On the same, day that Nelson sailed for England, Smith set out toexplore the hesapeake, accompanying the Phoenix1 as far as CapeHenry, in a barge3 of about three tons. With him went Dr. WalterRussell, six gentlemen, and seven soldiers. The narrative4 of thevoyage is signed by Dr. Russell, Thomas Momford, gentleman, and AnasTodkill, soldier. Master Scrivener remained at the fort, where hispresence was needed to keep in check the prodigal5 waste of the storesupon his parasites6 by President Ratcliffe.
The expedition crossed the bay at "Smith's Isles7," named after theCaptain, touched at Cape2 Charles, and coasted along the easternshore. Two stout8 savages9 hailed them from Cape Charles, and directedthem to Accomack, whose king proved to be the most comely10 and civilsavage they had yet encountered.
He told them of a strange accident that had happened. The parents oftwo children who had died were moved by some phantasy to revisittheir dead carcasses, "whose benumbed bodies reflected to the eyes ofthe beholders such delightful12 countenances13 as though they hadregained their vital spirits." This miracle drew a great part of theKing's people to behold11 them, nearly all of whom died shortlyafterward. These people spoke14 the language of Powhatan. Smithexplored the bays, isles, and islets, searching for harbors andplaces of habitation. He was a born explorer and geographer15, as hisremarkable map of Virginia sufficiently16 testifies. The company wasmuch tossed about in the rough waves of the bay, and had greatdifficulty in procuring17 drinking-water. They entered theWighcocomoco, on the east side, where the natives first threatenedand then received them with songs, dancing, and mirth. A point onthe mainland where they found a pond of fresh water they named "PoyntPloyer in honer of the most honorable house of Monsay, in Britaine,that in an extreme extremitie once relieved our Captain." Thisreference to the Earl of Ployer, who was kind to Smith in his youth,is only an instance of the care with which he edited these narrativesof his own exploits, which were nominally18 written by his companions.
The explorers were now assailed19 with violent storms, and at last tookrefuge for two days on some uninhabited islands, which by reason ofthe ill weather and the hurly-burly of thunder, lightning, wind, andrain, they called "Limbo20." Repairing their torn sails with theirshirts, they sailed for the mainland on the east, and ran into ariver called Cuskarawook (perhaps the present Annomessie), where theinhabitants received them with showers of arrows, ascending21 the treesand shooting at them. The next day a crowd came dancing to theshore, making friendly signs, but Smith, suspecting villainy,discharged his muskets22 into them. Landing toward evening, theexplorers found many baskets and much blood, but no savages. Thefollowing day, savages to the number, the account wildly says, of twoor three thousand, came to visit them, and were very friendly. Thesetribes Smith calls the Sarapinagh, Nause, Arseek, and Nantaquak, andsays they are the best merchants of that coast. They told him of agreat nation, called the Massawomeks, of whom he set out in search,passing by the Limbo, and coasting the west side of Chesapeake Bay.
The people on the east side he describes as of small stature23.
They anchored at night at a place called Richard's Cliffs, north ofthe Pawtuxet, and from thence went on till they reached the firstriver navigable for ships, which they named the Bolus, and which byits position on Smith's map may be the Severn or the Patapsco.
The men now, having been kept at the oars24 ten days, tossed about bystorms, and with nothing to eat but bread rotten from the wet,supposed that the Captain would turn about and go home. But hereminded them how the company of Ralph Lane, in like circumstances,importuned him to proceed with the discovery of Moratico, allegingthat they had yet a dog that boiled with sassafrks leaves wouldrichly feed them. He could not think of returning yet, for they werescarce able to say where they had been, nor had yet heard of whatthey were sent to seek. He exhorted25 them to abandon their childishfear of being lost in these unknown, large waters, but he assuredthem that return he would not, till he had seen the Massawomeks andfound the Patowomek.
On the 16th of June they discovered the River Patowomek (Potomac),seven miles broad at the mouth, up which they sailed thirty milesbefore they encountered any inhabitants. Four savages at lengthappeared and conducted them up a creek26 where were three or fourthousand in ambush27, "so strangely painted, grimed, and disguised,shouting, yelling, and crying as so many spirits from hell could nothave showed more terrible." But the discharge of the firearms andthe echo in the forest so appeased28 their fury that they threw downtheir bows, exchanged hostages, and kindly29 used the strangers. TheIndians told him that Powhatan had commanded them to betray them, andthe serious charge is added that Powhatan, "so directed from thediscontents at Jamestown because our Captain did cause them to stayin their country against their wills." This reveals the suspicionand thoroughly30 bad feeling existing among the colonists31.
The expedition went up the river to a village called Patowomek, andthence rowed up a little River Quiyough (Acquia Creek?) in search ofa mountain of antimony, which they found. The savages put thisantimony up in little bags and sold it all over the country to painttheir bodies and faces, which made them look like Blackamoors dustedover with silver. Some bags of this they carried away, and alsocollected a good amount of furs of otters32, bears, martens, and minks33.
Fish were abundant, "lying so thick with their heads above water, asfor want of nets (our barge driving among them) we attempted to catchthem with a frying-pan; but we found it a bad instrument to catchfish with; neither better fish, more plenty, nor more variety forsmall fish, had any of us ever seen in any place, so swimming in thewater, but they are not to be caught with frying-pans."In all his encounters and quarrels with the treacherous34 savages Smithlost not a man; it was his habit when he encountered a body of themto demand their bows, arrows, swords, and furs, and a child or two ashostages.
Having finished his discovery he returned. Passing the mouth of theRappahannock, by some called the Tappahannock, where in shoal waterwere many fish lurking35 in the weeds, Smith had his first experienceof the Stingray. It chanced that the Captain took one of these fishfrom his sword, "not knowing her condition, being much the fashion ofa Thornbeck, but a long tayle like a riding rodde whereon the middestis a most poysonne sting of two or three inches long, bearded like asaw on each side, which she struck into the wrist of his arme nearean inch and a half." The arm and shoulder swelled36 so much, and thetorment was so great, that "we all with much sorrow concluded hisfunerale, and prepared his grave in an island by, as himselfdirected." But it "pleased God by a precious oyle Dr. Russellapplied to it that his tormenting37 paine was so assuged that he ate ofthat fish to his supper."Setting sail for Jamestown, and arriving at Kecoughtan, the sight ofthe furs and other plunder38, and of Captain Smith wounded, led theIndians to think that he had been at war with the Massawomeks; whichopinion Smith encouraged. They reached Jamestown July 21st, in finespirits, to find the colony in a mutinous39 condition, the lastarrivals all sick, and the others on the point of revengingthemselves on the silly President, who had brought them all to miseryby his riotous40 consumption of the stores, and by forcing them to workon an unnecessary pleasure-house for himself in the woods. They weresomewhat appeased by the good news of the discovery, and in thebelief that their bay stretched into the South Sea; and submitted oncondition that Ratclifte should be deposed41 and Captain Smith takeupon himself the government, "as by course it did belong." Heconsented, but substituted Mr. Scrivener, his dear friend, in thepresidency, distributed the provisions, appointed honest men toassist Mr. Scrivener, and set out on the 24th, with twelve men, tofinish his discovery.
He passed by the Patowomek River and hasted to the River Bolus, whichhe had before visited. In the bay they fell in with seven or eightcanoes full of the renowned42 Massawomeks, with whom they had a fight,but at length these savages became friendly and gave them bows,arrows, and skins. They were at war with the Tockwoghes. Proceedingup the River Tockwogh, the latter Indians received them withfriendship, because they had the weapons which they supposed had beencaptured in a fight with the Massawomeks. These Indians hadhatchets, knives, pieces of iron and brass43, they reported came fromthe Susquesahanocks, a mighty44 people, the enemies of the Massawomeks,living at the head of the bay. As Smith in his barge could notascend to them, he sent an interpreter to request a visit from them.
In three or four days sixty of these giant-like people came down withpresents of venison, tobacco-pipes three feet in length, baskets,targets, and bows and arrows. Some further notice is necessary ofthis first appearance of the Susquehannocks, who became afterwards sowell known, by reason of their great stature and their friendliness45.
Portraits of these noble savages appeared in De Bry's voyages, whichwere used in Smith's map, and also by Strachey. These beautifulcopperplate engravings spread through Europe most exaggerated ideasof the American savages.
"Our order," says Smith, "was daily to have prayers, with a psalm46, atwhich solemnity the poor savages wondered." When it was over theSusquesahanocks, in a fervent47 manner, held up their hands to the sun,and then embracing the Captain, adored him in like manner. With afurious manner and "a hellish voyce" they began an oration48 of theirloves, covered him with their painted bear-skins, hung a chain ofwhite beads49 about his neck, and hailed his creation as their governorand protector, promising50 aid and victuals51 if he would stay and helpthem fight the Massawomeks. Much they told him of the Atquanachuks,who live on the Ocean Sea, the Massawomeks and other people living ona great water beyond the mountain (which Smith understood to be somegreat lake or the river of Canada), and that they received theirhatchets and other commodities from the French. They moumed greatlyat Smith's departure. Of Powhatan they knew nothing but the name.
Strachey, who probably enlarges from Smith his account of the samepeople, whom he calls Sasquesahanougs, says they were well-proportioned giants, but of an honest and simple disposition52. Theirlanguage well beseemed their proportions, "sounding from them as itwere a great voice in a vault53 or cave, as an ecco." The picture ofone of these chiefs is given in De Bry, and described by Strachey,"the calf54 of whose leg was three-quarters of a yard about, and all therest of his limbs so answerable to the same proportions that heseemed the goodliest man they ever saw."It would not entertain the reader to follow Smith in all the smalladventures of the exploration, during which he says he went about3,000 miles (three thousand miles in three or four weeks in a row-boat is nothing in Smith's memory), "with such watery55 diet in thesegreat waters and barbarous countries." Much hardship he endured,alternately skirmishing and feasting with the Indians; many were thetribes he struck an alliance with, and many valuable details he addedto the geographical56 knowledge of the region. In all this explorationSmith showed himself skillful as he was vigorous and adventurous57.
He returned to James River September 7th. Many had died, some weresick, Ratcliffe, the late President, was a prisoner for mutiny,Master Scrivener had diligently58 gathered the harvest, but much of theprovisions had been spoiled by rain. Thus the summer was consumed,and nothing had been accomplished59 except Smith's discovery.
收听单词发音 |
1
phoenix
|
|
| n.凤凰，长生(不死)鸟；引申为重生 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
cape
|
|
| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
barge
|
|
| n.平底载货船，驳船 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
narrative
|
|
| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
prodigal
|
|
| adj.浪费的，挥霍的，放荡的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
parasites
|
|
| 寄生物( parasite的名词复数 )； 靠他人为生的人； 诸虫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
isles
|
|
| 岛( isle的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
savages
|
|
| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
comely
|
|
| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
behold
|
|
| v.看，注视，看到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
delightful
|
|
| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
countenances
|
|
| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
geographer
|
|
| n.地理学者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
sufficiently
|
|
| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
procuring
|
|
| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
nominally
|
|
| 在名义上，表面地； 应名儿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
assailed
|
|
| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
limbo
|
|
| n.地狱的边缘；监狱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
ascending
|
|
| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
muskets
|
|
| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
stature
|
|
| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
oars
|
|
| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
exhorted
|
|
| v.劝告，劝说( exhort的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
creek
|
|
| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
ambush
|
|
| n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
appeased
|
|
| 安抚，抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
colonists
|
|
| n.殖民地开拓者，移民，殖民地居民( colonist的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
otters
|
|
| n.（水）獭( otter的名词复数 )；獭皮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
minks
|
|
| n.水貂( mink的名词复数 )；水貂皮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
treacherous
|
|
| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
lurking
|
|
| 潜在 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
swelled
|
|
| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
tormenting
|
|
| 使痛苦的，使苦恼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
plunder
|
|
| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
mutinous
|
|
| adj.叛变的，反抗的；adv.反抗地，叛变地；n.反抗，叛变 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
riotous
|
|
| adj.骚乱的；狂欢的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
deposed
|
|
| v.罢免( depose的过去式和过去分词 )；（在法庭上）宣誓作证 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
renowned
|
|
| adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
brass
|
|
| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
friendliness
|
|
| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
psalm
|
|
| n.赞美诗，圣诗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
fervent
|
|
| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
oration
|
|
| n.演说，致辞，叙述法 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
beads
|
|
| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
promising
|
|
| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
victuals
|
|
| n.食物；食品 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
disposition
|
|
| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
vault
|
|
| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
calf
|
|
| n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
watery
|
|
| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
geographical
|
|
| adj.地理的；地区(性)的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
adventurous
|
|
| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
diligently
|
|
| ad.industriously;carefully | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
accomplished
|
|
| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |