Eight bells were “making it twelve o’clock” on the 15th of May, when the boatswain piped all hands on deck to weigh the anchor, and within a few minutes the Honourable2 Company’s Brig-of-war “Euphrates,” having the Embassy on board, and commanded by one of its members (Lieutenant Barker, Indian Navy), set her white sails, and, followed by three large native crafts freighted with horses and baggage, stood across the Arabian Gulf. A favourable3 breeze pressed her steadily4 through the yielding bosom5 of the ocean. The salt spray flew under her gallant6 bows; and as the hospitable7 cadjan roofs on Steamer Point, first in order, and then the jagged pinnacles8 forming the spider skeleton of Aden, sank gradually astern, each individual of the party destined9 to traverse the unknown wilds of Ethiopia, took the pilgrim’s vow10 that the razor should pass no more over his beard, until his foot had again rested on civilised shores—an event not unreasonably11 conjectured12 to be far distant for all, and for some destined never to be realised.
The breeze increasing, the low sandy promontory13 of Ras Bír on the African coast became visible during the forenoon of the following day; and before evening, notwithstanding a delay of some hours, caused by an accident to the mainyard of one of the tenders, which obliged her to be taken in tow, the brig was passing a group of eight coral islands, elevated about thirty feet above the level of the sea. The remainder of the fleet having parted company during the night, were now perceived standing14 directly for Mushahh, the nearest of these islets, situated15 at the mouth of the Gulf of Tajúra, and divided from the Danákil coast by a fathomless16 channel of seven miles. An iron messenger despatched to bring the convoy17 to, ricochetted over the blue water, kicking up a column of white spray at every bound, and before the smoke of the gun had cleared the bulwarks18, a bald pate19 protruded20 between the rigging, was followed by the swarthy person of Aboo Bekr, of the Somauli tribe Aboo Salaam21, and commonly styled Durábili, or “the Liar22.” Nákhuda of a small trading craft which had been employed as a pilot boat during the recent trigonometrical survey of the coast, he was well-known to the officers of the “Euphrates,” and was ascertained23 to be at this moment charged with despatches for Aden, which, whether important or otherwise, had been during three days lying safely at anchor off the island, to admit of enhanced profits by the collection of a cargo24 of wood.
“Salaam aleikum!” exclaimed the old Palinurus as soon as his foot had touched the deck; “Hamdu-lillah! Praise be unto God! it is you, after all. When I saw those two crazy tubs in your van, I believed that it could not be my old ship, although it loomed25 so vastly like her; but the moment you took in your studding-sails to let Aboo Bekr come alongside, I knew it must be the Capitan Báshi. Kayf hálut, how fares it with your health?”
The welcome visitor was forthwith accommodated with a chair on the poop; into which having squeezed himself with difficulty, he drew up his knees to his scanty26 beard, inserted a cigar into his mouth as a quid, and, sipping27 tea like a finished washerwoman, instituted a train of inquiries28 relative to the position of affairs in the British possessions across the water.
“Tayyib, tayyib,” he ejaculated, when thoroughly29 satisfied that Cape30 Aden was not again in the hands of the Arabs. “Marhábba, it is well. All, too, is as it should be at Tajúra. Misunderstandings are adjusted, and the avaricious31 chieftains have at last, the Lord be praised! got all the dirt out of their bellies32. Their palms have been judiciously33 tickled34, and it only now remains35 to be seen whether the old sultán, who is fully36 as fond of money as his neighbours—or his ancient rival, Mohammad Ali, is to have the honour of forwarding the English to King Sáloo. My boy has just returned from Hábesh, and shall escort you. Abroo has been twice in Bombay, as you know, Capitan. You have only to tell me if he should misbehave, and I’ll trounce the young scamp soundly.”
Meanwhile the bold mountain outline of the land of promise, forming a worthy37 barrier to the unexplored treasures of the vast continent of Africa, had been rapidly emerging from obscurity, and the brown forbidding bluff38, styled Ras Dukhán, “the smoking promontory,” in height about five or six hundred feet, was now on the starboard quarter; its abrupt39 summit, as usual, surmounted40 by a coronet of fleecy clouds, from which, if not from the thermal41 well at its base, this Cape has probably derived42 its appellation43. The brig was already standing up the bay of Tajúra; but darkness overtaking her, it was resolved to lay to until daybreak; and a gun fired in intimation of approach was presently answered by a display of rockets and blue lights from the Honourable Company’s schooner44 “Constance,” riding at anchor in the harbour.
The Arabs lay claim to the invention of the compass; and Aboo Bekr, who believed himself in truth a second Anson, was provided with one, which must certainly have been the first ever constructed. Age having impaired45 the dilapidated needle, it was forced off its pivot46 by a quantity of pepper-corns, which are here considered highly efficacious in the restoration of decayed magnetic powers. From the native navigators in the Indian Ocean he had borrowed a primitive47 nautical48 instrument for determining the latitude49; nor was he a little vain of his practical skill as an observer. Through a perforation in the centre of a plane of wood in size and shape like a playing card, was passed a knotted whipcord, and the distance from each knot was so regulated that the subtended angle should equal the altitude of the polar star at some frequented point on the coast. The knot having been placed between the teeth, and the lower margin50 of the plane brought in optical contact with the horizon, the position of Polaris must be observed with reference to the upper edge; when, if it be above, the desired haven51 is known to be to the southward—if below, to the northward52, and the course is shaped accordingly.
“I’ll take you in this very night, Capitan Báshi, if you so please,” resumed the pilot, whose packet had by this time escaped his recollection altogether. “Only give me the order, and, praise be unto Allah! there is nothing that Aboo Bekr cannot do. My head, as you see, is bald, and I may perhaps be a little old-looking now, but wait until we get on shore, and my new wig53 is bent54; Inshállah! I shall look like a child of five years among the youngest of them.”
“Now if we had but Long Ali of Zeyla on board,” continued the old man, whose merry tongue knew no rest; “if we had only Two-fathom Ali here, you would not make all these difficulties. When they want to lay out an anchor, they have nothing else to do but to hand it over to Ali, and he walks away with it into six or eight feet without any ado. I went once upon a time in the dark to grope for a berth55 on board of his buggalow, and stumbling over some one’s toes, inquired to whose legs they belonged; ‘All’s,’ was the reply. ‘And whose knees are these?’ said I, after walking half across the deck; ‘Ali’s.’ ‘And this head in the scuppers, pray whose is it?’ ‘Ali’s to be sure,’ growled56 a sleepy voice; ‘what do you want with it?’ ‘Subhán Allah, Ali again!’ I exclaimed; ‘then I must even look for stowage elsewhere.’”
Dawn of the 17th revealed the town of Tajúra, not a mile distant, on the verge57 of a broad expanse of blue water, over which a gossamer-like fleet of fishing catamarans already plied58 their busy craft. The tales of the dreary59 Teháma, of the suffocating60 Shimál, and of the desolate61 plains of the bloodthirsty Ada?el, were in that moment forgotten. Pleasure sparkled in every eye, and each heart bounded with exultation62 at the near prospect63 of fulfilling the benevolent64 schemes in design, and of adding one mite65 to the amelioration of Afric’s swart sons.
Those who are conversant66 with Burchell’s admirable illustration of an encampment of Cape farmers, with their gigantic waggons67 scattered68 about in picturesque69 confusion, will best understand the appearance of the group of primitive habitations that now presented itself on the sea-beach. Exceeding two hundred in number, and rudely constructed of frames of unhewn timber, arranged in a parabolic arch, and covered in with date matting, they resembled the white tilts70 of the Dutch boors71, and collectively sheltered some twelve hundred inhabitants. The bold grey mountains, like a drop scene, limited the landscape, and, rising tier above tier, through coral limestone72 and basaltic trap, to the majestic73 Jebel Goodah, towering five thousand feet above the ocean, were enveloped74 in dirty red clouds, which imparted the aspect of a morning in the depth of winter. Verdant75 clumps76 of date and palm trees embosomed the only well of fresh water, around which numerous Bedouin females were drawing their daily supply of the precious fluid. These relieved the humble77 terraced mosque78 of whitewashed79 madrepore, whence the voice of the muezzin summoned the true believer to matin prayer; and a belt of green makanni, a dwarf80 species of mimosa with uniform umbrella tops, fringing the sandy shore, completed a pleasant contrast to the frowning blocks of barren black lava81 which fortify82 the Gibraltar whereupon the eye had last rested.
As the ship sailed into the harbour, the appearance of a large shark in her wake caused the tongue of the pilot again to “break adrift.” “A certain friend of mine,” said he, “Nákhuda of a craft almost as fast a sailer as my own, which is acknowledged to be the best in these seas, was once upon a time bound from this port to Mocha, with camels on board. When off Jebel Ján, the high table-land betwixt the Bay of Tajúra and the Red Sea, one of the beasts dying, was hove overboard. Up came a shark, ten times the size of that fellow, and swallowed the carcass, leaving one of the hinder legs protruding83 from his jaws84; and before he had time to think where he was to find stowage for it, up came a second tremendous monster, and bolted his messmate, camel, leg, and all.”
In return for this anecdote85, the old man was treated to the history of the two Kilkenny cats in the sawpit, which fought until nothing remained of either but the tail and a bit of the flue. “How could that be?” he retorted seriously, after turning the business over in his mind. “Now, Capitan Báshi, you are spinning yarns86, but, by Allah, the story I have told you is as true as the holy Korán, and if you don’t choose to believe me, there are a dozen persons of unblemished veracity87 now in Tajúra, who are ready to vouch88 for its correctness.”
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1
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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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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8
pinnacles
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| 顶峰( pinnacle的名词复数 )； 顶点； 尖顶； 小尖塔 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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unreasonably
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| adv. 不合理地 | |
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conjectured
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| 推测，猜测，猜想( conjecture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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promontory
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| n.海角；岬 | |
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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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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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fathomless
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| a.深不可测的 | |
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convoy
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| vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队 | |
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bulwarks
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| n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 )；保障；支柱；舷墙 | |
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pate
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| n.头顶；光顶 | |
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protruded
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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salaam
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| n.额手之礼，问安，敬礼；v.行额手礼 | |
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liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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sipping
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 ) | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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avaricious
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| adj.贪婪的，贪心的 | |
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bellies
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| n.肚子( belly的名词复数 )；腹部；（物体的）圆形或凸起部份；腹部…形的 | |
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judiciously
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| adv.明断地，明智而审慎地 | |
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tickled
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| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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40
surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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41
thermal
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| adj.热的，由热造成的；保暖的 | |
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42
derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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appellation
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| n.名称，称呼 | |
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44
schooner
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| n.纵帆船 | |
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45
impaired
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| adj.受损的；出毛病的；有（身体或智力）缺陷的v.损害，削弱( impair的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
pivot
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| v.在枢轴上转动；装枢轴，枢轴；adj.枢轴的 | |
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47
primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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48
nautical
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| adj.海上的，航海的，船员的 | |
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49
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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50
margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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51
haven
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| n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所 | |
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52
northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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53
wig
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| n.假发 | |
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54
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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55
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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56
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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57
verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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58
plied
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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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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suffocating
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| a.使人窒息的 | |
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61
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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62
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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63
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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64
benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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mite
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| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
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conversant
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| adj.亲近的，有交情的，熟悉的 | |
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67
waggons
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| 四轮的运货马车( waggon的名词复数 )； 铁路货车； 小手推车 | |
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68
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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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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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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71
boors
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| n.农民( boor的名词复数 )；乡下佬；没礼貌的人；粗野的人 | |
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72
limestone
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| n.石灰石 | |
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majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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75
verdant
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| adj.翠绿的，青翠的，生疏的，不老练的 | |
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76
clumps
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| n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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77
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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78
mosque
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| n.清真寺 | |
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79
whitewashed
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| 粉饰，美化，掩饰( whitewash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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80
dwarf
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| n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小 | |
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81
lava
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| n.熔岩，火山岩 | |
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82
fortify
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| v.强化防御，为…设防；加强，强化 | |
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protruding
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
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84
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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85
anecdote
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| n.轶事，趣闻，短故事 | |
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86
yarns
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| n.纱( yarn的名词复数 )；纱线；奇闻漫谈；旅行轶事 | |
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87
veracity
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| n.诚实 | |
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88
vouch
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| v.担保；断定；n.被担保者 | |
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