We had ascertained3 from the teacher the direction to the spot on which the battle was to be fought, and after a walk of two hours, reached it. The summit of a bare hill was the place chosen; for, unlike most of the other islanders, who are addicted4 to bush-fighting, those of Mango are in the habit of meeting on open ground. We arrived before the two parties had commenced the deadly struggle, and creeping as close up as we dared among the rocks, we lay and watched them.
The combatants were drawn5 up face to face, each side ranged in rank four deep. Those in the first row were armed with long spears; the second with clubs to defend the spearmen; the third row was composed of young men with slings6; and the fourth consisted of women, who carried baskets of stones for the slingers, and clubs and spears with which to supply the warriors7. Soon after we arrived, the attack was made with great fury. There was no science displayed. The two bodies of savages8 rushed headlong upon each other and engaged in a general mélée, and a more dreadful set of men I have never seen. They wore grotesque11 war-caps, made of various substances and decorated with feathers. Their faces and bodies were painted so as to make them look as frightful as possible; and as they brandished12 their massive clubs, leaped, shouted, yelled, and dashed each other to the ground, I thought I had never seen men look so like demons13 before.
We were much surprised at the conduct of the women, who seemed to be perfect furies, and hung about the heels of their husbands in order to defend them. One stout14 young woman we saw, whose husband was hard pressed and about to be overcome: she lifted a large stone, and throwing it at his opponent’s head, felled him to the earth. But the battle did not last long. The band most distant from us gave way and were routed, leaving eighteen of their comrades dead upon the field. These the victors brained as they lay; and putting some of their brains on leaves, went off with them, we were afterwards informed, to their temples to present them to their gods as an earnest of the human victims who were soon to be brought there.
We hastened back to the Christian15 village with feelings of the deepest sadness at the sanguinary conflict which we had just witnessed.
Next day, after breakfasting with our friend the teacher, we made preparations for carrying out our plan. At first the teacher endeavoured to dissuade16 us.
“You do not know,” said he, turning to Jack17, “the danger you run in venturing amongst these ferocious18 savages. I feel much pity for poor Avatea; but you are not likely to succeed in saving her, and you may die in the attempt.”
“Well,” said Jack quietly, “I am not afraid to die in a good cause.”
The teacher smiled approvingly at him as he said this, and after a little further conversation, agreed to accompany us as interpreter—saying that although Tararo was unfriendly to him, he had hitherto treated him with respect.
We now went on board the schooner19, having resolved to sail round the island and drop anchor opposite the heathen village. We manned her with natives, and hoped to overawe the savages by displaying our brass20 gun to advantage. The teacher soon after came on board, and setting our sails, we put to sea. In two hours more we made the cliffs reverberate21 with the crash of the big gun, which we fired by way of salute22, while we ran the British ensign up to the peak and cast anchor. The commotion23 on shore showed us that we had struck terror into the hearts of the natives; but seeing that we did not offer to molest24 them, a canoe at length put off and paddled cautiously towards us. The teacher showed himself, and explaining that we were friends and wished to palaver25 with the chief, desired the native to go and tell him to come on board.
We waited long and with much impatience26 for an answer. During this time the native teacher conversed27 with us again, and told us many things concerning the success of the Gospel among those islands; and perceiving that we were by no means so much gratified as we ought to have been at the hearing of such good news, he pressed us more closely in regard to our personal interest in religion, and exhorted28 us to consider that our souls were certainly in as great danger as those of the wretched heathen whom we pitied so much if we had not already found salvation29 in Jesus Christ. “Nay, further,” he added, “if such be your unhappy case, you are, in the sight of God, much worse than these savages—forgive me, my young friends, for saying so—for they have no knowledge, no light, and do not profess30 to believe; while you, on the contrary, have been brought up in the light of the blessed Gospel and call yourselves Christians31. These poor savages are indeed the enemies of our Lord; but you, if ye be not true believers, are traitors32!”
I must confess that my heart condemned34 me while the teacher spoke35 in this earnest manner, and I knew not what to reply. Peterkin, too, did not seem to like it, and, I thought, would willingly have escaped. But Jack seemed deeply impressed, and wore an anxious expression on his naturally grave countenance36, while he assented37 to the teacher’s remarks, and put to him many earnest questions. Meanwhile the natives who composed our crew, having nothing particular to do, had squatted38 down on the deck and taken out their little books containing the translated portions of the New Testament39, along with hymns40 and spelling-books, and were now busily engaged—some vociferating the alphabet, others learning prayers off by heart, while a few sang hymns—all of them being utterly41 unmindful of our presence. The teacher soon joined them, and soon afterwards they all engaged in a prayer, which was afterwards translated to us, and proved to be a petition for the success of our undertaking42 and for the conversion43 of the heathen.
While we were thus engaged a canoe put off from shore, and several savages leaped on deck, one of whom advanced to the teacher and informed him that Tararo could not come on board that day, being busy with some religious ceremonies before the gods, which could on no account be postponed44. He was also engaged with a friendly chief, who was about to take his departure from the island, and therefore begged that the teacher and his friends would land and pay a visit to him. To this the teacher returned answer that we would land immediately.
“Now, lads,” said Jack as we were about to step into our little boat, “I’m not going to take any weapons with me, and I recommend you to take none either. We are altogether in the power of these savages; and the utmost we could do, if they were to attack us, would be to kill a few of them before we were ourselves overpowered. I think that our only chance of success lies in mild measures. Don’t you think so?”
To this I assented gladly; and Peterkin replied by laying down a huge bell-mouthed blunderbuss, and divesting45 himself of a pair of enormous horse-pistols, with which he had purposed to overawe the natives! We then jumped into our boat and rowed ashore46.
On reaching the beach we were received by a crowd of naked savages, who shouted a rude welcome, and conducted us to a house or shed where a baked pig and a variety of vegetables were prepared for us. Having partaken of these, the teacher begged to be conducted to the chief; but there seemed some hesitation47, and after some consultation48 among themselves, one of the men stood forward and spoke to the teacher.
“He says that the chief is just going to the temple of his god, and cannot see us yet; so we must be patient, my friend.”
“Well,” cried Jack, rising, “if he won’t come to see me, I’ll e’en go and see him. Besides, I have a great desire to witness their proceedings49 at this temple of theirs. Will you go with me, friend?”
“I cannot,” said the teacher, shaking his head. “I must not go to the heathen temples and witness their inhuman50 rites51, except for the purpose of condemning52 their wickedness and folly53.”
“Very good,” returned Jack; “then I’ll go alone, for I cannot condemn33 their doings till I have seen them.”
Jack arose, and we, having determined54 to go also, followed him through the banana-groves to a rising ground immediately behind the village, on the top of which stood the Buré, or temple, under the dark shade of a group of iron-wood trees. As we went through the village I was again led to contrast the rude huts and sheds, and their almost naked, savage-looking inhabitants, with the natives of the Christian village, who, to use the teacher’s scriptural expression, were now “clothed and in their right mind.”
As we turned into a broad path leading towards the hill, we were arrested by the shouts of an approaching multitude in the rear. Drawing aside into the bushes, we awaited their coming up; and as they drew near, we observed that it was a procession of the natives, many of whom were dancing and gesticulating in the most frantic55 manner. They had an exceedingly hideous56 aspect, owing to the black, red, and yellow paints with which their faces and naked bodies were bedaubed. In the midst of these came a band of men carrying three or four planks57, on which were seated, in rows, upwards58 of a dozen men. I shuddered59 involuntarily as I recollected60 the sacrifice of human victims at the island of Emo, and turned with a look of fear to Jack as I said:
“Oh Jack! I have a terrible dread10 that they are going to commit some of their cruel practices on these wretched men. We had better not go to the temple. We shall only be horrified61 without being able to do any good, for I fear they are going to kill them.”
Jack’s face wore an expression of deep compassion62 as he said in a low voice, “No fear, Ralph; the sufferings of these poor fellows are over long ago.”
I turned with a start as he spoke, and glancing at the men, who were now quite near to the spot where we stood, saw that they were all dead. They were tied firmly with ropes in a sitting posture63 on the planks, and seemed, as they bent64 their sightless eyeballs and grinning mouths over the dancing crew below, as if they were laughing in ghastly mockery at the utter inability of their enemies to hurt them now. These, we discovered afterwards, were the men who had been slain65 in the battle of the previous day, and were now on their way to be first presented to the gods and then eaten. Behind these came two men leading between them a third, whose hands were pinioned66 behind his back. He walked with a firm step, and wore a look of utter indifference67 on his face as they led him along, so that we concluded he must be a criminal who was about to receive some slight punishment for his faults. The rear of the procession was brought up by a shouting crowd of women and children, with whom we mingled68 and followed to the temple.
Here we arrived in a few minutes. The temple was a tall, circular building, open at one side. Around it were strewn heaps of human bones and skulls69. At a table inside sat the priest, an elderly man with a long grey beard. He was seated on a stool, and before him lay several knives, made of wood, bone, and splinters of bamboo, with which he performed his office of dissecting70 dead bodies. Farther in lay a variety of articles that had been dedicated71 to the god, and among them were many spears and clubs. I observed among the latter some with human teeth sticking in them, where the victims had been clubbed in their mouths.
Before this temple the bodies, which were painted with vermilion and soot72, were arranged in a sitting posture; and a man called a “dan-vosa” (orator) advanced, and laying his hands on their heads, began to chide73 them, apparently74, in a low, bantering75 tone. What he said we knew not, but as he went on he waxed warm, and at last shouted to them at the top of his lungs, and finally finished by kicking the bodies over and running away, amid the shouts and laughter of the people, who now rushed forward. Seizing the bodies by a leg or an arm, or by the hair of the head, they dragged them over stumps76 and stones and through sloughs77 until they were exhausted78. The bodies were then brought back to the temple and dissected79 by the priest, after which they were taken out to be baked.
Close to the temple a large fire was kindled80, in which stones were heated red hot. When ready these were spread out on the ground, and a thick coating of leaves strewn over them to slack the heat. On this “lovo,” or oven, the bodies were then placed, covered over, and left to bake.
The crowd now ran with terrible yells towards a neighbouring hill or mound81, on which we observed the framework of a house lying ready to be erected82. Sick with horror, yet fascinated by curiosity, we staggered after them mechanically, scarce knowing where we were going or what we did, and feeling a sort of impression that all we saw was a dreadful dream.
Arrived at the place, we saw the multitude crowding round a certain spot. We pressed forward, and obtained a sight of what they were doing. A large wooden beam or post lay on the ground, beside the other parts of the framework of the house, and close to the end of it was a hole about seven feet deep and upwards of two feet wide. While we looked, the man whom we had before observed with his hands pinioned was carried into the circle. His hands were now free, but his legs were tightly strapped83 together. The post of the house was then placed in the hole, and the man put in beside it. His head was a good way below the surface of the hole, and his arms were clasped round the post. Earth was now thrown in until all was covered over and stamped down; and this, we were afterwards told, was a ceremony usually performed at the dedication84 of a new temple or the erection of a chief’s house!
“Come, come,” cried Jack on beholding85 this horrible tragedy; “we have seen enough, enough—far more than enough! Let us go.”
Jack’s face looked ghastly pale and haggard as we hurried back to rejoin the teacher; and I have no doubt that he felt terrible anxiety when he considered the number and ferocity of the savages, and the weakness of the few arms which were ready indeed to essay, but impotent to effect, Avatea’s deliverance from these ruthless men.
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1
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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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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3
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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addicted
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| adj.沉溺于....的，对...上瘾的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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6
slings
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| 抛( sling的第三人称单数 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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7
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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8
savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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10
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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11
grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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12
brandished
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| v.挥舞( brandish的过去式和过去分词 )；炫耀 | |
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demons
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| n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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16
dissuade
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| v.劝阻，阻止 | |
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17
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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18
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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19
schooner
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| n.纵帆船 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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21
reverberate
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| v.使回响，使反响 | |
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22
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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23
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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24
molest
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| vt.骚扰，干扰，调戏 | |
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palaver
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| adj.壮丽堂皇的；n.废话，空话 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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28
exhorted
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| v.劝告，劝说( exhort的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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30
profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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31
Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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32
traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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33
condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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34
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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35
spoke
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| 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 | |
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36
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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37
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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39
testament
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| n.遗嘱；证明 | |
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40
hymns
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌( hymn的名词复数 ) | |
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41
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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42
undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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43
conversion
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| n.转化，转换，转变 | |
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44
postponed
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| vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发） | |
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45
divesting
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| v.剥夺( divest的现在分词 )；脱去（衣服）；2。从…取去…；1。（给某人）脱衣服 | |
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46
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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47
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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48
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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49
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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50
inhuman
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| adj.残忍的，不人道的，无人性的 | |
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51
rites
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| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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52
condemning
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| v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地 | |
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53
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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54
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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55
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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56
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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57
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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58
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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59
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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60
recollected
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| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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62
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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63
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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64
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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65
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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66
pinioned
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| v.抓住[捆住]（双臂）( pinion的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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67
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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68
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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69
skulls
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| 颅骨( skull的名词复数 )； 脑袋； 脑子； 脑瓜 | |
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70
dissecting
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| v.解剖（动物等）( dissect的现在分词 )；仔细分析或研究 | |
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71
dedicated
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| adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的 | |
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72
soot
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| n.煤烟，烟尘；vt.熏以煤烟 | |
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73
chide
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| v.叱责；谴责 | |
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74
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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75
bantering
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| adj.嘲弄的v.开玩笑，说笑，逗乐( banter的现在分词 )；（善意地）取笑，逗弄 | |
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76
stumps
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| （被砍下的树的）树桩( stump的名词复数 )； 残肢； （板球三柱门的）柱； 残余部分 | |
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77
sloughs
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| n.沼泽( slough的名词复数 )；苦难的深渊；难以改变的不良心情；斯劳(Slough)v.使蜕下或脱落( slough的第三人称单数 )；舍弃；除掉；摒弃 | |
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78
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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79
dissected
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| adj.切开的，分割的，（叶子）多裂的v.解剖（动物等）( dissect的过去式和过去分词 )；仔细分析或研究 | |
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80
kindled
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| （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 | |
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81
mound
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| n.土墩，堤，小山；v.筑堤，用土堆防卫 | |
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82
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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83
strapped
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| adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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84
dedication
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| n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞 | |
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85
beholding
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| v.看，注视( behold的现在分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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