“The whole of the town is in an uproar1. The news that Ptylus and his son have been found slain3 has been received, and the excitement is tremendous. The death by violence of two high priests of Osiris within so short a time is regarded as a presage4 of some terrible national misfortune. That one should have been slain was an almost unprecedented5 act—an insult of a terrible kind to the gods; but this second act of sacrilege has almost maddened the people. Some regard it as a judgment6 of Osiris, and deem that it is a proof that, as a few ventured to whisper before, the death of Ameres was brought about by an intrigue8 among a party of the priests, headed by Ptylus. Others see in it a fresh proof of the anger of the god against Egypt.
“The king himself will, it is said, take part in services of propitiation in the temple of Osiris to-morrow; sacrifices are to be offered, they say, in all the temples. A solemn fast will be proclaimed to-morrow, and all the people, high and low, are to shave their eyebrows9 and to display the usual signs of mourning. So far I have heard nothing as to the fact that two girls who were in the house are discovered to be missing, but to-morrow, when those who were in the house are questioned by the magistrates10, this fact will doubtless come out, and the men will own that by the orders of Ptylus they carried Mysa away at the time the attack on the house was made.
“At present, however, there is no question of women in the case; and I can go down to the boat with the girls in company with Chigron without any fear whatever. But it is better that you should not be with us when we embark11; for when the matter comes to be talked over, some one who sees us embark might notice that our number tallies12 with that of the three persons present when Ptylus was killed, and the two missing girls. Therefore Chigron’s opinion is that it will be safer for you to start at once and walk to Mita, a village twenty miles up the river. There the boat will lie up to-morrow night, and as soon as it is dark you can come on board. I shall tell the boatmen that I expect you to join us there, as you have gone on ahead to transact13 some business for me in the neighborhood.”
“That is certainly the best plan,” Amuba agreed. “There are too many who know Chebron by sight for it to be safe for him to go down to the boat here and embark in broad daylight. I will take two hours’ sleep before I start; for as I did not sleep last night, and have walked forty miles since I left the chariot, I feel in need of a little repose14 before I start again. I was foolish not to have slept this afternoon, for I have since midday been hiding near; but there was so much to think about that I had no inclination15 to do so, especially as I believed that we would have a night’s rest here.”
“I will wake you,” Chebron said. “I have been asleep the better part of the day, having had nothing to do since we arrived here yesterday evening.”
Chebron sat watching the stars until he saw that they had made two hours’ journey through the sky. Then he roused Amuba. Both now laid aside their garments as peasants and put on the attire16 prepared for them as the sons of a small trader. Amuba had submitted, although with much disgust, to have his head shaved on the night following the death of Ameres, and it was a satisfaction to him to put on a wig17; for, accustomed as he was to see the bare heads of the peasants, it was strange and uncomfortable to him to be going about in the same fashion.
As soon as they were dressed they started, made their way down to the bank of the river above the town, and walked along the broad causeway by the stream until within a mile or two of their destination. Then they turned off toward a clump19 of trees which were visible by the first gleam of dawn a quarter of a mile away. Here they slept for some hours, and late in the afternoon returned to the side of the river and strolled quietly along, watching the boats. Those in the middle of the stream were making their way down with the current lightly and easily, the crews often singing merrily, rejoicing over the approaching meeting with their friends after an absence of many weeks. The boats going up the stream were all close to the bank, the crews walking along the causeway and laboring21 at the towropes, for there was not enough wind to render the sails of any utility in breasting the stream. The craft were of various kinds, some shapeless and rudely fashioned, used in conveying corn from the country higher up down to Thebes, and now returning empty. Others were the fancifully painted boats of the wealthy, with comfortable cabins and sails of many colors richly decorated and embroidered22. These were carrying their owners up or down the river, between their country mansions23 and the city.
It was half an hour after sunset when the two friends arrived at Mita. Darkness falls quickly in Egypt after the sun has gone down, and their features could scarcely have been recognized had they been met by any one acquainted with them in the streets. The scene in the streets of the little village was a busy one. Its distance from Thebes rendered it a general halting-place for the night of the boats which had left the capital early, and a great number of these were already moored24 off the bank, while others were arriving in quick succession. The boatmen and passengers were busy making their purchases at the shops; fishermen, with well-filled baskets, were shouting the praises of their fish; fowlers, with strings25 of ducks and geese hanging from poles from their shoulders, were equally clamorous26 in offering them for sale.
The shops of the fruiterers and bakers27 and those of the venders of the vegetables that formed so large a portion of the diet of the Egyptians were all crowded, and the wine shops were doing a brisk business.
Chebron and Amuba made their way through the busy scene, keeping a sharp lookout28 for Jethro, for they considered it certain that owing to the early start the boat was to make it would have arrived there some hours before, and that he would be on the lookout for them. In a few minutes they saw him looking into one of the shops. He started as they went up to him and touched him, for he had not perceived them before.
“All well?” Amuba asked.
“Everything has gone off admirably. We got off without the slightest trouble. But come on board at once; the girls are anxious about you, although I assured them that there was not the slightest risk of your being discovered on your way here.”
So saying, Jethro led the way to the boat, which was moored by the bank a hundred yards above the village, “in order,” Jethro said, “that they could make an early start in the morning, and be off before the rest of the boats were under way.”
“Here are your brothers,” Jethro said in a loud voice as he stepped on board. “I found them dawdling29 and gossiping in the street, forgetting altogether that you were waiting for your evening meal until they came on board.”
Both entered the cabin, which was about eight feet wide and twelve feet long, but not high enough for them to stand upright. The floor was spread with a thick carpet; cushions and pillows were arranged along each side, and thick matting hung from the top. In the daytime this was rolled up and fastened, so that the air could play through the cabin and those within could look out at the river; but at present it closed the openings and kept out both the night air and the glances of passers-by. At the other end was a door opening into the smaller cabin allotted30 to the girls. A lamp swung from the beams overhead. Mysa gave a cry of pleasure as they entered and was about to spring to her feet, when Jethro exclaimed:
“Mind your head, child! You are not accustomed to these low quarters yet.”
“Thank the gods we are together again!” Mysa said as Chebron, after embracing her, sat down on the cushion beside her. “I feel almost happy now, in spite of the dreadful times that have passed.”
“It does feel homelike here,” Chebron said, looking round, “especially after sleeping in the open air on the hard ground, as we have been doing for the last month.”
“I should hardly have known you, Amuba,” Mysa said. “You do look so different in your wig, and with your skin darkened.”
“I must look horrible,” Amuba replied rather ruefully.
“You don’t look so nice,” Mysa replied frankly31. “I used at first to think that short, wavy32 golden hair of yours was strange, and that you would look better in a wig like other people; but now I am sorry it is gone.”
“Here is our meal,” Jethro said as the hangings that served as a door were drawn33 aside, and one of the men entered bearing a dish of fried fish and another of stewed34 ducks, which he placed on the floor.
Jethro produced some cups and a jar of wine from a locker35 in the cabin, and then the men, by his orders, brought in a jar of water for the use of the girls. Then sitting round the dishes they began their meal, Jethro cutting up the food with his dagger36, and all helping37 themselves with the aid of their fingers and pieces of bread, that served them for the purpose of forks. Mysa had been accustomed always to the use of a table; but these were only used in the abodes38 of the rich, and the people in general sat on the ground to their meals.
“We have not begun our hardships yet,” Mysa said, smiling. “I should not mind how long this went on. I call this much better than living in a house; don’t you, Ruth?”
“It is more natural to me than that great house of yours,” Ruth replied; “and of course to me it is far more homelike and comfortable. For I do not think I was a favorite among the other servants; they were jealous of the kindness you showed me.”
“There is one thing I wanted to say,” Jethro said. “It is better that we should not call each other by our names, I am sure that the boatmen have no suspicion here that we are other than what we seem to be; but they can hardly help hearing our names, for all Egypt has rung with them for the last month, and it would be well if we change them for the present. You must of necessity call me father, since that is the relation I am supposed to bear to you. Amuba can become Amnis and Chebron Chefu.”
“And I will be Mytis,” Mysa said. “What name will you take, Ruth? There is no Egyptian name quite like yours.”
“It matters not what you call me,” Ruth said.
“We will call you Nite,” Mysa said. “I had a great friend of that name, but she died.”
“And there is one thing, Nite,” Chebron said, “that I wish you to understand. Just now you spoke39 to me as my lord Chebron. That sort of thing must not be any longer. We are all fugitives40 together, and Mysa and I have no longer any rank. Jethro and Amuba are of high rank in their own country, and if we ever get safely to their own people they will be nobles in the land, while we shall be but strangers, as he was when he and Jethro came into Egypt. Therefore any talk of rank among us is but folly41. We are fugitives, and my life is forfeited42 if I am discovered in my own land. Jethro is our leader and guardian43, alike by the will of our father and because he is older and wiser than any of us. Amuba is as my elder brother, being stronger and braver and more accustomed to danger than I; while you and Mysa are sisters, inasmuch as you are both exiled from your own land, and are friendless, save for each other and us.”
“I am glad to hear you say that, brother,” Mysa said. “I spoke to her last night about it, for she would insist on treating me as if she were still my servant; which is absurd, and not nice of her, when she is going out with us to share our dangers only because she loves me. It is I rather who should look up to her, for I am very helpless, and know nothing of work or real life, while she can do all sorts of things; besides, when we were captives it was she who was always brave and hopeful, and kept up my spirits when, I do think, if it had not been for her I should have died of grief and terror.”
“By the way,” Jethro said, “we have not heard yet how it was that you were together. We heard of your being carried off, but old Lyptis told me that no one had seen aught of you.”
“They were all scared out of their senses,” Ruth said scornfully. “The men suddenly ran into the room and seized Mysa, and twisted a shawl round her head before she had time to call out. I screamed, and one of them struck me a blow which knocked me down. Then they carried her off. I think I was stunned44 for a moment. When I recovered I found they were gone. I jumped up and ran along the passage and through the hall, where the women were screaming and crying, and then out of the house through the garden, and out of the gate. Then I saw four men at a short distance off carrying Mysa to a cart standing45 a hundred yards away. I ran up just as they laid her in it. One of them turned upon me with a dagger. I said:
“‘Let me go with her, and I will be quiet. If not, I will scream; and if you kill me, it will only set the people on your traces.’
“The men hesitated, and I ran past them and climbed into the cart, and threw myself down by Mysa, and then they drove off.”
“It was brave and good of you, Ruth,” Jethro said, laying his hand on the girl’s shoulder; “but why did you not scream when you first came out of the gate? It might have brought aid and prevented Mysa from being carried off.”
“I thought of that,” Ruth said, “but there were numbers of rough men still coming in at the gate; and knowing how the people had been stirred up to anger against us, I did not know what might happen if I gave the alarm. Besides, I was not sure at first that these men, although they seemed so rough and violent, were not really friends, who were taking away Mysa to save her from the popular fury.”
“Yes, that might have been the case,” Jethro agreed. “At any rate, child, you acted bravely and well. We were hoping all along that you were with Mysa, for we knew what a comfort you would be to her. Only, as the women all declared you did not pass out after her, we did not see how that could be. And now, Mytis and Nite, you had better retire to your own cabin to rest; for though you have both kept up wonderfully, all this has been a great strain for you, and you are both looking fagged and heavy-eyed. To-night you can sleep in comfort; for, for the present, I think that there is no occasion whatever for the slightest anxiety.”
It was some time before Jethro and his companions lay down to sleep. They talked long and earnestly of the journey that lay before them; and when they had exhausted46 this topic, Chebron said:
“Till now, Jethro, I have not asked you about my father’s funeral. When is it to be? I have thought of it often, but as you did not speak I thought it better not to question you.”
“I was glad you did not,” Jethro replied. “It will be in about ten days’ time. As I believed you guessed, Chigron is embalming47 him; the process will not be completed for another four days, and, as you know, the relatives do not see the corpse48 after it is in the hands of the embalmer49 until it is swathed and in the coffin50. Chigron has done so much that must have been against his conscience that I did not like him to be asked to allow you to break through that custom, which to him is a sort of religion; beside, dear lad, I thought it better for yourself not to renew your griefs by gazing on a lifeless face.
“During the last month you have fortunately had so much to distract your thoughts that you have not had time to dwell upon your loss. Moreover, you have needed all your strength and your energy for your search for your sister, and right sure am I that your father, who was as sensible as he was wise—and the two things do not always go together—would be far better pleased to see you energetic and active in your search for your sister and in preparation for this new life on which we are entering, than in vain regrets for him; therefore, lad, for every reason I thought it better to keep silent upon the subject. It may be a satisfaction, however, for you to know that everything will be done to do honor to the dead.
“The king and all the great men of Egypt will be present, and Thebes will turn out its thousands to express its grief for the deed done by a section of its population. Had it not been for the express commands of your father I should have thought that it might have been worth while for you to present yourself on that occasion and it may be that for once even the fanatics51 would have been satisfied to have pardoned the offense52 of the son because of the wrong done to the father. However, this affair of Ptylus puts that out of the question, for when it is generally known that Mysa was carried off when Ptylus was slain, public opinion will arrive at the truth and say that the fugitives of whom they were in search, the slayers of the sacred cat, were the rescuers of the daughter of Ameres and the slayers of the high priest.”
“You are right, Jethro, it will be better for me not to have seen my father; I can always think of him now as I saw him last, which is a thousand times better than if he dwelt in my memory as he lies in the cere-clothes in the embalming room of Chigron. As to what you say about my appearing at the funeral, I would in no case have done it; I would a thousand times rather live an exile or meet my death at the hands of savages53 than crave55 mercy at the hands of the mob of Thebes, and live to be pointed56 at all my life as the man who had committed the abhorred57 offense of killing58 the sacred cat.”
The conversation in the cabin had all been carried on in an undertone; for although through an opening in the curtains they could see the crew—who had been eating their meal by the light of a torch of resinous59 wood, and were now wrapped up in thick garments to keep off the night dew—chatting merrily together and occasionally breaking into snatches of song, it was prudent60 to speak so that not even a chance word should be overheard. The boatmen, indeed, were in high spirits. Their home lay far up near the borders of Upper Egypt, and it was seldom indeed that they obtained a job which gave them the chance of visiting their friends. Thus the engagement was most satisfactory to them, for although their leader had haggled61 over the terms, he and they would gladly have accepted half the rate of pay rather than let such an opportunity slip. As Chebron finished speaking they were preparing for the night by laying down a few mats on the boards of the fore7 deck. Then they huddled62 closely together, pulled another mat or two over them, extinguished the torch, and composed themselves to sleep.
“We will follow their example; but a little more comfortably, I hope,” Jethro said.
The cushions and pillows were arranged, the lamp turned low, and in a short time all on board the boat were sound asleep. No ray of light had entered the cabin when Amuba was awakened63 by a movement of the boat, caused by a stir among the crew. He felt his way to the door and threw back the hangings and looked out; there was a faint greenish-yellow light in the east, but the stars were still shining brightly.
“Good-morning, young master!” the captain said. “I hope you have slept well.”
“So well that I could hardly believe it was morning,” Amuba replied. “How long will it be before you are off?”
“We shall be moving in ten minutes; at present there is not light enough to see the shore.”
“Chefu, are you awake?”
“Yes,” Chebron answered sleepily, “I am awake; thanks to your talking. If you had lain quiet we might have slept for another hour yet.”
“You have had plenty of sleep the last twenty-four hours,” Amuba retorted. “Take a cloth and let us land and run along the banks for a mile, and have a bath before the boat comes along.”
“It is very cold for it,” Chebron said.
“Nonsense! the water will refresh you.”
“Come along, Chefu,” Jethro said, “your brother is right; a dip will refresh us for the day.”
The Egyptians were most particular about bathing and washing. The heat and dust of the climate rendered cleanliness an absolute necessity, and all classes took their daily bath—the wealthy in baths attached to their houses, the poor in the water of the lakes or canals. Jethro and the two lads leaped ashore64 and ran briskly along the bank for about a mile, stripped and took a plunge65 into the river, and were dressed again just as the boat came along with the four men towing her, and the captain steering66 with an oar2 at the stern. It was light enough now for him to distinguish the faces of his passengers, and he brought the boat straight alongside the bank. In a few minutes the girls came out from their cabin, looking fresh and rosy68.
“So you have been bathing?” Mysa said. “We heard what you were saying, and we have had our bath too.”
“How did you manage that?” Chebron asked.
“We went out by the door at the other side of our cabin in our woollen robes, on to that little platform on which the man is standing to steer67, and poured jars of water over each other.”
“And you both slept well?”
“Yes, indeed, and without waking once till we heard Amnis call you to get up.”
“You disturbed everyone, you see, Amnis,” Chebron said.
“And a very good thing too,” Amuba laughed. “If we had not had our bath when we did, we should not have got an opportunity all day. Now we all feel fresh.”
“And ready for something to eat,” Mysa put in.
“What would you like, Mytis?” Ruth asked. “I am a capital cook, you know, and I don’t suppose the men will be preparing their breakfast for a long time yet.”
“I think that will be a very good plan, Mytis,” Jethro said; “but we will divide the labor20 between us. The two boys shall stir up the brands smoldering69 on the flat stone hearth70 forward, I will clean and get ready some fish, Nite shall cook them, while Mytis shall, under her directions, make us some cakes and put them into the hot ashes to bake. We shall have to shift for ourselves later on. There is nothing like getting accustomed to it. Of course the men will cook the principal meals, but we can prepare little meals between times. It is astonishing how many times you can eat during the day when you are in the open air.”
In half an hour the meal, consisting of the fish, light dough-cakes, which Mysa had with much amusement prepared under Ruth’s directions, and fruit, was ready. The latter consisted of grapes and melons. The meal was greatly enjoyed, and by the time it was finished the sun was already some distance up the sky. For an hour the party sat on the deck forward watching the boats coming down the stream and the villages on the opposite shore; but as the sun gained power they were glad to enter into the cabin. The mats were rolled up now to allow a free passage of air, and as they sat on the cushions they could look out on both sides.
Day after day passed quietly and smoothly71. The men generally towed the boat from sunrise until eleven o’clock in the day; then they moored her to the bank, prepared a meal, and after eating it went ashore if there were trees that afforded a shade there, or if not, spread out some mats on poles over the boat and slept in their shade till three o’clock. Then they towed until sunset, moored her for the night, cooked their second meal, talked and sang for an hour or two, and then lay down for the night. Sometimes the wind blew with sufficient strength to enable the boat to stem the stream close inshore by means of the sail alone; then the boatmen were perfectly72 happy and spent their day in alternate eating and sleeping. Generally the passengers landed and walked alongside of the boat for an hour or two after they had had their early breakfast, and again when the heat of the day was over; it made a change, and at the same time kept their muscles in a state of health and activity.
“We may have to make long journeys on foot,” Jethro said, “and the more we can accustom18 ourselves to walking the better.”
The time passed so quietly and pleasantly that both Mysa and Chebron at times blamed themselves for feeling as light hearted as they did; but when the latter once said so to Jethro he replied:
“Do not be uneasy on that score. Remember that in the first place it is a comfort to us all that you and your sister are cheerful companions. It makes the journey lighter73 for us. In the next place, good spirits and good health go together; and although, at present, our life is an easy one, there will be need for health and strength presently. This flight and exile are at present blessings74 rather than misfortunes to you. Just as Amuba’s captivity75 following so closely upon the death of his father and mother was to him.”
“I can hardly believe,” Mysa said, “that we are really going upon a dangerous expedition. Everything is so pleasant and tranquil76. The days pass without any care or trouble. I find it difficult to believe that the time is not very far off when we shall have to cross deserts, and perhaps to meet savage54 beasts and wild people, and be in danger of our lives.”
“It will be a long time first, Mytis. It will be months before we arrive at Meroe, the capital of the next kingdom, which lies at the junction77 of the two great arms of this river. Up to that point I do not think there will be dangers, though there may be some little difficulty, for they say there are tremendous rapids to be passed. It is only lately that the king overran Meroe, defeated its armies, and forced it to pay tribute, but as there is a considerable trade carried on with that country I do not think there is any danger of molestation78. It is on leaving Meroe that our difficulties will commence; for, as I hear, the road thence to the east through the city of Axoum, which is the capital of the country named Abyssinia, passes through a wild land abounding79 with savage animals; and again, beyond Axoum the country is broken and difficult down to the sea.
“Chigron told me, however, that he had heard from a native of Meroe who had worked for him that there is a far shorter road to the sea from a point at which the river takes a great bend many hundreds of miles below the capital. When we get higher up we can of course make inquiries80 as to this. I hope that it may prove to be true, for if so it will save us months of travel.”
Several large towns were passed as they journeyed upward. Hermonthis, standing on the western bank, by which they were traveling, was the first passed. Then came Esneh, with grand temples dedicated81 to Kneph and Neith, and standing where the Nile Valley opens to a width of five miles. Then they passed Eilithya, standing on the eastern bank, with many temples rising above it, and with the sandstone rock behind it dotted with the entrances to sepulchers82.
A few miles higher up they passed Edfu. Above this the valley gradually narrowed, the hills closing in until they rose almost perpendicularly83 from the edge of the stream. Here were temples erected84 especially for the worship of the Nile and of his emblem85 the crocodile. It appeared to the Egyptians the most appropriate place for the worship of the river, which seemed here to occupy the whole width of Egypt. Here, too, were vast quarries86, from which the stone was extracted for the building of most of the temples of Upper Egypt.
Sixteen miles higher Ombi was passed, with its great temple in honor of the crocodile-headed god Sebak. Along this part of the river the country was comparatively barren and the villages small and far apart. In the narrow places the river at times ran so rapidly that it was necessary to hire a number of peasants to assist the boatmen to drag the boat against the stream, and the progress made each day was very slight.
Four days after leaving Ombi they arrived at Syene,[A] by far the largest town they had come to since leaving Thebes. This brought the first stage of their journey to an end. Hitherto they had been traveling along a tranquil river, running strongly at times, but smooth and even. Before them they had a succession of cataracts87 and rapids to pass, and a country to traverse which, although often subjugated88, was continually rising against the power of Egypt.
At Syene they remained for three days. They would gladly have pushed on without delay, for although the Egyptian authority extended further up the river, Syene was the last town where the governor would concern himself with the affairs of Egypt, or where fugitives from justice were likely to be arrested. However, as it was customary to give boatmen a few days of repose after their labor, and before undertaking89 the still more severe work which lay before them, Jethro thought it better to avoid any appearance of haste.
There was much to be seen that was new to them at Syene. A great trade was carried on with Meroe. Most of the merchants engaged in it dwelt here, buying on the one hand the products of Upper and Lower Egypt and sending or taking them up the river, and on the other hand buying the products of Meroe and dispatching them to Thebes. The streets were filled with a mingled90 population. Egyptians with their spotless garments and tranquil mien91; merchants absorbed in business; officers and soldiers in large numbers, for Syene was an important military station; officials belonging to the great quarries near, and gangs of slaves of many nationalities working under their orders.
Wild-looking figures moved among the crowd, their garments, thrown loosely round them, affording a striking contrast to the cleanness of those of the Egyptians, while their unkempt hair was in equally strong contrast to the precise wigs92 of the middle-class Egyptians and the bare heads of the lower class. Their skins, too, were much darker in color, though there was considerable variation in this respect. Among them were a sprinkling of men of entirely93 different type, almost black in hue94, with thicker lips and flatter features. These were Ethiopians, whose land lay beyond that of Meroe and who had also felt the weight and power of the arms of Egypt.
“These people of Meroe,” Amuba said, “are very similar in features to the Egyptians, Chebron. And their tongue is also not unlike yours; I can understand their speech.”
“Our oldest books,” Amuba said, “say that we are kindred people, and are Asiatic rather than African in our origin. The people of Meroe say that their far-back ancestors came from Arabia, and first spreading along the western shore of the Red Sea, ascended95 to the high lands and drove out the black people who inhabited them.
“As to our own origin, it is vague; but my father has told me that the opinion among those most skilled in the ancient learning is that we too came from Arabia. We were not all one people, that is certain; and it is comparatively of recent years, though a vast time as far as human lives go, that the people of the Thebaid—that is, of Upper Egypt—extended their dominion96 over Lower Egypt and made the whole country one nation. Even now, you know, the king wears two crowns—the one of Upper Egypt, the other of the lower country. Along the shores of the Great Sea to the west are Libyans and other peoples similar in race to ourselves. My father considered that the tribes which first came from Asia pressed on to the west, driving back or exterminating97 the black people. Each fresh wave that came from the east pushed the others further and further, until at last the ancestors of the people of Lower Egypt arrived and settled there.
“In Meroe the temples and religion are similar to our own. Whether they brought that religion from Arabia, or whether we planted it there during our various conquests of the country, I cannot tell you; but certain it is that there is at present but little more difference between Upper Egypt and Meroe than there is between Upper Egypt and the Delta98.”
“And beyond Meroe the people are all black like those we see here?”
“So I believe, Amuba. Our merchants penetrate99 vast distances to the south exchanging our products for gold and ivory, and everywhere they find the country inhabited by black people living in wretched villages, without, as it seems, any government, or law, or order, waging war with each other and making slaves, whom they also sell to our merchants. They differ so wholly from us that it is certain that we cannot come from the same stock. But they are strong and active and make excellent slaves. Lying between Meroe and the sea, the country called Abyssinia is also inhabited by a race of Arab blood, but differing more from us than those of Meroe.
“They have great towns, but I do not think that their religion is the same as ours; our traders say that their language can be understood by them, although more rough and unpolished. I have heard my father say that he considered that all the country lying east of the Nile, and of its eastern branch that rises in Abyssinia and is called the Tacazze, belongs to Asia rather than to Africa.”
The party found that the death by violence of two successive high priests of Osiris was one of the principal topics of conversation in Syene, but none appeared to think that there was the remotest probability of any concerned in those occurrences making for the south. However, Jethro thought it prudent that the whole party should not land together, and therefore Amuba and Chebron usually went one way and he with the girls another. They paid visits to the sacred island of Ebo opposite the town, and to the quarries of Phile, four miles away. Here they saw the gangs of slaves cutting colossal100 statues, obelisks102, and shrines103 from the solid rock.
First the outline was traced on the rock, then the surrounding stone was removed with chisels104 and wedges, and at last the statue or obelisk101 was itself severed105 from the rock. Then it was hewn and sculptured by the masons, placed on rollers and dragged by hundreds of men down to the landing-place below the rapids, and these placed on rafts to be floated down the river to its destination. They saw many of these masses of stone in all stages of manufacture. The number of slaves employed was enormous, and these inhabited great buildings erected near the quarries, where also were barracks for the troops who kept guard over them.
Watching the slaves at their painful labor, Jethro and Amuba were both filled with gratitude106 at the good fortune that had placed them with Ameres instead of sending them to pass their lives in such unceasing and monotonous107 toil108. Among the slaves were several whom, by their complexion109 and appearance, they judged to be Rebu. As at first all those brought to Egypt had been distributed among the priests and great officers, they supposed that either from obstinacy110, misconduct, or from attempts to escape they had incurred111 the displeasure of their masters, and had been handed over by them for the service of the state.
Had the slaves been in the hands of private masters, Jethro and Amuba, who were filled with pity at seeing their countrymen in such a state, would have endeavored to purchase them and take them with them upon their journey. This was out of the question now, nor was it possible to hold any communication with them, or to present them with a small sum of money to alleviate112 their misery113 without exciting suspicion. The whole party were heartily114 glad when on the morning of the fourth day after their arrival the boat was pushed off from the shore and the work of ascending115 the rapids began.
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1
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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2
oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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3
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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4
presage
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| n.预感，不祥感；v.预示 | |
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5
unprecedented
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| adj.无前例的，新奇的 | |
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6
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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7
fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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8
intrigue
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| vt.激起兴趣，迷住；vi.耍阴谋；n.阴谋，密谋 | |
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9
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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10
magistrates
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| 地方法官，治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
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11
embark
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| vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机 | |
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12
tallies
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| n.账( tally的名词复数 )；符合；（计数的）签；标签v.计算，清点( tally的第三人称单数 )；加标签（或标记）于；（使）符合；（使）吻合 | |
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13
transact
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| v.处理；做交易；谈判 | |
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14
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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15
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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16
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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17
wig
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| n.假发 | |
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18
accustom
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| vt.使适应，使习惯 | |
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19
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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20
labor
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| 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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21
laboring
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| 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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22
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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23
mansions
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| n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 ) | |
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24
moored
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| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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25
strings
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| n.弦 | |
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26
clamorous
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| adj.吵闹的，喧哗的 | |
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27
bakers
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| n.面包师( baker的名词复数 )；面包店；面包店店主；十三 | |
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28
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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29
dawdling
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| adj.闲逛的，懒散的v.混（时间）( dawdle的现在分词 ) | |
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30
allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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31
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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32
wavy
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| adj.有波浪的，多浪的，波浪状的，波动的，不稳定的 | |
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33
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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34
stewed
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| adj.焦虑不安的，烂醉的v.炖( stew的过去式和过去分词 )；煨；思考；担忧 | |
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35
locker
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| n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人 | |
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36
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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37
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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38
abodes
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| 住所( abode的名词复数 )； 公寓； （在某地的）暂住； 逗留 | |
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39
spoke
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| 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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40
fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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41
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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42
forfeited
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| （因违反协议、犯规、受罚等）丧失，失去( forfeit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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44
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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45
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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46
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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47
embalming
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| v.保存（尸体）不腐( embalm的现在分词 )；使不被遗忘；使充满香气 | |
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48
corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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49
embalmer
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| 尸体防腐者 | |
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50
coffin
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| n.棺材，灵柩 | |
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51
fanatics
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| 狂热者，入迷者( fanatic的名词复数 ) | |
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52
offense
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| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
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53
savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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54
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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55
crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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56
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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57
abhorred
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| v.憎恶( abhor的过去式和过去分词 )；（厌恶地）回避；拒绝；淘汰 | |
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58
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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59
resinous
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| adj.树脂的，树脂质的，树脂制的 | |
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60
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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61
haggled
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| v.讨价还价( haggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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62
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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63
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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64
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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65
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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66
steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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67
steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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68
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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69
smoldering
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| v.用文火焖烧，熏烧，慢燃( smolder的现在分词 ) | |
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70
hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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71
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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72
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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73
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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74
blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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75
captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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76
tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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77
junction
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| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
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78
molestation
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| n.骚扰，干扰，调戏；折磨 | |
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79
abounding
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| 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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80
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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81
dedicated
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| adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的 | |
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82
sepulchers
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| n.坟墓，墓穴( sepulcher的名词复数 )；圣物置放处v.埋葬( sepulcher的第三人称单数 ) | |
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83
perpendicularly
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| adv. 垂直地, 笔直地, 纵向地 | |
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84
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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85
emblem
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| n.象征，标志；徽章 | |
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86
quarries
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| n.（采）石场( quarry的名词复数 )；猎物（指鸟，兽等）；方形石；（格窗等的）方形玻璃v.从采石场采得( quarry的第三人称单数 )；从（书本等中）努力发掘（资料等）；在采石场采石 | |
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87
cataracts
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| n.大瀑布( cataract的名词复数 )；白内障 | |
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88
subjugated
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| v.征服，降伏( subjugate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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89
undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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90
mingled
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| 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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91
mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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92
wigs
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| n.假发，法官帽( wig的名词复数 ) | |
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93
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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94
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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95
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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96
dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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97
exterminating
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| v.消灭，根绝( exterminate的现在分词 ) | |
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98
delta
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| n.（流的）角洲 | |
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99
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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100
colossal
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| adj.异常的，庞大的 | |
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101
obelisk
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| n.方尖塔 | |
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102
obelisks
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| n.方尖石塔，短剑号，疑问记号( obelisk的名词复数 ) | |
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103
shrines
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| 圣地，圣坛，神圣场所( shrine的名词复数 ) | |
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104
chisels
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| n.凿子，錾子( chisel的名词复数 )；口凿 | |
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105
severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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106
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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107
monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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108
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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109
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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110
obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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111
incurred
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| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
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112
alleviate
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| v.减轻，缓和，缓解(痛苦等) | |
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113
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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114
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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115
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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