It was true, he said, that the queen entertained some idea of making a stand against the French; and it was currently reported also that several chiefs from Borabora, Huwyenee, Raiatair, and Tahar, the leeward3 islands of the group, were at that very time taking counsel with her as to the expediency4 of organizing a general movement throughout the entire cluster, with a view of anticipating any further encroachments on the part of the invaders5. Should warlike measures be actually decided6 upon, it was quite certain that Pomaree would be glad to enlist7 all the foreigners she could; but as to her making officers of either the doctor or me, that was out of the question; because, already, a number of Europeans, well known to her, had volunteered as such. Concerning our getting immediate8 access to the queen, Po-Po told us it was rather doubtful; she living at that time very retired9, in poor health, and spirits, and averse10 to receiving calls. Previous to her misfortunes, however, no one, however humble11, was denied admittance to her presence; sailors, even, attended her levees.
Not at all disheartened by these things, we concluded to kill time in Partoowye until some event turned up more favourable12 to our projects. So that very day we sallied out on an excursion to the ship which, lying land-locked far up the bay, yet remained to be visited.
Passing on our route a long, low shed, a voice hailed us—"White men ahoy!" Turning round, who should we see but a rosy-cheeked Englishman (you could tell his country at a glance), up to his knees in shavings, and planing away at a bench. He turned out to be a runaway13 ship's carpenter, recently from Tahiti, and now doing a profitable business in Imeeo, by fitting up the dwellings14 of opulent chiefs with cupboards and other conveniences, and once in a while trying his hand at a lady's work-box. He had been in the settlement but a few months, and already possessed15 houses and lands.
But though blessed with prosperity and high health, there was one thing wanting—a wife. And when he came to speak of the matter, his countenance16 fell, and he leaned dejectedly upon his plane.
"It's too bad!" he sighed, "to wait three long years; and all the while, dear little Lullee living in the same house with that infernal chief from Tahar!"
Our curiosity was piqued17; the poor carpenter, then, had been falling in love with some island coquette, who was going to jilt him.
But such was not the case. There was a law prohibiting, under a heavy penalty, the marriage of a native with a foreigner, unless the latter, after being three years a resident on the island, was willing to affirm his settled intention of remaining for life.
William was therefore in a sad way. He told us that he might have married the girl half-a-dozen times, had it not been for this odious18 law: but, latterly, she had become less loving and more giddy, particularly with the strangers from Tahar. Desperately19 smitten20, and desirous of securing her at all hazards, he had proposed to the damsel's friends a nice little arrangement, introductory to marriage; but they would not hear of it; besides, if the pair were discovered living together upon such a footing, they would be liable to a degrading punishment:—sent to work making stone walls and opening roads for the queen.
Doctor Long Ghost was all sympathy. "Bill, my good fellow," said he, tremulously, "let me go and talk to her." But Bill, declining the offer, would not even inform us where his charmer lived.
Leaving the disconsolate21 Willie planing a plank22 of New Zealand pine (an importation from the Bay of Islands), and thinking the while of Lullee, we went on our way. How his suit prospered23 in the end we never learned.
Going from Po-Po's house toward the anchorage of the harbour of Taloo, you catch no glimpse of the water until, coming out from deep groves24, you all at once find yourself upon the beach. A bay, considered by many voyagers the most beautiful in the South Seas, then lies before you. You stand upon one side of what seems a deep green river, flowing through mountain passes to the sea. Right opposite a majestic25 promontory26 divides the inlet from another, called after its discoverer, Captain Cook. The face of this promontory toward Taloo is one verdant27 wall; and at its base the waters lie still and fathomless28. On the left hand, you just catch a peep of the widening mouth of the bay, the break in the reef by which ships enter, and, beyond, the sea. To the right, the inlet, sweeping29 boldly round the promontory, runs far away into the land; where, save in one direction, the hills close in on every side, knee-deep in verdure and shooting aloft in grotesque30 peaks. The open space lies at the head of the bay; in the distance it extends into a broad hazy31 plain lying at the foot of an amphitheatre of hills. Here is the large sugar plantation32 previously33 alluded34 to. Beyond the first range of hills, you descry35 the sharp pinnacles36 of the interior; and among these, the same silent Marling-spike which we so often admired from the other side of the island.
All alone in the harbour lay the good ship Leviathan. We jumped into the canoe, and paddled off to her. Though early in the afternoon, everything was quiet; but upon mounting the side we found four or five sailors lounging about the forecastle, under an awning37. They gave us no very cordial reception; and though otherwise quite hearty38 in appearance, seemed to assume a look of ill-humour on purpose to honour our arrival. There was much eagerness to learn whether we wanted to "ship"; and by the unpleasant accounts they gave of the vessel39, they seemed desirous to prevent such a thing if possible.
We asked where the rest of the ship's company were; a gruff old fellow made answer, "One boat's crew of 'em is gone to Davy Jones's locker:—went off after a whale, last cruise, and never come back agin. All the starboard watch ran away last night, and the skipper's ashore40 kitching 'em."
"And it's shipping41 yer after, my jewels, is it?" cried a curly-pated little Belfast sailor, coming up to us, "thin arrah! my livelies, jist be after sailing ashore in a jiffy:—the divil of a skipper will carry yees both to sea, whether or no. Be off wid ye thin, darlints, and steer42 clear of the likes of this ballyhoo of blazes as long as ye live. They murther us here every day, and starve us into the bargain. Here, Dick, lad, har! the poor divil's canow alongside; and paddle away wid yees for dear life."
But we loitered awhile, listening to more inducements to ship; and at last concluded to stay to supper. My sheath-knife never cut into better sea-beef than that which we found lying in the kid in the forecastle. The bread, too, was hard, dry, and brittle43 as glass; and there was plenty of both.
While we were below, the mate of the vessel called out for someone to come on deck. I liked his voice. Hearing it was as good as a look at his face. It betokened44 a true sailor, and no taskmaster.
The appearance of the Leviathan herself was quite pleasing. Like all large, comfortable old whalers, she had a sort of motherly look:—broad in the beam, flush decks, and four chubby45 boats hanging at the breast. Her sails were furled loosely upon the yards, as if they had been worn long, and fitted easy; her shrouds46 swung negligently47 slack; and as for the "running rigging," it never worked hard as it does in some of your "dandy ships," jamming in the sheaves of blocks, like Chinese slippers48, too small to be useful: on the contrary, the ropes ran glibly49 through, as if they had many a time travelled the same road, and were used to it.
When evening came, we dropped into our canoe, and paddled ashore; fully convinced that the good ship never deserved the name which they gave her.
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1
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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leeward
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| adj.背风的；下风的 | |
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expediency
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| n.适宜；方便；合算；利己 | |
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invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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enlist
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| vt.谋取(支持等)，赢得；征募；vi.入伍 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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runaway
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| n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的 | |
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dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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piqued
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| v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的过去式和过去分词 )；激起（好奇心） | |
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odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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smitten
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| 猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
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disconsolate
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| adj.忧郁的，不快的 | |
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plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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prospered
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| 成功，兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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groves
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| 树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
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majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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promontory
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| n.海角；岬 | |
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verdant
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| adj.翠绿的，青翠的，生疏的，不老练的 | |
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fathomless
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| a.深不可测的 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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hazy
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| adj.有薄雾的，朦胧的；不肯定的，模糊的 | |
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plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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descry
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| v.远远看到；发现；责备 | |
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pinnacles
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| 顶峰( pinnacle的名词复数 )； 顶点； 尖顶； 小尖塔 | |
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awning
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| n.遮阳篷；雨篷 | |
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38
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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41
shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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42
steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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43
brittle
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| adj.易碎的；脆弱的；冷淡的；(声音)尖利的 | |
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44
betokened
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| v.预示，表示( betoken的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
chubby
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| adj.丰满的，圆胖的 | |
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46
shrouds
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| n.裹尸布( shroud的名词复数 )；寿衣；遮蔽物；覆盖物v.隐瞒( shroud的第三人称单数 )；保密 | |
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47
negligently
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48
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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49
glibly
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| adv.流利地，流畅地；满口 | |
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