flourishing oases104, in which to establish their hamlets and towns; an operation which, as Wellsted re[78]marks, is effected with a labor26 and skill that seem more Chinese than Arabian. This traveller says: "The greater part of the face of the country being destitute105 of running streams on the surface, the Arabs have sought in elevated places for springs or fountains beneath it. A channel from this fountain-head is then, with a very slight descent, bored in the direction in which it is to be conveyed, leaving apertures106 at regular distances, to afford light and air to those who are occasionally sent to keep it clean. In this manner water is frequently conducted from a distance of six or eight miles, and an unlimited107 supply is thus obtained. These channels are usually about four feet broad and two feet deep, and contain a clear and rapid stream. Few of the large towns or oases but had four or five of these rivulets108 or feleji running into them. The isolated spots to which water is thus conveyed possess a soil so fertile, that nearly every grain, fruit, or vegetable, common to India, Arabia, or Persia, is produced almost spontaneously; and the tales of the oases will be no longer regarded as an exaggeration, since a single step conveys the traveller from the glare and sand of the desert into a fertile tract13, watered by a hundred rills, teeming109 with the most luxuriant vegetation, and embowered by lofty and stately trees, whose umbrageous110 foliage111 the fiercest rays of a noontide sun cannot penetrate112."[65]
These oases and the towns situated in them, date from various periods; some of those already discovered being evidently of considerable antiquity. In describing some of these towns, Wellsted says: "The instant you step from the Desert within the Grove113, a most sensible change of the atmosphere is experienced. The air feels cold and damp; the ground in every direction is saturated114 with moisture; and from the density115 of the shade, the whole appears dark and gloomy. To avoid the damp and catch an occasional beam of the sun above the trees, the houses[79] are usually very lofty. A parapet encircling the upper part is turreted116; and on some of the largest houses guns are mounted. The windows and doors have the Saracenic arch; and every part of the building is profusely117 decorated with ornaments119 of stucco in bas relief, some in very good taste. The doors are also cased with brass120, and have rings and other massive ornaments of the same metal." These descriptions relate to the province of Oman, the eastern extremity of Southern Arabia. The glimpses already obtained of this ancient and famous land, sufficiently121 prove that the fortunate traveller who shall succeed in obtaining access into the interior of the country, which has always been a terra incognita to Europeans and their descendants, will find an abundance of objects of interest to reward his zeal122 and self-devotion.
There is however another class of interesting objects, relating to the ancient history of the country, which I have not alluded123 to until now, because I wish to speak of them more particularly. These are the ancient inscriptions, of which a number have already been discovered and in part decyphered.
Several Arabian writers have stated that there existed in the southern part of their country, before the time of Mohammed, a kind of writing which they call Himyaritic, after the name of the ancient inhabitants of the country, the Beni Himyar. But the confused nature of these accounts, together with the Arab practice of giving the name of Himyaritic to every ancient mode of writing which they were unable to read, caused the story to be regarded as little better than fabulous124. In the year 1808 the late Baron de Sacy published a learned treatise125 on the subject, in which he collected all the Arabian accounts; but no further progress was made in the enquiry, until the discovery of a number of inscriptions on various massy ruins situated along the coast and in the interior, by officers attached to the surveying expedition already spoken of, in the years 1834 and '5.[80]
Copies of these inscriptions were transmitted to the late Dr. Gesenius of Halle, one of the first Orientalists of Europe. After making some progress in the investigation58, he gave up the subject to his colleague Dr. R?diger, who had devoted126 himself to it with great ardor127 and success. The latter published a copious128 dissertation130 containing the results he had arrived at, which he reprinted in 1842 by way of an appendix to his German edition of Wellsted's Travels in Arabia. By comparing the characters of the inscriptions with the Himyaritic alphabets contained in some Arabic manuscripts and with the present Ethiopic alphabet, he was enabled to ascertain34 the powers of the letters, and even to interpret, with various degrees of certainty, many portions of the inscriptions themselves. Thus, these venerable records, which in all probability have for many ages been dumb to every human being, are in a fair way of being made to yield up to modern scientific research whatever information they may contain. That this information must be interesting and valuable to the historian is inferred from the imposing131 nature of the structures on which they are found, and whose existence but a few years ago was as little looked for in this part of the world as in the forest wilds of Oregon. A full account of these discoveries and of the attempts at decyphering the inscriptions was published in 1845 in the first volume of the Transactions of the Ethnological Society of this city. I will therefore merely proceed to state what has been accomplished133 in the matter since the time when that account closes.
In the beginning of 1843, the same year in which M. Wrede made his exploration, a French physician of the name of Arnaud being then at Jiddah, received from M. Fresnel, the French consular134 agent at that port, accounts of the Himyaritic inscriptions discovered by the officers of the Indian Navy, and of the interest they had created in Europe. M. Arnaud's enthusiasm being excited on the[81] subject, he resolved to take a share in these arduous135 researches. The grand object of his ambition was to reach Mareb, the ancient capital of Hadramaut and the residence of the famous Queen of Sheba, whose name according to the Arabians was Balkis. Two English officers had undertaken the journey several years ago, and had reached Sana, a town within three or four days' journey of it; but the suspicions of the native authorities becoming excited, their further progress was prevented.
The mode of proceeding137 adopted by M. Arnaud, who spoke the Arabic fluently, was to travel as a Mussulman, in company with a caravan going to the place. His plan was happily crowned with success. In the middle of July he reached the city, where he saw the imposing remains138 of the ancient dam, said to have been built across the valley of Mareb by Balkis herself, and which, by collecting an immense body of water near the metropolis139, whence the surrounding country was irrigated, had given rise to the fertility and beauty for which the region was celebrated in ancient times. On these remains M. Arnaud discovered a number of inscriptions, as also among the ruins of the former city; among the most remarkable of these is one called Harem Balkis, which is thought to be the remains of the palace of the ancient Sabean kings. The inscriptions of which Mr. Arnaud brought away copies with him amount to fifty-six in number. The tour of M. Wrede was also not unproductive in this respect. He copied, among others, a long inscription in Wadi Doan; which, according to the interpretations141 that have since been made of it, contains a list of kings more copious than those which have been left us by Albulfeda and other historians of the middle ages.
When M. Arnaud returned to Jiddah from his hazardous142 and toilsome expedition, M. Fresnel, who had originally moved him to the undertaking144, set about studying the new inscriptions, aided by the previous labors145 of the German scholars and his own knowledge of Arabic and the[82] modern Himyaritic. Possessing a far more abundant supply of materials than had been collected before, he was able to assign to a few doubtful characters their proper values. He transmitted to Paris a fair copy of the original inscriptions, and also a transcription of them in the Arabic character, showing how they should be read. A fount of Himyaritic types having been constructed for the express purpose at the Imprimerie Royale, they were all published in the course of last year in the Journal Asiatique, together with several letters on the subject from M. Fresnel. The form of the characters in these inscriptions is essentially147 the same as in those discovered before; but, whereas the former ones all read from right to left like the Arabic of the present day, some of the new ones are found to read alternately from right to left and from left to right, like some of the inscriptions of ancient Greece. M. Fresnel's attention has been mainly directed to the collection and identification of the proper names of persons, deities148, and places, in which the inscriptions abound, and in which he recognises many names mentioned in Scripture42, and in Greek, Roman, and Arabian authors. Thus he identifies the deity149 'Athtor with the Ashtoreth or Venus of the Hebrews. He finds in an inscription at Hisn Ghorab the word Kaná, showing the correctness of the conclusion already arrived at that this is the Cane150 emporium of Ptolemy. He identifies the ruins of Kharibeh, a day's journey to the west of Mareb, with the Caripeta of Pliny, the furthest point reached by the Roman commander, ?lius Gallus, in his expedition into Arabia Felix, in the reign151 of Augustus C?sar. He has also recognised many names of Himyaritic sovereigns mentioned by Arabian writers, among others those of the grandfather and uncle of Queen Balkis. M. Fresnel has also begun to translate the inscriptions connectedly, a work of great labor and difficulty. He has already furnished an improved reading and translation of one at Sana, which had been copied before by English officers, and interpreted by Gesenius and R?diger, and[83] has offered a translation of another found by M. Arnaud, on the Hiram Balkis at Mareb.
The discoveries already brought to light, merely serve to show the richness of the mine that yet remains to be explored. Other expeditions are now planning, or in progress of execution, for penetrating153 into other parts of the country; and eminent154 scholars are busied in elucidating155 the treasures which the enterprize of travellers is bringing to light. Their united exertions156 cannot fail, at least, to accumulate many curious particulars relative to the history of one of the most remarkable and least known nations of past ages.
The Rev. T. Brockman, who was sent by the Royal Geographical Society of England for the purpose of geographical and antiquarian research in the Arabian peninsula, had proceeded up the coast from Aden to Shehar, midway between Aden and Muscat, and had coasted along to Cape Ras al-Gat. Subsequently in attempting to reach Muscat, he was arrested by sickness at Wadi Beni Jabor, where after a few days he died. His papers, which will be sent to the Geographical Society, are thought to contain matters of interest respecting this region.[66]
The following list embraces all of consequence that has been written on Southern Arabia and the Himyaritic Inscriptions.
Pococke, Specimina Histori? veterum Arabum. Oxford157, 1649, reprinted 1806.
De Sacy, sur divers158 évènemens de l'histoire des Arabes avant Mahomet, in Mém. de Lit. de l'Acad. Fran?aise, Vol. L. Paris, 1805.
Historia Jeman?, e cod159. MS. arabico, ed. G.T. Johannsen. Bonn, 1828.
Travels in Arabia, by Lieut. Wellsted, 2 vols. 8vo. London, 1838.
Memoir160 on the south coast of Arabia, by Capt. Harris. Journal Royal Geographical Society, Vol. VI. IX.
Narrative of a Journey from Mokha to Sana: by C.J. Cruttenden.—Ibid. Vol. VIII.
Gesenius, über die Himjaritischen Sprache und Schrift, Halle, 1841.
R?diger, Versuch über die Himjaritischen Schriftmonumente. Halle, 1841. This was republished, with many improvements, in an Appendix to the author's German translation of Wellsted's Travels. 2 vols. Halle, 1842.
Ewald, on an inscription recently dug up in Aden, Zeitschrift für die Kunde des Morgenlandes, 1843.
The Historical Geography of Arabia, or the Patriarchal Evidences of Revealed Religion. By the Rev. Charles Forster, 2 vols. 8vo. London, 1844.
F. Fresnel. Letters to M. Jules Mohl, on the Himyaritic Inscriptions. Paris, 1845.
Account of an excursion to Hadramaut, by Adolph Baron Wrede. Journal Royal Geographical Society, Vol. XIV.
Memoir of the south and east coast of Arabia, by Capt. S.B. Harris.—Ibid. Vol. XV.
[84]
Sclavonic Mss.—It is stated in the Russian papers that M. Grigorowitsch, professor of the sclavonic tongues in the Imperial University of Kasan, has returned to that capital from a two year's journey in the interior of Turkey, by order of the Russian government, in search of the graphic95 monuments of the ancient Sclavonic nations. He has brought home fac-similes of many hundred inscriptions, and 2,138 Sclavonian manuscripts—450 of which are said to be very ancient, and of great importance.
The Caucasus.—The results of a scientific expedition for the exploration of the Steppes of the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus, and of Southern Russia, under the direction of M. Hommaire de Hell, has lately been published. This portion of the East has been little noticed by travellers, and the present work has therefore added much to our previous knowledge of the country. It is accompanied by a large map, on which the geographical and geological peculiarities161 are defined with great minuteness and elegance162.[67]
ASSYRIA AND PERSIA.
The discoveries recently made, and the researches now in progress in those regions of the world known in ancient times as Assyria, Babylonia and Persia, are among the most interesting and important of the age. Of the ancient Assyrians and Babylonians we know nothing, but what we find in the Bible, or what has been preserved[85] and handed down to us by the Greek historians. Unlike Egypt, who has left so many records of her greatness, of her knowledge of the arts, and of her advancement163 in civilization, in the numerous and wonderful monumental remains in the valley of the Nile, the Assyrians were supposed to have left nothing, no existing monuments as evidences that they ever had an existence, save in the vast and misshapen heaps along the banks of the Euphrates and Tigris, believed to wash the spots where the great cities of Nineveh and Babylon once stood. The site of Nineveh still remains doubtful; and so literally164 have the prophecies in regard to Babylon been fulfilled, that nothing but vast heaps of rubbish, of tumuli, and traces of numerous canals, remains. The language of the Assyrians is unknown, and the impressions of characters in the form of a wedge or arrow-head stamped upon the bricks and other relics dug from these heaps, have been looked upon as mysterious and cabalistic signs, rather than the representatives of sounds, or belonging to a regular form of speech. For more than twenty centuries, these countries have been as a blank on the page of history; and all we have gathered from them consists in the observations of curious travellers, who, at the risk of their lives, have ventured to extend their wanderings this way.
Pietro della Valle, Le Brun, Niebuhr, Ker Porter, Rich, and Ouseley, have given us descriptions of the ancient remains in Persia and Assyria, particularly those at Persepolis, Pasargad?, and Babylon. These consist of views of the monuments and sculptures, together with copies of the inscriptions in the cuneiform, or arrow-head character. The object of the edifices166, the subject of the sculptures, and the meaning of the inscriptions, were wholly matters of conjecture167; and it seemed a hopeless task to arrive at any conclusions in relation to them, until some key should be discovered, by the means of which the language should be made known, and the numerous inscriptions decyphered. No bilingual tablet, such as the[86] Rosetta stone of Egypt, had been discovered; and, although it appeared that many of the inscriptions were recorded in three different languages, no means seemed to exist by which philologists169 could obtain a clue to their meaning. With this dark prospect170 in view, the task of decyphering the arrow-headed characters was attempted by M. Grotefend, one of the most sagacious and distinguished171 philologists of Europe. The particulars of the attempt and its results, we shall briefly172 state.
At Persepolis it is known are extensive ruins, chiefly belonging to a large edifice165, with every indication that this edifice was originally a royal palace. History and tradition supported this belief; and the general character of the sculptures and architecture, together with the inscriptions, would carry its origin back to a period some centuries before the Christian era. It was doubtless the work of one of the great monarchs173 of Persia; of Cyrus, Cambyses, Xerxes, Darius, or some other with whom history is familiar.[68] On some of the monuments at Persepolis, are inscriptions in the Pehlvi character, parts of which have been decyphered by M. de Sacy. In one of these, the titles and name of a king are often repeated; these titles M. Grotefend thought might be repeated in the same manner in the arrow-head characters.[69]
Over the doorways175 and in other parts of this edifice, are portraits, evidently of kings, as there is always enough in the dress and insignia of a monarch174 to enable one to detect him on any ancient monument. Over these por[87]traits are inscriptions; these it was natural to suppose related to the person represented, and if so, contained the name of the king and his titles. Such would be the conclusion of any one who reflected on the subject, and such was the belief of M. Grotefend and other philologists. In these inscriptions one group of characters was repeated more frequently than any other, and all agreed that the decyphering of this group would furnish a key to the whole. On this group of characters then our Savans set to work.
According to the analogy of the Pehlvi inscriptions, decyphered by De Sacy, it was believed that the inscriptions then under consideration, mentioned the name of a king son of another king, that is the names of father and son. M. Grotefend first examined the bas-reliefs at Persepolis, to ascertain the particular age of the Persian kings to which they belonged, in order that he might discover the names applicable to the inscription. A reference to the Greek historians convinced him that he must look for the kings of the dynasty of the Ach?menides, and he accordingly applied176 their names to the characters of the inscriptions. "These names could obviously not be Cyrus and Cambyses, because the names occurring in the inscriptions do not begin with the same letter; Cyrus and Artaxerxes were equally inapplicable, the first being too short and the latter too long; there only remained therefore the names of Darius and Xerxes;" and these latter agreed so exactly with the characters, that Mr. Grotefend did not hesitate to select them. The next step was to ascertain what these names were in the old Persian language, as they come to us through the Greek, and would of course differ somewhat from the original. The ancient Zend, as preserved in the Zendavesta, furnished the only medium through which the desired information could be obtained.[88][70] He next ascertained177 that Xerxes was called Kshershe or Ksharsha; and Darius, Dareush. A farther examination gave him the name of Kshe or Ksheio for 'king.'[71] The places or groups of characters corresponding with these names, were then[89] analyzed178 and the value of each character ascertained. These were then applied to other portions of the inscriptions, and led to the translation of two short ones, as well as to the formation of a considerable portion of the alphabet.
Such was the result of Professor Grotefend's labors up to the year 1833. His first discovery was made and announced as early as 1802, but an account of his system of interpretation140 did not appear until 1815, in the appendix to the third German edition of Heeren's Researches. This was afterwards enlarged in the translation of Heeren published at Oxford in 1833, when it was first made known to English readers. In 1837 he published a treatise containing an account of all the Persepolitan inscriptions in his possession, and another in 1840 on those of Babylon.
The brilliant success which attended Grotefend's earlier efforts, soon attracted the attention of other philologists to the subject. M. Saint Martin read a memoir before the Asiatic Society of Paris in 1822, but did not make any additions to our previous knowledge. Professor Rask next took it up, and discovered the value of two addi[90]tional characters. M. Burnouf followed in 1836, with an elaborate memoir, in which he disclosed some important discoveries.[72] Professor Lassen, in his Memoir published in 1836, and in a series of papers continued up to the present day,[73] has identified at least twelve characters, which had been mistaken by all his predecessors179, and which, says Maj. Rawlinson, "may entitle him almost to contest with Professor Grotefend the palm of alphabetical180 discovery."
In 1835, Major Rawlinson, then residing in Persia, turned his attention to the subject, and decyphered some of the proper names on the tablets at Hamadan. In the following year he applied himself to the great inscription at Behistun, the largest and most remarkable that is known in Persia, and succeeded in making out several lines of its contents.
The result of Major Rawlinson's first attempt at decyphering the Behistun inscription, was the identification of several proper names, and consequently the values of additional characters towards the completion of the alphabet.[74] But more was wanted than the alphabet, which only enabled the student to make out proper names, but not to advance beyond; and it was the lack of this knowledge which prevented the sagacious and indefatigable182 Grotefend from carrying out to any great extent, the discoveries which he had so well begun.[91]
The language of the inscriptions must next be studied; and as the Zend had been the medium through which the first links in the chain of interpretation had been obtained, it was naturally resorted to for aid to farther progress. The Zendavesta, with the researches of Anquetil du Perron, and the commentary at the Ya?na by M. Burnouf, wherein the language of the Zendavesta is critically analyzed, and its grammatical structure developed, furnished the necessary materials. To the latter work, and the luminous183 critique of M. Burnouf, Major Rawlinson owes the success of his translations; as he acknowledges that by it he "obtained a general knowledge of the grammatical structure of the language of the inscriptions."
But the Zend was not of itself sufficient to make out all the words and expressions in the Behistun and other inscriptions. Other languages contemporary with that of the inscription and of the Zend must be sought for, to elucidate184 many points which it left obscure.[75] The Sanscrit was the only one laying claim to a great antiquity, whose grammatical structure was sufficiently developed to render it useful in this enquiry. A knowledge of this language had previously185 been acquired by Major Rawlinson, and he was therefore fully7 prepared for the arduous task he had undertaken. Neither of these, it must be observed, was the language of the inscriptions, which it is believed had ceased to be a living form of speech, at the period when the Sanscrit and Zend were in current use.[92]
It is unnecessary to note in detail the difficulties and great labor attending the decyphering of the Behistun tablets, on which Major Rawlinson was occupied from time to time during a space of ten years. His discoveries were announced in London, in a memoir read before the Royal Asiatic Society in 1839, but were not published in extenso until 1846.
Briefly to sum up the results of his labors, it will suffice to state that they present "a correct grammatical translation of nearly four hundred lines of cuneiform writing, a memorial of the time of Darius Hystaspes, the greater part of which is in so perfect a state as to afford ample and certain grounds for a minute orthographical186 and etymological187 analysis, and the purport188 of which to the historian, must be of fully equal interest with the peculiarities of the language to the philologist168." In a few cases it may be found necessary to alter or modify some of the significations assigned; but there is no doubt but that the general meaning of every paragraph is accurately determined189, and that the learned Orientalist has thus been enabled "to exhibit a correct historical outline, possessing the weight of royal and contemporaneous recital190, of many[93] great events which preceded the rise and marked the career of one of the most celebrated of the early sovereigns of Persia."
Such is the history of this great discovery, which has placed the name of Major Rawlinson among the most distinguished Oriental scholars of the age. He will rank among the laborers191 in cuneiform writing, where Champollion does among the decypherers of Egyptian hieroglyphics192; for though, like Champollion, he did not make the first discoveries in his branch of Pal49?ography, he is certainly entitled to the honor of reducing it to a system, by ascertaining the true powers of a large portion of the alphabet, and by elucidating its grammatical peculiarities, so that future investigators193 will find little difficulty in translating any inscription in the particular class of characters in question.
The cuneiform (wedge-shaped) or arrow-headed character is a system of writing peculiar to the countries between the Euphrates and the Persian frontier on the East. Various combinations of a figure shaped like a wedge, together with one produced by the union of two wedges, constitute the system of writing employed by the ancient Assyrians, Babylonians, Medes, and the Ach?menian kings of Persia. The character seems to have been as extensively employed in this portion of the world, as the Roman letters now are in Europe. Particular arrangements or combinations of these characters apparently194 belonged to different nations, speaking different languages. When and where this system of writing originated is not known. Professor Westergaard[76] thinks that "Babylon was its cradle, whence it spread in two branches, eastward195 to Susiana, and northward196 to the Assyrian empire, from whence it passed into Media, and[94] lastly into ancient Persia, where it was much improved and brought to its greatest perfection."
Major Rawlinson makes of the arrow-headed writing three great classes or divisions, the Babylonian, Median and Persian. The first of these he thinks is unquestionably the oldest. "It is found upon the bricks excavated198 from the foundations of all the buildings in Mesopotamia, Babylonia, and Chaldea, that possess the highest and most authentic199 claims to antiquity;" and he thinks it "not extravagant200 therefore to assign its invention to the primitive201 race which settled in the plain of Shinar."[77] In the recent excavations202 made by M. Botta and Mr. Layard, on or near the site of ancient Nineveh, numerous inscriptions in this form of the arrow-head character were found. It also occurs in detached inscriptions from the Mediterranean203 to the Persian mountains.
A comparison of the various inscriptions in the Babylonian class of writing has led Major Rawlinson to believe that it embraces five distinct varieties, which he calls the Primitive Babylonian, the Ach?menian Babylonian, the Medo-Assyrian, the Assyrian, and the Elym?an.[78] The peculiarities of these several varieties, with the countries in which they are found, are pointed out in the second chapter of our author's learned Memoir on cuneiform writing. The Median and Persian classes are peculiar to the trilingual tablets of Persia, and are better known than the first class or Babylonian.
Mr. Westergaard[79] divides the cuneiform writing into five classes: the Assyrian; the Old Babylonian; and the three kinds on the trilingual tablets of Persia, which embrace the Median and Persian varieties, and the one called by Rawlinson the Ach?menian Babylonian.
The history we have already given of the progress made[95] in decyphering these characters applies exclusively to one of the varieties on the tablets of Persia. The inscriptions on these monuments are almost invariably repeated in three sets of characters, and doubtless in three different languages. The characters of what appears in each case to be the primary or original inscription, of which the others are translations, are of the simplest construction, and consequently were the first to attract the attention of decypherers, and to yield to their efforts. The language in which they are written has been found to exhibit close affinities204 both to the Sanscrit and to the Zend, and is now termed by philologists the Old Persian. The system of writing is alphabetic181, that is to say, each character represents a single articulate sound; whereas that of the other two species is at least in a great measure syllabic, which renders the task of decyphering them much more difficult.
For our knowledge of the second variety of characters on the Persian trilingual tablets, we are indebted to the labors and sagacity of Professor Westergaard.[80] These characters had remained entirely undecyphered until the first kind had been completely made out. It was evident that the inscriptions in the second kind of character were but a translation of those in the first; and with this supposition, this learned Orientalist began the task of decyphering, by identifying the proper names Darius, Hystaspes, Cyrus, Xerxes, Persians, Ionians, &c., which frequently occur in the inscriptions decyphered by Major Rawlinson. Having obtained these, he next analyzed each and ascertained the phonetic205 values of the several characters of which they are composed. By[96] this means, he was enabled to construct an alphabet. He next examined the introductory words and the titles of the sovereigns, and finally the entire inscriptions, all of which he has most satisfactorily made out, and with them has reconstructed the language in which they are written. In his learned and elaborate article detailing the process of this discovery, Professor Westergaard gives a systematic206 classification of the characters, one hundred in number, of which seventy-four are syllabic, twenty-four alphabetic, and two signs of division between words. The character of the language, which for convenience sake he terms Median, he does not pretend to decide, though he considers that it belongs to the Scythian rather than to the Japhetic class of languages; in which opinion Major Rawlinson coincides. The Oriental Journal alluded to in the second note to p. 90, contains several learned papers by Professors Westergaard and Lassen, on the arrow-headed inscriptions.
In the third sort of Persepolitan characters, termed the Ach?menian Babylonian, some advances have been made by Major Rawlinson. The contents of the other portions of these tablets being known, he pursued the course adopted by Professor Westergaard, namely that of identifying the groups of characters corresponding with the proper names in the other inscriptions. He has thus been enabled to ascertain the phonetic values of a large number of characters which must in time lead to a knowledge of the rest of the alphabet. A beginning in this direction was also made by Professor Grotefend, who in his Memoirs207 of 1837 and 1840, singles out and places in juxtaposition208 the names of Cyrus, Hystaspes, Darius and Xerxes, in the first and third species of Persepolitan writing. There is every reason to hope that the labors of the three accomplished Oriental scholars, Rawlinson, Lassen, and Westergaard, which have been so far crowned with success, will add to their fame by making out the characters and language of this species of[97] writing also. A high degree of interest is attached to it, not only on account of the information it embodies209, but in regard to the nation to which it is assignable.
It will be recollected210, that besides these three sorts of Persepolitan writing, there are two other distinct classes of arrow-head characters, called Babylonian and Assyrian. Little or nothing has yet been accomplished towards decyphering them; which is owing to the fact that they are of a very complicated nature, and that they have hitherto been found alone, that is to say not accompanied by a version in any other language or character. A Parisian savant, M.J. L?wenstern, who has applied himself to the study of the Assyrian tablets, published in 1845 an Essay on the monument recently discovered by M. Botta at Khorsabad near Mosul, in which he thinks he has made out the groups which stand for the words great king, and also several alphabetical characters. Further investigations can alone determine whether or not his conclusions are correct.
It will be necessary to state some of the historical facts brought to light by the labors of Major Rawlinson, to which we have alluded. The great tablet at Behistun relates exclusively to Darius. "To this monarch," says Major Rawlinson, "insatiable in his thirst of conquest, magnificent in his tastes, and possessed of an unlimited power, we are indebted for all that is most valuable in the pal?ography of Persia. Imbued211, as it appears, with an ardent212 passion for monumental fame, he was not content to inscribe213 the palaces of his foundation at Persepolis with a legend commemorative of their erection, or with prayers invoking214 the guardianship215 of Ormuzd and his angels, but he lavished216 an elaborate workmanship on historic and geographic93 records in various quarters of his empire, which evince considerable political forethought, an earnest regard for truth, and an ambition to transmit the glories of his reign to future generations, to guide their conduct and invite their emulation. At Persepolis, the high place[98] of Persian power, he aspired217 to elevate the moral feelings of his countrymen, and to secure their future dominancy in Asia, by displaying to them their superiority over the feudatory provinces of the empire,[81] while upon the sacred rock of Baghistan, he addressed himself in the style of an historian, to collect the genealogical traditions of his race, to describe the extent and power of his kingdom, and to relate, with a perspicuous brevity worthy of imitation, the leading incidents of his reign. His grave relation of the means by which, under the care and favor of a beneficent Providence218, the crown of Persia first fell into his hands, and of the manner in which he subsequently established his authority, by the successive overthrow79 of the rebels who opposed him, contrasts strongly but most favorably with the usual emptiness of Oriental hyperbole."
The following are some of the translations from the great inscription at Behistun, which embraces upwards219 of four hundred lines in the arrow-headed characters. In Major Rawlinson's Memoir, are given fac-similes of the original inscriptions, a transcription of the same in Roman letters with an interlineal translation in Latin, and a translation in English. Accompanying these, is a critical commentary on each line, together with notes, rendering220 the whole as clear as possible.
"I am Darius, the great king, the king of kings, the king of Persia, the king of (the dependent) provinces, the son of Hystaspes, the grandson of Arsames, the Ach?menian.
"Says Darius the King:—My father was Hystaspes; of Hystaspes, the father was Arsames; of Arsames, the father was Ariyaramnes; of Ariyaramnes, the father was Teispes; of Teispes, the father was Ach?menes.
"Says Darius the King:—On that account, we have been called Ach?menians: from antiquity we have been unsubdued; from antiquity those of our race have been kings.
"Says Darius the King:—There are eight of my race who have been kings before me, I am the ninth; for a very long time we have been kings.
"Says Darius the King:—By the grace of Ormuzd, I am king; Ormuzd has granted me the empire.
[99]
"Says Darius the King:—These are the countries which have fallen into my hands—by the grace of Ormuzd, I have become king of them—Persia, Susiana, Babylonia, Assyria, Arabia, Egypt; those which are of the sea, Sparta and Ionia; Armenia, Cappadocia, Parthia, Zarangea, Aria37, Chorasmia, Bactria, Sogdiana, the Sac?, the Sattagydes, Arachosia, and the Mecians; the total amount being twenty-one countries.
"Says Darius the King:—These are the countries which have come to me; by the grace of Ormuzd, they have become subject to me—they have brought tribute to me. That which has been said unto them by me, both by night and by day, it has been performed by them.
"Says Darius the King:—Ormuzd has granted me the empire. Ormuzd has brought help to me until I have gained this empire. By the grace of Ormuzd, I hold this empire.
"Says Darius the King:— ... He who was named Cambyses, the son of Cyrus of our race, he was here king before me. There was of that Cambyses a brother named Bartius; he was of the same father and mother as Cambyses. Cambyses slew221 this Bartius. When Cambyses slew that Bartius, the troubles of the state ceased which Bartius had excited. Then Cambyses proceeded to Egypt. When Cambyses had gone to Egypt, the state became heretical; then the lie became abounding in the land, both in Persia and in Media, and in the other provinces."
He then goes on to speak of the rebellions in his dominions after the death of Cambyses, of the Magian who declared himself king, and that no one dared to resist him. He continues:
"every one was standing222 obediently around the Magian, until I arrived. Then I abode223 in the worship of Ormuzd; Ormuzd brought help to me. On the 10th day of the month Bagayadish, I slew the Magian and the chief men who were his followers224. By the grace of Ormuzd, I became king; Ormuzd granted me the sceptre."
He then says, he "established his race on the throne, as in the days of old," prohibited the sacrificial worship introduced by the Magian, and restored the old families to office,—all of which was accomplished by the aid of Ormuzd. The people of Susiana and Babylon then became rebellious225. He slew the leader of the former.
"Says Darius the King:—Then I proceeded to Babylon against that Natitabirus, who was called Nabokhadrosser (Nebuchadnezzar). The forces of Natitabirus held the Tigris; there they had come and they had boats. Then I placed [100]a detachment on rafts. I brought the enemy into difficulty; I assaulted the enemy's position. Ormuzd brought help to me; by the grace of Ormuzd, I succeeded in passing the Tigris. Then I entirely defeated the army of that Natitabirus. On the 27th day of the month of Atriyata, then it was that we thus fought."
Darius then continued his march to Babylon, where he was met by the army of Natitabirus; he gave him battle and defeated him, driving his army into the water. He then took Babylon. It would appear from what this monarch relates, that he had a pretty rebellious set of subjects, who took advantage of his absence at Babylon. The inscription continues.
"Says Darius the King:—whilst I was at Babylon, these are the countries that revolted against me; Persis, Susiana, Media, Assyria, Armenia, Parthia, Margiana, Sattagydia and Sacia.
He then gives the names of the rebellious leaders and of the officers sent to subjugate226 them; the forts, villages, or cities, where battles were fought; the day of the month when they took place, and the result, in every case, by the help of Ormuzd. One example will suffice. After speaking of the revolt of Armenia, the inscription continues.
"Says Darius the King:—Then Dadarses by name, an Armenian, one of my servants, him I sent to Armenia. I thus said to him: 'Greeting to thee, the rebel state that does not obey me, smite227 it.' Then Dadarses marched. When he reached Armenia, then the rebels having collected came before Dadarses arraying their battle ... by name, a village of Armenia, there they engaged. Ormuzd brought help to me; by the grace of Ormuzd, my forces entirely defeated that rebel army. On the 8th of the month Thurawahara, then it was a battle was fought by them."
In this manner we have the whole history of the reign of Darius king of Persia, who filled the throne 550 B.C. And it may truly be said that no monument of remote antiquity which has been preserved to modern times, at all equals it in importance. The inscriptions of Egypt are[101] far more ancient, but consist of fragments, which, excepting the tables of kings, do not throw much light on history. Nothing is more interesting in the details given by the Persian king of his successes, than his acknowledgment of an overruling power, a Supreme228 Being, who protected him and aided him in all his battles. From the closing part of this remarkable tablet, which consists of twenty paragraphs, we select the following.
"Says Darius the King:—This is what I have done. By the grace of Ormuzd have I achieved the performance of the whole. Thou whoever hereafter may peruse229 this tablet, let it be known to thee, that which has been done by me, that it has not been falsely related.
"Says Darius the King:—Ormuzd is my witness, that this record I have faithfully made of the performance of the whole.
"Says Darius the King:—By the grace of Ormuzd, there is much else that has been done by me that upon this tablet has not been inscribed230.... If thou publish this tablet to the world, Ormuzd shall be a friend to thee, and may thy offspring be numerous.
"Says Darius the King:—If thou shalt conceal231 this record, thou shalt not thyself be recorded; may Ormuzd be thy enemy, and mayest thou be childless.
"Says Darius the King:—As long as thou mayest behold232 this tablet and these figures, thou mayest not dishonor them; and if from injury thou shalt preserve them, may Ormuzd be a friend to thee, and may thy offspring be numerous, and mayest thou be long lived, and that which thou mayest do may Ormuzd bless for thee in after times."
The great inscription from which we have made these extracts, is sculptured in three languages, and in three different forms of the arrow-headed character, the particulars of which have been stated. There are a few imperfections and cracks in the stone which made certain words and sentences unintelligible234; these will be corrected when the other two inscriptions are decyphered. In the midst of these records is a piece of sculpture in relief, representing Darius followed by two of his officers, with his foot upon a man, who raises his hands before him, and nine other figures representing the rebellious leaders whom he had severally conquered. They are connected by a rope around their necks and have their hands tied behind, and are probably portraits of the persons they[102] represent. Beneath each is engraved236 his name, as in the extract given.
"This Natitabirus was an impostor: he thus declared, I am Nabokhadrosser, the son of Nabonidas; I am king of Babylon."
The discoveries of Professor Westergaard, to whom we are indebted for the key to the second or Median form of the arrow-headed character, require notice. This accomplished Orientalist, on his return from an arch?ological tour in India and Persia, under the patronage237 of the king of Denmark, brought with him, among other literary treasures, copies of a great number of inscriptions in the arrow-headed character. While in Persepolis he carefully examined all the inscriptions which those wonderful ruins still retain. Those which had already been published, he accurately compared with the original monuments, and the remainder he copied entire. This gentleman went thoroughly furnished with all the preparatory knowledge that could be gained in Europe to ensure success. He had shown himself by his publications to be an excellent Sanscrit scholar; besides which he had acquired as complete a knowledge of the Zend language as it is possible to do at present, and was well acquainted with all that had been effected in the way of decyphering the inscriptions. Having thus so greatly the advantage of his predecessors, Niebuhr, Ker Porter, and Rich, it is not to be wondered at that his transcripts238 are proportionably more accurate and complete.
It has long been known that all the inscriptions at Persepolis are triple, like those on the Behistun tablets, before described. Those of the first or simplest variety, have all been translated by Professor Lassen,[82] to whom Professor Westergaard transmitted them. Accompanying his translations are critical and explanatory remarks, proving[103] conclusively the correctness of his version. The inscriptions at and near Persepolis, relate to Xerxes. They do not possess the historical value that the tablets of his father do on the rocks of Behistun, but consist of praises of Ormuzd for blessings239 he had received, and of himself for the additions he made to the royal palace at Persepolis. The following is a translation of an inscription on the wall of an immense portal at Nakshi Regib, two miles from Persepolis.[83]
"Ormuzd (is) the great God. He created this earth; he created the heavens; he created mortals; he created the fortune of mortals. He made king Xerxes the only king of many, the only emperor of many.
"I Xerxes (am) the great king, the king of kings, the king of realms inhabited by many nations; the sustainer, the author of this great land; the son of king Darius, the Ach?menide.
"I (am) the noble Xerxes, the great king. By the will of Ormuzd, I have built this portal to be entered by the people. Let the Persians abide240, let them congregate241 under this portal, and in this palace—the palace which my father built for abiding242 in. By the will of Ormuzd we built them.
"I (am) the noble king Xerxes. Protect me O Ormuzd; and also this kingdom, and this my palace, and my father's palace protect, O admirable Ormuzd."
No inscriptions have yet been found in Persia of Artaxerxes, the first son of Xerxes. A vase, however, was discovered at Venice by Sir J.G. Wilkinson, bearing an inscription in hieroglyphics, and in the three species of arrow-headed characters so common in Persia. This vase and its inscriptions have been examined by M. Letronne and M. Longpérier, who do not hesitate to ascribe it to Artaxerxes the first, or Longimanus, whose names and titles have been made out both in the hieroglyphics and cuneiform characters.[84]
An inscription of great historical interest of Artaxerxes the third, has been found at Persepolis.[85] It is in only one[104] species of the Ach?menian writing, and is noticed by Prof. Westergaard as exhibiting "a most remarkable change and decay which the language must have undergone in the interval243 between the reigns152 of Xerxes and this monarch." In a philological244 point of view, this fact is interesting as showing so early a decline of the Persian language.
But the most important part of this inscription consists of the genealogy245 of Artaxerxes the third, from Arsama, the Greek Arsames, the father of Hystaspes, completely agreeing with that given by Grecian historians. In this as well as in all the other inscriptions thus far decyphered, Ormuzd is invariably invoked246; he is called upon to aid them, and the several sovereigns acknowledge their gratitude247 to him as to an all-protecting Providence for the blessings received.
Nineveh. We have received from M. Mohl, of Paris, an account of the researches of MM. Botta and Flandin,[86] on or near the site of ancient Nineveh.
This volume contains letters from M. Botta, giving the details of his discoveries, accompanied by fifty-five plates of sculptures, statues, and inscriptions. He penetrated248 into the interior of a large mound249, where he found a series of halls and chambers250, the walls of which were covered with paintings and relievos representing historical events, and scenes illustrating252 the manners and customs of the Assyrians. The drawings and sculptures exhibit a higher state of art than the monuments of Egypt. The figures are remarkably253 well drawn254, both as it regards the anatomy255 and the costumes. The men appear to be more athletic256 than the Egyptians—they wear long hair combed smooth over the top of the head, and curled behind. The beard is also long and always curled. Their dresses are exceed[105]ingly rich and profuse118 in ornaments and trimmings. Ear-rings, bracelets257, and armlets, of various forms and elaborately wrought258, are seen on most of the figures both of the men and women. The discoveries made by M. Botta have induced others to explore the ground in that vicinity. An English traveller, Mr. Layard, has recently opened a mound many times larger than that excavated by the French. "It contains the remains of a palace, a part of which, like that at Khorsabad, appears to have been burnt. There is a vast series of chambers, all built with marble, and covered with sculptures and inscriptions. The inscriptions are in the cuneiform character, of the class usually termed Babylonian. It is possible that this edifice was built at an epoch259 prior to the overthrow of the Assyrian Empire by the Medes and Babylonians under Cyaxares. Many of the sculptures discovered by Mr. Layard are, even in the smallest details, as sharp and fresh as though they had been chiselled260 yesterday. Among them is a pair of winged lions with human heads, about twelve feet high. They form the entrance to a temple. The execution of these figures is admirable, and gives the highest idea of the knowledge and civilization of the Assyrians. There are many monsters of this kind, lions and bulls. The other reliefs consist of various divinities, some with eagles' heads—others entirely human but winged—with battle-pieces and sieges."[87]
Other letters from Mr. Layard of a later date than that just mentioned, announce new discoveries. "Another mine has been opened at Nimroud; and every stroke of the pick-axe brings new wonders to light." Old Nineveh, whose very existence had become little better than a vague historic dream, is astonishing the world by her[106] buildings her sculptures, and her many thousands of inscriptions, which have been brought to light by the explorations of Mr. Layard.[88] "He has opened fourteen chambers and uncovered two hundred and fifty sculptured slabs262. The grand entrance previously described led him into a hall above two hundred and fifty feet long and thirty broad—entirely built of slabs of marble covered with sculptures. The side walls are ornamented263 with bas-reliefs of the highest interest—battles, sieges, lion-hunts, &c.; many of them in the finest state of preservation, and all executed with extraordinary spirit. They afford a complete history of the military art of the Assyrians; and prove their intimate knowledge of many of those machines of war, whose invention is attributed to the Greeks and Romans—such as the battering264 ram44, the tower moving on wheels, the catapult, &c. Nothing can exceed the beauty and elegance of the forms of various arms, swords, daggers265, bows, spears, &c. In this great hall are several entrances, each formed by winged lions, or winged bulls.[89] These lead to other chambers; which again branch off into a hundred ramifications266. Every chamber251 is built of marble slabs covered with sculptures or inscriptions." The excavations thus far only extend to one corner of a great mound, the largest on the plain, measuring about one thousand eight hundred feet by nine hundred. The wonders that may be brought to light from a more complete survey of this vast heap of ruins, will be looked forward to with intense interest.
All are familiar with the accounts of the building of this city by Asshur, (whence the name Assyria), and of the first[107] empire under Nimrod. In this short record we have the first traces of political institutions and of great cities. They burst upon us, and as suddenly disappear from the world's history for more than a thousand years. A learned author of the last century[90] has endeavored to throw distrust on all that the Greek writers have written about these countries, because in the Persian historians he could not recognise the great Cyrus and other prominent characters which fill important places in the Grecian annals. But the revelations already made through the arrow-headed inscriptions must remove these doubts, as they substantiate267 in a remarkable degree the assertions of the Greek writers. The observations of a learned Orientalist are so well adapted to this subject that I cannot forbear quoting them. "The formation of mighty268 and civilized269 states being admitted even by our strictest chronologers to have taken place at least twenty-five centuries before our era, it can but appear extraordinary, even after taking into account violent revolutions, that of so multitudinous and great existences, only such scanty270 documents have come down to us. But, strange to say, whenever a testimony271 has escaped the destruction of time, instead of being greeted with a benevolent272 though discerning curiosity, the unexpected stranger is approached with mistrustful scrutiny273, his voice is stifled274 with severe rebuke275, his credentials276 discarded with scorn, and by a predetermined and stubborn condemnation277, resuscitating278 antiquity is repelled279 into the tomb of oblivion."[91]
A journey of much interest was undertaken by Dr. Robert in 18_3, who was directed by the French government to continue, in the west of the Himalaya range and the high region adjacent, the geographical, physical, and ethnographical observations which had been begun by M. Jaquemont. The latest accounts from this intrepid280 tra[108]veller left him in the inaccessible281 valleys of Chinese Tartary, from whence it was his intention to pass through Turkestan, for the purpose of entering China on the north.[92]
In the same distant region we hear of the journeys of H.R.H. Prince Waldemar, of Prussia (cousin to the king). "Consulting only his ardor for science, and burthened with the usual load carried by a traveller on foot, he scaled the lofty Himmalayah, crossed the frontier of the Celestial282 Empire, and reached the table-land of Thibet."[93] The prince has already transmitted a large collection of objects of natural history, many of which are new, to Berlin. It is his intention to return to Europe by way of Affghanistan, Persia, and Asia Minor.
The following list embraces the late works on Assyria and Persia, as well as those relating to the arrow-head inscriptions.
The Persian Cuneiform Inscriptions at Behistun, decyphered and translated; with a Memoir on Persian cuneiform inscriptions in general, and on that of Behistun in particular, by Major H.C. Rawlinson, 8vo., in the journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. Vol. 10. London, 1846.
On the Decyphering of the second Ach?menian or Median species of Arrow-headed Writing; by N.L. Westergaard, 8vo., in the Mémoires de la Société Royale des Antiquaires du Nord. Copenhagen, 1844.
Lettres de M. Botta sur les Découvertes à Khorsabad, près de Ninive, publiées par36 M.J. Mohl, 8vo., with 56 plates. Paris, 1845.
Essai sur la Numismatique des Satrapies et de la Phénicie, sous les rois Ach?menides, par H. de Luynes, 4to. Paris, 1846.
The Manual, Formation and early Origin of the Hebrew letters and points, demonstrated and explained; also an Elucidation283 of the so-called Arrow-headed or Cuneiform characters. 8vo. London, 1847.
Essai de Déchiffrement de l'écriture Assyrienne pour servir à l'explication du Monument de Khorsabad. Par J. L?wenstern. 8vo. Paris, 1846.
Die Grabscrift des Darius zu Nakschi Rustum erl?utert. Von F. Hitzig. Zurich, 8vo. 1846.
Remarks on the Wedge Inscription recently discovered on the upper Euphrates by the Prussian engineer, Capt. Von Mülbach. Being a commentary on certain fundamental principles in the art of decyphering the "cuneatic" characters of the ancient Assyrians, by G.F. Grotefend. 8vo. In the papers of the Syro-Egyptian Society. Vol. I. London, 1845.
Voyage en Perse. de MM. Eugene Flandin et P. Coste. Recueil d'Architecture ancienne, Bas reliefs, inscriptions cuneiformes et Pehlvis, plans topographiques et vues pittoresques. Folio. 250 plates and text.
This magnificent work, the result of an expedition sent out by order of the French government, under the directions of the Institute, and now published by a commission of savans, consisting of Messrs Burnouf, Le Bas, and Leclerc, is in the course of publication. It will unquestionably be the most complete work ever published on this interesting country and will include the antiquities of Babylon and Nineveh.
G.F. Grotefend, Neue Beitr?ge zur Erl?uterung der Persopolitanischen Keilschrift, nebst einem Anhange über die Vollkommenheit der ersten Art-derselben. Hanover, 1837.
G.F. Grotefend, Neue Beitr?ge zur Erl?uterung der Babylonischen Keilschrift, nebst einem Anhange über die Beschaffensheit des ?ltesten Schriftdruck. Hanover, 1840.
The valuable Oriental Journal edited by Prof. Lassen, entitled "Zeitschrift für die Kunde des Morgenlandes," contains many papers of great interest on these subjects.
[109]
Siberia. To the love of science which the enlightened Emperor of Russia, has always manifested, we are indebted for an expedition, the most successful which has yet been undertaken for the exploration of the northern and eastern parts of Siberia. The results of this extensive exploration of a region not before examined by scientific men, are of the greatest interest to science, and have earned for its distinguished and undaunted leader, Prof. Von Middendorff, the applause of the savans of Europe. Not having seen any detailed284 account of this journey, I am indebted to Sir R. Murchison for some particulars of its results.[94]
The expedition traversed the whole extent of Siberia, from east to west, and from south to north, even to the extreme northern headland of Taimyr. "Undaunted by the severe privations he had undergone in obtaining his knowledge of the far northern lands of Siberia, he next undertook the not less arduous task of traversing the whole of that vast continent to the Shantar Isles285, at its southeastern extremity, and thence to return to Nertchinsk, along the Chinese frontier. His journey through thickly-wooded rocks, deep morasses286 and over swollen287 rivers,[110] was so successfully accomplished, that the stores he has brought back to St. Petersburgh, will fully lay open the Fauna288 and Flora289 of a region never previously explored by a man of science."
"Floating down the sea of Okotsk from Udskoi in frail290 canoes, M. Middendorff and his friends, braving shoals of floating ice and perpetual rains, reached Nitka on the great Shantar island. The wild regions which were traversed, in many parts could only be threaded by following the tracks formed by bears beneath the dense291 matting of underwood and birch trees" In his return journey, he examined the frontier line of China, a tract never explored even by a Cossack, and ascertained that between the Udskoi of the Russians and the mouth of the Amur, there is a considerable tract quite independent both of Russia and China, and occupied by a people called Guilaiques, who pay no tribute to either Emperor.
In addition to the several arduous journeys performed by this intrepid traveller and his companions, many questions hitherto unsolved were investigated and much new light added to our previous knowledge on these respective points. One was the real state of the question of the frozen subsoil of Siberia. "By placing thermometers at various depths in the shaft292 at Yakutsk, he has found that at its bottom, or at 382 feet below the surface, the cold is 2° 4" Réaumur, and that it is probable the frozen subsoil reaches to the great depth of about 600 feet! Notwithstanding this extraordinary phenomenon, the lateral293 extent of which has still to be determined, it appears that the culture of rye succeeds perfectly294 under favorable local conditions in those regions, and that the crops of grain are more abundant than in Livonia!" M. Middendorff has also thrown new light on the boreal range of vegetation. He has ascertained "that whilst rye, turnips295, beets296, and potatoes grow on the Yenisei to latitude297 61° 40', indigenous298 plants, requiring less warmth, flourish much farther north, and that even trees with vertical[111] stems reach to about 72° north latitude, in that parallel of longitude299!" This fact will show that geographers300 can no longer mark the limit of vegetation by a rectilinear zone, but must accommodate such line to climatological and local conditions.
In regard to the mammoths, the fossil bones of which have been found in Siberia, M. Middendorff has shown that, in accordance with the views of Professor Owen, (who states that these quadrupeds were specially301 organized to live on the branches and leaves of such shrubs302 and trees as grow in boreal latitudes) there are still trees in latitude 72° which would suffice for their sustenance303.
The Ethnology of this region has been elucidated304 by our traveller, who by investigating the languages and physical characteristics of these remote tribes, has been enabled to affiliate305 them with their parent stocks.
Our knowledge of the geology and geography of the northern and southeastern extremities306 of Siberia have been greatly extended by this journey; in fact no enquiry for the advancement of science and a knowledge of this far distant and hitherto unknown region, seems to have been neglected.[95]
Another scientific expedition of an Ethnological character is employed in Siberia under the direction of M. Castren, who has devoted much of his first report to the geography of the country. After speaking of the river Irtisch and its fisheries, he gives some account of the Ostiaks, the most ancient people of its banks. Surrounded by Russians and Tartars, they have lost all their nationality except their language. The Tartar influence is feeble, but that of Russia is felt in their religion, their manners, their customs and even in their general mode of thinking.
A paper containing "Ethnological Notes on Siberia," by[112] Prof. Von Middendorff, was read at the late meeting of the British Association for the advancement of science. "In this paper, the geographical boundaries of the different tribes were set forth307, the tribes were enumerated308 and some of the characteristic peculiarities described. The 1st, was the Ostiaks; these were stated to be of Finnish origin, on both physiological309 and philological evidence. 2d, the Samoiedes, who were of Mongol descent. 3rd, the Tunguses. 4th, the Yakuts; the extent to which Mongol features were found in a nation speaking a language akin15 to Turkish, was insisted on. 5th, the Yukagins; the physical peculiarities of which placed them along with the Samoiedes. 6th, the Ainos; these were the inhabitants of the Kinule islands at the mouth of the Arnus; of these there were two types, the Finnish and the Japanese. 7th, the Kachkell; these were only known through the Ainos."
A geographical Society has lately been founded at St. Petersburg, to which the emperor proposed to give ten thousand silver rubles annually310. The first great exploratory expedition under the directions and patronage of this Society will be directed along the eastern flank of the Ural mountains, from the parallel of 60° north (Bogoslafsk) to the Glacial sea. This survey is to be conducted by Count A. Von Keyserling, already known to the public through his valuable geological co-operation in the work on Russia, by Sir R.I. Murchison; and who by his sound acquirements in geology, zoology311 and geography, will it is presumed, during the ensuing three years, throw great additional light on the wild Arctic Ural which separates Europe from Asia, and which, inhabited by Ostiaks and Samoiedes, extends beyond the limits of arboreal312 vegetation. Among numerous other objects, it is hoped that this expedition will elicit313 new results concerning the entombment and preservation of the mammoths.[113][96]
India. The obstacles which have existed in India, and which have retarded314 the extension of European civilization, will now be effectually removed by the noble step taken by Lord Hardinge, the Governor General, for promoting education in that country.[97] This benevolent and excellent man, whose well earned laurels315 on the field of battle are not more honorable than his philanthropic efforts in extending education among the natives of India, and in improving their social condition, "has directed the Council of Education and other authorities charged with the duty of superintending public instruction throughout the provinces subject to the government of Bengal, to submit returns of the students who may be fitted according to their degrees of merit and capacity, for such of the various public offices, as with reference to their age, abilities and other circumstances, they may be deemed qualified316 to fill." As this order recognizes no distinction of schools, or castes, or religion, it will have a great influence on the people, towards inducing them to give their children the benefit of a good education, which to a great extent must be obtained through the Christian missionaries317. "It is," says the Friend of India, "the most powerful impulse which the cause of education has received during the last twenty-five years. It makes the seminaries the nursery of the service, and the service the stimulant318 of the seminaries. It introduces the enlightened principles adopted by European governments, of recruiting the public service in every department from those who have earned distinctions in the public schools. At the same time it will be found instrumental in the highest degree in the general elevation319 of the country. It will transplant into the interior that European knowledge and science which has hitherto been confined to Calcutta, and diffuse320 their influence through every district."
The renunciation of idolatry must necessarily follow the[114] first steps in this great work of reform, and we already see it noticed that in southern India, within the short period of three months, eight hundred and thirty-two persons renounced321 idolatry and embraced Christianity. This large number was a part of the population of seven villages.[98]
Such changes are not without their effects on the great mass of the natives, indeed it is only by removing from their minds the gross superstition322 in which they have been for ages immersed, that there can be a hope of improving their social condition. The wealthy Hindoos cling to their ancient religion with greater tenacity323 as it totters324 towards its downfall, than when in its most flourishing state. Alarmed at the innovations which European civilization and Christianity have made, they are printing by subscription325, a series of popular religious books in monthly numbers, on their doctrines326, rites72, superstitions327 and idolatry. Fearing that the Europeans and such as have been taught to observe these things with ridicule328, might controvert329 them, they have confined the subscription to Hindoos, and have directed that their books shall be rigidly331 kept from the hands of Christians332.
The Mahommedans too, in Bengal, are greatly alarmed at the danger to which their religion is exposed. They have prepared tracts233 and books in opposition333 to Christianity, and have sent, or are sending emissaries in every direction, with a view to strengthen the tottering334 cause of their false prophet.[99] A Mahommedan merchant in Bombay has printed at his own expense, two thousand copies of the Koran for gratuitous335 distribution, at a cost of several thousand dollars.
In former times the efforts of the missionaries were directed to proselyting among the Hindoos and other idolaters of the East, without first making themselves acquainted[115] with the fabric336 which they were laboring337 so earnestly to demolish338. Nursed and educated as the natives were in the doctrines and superstitions which for ages their forefathers339 had venerated340 and professed341, the efforts of the missionaries and of others who labored342 to improve their condition were unattended with success—and a conflict between Oriental and European civilization—between Hindooism and Christianity—between the false science of the shastres and the enlightenment of Europe, for a long time existed; and it seemed doubtful whether truth or falsehood would triumph. Now, the system is changed, and a course is pursued which bids fair to produce the most wonderful effects on the people of India and China.
It has been asserted that the missionary343 enterprise in India was a failure, and did not warrant the large sums expended344 there. Those who are unfriendly to the cause do not see that more than half the amount there expended was for educating the people, for improving their social condition, for translating valuable books into their various languages and for establishing among them that mighty engine of civilization and reform, the printing press.[116][100]
But it is not merely in the translation and distribution of these books, that the missionaries have rendered so much service. In this labor it is true they have contributed greatly towards disseminating345 Christian truth and useful knowledge among a large class of people, and have improved their religious, their moral and their social condition. But to Europe and to the learned world they have also furnished a vast deal of philological knowledge, elucidating and developing languages scarcely known beyond the precincts of the several countries in which they were spoken. Many of these languages, too, were previously unwritten; and from this rude state the missionaries have trained and moulded them into forms adapted to written speech.
While speaking of the labors of the missionaries in the East, I should do great injustice346 to Catholics not to speak of their efforts to improve the moral and religious condition of the people in these distant countries. In the most[117] barbarous and secluded347 portions of the earth do we find these devoted men diligently348 laboring to elevate the condition of the natives. In many do we see a zeal and devotedness349, an endurance of hardships, of the most severe privations, and often martyrdom itself, which has never been surpassed in the annals of missionary enterprise. Neither Fran?ois Xavier, nor Ignatius Loyola, so famous among the pioneers of the Eastern missions, ever exhibited a greater zeal or devotedness than we now witness among the Catholic missionaries in Thibet, China, Corea, the islands of the Eastern Archipelago and Oceanica. They too have added much to our stock of knowledge of the inhabitants, their manners and customs, and their languages. Their narratives350 give us particular accounts of the productions of the countries in which they reside, their trade, commerce, and all that interests us.
Siam. An interesting fact connected with the progress of European civilization, and the extension of Christianity in the kingdom of Siam, seems deserving of notice in this place. It was communicated by the American Mission in that country.
"The king of Siam despatched one of his ships to Ceylon about the close of last year, to carry back some Ceylonese Boodhists whom he had invited to Siam, two or three years before, and also to send a fresh ecclesiastical embassy to that island—regarded by all Boodhists as very sacred—to make further religious researches in the primitive nursery of their faith. That embassy fulfilled its mission, and returned to Siam in June, bringing a letter to his Majesty352 from a high priest of Boodh in Ceylon, written in English, and stating in substance, that the religion of Boodh had become almost extinct in Ceylon, chiefly through the influence of the Christian religion, and the schools and seminaries of the missionaries and English residents in that part of the world; and that, if some aid from abroad could not be obtained to prop146 up crumbling353 Boodhism in that island, it must soon become utterly354 ex[118]tinct. The writer expressed much pain at the thought, that the very birth place of his religion should not have some permanent witness of it; and requested that his Majesty, in his pious129 zeal for Boodhism, would send him funds, with which he might build a Wat (Religious house) and support priests in honor of his god. He suggested that this would be a noble work for a great king, and one that would confer upon him the highest honors of Boodhism."[101]
The following list embraces the recent works on India.
Travels in the Kashmir and the Punjab; containing a particular account of the Sikhs. From the German of Baron Hugel, with notes by Major Jervis, royal 8vo. London, 1846.
The Punjaub; being a brief account of the country of the Sikhs, its extent, history, commerce, productions, religion, &c., to the recent campaign of the Sutelege. By Lt. Col. Steinbach, post, 8vo. London, 1846.
A Peep into Turkistan; by Capt. R. Burslem, 8vo. London, 1846.
Travels in the Punjab, Affghanistan and Turkistan, to Balk136, Bokhara and Herat, by Mohan Lal, 8vo. London, 1846.
History of the Punjab, and of the rise, progress and present condition of the Sikhs, 2 vols. post, 8vo. London, 1846.
The history of the Sikhs, with a personal narrative of the war between the British and the Sikhs. By W.L. McGregor, 2 vols. 8vo. London, 1847.
The Sikhs and Affghans, immediately before and after the death of Runjeet Singh. By Shahamat Ali, post, 8vo. London, 1847.
The Hindoo Castes; or history, manners and customs of the 42 castes or sects356 of the Brahmins of British India, with highly colored plates: By E.A. Rodriguez, 24 numbers.
COCHIN-CHINA, CHINA, MANCHURIA, COREA, AND JAPAN.
Cochin-China. M. Hedde has published a few notices of a visit to Turon in Annam in 1844, on his passage from Singapore to Macao.[102] He represents the country as altogether in a wretched, declining condition, misgoverned and beggared by despotic officers, presenting a painful[119] contrast in its general prosperity with the Chinese empire. The present monarch is named Thieufri (or Yuen-fuh-siuen in Chinese) and succeeded his father Ming-ming or Minh-menh in 1841, but no improvement in the domestic or foreign administration of the government has taken place. Several Cochin-Chinese youth have been educated at Singapore, and the king purchased two steamers several years ago from the Dutch, but the natives probably were too little acquainted with the machinery357 and motive358 power to make the least use of them, as nothing has since been heard of them. The country is highly favored by its natural advantages and navigable rivers for maintaining a large population, but oppression on the part of the rulers and ignorance among the people, vitiate the sources of national prosperity. The port of Turon alone, is open in Annam for foreign trade, but no American vessels359 have been there for a cargo361 since Lieut. White's unsuccessful voyage in the Franklin in 1804. Capt. Percival of the U.S. ship Constitution anchored there in May, 1845, but no official account of his visit has been published, which if the rumors362 of his firing upon the town are true, is not strange. The Peacock and Enterprize also anchored there in 1836, but Mr. Roberts, the American diplomatic agent, was too ill to have any communications with the authorities.
China. The late war between England and China has directed the attention of other nations towards that empire in an unusual degree. Except the immediate355 details of the contest and the personal incidents connected with it, however, the works of those officers who have written upon that war, have not contained so much information as was expected by some, but quite as much as could be collected under the circumstances. The war was almost wholly a maritime363 one, confined to attacks upon cities and forts upon the coast and rivers, by both the army and navy, and few or none of the officers were acquainted with the language of the people, so that little[120] information could be obtained from those natives whom suspicion or terror did not drive away. The region around Ningpo, Chusan and the mouth of the Yangtsz kiang, has been described with more minuteness than any other part of the maritime provinces; and the careful survey of the coast from Amoy to Shanghai, with the Chusan and Pescadore archipelagoes by Captains Collinson, and Kellet and others, has left little to be done for the navigator's benefit, in making known the hydrography of this part of China. The general topography of China is, however, but little better known now than it was at the close of the general survey of the Jesuits in 1714, and their maps form the basis of the best extant.
The embassy sent by the French government in 1844, under M. Th. de Lagrené, to form a commercial treaty with China, was furnished on a most liberal scale with everything necessary to make the greatest improvement of the opportunities offered to examine into the mechanical arts and productions of the land. Four gentlemen were attached to the ambassador's suite364, to make inquiries365 into the various agricultural and mechanical arts of the Chinese, one of whom, M. Isidore Hedde, was especially designated to investigate everything relating to the growth and preparation of silk. In pursuance of this object, he visited the city of Tuchan fu, which lies a few miles northwest of Shanghai, and is the capital of the province of Kiangsu. This place is probably the second or third city in the empire, Canton or Hangchau fu being the only ones which can compete with it for wealth and beautiful manufactures. It lies in a highly cultivated region, and is connected with Peking and other large places, through the Grand canal and the Yangtsz kiang. M. Hedde went in a Chinese dress, and succeeded in visiting the principal buildings in the city, such as the provincial366 mint, the hall of examination, an establishment for the education of unhappy females destined367 for sale for the amusement of the opulent, and some manufactories.[121] The suburbs of Suchau, as is the case with most Chinese cities, exceed that part within the walls, and here he found most of the craftsmen368 in iron, ivory, gold, silver, wood, bone, horn, glass, earth, paper, cotton and silk. His errand being chiefly to examine the silken fabrics369, he noticed whatever was peculiar in spinning, dyeing and weaving, in the shops he entered. The Chinese have no such immense establishments as are found in this country, where large buildings accommodate an immense quantity of machinery and numerous workmen, but all their products are made by manual labor in small establishments. M. Hedde was struck with the immense population of the city and its environs, including a floating suburb of great extent, the whole comprising a population of not far from two millions. The Chinese census370 gives an average of over nine hundred souls to a square mile in the province of Kiangsu, and every opportunity which has been offered for examining it, has added new evidence to the truth of this statement, though closer investigation and further travel is necessary before we can give implicit371 reliance to the assertions made on this subject.
Two English missionaries have lately gone long journeys into the interior, but as Protestants have no coadjutors among the people away from the ports, who would be willing to receive and conceal them; and as their system of operations aims rather to impart a true knowledge of Christianity than to make many converts to a form of worship, these excursions have not been frequently made. One of the two here referred to, was across the country from Ningpo to Canton, by the same route Lord Macartney came, and the other was up the Yangtsz kiang. Two American missionaries visited the large city of Changchau fu near Amoy in 1844, where they were received with civility though not with kindness.
Mr. Robert Fortune, sent out to China by the Horticultural Society, has lately returned to England, with new plants of great beauty, and a large collection of botanical[122] and ornithological372 specimens, among which are doubtless many not heretofore described. Mr. Fortune visited all the ports, and made excursions in their neighborhoods, and his reception among the people was generally kind. The people in the cities of Ningpo and Shanghai, and their vicinities, compare favorably for their kindness and general courtesy, with the coarse mannered natives of Canton.
The opening of this great empire to the commercial enterprise of western nations, has given rise to anticipations373 of an extensive trade, and the importation of cotton and woolen374 fabrics during the last few years has been increasing; and if it was not for the abominable375 traffic in opium376, which is both impoverishing377 and destroying the Chinese, there would be every reason for believing the commerce with China would soon be one of the largest branches of trade. The principal articles in which it is most likely to increase are tea and silk, but there is a great assortment378 of other productions, which can be taken in exchange for the cloths, metals and wares379 of the west. Mr. Montgomery Martin for a short time colonial treasurer380 of Hongkong, has collected all the statistics bearing on this subject in his work, which will aid in forming an opinion on this point. Commercially, politically and religiously, the Chinese empire now presents a most interesting spectacle, and the experiment of regenerating381 it and introducing it into the family of nations, without completely disorganizing its present form of government and society, will constantly go on and attract still more and more the notice of Christendom. The probabilities at present are in favor of a successful issue, but it is impossible to contemplate382 the desolating383 effects of the use of opium, brought to the people in such quantities, without great apprehension384 as to the result. The lava385 like progress of the power of Great Britain in Asia, has just commenced on the borders of China, and when the country is drained of specie in payment for this drug, there is reason to fear[123] that the native government will be unable to carry on its operations and maintain its authority.
Corea. Since the extermination386 of the Catholic priests from Corea in 1839, the most rigid330 measures have been adopted to exclude all foreigners; in fact, the determination on the part of the government of Corea to prevent all intercourse387 between its people and those of other countries seems to have been adopted from its neighbor of Japan. These measures are even extended to the Chinese, against whom a strong natural antipathy388 exists, growing out of the persecutions formerly390 inflicted391 on the Coreans by them. Accurate descriptions of Europeans are kept at the various posts on the frontier, and from their well known characteristics they are easily distinguished. The Coreans themselves on leaving their country for China for purposes of trade, receive a passport, which on returning must be given back or they are not permitted to enter. Many Christians still remain in Corea, and though they are subject to persecution389, the minds of the people are well disposed towards the Christian religion. The literary class hold it in the highest estimation, and seem only to be waiting for the moment when they will be free to declare in its favor.[103]
Farther accounts from this country have lately appeared in the Annals of the Propaganda Society,[104] in a letter from Keemay Kim a native of Corea, and a Christian, who had just completed his studies at Macao in China. He was sent on a mission to the Christians in Corea, but owing to the vigilance observed on the frontiers of that country, was unable to enter it. Determined to persevere392 in the attempt, he posted on to Hoong-tchoong, a small frontier town near the mouth of a river which separates Corea from Manchuria, where he waited until the period arrived when the great fair was to take place at Kee-eu-Wen, the nearest town in Corea, four leagues distant.[124] "They supply the Coreans with dogs, cats, pipes, leather, stag's horns, copper393, horses, mules394 and asses197; and receive in exchange, baskets, kitchen utensils395, rice, corn, swine, paper, mats, oxen, furs and small horses." A few officers are permitted to trade every year, but they are closely guarded. All others who pass the frontier are made slaves or massacred at once. Our traveller here met a few Corean Christians in the immense crowd which had come to traffic, and whom he recognised by a badge previously agreed upon; but so great was the confusion and hurry on the occasion, added to the fear of being recognized, that the interview does not seem to have been productive of good, or increased our information of the people or country. Since the great persecution a few years since, the church had been at rest; and though a few converts had been made, the faithful had retired396 to the southern provinces for better security. They still entertained the idea of introducing a European missionary through the north, though with the knowledge that if discovered by the authorities, instant death would follow. Such is the zeal and perseverance397 with which these men pursue their philanthropic and Christian labors.
The fair to which allusion398 has been made, is thus described by our Corean. The traders cannot begin their operations until a signal is given, by hoisting399 a flag and beating the gong, "when the immense and densely400 packed crowd rush to the market place; Coreans, Chinese, and Manchus, are all mingled51 together. Each speaks in his own tongue, and so great is the uproar401 produced by this mass of people, that the echoes of the neighboring mountains repeat their discordant402 shouts."
"Four or five hours is the whole time allowed for buying and selling; consequently, the tumult403 which takes place, the quarrels which arise, the blows which are exchanged, and the plundering404 which goes on, give the place more the look of a city taken by storm and given up to pillage405, than that of a fair." At evening, when the[125] signal is given, the strangers are driven out by the soldiers with the points of their lances.
Manchuria. The vast regions of Manchuria, lying north of Corea to the Hing-an or Yablonoi mountains, and east of the Sialkoi to the ocean, are inhabited by various tribes speaking different dialects and subsisting406 principally by hunting and fishing. The Manchus are now the dominant race, but some of the tribes near the sea and in Taraka island, bear no tributary407 relations to them, if indeed they are much acquainted. Since the conquest of China, the Manchus have gone on steadily408 improving this part of their possessions by stationing agricultural troops at the principal ports of observation, and collecting the hunters around these points as much as possible. Criminals are also constantly banished409 there, who carry with them their arts, and by their industry both maintain themselves and set an example to the nomads410. The southern part called Shingking, has become well cultivated in many parts, and considerable trade is carried on at Kinchau with other parts of China.
Manchuria produces pulse, maize411, (Indian corn), millet412, barley413 and buckwheat; pulse, drugs and cattle, form the leading articles of trade. The climate of this country is so inhospitable, as to prove a serious obstacle in the way of its settlement and cultivation414.
The Manchus have no national literature; all the books written in their language are translations of Chinese works, made under the superintendence of the Academies at Moukden and Peking. Their written characters are derived415 from the Mongols, but have undergone many changes. The emperors have taken great pains to elevate their countrymen by providing them with the best books in Chinese literature, and compelling them to go through the same examinations before they can attain416 any office; but the numerical superiority of the Chinese and their active habits, give them so much the advantage, that except in their own country, the Manchus find it[126] difficult to preserve their native tongue to the second generation.
Mongolia. The last volume of the Annals of the Propaganda Society contains an interesting narrative of a journey into Mongolia, by the Rev. Mr. Huc.[105] This vast country, covering a million of square miles, consists of barren deserts and boundless417 steppes. In the limits allotted418 each corps419, there is seldom more than one town, where the chief resides. The people live in tents, without any permanent residence. They move from place to place, with the changes of the seasons, or when their immense herds420 of oxen, camels and horses have exhausted421 the grass around their encampment. To-day presents an animated422 scene of hundreds of tents, filled with an active population; the children playing as happy and contented423 as though surrounded with every luxury a civilized life affords; the women cooking their food and drawing water from a well just dug; and the men, mounted on horseback, are galloping424 over the plain, keeping their countless425 herds from straying away. To-morrow, this picturesque426 and animated scene will be changed to a dreary427 and forbidding desert. Men, flocks, and tents have vanished, and nought428 remains to mark the visit of this wandering race, but the curling smoke of their unquenched fires, or the birds of prey429 hovering430 over the carcase of some dying camel, or feeding on the remains of their late repast. The Mongols are irreclaimable nomads, though some tribes of them, as the Tsakhars, Ortous, and Solous, cultivate the soil. The four khanates of the Kalkas are called Outer Mongolia, and comprise within their borders, several well built towns, though none of any size, compared with the cities in China. Few Chinese have settled among the Mongols, except near the Great Wall, nor will they allow them to do so, as there is a deep antipathy between the two races. The Mongols of the present day have proba[127]bly made no advances in civilization over their ancestors in the days of Genghis and Kublai.
The approaches of the British power up the valley of the Sutlej, into the regions lying along the base of the western Himalayas, are such that they will ere long come in contact with Tibet through Ladak, and with Yarkand through Badakshan. But there is probably more geographical than ethnological information to be gained by traversing these elevated regions, where stupendous mountains and arid deserts offer nothing to tempt132 man from the fertile plains of India and China. Two Romish missionaries have lately arrived in Canton from H'lassa in Tibet, by the overland route through Patang in Sz'chuen to the capital of Kwangsi, and thence to Canton. This route has never been described by any traveller.
Lewchew Islands. This group of islands, including the Madjico sima, lying between it and Formosa, form a dependency of the principality of Satzuma, in the southwest of Japan, though the rulers are allowed a limited intercourse with China through Fuhchau fu. During the late war between England and China, the transport Indian Oak was lost on Lewchew,[106] August 14, 1840, and the crew were treated with great kindness, and provided with a vessel360, in which they returned to Chusan. Every effort was made by the authorities to prevent the officers and men from examining the island, but their kindness to the unfortunate people thus cast on their shores, made such an impression, that a mission to the islanders was determined upon in London, by some naval431 gentlemen connected with the expedition, and a society formed. The Rev. B.J. Bettelheim was appointed to the post, and had reached Canton in March, 1846. He afterwards proceeded on his voyage, and his journal received at Hongkong, from Napa, contains a few details of interest, but shows plainly that the authorities are decided432 in refusing to allow foreigners to settle in their territories.[128]
An attempt has been made by the Romish missionaries to establish a mission in this group.[107] The Rev. W. Forcade and an associate were left on Lewchew in May, 1844, and after a residence of fifteen months were able to transmit some notices of their treatment to the directors, through Sir Edward Belcher, R.N. who stopped at Napa in August, 1845. On their arrival, M. Forcade and his companion were conducted to their dwelling, where they were surrounded by a numerous guard under the control of officers, and attended by domestics, as they were told, "to charm their leisure moments." Their table was bountifully supplied, and everything they could ask to make them comfortable was granted them, except their liberty. Whenever they went abroad, they were accompanied by a guard, but allowed to hold no intercourse with the natives; they had not been able to proceed beyond twelve miles into the interior, but as far as they had opportunities of conversing433 with the natives, found them simple and courteous434 in their manners, and disposed to talk when not under surveillance. It is probable, however, that under such restraint as these gentlemen were placed, it is not likely that they had attained435 to such fluency436 in the language as to be able to hold very ready communication with natives met in this hasty manner. The intentions of the government were plain, however, not to allow them to disseminate437 their doctrines, (if it had learned their real object), nor, by intercourse with the people, become acquainted with their character, or the state of the country. No assistance was granted them in learning the language, and they were forbidden to adopt the native costume. Notwithstanding this opposition, they had been able to acquire a partial knowledge of the language, and to compile a vocabulary of six thousand words. Permission to preach the Christian religion was not granted them, lest, as the authorities said, the Chinese, to whom they are[129] tributary, would break off all intercourse; but the real reason was doubtless their fear of the Japanese. Yet these obstacles did not dishearten them, and they seem determined to persevere in their attempts, though it is not unlikely that when Mr. Bettelheim arrives, the authorities will take measures for deporting438 them all.
The Lewchewans are intimately connected with the Japanese. The language is the same, with unimportant dialectical variations, and Chinese letters and literature are in like manner cultivated by both. In personal appearance, however, the two people are very unlike. The Lewchewans are not on an average over five feet four inches high, slightly built, and approach the Malayan cast of features more than the Chinese. They are darker than the Chinese, and their mild traits of character, unwarlike habits, and general personal appearance, suggests the idea that they are akin to the aborigines of Formosa and Lu?onia by descent, while their proximity439 and subjugation440 to their powerful neighbors on the north and west, have taught them a higher civilization, and introduced arts and sciences unknown to their early conquerors441. When Lewchew was subjugated442 by the Japanese, it was agreed that embassies with tribute might be sent to Peking, and according to the Chinese account, they come to that court twice in three years.[108] The secretary or deputy embassador in 1841, was drowned in his passage from Peking to Fuhchau. This embassy is a source of considerable profit to the Lewchewans, for their junks, which are built on the Chinese model, have free entrance to Fuhchau, and all the goods they import and export, are passed without duty. The travelling expenses of the embassy to and from the capital are also defrayed, and permission is given them to study Chinese when in the country. This intercourse is therefore both honorable and profitable to the Lewchewans, but the Chinese are not allowed to[130] trade there, and the only act of sovereignty the emperor exercises, according to M. Forcade, is to send a delegate to sanction the accession of a new incumbent443 of the throne—whom, however, it would be ridiculous for him to refuse. He adds, "In conversation, if one is a stranger, the Lewchewans will be continually dwelling on China, they will boast about it, they will relate its history, they will describe its provinces and its cities; but Japan is never mentioned! Such are the words, but the facts are quite another thing."
The real character of the connection between Lewchew and Japan is not well ascertained. No Japanese officers are seen on landing, and the officers appointed to attend the people of the Indian Oak, exhibited the greatest alarm when a few were seen at a distance, while the party were taking a walk. The trade between the two countries is confined to the ports of Napa and Kagosima, between which the vessels of both nations pass; the junks from other parts of Japan are not permitted to resort to Napa, but it is not probable that the prince of Satzuma has the right of appointing the residents, or whatever authorities are sent thither444. M. Forcade says there were from ten to fifteen Japanese vessels in the port, but when the American ship Morrison was there, in 1837, there were only five. Lackered-ware, grass cloth, sugar, and earthen-ware, are exported to Kagosima, and a great assortment of metallic445 articles, cloths, provisions, and stationery446 taken in exchange. The country in the vicinity of Napa, and towards Shudi, the capital, is highly cultivated, and the people appear to be as well clothed, and possess as many of the comforts and elegancies of life as their neighbors. They still retain enough of their own customs, however, to distinguish them from the Japanese, even if their physical appearance did not point them out as distinct. M. Forcade says that there is reason for supposing Christianity to have been implanted in Lewchew at the same time it was introduced into Japan, but Lew[131]chew at that time seems to have been much less dependant447 upon Japan than subsequently; and it is not probable that much was done to proselyte its inhabitants. He mentions that a cross is cut on the end of the rampart where foreigners land, who are thus obliged to trample448 on this symbol; but no other visitors mention any such sculpture or custom. The landing place at Napa is a long stone jetty, stretching across the beach, which at low tide, prevents boats approaching the shore.
JAPAN.
This country has recently attracted increased attention on the part of commercial nations, and several foreign ships have lately appeared on the coasts, whose reception has only shown the vigilance of the authorities in taking every precaution neither to offend nor receive their unwelcome visitors. The Dutch and Chinese are still the only nations allowed to trade with the Japanese, and the news brought by the latter people of the troubles they have lately gone through with their foreign customers, has probably only more strongly convinced the siogoun and his ministers of the propriety449 of their seclusive450 policy. Nor is there much reason to doubt that the Chinese and Japanese have avoided the fate of the natives of Lu?onia, Java, and India, by shutting out foreigners from free access and intercourse with their people, and owing to their seclusion451, have remained independent to this day. The works of Siebold upon the natural history and political condition of the country and its inhabitants, are now slowly publishing in Paris, but with such luxury of execution as to place them beyond the reach of most persons who might be desirous to examine them. The visits of two American ships to the bay of Yedo, has directed the public eye again to the empire. The first was that of the whaler Manhattan, Captain Cooper, who was led to think[132] of going into the port by having taken eleven shipwrecked men off a small island near the Bonin islands, in April, 1845, lying southeast of Nippon. As he was going north, he fell in with a water-logged junk from Nambu, laden452 with rice and fish, from which he received eleven more, and soon after made the eastern coast in the principality of Simosa. Here he landed two men, and proceeding towards Cape King, landed two more, who made their way to Yedo. Owing to north winds, he was blown off the coast twice, and when he approached the estuary453 leading to the capital, he was taken in tow and carried up to the anchorage. Interpreters came off to the vessel, who could speak English sufficiently well to carry on an imperfect communication, who informed Captain Cooper that his wants would be supplied, but none of his company allowed to land. A triple cordon454 of boats was placed around the ship, consisting of upwards of a thousand small boats, displaying numerous flags, and containing as many armed men as if the country was in danger of attack. The ship was visited by crowds of natives of all ranks, who behaved with great decorum while gratifying their curiosity, but no trade was allowed. Many officers of high rank came on board and examined the ship, and took an inventory455 of every article belonging to the rescued seamen456, before they were allowed to land. The ship was gratuitously457 supplied with provisions and a few spars, to the value of about $500, but the captain was again and again enjoined458 not to return there on any account. When he inquired what he should do if he again came across the siogoun's subjects in like distress459, and exposed to a cruel death, he was told, "leave them to their fate, or take them where the Dutch can get them." The men rescued from starvation and death, were, however, deeply sensible of the kindness which had been shown them. After a stay of eight or ten days, Captain Cooper was towed out of the port, and down the bay to the coast, and the last injunction was only a repetition of the first order,[133] not to come again. This reception, though it presents no encouragement to hope for a relaxation460 of the policy, deemed by the siogoun at once his safety and his profit, is less likely to call for summary chastisement461 than the rude repulse462 the American ship Morrison received in 1837, when she entered the bay of Yedo on the same errand, and was driven away by cannon463 balls and armed gunboats.
Captain Cooper represents the country in this portion of it as clothed with verdure, and under a high state of cultivation. The proximity of the mountains in Idzu, produces constant showers, which covers the highest peaks with forests and shrubbery. Terrace cultivation is extensively practiced, and constant labor is demanded to supply subsistence to the dense population, who still at times suffer severely464 for want of food. The capital could not well be seen from the ship, and its enceinte was so filled with trees, that its dimensions could not accurately be defined. No towers or pagodas466 were seen elevating themselves above the dull monotony of the buildings. The harbor was covered with vessels, at anchor and moving about; some of them unwieldy, open-stern junks, designed for the coast trade, others light skiffs and boats, used for communicating with vessels in the harbor and the shore. The greatest part of the coasting trade centres at Yedo, owing to the large amount of taxes paid the siogoun in kind, and the supplies the princes receive from their possessions while they reside in the capital, both of which causes operate to develope the maritime skill of the people, and increase the amount of tonnage. The shortsighted policy which confines the energies and capital of a seagoing people like the Japanese, within their own shores is, however, less a matter of wonder than the despotic power which could compel them to stay at home two centuries ago, at a time when their merchants and agents were found from Acapulco to Bangkok.
The Japanese empire presents the greatest feudal467 gov[134]ernment now existing, and on that account is peculiarly interesting to the student of political science. In some respects, the people are superior to the Chinese, but are inferior in the elements of national wealth and progress. They belong to the Mongolian race, but are darker than the Chinese, and not as tall, though superior in stature468 to the Lewchewans. They approximate to the Kamtschatdales in their square build, short necks, large heads, and short lower limbs. They are of a light olive complexion469, but seldom exhibit a florid, ruddy countenance470.
Among the articles obtained from the junk by Captain Cooper, was a map of Japan, including part of Yesso. It is four feet square, drawn on the proportion of less than one degree to two inches, and contains the names of all the places there is room for. It is cut on wood, and painted to show the outlines of the chief principalities; the relative importance of the places is shown by writing their names in different shaped cartouches, but from the space occupied by the Chinese characters, there is probably not one-tenth of all the towns inserted. The distances between the principal points along the coast are stated, and on some of the leading thoroughfares inland. The map is evidently the original of Krusenstern's "Carte de Nippon," published by the Russian Board of Longitude, and is drawn up from trigonometrical surveys. The degrees of latitude bear the same numbers as upon European maps; the meridians471 are reckoned from Yedo. The existence of such maps among the people indicates that a good knowledge of their own country is far more extensively diffused472 than among the Chinese, whose common maps are a standing reproach to them, while they have others so much more accurate. The coast from Cape King northward to Simosa, for the space of two degrees, was found by captain Cooper to be better delineated upon this map than upon his own charts. These seas present a fine field for hydrographic surveys, and it would greatly advance the security of navigation on the eastern shores of[135] Asia, and redound473 to the honor of our own land, if the American government would despatch351 two small vessels to survey the seas and shores between Lu?onia and Kamtschatka.
The visit of Commodore Biddle to the bay of Yedo, has added nothing to our knowledge of its shores. His polite dismissal, and the refusal of the government to entertain any commercial relations with the Americans, only add force to the injunction to captain Cooper the year before, not to return, and shows more strongly that while the Japanese rulers are determined to maintain their secluded policy, they wish to give no cause for retaliatory474 measures on the part of their unwelcome visitors, and mean to keep themselves as well informed as they can upon foreign politics. The subject of foreign intercourse between the two great nations of Eastern Asia and Europeans since it commenced three centuries since, is an instructive one; and the general impression left upon the mind of the candid475 reader, is that foreign nations have themselves chiefly to thank for their present seclusion from those shores, and the restrictions476 in their commerce. Rear-Admiral Cecille has also paid a visit to some part of Japan, quite recently, but met with no success in his endeavors to enter into negotiation477.
The great object in view in making these attempts to improve the intercourse with Japan, is to find new markets for western manufactures. It is quite doubtful, however, whether the Japanese have many articles suitable for foreign markets. Their lackered-ware is exceedingly beautiful, but it would not be so prized when it became more common. Copper and tea would form the basis of exports, and perhaps some silk fabrics, but China furnishes now all that is wanted of them both, and can do so to any extent. Until a taste for such foreign manufactures, as woolens478, cutlery, glass-ware, calicoes, &c., is created among them, and they are willing to adapt their own products to the tastes of their customers, it does not seem[136] likely that a trade at all proportioned to the estimated population and riches of the country, would soon be established. The Japanese are afraid of the probable results of a more extended intercourse, and deem it to be the safest course to run no risks; and if they read the pages of their early intercourse with the Portuguese479, Spanish and Dutch, they must feel they would run many serious risks by granting a trade. If the siogoun and his advisers480 could be rightly informed, however, there are grounds for believing the present policy would be considerably481 relaxed.
Learning is highly honored in Japan, and books are as cheap and common as in China. The written language is a singular and most difficult mixture of Chinese characters, with the syllabic symbols adopted by the Japanese, rendering its perusal482 a great labor, more so than that of Chinese, because Chinese must first be mastered. The spoken language is polysyllabic and harmonious483, and possesses conjugations, tenses, cases, &c., to facilitate its perspicuity484, and increase its variety of expressions. The arts in which they chiefly excel are in the manufacture of silken and linen485 goods, copper-ware, lackered-ware, porcelain486 and basket work. Their cutlery is despicable, and the specimens of their carving487, which are seen abroad, do not equal those produced by the Chinese. Agriculture is pursued on much the same system as in China—minute subdivision of the soil and constant manuring, together with frequent watering. Rice and fish are the staples488 of food; vegetables are used in great abundance, but meats only sparingly. The habits and sports of the people are influenced so much by the peculiar notions attending a feudal society, such as adherence489 to the local prince, and maintenance of his honor, wearing coats of arms, privileged orders, and hereditary490 titles, that there is little similarity in the state of society in Japan and China, notwithstanding a similar religion and literature. The Japanese were called the Spaniards of the East by Xavier,[137] and the comparison is good at this day. They have, perhaps, more genius and imagination than the Chinese, but are not as peaceable or industrious491.
General view of the languages of the Japanese, Coreans, Chinese and Cochinchinese. The four nations here briefly noticed; viz., the Japanese, Coreans, Chinese and Cochinchinese, have been collectively called the Chinese language nations, from the peculiar relations and connections they have had through the medium of that language. The relation has throughout been one of a literary character, fostered to some extent by religious prejudices, but depending chiefly for its permanence and extension upon the superiority of the writings of the Chinese. It is, in some respects, without a parallel in the history of man. While European languages have all been indebted for many of their words to the two leading ancient tongues of that continent, their bases have been diverse, and the words they have imported from Greek and Latin have undergone various changes, so much so as sometimes hardly to be recognized. This is not the case with these four nations of eastern Asia. They have all adopted the characters used by the leading nation without alteration492, and with them, of course, have to a very great degree, taken her authors, her books, her knowledge and her opinions, as their own.
One of the most observable features of the national character of the Chinese, is its conservative inclinations493. Not only is it seen in the actions of government and in the writings of scholars, but still more in the habits of the people and their modes of thinking. It has been cherished by that government, as it is by all governments, as a sure and safe principle of preservation, but it is also advocated by the people. The geographical position of China has isolated it from all western nations, while the political, literary and social superiority of its people over the contiguous nations, has combined to foster their conceit495 and affectation of supremacy496, and make them disinclined to[138] have any intimate or equal relations with others. But one of the strongest and most comprehensive of these conservative influences has arisen from the nature of the language, strengthened by the extent to which education has been diffused among the people. The language is of such a character, combining mystery and difficulty with elegance and ingenuity497, as greatly to captivate a people who have time and inclination494 to trace out the marks and veins498 on the pavement in the temple of science, but not the invention or investigation to seek out and explore its hidden chambers. The character of this language and the nature of the connection between the nations who use it, may here be briefly exhibited.
The Chinese ascribe the invention of their characters to Tsang Kieh, one of the principal ministers or scholars in the reign of Hwangti, about 2650 years before Christ; and although there is no very certain information recorded respecting their origin, there is nothing which seems to be fabulous or supernatural. The characters first depicted499 were the common objects in nature and art, as the sun, rain, man, parts of the body, animals, a house, &c., and were probably drawn sufficiently accurate to be detected without much if any explanation. They were all described in outline, and generally with far less completeness than the Egyptian symbols. It is not known how many of the primitive characters were made, but one feature attached to them all,—none of them contained any clue to the sound. The inventors must necessarily, one would suppose, have soon perceived this radical500 defect in their symbols, but they either saw the incompatibility501 of uniting the phonetic and pictorial502 modes, or else were so pleased with their varied503 pictures and symbols, that they cared very little how the reader acquired the sounds. At first, too perhaps, the number of persons who spoke this language was so small, that there was little difficulty in making them all acquainted with the meaning of the symbols, and when once their meaning was learned, they[139] were of course called by the name of the thing represented, which everybody knew. The necessity of incorporating some clue to the sound of the thing, or idea denoted, became more and more evident, however, as the variety of the symbols multiplied, and the number of people increased. One of the strongest evidences, that the designing of these symbols was contemporary with the earliest days of the Chinese as a people, is deduced from the fact that they are all monosyllabic; the radical words in all languages are mostly of this character, but in nearly all others, the single sounds soon coalesce504 and combine, while in Chinese this has been prevented by the nature of the written language. There is not, so far as the nature of the case goes, any reason why the sounds of Chinese characters should all be monosyllabic, any more than the Arabic numerals. But not only was the increase of inhabitants, as we suppose, a reason for making the symbols phonetic, the need of reducing the labor of learning the ever growing list, and the difficulty of distinguishing between species of the same genus and things of the same sort, was a still stronger motive. This was done by the combination of a leading type with some other well understood character, chosen quite arbitrarily, but possessing the same sound as the new object to be represented. Thus, supposing a new fish called pih was to be represented by a character; by taking the symbol for fish and joining it to any well known character pronounced pih, no matter what was its meaning, the compound symbol clearly expressed, to those who understood its elementary parts, the fish pih. But neither does this compound contain any more clue to its sound to those unacquainted with the component505 elements, than its marks and hooks do of its meaning to those who have never learned them. When once the form and meaning of the primitive symbols have been learned, however, the meaning and sounds of the compound ones can, in many cases, be inferred to a greater or less degree; but so varied has been the prin[140]ciple of combination, that no dependence506 can be placed upon such etymologies507 for the meaning. In the various mutations the written language has undergone, the sound is not now so certain as it was probably at first; but in the majority of characters, it can be inferred with a considerable degree of certainty, though the idea is exhibited so indefinitely as to afford almost no assistance in guessing at it. A dictionary is indispensable in ascertaining the meaning, and almost as necessary to learn the sound of all Chinese characters. The meaning can be explained without any greater trouble than in other languages, but the sounds of characters can only be given by quoting other characters of the same sound, which the scholar is supposed to know, if he knows enough to use the dictionary.
These remarks will, perhaps, explain the general composition of Chinese characters. By far the greater part of them are now formed, either of the original pictorial symbols, greatly modified, indeed, and changed from their likeness508 to the things they stand for, or of those joined to each other in a compound character, partly symbolical510 and partly phonetic. The former part is called the radical, the latter the primitive. The Chinese divide the characters into six classes, viz., imitative symbols, or those original figures which bore a resemblance to the forms of material objects; indicative symbols, where the position of the two parts point out the idea; symbols combining ideas, a class not very unlike the preceding, but more complex; inverted511 symbols; metaphoric512 symbols, as that of the natural heart, denoting the affections; and lastly, phonetic symbols. Out of twenty-four thousand two hundred and thirty-five characters, (nearly all the different ones there are in the language), twenty-one thousand eight hundred and ten of them are phonetic, or as much so as the nature of their composition would allow, though there is no other clue to the sound than to learn the sound of the parts or of the whole, either from the people them[141]selves or from a dictionary. The Chinese tyro513 learns the sounds of most of the characters, as boys do the names of minerals, by tradition. As he stands before his master, he and the whole class hear from his mouth their names, and repeat them until they are remembered. Consequently, almost an infinite variety in the sounds of the characters arise from this mode of learning them, while the meanings remain fixed; though there still remains enough resemblance in the sounds to show their common origin, as, bien, meen, mien514, and meeng, all meaning the face, and written with the same character. The local differences in pronunciation are so great within a few hundred miles, in some parts of China, that the people barely understand each other when they speak; and even in two towns fifty miles apart, the local patois515 can be detected, though the dissimilarity is not so great as to prevent their inhabitants conversing together. For purposes of intercourse among civilians516, who being from distant parts of the empire, might otherwise find considerable difficulty in making themselves understood if each spoke his own local patois, there is a court dialect which not only civilians, but all educated men are obliged or expected to understand. This is the common pronunciation over the northeastern provinces of Chihli, Shantung, Nganhwui, and Kiangsu, and somewhat in the contiguous provinces also, though everywhere in these regions with some slight local variations. This dialect is called kwan hwa, and has been usually termed the mandarin[109] dialect, but it is properly the Chinese spoken language, and the variations from it are the dialects and patois. It is evident, how[142]ever, that one sound of a character is no more correct than another; for there being no sound in any character, each one calls it as he has been taught, while all give it the same meaning, exactly as Europeans do with the numerals. Of course, no one can read or write Chinese before he has studied it, and the apparent singularity of people from China, Japan, and Annam all being able to communicate by writing but not converse517 by speech, is easily explained by the different sounds they give the characters. It is, however, really no more singular than that scholars in all Christian nations understand each others' music and arithmetic, after they have learned those sciences and the mode of notation518.
The diversity of pronunciations tends naturally to break up the nation into small communities, and the Chinese owe their present homogeneity and grandeur in no small degree to their written language; for, however, a man may differ in his speech, he is sure that he will be everywhere understood when he writes, and will understand every one who writes to him. It has also been a bond of union from its extensive literature, at once the pride of its own scholars, and the admiration519 of surrounding nations. It is perhaps owing to the fact that the literature of China contains the canons of the Budhist religion and the ethics520 of Confucius, that it was adopted by the Japanese, Coreans and Annamese. These nations have taken the characters of the Chinese language, and given them such names as pleased them. In Japan and Corea, there has been no uniform rule of adoption521, but the Annamese, who formerly had more intimate connexions with China than at present, approach much nearer to the sounds spoken by the Chinese.
The nature of the relations between these three nations and China, therefore, somewhat resembles that which European nations, we may suppose, now would have towards ancient Greece and Rome, if they still existed as independent powers, and should be visited by scholars[143] from the shores of the Baltic, whose native countries, however, had risen no higher in civilization and morals than their source. The comparison is not complete in all respects, but near enough for analogy. The Japanese have never paid tribute to China, but have been invaded by her armies, and in their turn have ravaged522 the eastern coasts of the continent. The isolated policy their rulers have adopted, has prevented our tracing those philological comparisons between their original language and those of Siberia or central Asia, which would elucidate its origin. The Japanese up to the time of the sixteenth da?ri, named Ouzin Tenwo, had no written character, all the orders of government being proclaimed viva voce. In the year B.C. 284, this monarch sent an embassy to the southern part of Corea, to obtain learned persons who could introduce the civilization and literature of China into his dominions, and obtained Wonin, who fulfilled the royal wishes so satisfactorily, that the Japanese have since accorded him divine honors. Since his day, the Chinese characters have been employed among the Japanese. However, as the construction of the Japanese language differs materially from that of the Chinese, and as the same Chinese character has many meanings, which would be expressed by different words in the native Japanese, confusion and difficulty arose in the use of the symbolic509 characters. But it was not until the eighth century, that a remedy was provided by the invention of a syllabary, a middle contrivance, partaking chiefly of the nature of an alphabet but containing some traces of hieroglyphics. The characters of this syllabary were formed by taking Chinese characters, either in whole or in part, and using them phonetically523, but as indivisible syllables524. Consequently, every one of them contained a vowel525 sound, rendering the language very euphonous. The characters in this syllabary were called katakana, i. e. "parts of letters." There were at first forty-seven, but another was added[144] some years after in order to express the final n, as ma-mo-ra-n, instead of ma-mo-ra-nu, making forty-eight, the present number. This syllabary and that invented for the Cherokees by Guess, are the only two in the world. The number of sounds has been increased from forty-eight to seventy-three, by the addition of diacritical marks to some of the syllables. This syllabary enabled the Japanese to express the sounds of their vernacular526 without difficulty. But the long use of the Chinese had already introduced a great number of sounds from that language into it, besides giving the people a liking527 for the elegant and ingenious combinations of that unwieldy medium of thought, so that the scholars in the country still cultivated the more difficult language, and wrote their books in it. The incorporation528 of Chinese sounds into the native Japanese, seems to have arisen from the necessity of distinguishing between the various meanings of the Chinese character, so that while the native word would express one, the original sound would express another, but the unchangeable symbol stand for both to the eye.
The admiration of the Chinese characters, led in time to the invention of a second syllabary, having the same sounds but far more difficult to learn from the number of characters in it and their complicated forms. It is called hirakana, or "equal writing," because it is intelligible235 without the addition of Chinese characters; it is now the common medium of communication, in epistolary composition of all kinds, story books, and other everyday uses. There are one hundred and one characters in the hirakana, or nearly three modes of writing each of the forty-eight syllables, and they are run together as rapidly and far more fancifully than in our own running-hand, when that is compared with the Roman character. The characters are mostly contractions529 of Chinese characters used simply as phonetic symbols, without any more reference to their meaning than in the katakana. The more ancient[145] of the two is now usually employed in dictionaries, by the side of Chinese characters in books to explain them to the reader, or at their bottom to indicate the case of the word. In reading a Chinese book, a good Japanese scholar makes a kind of running translation into his own vernacular, sometimes giving the sound, and sometimes giving the sense, and the katakana is used in the latter case, to indicate the tense, or case of the native word. Having the Chinese language as well as its native stores to draw from, the Japanese is both copious and flexible, and by its syllabic construction, also euphonious530 and mellifluous531, in these respects being far superior to the Chinese. The following stanza532 is from one of the Dutch writers; it is written with thirty-one syllables.
Kokorodani makotono,
Michi ni kanai naba,
Inorazu totemo kamiya
Mamoran.
There are still two other syllabaries, one called Manyo-kana, and the other Yamato-kana, both of which are formed of still more complicated Chinese characters, also used phonetically. Neither of these syllabaries is generally used entirely alone, but the three are joined together or interchanged somewhat according to the fancy of the writer, in a manner similar to Archdeacon Wrangham's famous echo poem. Such a complicated mode of writing has this unfortunate result, however, of so seriously obstructing533 the avenues to the temple of science, that the greatest part of the common people are unable to enter, and must be content with admiring the structure afar off. Most of them content themselves with learning to write and read in the hirakana, and get as much knowledge of Chinese as will enable them to read the names of places, signs, people, &c., for which those characters are universally used. Besides the phonetic use of Chinese characters[146] in these syllabaries, they are employed very extensively as words, with their own meanings, partly because they are more nervous and expressive534 in the estimation of the writer than the vernacular, and partly to show his learning and shorten his labor. Commonly, characters so used are called by their Japanese meanings, but sometimes too by their Chinese names.[110]
The connection between the Chinese and Japanese, therefore, is very intimate, and presents a curious instance of assimilation between a symbolic and syllabic language, though at the cost of much hard study and labor to acquire the mongrel compound. It is another example of Asiatic toil143 upon the media of thought, rather than investigations in the world of thought and science itself; for no people who possessed invention, research, or science, would ever have encumbered535 themselves with so burdensome a vehicle of communication. The Chinese do not attend to the Japanese language, and have no knowledge of its structure, or the principles on which it has combined with their own. Their intercourse with Japan is entirely commercial; that of the Japanese with them, chiefly literary.
The Coreans have also adopted the Chinese character, but without many of the elaborate modifications in use among the Japanese. They have had more intercourse with the Chinese, but have not been able to make their polysyllabic words assimilate with the monosyllables of the Chinese. They have invented an alphabet, the letters of which combine to form syllables, and these syllabic compounds are then used like the Japanese characters to express their own words. The original letters consist of fifteen consonants536, called ka, na, ta, la or ra, ma or ba, pa, sa or sha, nga, tsa or cha, ts′a or ch′a, k′a, t′a, p′a, ha, and wa; and eleven vowels537, a, ya, o, yo, oh, yoh, ú, yú, u, í, and ah. The combinations of these form altogether one hundred[147] and sixty-eight syllables, the last fourteen of which are triply combined by introducing the sound of w between the consonants and some of the vowels, as kwa, ts′hwo, &c. The sounds and meanings of Chinese characters are expressed in this syllabary in the duoglott works prepared by the Coreans for learning Chinese; while it is used by itself in works intended for the natives. The Coreans have not, like the Japanese, unnecessarily increased the difficulty of their own language by employing a great number of signs for the same sound, but are content with one series. It is to be hoped that this facility results in a greater diffusion538 of knowledge among the people. The Japanese have the inflections of cases, moods, tenses and voices, in their language; but these features are denoted in Corean by the collocation of the words, and the words themselves remain unchanged as in Chinese. The sounds of the Corean are pleasant, and both it and the Japanese allow many alterations539 and elisions for the sake of euphony540. Further investigation will probably show some connection originally between the Corean and Manchu languages, though the former of these has been more modified by the Chinese than the latter.[111]
The people of Annam have adopted the Chinese characters without making a syllabary or alphabet to express their own vernacular. The inhabitants of this country are evidently of the same race as the Chinese, and now acknowledge a nominal541 subjection to the emperor of China by sending a triennial embassy to Peking, partly commercial and partly tributary. The sounds given to the Chinese characters are, however, so unlike those given them in China, that the two nations cannot converse with each other. The Annamese have many sounds in their spoken language which no Chinese can enunciate542. The court dialect is learned by educated men, and books are written and printed in Chinese. The sounds given to the[148] characters are all monosyllabic, and slight analogies can be traced running through the variations; but they offer very little assistance to any one, who, knowing only one mode of pronunciation, wishes to learn the other.
Much of the interest connected with the investigation of the Chinese and its cognate543 tongues, arises from the immense multitudes which speak and write them; and from the influence which China has, through the writings of her sages544, exerted over the minds and progress of her neighbors. There is nothing like it in European history; but the spell cast over the intellects of the millions in eastern Asia, by the writings of Confucius, Mencius, and their disciples545, is likely erelong to be broken by the infusion546 of Christian knowledge, the extension of commerce, and a better understanding of their political and social rights by the multitudes who now adopt them.
For much of the information embraced in this memoir on China, Japan, and the adjacent countries, I am indebted to the Chinese Repository, (a monthly journal printed at Canton), and more especially to one of its accomplished editors, Mr. S. Wells Williams. This gentleman during a residence of twelve years in China, has made himself familiar with the written and spoken language of the Chinese, and is ranked, by some of the eminent Sinologists of Europe, among the profoundest adepts547 in that branch of literature and philology548. Mr. Williams has also studied the Japanese language, which he reads and speaks; and is probably the only man in America familiar with the languages of China and Japan. Several natives of Japan, driven by adverse549 winds from their native shores, found their way to China, and were subsequently taken by an American ship to Yedo, but were not permitted to land. From these men, Mr. Williams has learned the spoken Japanese, and as much of the written language as they could impart. This gentleman is at present in New York making arrangements for getting founts of Chinese, Japanese, and Manchu type, for printing in these languages.[149]
The Chinese Repository is a monthly journal, printed at Canton, and is edited by the Rev. Dr. Bridgman and Mr. Williams. It contains much valuable information relating to China, Japan, and the eastern Archipelago, and frequently memoirs, translated from the Japanese and Chinese. On the whole, it may with truth be said to embody550 more information than any other work extant, on these countries.
Mr. Williams has now in press a new work on the Chinese empire, which will contain an account of its general political divisions, including Manchuria, Mongolia, Ili and Tibet, their geographical and topographical features. The natural history of China; its government, laws, literature, language, science, industry and arts. Social and domestic life—History and Chronology—Religion; Christian missions; intercourse with other nations; and a full account of the late war with England.
The history of the introduction of Christianity into China, in the seventh century of the Christian era, the traces of which still exist; and of the Jews in China, are subjects which are now attracting attention. It would occupy too much space to give any particulars in this brief memoir. In the list of late works on China, will be found references to such books as treat of the subject, to which the attention of the reader is directed.
The Syrian monument which has been often referred to, is one of great interest, and is believed by all who have examined the subject, to be genuine. This monument was discovered by some Chinese workmen, in the year 1625, in or near the city of Singan, the capital of the province of Shensi, and once the metropolis of the empire. The monument was found covered with rubbish, and was immediately reported to the magistrate551, who caused it to be removed to a pagoda465, where it was examined by both natives and foreigners, Christians and Pagans. It was a slab261 of marble, about ten feet long and five broad. It contained on one side a Chinese inscription, which was[150] translated by Father Kircher into Latin, and by Dalquié into French. Mr. Bridgman has given an English translation, and has published the three versions, accompanied by the original Chinese, with explanatory notes. This inscription commemorates552 the progress of Christianity in China, and was erected553 in the year of the Christian era 718. Mr. Bridgman who is one of the most learned in the Chinese language, says in conclusion, that "there are strong internal evidences of its being the work of a professor of Christianity, and such we believe it to be."[112]
Other portions of this memoir might be very much enlarged, but would extend it beyond the bounds of the resumé, which it is intended to give. There are besides other countries and people, accounts of which it would be desirable to give place to, particularly those of Central Asia, but they are unavoidably passed over from the space that would be required to do them justice. The object of this paper is to awaken554 the attention of readers to the geographical and ethnographical discoveries made within the last few years, all of which have a bearing on the history and progress of the human race. If the author has succeeded in so doing, he will feel abundantly repaid for his labor.
The recent works on China are embraced in the following list.
China; Political, Commercial and Social; with descriptions of the consular ports of Canton, Amoy, Ningpo and Shanghai, etc., etc. By R. Montgomery Martin. London, 1847.
Chinese Commercial Guide. Macao, 1844.
Voyage of the Nemesis555; By W.D. Barnard. 2 vols. 8vo. London, 1843. 2d ed. 12mo. 1846.
Events in China. By Granville Loch, R.N. 1844.
War in China. By Lieut. Ochterlony. 1844.
The Land of Sinim, with a brief account of the Jews and Christians in China, By a missionary. 12mo. N.Y., 1846.
Sketches of China. By J.F. Davis. 2 vols. 12mo. 1845.
The Jews in China. By J. Finn. 12mo. London, 1844.
Les Juifs de la Chine, par H. Hirsch, (extrait des Israélites de France). 1844.
Relation des Voyages faits par les Arabes et les Persans dans l'Inde et à la Chine, dans le IXth siècle de l'ère Chrétienne,[151] par M. Reinaud. Paris, 1845. 2 vols. 18mo.
Three years wanderings in China. By Robert Fortune. 8vo. London, 1847.
The philological and other works on China, by M. Pauthier, a distinguished French scholar, are among the most valuable works in this department of learning. They embrace the following.
Sinico-?gyptiaca, essai sur l'origine et la formation similaire des écritures figuratives Chinoise et égyptienne, etc. 8vo.
De l'origine des différents systèmes d'écriture. 4to.
Examen méthodique des faits qui concernent le Thian-Tchu ou l'Inde; traduit du Chinois. 8vo.
Documents statistiques officiels sur l'empire de la Chine; traduits du Chinois. 8vo.
La Chine, avec 73 planches. 8vo.
La Chine ouverte, aventures d'un Fan-kouei dans le pays de Tsin; illustré par Auguste Borget. 8vo. Paris, 1845.
La Chine et les Chinois, par le même. 8vo. Paris, 1844.
Systema Phoneticum Scriptur? Sinic?, auctore. J.M. Callery. 2 vols. royal 8vo. Macao, 1842.
Narrative of the second campaign in China, by R.S. Mackenzie. 12mo. London.
A work by G. Tradescant Lay; and another by Professor Kid, have also been published on China.
The End
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1 minor | |
adj.较小(少)的,较次要的;n.辅修学科;vi.辅修 | |
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2 rev | |
v.发动机旋转,加快速度 | |
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3 embarked | |
乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 ); 装载; 从事 | |
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4 beacon | |
n.烽火,(警告用的)闪火灯,灯塔 | |
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5 remarkable | |
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
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6 antiquity | |
n.古老;高龄;古物,古迹 | |
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7 fully | |
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 | |
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8 inscription | |
n.(尤指石块上的)刻印文字,铭文,碑文 | |
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9 inscriptions | |
(作者)题词( inscription的名词复数 ); 献词; 碑文; 证劵持有人的登记 | |
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10 sketch | |
n.草图;梗概;素描;v.素描;概述 | |
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11 sketches | |
n.草图( sketch的名词复数 );素描;速写;梗概 | |
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12 spoke | |
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 | |
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13 tract | |
n.传单,小册子,大片(土地或森林) | |
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14 thoroughly | |
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地 | |
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15 akin | |
adj.同族的,类似的 | |
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16 relics | |
[pl.]n.遗物,遗迹,遗产;遗体,尸骸 | |
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17 isolated | |
adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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18 situated | |
adj.坐落在...的,处于某种境地的 | |
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19 spacious | |
adj.广阔的,宽敞的 | |
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20 preservation | |
n.保护,维护,保存,保留,保持 | |
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21 sepulchral | |
adj.坟墓的,阴深的 | |
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22 lesser | |
adj.次要的,较小的;adv.较小地,较少地 | |
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23 dwelling | |
n.住宅,住所,寓所 | |
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24 Christian | |
adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒 | |
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25 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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26 labor | |
n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦 | |
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27 abound | |
vi.大量存在;(in,with)充满,富于 | |
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28 specimens | |
n.样品( specimen的名词复数 );范例;(化验的)抽样;某种类型的人 | |
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29 specimen | |
n.样本,标本 | |
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30 pointed | |
adj.尖的,直截了当的 | |
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31 conclusively | |
adv.令人信服地,确凿地 | |
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32 peculiar | |
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的 | |
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33 anterior | |
adj.较早的;在前的 | |
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34 ascertain | |
vt.发现,确定,查明,弄清 | |
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35 ascertaining | |
v.弄清,确定,查明( ascertain的现在分词 ) | |
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36 par | |
n.标准,票面价值,平均数量;adj.票面的,平常的,标准的 | |
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37 aria | |
n.独唱曲,咏叹调 | |
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38 dominions | |
统治权( dominion的名词复数 ); 领土; 疆土; 版图 | |
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39 dominant | |
adj.支配的,统治的;占优势的;显性的;n.主因,要素,主要的人(或物);显性基因 | |
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40 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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41 worthy | |
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
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42 scripture | |
n.经文,圣书,手稿;Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》,《圣经》中的一段 | |
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43 scriptures | |
经文,圣典( scripture的名词复数 ); 经典 | |
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44 ram | |
(random access memory)随机存取存储器 | |
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45 celebrated | |
adj.有名的,声誉卓著的 | |
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46 gems | |
growth; economy; management; and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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47 populous | |
adj.人口稠密的,人口众多的 | |
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48 abounding | |
adj.丰富的,大量的v.大量存在,充满,富于( abound的现在分词 ) | |
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49 pal | |
n.朋友,伙伴,同志;vi.结为友 | |
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50 fables | |
n.寓言( fable的名词复数 );神话,传说 | |
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51 mingled | |
混合,混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 ); 混进,与…交往[联系] | |
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52 retailed | |
vt.零售(retail的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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53 slumber | |
n.睡眠,沉睡状态 | |
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54 abhorrence | |
n.憎恶;可憎恶的事 | |
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55 cape | |
n.海角,岬;披肩,短披风 | |
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56 solitude | |
n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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57 extremity | |
n.末端,尽头;尽力;终极;极度 | |
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58 investigation | |
n.调查,调查研究 | |
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59 investigations | |
(正式的)调查( investigation的名词复数 ); 侦查; 科学研究; 学术研究 | |
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60 accurately | |
adv.准确地,精确地 | |
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61 hordes | |
n.移动着的一大群( horde的名词复数 );部落 | |
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62 infested | |
adj.为患的,大批滋生的(常与with搭配)v.害虫、野兽大批出没于( infest的过去式和过去分词 );遍布于 | |
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63 gulf | |
n.海湾;深渊,鸿沟;分歧,隔阂 | |
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64 depredations | |
n.劫掠,毁坏( depredation的名词复数 ) | |
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65 emulation | |
n.竞争;仿效 | |
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66 antiquities | |
n.古老( antiquity的名词复数 );古迹;古人们;古代的风俗习惯 | |
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67 memorable | |
adj.值得回忆的,难忘的,特别的,显著的 | |
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68 miraculous | |
adj.像奇迹一样的,不可思议的 | |
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69 incenses | |
香( incense的名词复数 ) | |
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70 lavishly | |
adv.慷慨地,大方地 | |
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71 squandered | |
v.(指钱,财产等)浪费,乱花( squander的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72 rites | |
仪式,典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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73 trifling | |
adj.微不足道的;没什么价值的 | |
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74 modifications | |
n.缓和( modification的名词复数 );限制;更改;改变 | |
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75 exodus | |
v.大批离去,成群外出 | |
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76 fluctuation | |
n.(物价的)波动,涨落;周期性变动;脉动 | |
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77 beheld | |
v.看,注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟 | |
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78 overthrown | |
adj. 打翻的,推倒的,倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词 | |
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79 overthrow | |
v.推翻,打倒,颠覆;n.推翻,瓦解,颠覆 | |
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80 gourd | |
n.葫芦 | |
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81 renowned | |
adj.著名的,有名望的,声誉鹊起的 | |
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82 allude | |
v.提及,暗指 | |
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83 baron | |
n.男爵;(商业界等)巨头,大王 | |
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84 grandeur | |
n.伟大,崇高,宏伟,庄严,豪华 | |
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85 perpendicular | |
adj.垂直的,直立的;n.垂直线,垂直的位置 | |
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86 debris | |
n.瓦砾堆,废墟,碎片 | |
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87 winding | |
n.绕,缠,绕组,线圈 | |
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88 irrigated | |
[医]冲洗的 | |
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89 superstitious | |
adj.迷信的 | |
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90 fathoms | |
英寻( fathom的名词复数 ) | |
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91 plummet | |
vi.(价格、水平等)骤然下跌;n.铅坠;重压物 | |
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92 narrative | |
n.叙述,故事;adj.叙事的,故事体的 | |
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93 geographic | |
adj.地理学的,地理的 | |
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94 geographical | |
adj.地理的;地区(性)的 | |
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95 graphic | |
adj.生动的,形象的,绘画的,文字的,图表的 | |
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96 animation | |
n.活泼,兴奋,卡通片/动画片的制作 | |
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97 arid | |
adj.干旱的;(土地)贫瘠的 | |
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98 solitary | |
adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士 | |
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99 caravan | |
n.大蓬车;活动房屋 | |
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100 seaports | |
n.海港( seaport的名词复数 ) | |
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101 promulgated | |
v.宣扬(某事物)( promulgate的过去式和过去分词 );传播;公布;颁布(法令、新法律等) | |
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102 surmounted | |
战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 ); 克服(困难); 居于…之上; 在…顶上 | |
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103 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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104 oases | |
n.(沙漠中的)绿洲( oasis的名词复数 );(困苦中)令人快慰的地方(或时刻);乐土;乐事 | |
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105 destitute | |
adj.缺乏的;穷困的 | |
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106 apertures | |
n.孔( aperture的名词复数 );隙缝;(照相机的)光圈;孔径 | |
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107 unlimited | |
adj.无限的,不受控制的,无条件的 | |
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108 rivulets | |
n.小河,小溪( rivulet的名词复数 ) | |
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109 teeming | |
adj.丰富的v.充满( teem的现在分词 );到处都是;(指水、雨等)暴降;倾注 | |
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110 umbrageous | |
adj.多荫的 | |
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111 foliage | |
n.叶子,树叶,簇叶 | |
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112 penetrate | |
v.透(渗)入;刺入,刺穿;洞察,了解 | |
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113 grove | |
n.林子,小树林,园林 | |
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114 saturated | |
a.饱和的,充满的 | |
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115 density | |
n.密集,密度,浓度 | |
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116 turreted | |
a.(像炮塔般)旋转式的 | |
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117 profusely | |
ad.abundantly | |
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118 profuse | |
adj.很多的,大量的,极其丰富的 | |
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119 ornaments | |
n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 );点缀;装饰品;首饰v.装饰,点缀,美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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120 brass | |
n.黄铜;黄铜器,铜管乐器 | |
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121 sufficiently | |
adv.足够地,充分地 | |
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122 zeal | |
n.热心,热情,热忱 | |
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123 alluded | |
提及,暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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124 fabulous | |
adj.极好的;极为巨大的;寓言中的,传说中的 | |
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125 treatise | |
n.专著;(专题)论文 | |
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126 devoted | |
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的 | |
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127 ardor | |
n.热情,狂热 | |
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128 copious | |
adj.丰富的,大量的 | |
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129 pious | |
adj.虔诚的;道貌岸然的 | |
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130 dissertation | |
n.(博士学位)论文,学术演讲,专题论文 | |
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131 imposing | |
adj.使人难忘的,壮丽的,堂皇的,雄伟的 | |
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132 tempt | |
vt.引诱,勾引,吸引,引起…的兴趣 | |
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133 accomplished | |
adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的 | |
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134 consular | |
a.领事的 | |
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135 arduous | |
adj.艰苦的,费力的,陡峭的 | |
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136 balk | |
n.大方木料;v.妨碍;不愿前进或从事某事 | |
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137 proceeding | |
n.行动,进行,(pl.)会议录,学报 | |
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138 remains | |
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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139 metropolis | |
n.首府;大城市 | |
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140 interpretation | |
n.解释,说明,描述;艺术处理 | |
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141 interpretations | |
n.解释( interpretation的名词复数 );表演;演绎;理解 | |
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142 hazardous | |
adj.(有)危险的,冒险的;碰运气的 | |
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143 toil | |
vi.辛劳工作,艰难地行动;n.苦工,难事 | |
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144 undertaking | |
n.保证,许诺,事业 | |
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145 labors | |
v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 );苦干;详细分析;(指引擎)缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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146 prop | |
vt.支撑;n.支柱,支撑物;支持者,靠山 | |
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147 essentially | |
adv.本质上,实质上,基本上 | |
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148 deities | |
n.神,女神( deity的名词复数 );神祗;神灵;神明 | |
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149 deity | |
n.神,神性;被奉若神明的人(或物) | |
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150 cane | |
n.手杖,细长的茎,藤条;v.以杖击,以藤编制的 | |
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151 reign | |
n.统治时期,统治,支配,盛行;v.占优势 | |
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152 reigns | |
n.君主的统治( reign的名词复数 );君主统治时期;任期;当政期 | |
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153 penetrating | |
adj.(声音)响亮的,尖锐的adj.(气味)刺激的adj.(思想)敏锐的,有洞察力的 | |
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154 eminent | |
adj.显赫的,杰出的,有名的,优良的 | |
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155 elucidating | |
v.阐明,解释( elucidate的现在分词 ) | |
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156 exertions | |
n.努力( exertion的名词复数 );费力;(能力、权力等的)运用;行使 | |
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157 Oxford | |
n.牛津(英国城市) | |
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158 divers | |
adj.不同的;种种的 | |
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159 cod | |
n.鳕鱼;v.愚弄;哄骗 | |
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160 memoir | |
n.[pl.]回忆录,自传;记事录 | |
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161 peculiarities | |
n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪 | |
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162 elegance | |
n.优雅;优美,雅致;精致,巧妙 | |
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163 advancement | |
n.前进,促进,提升 | |
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164 literally | |
adv.照字面意义,逐字地;确实 | |
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165 edifice | |
n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿,教室) | |
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166 edifices | |
n.大建筑物( edifice的名词复数 ) | |
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167 conjecture | |
n./v.推测,猜测 | |
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168 philologist | |
n.语言学者,文献学者 | |
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169 philologists | |
n.语文学( philology的名词复数 ) | |
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170 prospect | |
n.前景,前途;景色,视野 | |
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171 distinguished | |
adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的 | |
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172 briefly | |
adv.简单地,简短地 | |
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173 monarchs | |
君主,帝王( monarch的名词复数 ) | |
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174 monarch | |
n.帝王,君主,最高统治者 | |
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175 doorways | |
n.门口,门道( doorway的名词复数 ) | |
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176 applied | |
adj.应用的;v.应用,适用 | |
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177 ascertained | |
v.弄清,确定,查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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178 analyzed | |
v.分析( analyze的过去式和过去分词 );分解;解释;对…进行心理分析 | |
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179 predecessors | |
n.前任( predecessor的名词复数 );前辈;(被取代的)原有事物;前身 | |
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180 alphabetical | |
adj.字母(表)的,依字母顺序的 | |
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181 alphabetic | |
adj.照字母次序的,字母的 | |
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182 indefatigable | |
adj.不知疲倦的,不屈不挠的 | |
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183 luminous | |
adj.发光的,发亮的;光明的;明白易懂的;有启发的 | |
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184 elucidate | |
v.阐明,说明 | |
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185 previously | |
adv.以前,先前(地) | |
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186 orthographical | |
adj.正字法的,拼字正确的 | |
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187 etymological | |
adj.语源的,根据语源学的 | |
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188 purport | |
n.意义,要旨,大要;v.意味著,做为...要旨,要领是... | |
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189 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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190 recital | |
n.朗诵,独奏会,独唱会 | |
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191 laborers | |
n.体力劳动者,工人( laborer的名词复数 );(熟练工人的)辅助工 | |
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192 hieroglyphics | |
n.pl.象形文字 | |
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193 investigators | |
n.调查者,审查者( investigator的名词复数 ) | |
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194 apparently | |
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
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195 eastward | |
adv.向东;adj.向东的;n.东方,东部 | |
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196 northward | |
adv.向北;n.北方的地区 | |
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197 asses | |
n. 驴,愚蠢的人,臀部 adv. (常用作后置)用于贬损或骂人 | |
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198 excavated | |
v.挖掘( excavate的过去式和过去分词 );开凿;挖出;发掘 | |
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199 authentic | |
a.真的,真正的;可靠的,可信的,有根据的 | |
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200 extravagant | |
adj.奢侈的;过分的;(言行等)放肆的 | |
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201 primitive | |
adj.原始的;简单的;n.原(始)人,原始事物 | |
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202 excavations | |
n.挖掘( excavation的名词复数 );开凿;开凿的洞穴(或山路等);(发掘出来的)古迹 | |
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203 Mediterranean | |
adj.地中海的;地中海沿岸的 | |
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204 affinities | |
n.密切关系( affinity的名词复数 );亲近;(生性)喜爱;类同 | |
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205 phonetic | |
adj.语言的,语言上的,表示语音的 | |
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206 systematic | |
adj.有系统的,有计划的,有方法的 | |
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207 memoirs | |
n.回忆录;回忆录传( mem,自oir的名词复数) | |
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208 juxtaposition | |
n.毗邻,并置,并列 | |
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209 embodies | |
v.表现( embody的第三人称单数 );象征;包括;包含 | |
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210 recollected | |
adj.冷静的;镇定的;被回忆起的;沉思默想的v.记起,想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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211 imbued | |
v.使(某人/某事)充满或激起(感情等)( imbue的过去式和过去分词 );使充满;灌输;激发(强烈感情或品质等) | |
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212 ardent | |
adj.热情的,热烈的,强烈的,烈性的 | |
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213 inscribe | |
v.刻;雕;题写;牢记 | |
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214 invoking | |
v.援引( invoke的现在分词 );行使(权利等);祈求救助;恳求 | |
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215 guardianship | |
n. 监护, 保护, 守护 | |
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216 lavished | |
v.过分给予,滥施( lavish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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217 aspired | |
v.渴望,追求( aspire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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218 providence | |
n.深谋远虑,天道,天意;远见;节约;上帝 | |
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219 upwards | |
adv.向上,在更高处...以上 | |
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220 rendering | |
n.表现,描写 | |
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221 slew | |
v.(使)旋转;n.大量,许多 | |
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222 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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223 abode | |
n.住处,住所 | |
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224 followers | |
追随者( follower的名词复数 ); 用户; 契据的附面; 从动件 | |
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225 rebellious | |
adj.造反的,反抗的,难控制的 | |
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226 subjugate | |
v.征服;抑制 | |
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227 smite | |
v.重击;彻底击败;n.打;尝试;一点儿 | |
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228 supreme | |
adj.极度的,最重要的;至高的,最高的 | |
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229 peruse | |
v.细读,精读 | |
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230 inscribed | |
v.写,刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 );内接 | |
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231 conceal | |
v.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽 | |
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232 behold | |
v.看,注视,看到 | |
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233 tracts | |
大片土地( tract的名词复数 ); 地带; (体内的)道; (尤指宣扬宗教、伦理或政治的)短文 | |
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234 unintelligible | |
adj.无法了解的,难解的,莫明其妙的 | |
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235 intelligible | |
adj.可理解的,明白易懂的,清楚的 | |
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236 engraved | |
v.在(硬物)上雕刻(字,画等)( engrave的过去式和过去分词 );将某事物深深印在(记忆或头脑中) | |
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237 patronage | |
n.赞助,支援,援助;光顾,捧场 | |
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238 transcripts | |
n.抄本( transcript的名词复数 );转写本;文字本;副本 | |
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239 blessings | |
n.(上帝的)祝福( blessing的名词复数 );好事;福分;因祸得福 | |
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240 abide | |
vi.遵守;坚持;vt.忍受 | |
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241 congregate | |
v.(使)集合,聚集 | |
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242 abiding | |
adj.永久的,持久的,不变的 | |
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243 interval | |
n.间隔,间距;幕间休息,中场休息 | |
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244 philological | |
adj.语言学的,文献学的 | |
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245 genealogy | |
n.家系,宗谱 | |
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246 invoked | |
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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247 gratitude | |
adj.感激,感谢 | |
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248 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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249 mound | |
n.土墩,堤,小山;v.筑堤,用土堆防卫 | |
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250 chambers | |
n.房间( chamber的名词复数 );(议会的)议院;卧室;会议厅 | |
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251 chamber | |
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所 | |
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252 illustrating | |
给…加插图( illustrate的现在分词 ); 说明; 表明; (用示例、图画等)说明 | |
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253 remarkably | |
ad.不同寻常地,相当地 | |
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254 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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255 anatomy | |
n.解剖学,解剖;功能,结构,组织 | |
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256 athletic | |
adj.擅长运动的,强健的;活跃的,体格健壮的 | |
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257 bracelets | |
n.手镯,臂镯( bracelet的名词复数 ) | |
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258 wrought | |
v.引起;以…原料制作;运转;adj.制造的 | |
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259 epoch | |
n.(新)时代;历元 | |
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260 chiselled | |
adj.凿过的,凿光的; (文章等)精心雕琢的v.凿,雕,镌( chisel的过去式 ) | |
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261 slab | |
n.平板,厚的切片;v.切成厚板,以平板盖上 | |
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262 slabs | |
n.厚板,平板,厚片( slab的名词复数 );厚胶片 | |
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263 ornamented | |
adj.花式字体的v.装饰,点缀,美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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264 battering | |
n.用坏,损坏v.连续猛击( batter的现在分词 ) | |
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265 daggers | |
匕首,短剑( dagger的名词复数 ) | |
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266 ramifications | |
n.结果,后果( ramification的名词复数 ) | |
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267 substantiate | |
v.证实;证明...有根据 | |
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268 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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269 civilized | |
a.有教养的,文雅的 | |
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270 scanty | |
adj.缺乏的,仅有的,节省的,狭小的,不够的 | |
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271 testimony | |
n.证词;见证,证明 | |
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272 benevolent | |
adj.仁慈的,乐善好施的 | |
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273 scrutiny | |
n.详细检查,仔细观察 | |
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274 stifled | |
(使)窒息, (使)窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 ); 镇压,遏制; 堵 | |
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275 rebuke | |
v.指责,非难,斥责 [反]praise | |
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276 credentials | |
n.证明,资格,证明书,证件 | |
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277 condemnation | |
n.谴责; 定罪 | |
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278 resuscitating | |
v.使(某人或某物)恢复知觉,苏醒( resuscitate的现在分词 ) | |
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279 repelled | |
v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 );使厌恶;排斥;推开 | |
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280 intrepid | |
adj.无畏的,刚毅的 | |
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281 inaccessible | |
adj.达不到的,难接近的 | |
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282 celestial | |
adj.天体的;天上的 | |
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283 elucidation | |
n.说明,阐明 | |
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284 detailed | |
adj.详细的,详尽的,极注意细节的,完全的 | |
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285 isles | |
岛( isle的名词复数 ) | |
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286 morasses | |
n.缠作一团( morass的名词复数 );困境;沼泽;陷阱 | |
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287 swollen | |
adj.肿大的,水涨的;v.使变大,肿胀 | |
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288 fauna | |
n.(一个地区或时代的)所有动物,动物区系 | |
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289 flora | |
n.(某一地区的)植物群 | |
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290 frail | |
adj.身体虚弱的;易损坏的 | |
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291 dense | |
a.密集的,稠密的,浓密的;密度大的 | |
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292 shaft | |
n.(工具的)柄,杆状物 | |
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293 lateral | |
adj.侧面的,旁边的 | |
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294 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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295 turnips | |
芜青( turnip的名词复数 ); 芜菁块根; 芜菁甘蓝块根; 怀表 | |
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296 beets | |
甜菜( beet的名词复数 ); 甜菜根; (因愤怒、难堪或觉得热而)脸红 | |
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297 latitude | |
n.纬度,行动或言论的自由(范围),(pl.)地区 | |
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298 indigenous | |
adj.土产的,土生土长的,本地的 | |
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299 longitude | |
n.经线,经度 | |
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300 geographers | |
地理学家( geographer的名词复数 ) | |
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301 specially | |
adv.特定地;特殊地;明确地 | |
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302 shrubs | |
灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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303 sustenance | |
n.食物,粮食;生活资料;生计 | |
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304 elucidated | |
v.阐明,解释( elucidate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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305 affiliate | |
vt.使隶(附)属于;n.附属机构,分公司 | |
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306 extremities | |
n.端点( extremity的名词复数 );尽头;手和足;极窘迫的境地 | |
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307 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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308 enumerated | |
v.列举,枚举,数( enumerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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309 physiological | |
adj.生理学的,生理学上的 | |
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310 annually | |
adv.一年一次,每年 | |
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311 zoology | |
n.动物学,生态 | |
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312 arboreal | |
adj.树栖的;树的 | |
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313 elicit | |
v.引出,抽出,引起 | |
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314 retarded | |
a.智力迟钝的,智力发育迟缓的 | |
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315 laurels | |
n.桂冠,荣誉 | |
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316 qualified | |
adj.合格的,有资格的,胜任的,有限制的 | |
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317 missionaries | |
n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 ) | |
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318 stimulant | |
n.刺激物,兴奋剂 | |
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319 elevation | |
n.高度;海拔;高地;上升;提高 | |
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320 diffuse | |
v.扩散;传播;adj.冗长的;四散的,弥漫的 | |
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321 renounced | |
v.声明放弃( renounce的过去式和过去分词 );宣布放弃;宣布与…决裂;宣布摒弃 | |
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322 superstition | |
n.迷信,迷信行为 | |
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323 tenacity | |
n.坚韧 | |
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324 totters | |
v.走得或动得不稳( totter的第三人称单数 );踉跄;蹒跚;摇摇欲坠 | |
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325 subscription | |
n.预订,预订费,亲笔签名,调配法,下标(处方) | |
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326 doctrines | |
n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 );教义;学说;(政府政策的)正式声明 | |
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327 superstitions | |
迷信,迷信行为( superstition的名词复数 ) | |
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328 ridicule | |
v.讥讽,挖苦;n.嘲弄 | |
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329 controvert | |
v.否定;否认 | |
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330 rigid | |
adj.严格的,死板的;刚硬的,僵硬的 | |
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331 rigidly | |
adv.刻板地,僵化地 | |
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332 Christians | |
n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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333 opposition | |
n.反对,敌对 | |
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334 tottering | |
adj.蹒跚的,动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 );踉跄;蹒跚;摇摇欲坠 | |
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335 gratuitous | |
adj.无偿的,免费的;无缘无故的,不必要的 | |
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336 fabric | |
n.织物,织品,布;构造,结构,组织 | |
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337 laboring | |
n.劳动,操劳v.努力争取(for)( labor的现在分词 );苦干;详细分析;(指引擎)缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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338 demolish | |
v.拆毁(建筑物等),推翻(计划、制度等) | |
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339 forefathers | |
n.祖先,先人;祖先,祖宗( forefather的名词复数 );列祖列宗;前人 | |
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340 venerated | |
敬重(某人或某事物),崇敬( venerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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341 professed | |
公开声称的,伪称的,已立誓信教的 | |
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342 labored | |
adj.吃力的,谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 );苦干;详细分析;(指引擎)缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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343 missionary | |
adj.教会的,传教(士)的;n.传教士 | |
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344 expended | |
v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 );使用(钱等)做某事;用光;耗尽 | |
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345 disseminating | |
散布,传播( disseminate的现在分词 ) | |
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346 injustice | |
n.非正义,不公正,不公平,侵犯(别人的)权利 | |
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347 secluded | |
adj.与世隔绝的;隐退的;偏僻的v.使隔开,使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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348 diligently | |
ad.industriously;carefully | |
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349 devotedness | |
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350 narratives | |
记叙文( narrative的名词复数 ); 故事; 叙述; 叙述部分 | |
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351 despatch | |
n./v.(dispatch)派遣;发送;n.急件;新闻报道 | |
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352 majesty | |
n.雄伟,壮丽,庄严,威严;最高权威,王权 | |
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353 crumbling | |
adj.摇摇欲坠的 | |
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354 utterly | |
adv.完全地,绝对地 | |
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355 immediate | |
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的 | |
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356 sects | |
n.宗派,教派( sect的名词复数 ) | |
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357 machinery | |
n.(总称)机械,机器;机构 | |
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358 motive | |
n.动机,目的;adv.发动的,运动的 | |
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359 vessels | |
n.血管( vessel的名词复数 );船;容器;(具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的)人 | |
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360 vessel | |
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 | |
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361 cargo | |
n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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362 rumors | |
n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 );[古]名誉;咕哝;[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 );[古]名誉;咕哝;[古]喧嚷 | |
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363 maritime | |
adj.海的,海事的,航海的,近海的,沿海的 | |
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364 suite | |
n.一套(家具);套房;随从人员 | |
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365 inquiries | |
n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 );疑问;探究;打听 | |
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366 provincial | |
adj.省的,地方的;n.外省人,乡下人 | |
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367 destined | |
adj.命中注定的;(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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368 craftsmen | |
n. 技工 | |
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369 fabrics | |
织物( fabric的名词复数 ); 布; 构造; (建筑物的)结构(如墙、地面、屋顶):质地 | |
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370 census | |
n.(官方的)人口调查,人口普查 | |
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371 implicit | |
a.暗示的,含蓄的,不明晰的,绝对的 | |
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372 ornithological | |
adj.鸟类学的 | |
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373 anticipations | |
预期( anticipation的名词复数 ); 预测; (信托财产收益的)预支; 预期的事物 | |
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374 woolen | |
adj.羊毛(制)的;毛纺的 | |
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375 abominable | |
adj.可厌的,令人憎恶的 | |
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376 opium | |
n.鸦片;adj.鸦片的 | |
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377 impoverishing | |
v.使(某人)贫穷( impoverish的现在分词 );使(某物)贫瘠或恶化 | |
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378 assortment | |
n.分类,各色俱备之物,聚集 | |
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379 wares | |
n. 货物, 商品 | |
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380 treasurer | |
n.司库,财务主管 | |
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381 regenerating | |
v.新生,再生( regenerate的现在分词 );正反馈 | |
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382 contemplate | |
vt.盘算,计议;周密考虑;注视,凝视 | |
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383 desolating | |
毁坏( desolate的现在分词 ); 极大地破坏; 使沮丧; 使痛苦 | |
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384 apprehension | |
n.理解,领悟;逮捕,拘捕;忧虑 | |
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385 lava | |
n.熔岩,火山岩 | |
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386 extermination | |
n.消灭,根绝 | |
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387 intercourse | |
n.性交;交流,交往,交际 | |
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388 antipathy | |
n.憎恶;反感,引起反感的人或事物 | |
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389 persecution | |
n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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390 formerly | |
adv.从前,以前 | |
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391 inflicted | |
把…强加给,使承受,遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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392 persevere | |
v.坚持,坚忍,不屈不挠 | |
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393 copper | |
n.铜;铜币;铜器;adj.铜(制)的;(紫)铜色的 | |
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394 mules | |
骡( mule的名词复数 ); 拖鞋; 顽固的人; 越境运毒者 | |
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395 utensils | |
器具,用具,器皿( utensil的名词复数 ); 器物 | |
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396 retired | |
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 | |
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397 perseverance | |
n.坚持不懈,不屈不挠 | |
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398 allusion | |
n.暗示,间接提示 | |
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399 hoisting | |
起重,提升 | |
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400 densely | |
ad.密集地;浓厚地 | |
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401 uproar | |
n.骚动,喧嚣,鼎沸 | |
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402 discordant | |
adj.不调和的 | |
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403 tumult | |
n.喧哗;激动,混乱;吵闹 | |
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404 plundering | |
掠夺,抢劫( plunder的现在分词 ) | |
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405 pillage | |
v.抢劫;掠夺;n.抢劫,掠夺;掠夺物 | |
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406 subsisting | |
v.(靠很少的钱或食物)维持生活,生存下去( subsist的现在分词 ) | |
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407 tributary | |
n.支流;纳贡国;adj.附庸的;辅助的;支流的 | |
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408 steadily | |
adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地 | |
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409 banished | |
v.放逐,驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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410 nomads | |
n.游牧部落的一员( nomad的名词复数 );流浪者;游牧生活;流浪生活 | |
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411 maize | |
n.玉米 | |
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412 millet | |
n.小米,谷子 | |
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413 barley | |
n.大麦,大麦粒 | |
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414 cultivation | |
n.耕作,培养,栽培(法),养成 | |
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415 derived | |
vi.起源;由来;衍生;导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 );(从…中)得到获得;源于;(从…中)提取 | |
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416 attain | |
vt.达到,获得,完成 | |
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417 boundless | |
adj.无限的;无边无际的;巨大的 | |
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418 allotted | |
分配,拨给,摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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419 corps | |
n.(通信等兵种的)部队;(同类作的)一组 | |
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420 herds | |
兽群( herd的名词复数 ); 牧群; 人群; 群众 | |
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421 exhausted | |
adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的 | |
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422 animated | |
adj.生气勃勃的,活跃的,愉快的 | |
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423 contented | |
adj.满意的,安心的,知足的 | |
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424 galloping | |
adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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425 countless | |
adj.无数的,多得不计其数的 | |
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426 picturesque | |
adj.美丽如画的,(语言)生动的,绘声绘色的 | |
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427 dreary | |
adj.令人沮丧的,沉闷的,单调乏味的 | |
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428 nought | |
n./adj.无,零 | |
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429 prey | |
n.被掠食者,牺牲者,掠食;v.捕食,掠夺,折磨 | |
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430 hovering | |
鸟( hover的现在分词 ); 靠近(某事物); (人)徘徊; 犹豫 | |
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431 naval | |
adj.海军的,军舰的,船的 | |
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432 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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433 conversing | |
v.交谈,谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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434 courteous | |
adj.彬彬有礼的,客气的 | |
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435 attained | |
(通常经过努力)实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 ); 达到; 获得; 达到(某年龄、水平、状况) | |
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436 fluency | |
n.流畅,雄辩,善辩 | |
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437 disseminate | |
v.散布;传播 | |
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438 deporting | |
v.将…驱逐出境( deport的现在分词 );举止 | |
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439 proximity | |
n.接近,邻近 | |
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440 subjugation | |
n.镇压,平息,征服 | |
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441 conquerors | |
征服者,占领者( conqueror的名词复数 ) | |
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442 subjugated | |
v.征服,降伏( subjugate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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443 incumbent | |
adj.成为责任的,有义务的;现任的,在职的 | |
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444 thither | |
adv.向那里;adj.在那边的,对岸的 | |
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445 metallic | |
adj.金属的;金属制的;含金属的;产金属的;像金属的 | |
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446 stationery | |
n.文具;(配套的)信笺信封 | |
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447 dependant | |
n.依靠的,依赖的,依赖他人生活者 | |
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448 trample | |
vt.踩,践踏;无视,伤害,侵犯 | |
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449 propriety | |
n.正当行为;正当;适当 | |
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450 seclusive | |
a.好隐居的 | |
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451 seclusion | |
n.隐遁,隔离 | |
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452 laden | |
adj.装满了的;充满了的;负了重担的;苦恼的 | |
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453 estuary | |
n.河口,江口 | |
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454 cordon | |
n.警戒线,哨兵线 | |
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455 inventory | |
n.详细目录,存货清单 | |
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456 seamen | |
n.海员 | |
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457 gratuitously | |
平白 | |
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458 enjoined | |
v.命令( enjoin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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459 distress | |
n.苦恼,痛苦,不舒适;不幸;vt.使悲痛 | |
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460 relaxation | |
n.松弛,放松;休息;消遣;娱乐 | |
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461 chastisement | |
n.惩罚 | |
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462 repulse | |
n.击退,拒绝;vt.逐退,击退,拒绝 | |
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463 cannon | |
n.大炮,火炮;飞机上的机关炮 | |
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464 severely | |
adv.严格地;严厉地;非常恶劣地 | |
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465 pagoda | |
n.宝塔(尤指印度和远东的多层宝塔),(印度教或佛教的)塔式庙宇 | |
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466 pagodas | |
塔,宝塔( pagoda的名词复数 ) | |
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467 feudal | |
adj.封建的,封地的,领地的 | |
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468 stature | |
n.(高度)水平,(高度)境界,身高,身材 | |
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469 complexion | |
n.肤色;情况,局面;气质,性格 | |
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470 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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471 meridians | |
n.子午圈( meridian的名词复数 );子午线;顶点;(权力,成就等的)全盛时期 | |
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472 diffused | |
散布的,普及的,扩散的 | |
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473 redound | |
v.有助于;提;报应 | |
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474 retaliatory | |
adj.报复的 | |
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475 candid | |
adj.公正的,正直的;坦率的 | |
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476 restrictions | |
约束( restriction的名词复数 ); 管制; 制约因素; 带限制性的条件(或规则) | |
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477 negotiation | |
n.谈判,协商 | |
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478 woolens | |
毛织品,毛料织物; 毛织品,羊毛织物,毛料衣服( woolen的名词复数 ) | |
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479 Portuguese | |
n.葡萄牙人;葡萄牙语 | |
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480 advisers | |
顾问,劝告者( adviser的名词复数 ); (指导大学新生学科问题等的)指导教授 | |
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481 considerably | |
adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上 | |
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482 perusal | |
n.细读,熟读;目测 | |
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483 harmonious | |
adj.和睦的,调和的,和谐的,协调的 | |
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484 perspicuity | |
n.(文体的)明晰 | |
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485 linen | |
n.亚麻布,亚麻线,亚麻制品;adj.亚麻布制的,亚麻的 | |
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486 porcelain | |
n.瓷;adj.瓷的,瓷制的 | |
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487 carving | |
n.雕刻品,雕花 | |
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488 staples | |
n.(某国的)主要产品( staple的名词复数 );钉书钉;U 形钉;主要部份v.用钉书钉钉住( staple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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489 adherence | |
n.信奉,依附,坚持,固着 | |
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490 hereditary | |
adj.遗传的,遗传性的,可继承的,世袭的 | |
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491 industrious | |
adj.勤劳的,刻苦的,奋发的 | |
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492 alteration | |
n.变更,改变;蚀变 | |
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493 inclinations | |
倾向( inclination的名词复数 ); 倾斜; 爱好; 斜坡 | |
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494 inclination | |
n.倾斜;点头;弯腰;斜坡;倾度;倾向;爱好 | |
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495 conceit | |
n.自负,自高自大 | |
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496 supremacy | |
n.至上;至高权力 | |
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497 ingenuity | |
n.别出心裁;善于发明创造 | |
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498 veins | |
n.纹理;矿脉( vein的名词复数 );静脉;叶脉;纹理 | |
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499 depicted | |
描绘,描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 ); 描述 | |
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500 radical | |
n.激进份子,原子团,根号;adj.根本的,激进的,彻底的 | |
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501 incompatibility | |
n.不兼容 | |
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502 pictorial | |
adj.绘画的;图片的;n.画报 | |
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503 varied | |
adj.多样的,多变化的 | |
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504 coalesce | |
v.联合,结合,合并 | |
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505 component | |
n.组成部分,成分,元件;adj.组成的,合成的 | |
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506 dependence | |
n.依靠,依赖;信任,信赖;隶属 | |
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507 etymologies | |
n.词源学,词源说明( etymology的名词复数 ) | |
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508 likeness | |
n.相像,相似(之处) | |
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509 symbolic | |
adj.象征性的,符号的,象征主义的 | |
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510 symbolical | |
a.象征性的 | |
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511 inverted | |
adj.反向的,倒转的v.使倒置,使反转( invert的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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512 metaphoric | |
adj. 使用隐喻的;比喻的;比喻意义的 | |
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513 tyro | |
n.初学者;生手 | |
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514 mien | |
n.风采;态度 | |
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515 patois | |
n.方言;混合语 | |
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|
516 civilians | |
平民,百姓( civilian的名词复数 ); 老百姓 | |
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|
517 converse | |
vi.谈话,谈天,闲聊;adv.相反的,相反 | |
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|
518 notation | |
n.记号法,表示法,注释;[计算机]记法 | |
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519 admiration | |
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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520 ethics | |
n.伦理学;伦理观,道德标准 | |
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|
521 adoption | |
n.采用,采纳,通过;收养 | |
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|
522 ravaged | |
毁坏( ravage的过去式和过去分词 ); 蹂躏; 劫掠; 抢劫 | |
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|
523 phonetically | |
按照发音地,语音学上 | |
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524 syllables | |
n.音节( syllable的名词复数 ) | |
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525 vowel | |
n.元音;元音字母 | |
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|
526 vernacular | |
adj.地方的,用地方语写成的;n.白话;行话;本国语;动植物的俗名 | |
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|
527 liking | |
n.爱好;嗜好;喜欢 | |
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528 incorporation | |
n.设立,合并,法人组织 | |
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529 contractions | |
n.收缩( contraction的名词复数 );缩减;缩略词;(分娩时)子宫收缩 | |
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530 euphonious | |
adj.好听的,悦耳的,和谐的 | |
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|
531 mellifluous | |
adj.(音乐等)柔美流畅的 | |
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|
532 stanza | |
n.(诗)节,段 | |
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533 obstructing | |
阻塞( obstruct的现在分词 ); 堵塞; 阻碍; 阻止 | |
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534 expressive | |
adj.表现的,表达…的,富于表情的 | |
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|
535 encumbered | |
v.妨碍,阻碍,拖累( encumber的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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|
536 consonants | |
n.辅音,子音( consonant的名词复数 );辅音字母 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
537 vowels | |
n.元音,元音字母( vowel的名词复数 ) | |
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|
|
538 diffusion | |
n.流布;普及;散漫 | |
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|
539 alterations | |
n.改动( alteration的名词复数 );更改;变化;改变 | |
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|
540 euphony | |
n.悦耳的语音 | |
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|
|
541 nominal | |
adj.名义上的;(金额、租金)微不足道的 | |
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|
|
542 enunciate | |
v.发音;(清楚地)表达 | |
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|
543 cognate | |
adj.同类的,同源的,同族的;n.同家族的人,同源词 | |
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544 sages | |
n.圣人( sage的名词复数 );智者;哲人;鼠尾草(可用作调料) | |
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545 disciples | |
n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 );门徒;耶稣的信徒;(尤指)耶稣十二门徒之一 | |
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|
546 infusion | |
n.灌输 | |
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|
547 adepts | |
n.专家,能手( adept的名词复数 ) | |
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|
548 philology | |
n.语言学;语文学 | |
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|
549 adverse | |
adj.不利的;有害的;敌对的,不友好的 | |
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550 embody | |
vt.具体表达,使具体化;包含,收录 | |
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551 magistrate | |
n.地方行政官,地方法官,治安官 | |
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552 commemorates | |
n.纪念,庆祝( commemorate的名词复数 )v.纪念,庆祝( commemorate的第三人称单数 ) | |
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553 ERECTED | |
adj. 直立的,竖立的,笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立,建立 | |
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554 awaken | |
vi.醒,觉醒;vt.唤醒,使觉醒,唤起,激起 | |
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555 nemesis | |
n.给以报应者,复仇者,难以对付的敌手 | |
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