"Faith!" said he, "not a bad idea, Paul. But do you fancy they'll let us stay, though?"
"Why, certainly; they would be overjoyed to have a couple of Karhowrees for townsmen."
"Gad2! you're right, my pleasant fellow. Ha! ha! I'll put up a banana-leaf as a physician from London—deliver lectures on Polynesian antiquities—teach English in five lessons, of one hour each—establish power-looms for the manufacture of tappa—lay out a public park in the middle of the village, and found a festival in honour of Captain Cook!"
"But, surely, not without stopping to take breath," observed I.
The doctor's projects, to be sure, were of a rather visionary cast; but we seriously thought, nevertheless, of prolonging our stay in the valley for an indefinite period; and, with this understanding, we were turning over various plans for spending our time pleasantly, when several women came running into the house, and hurriedly besought3 us to heree! heree! (make our escape), crying out something about the Mickonarees.
Thinking that we were about to be taken up under the act for the suppression of vagrancy4, we flew out of the house, sprang into a canoe before the door, and paddled with might and main over to the opposite side of the lake.
Approaching Rartoo's dwelling was a great crowd, among which we perceived several natives, who, from their partly European dress, we were certain did not reside in Tamai.
Plunging5 into the groves6, we thanked our stars that we had thus narrowly escaped being apprehended7 as runaway8 seamen9, and marched off to the beach. This, at least, was what we thought we had escaped.
Having fled the village, we could not think of prowling about its vicinity, and then returning; in doing so we might be risking our liberty again. We therefore determined10 upon journeying back to Martair; and setting our faces thitherward, we reached the planters' house about nightfall. They gave us a cordial reception, and a hearty12 supper; and we sat up talking until a late hour.
We now prepared to go round to Taloo, a place from which we were not far off when at Tamai; but wishing to see as much of the island as we could, we preferred returning to Martair, and then going round by way of the beach.
Taloo, the only frequented harbour of Imeeo, lies on the western side of the island, almost directly over against Martair. Upon one shore of the bay stands the village of Partoowye, a missionary13 station. In its vicinity is an extensive sugar plantation14—the best in the South Seas, perhaps—worked by a person from Sydney.
The patrimonial15 property of the husband of Pomaree, and every way a delightful16 retreat, Partoowye was one of the occasional residences of the court. But at the time I write of it was permanently17 fixed18 there, the queen having fled thither11 from Tahiti.
Partoowye, they told us, was by no means the place Papeetee was. Ships seldom touched, and very few foreigners were living ashore19. A solitary20 whaler, however, was reported to be lying in the harbour, wooding and watering, and to be in want of men.
All things considered, I could not help looking upon Taloo as offering "a splendid opening" for us adventurers. To say nothing of the facilities presented for going to sea in the whaler, or hiring ourselves out as day labourers in the sugar plantation, there were hopes to be entertained of being promoted to some office of high trust and emolument21 about the person of her majesty22, the queen.
Nor was this expectation altogether Quixotic. In the train of many Polynesian princes roving whites are frequently found: gentleman pensioners23 of state, basking24 in the tropical sunshine of the court, and leading the pleasantest lives in the world. Upon islands little visited by foreigners the first seaman25 that settles down is generally domesticated26 in the family of the head chief or king; where he frequently discharges the functions of various offices, elsewhere filled by as many different individuals. As historiographer, for instance, he gives the natives some account of distant countries; as commissioner27 of the arts and sciences, he instructs them in the use of the jack28-knife, and the best way of shaping bits of iron hoop29 into spear-heads; and as interpreter to his majesty, he facilitates intercourse30 with strangers; besides instructing the people generally in the uses of the most common English phrases, civil and profane31; but oftener the latter.
Sometimes they officiate as personal attendant, or First Lord in Waiting, to the king. At Amboi, one of the Tonga Islands, a vagabond Welshman bends his knee as cupbearer to his cannibal majesty. He mixes his morning cup of "arva," and, with profound genuflections, presents it in a cocoa-nut bowl, richly carved. Upon another island of the same group, where it is customary to bestow33 no small pains in dressing34 the hair—frizzing it out by a curious process into an enormous Pope's head—an old man-of-war's-man fills the post of barber to the king. And as his majesty is not very neat, his mop is exceedingly populous35; so that, when Jack is not engaged in dressing the head intrusted to his charge, he busies himself in gently titillating36 it—a sort of skewer37 being actually worn about in the patient's hair for that special purpose.
Even upon the Sandwich Islands a low rabble38 of foreigners is kept about the person of Tammahammaha for the purpose of ministering to his ease or enjoyment39.
Billy Loon40, a jolly little negro, tricked out in a soiled blue jacket, studded all over with rusty41 bell buttons, and garnished42 with shabby gold lace, is the royal drummer and pounder of the tambourine43. Joe, a wooden-legged Portuguese44 who lost his leg by a whale, is violinist; and Mordecai, as he is called, a villainous-looking scamp, going about with his cups and balls in a side pocket, diverts the court with his jugglery45. These idle rascals46 receive no fixed salary, being altogether dependent upon the casual bounty47 of their master. Now and then they run up a score at the Dance Houses in Honolulu, where the illustrious Tammahammaha III afterwards calls and settles the bill.
A few years since an auctioneer to his majesty came near being added to the retinue48 of state. It seems that he was the first man who had practised his vocation49 in the Sandwich Islands; and delighted with the sport of bidding upon his wares50, the king was one of his best customers. At last he besought the man to leave all and follow him, and he should be handsomely provided for at court. But the auctioneer refused; and so the ivory hammer lost the chance of being borne before him on a velvet51 cushion when the next king went to be crowned.
But it was not as strolling players, nor as footmen out of employ, that the doctor and myself looked forward to our approaching introduction to the court of the Queen of Tahiti. On the contrary, as before hinted, we expected to swell52 the appropriations53 of bread-fruit and cocoa-nuts on the Civil List by filling some honourable54 office in her gift.
We were told that, to resist the usurpation55 of the French, the queen was rallying about her person all the foreigners she could. Her partiality for the English and Americans was well known; and this was an additional ground for our anticipating a favourable56 reception. Zeke had informed us, moreover, that by the queen's counsellors at Partoowye, a war of aggression57 against the invaders58 of Papeetee had been seriously thought of. Should this prove true, a surgeon's commission for the doctor, and a lieutenancy59 for myself, were certainly counted upon in our sanguine60 expectations.
Such, then, were our views, and such our hopes in projecting a trip to Taloo. But in our most lofty aspirations61 we by no means lost sight of any minor62 matters which might help us to promotion63. The doctor had informed me that he excelled in playing the fiddle64. I now suggested that, as soon as we arrived at Partoowye, we should endeavour to borrow a violin for him; or if this could not be done, that he should manufacture some kind of a substitute, and, thus equipped, apply for an audience of the queen. Her well-known passion for music would at once secure his admittance; and so, under the most favourable auspices65, bring about our introduction to her notice.
"And who knows," said my waggish66 comrade, throwing his head back and performing an imaginary air by briskly drawing one arm across the other, "who knows that I may not fiddle myself into her majesty's good graces so as to became a sort of Rizzio to the Tahitian princess."
点击收听单词发音
1 dwelling | |
n.住宅,住所,寓所 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 gad | |
n.闲逛;v.闲逛 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 besought | |
v.恳求,乞求(某事物)( beseech的过去式和过去分词 );(beseech的过去式与过去分词) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 vagrancy | |
(说话的,思想的)游移不定; 漂泊; 流浪; 离题 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 plunging | |
adj.跳进的,突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 groves | |
树丛,小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 apprehended | |
逮捕,拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 ); 理解 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 runaway | |
n.逃走的人,逃亡,亡命者;adj.逃亡的,逃走的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 seamen | |
n.海员 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 thither | |
adv.向那里;adj.在那边的,对岸的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 hearty | |
adj.热情友好的;衷心的;尽情的,纵情的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 missionary | |
adj.教会的,传教(士)的;n.传教士 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 plantation | |
n.种植园,大农场 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 patrimonial | |
adj.祖传的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 delightful | |
adj.令人高兴的,使人快乐的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 permanently | |
adv.永恒地,永久地,固定不变地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 ashore | |
adv.在(向)岸上,上岸 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20 solitary | |
adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21 emolument | |
n.报酬,薪水 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22 majesty | |
n.雄伟,壮丽,庄严,威严;最高权威,王权 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23 pensioners | |
n.领取退休、养老金或抚恤金的人( pensioner的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
24 basking | |
v.晒太阳,取暖( bask的现在分词 );对…感到乐趣;因他人的功绩而出名;仰仗…的余泽 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
25 seaman | |
n.海员,水手,水兵 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
26 domesticated | |
adj.喜欢家庭生活的;(指动物)被驯养了的v.驯化( domesticate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
27 commissioner | |
n.(政府厅、局、处等部门)专员,长官,委员 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
28 jack | |
n.插座,千斤顶,男人;v.抬起,提醒,扛举;n.(Jake)杰克 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
29 hoop | |
n.(篮球)篮圈,篮 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
30 intercourse | |
n.性交;交流,交往,交际 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
31 profane | |
adj.亵神的,亵渎的;vt.亵渎,玷污 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
32 hardy | |
adj.勇敢的,果断的,吃苦的;耐寒的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
33 bestow | |
v.把…赠与,把…授予;花费 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
34 dressing | |
n.(食物)调料;包扎伤口的用品,敷料 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
35 populous | |
adj.人口稠密的,人口众多的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
36 titillating | |
adj.使人痒痒的; 使人激动的,令人兴奋的v.使觉得痒( titillate的现在分词 );逗引;激发;使高兴 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
37 skewer | |
n.(烤肉用的)串肉杆;v.用杆串好 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
38 rabble | |
n.乌合之众,暴民;下等人 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
39 enjoyment | |
n.乐趣;享有;享用 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
40 loon | |
n.狂人 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
41 rusty | |
adj.生锈的;锈色的;荒废了的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
42 garnished | |
v.给(上餐桌的食物)加装饰( garnish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
43 tambourine | |
n.铃鼓,手鼓 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
44 Portuguese | |
n.葡萄牙人;葡萄牙语 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
45 jugglery | |
n.杂耍,把戏 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
46 rascals | |
流氓( rascal的名词复数 ); 无赖; (开玩笑说法)淘气的人(尤指小孩); 恶作剧的人 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
47 bounty | |
n.慷慨的赠予物,奖金;慷慨,大方;施与 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
48 retinue | |
n.侍从;随员 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
49 vocation | |
n.职业,行业 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
50 wares | |
n. 货物, 商品 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
51 velvet | |
n.丝绒,天鹅绒;adj.丝绒制的,柔软的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
52 swell | |
vi.膨胀,肿胀;增长,增强 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
53 appropriations | |
n.挪用(appropriation的复数形式) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
54 honourable | |
adj.可敬的;荣誉的,光荣的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
55 usurpation | |
n.篡位;霸占 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
56 favourable | |
adj.赞成的,称赞的,有利的,良好的,顺利的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
57 aggression | |
n.进攻,侵略,侵犯,侵害 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
58 invaders | |
入侵者,侵略者,侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
59 lieutenancy | |
n.中尉之职,代理官员 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
60 sanguine | |
adj.充满希望的,乐观的,血红色的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
61 aspirations | |
强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 ); 志向; 发送气音; 发 h 音 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
62 minor | |
adj.较小(少)的,较次要的;n.辅修学科;vi.辅修 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
63 promotion | |
n.提升,晋级;促销,宣传 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
64 fiddle | |
n.小提琴;vi.拉提琴;不停拨弄,乱动 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
65 auspices | |
n.资助,赞助 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
66 waggish | |
adj.诙谐的,滑稽的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |