The latter, rashly grasping the spiny8 fruit, did not get it six inches above the ground, before he let go again, as if it had been the hottest of hot “purtatees.”
“Och, and what have I done now!” he cried, “I’m jagged all over. There isn’t a smooth spot upon it—not so much as a shank to take howlt of!”
“You takee care, Multa,” cautioned Saloo. “You lookee aloff. May be you get jagee in de skull9!”
Murtagh took the hint, and, giving one glance upward, ran back with a roar from under the shadow of the tree.
The Malay, seemingly satisfied with his triumph, now glided10 underneath11 the durion, and keeping his eye turned upward, as if intently watching something, he struck the fruit with the piece of pointed12 stick which he had been using in the search after Singapore oysters14, and sent it spinning out upon the open sand beach. Then following, he took out his knife, and inserting the blade among its thickly set spines15, cleft16 it open, displaying the pulp17 inside.
There was enough to give each person a taste of this most luscious18 of fruits, and make them desirous of more; even had they not been hungry. But the appetites of all were now keen, and neither the chase nor the fishery had produced a single thing to satisfy them. All three had returned empty-handed. There were many more nuts on the durion-tree. They could see scores of the prickly pericarps hanging overhead, but so high as to make the obtaining of them apparently19 impossible. They were as far away as the grapes from the fox of the fable20.
The stem of the tree rose over seventy feet before throwing out a single branch. It was smooth, moreover, offering neither knot nor excrescence for a foothold. For all this Saloo could have climbed it, had he been in proper strength and condition. But he was not so. He was still weak from the effects of his suffering at sea.
Something more must be had to eat—whether game, fish or shell-fish.
The one great oyster13 appeared to be a stray. Saloo had begun to despair of being able to find another. The fruit of the durion proved not only pleasant eating, but exceedingly nutritious21. It would sustain them, could they only get enough of it. How was this to be obtained?
For a time they stood considering; when Captain Redwood became impressed with an original idea.
In addition to his own rifle, a large ship’s musket22 had been put into the pinnace. He thought of chain-shot, and its effects; and it occurred to him that by this means the durions might be brought down from their lofty elevation23.
No sooner conceived than carried into execution. The musket was loaded with a brace24 of balls united by a piece of stout25 tarred string. A shot was fired into the tree, aimed at a place where the fruit appeared thickest. There was havoc26 made among the adjacent leaves; and five or six of the great pericarps came crashing to the earth. A repetition of the firing brought down nearly a dozen, enough to furnish the whole party with food for at least another twenty-four hours.
Having collected the fallen pericarps, they carried them to another tree that stood near, amid whose leafy branches appeared to be no fruits either so sweet to the lips or dangerous to the skull.
Thither27 also they transferred their quarters, along with the paraphernalia28 brought up from the boat, intending to make a more permanent encampment under the newly chosen tree.
For the time they kindled29 no fire, as the weather was warm enough, and the durions did not require cooking; and while making their mid-day meal of the raw fruit, Saloo interested them by relating some particulars of the tree from which it had been obtained.
We shall not follow the Malay’s exact words, for, as spoken in “pigeon English,” they would scarce be understood; but shall lay before our readers some account of this strange and valuable fruit-tree, culled30 partly from Saloo’s description and partly from other sources.
The durion is a forest tree of the loftiest order, bearing resemblance to the elm, only with a smooth bark, which is also scaly31. It is found growing throughout most of the islands of the Indian Archipelago; and, like the mangosteen, does not thrive well in any other part of the world. This is perhaps the reason its fruit is so little known elsewhere, as when ripe it will not bear transportation to a great distance. The fruit is nearly globe-shaped, though a little oval, and in size equals the largest cocoa-nut.
As the reader already knows, it is of a green colour, and covered with short stout spines, very sharp-pointed, whose bases touch each other, and are consequently somewhat hexagonal in shape. With this chevaux-de-frise it is so completely armed, that when the stalk is broken close off it is impossible to take up the fruit without having one’s fingers badly pricked32. The outer rind is so tough and strong, that no matter from what height the fruit falls it is never crushed or broken. From the base of the fruit to its apex33, five faint lines may be traced running among the spines. These form the divisions of the carpels where the fruit can be cut open with a sharp knife, though requiring a considerable exertion34 of strength. The five cells found within are of a silken white colour, each filled with an oval-shaped mass of cream-coloured pulp containing several seeds of the size of chestnuts35. The pulp forms the edible36 portion of the fruit, and its consistence and flavour are both difficult to be described. Mr Wallace, the celebrated37 hunter naturalist38, thus quaintly39 describes it:—
“A rich, butter-like custard, highly flavoured with almonds, gives the best general idea of it; but intermingled with it come wafts40 of flavour that call to mind cream-cheese, onion-sauce, brown-sherry, and other incongruities41. Then there is a rich glutinous42 smoothness in the pulp, which nothing else possesses, but which adds to its delicacy43. It is neither acid, nor sweet, nor juicy; yet one feels the want of none of these qualities, for it is perfect as it is. It produces no nausea44, or other bad effects; and the more you eat of it the less you feel inclined to stop. In fact, to eat durions is a new sensation, worth a voyage to the East to experience. When the fruit is ripe it falls of itself; and the only way to eat durions to perfection is to get them as they fall, and the smell is then less overpowering. When unripe45, it makes a very good vegetable if cooked, and it is also eaten by the Dyaks raw. In a good fruit season large quantities are preserved salted, in jars and bamboos, and kept the year round, when it acquires a most disgusting odour to Europeans, but the Dyaks appreciate it highly as a relish46 with their rice. There are in the forest two varieties of wild durions with much smaller fruits, one of them orange-coloured inside. It would not perhaps be correct to say that the durion is the best of all fruits, because it cannot supply the place of a sub-acid juicy kind; such as the orange, grape, mango, and mangosteen, whose refreshing47 and cooling qualities are so wholesome48 and grateful; but as producing a food of the most exquisite49 flavour, it is unsurpassed. If I had to fix on two only as representing the perfection of the two classes, I should certainly choose the durion and the orange as the king and queen of fruits.
“The durion is however sometimes dangerous. When the fruit begins to ripen50 it falls daily and almost hourly, and accidents not unfrequently happen to persons walking or working under the trees. When the durion strikes a man in its fall it produces a dreadful wound, the strong spines tearing open the flesh, whilst the blow itself is very heavy; but from this very circumstance death rarely ensues, the copious51 effusion of blood preventing the inflammation which might otherwise take place. A Dyak chief informed me that he had been struck by a durion falling on his head, which he thought would certainly have caused his death, yet he recovered in a very short time.”
Both the natives of the Malayan Archipelago and strangers residing there regard the durion as superior to all other kinds of fruit—in short, the finest in the world. The old traveller, Luischott, writing of it as early as 1599, says that in flavour it surpasses all other fruits. While another old traveller, Doctor Paludanus, thus speaks of it: “This fruit is of a hot and humid nature. To those not used to it, it seems at first to smell like rotten onions, but immediately they have tasted it they prefer it to all other food. The natives give it honourable52 titles, exalt53 it, and make verses on it.” (Note 1.)
Note 1. To these particulars we may add that the durion (Durio zibethinus) belongs to the natural family of Sterculiaceae, of the same sub-order (Bombaceae) as the silk-cotton tree. It grows to a great stature54; its leaves are like those of the cherry, and its pale yellow flowers hang in large bunches. Each tree yields about two hundred fruit in a year. The fruit contains ten to twelve seeds, as large as pigeons’ eggs, and these, when roasted, are as good as, and taste very much like, roasted chestnuts.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
ascertained
|
|
| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
demonstration
|
|
| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
piqued
|
|
| v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的过去式和过去分词 )；激起（好奇心） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
conspicuous
|
|
| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
mischief
|
|
| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
contemplated
|
|
| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
meddling
|
|
| v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
spiny
|
|
| adj.多刺的，刺状的；n.多刺的东西 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
skull
|
|
| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
glided
|
|
| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
underneath
|
|
| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
oyster
|
|
| n.牡蛎；沉默寡言的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
oysters
|
|
| 牡蛎( oyster的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
spines
|
|
| n.脊柱( spine的名词复数 )；脊椎；（动植物的）刺；书脊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
cleft
|
|
| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
pulp
|
|
| n.果肉，纸浆；v.化成纸浆，除去...果肉，制成纸浆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
luscious
|
|
| adj.美味的；芬芳的；肉感的，引与性欲的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
fable
|
|
| n.寓言；童话；神话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
nutritious
|
|
| adj.有营养的，营养价值高的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
musket
|
|
| n.滑膛枪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
elevation
|
|
| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
brace
|
|
| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
havoc
|
|
| n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
thither
|
|
| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
paraphernalia
|
|
| n.装备；随身用品 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
kindled
|
|
| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
culled
|
|
| v.挑选，剔除( cull的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
scaly
|
|
| adj.鱼鳞状的；干燥粗糙的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
pricked
|
|
| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
apex
|
|
| n.顶点，最高点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
exertion
|
|
| n.尽力，努力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
chestnuts
|
|
| n.栗子( chestnut的名词复数 )；栗色；栗树；栗色马 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
edible
|
|
| n.食品，食物；adj.可食用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
celebrated
|
|
| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
naturalist
|
|
| n.博物学家(尤指直接观察动植物者) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
quaintly
|
|
| adv.古怪离奇地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
wafts
|
|
| n.空中飘来的气味，一阵气味( waft的名词复数 )；摇转风扇v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
incongruities
|
|
| n.不协调( incongruity的名词复数 )；不一致；不适合；不协调的东西 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
glutinous
|
|
| adj.粘的，胶状的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
delicacy
|
|
| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
nausea
|
|
| n.作呕，恶心；极端的憎恶(或厌恶) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
unripe
|
|
| adj.未成熟的；n.未成熟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
relish
|
|
| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
refreshing
|
|
| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
wholesome
|
|
| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
exquisite
|
|
| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
ripen
|
|
| vt.使成熟；vi.成熟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
copious
|
|
| adj.丰富的，大量的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
honourable
|
|
| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
exalt
|
|
| v.赞扬，歌颂，晋升，提升 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
stature
|
|
| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |