The second knot in the string of the tedious journey had been unloosed by arrival at Killulloo, which is considered exactly half-way from the sea-coast to the frontier of Abyssinia. But although the worst portion of the road was now behind, the Embassy was destined2 to waste many days of existence in this vile3 spot, amidst annoying debates and discussions, most trying to the patience, which threatened to terminate so unpleasantly as well nigh to result in the abandonment of the baggage, as affording the only prospect4 left of ever reaching the destination.
From the very first moment of arrival, Izhák, whose sole object ever appeared to be to render himself disagreeable, devoted5 his talents and energies to the establishment of a misunderstanding, upon the frivolous6 grounds of Mohammad Ali having been suffered to distribute a small quantity of tobacco, in order to get rid of some passing unpleasant visitors. “Who gave that man tobacco?” he captiously7 vociferated, bouncing into the tent as soon as it had been pitched; “this is a piece of interference with my prerogatives8 as Ras el Káfilah, which cannot be borne.” And the explanation afforded not proving at all to his satisfaction, he roundly declared his determination of resenting the insult by throwing up the charge, and returning with all his paid retainers to Tajúra.
Mohammad Ali being now in the heart of his own country, and having rendered himself extremely useful on the road, whilst his venerable rival had been idle, seemed resolved to assert his claim to a share in the conduct of the caravan9. Izhák as unflinchingly maintained his resolution, as brother to the Sultan of Tajúra—a point whereon he greatly piqued10 himself—to hold the reins11 exclusively in his own hands, or to decamp with the camels; and the Embassy, avowing12 themselves to be merely travellers through the country, desirous of conciliating all parties, and of interfering13 with none, maintained the strictest neutrality, and declined mixing at all in the dispute.
It was already dusk when a visit was received from the three principal persons of the countless14 multitudes assembled. These were Ibrahim ibn Hámeido, Akil of the Hy Somauli, whose dominion15 extends from Ramudéle to Suggagédan; and the uncle and father of Mohammad Ali—to wit, Wáyess ibn Haga?o, who divides with his brother Haga?o Lád the government of the Derméla, the Wóema, the Rookhba, and the Midgan, collectively extending from Suggagédan to Waramilli—and Hajji Ali Mohammad, a hoary16 patriarch of most venerable appearance, commonly styled Ali Abi. As tokens of good-will they brought oxen, sheep, and bags of sour milk; but, owing to an obvious disinclination on the part of Izhák and his sulky colleagues to promote conversation, the interview was extremely stiff; and dates, coffee, and snuff having been duly handed round, the illustrious visitors, signifying an intention of discussing certain topics of importance which had yet to be adjusted, abruptly18 departed after the polished fashion of the country, without going through the ceremony of taking leave of their entertainers.
A vast concourse of armed natives, members of all the various tribes assembled, had in the meantime convened19 immediately on the outskirts20 of the camp, where they continued during the whole night in a violent altercation21, which periodical supplies of dates and tobacco proved quite inadequate22 to allay23. The discussion was shared by Izhák and by Mohammad Ali, with their respective partisans24 and retainers, and it continued during the whole of the next day; meanwhile the tent being perpetually thronged25 with thieves and idlers, who purloined26 whatever fell in their way, and contrived27 frequent broils28 amongst themselves which led to the drawing of creeses in the very centre of the encampment.
Throughout the whole of the ensuing night, and part of the day following, the wrangling29 among the tribes continued with little abatement30 or intermission, the litigants31 occasionally breaking into small parties, to hold private kaláms, and after much mysterious whispering, again resuming their seats in the general assembly. The question of precedence between the elders, already adverted32 to, and the propriety33 of suffering so large a party of armed Franks to proceed into Abyssinia, formed the principal subjects of discussion; and the prevailing34 opinion on the latter question was, that all ought to be compelled to return, if not to be put to death, as unbelievers whose presence boded35 evil.
But the opportunity was also taken of arbitrating old feuds36 and squabbles. Elopements were investigated and arranged, and all disputes and quarrels of a private nature fully37 dilated38 upon and digested. Hundreds of ruffians thus sate39 from the rising up of the sun to the going down of the same, and throughout the livelong night, formed in a wide circle; the chiefs and men of consequence in the centre, and the venerable Ali Abi, with thin floating snow-white locks, and highly ornamented40 weapons, seated as president of the council. During the lengthy41 discussion of each case, every spear stood erect42 in the hand of the warrior43; and on the decision being promulgated44, the bright blades were lowered with one accord, a portion of the Korán was repeated, and at the termination of every verse, a general hum succeeding, the concurrence45 of all parties was chanted in a deep stern Ameen!
Killulloo being the great mart between the Bedouin tribes and the passing caravans46, where the produce of their flocks is bartered47 for blue calico and other imports in demand, the news of the arrival of so large a party caused an inpouring from every quarter, and each day presented at the rendezvous48 some new group of exacting49 chiefs to be propitiated50, with a fresh train of thieving followers51 to be fed and kept in good humour. Every greasy52 scoundrel possessed53 a vote in the congress, together with the inclination17 to render himself obnoxious54, and the ability to add his humble55 mite56 towards the irksome detention57; and it therefore became requisite58 to court popularity, and to canvass59 public favour as sedulously60 as at a general election for a seat in parliament.
Ever and anon, a great noise and clamour, and the rushing, spear in hand, of all the idlers to one point, proclaimed a gentle passage of arms among the savages61, of which, nine times out of ten, a woman was the subject—some gay Lothario having been recognised among the crowd by an injured husband. But no sooner had the cold steel fleshed from the scabbard, than the bullies62 were secured by the bystanders, and being perfectly63 au fait at the business, they were easily restrained from doing each other any grievous bodily harm. In one scuffle indeed, a hot-headed fool who had with singular want of discretion64 engaged in a quarrel at too great a distance from his companions, got his thick wig65 somewhat unpleasantly shaved to the skull66 a hand’s breadth or more—a fortunate occurrence indeed as it turned out, since the sight of blood had the instantaneous effect of closing the senatorial proceedings67 of the great conclave68, which had been all night sitting in deliberation, so that its members were yawning in a state of considerable exhaustion69 and owlish stupefaction. Tolo, the quarrelsome little warrior who thus suddenly adjourned70 the sessions, lost three of his front teeth by the hands of the husband whom he had injured in more ways than one—but he retained possession of the inconstant lady, and publicly pledged himself, that on his way back from Hábesh he would take measures which should set the matter at rest for ever.
The arrival from Shoa of a slave caravan in charge of the son of Abdool Rahmán Sowáhil, Kazi of Tajúra, added still further to the assembly in the persons of several hundred unfortunate children of all ages, who sought shelter from the fierce rays of the sun beneath the scanty71 trees which dotted the rugged72 basaltic valley of Killulloo, or lay huddled73 together beneath the hot shadow of an impending74 columnar rock. Each carried a small gourd75 as a water flagon, and, although generally in good spirits, some idea of the sufferings in store for these hapless beings could be formed by those who had just achieved the lower portion of the perilous76 and formidable road.
“Have all my children arrived in safety?” inquired a corpulent old slave-merchant who brought up the rear, tenderly accosting77 his mistress elect, and chucking her playfully under the chin, as she flew to hold the bridle78 of his mule79; “are all my children well?” “Humdu-lillah,” was the reply of the coy damsel, a really beautiful Christian80 from Guráguê, with long raven81 tresses, and a very pensive82 expression, who had been compelled to profess83 Islamism. Honoured with the caresses84 of her flit and bigoted85 purchaser, the poor girl had been made responsible for a drove consisting of three score little sister slaves, all distinguished86 like herself by a tassel87 of green beads88 in the braided hair, and who were now about to be counted by their “father.”
The son of the Kazi having brought letters from Abyssinia, was shortly introduced by Hajji Kásim, own cousin to Izhák, and by far the most reasonable of the Tajúra party. Being in the course of conversation quietly interrogated89 touching90 the cause of the Ras el Káfilah’s continued irritation91, he turned at once to his companion, and solemnly adjured92 him by the beard of the Prophet to answer conscientiously93 the following questions. “A head is ahead, is it not, all the world over?”
“Of course,” responded the descendant of the chief justice, “there can be no disputing that fact.”
“A tail, too, is a tail, or I am much mistaken,” continued the logician94, pursuing his thesis,—and this axiom was also unhesitatingly admitted as beyond all controversy95. “Well, then,” resumed Kásim, whose intellects had been sharpened by a pilgrimage to the shrine96 at Medina; “no Káfilah can possess two heads; and so long as Ali Mohammad, who is in fact the tail, continues these underhand attempts to usurp97 the authority vested in the brother of the Sultán of Tajúra, our acknowledged head, matters can never go on smoothly98.”
The old man was quietly reminded that the raw tobacco, which had given rise to so much heart-burning, bickering99, and dispute, was the sole property of the British party, and that, with every deference100 to Izhák’s supreme101 authority, some control might with propriety be conceded to the owners over their own wares102; but that as to any interference in the quarrel for the Ras el Káfilah-ship, the thing was clearly impossible—the business having already been fully discussed and arranged with due Danákil patience, by the Sultán, in some twenty tedious conferences with the camel-owners and chiefs of Tajúra. Izhák, who had been listening to this conversation with a dark scowl103 upon his brow, now entered as if by accident, twirling his scanty locks, and beaming with smiles; proof of his restoration to good humour being immediately afforded in the extension of his right hand, not to perform the usual ceremony of reconciliation104, but in view to the palm being filled with a sufficiency of Dr Ruddiman’s Irish blackguard, to admit of indulgence in his favourite recreation.
Hopes were now reasonably entertained of an amicable105 adjustment, the real cause of dispute having meanwhile been traced to a jealousy106 respecting the reward which it was conjectured107 the leader of the caravan would receive at the hands of His Majesty108 of Shoa. Mohammad Ali had already been privately109 satisfied upon this point; and Izhák, in order to strengthen his own claim, falsely asserted himself to have received by the Kázi’s son a letter from Sáhela Selássie, appointing the Sultán of Tajúra to the charge of all his European friends who might desire to visit Southern Abyssinia. But the congress still sat as usual. The dispute arranged to-night was renewed at morning’s dawn, as though it had never formed the subject of deliberation; and at a period when the near approach of rain in the higher regions, and the consequent flooding of the Háwash, rendered every hour one of the utmost importance, not the slightest prospect of departure could be discovered, beyond the oft-repeated assurance, as often followed by disappointment—“Bád bokra Inshállah,” “If it please God, the day after to-morrow.”
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1
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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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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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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frivolous
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| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
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captiously
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prerogatives
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| n.权利( prerogative的名词复数 )；特权；大主教法庭；总督委任组成的法庭 | |
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caravan
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| n.大蓬车；活动房屋 | |
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piqued
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| v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的过去式和过去分词 )；激起（好奇心） | |
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reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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avowing
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| v.公开声明，承认( avow的现在分词 ) | |
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interfering
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| adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词 | |
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14
countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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hoary
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| adj.古老的；鬓发斑白的 | |
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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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convened
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| 召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合 | |
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outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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altercation
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| n.争吵，争论 | |
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inadequate
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| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
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allay
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| v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等) | |
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partisans
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| 游击队员( partisan的名词复数 )； 党人； 党羽； 帮伙 | |
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thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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26
purloined
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| v.偷窃( purloin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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28
broils
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| v.（用火）烤（焙、炙等）( broil的第三人称单数 )；使卷入争吵；使混乱；被烤（或炙） | |
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29
wrangling
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| v.争吵，争论，口角( wrangle的现在分词 ) | |
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30
abatement
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| n.减(免)税，打折扣，冲销 | |
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litigants
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| n.诉讼当事人( litigant的名词复数 ) | |
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32
adverted
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| 引起注意（advert的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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prevailing
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| adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的 | |
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35
boded
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| v.预示，预告，预言( bode的过去式和过去分词 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待 | |
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feuds
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| n.长期不和，世仇( feud的名词复数 ) | |
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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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38
dilated
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| adj.加宽的，扩大的v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39
sate
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| v.使充分满足 | |
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40
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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41
lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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42
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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43
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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44
promulgated
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| v.宣扬（某事物）( promulgate的过去式和过去分词 )；传播；公布；颁布（法令、新法律等） | |
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45
concurrence
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| n.同意；并发 | |
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46
caravans
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| （可供居住的）拖车（通常由机动车拖行）( caravan的名词复数 )； 篷车； （穿过沙漠地带的）旅行队（如商队） | |
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47
bartered
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| v.作物物交换，以货换货( barter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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49
exacting
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| adj.苛求的，要求严格的 | |
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50
propitiated
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| v.劝解，抚慰，使息怒( propitiate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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51
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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52
greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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54
obnoxious
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| adj.极恼人的，讨人厌的，可憎的 | |
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55
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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56
mite
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| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
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57
detention
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| n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下 | |
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58
requisite
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| adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品 | |
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canvass
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| v.招徕顾客，兜售；游说；详细检查，讨论 | |
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sedulously
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| ad.孜孜不倦地 | |
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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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bullies
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| n.欺凌弱小者, 开球 vt.恐吓, 威胁, 欺负 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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wig
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| n.假发 | |
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skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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conclave
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| n.秘密会议，红衣主教团 | |
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exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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adjourned
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| （使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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gourd
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| n.葫芦 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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accosting
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的现在分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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80
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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81
raven
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| n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的 | |
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82
pensive
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| a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的 | |
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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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84
caresses
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| 爱抚，抚摸( caress的名词复数 ) | |
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85
bigoted
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| adj.固执己见的，心胸狭窄的 | |
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86
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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87
tassel
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| n.流苏，穗；v.抽穗， （玉米）长穗须 | |
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88
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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89
interrogated
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| v.询问( interrogate的过去式和过去分词 )；审问；（在计算机或其他机器上）查询 | |
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90
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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91
irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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92
adjured
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| v.（以起誓或诅咒等形式）命令要求( adjure的过去式和过去分词 )；祈求；恳求 | |
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93
conscientiously
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| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
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94
logician
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| n.逻辑学家 | |
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95
controversy
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| n.争论，辩论，争吵 | |
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96
shrine
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| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
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97
usurp
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| vt.篡夺，霸占；vi.篡位 | |
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98
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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99
bickering
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| v.争吵( bicker的现在分词 )；口角；（水等）作潺潺声；闪烁 | |
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100
deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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101
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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102
wares
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| n. 货物, 商品 | |
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103
scowl
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| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
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104
reconciliation
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| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
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105
amicable
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| adj.和平的，友好的；友善的 | |
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106
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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107
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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108
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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109
privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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