We left the river here, and proceeded up the valley which leads to the Mburuma or Mohango pass. The nights were cold, and on the 30th of June the thermometer was as low as 39 degrees at sunrise. We passed through a village of twenty large huts, which Sequasha had attacked on his return from the murder of the chief, Mpangwe. He caught the women and children for slaves, and carried off all the food, except a huge basket of bran, which the natives are wont1 to save against a time of famine. His slaves had broken all the water-pots and the millstones for grinding meal.
The buaze-trees and bamboos are now seen on the hills; but the jujube or zisyphus, which has evidently been introduced from India, extends no further up the river. We had been eating this fruit, which, having somewhat the taste of apples, the Portuguese2 call Macaas, all the way from Tette; and here they were larger than usual, though immediately beyond they ceased to be found. No mango-tree either is to be met with beyond this point, because the Portuguese traders never established themselves anywhere beyond Zumbo. Tsetse flies are more numerous and troublesome than we have ever before found them. They accompany us on the march, often buzzing round our heads like a swarm3 of bees. They are very cunning, and when intending to bite, alight so gently that their presence is not perceived till they thrust in their lance-like proboscis4. The bite is acute, but the pain is over in a moment; it is followed by a little of the disagreeable itching5 of the mosquito’s bite. This fly invariably kills all domestic animals except goats and donkeys; man and the wild animals escape. We ourselves were severely6 bitten on this pass, and so were our donkeys, but neither suffered from any after effects.
Water is scarce in the Mburuma pass, except during the rainy season. We however halted beside some fine springs in the bed of the now dry rivulet7, Podebode, which is continued down to the end of the pass, and yields water at intervals8 in pools. Here we remained a couple of days in consequence of the severe illness of Dr. Kirk. He had several times been attacked by fever; and observed that when we were on the cool heights he was comfortable, but when we happened to descend9 from a high to a lower altitude, he felt chilly10, though the temperature in the latter case was 25 degrees higher than it was above; he had been trying different medicines of reputed efficacy with a view to ascertain11 whether other combinations might not be superior to the preparation we generally used; in halting by this water he suddenly became blind, and unable to stand from faintness. The men, with great alacrity12, prepared a grassy13 bed, on which we laid our companion, with the sad forebodings which only those who have tended the sick in a wild country can realize. We feared that in experimenting he had over-drugged himself; but we gave him a dose of our fever pills; on the third day he rode the one of the two donkeys that would allow itself to be mounted, and on the sixth he marched as well as any of us. This case is mentioned in order to illustrate15 what we have often observed, that moving the patient from place to place is most conducive16 to the cure; and the more pluck a man has — the less he gives in to the disease — the less likely he is to die.
Supplied with water by the pools in the Podebode, we again joined the Zambesi at the confluence17 of the rivulet. When passing through a dry district the native hunter knows where to expect water by the animals he sees. The presence of the gemsbuck, duiker or diver, springbucks, or elephants, is no proof that water is near; for these animals roam over vast tracts19 of country, and may be met scores of miles from it. Not so, however, the zebra, pallah, buffalo20, and rhinoceros21; their spoor gives assurance that water is not far off, as they never stray any distance from its neighbourhood. But when amidst the solemn stillness of the woods, the singing of joyous22 birds falls upon the ear, it is certain that water is close at hand.
Our men in hunting came on an immense herd23 of buffaloes24, quietly resting in the long dry grass, and began to blaze away furiously at the astonished animals. In the wild excitement of the hunt, which heretofore had been conducted with spears, some forgot to load with ball, and, firing away vigorously with powder only, wondered for the moment that the buffaloes did not fall. The slayer25 of the young elephant, having buried his four bullets in as many buffaloes, fired three charges of No. 1 shot he had for killing26 guinea-fowl. The quaint27 remarks and merriment after these little adventures seemed to the listener like the pleasant prattle28 of children. Mbia and Mantlanyane, however, killed one buffalo each; both the beasts were in prime condition; the meat was like really excellent beef, with a smack30 of venison. A troop of hungry, howling hyenas32 also thought the savour tempting33, as they hung round the camp at night, anxious to partake of the feast. They are, fortunately, arrant34 cowards, and never attack either men or beasts except they can catch them asleep, sick, or at some other disadvantage. With a bright fire at our feet their presence excites no uneasiness. A piece of meat hung on a tree, high enough to make him jump to reach it, and a short spear, with its handle firmly planted in the ground beneath, are used as a device to induce the hyena31 to commit suicide by impalement35.
The honey-guide is an extraordinary bird; how is it that every member of its family has learned that all men, white or black, are fond of honey? The instant the little fellow gets a glimpse of a man, he hastens to greet him with the hearty36 invitation to come, as Mbia translated it, to a bees’ hive, and take some honey. He flies on in the proper direction, perches37 on a tree, and looks back to see if you are following; then on to another and another, until he guides you to the spot. If you do not accept his first invitation he follows you with pressing importunities, quite as anxious to lure38 the stranger to the bees’ hive as other birds are to draw him away from their own nest. Except while on the march, our men were sure to accept the invitation, and manifested the same by a peculiar39 responsive whistle, meaning, as they said, “All right, go ahead; we are coming.” The bird never deceived them, but always guided them to a hive of bees, though some had but little honey in store. Has this peculiar habit of the honey-guide its origin, as the attachment40 of dogs, in friendship for man, or in love for the sweet pickings of the plunder42 left on the ground? Self-interest aiding in preservation43 from danger seems to be the rule in most cases, as, for instance, in the bird that guards the buffalo and rhinoceros. The grass is often so tall and dense44 that one could go close up to these animals quite unperceived; but the guardian45 bird, sitting on the beast, sees the approach of danger, flaps its wings and screams, which causes its bulky charge to rush off from a foe46 he has neither seen nor heard; for his reward the vigilant47 little watcher has the pick of the parasites48 on his fat friend. In other cases a chance of escape must be given even by the animal itself to its prey49; as in the rattle29-snake, which, when excited to strike, cannot avoid using his rattle, any more than the cat can resist curling its tail when excited in the chase of a mouse, or the cobra can refrain from inflating50 the loose skin of the neck and extending it laterally51, before striking its poison fangs52 into its victim. There are many snakes in parts of this pass; they basked53 in the warm sunshine, but rustled54 off through the leaves as we approached. We observed one morning a small one of a deadly poisonous species, named Kakone, on a bush by the wayside, quietly resting in a horizontal position, digesting a lizard55 for breakfast. Though openly in view, its colours and curves so closely resembled a small branch that some failed to see it, even after being asked if they perceived anything on the bush. Here also one of our number had a glance at another species, rarely seen, and whose swift lightning-like motion has given rise to the native proverb, that when a man sees this snake he will forthwith become a rich man.
We slept near the ruined village of the murdered chief, Mpangwe, a lovely spot, with the Zambesi in front, and extensive gardens behind, backed by a semicircle of hills receding57 up to lofty mountains. Our path kept these mountains on our right, and crossed several streamlets, which seemed to be perennial58, and among others the Selole, which apparently59 flows past the prominent peak Chiarapela. These rivulets60 have often human dwellings61 on their banks; but the land can scarcely be said to be occupied. The number of all sorts of game increases wonderfully every day. As a specimen62 of what may be met with where there are no human habitations, and where no firearms have been introduced, we may mention what at times has actually been seen by us. On the morning of July 3rd a herd of elephants passed within fifty yards of our sleeping-place, going down to the river along the dry bed of a rivulet. Starting a few minutes before the main body, we come upon large flocks of guinea-fowl, shoot what may be wanted for dinner, or next morning’s breakfast, and leave them in the path to be picked up by the cook and his mates behind. As we proceed, francolins of three varieties run across the path, and hundreds of turtle-doves rise, with great blatter of wing, and fly off to the trees. Guinea-fowls63, francolins, turtle-doves, ducks, and geese are the game birds of this region. At sunrise a herd of pallahs, standing64 like a flock of sheep, allow the first man of our long Indian file to approach within about fifty yards; but having meat, we let them trot65 off leisurely66 and unmolested. Soon afterwards we come upon a herd of waterbucks, which here are very much darker in colour, and drier in flesh, than the same species near the sea. They look at us and we at them; and we pass on to see a herd of doe koodoos, with a magnificently horned buck18 or two, hurrying off to the dry hill-sides. We have ceased shooting antelopes67, as our men have been so often gorged70 with meat that they have become fat and dainty. They say that they do not want more venison, it is so dry and tasteless, and ask why we do not give them shot to shoot the more savoury guinea-fowl.
About eight o’clock the tsetse commence to buzz about us, and bite our hands and necks sharply. Just as we are thinking of breakfast, we meet some buffaloes grazing by the path; but they make off in a heavy gallop71 at the sight of man. We fire, and the foremost, badly wounded, separates from the herd, and is seen to stop amongst the trees; but, as it is a matter of great danger to follow a wounded buffalo, we hold on our way. It is this losing of wounded animals which makes firearms so annihilating72 to these beasts of the field, and will in time sweep them all away. The small Enfield bullet is worse than the old round one for this. It often goes through an animal without killing him, and he afterwards perishes, when he is of no value to man. After breakfast we draw near a pond of water; a couple of elephants stand on its bank, and, at a respectful distance behind these monarchs73 of the wilderness74, is seen a herd of zebras, and another of waterbucks. On getting our wind the royal beasts make off at once; but the zebras remain till the foremost man is within eighty yards of them, when old and young canter gracefully75 away. The zebra has a great deal of curiosity; and this is often fatal to him, for he has the habit of stopping to look at the hunter. In this particular he is the exact opposite of the diver antelope68, which rushes off like the wind, and never for a moment stops to look behind, after having once seen or smelt76 danger. The finest zebra of the herd is sometimes shot, our men having taken a sudden fancy to the flesh, which all declare to be the “king of good meat.” On the plains of short grass between us and the river many antelopes of different species are calmly grazing, or reposing77. Wild pigs are common, and walk abroad during the day; but are so shy as seldom to allow a close approach. On taking alarm they erect78 their slender tails in the air, and trot off swiftly in a straight line, keeping their bodies as steady as a locomotive on a railroad. A mile beyond the pool three cow buffaloes with their calves79 come from the woods, and move out into the plain. A troop of monkeys, on the edge of the forest, scamper80 back to its depths on hearing the loud song of Singeleka, and old surly fellows, catching81 sight of the human party, insult it with a loud and angry bark. Early in the afternoon we may see buffaloes again, or other animals. We camp on the dry higher ground, after, as has happened, driving off a solitary82 elephant. The nights are warmer now, and possess nearly as much of interest and novelty as the days. A new world awakes and comes forth56, more numerous, if we may judge by the noise it makes, than that which is abroad by sunlight. Lions and hyenas roar around us, and sometimes come disagreeably near, though they have never ventured into our midst. Strange birds sing their agreeable songs, while others scream and call harshly as if in fear or anger. Marvellous insect-sounds fall upon the ear; one, said by natives to proceed from a large beetle83, resembles a succession of measured musical blows upon an anvil84, while many others are perfectly85 indescribable. A little lemur was once seen to leap about from branch to branch with the agility86 of a frog; it chirruped like a bird, and is not larger than a robin87 red-breast. Reptiles88, though numerous, seldom troubled us; only two men suffered from stings, and that very slightly, during the entire journey, the one supposed that he was bitten by a snake, and the other was stung by a scorpion89.
Grass-burning has begun, and is producing the blue hazy90 atmosphere of the American Indian summer, which in Western Africa is called the “smokes.” Miles of fire burn on the mountain-sides in the evenings, but go out during the night. From their height they resemble a broad zigzag91 line of fire in the heavens.
We slept on the night of the 6th of July on the left bank of the Chongwe, which comes through a gap in the hills on our right, and is twenty yards wide. A small tribe of the Bazizulu, from the south, under Dadanga, have recently settled here and built a village. Some of their houses are square, and they seem to be on friendly terms with the Bakoa, who own the country. They, like the other natives, cultivate cotton, but of a different species from any we have yet seen in Africa, the staple92 being very long, and the boll larger than what is usually met with; the seeds cohere93 as in the Pernambuco kind. They brought the seed with them from their own country, the distant mountains of which in the south, still inhabited by their fellow-countrymen, who possess much cattle and use shields, can be seen from this high ground. These people profess94 to be children of the great paramount95 chief, Kwanyakarombe, who is said to be lord of all the Bazizulu. The name of this tribe is known to geographers96, who derive97 their information from the Portuguese, as the Morusurus, and the hills mentioned above are said to have been the country of Changamira, the warrior-chief of history, whom no Portuguese ever dared to approach. The Bazizulu seem, by report, to be brave mountaineers; nearer the river, the Sidima inhabit the plains; just as on the north side, the Babimpe live on the heights, about two days off, and the Makoa on or near the river. The chief of the Bazizulu we were now with was hospitable98 and friendly. A herd of buffaloes came trampling99 through the gardens and roused up our men; a feat100 that roaring lions seldom achieved.
Our course next day passed over the upper terrace and through a dense thorn jungle. Travelling is always difficult where there is no path, but it is even more perplexing where the forest is cut up by many game-tracks. Here we got separated from one another, and a rhinoceros with angry snort dashed at Dr. Livingstone as he stooped to pick up a specimen of the wild fruit morula; but she strangely stopped stock-still when less than her own length distant, and gave him time to escape; a branch pulled out his watch as he ran, and turning half round to grasp it, he got a distant glance of her and her calf101 still standing on the selfsame spot, as if arrested in the middle of her charge by an unseen hand. When about fifty yards off, thinking his companions close behind, he shouted “Look out there!” when off she rushed, snorting loudly, in another direction. The Doctor usually went unarmed before this, but never afterwards.
A fine eland was shot by Dr. Kirk this afternoon, the first we have killed. It was in first-rate condition, and remarkably102 fat; but the meat, though so tempting in appearance, severely deranged103 all who partook of it heartily104, especially those who ate of the fat. Natives who live in game countries, and are acquainted with the different kinds of wild animals, have a prejudice against the fat of the eland, the pallah, the zebra, hippopotamus105, and pig; they never reject it, however, the climate making the desire for all animal food very strong; but they consider that it causes ulcers106 and leprosy, while the fat of sheep and of oxen never produces any bad effects, unless the animal is diseased.
On the morning of the 9th, after passing four villages, we breakfasted at an old friend’s, Tombanyama, who lives now on the mainland, having resigned the reedy island, where he was first seen, to the buffaloes, which used to take his crops and show fight to his men. He keeps a large flock of tame pigeons, and some fine fat capons, one of which he gave us, with a basket of meal. They have plenty of salt in this part of the country, obtaining it from the plains in the usual way.
The half-caste partner of Sequasha and a number of his men were staying near. The fellow was very munch107 frightened when he saw us, and trembled so much when he spoke108, that the Makololo and other natives noticed and remarked on it. His fears arose from a sense of guilt109, as we said nothing to frighten him, and did not allude110 to the murder till a few minutes before starting; when it was remarked that Dr. Livingstone having been accredited111 to the murdered chief, it would be his duty to report on it; and that not even the Portuguese Government would approve of the deed. He defended it by saying that they had put in the right man, the other was a usurper112. He was evidently greatly relieved when we departed. In the afternoon we came to an outlying hamlet of Kambadzo, whose own village is on an island, Nyampungo, or Nyangalule, at the confluence of the Kafue. The chief was on a visit here, and they had been enjoying a regular jollification. There had been much mirth, music, drinking, and dancing. The men, and women too, had taken “a wee drap too much,” but had not passed the complimentary113 stage. The wife of the headman, after looking at us a few moments, called out to the others, “Black traders have come before, calling themselves Bazungu, or white men, but now, for the first time, have we seen the real Bazungu.” Kambadzo also soon appeared; he was sorry that we had not come before the beer was all done, but he was going back to see if it was all really and entirely114 finished, and not one little potful left somewhere.
This was, of course, mere115 characteristic politeness, as he was perfectly aware that every drop had been swallowed; so we proceeded on to the Kafue, or Kafuje, accompanied by the most intelligent of his headmen. A high ridge116, just before we reached the confluence, commands a splendid view of the two great rivers, and the rich country beyond. Behind, on the north and east, is the high mountain-range, along whose base we have been travelling; the whole range is covered with trees, which appear even on the prominent peaks, Chiarapela, Morindi, and Chiava; at this last the chain bends away to the N.W., and we could see the distant mountains where the chief, Semalembue, gained all our hearts in 1856.
On the 9th of July we tried to send Semalembue a present, but the people here refused to incur117 the responsibility of carrying it. We, who have the art of writing, cannot realize the danger one incurs118 of being accused of purloining119 a portion of goods sent from one person to another, when the carrier cannot prove that he delivered all committed to his charge. Rumours120 of a foray having been made, either by Makololo or Batoka, as far as the fork of the Kafue, were received here by our men with great indignation, as it looked as if the marauders were shutting up the country, which they had been trying so much to open. Below the junction121 of the rivers, on a shallow sandbank, lay a large herd of hippopotami, their bodies out of the water, like masses of black rock. Kambadzo’s island, called Nyangalule, a name which occurs again at the mouth of the Zambesi, has many choice Motsikiri (Trachelia) trees on it; and four very conspicuous122 stately palms growing out of a single stem. The Kafue reminds us a little of the Shire, flowing between steep banks, with fertile land on both sides. It is a smaller river, and has less current. Here it seems to come from the west. The headman of the village, near which we encamped, brought a present of meal, fowls, and sweet potatoes. They have both the red and white varieties of this potato. We have, on several occasions during this journey, felt the want of vegetables, in a disagreeable craving123 which our diet of meat and native meal could not satisfy. It became worse and worse till we got a meal of potatoes, which allayed124 it at once. A great scarcity125 of vegetables prevails in these parts of Africa. The natives collect several kinds of wild plants in the woods, which they use no doubt for the purpose of driving off cravings similar to those we experienced.
Owing to the strength of the wind, and the cranky state of the canoes, it was late in the afternoon of the 11th before our party was ferried over the Kafue. After crossing, we were in the Bawe country. Fishhooks here, of native workmanship, were observed to have barbs128 like the European hooks: elsewhere the point of the hook is merely bent130 in towards the shank, to have the same effect in keeping on the fish as the barb129. We slept near a village a short distance above the ford131. The people here are of Batoka origin, the same as many of our men, and call themselves Batonga (independents), or Balengi, and their language only differs slightly from that of the Bakoa, who live between the two rivers Kafue and Loangwa. The paramount chief of the district lives to the west of this place, and is called Nchomokela — an hereditary132 title: the family burying-place is on a small hill near this village. The women salute133 us by clapping their hands and lullilooing as we enter and leave a village, and the men, as they think, respectfully clap their hands on their hips134. Immense crops of mapira (holcus sorghum) are raised; one species of it forms a natural bend on the seed-stalk, so that the massive ear hangs down. The grain was heaped up on wooden stages, and so was a variety of other products. The men are skilful135 hunters, and kill elephants and buffaloes with long heavy spears. We halted a few minutes on the morning of the 12th July, opposite the narrow island of Sikakoa, which has a village on its lower end. We were here told that Moselekatse’s chief town is a month’s distance from this place. They had heard, moreover, that the English had come to Moselekatse, and told him it was wrong to kill men; and he had replied that he was born to kill people, but would drop the habit; and, since the English came, he had sent out his men, not to kill as of yore, but to collect tribute of cloth and ivory. This report referred to the arrival of the Rev126. R. Moffat, of Kuruman, who, we afterwards found, had established a mission. The statement is interesting as showing that, though imperfectly expressed, the purport136 of the missionaries137’ teaching had travelled, in a short time, over 300 miles, and we know not how far the knowledge of the English operations on the coast spread inland.
When abreast138 of the high wooded island Kalabi we came in contact with one of the game-laws of the country, which has come down from the most ancient times. An old buffalo crossed the path a few yards in front of us; our guide threw his small spear at its hip41, and it was going off scarcely hurt, when three rifle balls knocked it over. “It is mine,” said the guide. He had wounded it first, and the established native game-law is that the animal belongs to the man who first draws blood; the two legs on one side, by the same law, belonged to us for killing it. This beast was very old, blind of one eye, and scabby; the horns, mere stumps139, not a foot long, must have atrophied140, when by age he lost the strength distinctive141 of his sex; some eighteen or twenty inches of horn could not well be worn down by mere rubbing against the trees. We saw many buffaloes next day, standing quietly amidst a thick thorn-jungle, through which we were passing. They often stood until we were within fifty or a hundred yards of them.
On the 14th July we left the river at the mountain-range, which, lying north-east and south-west across the river, forms the Kariba gorge69. Near the upper end of the Kariba rapids, the stream Sanyati enters from the south, and is reported to have Moselekatse’s principal cattle-posts at its sources; our route went round the end of the mountains, and we encamped beside the village of the generous chief Moloi, who brought us three immense baskets of fine mapira meal, ten fowls, and two pots of beer. On receiving a present in return, he rose, and, with a few dancing gestures, said or sang, “Motota, Motota, Motota,” which our men translated into “thanks.” He had visited Moselekatse a few months before our arrival, and saw the English missionaries, living in their wagons142. “They told Moselekatse,” said he, “they were of his family, or friends, and would plough the land and live at their own expense;” and he had replied, “The land is before you, and I shall come and see you plough.” This again was substantially what took place, when Mr. Moffat introduced the missionaries to his old friend, and shows still further that the notion of losing their country by admitting foreigners does not come as the first idea to the native mind. One might imagine that, as mechanical powers are unknown to the heathen, the almost magic operations of machinery143, the discoveries of modern science and art, or the presence of the prodigious144 force which, for instance, is associated with the sight of a man-of-war, would have the effect which miracles once had of arresting the attention and inspiring awe127. But, though we have heard the natives exclaim in admiration145 at the sight of even small illustrations of what science enables us to do —“Ye are gods, and not men”— the heart is unaffected. In attempting their moral elevation146, it is always more conducive to the end desired, that the teacher should come unaccompanied by any power to cause either jealousy147 or fear. The heathen, who have not become aware of the greed and hate which too often characterize the advancing tide of emigration, listen with most attention to the message of Divine love when delivered by men who evidently possess the same human sympathies with themselves. A chief is rather envied his good fortune in first securing foreigners in his town. Jealousy of strangers belongs more to the Arab than to the African character; and if the women are let alone by the traveller, no danger need be apprehended148 from any save the slave-trading tribes, and not often even from them.
We passed through a fertile country, covered with open forest, accompanied by the friendly Bawe. They are very hospitable; many of them were named, among themselves, “the Baenda pezi,” or “Go-nakeds,” their only clothing being a coat of red ochre. Occasionally stopping at their villages we were duly lullilooed, and regaled with sweet new-made beer, which, being yet unfermented, was not intoxicating149. It is in this state called Liting or Makonde. Some of the men carry large shields of buffalo-hide, and all are well supplied with heavy spears. The vicinity of the villages is usually cleared and cultivated in large patches; but nowhere can the country be said to be stocked with people. At every village stands were erected150, and piles of the native corn, still unthrashed, placed upon them; some had been beaten out, put into oblong parcels made of grass, and stacked in wooden frames.
We crossed several rivulets in our course, as the Mandora, the Lofia, the Manzaia (with brackish151 water), the Rimbe, the Chibue, the Chezia, the Chilola (containing fragments of coal), which did little more than mark our progress. The island and rapid of Nakansalo, of which we had formerly152 heard, were of no importance, the rapid being but half a mile long, and only on one side of the island. The island Kaluzi marks one of the numerous places where astronomical153 observations were made; Mozia, a station where a volunteer poet left us; the island Mochenya, and Mpande island, at the mouth of the Zungwe rivulet, where we left the Zambesi.
When favoured with the hospitality and company of the “Go-nakeds,” we tried to discover if nudity were the badge of a particular order among the Bawe, but they could only refer to custom. Some among them had always liked it for no reason in particular: shame seemed to lie dormant154, and the sense could not be aroused by our laughing and joking them on their appearance. They evidently felt no less decent than we did with our clothes on; but, whatever may be said in favour of nude155 statues, it struck us that man, in a state of nature, is a most ungainly animal. Could we see a number of the degraded of our own lower classes in like guise156, it is probable that, without the black colour which acts somehow as a dress, they would look worse still.
In domestic contentions157 the Bawe are careful not to kill each other; but, when one village goes to war with another, they are not so particular. The victorious158 party are said to quarter one of the bodies of the enemies they may have killed, and to perform certain ceremonies over the fragments. The vanquished159 call upon their conquerors160 to give them a portion also; and, when this request is complied with, they too perform the same ceremonies, and lament161 over their dead comrade, after which the late combatants may visit each other in peace. Sometimes the head of the slain162 is taken and buried in an ant-hill, till all the flesh is gone; and the lower jaw163 is then worn as a trophy164 by the slayer; but this we never saw, and the foregoing information was obtained only through an interpreter.
We left the Zambesi at the mouth of the Zungwe or Mozama or Dela rivulet, up which we proceeded, first in a westerly and then in a north-westerly direction. The Zungwe at this time had no water in its sandy channel for the first eight or ten miles. Willows165, however, grow on the banks, and water soon began to appear in the hollows; and a few miles further up it was a fine flowing stream deliciously cold. As in many other streams from Chicova to near Sinamane shale166 and coal crop out in the bank; and here the large roots of stigmaria or its allied167 plants were found. We followed the course of the Zungwe to the foot of the Batoka highlands, up whose steep and rugged14 sides of red and white quartz168 we climbed till we attained169 an altitude of upwards170 of 3000 feet. Here, on the cool and bracing171 heights, the exhilaration of mind and body was delightful172, as we looked back at the hollow beneath covered with a hot sultry glare, not unpleasant now that we were in the mild radiance above. We had a noble view of the great valley in which the Zambesi flows. The cultivated portions are so small in comparison to the rest of the landscape that the valley appears nearly all forest, with a few grassy glades173. We spent the night of the 28th July high above the level of the sea, by the rivulet Tyotyo, near Tabacheu or Chirebuechina, names both signifying white mountain; in the morning hoar frost covered the ground, and thin ice was on the pools. Skirting the southern flank of Tabacheu, we soon passed from the hills on to the portion of the vast table-land called Mataba, and looking back saw all the way across the Zambesi valley to the lofty ridge some thirty miles off, which, coming from the Mashona, a country in the S.E., runs to the N.W. to join the ridge at the angle of which are the Victoria Falls, and then bends far to the N.E. from the same point. Only a few years since these extensive highlands were peopled by the Batoka; numerous herds174 of cattle furnished abundance of milk, and the rich soil amply repaid the labour of the husbandman; now large herds of buffaloes, zebras, and antelopes fatten175 on the excellent pasture; and on that land, which formerly supported multitudes, not a man is to been seen. In travelling from Monday morning till late on Saturday afternoon, all the way from Tabacheu to Moachemba, which is only twenty-one miles of latitude176 from the Victoria Falls, and constantly passing the ruined sites of utterly177 deserted178 Botoka villages, we did not fall in with a single person. The Batoka were driven out of their noble country by the invasions of Moselekatse and Sebetuane. Several tribes of Bechuana and Basutu, fleeing from the Zulu or Matebele chief Moselekatse reached the Zambesi above the Falls. Coming from a land without rivers, none of them knew how to swim; and one tribe, called the Bamangwato, wishing to cross the Zambesi, was ferried over, men and women separately, to different islands, by one of the Batoka chiefs; the men were then left to starve and the women appropriated by the ferryman and his people. Sekomi, the present chief of the Bamangwato, then an infant in his mother’s arms, was enabled, through the kindness of a private Batoka, to escape. This act seems to have made an indelible impression on Sekomi’s heart, for though otherwise callous179, he still never fails to inquire after the welfare of his benefactor180.
Sebetuane, with his wonted ability, outwitted the treacherous181 Batoka, by insisting in the politest manner on their chief remaining at his own side until the people and cattle were all carried safe across; the chief was then handsomely rewarded, both with cattle and brass182 rings off Sebetuane’s own wives. No sooner were the Makololo, then called Basuto, safely over, than they were confronted by the whole Batoka nation; and to this day the Makololo point with pride to the spot on the Lekone, near to which they were encamped, where Sebetuane, with a mere handful of warriors183 in comparison to the vast horde184 that surrounded him, stood waiting the onslaught, the warriors in one small body, the women and children guarding the cattle behind them. The Batoka, of course, melted away before those who had been made veterans by years of continual fighting, and Sebetuane always justified185 his subsequent conquests in that country by alleging186 that the Batoka had come out to fight with a man fleeing for his life, who had never done them any wrong. They seem never to have been a warlike race; passing through their country, we once observed a large stone cairn, and our guide favoured us with the following account of it:— “Once upon a time, our forefathers187 were going to fight another tribe, and here they halted and sat down. After a long consultation188, they came to the unanimous conclusion that, instead of proceeding189 to fight and kill their neighbours, and perhaps be killed themselves, it would be more like men to raise this heap of stones, as their protest against the wrong the other tribe had done them, which, having accomplished190, they returned quietly home.” Such men of peace could not stand before the Makololo, nor, of course, the more warlike Matebele, who coming afterwards, drove even their conquerors, the Makololo, out of the country. Sebetuane, however, profiting by the tactics which he had learned of the Batoka, inveigled191 a large body of this new enemy on to another island, and after due starvation there overcame the whole. A much greater army of “Moselekatse’s own” followed with canoes, but were now baffled by Sebetuane’s placing all his people and cattle on an island and so guarding it that none could approach. Dispirited, famished192, borne down by fever, they returned to the Falls, and all except five were cut off.
But though the Batoka appear never to have had much inclination193 to fight with men, they are decidedly brave hunters of buffaloes and elephants. They go fearlessly close up to these formidable animals, and kill them with large spears. The Banyai, who have long bullied194 all Portuguese traders, were amazed at the daring and bravery of the Batoka in coming at once to close quarters with the elephant; and Chisaka, a Portuguese rebel, having formerly induced a body of this tribe to settle with him, ravaged195 all the Portuguese villas196 around Tette. They bear the name of Basimilongwe, and some of our men found relations among them. Sininyane and Matenga also, two of our party, were once inveigled into a Portuguese expedition against Mariano, by the assertion that the Doctor had arrived and had sent for them to come down to Senna. On finding that they were entrapped197 to fight, they left, after seeing an officer with a large number of Tette slaves killed.
The Batoka had attained somewhat civilized198 ideas, in planting and protecting various fruit and oil-seed yielding trees of the country. No other tribe either plants or abstains199 from cutting down fruit trees, but here we saw some which had been planted in regular rows, and the trunks of which were quite two feet in diameter. The grand old Mosibe, a tree yielding a bean with a thin red pellicle, said to be very fattening200, had probably seen two hundred summers. Dr. Kirk found that the Mosibe is peculiar, in being allied to a species met with only in the West Indies. The Motsikiri, sometimes called Mafuta, yields a hard fat, and an oil which is exported from Inhambane. It is said that two ancient Batoka travellers went down as far as the Loangwa, and finding the Macaa tree (jujube or zisyphus) in fruit, carried the seed all the way back to the great Falls, in order to plant them. Two of these trees are still to be seen there, the only specimens201 of the kind in that region.
The Batoka had made a near approach to the custom of more refined nations and had permanent graveyards202, either on the sides of hills, thus rendered sacred, or under large old shady trees; they reverence203 the tombs of their ancestors, and plant the largest elephants’ tusks205, as monuments at the head of the grave, or entirely enclose it with the choicest ivory. Some of the other tribes throw the dead body into the river to be devoured206 by crocodiles, or, sewing it up in a mat, place it on the branch of a baobab, or cast it in some lonely gloomy spot, surrounded by dense tropical vegetation, where it affords a meal to the foul207 hyenas; but the Batoka reverently208 bury their dead, and regard the spot henceforth as sacred. The ordeal209 by the poison of the muave is resorted to by the Batoka, as well as by the other tribes; but a cock is often made to stand proxy210 for the supposed witch. Near the confluence of the Kafue the Mambo, or chief, with some of his headmen, came to our sleeping-place with a present; their foreheads were smeared211 with white flour, and an unusual seriousness marked their demeanour. Shortly before our arrival they had been accused of witchcraft212; conscious of innocence213, they accepted the ordeal, and undertook to drink the poisoned muave. For this purpose they made a journey to the sacred hill of Nchomokela, on which repose214 the bodies of their ancestors; and, after a solemn appeal to the unseen spirits to attest215 the innocence of their children, they swallowed the muave, vomited216, and were therefore declared not guilty. It is evident that they believe that the soul has a continued existence; and that the spirits of the departed know what those they have left behind them are doing, and are pleased or not according as their deeds are good or evil; this belief is universal. The owner of a large canoe refused to sell it, because it belonged to the spirit of his father, who helped him when he killed the hippopotamus. Another, when the bargain for his canoe was nearly completed, seeing a large serpent on a branch of the tree overhead, refused to complete the sale, alleging that this was the spirit of his father come to protest against it.
Some of the Batoka chiefs must have been men of considerable enterprise; the land of one, in the western part of this country, was protected by the Zambesi on the S., and on the N. and E. lay an impassable reedy marsh217, filled with water all the year round, leaving only his western border open to invasion: he conceived the idea of digging a broad and deep canal nearly a mile in length, from the reedy marsh to the Zambesi, and, having actually carried the scheme into execution, he formed a large island, on which his cattle grazed in safety, and his corn ripened218 from year to year secure from all marauders.
Another chief, who died a number of years ago, believed that he had discovered a remedy for tsetse-bitten cattle; his son Moyara showed us a plant, which was new to our botanist219, and likewise told us how the medicine was prepared; the bark of the root, and, what might please our homoeopathic friends, a dozen of the tsetse are dried, and ground together into a fine powder. This mixture is administered internally; and the cattle are fumigated220 by burning under them the rest of the plant collected. The treatment must be continued for weeks, whenever the symptoms of poison appear. This medicine, he frankly221 admitted, would not cure all the bitten cattle. “For,” said he, “cattle, and men too, die in spite of medicine; but should a herd by accident stray into a tsetse district and be bitten, by this medicine of my father, Kampa-kampa, some of them could be saved, while, without it, all would inevitably222 die.” He stipulated223 that we were not to show the medicine to other people, and if ever we needed it in this region we must employ him; but if we were far off we might make it ourselves; and when we saw it cure the cattle think of him, and send him a present.
Our men made it known everywhere that we wished the tribes to live in peace, and would use our influence to induce Sekeletu to prevent the Batoka of Moshobotwane and the Makololo under-chiefs making forays into their country: they had already suffered severely, and their remonstrances224 with their countryman, Moshobotwane, evoked225 only the answer, “The Makololo have given me a spear; why should I not use it?” He, indeed, it was who, being remarkably swift of foot, first guided the Makololo in their conquest of the country. In the character of peacemakers, therefore, we experienced abundant hospitality; and, from the Kafue to the Falls, none of our party was allowed to suffer hunger. The natives sent to our sleeping-places generous presents of the finest white meal, and fat capons to give it a relish226, great pots of beer to comfort our hearts, together with pumpkins227, beans, and tobacco, so that we “should sleep neither hungry nor thirsty.”
In travelling from the Kafue to the Zungwe we frequently passed several villages in the course of a day’s march. In the evening came deputies from the villages, at which we could not stay to sleep, with liberal presents of food. It would have pained them to have allowed strangers to pass without partaking of their hospitality; repeatedly were we hailed from huts, and asked to wait a moment and drink a little of the beer, which was brought with alacrity. Our march resembled a triumphant228 procession. We entered and left every village amidst the cheers of its inhabitants; the men clapping their hands, and the women lullilooing, with the shrill229 call, “Let us sleep,” or “Peace.” Passing through a hamlet one day, our guide called to the people, “Why do you not clap your hands and salute when you see men who are wishing to bring peace to the land?” When we halted for the night it was no uncommon230 thing for the people to prepare our camp entirely of their own accord; some with hoes quickly smoothed the ground for our beds, others brought dried grass and spread it carefully over the spot; some with their small axes speedily made a bush fence to shield us from the wind; and if, as occasionally happened, the water was a little distance off, others hastened and brought it with firewood to cook our food with. They are an industrious231 people, and very fond of agriculture. For hours together we marched through unbroken fields of mapira, or native corn, of a great width; but one can give no idea of the extent of land under the hoe as compared with any European country. The extent of surface is so great that the largest fields under culture, when viewed on a wide landscape, dwindle232 to mere spots. When taken in connection with the wants of the people, the cultivation233 on the whole is most creditable to their industry. They erect numerous granaries which give their villages the appearance of being large; and, when the water of the Zambesi has subsided234, they place large quantities of grain, tied up in bundles of grass, and well plastered over with clay, on low sand islands for protection from the attacks of marauding mice and men. Owing to the ravages235 of the weevil, the native corn can hardly be preserved until the following crop comes in. However largely they may cultivate, and however abundant the harvest, it must all be consumed in a year. This may account for their making so much of it into beer. The beer these Batoka or Bawe brew236 is not the sour and intoxicating boala or pombe found among some other tribes, but sweet, and highly nutritive, with only a slight degree of acidity237, sufficient to render it a pleasant drink. The people were all plump, and in good condition; and we never saw a single case of intoxication238 among them, though all drank abundance of this liting, or sweet beer. Both men and boys were eager to work for very small pay. Our men could hire any number of them to carry their burdens for a few beads239 a day. Our miserly and dirty ex-cook had an old pair of trousers that some one had given to him; after he had long worn them himself, with one of the sorely decayed legs he hired a man to carry his heavy load a whole day; a second man carried it the next day for the other leg, and what remained of the old garment, without the buttons, procured240 the labour of another man for the third day.
Men of remarkable241 ability have risen up among the Africans from time to time, as amongst other portions of the human family. Some have attracted the attention, and excited the admiration of large districts by their wisdom. Others, apparently by the powers of ventriloquism, or by peculiar dexterity242 in throwing the spear, or shooting with the bow, have been the wonder of their generation; but the total absence of literature leads to the loss of all former experience, and the wisdom of the wise has not been handed down. They have had their minstrels too, but mere tradition preserves not their effusions. One of these, and apparently a genuine poet, attached himself to our party for several days, and whenever we halted, sang our praises to the villagers, in smooth and harmonious243 numbers. It was a sort of blank verse, and each line consisted of five syllables244. The song was short when it first began, but each day he picked up more information about us, and added to the poem until our praises became an ode of respectable length. When distance from home compelled his return he expressed his regret at leaving us, and was, of course, paid for his useful and pleasant flatteries. Another, though a less gifted son of song, belonged to the Batoka of our own party. Every evening, while the others were cooking, talking, or sleeping, he rehearsed his songs, containing a history of everything he had seen in the land of the white men, and on the way back. In composing, extempore, any new piece, he was never at a loss; for if the right word did not come he halted not, but eked245 out the measure with a peculiar musical sound meaning nothing at all. He accompanied his recitations on the sansa, an instrument figured in the woodcut, the nine iron keys of which are played with the thumbs, while the fingers pass behind to hold it. The hollow end and ornaments246 face the breast of the player. Persons of a musical turn, if too poor to buy a sansa, may be seen playing vigorously on an instrument made with a number of thick corn-stalks sewn together, as a sansa frame, and keys of split bamboo, which, though making but little sound, seems to soothe247 the player himself. When the instrument is played with a calabash as a sounding board, it emits a greater volume of sound. Pieces of shells and tin are added to make a jingling248 accompaniment, and the calabash is also ornamented249.
After we had passed up, a party of slaves, belonging to the two native Portuguese who assassinated250 the chief, Mpangwe, and took possession of his lands at Zumbo, followed on our footsteps, and representing themselves to be our “children,” bought great quantities of ivory from the Bawe, for a few coarse beads a tusk204. They also purchased ten large new canoes to carry it, at the rate of six strings251 of red or white beads, or two fathoms252 of grey calico, for each canoe, and, at the same cheap rate, a number of good-looking girls.
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1
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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Portuguese
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| n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语 | |
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swarm
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| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
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proboscis
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| n.（象的）长鼻 | |
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itching
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| adj.贪得的，痒的，渴望的v.发痒( itch的现在分词 ) | |
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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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rivulet
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| n.小溪，小河 | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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illustrate
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| v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图 | |
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conducive
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| adj.有益的，有助的 | |
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confluence
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| n.汇合，聚集 | |
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buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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tracts
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| 大片土地( tract的名词复数 )； 地带； （体内的）道； （尤指宣扬宗教、伦理或政治的）短文 | |
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buffalo
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| n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛 | |
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rhinoceros
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| n.犀牛 | |
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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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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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slayer
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| n. 杀人者，凶手 | |
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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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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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prattle
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| n.闲谈；v.（小孩般）天真无邪地说话；发出连续而无意义的声音 | |
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rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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smack
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| vt.拍，打，掴；咂嘴；vi.含有…意味；n.拍 | |
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hyena
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| n.土狼，鬣狗 | |
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hyenas
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| n.鬣狗( hyena的名词复数 ) | |
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tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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arrant
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| adj.极端的；最大的 | |
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impalement
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| 刺穿，刺刑，围住 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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perches
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| 栖息处( perch的名词复数 )； 栖枝； 高处； 鲈鱼 | |
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lure
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| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
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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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attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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hip
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| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
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plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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preservation
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| n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持 | |
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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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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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vigilant
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| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
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parasites
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| 寄生物( parasite的名词复数 )； 靠他人为生的人； 诸虫 | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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inflating
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| v.使充气（于轮胎、气球等）( inflate的现在分词 )；（使）膨胀；（使）通货膨胀；物价上涨 | |
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laterally
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| ad.横向地；侧面地；旁边地 | |
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fangs
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| n.（尤指狗和狼的）长而尖的牙( fang的名词复数 )；（蛇的）毒牙；罐座 | |
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basked
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| v.晒太阳，取暖( bask的过去式和过去分词 )；对…感到乐趣；因他人的功绩而出名；仰仗…的余泽 | |
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rustled
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| v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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lizard
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| n.蜥蜴，壁虎 | |
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56
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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57
receding
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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58
perennial
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| adj.终年的；长久的 | |
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59
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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60
rivulets
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| n.小河，小溪( rivulet的名词复数 ) | |
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61
dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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62
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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63
fowls
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| 鸟( fowl的名词复数 )； 禽肉； 既不是这； 非驴非马 | |
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64
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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65
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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66
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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67
antelopes
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| 羚羊( antelope的名词复数 )； 羚羊皮革 | |
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68
antelope
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| n.羚羊；羚羊皮 | |
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69
gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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70
gorged
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| v.（用食物把自己）塞饱，填饱( gorge的过去式和过去分词 )；作呕 | |
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71
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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72
annihilating
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| v.（彻底）消灭( annihilate的现在分词 )；使无效；废止；彻底击溃 | |
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73
monarchs
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| 君主，帝王( monarch的名词复数 ) | |
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74
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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75
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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76
smelt
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| v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼 | |
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77
reposing
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的现在分词 ) | |
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78
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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79
calves
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| n.(calf的复数)笨拙的男子，腓；腿肚子( calf的名词复数 )；牛犊；腓；小腿肚v.生小牛( calve的第三人称单数 )；（冰川）崩解；生（小牛等），产（犊）；使（冰川）崩解 | |
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80
scamper
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| v.奔跑，快跑 | |
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81
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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82
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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83
beetle
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| n.甲虫，近视眼的人 | |
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84
anvil
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| n.铁钻 | |
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85
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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86
agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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87
robin
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| n.知更鸟，红襟鸟 | |
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88
reptiles
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| n.爬行动物，爬虫( reptile的名词复数 ) | |
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89
scorpion
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| n.蝎子，心黑的人，蝎子鞭 | |
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90
hazy
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| adj.有薄雾的，朦胧的；不肯定的，模糊的 | |
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91
zigzag
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| n.曲折，之字形；adj.曲折的，锯齿形的；adv.曲折地，成锯齿形地；vt.使曲折；vi.曲折前行 | |
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92
staple
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| n.主要产物，常用品，主要要素，原料，订书钉，钩环；adj.主要的，重要的；vt.分类 | |
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93
cohere
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| vt.附着，连贯，一致 | |
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94
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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95
paramount
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| a.最重要的，最高权力的 | |
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96
geographers
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| 地理学家( geographer的名词复数 ) | |
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97
derive
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| v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自 | |
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98
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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99
trampling
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| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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100
feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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101
calf
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| n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮 | |
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102
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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103
deranged
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| adj.疯狂的 | |
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104
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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105
hippopotamus
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| n.河马 | |
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106
ulcers
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| n.溃疡( ulcer的名词复数 )；腐烂物；道德败坏；腐败 | |
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107
munch
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| v.用力嚼，大声咀嚼 | |
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108
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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109
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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110
allude
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| v.提及，暗指 | |
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111
accredited
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| adj.可接受的；可信任的；公认的；质量合格的v.相信( accredit的过去式和过去分词 )；委托；委任；把…归结于 | |
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112
usurper
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| n. 篡夺者, 僭取者 | |
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113
complimentary
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| adj.赠送的，免费的，赞美的，恭维的 | |
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114
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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115
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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116
ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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117
incur
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| vt.招致，蒙受，遭遇 | |
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118
incurs
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| 遭受，招致，引起( incur的第三人称单数 ) | |
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119
purloining
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| v.偷窃( purloin的现在分词 ) | |
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120
rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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121
junction
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| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
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122
conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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123
craving
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| n.渴望,热望 | |
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124
allayed
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| v.减轻，缓和( allay的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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125
scarcity
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| n.缺乏，不足，萧条 | |
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126
rev
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| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
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127
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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128
barbs
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| n.（箭头、鱼钩等的）倒钩( barb的名词复数 )；带刺的话；毕露的锋芒；钩状毛 | |
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129
barb
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| n.（鱼钩等的）倒钩，倒刺 | |
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130
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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131
Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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132
hereditary
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| adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的 | |
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133
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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134
hips
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| abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的 | |
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135
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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136
purport
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| n.意义，要旨，大要；v.意味著，做为...要旨，要领是... | |
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137
missionaries
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| n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 ) | |
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138
abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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139
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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140
atrophied
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|
| adj.萎缩的，衰退的v.（使）萎缩，（使）虚脱，（使）衰退( atrophy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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141
distinctive
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|
| adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的 | |
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142
wagons
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| n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车 | |
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143
machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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144
prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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145
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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146
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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147
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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148
apprehended
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| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 )； 理解 | |
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149
intoxicating
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| a. 醉人的,使人兴奋的 | |
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150
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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151
brackish
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| adj.混有盐的；咸的 | |
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152
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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153
astronomical
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| adj.天文学的，（数字）极大的 | |
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154
dormant
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| adj.暂停活动的；休眠的；潜伏的 | |
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155
nude
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| adj.裸体的；n.裸体者，裸体艺术品 | |
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156
guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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157
contentions
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| n.竞争( contention的名词复数 )；争夺；争论；论点 | |
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158
victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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159
vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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160
conquerors
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| 征服者，占领者( conqueror的名词复数 ) | |
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161
lament
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| n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹 | |
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162
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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163
jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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164
trophy
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| n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品 | |
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165
willows
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| n.柳树( willow的名词复数 )；柳木 | |
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166
shale
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| n.页岩，泥板岩 | |
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167
allied
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| adj.协约国的；同盟国的 | |
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168
quartz
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| n.石英 | |
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169
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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170
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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171
bracing
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| adj.令人振奋的 | |
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172
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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173
glades
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| n.林中空地( glade的名词复数 ) | |
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174
herds
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| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
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175
fatten
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| v.使肥，变肥 | |
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176
latitude
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| n.纬度，行动或言论的自由(范围)，(pl.)地区 | |
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177
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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178
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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179
callous
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| adj.无情的，冷淡的，硬结的，起老茧的 | |
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benefactor
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| n. 恩人，行善的人，捐助人 | |
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181
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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182
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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183
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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184
horde
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| n.群众，一大群 | |
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185
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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186
alleging
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| 断言，宣称，辩解( allege的现在分词 ) | |
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187
forefathers
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| n.祖先，先人；祖先，祖宗( forefather的名词复数 )；列祖列宗；前人 | |
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188
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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189
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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190
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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191
inveigled
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| v.诱骗，引诱( inveigle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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famished
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| adj.饥饿的 | |
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193
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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bullied
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| adj.被欺负了v.恐吓，威逼( bully的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ravaged
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| 毁坏( ravage的过去式和过去分词 )； 蹂躏； 劫掠； 抢劫 | |
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196
villas
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| 别墅，公馆( villa的名词复数 )； （城郊）住宅 | |
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197
entrapped
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| v.使陷入圈套，使入陷阱( entrap的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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198
civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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199
abstains
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| 戒（尤指酒），戒除( abstain的第三人称单数 )； 弃权（不投票） | |
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fattening
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| adj.（食物）要使人发胖的v.喂肥( fatten的现在分词 )；养肥（牲畜）；使（钱）增多；使（公司）升值 | |
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201
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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202
graveyards
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| 墓地( graveyard的名词复数 )； 垃圾场； 废物堆积处； 收容所 | |
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203
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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204
tusk
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| n.獠牙，长牙，象牙 | |
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205
tusks
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| n.（象等动物的）长牙( tusk的名词复数 )；獠牙；尖形物；尖头 | |
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206
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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207
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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reverently
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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proxy
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| n.代理权，代表权；（对代理人的）委托书；代理人 | |
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211
smeared
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| 弄脏； 玷污； 涂抹； 擦上 | |
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witchcraft
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| n.魔法，巫术 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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attest
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| vt.证明，证实；表明 | |
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vomited
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marsh
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| n.沼泽，湿地 | |
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ripened
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| v.成熟，使熟( ripen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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botanist
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| n.植物学家 | |
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220
fumigated
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| v.用化学品熏（某物）消毒( fumigate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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stipulated
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| vt.& vi.规定；约定adj.[法]合同规定的 | |
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224
remonstrances
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| n.抱怨，抗议( remonstrance的名词复数 ) | |
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225
evoked
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| [医]诱发的 | |
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226
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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pumpkins
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| n.南瓜( pumpkin的名词复数 )；南瓜的果肉，南瓜囊 | |
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triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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231
industrious
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| adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的 | |
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232
dwindle
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| v.逐渐变小（或减少） | |
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233
cultivation
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| n.耕作，培养，栽培（法），养成 | |
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234
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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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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236
brew
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| v.酿造，调制 | |
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237
acidity
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| n.酸度，酸性 | |
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238
intoxication
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| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
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239
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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240
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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241
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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242
dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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243
harmonious
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| adj.和睦的，调和的，和谐的，协调的 | |
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244
syllables
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| n.音节( syllable的名词复数 ) | |
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245
eked
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| v.（靠节省用量）使…的供应持久( eke的过去式和过去分词 )；节约使用；竭力维持生计；勉强度日 | |
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246
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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247
soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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248
jingling
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| 叮当声 | |
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249
ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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250
assassinated
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| v.暗杀( assassinate的过去式和过去分词 )；中伤；诋毁；破坏 | |
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251
strings
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| n.弦 | |
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252
fathoms
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| 英寻( fathom的名词复数 ) | |
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