“As, however, there is no necessity whatever why we should posit1 the existence of devils, why, then, should they be posited2?”
Some of the blacks of my acquaintance are ardent3 believers in ghosts and do posit the existence of personal “debils-debils.” Seldom is a good word to be said of the phantoms4, which depend almost entirely5 for “local habitation and a name” upon the chronicles of old men steeped to the lips in the accumulated lore6 of the camps. Many an old man who talks shudderingly7 of the “debil-debil” has lived in daily expectation of meeting some hostile and vindictive8 personage endowed with fearsome malice9, and a body which may be killed and destroyed. Therefore, when the old man ventures into the dim spaces of the jungle he is invariably specially10 armed and his perceptive11 faculties12 strained to concert pitch, while the unseen glides13 always at his elbow providing unutterable thrills, lacking which life would be far less real and earnest.
Only one record has come to my knowledge of the presence of a benign14 “debil-debil.” All the other stories have been saturated15 with awesomeness16 and fear. A very intelligent but excessively superstitious17 boy now living on the Palm Islands was wont18 to entertain me with graphic19 descriptions of the one species of “debil-debil” which he feared, and of the most effective plan for its capture. He was under the belief that a live “debil-debil” would be worth more as a curio than “two fella white cockatoo.” He imagined that if a “young fella debil-debil” could be caught — caught in the harmless stage of existence — I would give him a superabundance of tobacco as a reward, and that I would keep it chained up “all asame dog” and give it nothing but water. I was frequently warned “Subpose me catch em young fella ‘debil-debil’ when he come from mother belonga him, no good you give him much tucker. Gib him plenty water. He got fire inside. Smoke come out alonga nose.” Given the possibility of its capture, there was no reason why I should not indulge the frugal20 joy of having a small and comparatively innocent “debil-debil” on the chain. Did not the legendary21 Maori chiefs keep such pets for the torment22 of their enemies? Mine would have to console itself with the astonishment23 and admiration24 of friends, for, alas25! I have not, to my knowledge, an enemy worthy26 the least of the infernal pangs27. Moreover, out of our abundance of rain we could well spare an occasional meat-tinful of water for the cooling of its internal fires.
Now, the method of capture of a piccaninny “debil-debil” was this: Certain manifestations28, not explainable and not visible to white men, had revealed to the blacks that a favourite resort of the species was the sand spit of the Island. Two boys who were wont to discuss their plans, and even to practise them, decided30 that they must first observe the habits of the “debil-debil,” and so arrange to catch the young one when the backs of the parents were turned, for, of course, designs against a full-grown specimen31 were not only futile32, but attended with infinitely33 greater risks of personal injury than George would accept for love or money. They procured34 about fifteen yards of cane35 from one of the creeping palms, from which they removed all the old leaf sheafs and adventitious36 rootlets, making it perfectly37 smooth. Crouching38 low, each holding an end of the cane, which was strained almost to rigidity39, the boys, in their demonstration40 of the feat41, were wont to sweep continuously over a considerable area with the idea of getting the cane on the nape of the neck of the assumed “debil-debil,” and then to suddenly change places, so that it became ensnared in a simple loop by which the baneful42 beast was to be choked to submission43.
Upon my suggestion a thin line used in the harpooning44 of turtles was substituted for the cane, with which, however, some most realistic and serious preliminary work towards perfection in the stratagem45 of “debil-debil” capture had been accomplished46 in valorous daylight. But though the boys gave many exhibitions of their skill and of the proper attitude and degree of caution, the correct gestures and facial expression for so momentous47 a manoeuvre48, they could never be persuaded to put their skill to the test at the spot where “debils-debils” most do congregate49 after dark, the consequences inevitable50 on failure being too diabolical51 to contemplate52.
The conditions never seemed to be absolutely favourable53 for the deed, for the boys anxiously persuaded me of the craft and alertness of the evil one. Either the night was too bright or too gloomy, or it was so calm that the “debil-debil” would be sure to hear their approach, or so windy that they themselves might possibly be taken unawares. They insisted that “debils-debils” suffered from certain physical limitations; they could not cross the sea — hence the variety native to the Island might be different from the mainland species, and would therefore demand local study before being approached with hostile intentions. I was wont to point out that since the sea presented an impassable barrier, the sand spit, drawn54 out to a fine point, was just the spot where a piccaninny might be easily rounded up, if it were detected in a preoccupied55 mood. I suggested that I might be at hand to encounter any untoward56 results in case of a bungle57, but was met with the positive assertion that no “debil-debil,” however young and unsophisticated, would “come out” if it smelt58 a white man.
One of the boys went so far as to select the chain with which the captive was to be secured, and the empty meat-tin whence it was to be schooled to take the only form of nourishment59 judicious60 to offer. That he did most truly and sincerely believe the existence of “debils-debils” we had proof every evening, for he would sit at the door of his grass hut, maintain a big, dancing fire, and sing lustily under the supposition that a good discordant61 corroboree was the most effective scare. Though alleged62 to be obnoxiously63 plentiful64, the boys could never screw up their courage to the point of a real attempt to apprehend65 the dreaded66 enemy to their peace of mind.
Two blacks in the employ of a neighbour went to sleep under an orange-tree early one afternoon, and slumbered67 industriously68 while the others worked. The quiet of the drowsy69 time was, however, suddenly shocked by a great outcry, when the two lazy ones raced towards the workers with every manifestation29 of fear in their countenances70. They declared that while they had slept a piccaninny “debil-debil” had “sat down” on the orange-tree which had afforded them shade, and that when they woke up it was there —“all a same flying fox.” All moved cautiously up, and sure enough, hanging head down, was what my friend took to be a veritable flying fox; but he was in a hopeless minority. All scornfully out-voted him, and to this day the blacks assert that “a piccaninny debil-debil” so closely resembles a flying-fox that none but a black boy can tell the difference.
Again, a black boy and his gin slept in an outhouse across the door-space of which they, as usual, made a fire. In the morning’, Billy found himself, not in the corner where he had gone to sleep, but close to the fire, and moreover his left arm was “sore fella.” With a dreadfully serious face he related his experiences. In the middle of the night a “debil-debil” had entered the hut and, seizing him by the arm, had dragged him towards the door, but being unable to cross the fire, had been compelled to abandon otherwise easy prey71. The aching arm proved that he had been dragged by a superior force, and the absence of tracks was assurance that none other than a “debil-debil” could have clutched him. The episode was accepted as one more proof of the horror of “debils-debils” of fire, and of the necessity of such a precautionary measure.
The scene of the only occasion on which a visitant from the land of spirits assumed benign shape is not far from this spot. It is historic, too, from the standpoint of the white man, for it occurred during a “dispersal” by black troopers under the command of mounted police. An old black boy tells the story. Before sunrise the whole camp was panic-struck, for it was surrounded by men with rifles. As the defenceless men and helpless women and children woke up, dismayed, to seek safety in flight, they were shot. One man tumbled down here, another there. The awful noise of the firing, and the bleeding results thereof, the screams of fear and shrieks72 of pain, caused paralysing confusion. When it seemed impossible for any one to escape, a big man jumped up, and, standing73 still, called out to the bloodthirsty troopers, “Kill me fella! Kill me fella!” indicating, with his hand his naked chest. Such audacity74 had its effect. All the troopers began firing at the noble, self-sacrificing hero; but marvellous to say, he did not tumble down, for though the bullets went through him, no blood gushed75 out. While he was the only target, the other blacks, including the veracious76 chronicler, ran away, leaving many dead. He afterwards declared that the “big, good fella boy,” who had drawn the fire of the troopers, and whom the troopers could not kill, was a stranger to the camp. No one had ever seen him before or since; but that he appeared at a terrible crisis specially to save the whole camp from butchery was, and is, the emphatic77 belief of the survivors78. This incident was related, or rather dramatically acted, in the presence of an aged79 native of the Malay Peninsula, whose knowledge of the mysterious was (in his own estimation) far more exact than that of the unenlightened blacks. With eyes sparkling and all his senses quivering under the stress of impatience80, he listened to the end, and then burst out, “You fool! That good, big fellow boy, he no boy. That fellow, white man call em ghost! Plenty in my country!”
点击收听单词发音
1 posit | |
v.假定,认为 | |
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2 posited | |
v.假定,设想,假设( posit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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3 ardent | |
adj.热情的,热烈的,强烈的,烈性的 | |
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4 phantoms | |
n.鬼怪,幽灵( phantom的名词复数 ) | |
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5 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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6 lore | |
n.传说;学问,经验,知识 | |
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7 shudderingly | |
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8 vindictive | |
adj.有报仇心的,怀恨的,惩罚的 | |
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9 malice | |
n.恶意,怨恨,蓄意;[律]预谋 | |
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10 specially | |
adv.特定地;特殊地;明确地 | |
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11 perceptive | |
adj.知觉的,有洞察力的,感知的 | |
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12 faculties | |
n.能力( faculty的名词复数 );全体教职员;技巧;院 | |
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13 glides | |
n.滑行( glide的名词复数 );滑音;音渡;过渡音v.滑动( glide的第三人称单数 );掠过;(鸟或飞机 ) 滑翔 | |
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14 benign | |
adj.善良的,慈祥的;良性的,无危险的 | |
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15 saturated | |
a.饱和的,充满的 | |
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16 awesomeness | |
可怕的 | |
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17 superstitious | |
adj.迷信的 | |
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18 wont | |
adj.习惯于;v.习惯;n.习惯 | |
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19 graphic | |
adj.生动的,形象的,绘画的,文字的,图表的 | |
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20 frugal | |
adj.节俭的,节约的,少量的,微量的 | |
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21 legendary | |
adj.传奇(中)的,闻名遐迩的;n.传奇(文学) | |
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22 torment | |
n.折磨;令人痛苦的东西(人);vt.折磨;纠缠 | |
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23 astonishment | |
n.惊奇,惊异 | |
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24 admiration | |
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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25 alas | |
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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26 worthy | |
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
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27 pangs | |
突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 ); 悲痛 | |
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28 manifestations | |
n.表示,显示(manifestation的复数形式) | |
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29 manifestation | |
n.表现形式;表明;现象 | |
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30 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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31 specimen | |
n.样本,标本 | |
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32 futile | |
adj.无效的,无用的,无希望的 | |
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33 infinitely | |
adv.无限地,无穷地 | |
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34 procured | |
v.(努力)取得, (设法)获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 );拉皮条 | |
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35 cane | |
n.手杖,细长的茎,藤条;v.以杖击,以藤编制的 | |
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36 adventitious | |
adj.偶然的 | |
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37 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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38 crouching | |
v.屈膝,蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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39 rigidity | |
adj.钢性,坚硬 | |
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40 demonstration | |
n.表明,示范,论证,示威 | |
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41 feat | |
n.功绩;武艺,技艺;adj.灵巧的,漂亮的,合适的 | |
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42 baneful | |
adj.有害的 | |
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43 submission | |
n.服从,投降;温顺,谦虚;提出 | |
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44 harpooning | |
v.鱼镖,鱼叉( harpoon的现在分词 ) | |
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45 stratagem | |
n.诡计,计谋 | |
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46 accomplished | |
adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的 | |
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47 momentous | |
adj.重要的,重大的 | |
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48 manoeuvre | |
n.策略,调动;v.用策略,调动 | |
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49 congregate | |
v.(使)集合,聚集 | |
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50 inevitable | |
adj.不可避免的,必然发生的 | |
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51 diabolical | |
adj.恶魔似的,凶暴的 | |
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52 contemplate | |
vt.盘算,计议;周密考虑;注视,凝视 | |
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53 favourable | |
adj.赞成的,称赞的,有利的,良好的,顺利的 | |
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54 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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55 preoccupied | |
adj.全神贯注的,入神的;被抢先占有的;心事重重的v.占据(某人)思想,使对…全神贯注,使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
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56 untoward | |
adj.不利的,不幸的,困难重重的 | |
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57 bungle | |
v.搞糟;n.拙劣的工作 | |
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58 smelt | |
v.熔解,熔炼;n.银白鱼,胡瓜鱼 | |
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59 nourishment | |
n.食物,营养品;营养情况 | |
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60 judicious | |
adj.明智的,明断的,能作出明智决定的 | |
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61 discordant | |
adj.不调和的 | |
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62 alleged | |
a.被指控的,嫌疑的 | |
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63 obnoxiously | |
adv. 可憎地 讨厌地 | |
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64 plentiful | |
adj.富裕的,丰富的 | |
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65 apprehend | |
vt.理解,领悟,逮捕,拘捕,忧虑 | |
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66 dreaded | |
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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67 slumbered | |
微睡,睡眠(slumber的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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68 industriously | |
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69 drowsy | |
adj.昏昏欲睡的,令人发困的 | |
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70 countenances | |
n.面容( countenance的名词复数 );表情;镇静;道义支持 | |
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71 prey | |
n.被掠食者,牺牲者,掠食;v.捕食,掠夺,折磨 | |
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72 shrieks | |
n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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73 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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74 audacity | |
n.大胆,卤莽,无礼 | |
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75 gushed | |
v.喷,涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 );滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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76 veracious | |
adj.诚实可靠的 | |
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77 emphatic | |
adj.强调的,着重的;无可置疑的,明显的 | |
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78 survivors | |
幸存者,残存者,生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
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79 aged | |
adj.年老的,陈年的 | |
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80 impatience | |
n.不耐烦,急躁 | |
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