During all the forenoon of the following day Frank was busy preparing his matter for the work of the afternoon. When the party of youths had assembled Mr. Stanley came among them and asked at what point in the story of the Dark Continent they stopped on the previous evening.
"We were in the country of King Rumanika, I believe it is called Karagwé," said one of the auditors10; "and you had just returned from exploring Lake Windermere."
HOUSE OF ARAB MERCHANT NEAR RUMANIKA'S VILLAGE.
"Ah, yes," replied Mr. Stanley, "he was a charming old man, that Rumanika, and very fond of strangers. After I had explored the lake[Pg 125] he sent for me, and wanted to have a talk on geographical subjects. Of course I went to meet him."
"Did he know anything about geography outside of his own country?" was the very natural inquiry12 of Fred.
"Not much," was the reply; "and what he did know was very hazy13. But he pretended to know a great deal about Africa, and gave me some startling information, which I gravely put down in my note-book. The sight of that note-book always seemed to inspire him to tell the wildest stories about his country, and I presume he thought I would spread them before my countrymen as the most solemn truths.
"For example," continued Mr. Stanley, "he said at one of our meetings:
"'Mkinyaga is at the end of Ruanda, and its lake is Muta Nzege, on which you can go to Unyoro. There is a race of dwarfs14, somewhere west of Mkinyaga, called the Mpundu, and another called the Batwa, or Watwa, who are only two feet high. In Uriambwa is a race of small people with tails.
"'Uitwa, or Batwa—Watwa—is at the extreme south end of Uzongora.
"'From Butwa, at the end of a point of land in Ruanda, you can see Uitwa Usongora.
"'From Butwa, Mkinyaga is to the left of you about three days' journey.
ON THE WAY TO THE MEETING.
"'Some of the Waziwa saw a strange people in one of those far-off lands who had long ears descending15 to their feet; one ear formed a mat to sleep on, the other served to cover him from the cold, like a dressed hide! They tried to coax16 one[Pg 126] of them to come and see me, but the journey was long, and he died on the way.'
"Another time he said:
"'Stamlee, how is it, will you tell me, that all white men have long noses, and all their dogs have very short noses, while almost all black men have short noses but their dogs have very long noses?'
"He had observed the broad, short nose of my British bull-dog, and hastily arrived at the conclusion that all white men's dogs were pug-nosed.
GROUND-PLAN OF KING'S HOUSE.
"Rumanika propounded17 a great many other questions, which I answered to the best of my ability, and generally to his satisfaction. I was somewhat puzzled about his question regarding the noses, but finally explained that originally the white men and their dogs had noses of the same length. The men had lengthened18 theirs by constantly smelling the good things they had to eat, while the dogs had shortened their noses by using them to push open the doors of the houses.
"Another day," continued Mr. Stanley, quoting from his work:
"Rumanika requested Hamed Ibrahim to exhibit the treasures, trophies19, and curiosities in the king's museum or armory20, which Hamed was most anxious to do, as he had frequently extolled21 the rare things there.
"The armory was a circular hut, resembling externally a dome22, thatched neatly23 with straw. It was about thirty feet in diameter.
"The weapons and articles of brass24, and copper25, and iron, were in perfect order, and showed that Rumanika did not neglect his treasures.
TREASURE-HOUSE, ARMS, AND TREASURES OF RUMANIKA.
"There were about sixteen rude brass figures of ducks with copper wings, ten curious things of the same metal, which were meant to represent elands, and ten headless cows of copper. Bill-hooks of iron, of really admirable make, double-bladed spears, several gigantic blades of exceedingly keen edge, eight inches across and eighteen inches in length; exquisite26 spears, some with blades and staves of linked iron; others with chain-shaped staves, and several with a cluster of small rigid28 rings massed at the bottom of the blade and the end of the staff; others, copper-bladed, had curious inter-twisted iron rods for the staff. There were also great fly-flaps set in iron, the handles of which were admirable specimens29 of native art; massive cleaver-looking knives, with polished blades, and a kedge-anchor-shaped article with four hooked iron prongs, projecting out of a brass body. Some exquisite native cloths, manufactured of delicate grass, were indeed so fine as to vie with cotton sheeting, and were colored black and red, in patterns and stripes. The royal stool was a masterpiece of native[Pg 127]
[Pg 128] turnery, being carved out of a solid log of cottonwood. Besides these specimens of native art were drinking-cups, goblets30, trenchers, and milk-dishes of wood, all beautifully clean. The fireplace was a circular hearth31 in the centre of the building, very tastefully constructed. Ranged round the wall along the floor were other gifts from Arab friends, massive copper trays, with a few tureen-lids of Britannia-ware, evidently from Birmingham. Nor must the revolving32 rifle given to him by Captain Speke be forgotten, for it had an honored place, and Rumanika loves to look at it, for it recalls to his memory the figures of his genial33 white friends, Speke and Grant.
"The enormous drums, fifty-two in number, ranged outside, enabled us, from their very appearance, to guess at the deafening34 sounds which celebrate the new moon or deliver the signals for war.
"My parting with the genial old man was very affecting. He shook my hands many times, saying each time that he was sorry that my visit must be so short. He strictly36 charged his sons to pay me every attention until I should arrive at Kibogora's, the king of western Usui, who, he was satisfied, would be glad to see me as a friend of Rumanika.
"On the 26th of March the expedition, after its month's rest at Kafurro, the whole of which period I had spent in exploration of western Karagwé, resumed its journey, and after a march of five miles camped at Nakawanga, near the southern base of Kibonga Mountain.
"On the 27th I had the good-fortune to shoot three rhinoceroses37, from the bodies of which we obtained ample supplies of meat for our journey through the wilderness38 of Uhimba. One of these enormous brutes39 possessed40 a horn two feet long, with a sharp, dagger-like point below a stunted41 horn, nine inches in length. He appeared to have had a tussle42 with some wild beast, for a hand's-breadth of hide was torn from his rump.
"The Wangwana and Wanyambu informed me, with the utmost gravity, that the elephant maltreats the rhinoceros frequently, because of a jealousy43 that the former entertains of his fiery44 cousin.
"Should a rhinoceros meet an elephant he must observe the rule of the road, and walk away, for the latter brooks45 no rivalry46; but the former is sometimes head-strong, and the elephant then despatches him with his tusks47 by forcing him against a tree and goring48 him, or by upsetting him, and leisurely49 crushing him.
"During the next two days we travelled twenty-seven miles south through a depression, or a longitudinal valley, parallel to Uhimba Lake and the course of the Alexandra, with only an intervening ridge50 excluding the latter from our view. Tall, truncated51 hill-cones rise every now and then, with a singular resemblance to each other, to the same altitude as the grassy53 ridges54 which flank them. Their summits are flat, but the iron-stone faithfully indicates by its erosions the element which separated them from the ridges, and first furrowed55 the valley.
"And now," said Mr. Stanley, "having told you about King Rumanika, and how I left him, I will lapse56 into silence and let you hear from Frank."
With this hint, Frank opened the volume before him and read:
THE EXPEDITION TRAVERSING THE VALLEY.
"Uhimba, placed by Rumanika in the charge of his sons, Kakoko, Kananga,[Pg 129]
[Pg 130] and Ruhinda, is sixty-eight miles south of his capital, and consists of a few settlements of herdsmen. I was courteously57 received by Kakoko, and remained there two days. The next day we entered western Usui, and camped at Kafurra's. In Usui there was a famine, and it required thirty-two doti of cloth to purchase four days' rations58. Kibogora, King of Usui, demanded and obtained thirty doti, one coil of wire, and forty necklaces of beads59 as tribute; Kafurra, his principal chief, demanded ten doti and a quantity of beads; another chief required five doti; the queen required a supply of cloth to wear; the princes put in a claim; the guides were loud for their reward. Thus in four days we were compelled to disburse60 two bales out of twenty-two—all that were left of the immense store we had departed with from Zanzibar. Under such circumstances what prospect61 of exploration had we? Were we to continue our journey through Uhha, that land which, in 1871, had consumed at the rate of two bales of cloth per diem? Twenty days of such experience in Uhha would reduce us to beggary. Its 'esurient' Mutwarés and rapacious62 Mkamas and other extortionate people can only be quieted with cloth and beads disbursed63 with a princely hand. One hundred bales of cloth would only suffice to sustain a hundred men in Uhha about six weeks. Beyond Uhha lay the impenetrable countries of Urundi and Ruanda, the inhabitants of which were hostile to strangers.
POTTERY IN USUI.
"Kibogora and Kafurra were sufficiently64 explicit65 and amiably66 communicative, for my arrival in their country had been under the very best auspices67, viz., an introduction from the gentle and beloved Rumanika.
"I turned away with a sigh from the interesting land, but with a resolution gradually being intensified68, that the third time I sought a road west, nothing should deter69 me.
"On the 7th of April we reluctantly resumed our journey in a southerly direction, and travelled five miles along a ravine, at the bottom of which murmured the infant stream Lohugati. On coming to its source, we ascended70 a steep slope until we stood upon the summit of a grassy ridge at the height of five thousand six hundred feet by aneroid.
"Not until we had descended71 about a mile to the valley of Uyagoma, did I recognize the importance of this ridge as the water-parting between one of the feeders of Lake Victoria and the source of the Malagarazi, the principal affluent72 of Lake Tanganika.
[Pg 131]
"Though by striking across Uhha due west, or to the southwest, we should again have reached the Alexandra Nile and the affluents73 of the Alexandra Lake, our future course was destined74 never to cross another stream or rivulet75 that supplied the great river which flows through the land of Egypt into the Mediterranean76 Sea.
"From the 17th of January, 1875, up to the 7th of April, 1876, we had been engaged in tracing the extreme southern sources of the Nile, from the marshy77 plains and cultivated uplands where they are born, down to the mighty78 reservoir called the Victoria Nyanza. We had circumnavigated the entire expanse; penetrated79 to every bay, inlet, and creek80; become acquainted with almost every variety of wild human nature—the mild and placable, the ferocious81 and impracticably savage82, the hospitable83 and the inhospitable, the generous-souled as well as the ungenerous; we had viewed their methods of war, and had witnessed them imbruing their hands in each other's blood with savage triumph and glee; we had been five times sufferers by their lust27 for war and murder, and had lost many men through their lawlessness and ferocity; we had travelled hundreds of miles to and fro on foot along the northern coast of the Victorian Sea, and, finally, had explored with a large force the strange countries lying between the two lakes Muta Nzege and the Victoria, and had been permitted to gaze upon the arm of the lake named by me 'Beatrice Gulf,' and to drink of its sweet waters. We had then returned from further quest in that direction, unable to find a peaceful resting-place on the lake shores, and had struck south from the Katonga lagoon84 down to the Alexandra Nile, the principal affluent of the Victoria Lake, which drains nearly all the waters from the west and southwest. We had made a patient survey of over one half of its course, and then, owing to want of the means to feed the rapacity85 of the churlish tribes which dwell in the vicinity of the Alexandra Nyanza, and to our reluctance86 to force our way against the will of the natives, opposing unnecessarily our rifles to their spears and arrows, we had been compelled, on the 7th of April, to bid adieu to the lands which supply the Nile, and to turn our faces towards the Tanganika.
"I have endeavored to give a faithful portrayal87 of nature, animate88 and inanimate, in all its strange, peculiar89 phases, as they were unfolded to us. I am conscious that I have not penetrated to the depths; but then, I have not ventured beyond the limits assigned me, viz., the Exploration of the Southern Sources of the Nile, and the solution of the problem left unsolved by Speke and Grant—Is the Victoria Nyanza one lake, or does it consist of five lakes, as reported by Livingstone, Burton, and others? This problem has been satisfactorily solved, and Speke has now the full glory of having discovered the largest inland sea on the continent of Africa, also its principal affluent, as well as the outlet90. I must also give him credit for having understood the geography of the countries he travelled through better than any of those who so persistently91 assailed92 his hypothesis, and I here record my admiration93 of the geographical genius that, from mere11 native report, first sketched94 with such a masterly hand the bold outlines of the Victoria Nyanza. Speke's hypothetic sketch95 made this lake twenty-nine thousand square miles in extent. My survey of it has reduced it to twenty-one thousand five hundred square miles.
"Along the Valley of Uyagoma, in western Usui, stretches east and west a[Pg 132] grass-covered ridge, beautiful in places with rock-strewn dingles, tapestried96 with ferns and moss97, and bright with vivid foliage98. From two such fair nooks, half-way down either slope, the northern and the southern, drip in great rich drops the sources of two impetuous rivers—on the southern the Malagarazi, on the other the Lohugati. Though nurtured99 in the same cradle, and issuing within two thousand yards of one another, the twin streams are strangers throughout their lives. Through the thick ferns and foliage the rivulets100 trickle101 each down his appointed slope, murmuring as they gather strength to run their destined course—the Lohugati to the Victoria Lake, and the Malagarazi to distant Tanganika.
A VILLAGE IN WESTERN USUI.
"While the latter river is in its infancy102, collecting its first tribute of waters from the rills that meander103 down from the mountain folds round the basin of Uyagoma, and is so shallow that tiny children can paddle through it, the people of Usui call it the Meruzi. When we begin our journey from Uyagoma, we follow its broadening course for a couple of hours, through the basin, and by that time it has become a river nomine dignum, and, plunging104 across it, we begin to breast the mountains, which, rising in diagonal lines of ridges from northeast to southwest[Pg 133]
[Pg 134] across Usui, run in broken series into northern Uhha, and there lose themselves in a confusion of complicated masses and clumps105.
CAMP OF AN ARAB MERCHANT.
"The Meruzi wanders round and through these mountain masses in mazy curves, tumbles from height to height, from terrace to terrace, receiving as it goes the alliance of myriads106 of petty rivulets and threads of clear water, until, arriving at the grand forest lands of Unyamwezi, it has assumed the name of Lukoke, and serves as a boundary between Unyamwezi and Uhha.
"Meanwhile, we have to cross a series of mountain ridges clothed with woods; and at a road leading from Kibogora's land to the territory of the turbulent and vindictive107 Mankorongo, we meet an embassy, which demands, in a most insolent108 tone, that we should pass by his village. This means, of course, that we must permit ourselves to be defrauded109 of two or three bales of cloth, half a dozen guns, a sack or two of beads, and such other property as he may choose to exact, for the privilege of lengthening110 our journey some forty miles, and a delay of two or three weeks.
"The insolent demand is therefore not to be entertained, and we return a decided111 refusal. They are not satisfied with the answer, and resort to threats. Threats in the free, uninhabited forest constitute a casus belli. So the chiefs are compelled to depart without a yard of cloth on the instant, and after their departure we urge our pace until night, and from dawn next morning to 3 p.m. we continue the journey with unabated speed, until we find ourselves in Nyambarri, Usambiro, rejoiced to find that we have foiled the dangerous king.
"On the 13th of April we halted to refresh the people. Usambiro, like all Unyamwezi, produces sufficient grain, sesamum, millet112, Indian corn, and vetches, besides beans and pease, to supply all caravans113 and expeditions. I have observed that lands producing grain are more easy of access than pastoral countries, or those which only supply milk, bananas, and potatoes to their inhabitants.
"At Nyambarri we met two Arab caravans fresh from Mankorongo, of whom they gave fearful accounts, from which I inferred that the extortionate chief would be by no means pleased when he came to understand how he had been baffled in his idea of spoliating our expedition.
"During the march from Nyambarri to Gambawagao, the chief village of Usambiro, ancient "Bull," the last of all the canine114 companions which left England with me, borne down by weight of years and a land journey of about fifteen hundred miles, succumbed115. With bull-dog tenacity116 he persisted in following the receding117 figures of the gun-bearers, who were accustomed to precede him in the narrow way. Though he often staggered and moaned, he made strenuous118 efforts to keep up, but at last, lying down in the path, he plaintively119 bemoaned120 the weakness of body that had conquered his will, and soon after died—his eyes to the last looking forward along the track he had so bravely tried to follow.
"BULL."
(From a Photograph by Mr Stanley.)
"Poor dog! Good and faithful service had he done me! Who more rejoiced than he to hear the rifle-shot ringing through the deep woods! Who more loudly applauded success than he with his deep, mellow121 bark! What long forest-tracts of tawny122 plains, and series of mountain ranges had he not traversed! How he plunged123 through jungle and fen35, morass124 and stream! In the sable125 blackness of the night his voice warned off marauders and prowling beasts from the sleeping camp. His growl126 responded to the hideous127 jabber128 of the greedy hyena129, and the[Pg 135] snarling130 leopard131 did not dismay him. He amazed the wondering savages132 with his bold eyes and bearing, and by his courageous133 front caused them to retreat before him; and right bravely did he help us to repel134 the Wanyaturu from our camp in Ituru. Farewell, thou glory of thy race! Rest from thy labors135 in the silent forest! Thy feet shall no more hurry up the hill or cross mead136 and plain; thy form shall rustle137 no more through the grasses, or be plunging to explore the brake; thou shalt no longer dash after me across the savannahs, for thou art gone to the grave, like the rest of thy companions!
"The king of Usambiro exchanged gifts with us, and appeared to be a clever, agreeable young man. His people, though professing138 to be Wanyamwezi, are a mixture of Wahha and Wazinja. He has constructed a strong village, and surrounded it with a fosse four feet deep and six feet wide, with a stockade139 and 'marksmen's nests' at intervals140 round it. The population of the capital is about two thousand.
"Boma Kiengo, or Msera, lies five miles south-southeast from the capital, and its chief, seeing that we had arrived at such a good understanding with the king, also exerted himself to create a favorable impression.
"Musonga lies twelve miles south-southeast of Boma Kiengo, and is the most northerly village of the country of Urangwa. On the 18th of April a march of fifteen miles enabled us to reach the capital, Ndeverva, another large stockaded village, also provided with 'marksmen's nests,' and surrounded by a fosse.
"We were making capital marches. The petty kings, though they exacted a small interchange of gifts, which compelled me to disburse cloth a little more frequently than was absolutely necessary, were not insolent, nor so extortionate as[Pg 136] to prevent our intercourse141 being of the most friendly character. But on the day we arrived at Urangwa, lo! there came up in haste, while we were sociably142 chatting together, a messenger to tell us that the phantom143, the bugbear, the terror whose name silences the children of Unyamwezi and Usukuma, and makes women's hearts bound with fear, that Mirambo himself was coming—that he was only two camps, or about twenty miles, away—that he had an immense army of Ruga-Ruga (bandits) with him!
"The consternation144 at this news, the dismay and excitement, the discussion and rapid interchange of ideas suggested by terror throughout the capital, may be conceived. Barricades145 were prepared, sharp-shooters' platforms, with thick bulwarks146 of logs, were erected147. The women hastened to prepare their charms, the Waganda consulted their spirits, each warrior148 and elder examined his guns and loaded them, ramming149 the powder down the barrels of their Brummagem muskets150 with desperately151 vengeful intentions, while the king hastened backward and forward with streaming robes of cotton behind him, animated152 by an hysterical153 energy.
"I had one hundred and seventy-five men under my command, and forty of the Arabs' people were with me, and we had many boxes of ammunition154. The king recollected155 these facts, and said, 'You will stop to fight Mirambo, will you not?'
"'Not I, my friend; I have no quarrel with Mirambo, and we cannot join every native to fight his neighbor. If Mirambo attacks the village while I am here, and will not go away when I ask him, we will fight, but we cannot stop here to wait for him.'
"The poor king was very much distressed156 when we left the next morning. We despatched our scouts157 ahead, as we usually did when traversing troublous countries, and omitted no precaution to guard against surprise.
A HUT AND ITS FRAME.
"On the 19th we arrived at one of the largest villages or towns in Unyamwezi, called Serombo or Sorombo. It was two miles and a half in circumference158, and[Pg 137]
[Pg 138] probably contained over a thousand large and small huts, and a population of about five thousand.
VIEW IN THE INTERIOR OF AN AFRICAN VILLAGE.
"The present king's name is Ndega, a boy of sixteen, the son of Makaka, who died about two years ago. Too young himself to govern the large settlement and the country round, two elders, or Manyapara, act as regents during his minority.
"We were shown to a peculiar-shaped hut, extremely like an Abyssinian dwelling159. The height of the doorway160 was seven feet, and from the floor to the top of the conical roof it was twenty feet. The walls were of interwoven sticks, plastered over neatly with brown clay. The king's house was thirty feet high from the ground to the tip of the cone52, and forty feet in diameter within; but the total diameter, including the circular fence or palisade that supported the broad eaves and enclosed a gallery which ran round the house, was fifty-four feet.
SEROMBO HUTS.
"Owing to this peculiar construction a desperate body of one hundred and fifty men might from the circular gallery sustain a protracted161 attack from a vastly superior foe162, and probably repel it.
"Ndega is a relative of Mirambo by marriage, and he soon quieted all uneasy minds by announcing that the famous man who was now advancing upon Serombo had just concluded a peace with the Arabs, and that therefore no trouble was to be apprehended163 from his visit, it being solely164 a friendly visit to his young relative.
"Naturally we were all anxious to behold165 the 'Mars of Africa,' who since 1871 has made his name feared by both native and foreigner from Usui to Urori, and from Uvinza to Ugogo, a country embracing ninety thousand square miles; who, from the village chieftainship over Uyoweh, has made for himself a name as well known as that of Mtesa throughout the eastern half of equatorial Africa, a household word from Nyangwé to Zanzibar, and the theme of many a song of the bards166 of Unyamwezi, Ukimbu, Ukonongo, Uzinja, and Uvinza.
"On the evening of our arrival at Serombo's we heard his Brown Besses—called by the natives Gumeh-Gumeh—announcing to all that the man with the dread167 name lay not far from our vicinity.
"At dusk the huge drums of Serombo signalled silence for the town-criers, whose voices, preceded by the sound of iron bells, were presently heard crying out:
[Pg 139]
"'Listen, O men of Serombo. Mirambo, the brother of Ndega, cometh in the morning. Be ye prepared, therefore, for his young men are hungry. Send your women to dig potatoes, dig potatoes. Mirambo cometh. Dig potatoes, potatoes, dig potatoes, to-morrow!'
"At 10 a.m. the Brown Besses, heavily charged and fired off by hundreds, loudly heralded169 Mirambo's approach, and nearly all my Wangwana followed the inhabitants of Serombo outside to see the famous chieftain. Great war-drums and the shouts of admiring thousands proclaimed that he had entered the town, and soon little Mabruki, the chief of the tent-boys, and Kachéché, the detective, on whose intelligence I could rely, brought an interesting budget to me.
"Mabruki said: 'We have seen Mirambo. He has arrived. We have beheld172 the Ruga-Ruga, and there are many of them, and all are armed with Gumeh-Gumeh. About a hundred are clothed in crimson173 cloth and white shirts, like our Wangwana. Mirambo is not an old man.'
"Kachéché said: 'Mirambo is not old, he is young: I must be older than he is. He is a very nice man, well dressed, quite like an Arab. He wears the turban, fez, and cloth coat of an Arab, and carries a scimitar. He also wears slippers174, and his clothes under his coat are very white. I should say he has about a thousand and a half men with him, and they are all armed with muskets or double-barrelled guns. Mirambo has three young men carrying his guns for him. Truly, Mirambo is a great man!'
"The shrill175 Lu-lu-lu's, prolonged and loud, were still maintained by the women, who entertained a great respect for the greatest king in Unyamwezi.
"Presently Manwa Sera, the chief captain of the Wangwana, came to my hut, to introduce three young men—Ruga-Ruga (bandits), as we called them, but must do so no more, lest we give offence—handsomely dressed in fine red and blue cloth coats, and snowy white shirts, with ample turbans around their heads. They were confidential176 captains of Mirambo's body-guard.
"'Mirambo sends his salaams177 to the white man,' said the principal of them. 'He hopes the[Pg 140] white man is friendly to him, and that he does not share the prejudices of the Arabs, and believe Mirambo a bad man. If it is agreeable to the white man, will he send words of peace to Mirambo?'
"'Tell Mirambo,' I replied, 'that I am eager to see him, and would be glad to shake hands with so great a man; and as I have made strong friendship with Mtesa, Rumanika, and all the kings along the road from Usoga to Unyamwezi, I shall be rejoiced to make strong friendship with Mirambo also. Tell him I hope he will come and see me as soon as he can.'
"The next day Mirambo, having despatched a Ruga-Ruga—no, a patriot171, I should have said—to announce his coming, appeared with about twenty of his principal men.
HILLSIDE HOUSE IN MIRAMBO'S COUNTRY.
"I shook hands with him with fervor178, which drew a smile from him as he said, 'The white man shakes hands like a strong friend.'
"His person quite captivated me, for he was a thorough African gentleman in appearance, very different from my conception of the terrible bandit who had struck his telling blows at native chiefs and Arabs with all the rapidity of a Frederick the Great environed by foes179.
"I entered the following notes in my journal on April 22, 1876:
"'This day will be memorable180 to me for the visit of the famous Mirambo. He was the reverse of all my conceptions of the redoubtable181 chieftain, and the man I had styled the "terrible bandit."
"'He is a man about five feet eleven inches in height, and about thirty-five years old, with not an ounce of superfluous182 flesh about him. A handsome, regular-featured, mild-voiced, soft-spoken man, with what one might call a "meek183" demeanor184, very generous and open-handed. The character was so different from that which I had attributed to him that for some time a suspicion clung to my mind that I was being imposed upon, but Arabs came forward who testified that this quiet-looking man was indeed Mirambo. I had expected to see something of the Mtesa type, a man whose exterior185 would proclaim his life and rank; but this unpresuming, mild-eyed man, of inoffensive, meek exterior, whose action was so[Pg 141] calm, without a gesture, presented to the eye nothing of the Napoleonic genius which he has for five years displayed in the heart of Unyamwezi, to the injury of Arabs and commerce, and the doubling of the price of ivory. I said there was nothing; but I must except the eyes, which had the steady, calm gaze of a master.
UNYAMWEZI CHIEF AND HIS WIFE.
"'During the conversation I had with him, he said he preferred boys or young men to accompany him to war; he never took middle-aged186 or old men, as they were sure to be troubled with wives or children, and did not fight half so well as young fellows who listened to his words. Said he, "They have sharper eyes, and their young limbs enable them to move with the ease of serpents or the rapidity of zebras, and a few words will give them the hearts of lions. In all my wars with the Arabs, it was an army of youths that gave me victory, boys without beards. Fifteen of my young men died one day because I said I must have a certain red cloth that was thrown down as a challenge. No, no; give me youths for war in the open field, and men for the stockaded village."
"'"What was the cause of your war, Mirambo, with the Arabs?" I asked.
"'"There was a good deal of cause. The Arabs got the big head" (proud), "and there was no talking with them. Mkasiwa of Unyanyembé lost his head too, and thought I was his vassal187, whereas I was not. My father was king of[Pg 142] Uyoweh, and I was his son. What right had Mkasiwa or the Arabs to say what I ought to do? But the war is now over—the Arabs know what I can do, and Mkasiwa knows it. We will not fight any more, but we will see who can do the best trade, and who is the smartest man. Any Arab or white man who would like to pass through my country is welcome. I will give him meat and drink, and a house, and no man shall hurt him."'
"Mirambo retired188, and in the evening I returned his visit with ten of the principal Wangwana. I found him in a bell-tent twenty feet high, and twenty-five feet in diameter, with his chiefs around him.
"Manwa Sera was requested to seal our friendship by performing the ceremony of blood brotherhood between Mirambo and myself. Having caused us to sit fronting each other on a straw carpet, he made an incision189 in each of our right legs, from which he extracted blood, and, interchanging it, he exclaimed aloud:
"'If either of you break this brotherhood now established between you, may the lion devour190 him, the serpent poison him, bitterness be in his food, his friends desert him, his gun burst in his hands and wound him, and everything that is bad do wrong to him until death.'
"My new brother then gave me fifteen cloths to be distributed among my chiefs, while he would accept only three from me. But, not desirous of appearing illiberal191, I presented him with a revolver and two hundred rounds of ammunition, and some small curiosities from England. Still ambitious to excel me in liberality, he charged five of his young men to proceed to Urambo, and to select three milch-cows with their calves192, and three bullocks, to be driven to Ubagwé to meet me. He also gave me three guides to take me along the frontier of the predatory Watuta.
SHIELD AND DRUM.
"On the morning of the 23d he accompanied me outside Serombo, where we parted on the very best terms with each other. An Arab in his company, named Sayid bin193 Mohammed, also presented me with a bar of Castile soap, a bag of pepper, and some saffron. A fine riding-ass, purchased from Sayid, was named[Pg 143] Mirambo by me, because the Wangwana, who were also captivated by Mirambo's agreeable manners, insisted on it.
"We halted on the 23d at Mayangira, seven miles and a half from Serombo, and on the 24th, after a protracted march of eleven miles south-southeast over flooded plains, arrived at Ukombeh.
"Through similar flooded plains, with the water hip-deep in most places, and after crossing an important stream flowing west-southwest towards the Malagarazi, we arrived at Myonga's village, the capital of southern Masumbwa.
COLOR-PARTY OF AN ENGLISH EXPEDITION IN AFRICA.
"This Myonga is the same valorous chief who robbed Colonel Grant as he was hurrying with an undisciplined caravan after Speke. (See Speke's Journal, page 159, for the following graphic2 letter:
"'In the Jungles, near Myonga's, 16th September, 1861.
"'My dear Speke,—The caravan was attacked, plundered, and the men driven to the winds, while marching this morning into Myonga's country.
"'Awaking at cock-crow, I roused the camp, all anxious to rejoin you; and while the loads were being packed, my attention was drawn194 to an angry discussion[Pg 144] between the head men and seven or eight armed fellows sent by Sultan Myonga to insist on my putting up for the day in his village. They were summarily told that as you had already made him a present, he need not expect a visit from me. Adhering, I doubt not, to their master's instructions, they officiously constituted themselves our guides till we chose to strike off their path, when, quickly heading our party, they stopped the way, planted their spears, and dared our advance!
"'This menace made us firmer in our determination, and we swept past the spears. After we had marched unmolested for some seven miles, a loud yelping195 from the woods excited our attention, and a sudden rush was made upon us by, say, two hundred men, who came down seemingly in great glee. In an instant, at the caravan's centre, they fastened upon the poor porters. The struggle was short; and with the threat of an arrow or spear at their breasts, men were robbed of their cloths and ornaments196, loads were yielded and run away with before resistance could be organized; only three men of a hundred stood by me; the others, whose only thought was their lives, fled into the woods, where I went shouting for them. One man, little Rahan, stood with cocked gun, defending his load against five savages with uplifted spears. No one else could be seen. Two or three were reported killed, some were wounded. Beads, boxes, cloths, etc., lay strewed197 about the woods. In fact, I felt wrecked198. My attempt to go and demand redress199 from the sultan was resisted, and, in utter despair, I seated myself among a mass of rascals200 jeering201 round me, and insolent after the success of the day. Several were dressed in the very cloths, etc., they had stolen from my men.
"'In the afternoon about fifteen men and loads were brought me, with a message from the sultan, that the attack had been a mistake of his subjects—that one man had had a hand cut off for it, and that all the property would be restored!
"'Yours sincerely,
"'J. A. Grant.')
"Age had not lessened202 the conceit203 of Myonga, increased his modesty204, or moderated his cupidity205. He asserted the rights and privileges of his royalty206 with a presumptuous207 voice and a stern brow. He demanded tribute! Twenty-five cloths. A gun and five fundo of beads! The Arabs, my friends, were requested to do the same!
"'Impossible, Myonga!' I replied, yet struck with admiration at the unparalleled audacity208 of the man.
"'People have been obliged to pay what I ask,' the old man said, with a cunning twinkle in his eyes.
"'Perhaps,' I answered; 'but whether they have or not, I cannot pay you so much, and, what is more, I will not. As a sign that we pass through your country, I give you one cloth, and the Arabs shall only give you one cloth.'
"Myonga blustered209 and stormed, begged and threatened, and some of his young men appeared to be getting vicious, when, rising, I informed him that to talk loudly was to act like a scolding woman, and that, when his elder should arrive at our camp, he would receive two cloths, one from me and one from the Arabs, as acknowledgment of his right to the country.
"The drum of Myonga's village at once beat to arms, but the affair went no further, and the elder received the reasonable and just tribute of two cloths, with[Pg 145]
[Pg 146] a gentle hint that it would be dangerous to intercept210 the expedition on the road when on the march, as the guns were loaded.
MOUNTAINS ALONG THE ROUTE OF THE EXPEDITION.
"Phunze, chief of Mkumbiro, a village ten miles south by east from Myonga, and the chief of Ureweh, fourteen miles and a half from Phunze's, were equally bold in their demands, but they did not receive an inch of cloth; but neither of these three chiefs were half so extortionate as Ungomirwa, king of Ubagwé, a large town of three thousand people.
"We met at Ubagwé an Arab trader en route to Uganda, and he gave us a dismal211 tale of robbery and extortion practised on him by Ungomirwa. He had been compelled to pay one hundred and fifty cloths, five kegs, or fifty pounds, of gunpowder212, five guns double-barrelled, and thirty-five pounds of beads, the whole being of the value of $625, or ￡125, for the privilege of passing unmolested through the district of Ubagwé.
"When the chief came to see me, I said to him,
"'Why is it, my friend, that your name goes about the country as being that of a bad man? How is it that this poor Arab has had to pay so much for going through Ubagwé? Is Ubagwé Unyamwezi, that Ungomirwa demands so much from the Arabs? The Arab brings cloths, powder, guns into Unyamwezi. If you rob him of his property, I must send letters to stop people coming here, then Ungomirwa will become poor, and have neither powder, guns, nor cloths to wear. What has Ungomirwa to say to his friend?'
"'Ungomirwa,' replied he, 'does no more than Ureweh, Phunze, Myonga, Ndega, Urangwa, and Mankorongo—he takes what he can. If the white man thinks it is wrong, and will be my friend, I will return it all to the Arab.'
"'Ungomirwa is good. Nay213, do not return it all; retain one gun, five cloths, two fundo of beads, and one keg of powder; that will be plenty, and nothing but right. I have many Wanyamwezi with me, whom I have made good men. I have two from Ubagwé, and one man who was born at Phunze's. Let Ungomirwa call the Wanyamwezi, and ask them how the white man treats Wanyamwezi, and let him try to make them run away, and see what they will say. They will tell him that all white men are very good to those who are good.'
"Ungomirwa called the Wanyamwezi to him, and asked them why they followed the white man to wander about the world, leaving their brothers and sisters. The question elicited214 the following reply:
"'The white people know everything. They are better than the black people in heart. We have abundance to eat, plenty to wear, and silver for ourselves. All we give to the white man is our strength. We carry his goods for him, and he bestows215 a father's care on his black children. Let Ungomirwa make friends with the white man, and do as he says, and it will be good for the land of Unyamwezi.'
"To whatever cause it was owing, Ungomirwa returned the Arab nearly all his property, and presented me with three bullocks; and during all the time that I was his guest at Ubagwé, he exhibited great friendship for me, and boasted of me to several Watuta visitors who came to see him during that time; indeed, I can hardly remember a more agreeable stay at any village in Africa than that which I made in Ubagwé.
"Unyamwezi is troubled with a vast number of petty kings, whose paltriness[Pg 147] and poverty have so augmented216 their pride that each of them employs more threats, and makes more demands, than Mtesa, emperor of Uganda.
"The adage217 that 'Small things make base men proud' holds true in Africa as in other parts of the world. Sayid bin Sayf, one of the Arabs at Kafurro, begged me, as I valued my property and peace of mind, not to march through Unyamwezi to Ujiji, but to travel through Uhha. I attribute these words of Sayid's to a desire on his part to hear of my being mulcted by kings Khanza, Iwanda, and Kiti in the same proportion that he was. He confessed that he had paid to Kiti sixty cloths, to Iwanda sixty cloths, and to king Khanza one hundred and thirty-eight, which amounted in value to $516, and this grieved the gentle merchant's soul greatly.
FASHIONABLE HAIR-DRESSING.
"On my former journey in search of Livingstone, I tested sufficiently the capacity of the chiefs of Uhha to absorb property, and I vowed218 then to give them a wide berth219 for all future time. Sayid's relation of his experiences, confirmed by Hamed Ibrahim, and my own reverses, indicated but too well the custom in vogue220 among the Wahha. So far, between Kibogora's capital and Ubagwé, I had only disbursed thirty cloths as gifts to nine kings of Unyamwezi, without greater annoyance221 than the trouble of having to reduce their demands by negotiation222.
"On the 4th of May, having received the milch-cows, calves, and bullocks from my new brother Mirambo, we marched in a south-southwest direction, skirting the territory of the Watuta, to Ruwinga, a village occupying a patch of cleared land, and ruled by a small chief who is a tributary223 to his dreaded224 neighbors.
"The next day, in good order, we marched across a portion of the territory of the Watuta. No precaution was omitted to insure our being warned in time of the presence of the enemy, nor did we make any delay on the road, as a knowledge of their tactics of attack assured us that this was our only chance of avoiding a conflict with them. Msené, after a journey of twenty miles, was reached about 2 p.m., and the king, Mulagwa, received us with open arms.
"The population of the three villages under Mulagwa probably numbers about[Pg 148] thirty-five hundred. The king of the Watuta frequently visits Mulagwa's district; but his strongly-fenced villages and large number of muskets have been sufficient to check the intentions of the robbers, though atrocious acts are often committed upon the unwary.
"Ten miles southwest of Msené is Kawangira, a district about ten miles square, governed by the chief Nyambu, a rival of Mulagwa. Relics225 of the ruthlessness and devastating226 attacks of the Watuta are visible between the two districts, and the once populous227 land is rapidly resuming its original appearance of a tenantless228 waste.
ONE OF THE WATUTA.
"The next village, Nganda, ten miles southwest from Kawangira, was reached on the 9th of May. From this place, as far as Usenda (distant fourteen miles south-southwest), extended a plain, inundated229 with from two to five feet of water from the flooded Gombé, which rises about forty miles southeast of Unyanyembé. Where the Gombé meets with the Malagarazi, there is a spacious230 plain, which during each rainy season is converted into a lake.
"We journeyed to the important village of Usagusi on the 12th, in a south-southwest direction. Like Serombo, Myonga's, Urangwa, Ubagwé, and Msené, it is strongly stockaded, and the chief, conscious that the safety of his principal village depends upon the care he bestows upon its defences, exacts heavy fines upon those of his people who manifest any reluctance to repair the stockade; and this vigilant231 prudence232 has hitherto baffled the wolflike marauders of Ugomba.
"Twenty-five miles in a westerly direction through a depopulated land brought us to Zegi, in Uvinza, where we found a large caravan, under an Arab in the employ of Sayid bin Habib. Among these natives of Zanzibar was a man who had accompanied Cameron and Tippu-Tib to Utatera. Like other Munchausens of[Pg 149] his race, he informed me upon oath that he had seen a ship upon a lake west of Utatera, manned by black Wazungu, or black Europeans!
"Before reaching Zegi, we saw Sivué Lake, a body of water fed by the Sagala River; it is about seven miles wide by fourteen miles long. Through a broad bed, choked by reeds and grass and tropical plants, it empties into the Malagarazi River near Kiala.
"Zegi swarmed235 with a reckless number of lawless men, and was not a comfortable place to dwell in. The conduct of these men was another curious illustration of how 'small things make base men proud.' Here were a number of youths suffering under that strange disease peculiar to vain youth in all lands, which Mirambo had called 'big head.' The manner in which they strutted236 about, their big looks and bold staring, their enormous feathered head-dresses and martial237 stride, were most offensive. Having adopted, from bravado238, the name of Ruga-Ruga, they were compelled in honor to imitate the bandits' custom of smoking banghi (wild hemp), and my memory fails to remind me of any similar experience to the wild screaming and stormy sneezing, accompanied day and night by the monotonous239 droning of the one-string guitar (another accomplishment240 with the complete bandit) and the hiccoughing, snorting, and vocal241 extravagances which we had to bear in the village of Zegi.
IDOLS SHELTERED FROM THE RAIN.
"For the next few days there were no incidents of importance, our march being pressed with as little delay as possible. At noon of the 27th of May the bright[Pg 150] waters of the Tanganika broke upon the view, and compelled me to linger admiringly for a while, as I did on the day I first beheld them. By 3 p.m. we were in Ujiji. Muini Kheri, Mohammed bin Gharib, Sultan bin Kassim, and Khamis the Baluch greeted me kindly242. Mohammed bin Sali was dead. Nothing was changed much, except the ever-changing mud tembés of the Arabs. The square or plaza243 where I met David Livingstone in November, 1871, is now occupied by large tembés. The house where he and I lived has long ago been burned down, and in its place there remain only a few embers and a hideous void. The lake expands[Pg 151] with the same grand beauty before the eyes as we stand in the market-place. The opposite mountains of Goma have the same blue-black color, for they are everlasting244, and the Liuché River continues its course as brown as ever just east and south of Ujiji. The surf is still as restless, and the sun as bright; the sky retains its glorious azure245, and the palms all their beauty; but the grand old hero, whose presence once filled Ujiji with such absorbing interest for me, was gone!"
ARAB HOUSE NEAR UJIJI.
"And here at Ujiji," said Frank, "we will pause for the present. We have read the first volume of Mr. Stanley's very interesting work, and this evening we'll begin reading the second. The story it contains is even more exciting than that which you have just heard; it carries us among new people and into new lands, and introduces us to a part of the continent unknown to Europeans until Mr. Stanley made his remarkable246 journey through it."
A motion to adjourn247 was carried unanimously, and very soon the party was dispersed248 over the steamer's deck. Some of them looked around for Mr. Stanley, and were disappointed to hear that he had not been visible about the deck or saloon for several hours.
[Pg 152]
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geographical
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| adj.地理的；地区(性)的 | |
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graphic
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| adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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rhinoceros
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| n.犀牛 | |
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plundered
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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renowned
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| adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的 | |
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imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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brotherhood
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| n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊 | |
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caravan
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| n.大蓬车；活动房屋 | |
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auditors
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| n.审计员，稽核员( auditor的名词复数 )；（大学课程的）旁听生 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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hazy
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dwarfs
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descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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coax
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| v.哄诱，劝诱，用诱哄得到，诱取 | |
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propounded
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| v.提出（问题、计划等）供考虑[讨论]，提议( propound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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lengthened
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trophies
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| n.（为竞赛获胜者颁发的）奖品( trophy的名词复数 )；奖杯；（尤指狩猎或战争中获得的）纪念品；（用于比赛或赛跑名称）奖 | |
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armory
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extolled
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| v.赞颂，赞扬，赞美( extol的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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dome
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neatly
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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exquisite
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lust
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rigid
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specimens
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goblets
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hearth
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revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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genial
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deafening
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fen
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strictly
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rhinoceroses
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| n.钱，钞票( rhino的名词复数 )；犀牛(=rhinoceros)；犀牛( rhinoceros的名词复数 )；脸皮和犀牛皮一样厚 | |
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wilderness
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brutes
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| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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stunted
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| adj.矮小的；发育迟缓的 | |
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tussle
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| n.&v.扭打，搏斗，争辩 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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brooks
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rivalry
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| n.竞争，竞赛，对抗 | |
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tusks
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| n.（象等动物的）长牙( tusk的名词复数 )；獠牙；尖形物；尖头 | |
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goring
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| v.（动物）用角撞伤，用牙刺破( gore的现在分词 ) | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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truncated
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| adj.切去顶端的，缩短了的，被删节的v.截面的( truncate的过去式和过去分词 )；截头的；缩短了的；截去顶端或末端 | |
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cone
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| n.圆锥体，圆锥形东西，球果 | |
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grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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ridges
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| n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊 | |
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furrowed
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| v.犁田，开沟( furrow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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courteously
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rations
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beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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60
disburse
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| v.支出，拨款 | |
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61
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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62
rapacious
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| adj.贪婪的，强夺的 | |
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63
disbursed
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| v.支出，付出( disburse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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64
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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65
explicit
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| adj.详述的，明确的；坦率的；显然的 | |
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66
amiably
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| adv.和蔼可亲地，亲切地 | |
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67
auspices
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| n.资助，赞助 | |
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68
intensified
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| v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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69
deter
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| vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住 | |
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70
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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71
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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72
affluent
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| adj.富裕的，富有的，丰富的，富饶的 | |
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73
affluents
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| n.富裕的，富足的( affluent的名词复数 ) | |
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74
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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75
rivulet
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| n.小溪，小河 | |
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76
Mediterranean
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|
| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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77
marshy
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| adj.沼泽的 | |
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78
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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79
penetrated
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|
| 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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80
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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81
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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82
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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83
hospitable
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|
| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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84
lagoon
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| n.泻湖，咸水湖 | |
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85
rapacity
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| n.贪婪，贪心，劫掠的欲望 | |
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86
reluctance
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|
| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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87
portrayal
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| n.饰演；描画 | |
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88
animate
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|
| v.赋于生命，鼓励；adj.有生命的，有生气的 | |
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89
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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90
outlet
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| n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄 | |
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91
persistently
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| ad.坚持地；固执地 | |
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92
assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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93
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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94
sketched
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| v.草拟（sketch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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95
sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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96
tapestried
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|
| adj.饰挂绣帷的，织在绣帷上的v.用挂毯（或绣帷）装饰( tapestry的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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97
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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98
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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99
nurtured
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| 养育( nurture的过去式和过去分词 )； 培育； 滋长； 助长 | |
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100
rivulets
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| n.小河，小溪( rivulet的名词复数 ) | |
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101
trickle
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| vi.淌，滴，流出，慢慢移动，逐渐消散 | |
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102
infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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103
meander
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| n.河流的曲折，漫步，迂回旅行；v.缓慢而弯曲地流动，漫谈 | |
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104
plunging
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|
| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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105
clumps
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| n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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106
myriads
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|
| n.无数，极大数量( myriad的名词复数 ) | |
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107
vindictive
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| adj.有报仇心的，怀恨的，惩罚的 | |
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108
insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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109
defrauded
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|
| v.诈取，骗取( defraud的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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110
lengthening
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的现在分词 )； 加长 | |
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111
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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112
millet
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| n.小米，谷子 | |
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113
caravans
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| （可供居住的）拖车（通常由机动车拖行）( caravan的名词复数 )； 篷车； （穿过沙漠地带的）旅行队（如商队） | |
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114
canine
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|
| adj.犬的，犬科的 | |
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115
succumbed
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| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
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116
tenacity
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| n.坚韧 | |
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117
receding
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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118
strenuous
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|
| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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119
plaintively
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|
| adv.悲哀地，哀怨地 | |
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120
bemoaned
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|
| v.为（某人或某事）抱怨( bemoan的过去式和过去分词 )；悲悼；为…恸哭；哀叹 | |
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121
mellow
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|
| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
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122
tawny
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|
| adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色 | |
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123
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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124
morass
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|
| n.沼泽，困境 | |
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125
sable
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|
| n.黑貂；adj.黑色的 | |
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126
growl
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|
| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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127
hideous
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|
| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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128
jabber
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| v.快而不清楚地说；n.吱吱喳喳 | |
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129
hyena
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| n.土狼，鬣狗 | |
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130
snarling
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的现在分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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131
leopard
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| n.豹 | |
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132
savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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133
courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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134
repel
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| v.击退，抵制，拒绝，排斥 | |
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135
labors
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|
| 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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136
mead
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| n.蜂蜜酒 | |
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137
rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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138
professing
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|
| 声称( profess的现在分词 )； 宣称； 公开表明； 信奉 | |
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139
stockade
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| n.栅栏，围栏；v.用栅栏防护 | |
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140
intervals
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|
| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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141
intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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142
sociably
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| adv.成群地 | |
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143
phantom
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| n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的 | |
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144
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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145
barricades
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| 路障，障碍物( barricade的名词复数 ) | |
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146
bulwarks
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|
| n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 )；保障；支柱；舷墙 | |
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147
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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148
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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149
ramming
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| n.打结炉底v.夯实（土等）( ram的现在分词 )；猛撞；猛压；反复灌输 | |
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150
muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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151
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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152
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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153
hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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154
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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155
recollected
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|
| 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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156
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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157
scouts
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| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
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158
circumference
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| n.圆周，周长，圆周线 | |
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159
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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160
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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161
protracted
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| adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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162
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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163
apprehended
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| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 )； 理解 | |
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164
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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165
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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166
bards
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| n.诗人( bard的名词复数 ) | |
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167
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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168
idol
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| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
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169
heralded
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| v.预示( herald的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
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170
patriots
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| 爱国者，爱国主义者( patriot的名词复数 ) | |
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171
patriot
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| n.爱国者，爱国主义者 | |
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172
beheld
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| 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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173
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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174
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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175
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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176
confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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177
salaams
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| （穆斯林的）额手礼，问安，敬礼( salaam的名词复数 ) | |
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178
fervor
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| n.热诚；热心；炽热 | |
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179
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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180
memorable
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|
| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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181
redoubtable
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| adj.可敬的；可怕的 | |
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182
superfluous
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|
| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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183
meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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184
demeanor
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| n.行为；风度 | |
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185
exterior
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| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
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186
middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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187
vassal
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| n.附庸的；属下；adj.奴仆的 | |
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188
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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189
incision
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| n．切口，切开 | |
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190
devour
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| v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷 | |
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191
illiberal
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| adj.气量狭小的，吝啬的 | |
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192
calves
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| n.(calf的复数)笨拙的男子，腓；腿肚子( calf的名词复数 )；牛犊；腓；小腿肚v.生小牛( calve的第三人称单数 )；（冰川）崩解；生（小牛等），产（犊）；使（冰川）崩解 | |
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193
bin
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| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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194
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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195
yelping
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| v.发出短而尖的叫声( yelp的现在分词 ) | |
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196
ornaments
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| 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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197
strewed
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| v.撒在…上( strew的过去式和过去分词 )；散落于；点缀；撒满 | |
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198
wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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199
redress
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| n.赔偿，救济，矫正；v.纠正，匡正，革除 | |
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rascals
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| 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 | |
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201
jeering
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| adj.嘲弄的，揶揄的v.嘲笑( jeer的现在分词 ) | |
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202
lessened
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| 减少的，减弱的 | |
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203
conceit
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| n.自负，自高自大 | |
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204
modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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205
cupidity
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| n.贪心，贪财 | |
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206
royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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207
presumptuous
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| adj.胆大妄为的，放肆的，冒昧的，冒失的 | |
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208
audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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209
blustered
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| v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮；（风）呼啸；狂吹 | |
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210
intercept
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| vt.拦截，截住，截击 | |
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dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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gunpowder
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| n.火药 | |
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213
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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elicited
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| 引出，探出( elicit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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bestows
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的第三人称单数 ) | |
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216
Augmented
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| adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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adage
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| n.格言，古训 | |
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218
vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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219
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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220
Vogue
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| n.时髦，时尚；adj.流行的 | |
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221
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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222
negotiation
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| n.谈判，协商 | |
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223
tributary
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| n.支流；纳贡国；adj.附庸的；辅助的；支流的 | |
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dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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225
relics
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| [pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸 | |
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devastating
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| adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的 | |
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227
populous
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| adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的 | |
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tenantless
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| adj.无人租赁的，无人居住的 | |
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229
inundated
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| v.淹没( inundate的过去式和过去分词 )；（洪水般地）涌来；充满；给予或交予（太多事物）使难以应付 | |
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230
spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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231
vigilant
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| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
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232
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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233
hatchets
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| n.短柄小斧( hatchet的名词复数 )；恶毒攻击；诽谤；休战 | |
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234
hatchet
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| n.短柄小斧；v.扼杀 | |
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235
swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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236
strutted
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| 趾高气扬地走，高视阔步( strut的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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237
martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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238
bravado
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| n.虚张声势，故作勇敢，逞能 | |
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239
monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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240
accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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241
vocal
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| adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目 | |
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242
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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243
plaza
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| n.广场，市场 | |
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244
everlasting
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| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
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245
azure
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| adj.天蓝色的，蔚蓝色的 | |
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246
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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247
adjourn
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| v.（使）休会，（使）休庭 | |
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248
dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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