AFTER our long absence from any big town, there was something almost terrifying about the size of Bourke. Her streets, with their metropolitan1 air, her shops and palatial2 banks, to say nothing of our hotel with its obsequious3 waiters, quite overpowered us. When we arrived, our appearances did not say much in our favour. The Long’un was by many degrees the more presentable, but he was by no means decent; as for me I was outside the pale altogether. My one remaining shirt had lost both its arms; my moleskin trousers were a mass of shreds4 and patches, and my boots had their soles wired on. My pith helmet was a sight to see, and weep over! At first sight we looked a precious pair of ruffians, and it was only when we had explained matters, that the landlord consented to take us in at all.
As soon as we had stabled Cyclops and Polyphemus, we set out for the Post Office, obtained our letters, discovered our bank, cashed our drafts, and then repaired in haste to a tailor’s shop, where we arrayed ourselves to the best of our ability in ready-made clothing. It is wonderful what a difference a suit of clothes makes to a man’s pluck. When we entered the shop we felt the poorest pair of mortals in the whole of Australia, but when we came out in our new rigs, we would have passed the time of day to the Governor himself. Thus poverty makes cowards of us all.
Bourke, for so far west, is a fine town, built on the west bank of the Darling Elver, and is connected with Sydney by rail. Though a long distance from the capital, it possesses all the advantages of the most up to date civilisation5. It has its school of arts, theatre, rowing, racing6, and tennis clubs, swimming baths, etc., and a population of 3,149 souls, out of which number enough can be gleaned7 to make up a refined and intellectual society.
As other proofs of its civilisation, on a vacant piece of land opposite our hotel, when we arrived, a steam merry-go-round, in full swing of business, was making night hideous8 with ‘Ta-ra-ra-boomdeay’ (an air whose acquaintance we made for the first time); while, in a bank dining room hard by, we could see, from our window, a dinner party proceeding9 with all the ceremony of a similar function in Park Lane or Pott’s Point. According to the advertisements Ibsen’s ‘Doll’s House’ was being played at the Bijou Theatre, while a prize fight was being conducted at a hall within easy distance. As a Bourke resident observed when I drew his attention to these things, ‘You certainly can’t say we’re behind the times!’
The following morning, soon after breakfast, a gentleman called upon us, with a view of relieving us of our horses and much enduring buggy. Accordingly, after taking the opportunity of having them photographed, we bade a reluctant farewell to the two faithful animals who had been our companions for so long a distance, and in so many hours of bitter trouble and privation. We both experienced a real feeling of sorrow in saying farewell to them; and we were glad to hear they were likely to be kindly10 treated. The buyer intended to give them a holiday for a month or two, and then to start them back a considerable distance on their tracks into Queensland. Had we been able to afford it we should have pensioned them off, but as we were almost as poor as they, it was useless to think of such a thing.
That business concluded, we sought the river bank and inquired among the boatmen there for a rowing boat in which to continue our journey for the next fifteen hundred miles. Owing, however, to the late disastrous11 flood, and the fact that there was every prospect12 of another (for the river was rising rapidly), we had considerable difficulty in hearing of one. But money overcomes most difficulties, and the bribe13 of a couple of drinks brought us a man, who knew a man, who knew another man who had an old boat, he had made himself, for sale. Our informant, for another consideration, volunteered to row us up the river to have a look at her.
She was certainly far from handsome, but for that matter neither were our horses nor buggy, yet they had proved themselves good bargains. We examined her carefully, and finding it was almost a case of Hobson’s choice, purchased her for about twice as much as she had been worth when new.
The heat was tremendous, and as we knew we should be compelled to lie out in mid-stream on our down river journey, we resolved to fix up some sort of an awning14 before’ we started. This we accomplished15 with two cart tilts16 and a yard or two of canvas, making an admirable shade. By sundown, our preparations were completed; then, having laid in a large amount of stores, and accepted the good wishes of our new made friends, we pushed out into mid-stream, and started on our long row.
Fortunately the river was in high flood, and in consequence the current ran briskly. We took things easily, the rowing especially, and until the novelty wore off, and we had to work in downright earnest, enjoyed the change hugely. Then the reflection that so many miles had to be accomplished between sunrise and sunset every day, began to assert itself, and as it did, our pleasure in the exercise diminished.
For the first twenty miles or so out of Bourke we had constant companions in the fishermen who lined the banks. The lives of these gentry17 must be monotonous18 beyond all idea Too lazy to do real work, they manage to knock out sufficient money to keep them in the bare necessaries of life by fishing for Murray cod19 — a fine big fish and remarkably20 good eating. First cousins to these men are the ‘Darling whalers,’ as they are called: idle, loafing, thieving tramps, somewhat after the fashion of the ‘Travellers’ in North Queensland, who move up and down the river (up one bank and down the other), from year’s end to year’s end, doing no work and depending for their existence upon the charity of the unfortunate Squatter21. When they can’t steal from him they practise on each other, and these are the gentry who generally promote, and invariably assist in, the strikes, wool-shed burnings, bush fires, horse and sheep stealing, and other little pleasantries of a like description. A ‘Darling whaler’ is, if anything, lower than the ‘Traveller,’ who is lower than the scum of the earth, and even in saying that you are paying both of them too high a compliment!
From Bourke downwards22 the river is a noble stream (I am speaking of it as it was at the time of our journey), in places many miles in width. The bends are very numerous, and horribly annoying, the river proper running for the first eight hundred miles as much as three miles of water to every one of land. Fortunately for us, its usual high mud-banks were almost entirely23 submerged, and this with the great forest gums, half hidden under water, gave it a most strange, yet picturesque24 effect. Save for the discordant25 shrieks26 of the cockatoos in the trees overhead, a wonderful quiet reigned27; the splashing of our oars28 sounded strangely loud in the stillness, and a steamer’s panting could be heard many miles away, as plainly as if she were only round the bend. These river steamers, and the men they employ, are strange concerns. In good seasons they trade right away from Goolwa in South Australia, to Walgett, above Bourke, in New South Wales, a distance of something like 2,345 miles. In construction they are flat-bottomed, absurdly wide-beamed, two or three decked, paddle — wheeled tubs, steered29 from a bridge, and driven, in most instances, by ordinary traction30 engines, balanced and secured amidships. They are manned by a captain, mate, engineer, and half a dozen hands, and not unfrequently they tow two large barges31 behind them. A steamer heavily loaded, and towing two barges crammed32 with wool, swinging round the bend, is a sight worth going a long way to see; and when anything goes wrong, and the captain expresses himself according to his native instinct, it is as good as a Crystal Palace firework display.
The captains are great heroes, and carry more silver mounted dignity than a page-boy in a new livery, or a curate in his first canonicals. When they bring their boat up to a township, all that township has got to know about it, or something breaks. It’s the ambition of every boy along the Darling banks to be a river captain, and if that is impossible, to be a supercargo. This is the individual who hangs around and talks affably to the captain as they wharf33 up, just for all the world as if he owned the whole boat, flag-post, painted name board, and all.
In this fashion, for weeks together, we continued our journey, sometimes resting at stations, but in most instances camping out on the river banks. Talking of camping-out on Darling banks reminds me of the gratitude34 we continually expressed for having brought our mosquito nets. Anything like the Darling mosquitoes I have never met with elsewhere; they’re as big as camels, and twice as ugly. They seem to bite at the rate of a thousand bites a minute, and each bite brings up a lump as big as a pigeon’s egg — almost 1 Then you scratch them (the bumps, not the mosquitoes), and that makes them worse, after which, if there’s nothing wrong with your constitution, and there have been no defects in your education, you swear, or employ a professional to do it for you. A grey mosquito will, as I have just said, raise a lump like a pigeon’s egg, and profanity as big as a church. He’s also no respecter of persons — he’d just as soon bite a bishop35 as a pig-stealer. Apart from these annoyances36 camping on the river is delightful37.
It is pleasant in the stillness of the night, lying out on the bank, to hear in the distance the low panting of a steamer coming up against the stream. First you think you hear it, then you think you don’t. Then your companion declares it to be a bullfrog, and you lose your temper contradicting him. But bit by bit the noise draws closer, the panting grows every moment more distinct, then round the bend glare two enormous red eyes, which you know to be her bridge lamps. After that she appears to be stationary38 for some time, but at length, with a great churning noise and a long trail of sparks, she comes slowly up, grunts39 and groans40 majestically41 by, turns the corner, and that is the last you see of her. The noise of her engines gradually grows more and more faint, and then you curl up in your blankets and once more fall asleep.
Strange to say, for the first two or three hundred miles of our river journey, game was none too plentiful42, though a few wild duck could now and again be obtained; owing to the height of the river the majority had migrated on to the lagoons43 in the back country. To our surprise, also, we saw but few rabbits, in spite of all we had heard of their depredations44. But we were to have greater experience of them anon.
After a pleasant rest at Dunlop, one of the finest properties along the whole length of the river, and renowned45 for its wonderful wool-shed, magnificent head station, and three fine artesian bores, we proceeded on again. Two days later, we had the good fortune to be taken on board by a trading steamer, the ‘Florence Annie,’ and given a free passage to Wilcannia township, the halfway46 house of our Darling journey. Verily these bushmen are a hospitable47 folk. It was an enjoyable voyage, and the owner, Mr. Brown, proved a most courteous48, interesting, and agreeable man. From him we learnt much of the history of the river.
Wilcannia is a nice little township, situated49 on the river bank, and possesses a population of 1,287 souls. It boasts a few nice buildings, and its tree-planted streets give it a charming effect. It is from Wilcannia that the camel teams start west with stores, and, in fact, it is to the existence of the river, and the fact of being the depot50 for the West, that it alone owes its existence. A coach runs twice weekly up the river to Bourke, another down the river to Wentworth, and still another across country via Menindie, to famous Broken Hill. Numerous passenger steamers, such as they are, also ply51 between the smaller river townships.
During our stay in Wilcannia we had the pleasure of the acquaintance of the postmaster, Mr. Holding, a most interesting and well informed gentleman, to whose kindness we owe more than we can ever repay: also that of Mr. Doake, a Wilcannia merchant. Both these gentlemen are great authorities on the river generally, and talk with considerable warmth about the undoubted future which lies before the Darling Valley. Indeed, it would appear that the wealth of the valley, in its soil, is boundless52; its capabilities53 cannot be even guessed at. To understand something of its powers one must see what results can be obtained even by limited irrigation.
While I write, a scheme is under consideration for locking and conserving54 the waters of this enormous river. When this is accomplished, we may indeed expect great results to follow. There is nothing, so I have been confidently assured, that the soil will not produce, from wheat to tobacco, and we may therefore look forward to the time when the whole valley, now so bleak55 and lonesome, will teem56 with agriculture; to the time when, in place of the few isolated57 station houses which now dot the river bank, mile after mile of happy homes will be seen nestling among revenue returning vegetation. The river is there, the soil is there, and before very long we have every right to expect that the people and the vegetation will be there also.
From Wilcannia we pulled on to Weinteriga Station, the property of an old friend, Mr. George Riddoch. Here we intended to remain for some time, to recruit after our eight hundred mile row. And indeed it was a pleasant place to spell awhile in. Every thing that the kindness of the hospitable manager and his wife could devise for our comfort was done, and it will be long before we forget the happy time we spent at this station. Here we had a good opportunity of studying the rabbit plague in all its bearings, and many and strange were the stories told of these pests. Let us consider the question.
At first thought it would seem an easy thing for four governments, with unlimited58 capital at their command, to cope with poor simple little bunny, and finally to exterminate59 him altogether. And yet every possible remedy has been tried, by the colonies of South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland; and what is worse, tried without success.
The havoc60 the rabbits liave wrought61 exceeds all belief. On driving through the scrub the grass is seen to be completely devoured62, nearly every tree and bush has been barked by their fatal little teeth, while, not in one but in hundreds of instances, they might be observed hanging dead in the forks, having climbed up in search of food and, like Absalom, got caught among the branches. It is a case of the survival of the fittest; the rabbit who can’t climb dies, and it is a question for the scientists whether or not this new propensity63 will have any effect on the future breed; possibly, they may become solely64 tree-climbing animals.
One of the most effectual methods of exterminating65 them is to poison the water they drink, for Australian bunny is a thirsty little beast. The process is as follows. A dam or tank is chosen in a spot where the rabbits are most plentiful, and where they have to depend entirely on this tank for their drinking supply. Close meshed66 netting is then placed round it, only to be opened when the sheep of the paddock are allowed in to drink. For two or three days the rabbits are deprived altogether of water, and come to the verge68 of perishing. Then a long narrow trench69 is dug just outside the dam. This is filled with arsenic70 and water, wire netted all round above six inches from the ground, to prevent the sheep getting to the poisoned fluid. Towards evening the rabbits make their appearance, hopping71 and scurrying72 all over the plain in countless73 millions. They come to drink and remain to die, leaping over each other in their anxiety to get to the water. Before morning thousands are poisoned, and the ground, for acres round the pool, is covered layers deep with dead and dying. This seems to have proved, up to the present, by far the best method of dealing74 with them. At one period I learned that no less than a hundred million acres were infested75, on which 25,280,000 rabbits were destroyed in twelve months; while over a million pounds has been spent by the governments of three most infected colonies in the struggle. The following were the exact figures up to March 1893:—
￡
New South Wales 737,000
Victoria 210,342
South Australia 297,000
Total ￡1,241,342
Wire netting has been used extensively for fencing, the description being 17 gauge76, 1? inch mesh67, and 42 inches in width. In New South Wales one uninterrupted line extends from Narramine on the Macquarie River, to Bourke, on the Darling, a distance of 207 miles, thence to Barringun a further length of 84 miles, at an average cost of S2L a mile. Another fence has been constructed from the Murray River northward77, along the western boundary of the colony, a distance of 346 miles. The cost of this alone was 26.135l., or on an average, 75l. 10s. 8d, per mile. The colony of Queensland has netted all her southern border line, from the sea coast to Haddons Corner; and beside these government fences, almost every pastoralist has protected his own property at a similar enormous expense. It would be thought that these precautions would check the ravages78 of the pests. But not a bit of it; bunny simply climbs the fence with the utmost unconcern, and continues his work of destruction on the other side. And where he once settles it is impossible for sheep to live. He eats them out of house and home, and when he has finished all there is upon the ground, as I have said, he climbs the trees and lives upon the branches. It has been computed79 that one pair of rabbits may be the progenitors80 of 3,000,000 in three years. If this be so, what will be the progeny81 of three hundred million pairs in the same space of time? It’s a pretty little calculation!
On many stations along the Darling there is no escaping them; they rifle the gardens, climb the netting and raid the lucerne patches. You find them in the verandah, in the dining-room, and even in your bedroom under your bed. Government has a standing82 reward of five thousand pounds for a remedy against them, and thousands have tried to obtain it, Pasteur among the number. One of the ablest ideas was that of an old lady in Wagga, who suggested strewing83 about pieces of apple covered with cayenne pepper, so that bunny should eat, sneeze, and dislocate his vertebras. She is wondering to this day, they tell me, why the prize was not awarded her. But to return to my log-book.
After a good rest among the kind folk of Weinteriga Station and the surrounding neighbourhood, we disposed of our boat and took passage aboard the ‘Decoy’ steamer for Wentworth. It was not customary for this steamer to carry passengers, but as a great favour the captain consented to take us on board, and we hope he did not regret it.
The ‘Decoy’ is a well built, handsome boat, originally imported for conveying cattle up and down the Darling. Her captain, a smart, active man, proved to be well informed about the river, and was not averse84 to giving us the benefit of his knowledge.
On the night of the day following our farewell to Weinteriga we reached Menindie, a tiny township perched on an awful red sandbank overlooking the river, and. as dreary85 and monotonous a spot, even in the moonlight, as could well be found on the face of the earth. It reminded us of Windorah more than any other place, and for that reason, if for no other, did not find favour in our eyes. We tied up to the bank for the night (boats proceeding down stream with barges, of which we had two, usually tie up at night), and with the captain went ashore86 to investigate. There was nothing to be heard, and still less to be seen, so we returned on board at an early hour and amused ourselves for the rest of the evening, comparing bumps and swearing at the mosquitoes.
Next morning at daylight we proceeded on our way again, stopping, after we had gone about ten miles, to wood up. These wood piles are often the commencement of small townships, and the lives of the wood-cutters must be desolate87 in the extreme. Everyone lends a hand to get wood on board, and it’s just as well to keep your weather eye lifted for snakes whilst so doing. A snake is no respecter of persons, and it is annoying to be bitten when hundreds of miles away from a doctor. Besides, not unfrequently you die!
Sometimes, but not often, we passed other steamers. When we did, greetings were most cordially bellowed88 between the boats.
And so our days jogged quietly by, finding us occupied for the most part in reading, yarning89, sleeping, and smoking. The heat was intense, alternating between 100 and 114° in the shade of the wheel house. Certainly the most interesting thing about the journey was the navigation. This is a matter to marvel90 over, for a good skipper has to be intimately acquainted with every current, shoal, snag, rock, and sandbank in the whole length of this ever changing, ever curving river, and for a distance of something like two thousand miles. The working of the barges is in itself quite an art, and our skipper was a perfect master of both branches of his trade.. Moreover he was chock full of stories of the river, and at night when the boat was safely tied up, and he free for conversation, he liked nothing better than to tell them.
Every evening, also, as soon as we were made fast, we made it a custom to take a plunge91 overboard. Then the full moon peering through the lofty tree-tops, the smooth flowing river, and the steamer and barges alongside the bank, showed us an exceedingly pretty picture. Another of our amusements was, towards evening, to seat ourselves on one of the paddle boxes and watch our Chinese cook slaughter92 our next day’s dinner. He was a fine fellow, this cook, and had once been steward93 aboard a mail-boat running between Hong Kong and London, a fact of which he was inordinately94 vain. His description of the Lord Mayor’s Show, in pigeon English, would have made a cat laugh !
The further we progressed down stream, the nearer the stations came together. We could not help being struck with the wonderful growth (the result of irrigation) exhibited in the gardens. It almost exceeded belief. Sometimes we would stop an hour or so to land goods or to take in wool, when we were permitted an opportunity of examining into these marvels95 for ourselves. Irrigation is undoubtedly96 the watchword of the Darling Valley!
But at length, as all things must, our pleasant voyage came to an end. Ahead of us we could discern the outlying houses of the township of Wentworth. A few minutes later we were in full view of the township itself, had passed under the wonderful new bridge, and drawn97 up to the river bank below the town wharf.
As soon as the gang plank98 was out, a gentlemanly youth came aboard and uttered my name. Introducing himself, he handed me a telegram from the Messrs. Chaffey, giving us an invitation to visit their Irrigation colonies on the Murray River, and notifying us of the fact that one of their river steamers would call at Wentworth, that evening, to convey us to Mildura.
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1
metropolitan
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| adj.大城市的，大都会的 | |
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palatial
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| adj.宫殿般的，宏伟的 | |
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obsequious
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| adj.谄媚的，奉承的，顺从的 | |
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shreds
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| v.撕碎，切碎( shred的第三人称单数 )；用撕毁机撕毁（文件） | |
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civilisation
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| n.文明，文化，开化，教化 | |
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racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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gleaned
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| v.一点点地收集（资料、事实）( glean的过去式和过去分词 )；（收割后）拾穗 | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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bribe
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| n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通 | |
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awning
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| n.遮阳篷；雨篷 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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tilts
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| （意欲赢得某物或战胜某人的）企图，尝试( tilt的名词复数 ) | |
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gentry
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| n.绅士阶级，上层阶级 | |
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monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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cod
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| n.鳕鱼；v.愚弄；哄骗 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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squatter
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| n.擅自占地者 | |
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downwards
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| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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discordant
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| adj.不调和的 | |
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shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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steered
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| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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traction
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| n.牵引；附着摩擦力 | |
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barges
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| 驳船( barge的名词复数 ) | |
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crammed
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| adj.塞满的，挤满的；大口地吃；快速贪婪地吃v.把…塞满；填入；临时抱佛脚( cram的过去式) | |
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wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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annoyances
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| n.恼怒( annoyance的名词复数 )；烦恼；打扰；使人烦恼的事 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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stationary
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| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
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grunts
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的第三人称单数 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说； 石鲈 | |
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groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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majestically
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| 雄伟地； 庄重地； 威严地； 崇高地 | |
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plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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lagoons
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| n.污水池( lagoon的名词复数 )；潟湖；（大湖或江河附近的）小而浅的淡水湖；温泉形成的池塘 | |
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depredations
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| n.劫掠，毁坏( depredation的名词复数 ) | |
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renowned
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| adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的 | |
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halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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depot
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| n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站 | |
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ply
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| v.(搬运工等)等候顾客，弯曲 | |
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boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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capabilities
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| n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力 | |
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conserving
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| v.保护，保藏，保存( conserve的现在分词 ) | |
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bleak
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| adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的 | |
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teem
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| vi.(with)充满，多产 | |
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isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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unlimited
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| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
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exterminate
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| v.扑灭，消灭，根绝 | |
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havoc
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| n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱 | |
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wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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propensity
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| n.倾向；习性 | |
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solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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exterminating
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| v.消灭，根绝( exterminate的现在分词 ) | |
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meshed
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| 有孔的，有孔眼的，啮合的 | |
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mesh
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| n.网孔，网丝，陷阱；vt.以网捕捉，啮合，匹配；vi.适合； [计算机]网络 | |
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verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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trench
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| n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕 | |
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arsenic
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| n.砒霜，砷；adj.砷的 | |
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hopping
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| n. 跳跃 动词hop的现在分词形式 | |
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scurrying
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| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的现在分词 ) | |
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countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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infested
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| adj.为患的，大批滋生的（常与with搭配）v.害虫、野兽大批出没于( infest的过去式和过去分词 )；遍布于 | |
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gauge
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| v.精确计量；估计；n.标准度量；计量器 | |
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northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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ravages
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| 劫掠后的残迹，破坏的结果，毁坏后的残迹 | |
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computed
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| adj.[医]计算的，使用计算机的v.计算，估算( compute的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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progenitors
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| n.祖先( progenitor的名词复数 )；先驱；前辈；原本 | |
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progeny
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| n.后代，子孙；结果 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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strewing
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| v.撒在…上( strew的现在分词 )；散落于；点缀；撒满 | |
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averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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yarning
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| vi.讲故事（yarn的现在分词形式） | |
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marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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inordinately
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| adv.无度地，非常地 | |
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marvels
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| n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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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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plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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