Our examination of the little valley proved to be altogether most satisfactory. We found in it not only similar trees to those we had already seen in our own valley, but also one or two others of a different species. We had also the satisfaction of discovering a peculiar vegetable, which, Jack5 concluded, must certainly be that of which he had read as being very common among the South Sea Islanders, and which was named taro6. Also we found a large supply of yams, and another root like a potato in appearance. As these were all quite new to us, we regarded our lot as a most fortunate one, in being thus cast on an island which was so prolific7 and so well stored with all the necessaries of life. Long afterwards we found out that this island of ours was no better in these respects than thousands of other islands in those seas. Indeed, many of them were much richer and more productive; but that did not render us the less grateful for our present good fortune. We each put one of these roots in our pocket, intending to use them for our supper—of which more hereafter. We also saw many beautiful birds here, and traces of some four-footed animal again. Meanwhile the sun began to descend8; so we returned to the shore and pushed on, round the spouting9 rocks, into the next valley. This was that valley of which I have spoken as running across the entire island. It was by far the largest and most beautiful that we had yet looked upon. Here were trees of every shape and size and hue10 which it is possible to conceive of, many of which we had not seen in the other valleys; for, the stream in this valley being larger, and the mould much richer than in the Valley of the Wreck11, it was clothed with a more luxuriant growth of trees and plants. Some trees were dark, glossy12 green; others of a rich and warm hue, contrasting well with those of a pale, light green, which were everywhere abundant. Among these we recognised the broad, dark heads of the bread-fruit, with its golden fruit; the pure, silvery foliage13 of the candle-nut, and several species which bore a strong resemblance to the pine; while here and there, in groups and in single trees, rose the tall forms of the cocoa-nut palms, spreading abroad, and waving their graceful14 plumes15 high above all the rest, as if they were a superior race of stately giants keeping guard over these luxuriant forests. Oh, it was a most enchanting16 scene! and I thanked God for having created such delightful17 spots for the use of man.
Now, while we were gazing around us in silent admiration18, Jack uttered an exclamation19 of surprise, and pointing to an object a little to one side of us, said:
“That’s a banyan tree.”
“And what’s a banyan tree?” inquired Peterkin as we walked towards it.
“A very curious one, as you shall see presently,” replied Jack. “It is called the aoa here, if I recollect20 rightly, and has a wonderful peculiarity21 about it. What an enormous one it is, to be sure!”
“It!” repeated Peterkin. “Why, there are dozens of banyans here! What do you mean by talking bad grammar? Is your philosophy deserting you, Jack?”
“There is but one tree here of this kind,” returned Jack, “as you will perceive if you will examine it.” And, sure enough, we did find that what we had supposed was a forest of trees was in reality only one. Its bark was of a light colour, and had a shining appearance, the leaves being lance-shaped, small, and of a beautiful pea-green. But the wonderful thing about it was that the branches, which grew out from the stem horizontally, sent down long shoots or fibres to the ground, which, taking root, had themselves become trees, and were covered with bark like the tree itself. Many of these fibres had descended22 from the branches at various distances, and thus supported them on natural pillars, some of which were so large and strong that it was not easy at first to distinguish the offspring from the parent stem. The fibres were of all sizes and in all states of advancement23, from the pillars we have just mentioned to small cords which hung down and were about to take root, and thin brown threads still far from the ground, which swayed about with every motion of wind. In short, it seemed to us that, if there were only space afforded to it, this single tree would at length cover the whole island.
Shortly after this we came upon another remarkable tree, which, as its peculiar formation afterwards proved extremely useful to us, merits description. It was a splendid chestnut24, but its proper name Jack did not know. However, there were quantities of fine nuts upon it, some of which we put in our pockets. But its stem was the most wonderful part of it. It rose to about twelve feet without a branch, and was not of great thickness; on the contrary, it was remarkably25 slender for the size of the tree. But to make up for this, there were four or five wonderful projections26 in this stem, which I cannot better describe than by asking the reader to suppose that five planks of two inches thick and three feet broad had been placed round the trunk of the tree, with their edges closely fixed27 to it, from the ground up to the branches, and that these planks had been covered over with the bark of the tree and incorporated with it. In short, they were just natural buttresses28, without which the stem could not have supported its heavy and umbrageous30 top. We found these chestnuts31 to be very numerous. They grew chiefly on the banks of the stream, and were of all sizes.
While we were examining a small tree of this kind Jack chipped a piece off a buttress29 with his axe32, and found the wood to be firm and easily cut. He then struck the axe into it with all his force, and very soon split it off close to the tree—first, however, having cut it across transversely above and below. By this means he satisfied himself that we could now obtain short planks, as it were all ready sawn, of any size and thickness that we desired, which was a very great discovery indeed—perhaps the most important we had yet made.
We now wended our way back to the coast, intending to encamp near the beach, as we found that the mosquitoes were troublesome in the forest. On our way we could not help admiring the birds which flew and chirped33 around us. Among them we observed a pretty kind of paroquet, with a green body, a blue head, and a red breast; also a few beautiful turtle-doves, and several flocks of wood-pigeons. The hues34 of many of these birds were extremely vivid—bright green, blue, and scarlet35 being the prevailing36 tints37. We made several attempts throughout the day to bring down one of these, both with the bow and the sling—not for mere38 sport, but to ascertain39 whether they were good for food. But we invariably missed, although once or twice we were very near hitting. As evening drew on however, a flock of pigeons flew past. I slung40 a stone into the midst of them at a venture, and had the good fortune to kill one. We were startled soon after by a loud whistling noise above our heads, and on looking up, saw a flock of wild ducks making for the coast. We watched these, and observing where they alighted, followed them up until we came upon a most lovely blue lake, not more than two hundred yards long, embosomed in verdant41 trees. Its placid42 surface, which reflected every leaf and stem as if in a mirror, was covered with various species of wild ducks, feeding among the sedges and broad-leaved water-plants which floated on it, while numerous birds like water-hens ran to and fro most busily on its margin43. These all, with one accord, flew tumultuously away the instant we made our appearance. While walking along the margin we observed fish in the water, but of what sort we could not tell.
Now, as we neared the shore, Jack and I said we would go a little out of our way to see if we could procure44 one of those ducks; so, directing Peterkin to go straight to the shore and kindle45 a fire, we separated, promising46 to rejoin him speedily. But we did not find the ducks, although we made a diligent47 search for half-an-hour. We were about to retrace48 our steps when we were arrested by one of the strangest sights that we had yet beheld49.
Just in front of us, at the distance of about ten yards, grew a superb tree, which certainly was the largest we had yet seen on the island. Its trunk was at least five feet in diameter, with a smooth, grey bark; above this the spreading branches were clothed with light-green leaves, amid which were clusters of bright-yellow fruit, so numerous as to weigh down the boughs50 with their great weight. This fruit seemed to be of the plum species, of an oblong form, and a good deal larger than the magnum bonum plum. The ground at the foot of this tree was thickly strewn with the fallen fruit, in the midst of which lay sleeping, in every possible attitude, at least twenty hogs51 of all ages and sizes, apparently52 quite surfeited53 with a recent banquet.
Jack and I could scarce restrain our laughter as we gazed at these coarse, fat, ill-looking animals while they lay groaning54 and snoring heavily amid the remains55 of their supper.
“Now, Ralph,” said Jack in a low whisper, “put a stone in your sling—a good big one—and let fly at that fat fellow with his back toward you. I’ll try to put an arrow into yon little pig.”
“Don’t you think we had better put them up first?” I whispered. “It seems cruel to kill them while asleep.”
“If I wanted sport, Ralph, I would certainly set them up; but as we only want pork, we’ll let them lie. Besides, we’re not sure of killing56 them; so, fire away.”
Thus admonished57, I slung my stone with so good aim that it went bang against the hog’s flank as if against the head of a drum; but it had no other effect than that of causing the animal to start to its feet, with a frightful58 yell of surprise, and scamper59 away. At the same instant Jack’s bow twanged, and the arrow pinned the little pig to the ground by the ear.
“I’ve missed, after all!” cried Jack, darting60 forward with uplifted axe; while the little pig uttered a loud squeal61, tore the arrow from the ground, and ran away with it, along with the whole drove, into the bushes and disappeared, though we heard them screaming long afterwards in the distance.
“That’s very provoking, now,” said Jack, rubbing the point of his nose.
“Very,” I replied, stroking my chin.
“Well, we must make haste and rejoin Peterkin,” said Jack; “it’s getting late.” And without further remark, we threaded our way quickly through the woods towards the shore.
When we reached it we found wood laid out, the fire lighted and beginning to kindle up, with other signs of preparation for our encampment; but Peterkin was nowhere to be found. We wondered very much at this; but Jack suggested that he might have gone to fetch water, so he gave a shout to let him know that we had arrived, and sat down upon a rock, while I threw off my jacket and seized the axe, intending to split up one or two billets of wood. But I had scarce moved from the spot when, in the distance, we heard a most appalling62 shriek63, which was followed up by a chorus of yells from the hogs, and a loud hurrah64.
“I do believe,” said I, “that Peterkin has met with the hogs.”
“Hurrah!” shouted Peterkin in the distance.
We turned hastily towards the direction whence the sound came, and soon descried66 Peterkin walking along the beach towards us with a little pig transfixed on the end of his long spear!
“Well done, my boy!” exclaimed Jack, slapping him on the shoulder when he came up. “You’re the best shot amongst us.”
“Look here, Jack!” cried Peterkin as he disengaged the animal from his spear. “Do you recognise that hole?” said he, pointing to the pig’s ear; “and are you familiar with this arrow, eh?”
“Well, I declare!” said Jack.
“Of course you do,” interrupted Peterkin; “but, pray, restrain your declarations at this time, and let’s have supper—for I’m uncommonly67 hungry, I can tell you. And it’s no joke to charge a whole herd68 of swine with their great-grandmother bristling69 like a giant porcupine70, at the head of them!”
We now set about preparing supper; and, truly, a good display of viands71 we made when all was laid out on a flat rock in the light of the blazing fire. There was, first of all, the little pig; then there were the taro-root, and the yam, and the potato, and six plums; and lastly, the wood-pigeon. To these Peterkin added a bit of sugar-cane, which he had cut from a little patch of that plant which he had found not long after separating from us; “and,” said he, “the patch was somewhat in a square form, which convinces me it must have been planted by man.”
“Very likely,” replied Jack. “From all we have seen, I’m inclined to think that some of the savages72 must have dwelt here long ago.”
We found no small difficulty in making up our minds how we were to cook the pig. None of us had ever cut up one before, and we did not know exactly how to begin; besides, we had nothing but the axe to do it with, our knife having been forgotten. At last Jack started up and said:
“Don’t let us waste more time talking about it, boys.—Hold it up, Peterkin. There, lay the hind73 leg on this block of wood—so;” and he cut it off; with a large portion of the haunch, at a single blow of the axe. “Now the other—that’s it.” And having thus cut off the two hind legs, he made several deep gashes74 in them, thrust a sharp-pointed stick through each, and stuck them up before the blaze to roast. The wood-pigeon was then split open, quite flat, washed clean in salt water, and treated in a similar manner. While these were cooking we scraped a hole in the sand and ashes under the fire, into which we put our vegetables and covered them up.
The taro-root was of an oval shape, about ten inches long and four or five thick. It was of a mottled-grey colour, and had a thick rind. We found it somewhat like an Irish potato, and exceedingly good. The yam was roundish, and had a rough brown skin. It was very sweet and well flavoured. The potato, we were surprised to find, was quite sweet and exceedingly palatable75, as also were the plums—and, indeed, the pork and pigeon too—when we came to taste them. Altogether, this was decidedly the most luxurious76 supper we had enjoyed for many a day. Jack said it was out-of-sight better than we ever got on board ship; and Peterkin said he feared that if we should remain long on the island he would infallibly become a glutton77 or an epicure78, whereat Jack remarked that he need not fear that, for he was both already! And so, having eaten our fill, not forgetting to finish off with a plum, we laid ourselves comfortably down to sleep, upon a couch of branches, under the overhanging ledge79 of a coral rock.
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1
banyan
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| n.菩提树，榕树 | |
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planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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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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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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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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taro
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| n.芋，芋头 | |
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prolific
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| adj.丰富的，大量的；多产的，富有创造力的 | |
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descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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spouting
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| n.水落管系统v.（指液体）喷出( spout的现在分词 )；滔滔不绝地讲；喋喋不休地说；喷水 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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glossy
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| adj.平滑的；有光泽的 | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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enchanting
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| a.讨人喜欢的 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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peculiarity
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| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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advancement
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| n.前进，促进，提升 | |
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chestnut
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| n.栗树，栗子 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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projections
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| 预测( projection的名词复数 )； 投影； 投掷； 突起物 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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buttresses
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| n.扶壁，扶垛( buttress的名词复数 )v.用扶壁支撑，加固( buttress的第三人称单数 ) | |
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buttress
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| n.支撑物；v.支持 | |
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umbrageous
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| adj.多荫的 | |
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chestnuts
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| n.栗子( chestnut的名词复数 )；栗色；栗树；栗色马 | |
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axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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chirped
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| 鸟叫，虫鸣( chirp的过去式 ) | |
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hues
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| 色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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prevailing
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| adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的 | |
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tints
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| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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verdant
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| adj.翠绿的，青翠的，生疏的，不老练的 | |
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placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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kindle
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| v.点燃，着火 | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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diligent
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| adj.勤勉的，勤奋的 | |
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retrace
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| v.折回；追溯，探源 | |
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49
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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50
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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hogs
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| n.（尤指喂肥供食用的）猪( hog的名词复数 )；（供食用的）阉公猪；彻底地做某事；自私的或贪婪的人 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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surfeited
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| v.吃得过多( surfeit的过去式和过去分词 )；由于过量而厌腻 | |
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groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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admonished
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| v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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scamper
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| v.奔跑，快跑 | |
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darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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squeal
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| v.发出长而尖的声音；n.长而尖的声音 | |
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appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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hurrah
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| int.好哇，万岁，乌拉 | |
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tug
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| v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船 | |
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descried
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| adj.被注意到的，被发现的，被看到的 | |
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uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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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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bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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porcupine
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| n.豪猪， 箭猪 | |
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viands
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| n.食品，食物 | |
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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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gashes
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| n.深长的切口（或伤口）( gash的名词复数 )v.划伤，割破( gash的第三人称单数 ) | |
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75
palatable
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| adj.可口的，美味的；惬意的 | |
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76
luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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77
glutton
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| n.贪食者，好食者 | |
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78
epicure
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| n.行家，美食家 | |
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79
ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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