During the two following days we passed through a country that was more thickly covered with the indiarubber vine than any place we had before met with in our African travels. I could not help feeling regret that such a splendid region should be almost, if not altogether, unknown and useless to civilised man. There seemed to be an unlimited1 supply of caoutchouc; but the natives practised a method of gathering2 it which had the effect of destroying the vine.
One day, some weeks after this, we came upon the habitation of a most remarkable3 species of monkey, named the Nshiego Mbouve, which we had often heard of, but had not up to that time been so fortunate as to see. Being exceedingly anxious to observe how this remarkable creature made use of its singular house, Peterkin and I lay down near the place, and secreting4 ourselves in the bushes, patiently awaited the arrival of the monkey, while Jack5 went off in another direction to procure6 something for supper.
“I don’t believe he’ll come home to-night,” said Peterkin, after we had lain down. “People never do come in when any one chances to be waiting for them. The human race seems to be born to disappointment. Did you never notice, Ralph, how obstinately7 contrary and cross-grained things go when you want them to go otherwise?”
“I don’t quite understand you,” said I.
“Of course you don’t. Yours seems to be a mind that can never take anything in unless it is hammered in by repetition.”
“Come now, Peterkin, don’t become, yourself, an illustration of your own remark in reference to cross-grained things.”
“Well, I won’t. But seriously, Ralph, have you not observed, in the course of your observant life, that when you have particular business with a man, and go to his house or office, you are certain to find him out, to use the common phrase? It would be more correct, however, to say ‘you are certain not to find him in.’”
“You are uncommonly8 particular, Peterkin.”
“Truly I had need to be so, with such an uncommonly stupid audience.”
“Thank you. Well?”
“Well, have you never observed that if you have occasion to call at a house where you have never been before, the number of that particular house is not in its usual place, and you find it after a search quite away from where it ought to be? Has it never struck you that when you take out your umbrella, the day is certain to become hot and sunny; while, if you omit to carry it with you, it is sure to rain?”
“From all of which you conclude,” said I, “that the Nshiego will not come home to-night?”
After Peterkin said this, we relapsed into silence; and it was well that we did so, for had we continued our conversation even in the whispering tones in which it had up to that time been conducted, we should have frightened away the ape which now came, as it were, to rebuke10 Peterkin for his unbelief.
Coming quickly forward, the Nshiego Mbouve chambered quickly up the tree where its nest was built. This nest was not a structure into which it clambered, but a shelter or canopy11 formed of boughs12 with their leaves, somewhat in shape like an umbrella, under which it sat. The construction of this shelter exhibited a good deal of intelligent ingenuity13 on the part of the ape; for it was tied to the tree by means of wild vines and creepers, and formed a neat, comfortable roof, that was quite capable of shedding the night dews or heavy rains, and thus protecting its occupant.
We were greatly amused by the manner in which the creature proceeded to make itself comfortable. Just below the canopy was a small branch which jutted14 out horizontally from the stem of the tree. On this branch the ape seated itself, its feet and haunches resting thereon. Then it threw one arm round the tree, and hugging that lovingly to its side, gave what appeared to me to be a small sigh of satisfaction, and prepared to go to sleep.
At this Peterkin chuckled15 audibly. The Nshiego’s eyes opened at once. I cocked my gun and took aim. The desire to procure a specimen16 was very strong within me, but an unconquerable aversion to kill an animal in such cozy17 circumstances restrained me. The Nshiego got up in alarm. I pointed18 the gun, but could not fire. It began to descend19. I pulled the trigger, and, I am happy to add, missed my aim altogether, to the intense delight of Peterkin, who filled the woods with laughter, while the Nshiego Mbouve, dropping to the ground, ran shrieking20 from the spot.
My forbearance at this time was afterwards repaid by my obtaining two much finer specimens21 of this shelter-building ape, both of which were killed by Peterkin.
On quitting this place we had a narrow escape, the recollection of which still fills me with horror. We were walking rapidly back towards our encampment, chatting as we went, when Peterkin suddenly put his foot on what appeared to be the dead branch of a tree. No sooner had he done so than the curling folds of a black snake fully22 ten feet long scattered23 the dry leaves into the air, and caused us both to dart24 aside with a yell of terror.
I have thought that in the complicated and wonderful mechanism25 of man there lies a species of almost involuntary muscular power which enables him to act in all cases of sudden danger with a degree of prompt celerity that he could not possibly call forth26 by a direct act of volition27. At all events, on the present emergency, without in the least degree knowing what I was about, I brought my gun from my shoulder into a horizontal position, and blew the snake’s head off almost in an instant.
I have pondered this subject, and from the fact that while at one time a man may be prompt and courageous28 in case of sudden danger, at another time the same man may become panic-stricken and helpless, I have come to the conclusion that the all-wise Creator would teach us—even the bravest among us—the lesson of our dependence29 upon each other, as well as our dependence upon Himself, and would have us know that while at one time we may prove a tower of strength and protection to our friends, at another time our friends may have to afford succour and protection to us.
I have often wondered, in reference to this, that many men seem to take pride in bold independence, when it is an obvious fact that every man is dependent on his fellow, and that this mutual30 dependence is one of the chief sources of human happiness.
The black snake which I had killed turned out to be one of a very venomous kind, whose bite is said to be fatal, so that we had good cause to be thankful, and to congratulate ourselves on our escape.
In this region of Africa we were particularly fortunate in what we saw and encountered, as the narrative31 of our experiences on the day following the above incidents will show.
We had scarcely advanced a few miles on our journey on the morning of that day, when we came upon a part of the country where the natives had constructed a curious sort of trap for catching32 wild animals; and it happened that a large band of natives were on the point of setting out for a grand hunt at that time.
We were greeted with immense delight on our arrival, for those natives, we soon discovered, had already heard of our exploits in the lands of the gorilla33, and regarded us as the greatest hunters that had ever been born. After a short conversation with the chief, through the medium of Makarooroo, we arranged to rest there a day, and accompany them on their hunting expedition; and the better to secure their good will, we presented some of the head men with a few of the beads34 which we still possessed35. Then hauling our canoe out of the water, we prepared ourselves for the chase.
After a long and tedious march through somewhat dense36 jungle, we came upon the ground, which was partly open, partly clothed with trees and shrubs37. Here the natives, who numbered several hundreds, spread themselves out in a long semicircular line, in order to drive the game into the trap.
As we followed them, or rather formed part of the line, I overheard the following conversation between Peterkin and Makarooroo, who chanced to be together.
“Now, Mak,” said the former, examining the caps of his rifle, “explain to me what sort of trap this is that we’re coming to, and what sort of brutes38 we may expect to find in it.”
“De trap, massa,” replied our faithful follower39, drawing the back of his hand across his mouth—“de trap am be call hopo—”
“Called what-o?” inquired Peterkin.
“Hopo.”
“Oh! go on.”
“An’ hims be made ob great number oh sticks tumble down—an’ hole at de end ob dat; an’ de beasties dat goes in be zebros, elosphants, eelands, buff’los, gaffs, nocrices, noos, an’ great more noders ob which me forgit de names.”
“Oh! you forgit de names, do you?”
“Yis, massa.”
“Ah! it wouldn’t be a great loss, Mak, if you were to forget the names of those you remember.”
The conversation was interrupted at this point by the appearance of a buffalo40, which showed that we were drawing near to the scene of action. But as Makarooroo’s description is not remarkable for lucidity41, I may explain here that the hopo, or trap, consists of two parts; one part may be termed the conducting hedges, the other the pit at their termination, and into which the game is driven. The conducting hedges are formed in the shape of the letter V. At the narrow extremity42 there is a narrow lane, at the end of which is the terminating pit. This pit is about eight feet deep and fifteen feet broad, and its edges are made to overlap43 in such a way that once the animals are in it, they have no chance whatever of getting out again. The surface of the pit is concealed44 by a thin crust of green rushes, and the hedges are sometimes a mile long, and nearly the same width apart at the outer extremities45.
We were still a considerable distance from the outer ends of the hedges, when the natives spread out as above described, and I am convinced that our line extended over at least four miles of ground. The circle, of course, narrowed as they advanced, shouting wildly, in order to drive the game into the enclosure.
That the country was teeming46 with game soon became apparent, for ever and anon as we advanced a herd47 of gnus or buffaloes48 or hartbeests would dart affrighted from their cover, and sweep over the open ground into another place of shelter, out of which they were again driven as the line advanced. In the course of half an hour we drove out hartbeests, zebras, gnus, buffaloes, giraffes, rhinoceroses49, and many other kinds of smaller game, either singly or in herds50.
“Now, lads,” said Jack, approaching Peterkin and me as we walked together, “it is quite evident that if we wish to see this sport in perfection we must get outside the hedge, and run along towards the pit; for there, in the natural course of things, we may expect the grand climax51. What say you? Shall we go?”
“Agreed,” said I.
“Ditto,” cried Peterkin.
So without more words we turned aside, followed by Makarooroo, leaped the hedge, and running down along it soon reached the edge of the pit.
Here we found a number of the natives assembled with spears, looking eagerly through the interstices of the hedges in expectation of the advancing herds. We took up our stand on a convenient spot, and prepared to wait patiently. But our patience was not severely52 tried. We had not been more than five minutes stationed when the noise of the closing line was heard, and a herd of buffaloes dashed wildly out from a small piece of jungle in which they had sought shelter, and galloped53 over the plain towards us. Suddenly they halted, and stood for a moment snuffing the air, as if uncertain what to do; while we could see, even at that distance, that every muscle of their bodies trembled with mingled54 rage and terror. Before they could decide, a herd of gnus burst from the same place; and presently a dozen zebras galloped out, tossing up their heels and heads in magnificent indignation. These last scattered, and approached the hedges; which caused several natives to dart into the enclosure, who from beneath the shelter of oval shields as large as themselves, threw their spears with unerring certainty into the sides of the terrified creatures.
At this moment there was a general rush from the scattered groups of trees and clumps55 of jungle, for the animals were now maddened with terror, not only at the shouts of their human persecutors, but at their own wild cries and the increasing thunder of their tread.
The shouting and tumult56 now became excessive. It was almost bewildering. I looked round upon the faces of the negroes nearest to me. They seemed to be almost insane with suppressed excitement, and their dark faces worked in a manner that was quite awful to witness.
Presently there was a general and indiscriminate rush of all kinds of wild animals towards the narrow end of the hopo. The natives pressed in upon them with wild cries. Spears flew in all directions. Ere long the plain was covered with wounded animals struggling and bellowing57 in their death-agonies. As the rushing multitude drew nearer to the fatal pit, they became crowded together, and now the men near us began to play their part.
“Look out, Jack!” I cried, as a buffalo bull with glaring eyes and foaming58 jaws59 made a desperate effort to leap over the barrier in our very faces.
Jack raised his rifle and fired; at the same instant a spear was sent into the buffalo’s breast, and it fell back to form a stumbling-block in the way of the rushing mass.
The report of the rifle caused the whole herd to swerve60 from our side so violently that they bore down the other side, until I began to fear the hedge would give way altogether; but they were met by the spears and the furious yells of the natives there, and again swept on towards the narrow lane.
And now the head of the bellowing mass came to the edge of the pit. Those in front seemed to suspect danger, for they halted suddenly; but the rush of those behind forced them on. In another moment the thin covering gave way, and a literal cataract61 of huge living creatures went surging down into the abyss.
The scene that followed was terrible to witness; and I could not regard it with other than feelings of intense horror, despite my knowledge of the fact that a large tribe of natives depended on the game then slain62 for their necessary food. The maddened animals attempted to leap out of the pit, but the overlapping63 edges already referred to effectually prevented this until the falling torrent64 filled it up; then some of them succeeded in leaping out from off the backs of their smothered65 comrades. These, however, were quickly met and speared by the natives, while ever and anon the great mass was upheaved by the frantic66 struggles of some gigantic creature that was being smothered at the bottom.
While this scene of wholesale67 destruction was going on, Makarooroo came up to me and begged me, with mysterious looks, to follow him out of the crowd.
I obeyed, and when we had got away from the immediate68 neighbourhood of the turmoil69, I said,—“Well, Mak, what’s wrong?”
“De chief, massa, hims tell me few moments ago dat canoe wid Mbango and oomans hab pass dis way to-morrow.”
“To-morrow!” I exclaimed.
“No, me forgit; hab pass yistumday.”
“Indeed!”
“Yis, an’ de chief hims say hims want us to stop wid him and go hunt for week or two. P’raps he no let us go ’way.”
“That’s just possible, Mak. Have you told Jack?”
“No, massa.”
“Then go bring him and Peterkin hither at once.”
In a few minutes my companions were with me, and we held a brief earnest consultation70 as to what we should do.
“I think we should tell the chief we are anxious to be off at once, and leave him on good terms,” said I.
Peterkin objected to this. “No,” said he; “we cannot easily explain why we are anxious to be off so hastily. I counsel flight. They won’t find out that we are gone until it is too late to follow.”
Jack agreed with this view, so of course I gave in, though I could not in my heart approve of such a method of sneaking71 away. But our guide seemed also to be exceedingly anxious to be off, so we decided72; and slipping quietly away under the shelter of the hedge, while the natives were still busy with their bloody73 work, we soon gained the forest. Here we had no difficulty in retracing74 our steps to the village, where, having picked up our little companion, Njamie’s son, who had been left to play with the little boys of the place, we embarked75, swept down the stream, and were soon far beyond the chance of pursuit.
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1
unlimited
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| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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secreting
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| v.（尤指动物或植物器官）分泌( secrete的现在分词 )；隐匿，隐藏 | |
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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obstinately
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| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
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8
uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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10
rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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canopy
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| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
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boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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jutted
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| v.（使）突出( jut的过去式和过去分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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cozy
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| adj.亲如手足的，密切的，暖和舒服的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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19
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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20
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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mechanism
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| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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volition
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| n.意志；决意 | |
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courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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dependence
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| n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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gorilla
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| n.大猩猩，暴徒，打手 | |
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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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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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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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follower
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| n.跟随者；随员；门徒；信徒 | |
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buffalo
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| n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛 | |
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lucidity
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| n.明朗，清晰，透明 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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overlap
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| v.重叠，与…交叠；n.重叠 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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extremities
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| n.端点( extremity的名词复数 )；尽头；手和足；极窘迫的境地 | |
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teeming
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| adj.丰富的v.充满( teem的现在分词 )；到处都是；（指水、雨等）暴降；倾注 | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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buffaloes
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| n.水牛（分非洲水牛和亚洲水牛两种）( buffalo的名词复数 )；（南非或北美的）野牛；威胁；恐吓 | |
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49
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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herds
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| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
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51
climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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53
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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54
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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55
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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56
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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bellowing
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的现在分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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58
foaming
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| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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swerve
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| v.突然转向，背离；n．转向，弯曲，背离 | |
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cataract
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| n.大瀑布，奔流，洪水，白内障 | |
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62
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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overlapping
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| adj./n.交迭（的） | |
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torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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65
smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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66
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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67
wholesale
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| n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售 | |
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68
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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69
turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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70
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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71
sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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72
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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73
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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74
retracing
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| v.折回( retrace的现在分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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75
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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