A cool cloudy morning succeeding to this dreary1, boisterous2 and uncomfortable night, the caravan3 was in motion before sunrise across the uninteresting plain of Azbóti, in parts completely swamped, and covered towards its borders with one interminable sheet of the alo? and lilium, growing beneath spreading acacias upon a gravelly soil. Then commenced a belt of hummocks4, formed by prominences5 abutting6 from the high land of Abyssinia—a succession of hill and dale, thickly-wooded with a variety of timber, and still clothed with an undergrowth of the wild alo?, through which wary7 herds8 of Baéza threaded their way. The road soon entered the pebbly9 bed of a mountain stream, running easterly between precipitous basaltic cliffs towards the Háwash; but although such torrents10 of rain had fallen the preceding night, no water was discovered in the wooded wady of Koka?, until reaching Dathára, nearly thirteen miles from the last encampment, where the party partook of the first crystal brook11 that had occurred during the entire weary journey from the sea-coast.
Three thousand feet above the ocean, with an invigorating, breeze and a cloudy sky, the climate of this principal pass into Southern Abyssinia, was that of a fine summer’s day in England, rather than of the middle of July between the tropics. Here for the first time during the pilgrimage, the tent was erected12 under the shade of a wide-spreading tamarind, which, among many other trees of noble growth, graced the sequestered13 spot. Above the surrounding foliage14 the long white roofs of many of the royal magazines were visible, perched high on the blue mountain side. In the forked branches overhead were piled haystack-looking nests of gigantic dimensions, thatched with every attention to neatness and comfort—the small aperture15 left by the feathered architect turned in every instance to the eastward16, and carefully secured from the weather; and perched on every twig18, an assemblage of strange birds displayed their gay glittering plumage, or filled the cool air with melodious19 song.
But from the summit of an adjacent basaltic knoll20, which was ascended21 towards the close of day, there burst upon the delighted gaze a prospect22 more than ever alluring23 of the Abyssinian Alps. Hill rose above hill, clothed in the most luxuriant and vigorous vegetation. Mountain towered over mountain in a smiling chaos24 of disorder25; and the soaring peaks of the most remote range threw their hoary26 heads, sparkling with a white mantle27 of hail, far into the cold azure28 sky. Villages and hamlets embosomed in dark groves29 of evergreens30 were grouped in Arcadian repose31. Rich fields of every hue32 chequered the deep lone33 valley; and the sun, bidding a diurnal34 farewell to his much-loved plains of the east, shot a last stream of golden light, varied35 as the hues36 of the Iris37, over the mingled38 beauties of wild woodland scenery, and the labours of the Christian39 husbandman.
No delegate with greetings from the Negoos awaiting the British Embassy, and the frontier town of Fárri, where caravans40 are received by His Majesty41’s officers, being now only five miles distant, a letter was prepared, of which Mohammad Ali volunteered to be the bearer. In signifying gracious acquiescence42 to this arrangement, the Ras el Káfilah gravely intimated that the escort of Hy Somauli spearmen, famished43 at Killulloo by Ibrahim ibn Háme?do, declined permitting the departure of the son of Ali Abi, until they should have received the sum at which they were pleased to estimate their services. Little reason existing to be satisfied with the vigilance of this band of warriors44, not one of the component45 members whereof, Doctor Syntax inclusive, had adopted the plan proposed by the poet for lengthening46 the days of existence by stealing a few hours from the night, compliance47 to the full extent of the exorbitant48 demand had previously49 been evaded50. But as Izhák, in whom the truth was not, now falsely asserted and maintained that the Akil had taken his personal security for the sum, and as it was obviously of the last importance that arrival on the frontier should be timely reported, the money was reluctantly paid, and the courier set forth51 on his journey.
Rain was again ushering52 in the early hours of the night, when the unpleasant intelligence arrived that a certain Wulásma Mohammad was the delinquent53, and that he had contrived54 effectually to thwart55 the intentions of his royal master. The king had commanded that his British visitors should be received on the western bank of the Háwash by an escort of honour. Under the commander-in-chief of the body-guard, three hundred matchlock-men had been for this purpose detached from the troops on service with His Majesty, and had actually reached Fárri, whence the jealous Moslem56 had dared to send them back upon the ridiculous pretext57 of being unable to obtain any tidings of the expected Franks.
This important functionary58, in addition to his office of state-gaoler, is the hereditary59 Abogáz of the Mohammadan population of Argóbba on the east of Shoa, and the nature of his government exalts60 him in the eyes of all to the importance of a king. With the title of Wulásma—a word of uncertain derivation, known to Ludolf, the great historian of Abyssinia, who styles the dignitary “Pro rex of Efát”—he possesses unbounded influence over the frontier, his immediate61 duties being to preserve amicable62 relations with the Ada?el occupying the plain of the Háwash, and to protect káfilahs and merchants arriving from the independent principality of Hurrur, or from the coast of Tajúra. His functions as keeper of the state prison secure for him the respect of all. Christians63 as well as Islams, who have the fear of a dungeon64 before their eyes; and although numerous Abogásoch or Wulásmoch, governors of small detached provinces, share his power, the name and influence of all are dim under the light that glares from his loop-holed residence at Góncho.
It is the invariable policy of the haughty65 Abogáz to assume the great man to all travellers, since it is generally understood that through him alone foreigners can be received and forwarded, or if necessary presented to the Negoos. This arrangement involves not only trouble, but considerable expense. His despotic Majesty claiming the prerogative66 of franking every visitor through his territories, and a portion of the attendant outlay67 falling upon the functionary who may be honoured with the royal commands.
Openly opposed to European innovation, Mohammad particularly disliked the advent68 of the British Embassy, and was obviously doing his utmost to thwart the more liberal views of the crown, by treating the strangers with disrespect. The imperial order that an escort of matchlock-men should for the first time cross the hill frontier, and proceed into the plain of the Háwash, to do honour to the Christian guests, not only rankled69 in his Moslem breast, but was calculated to interfere70 with his resolution to preserve inviolate71 the avenues to the sea-coast. His intrigues72 had rendered abortive73 all attempts to communicate with the Court; and whilst the approach of the Embassy was not reported until its actual arrival at Dathára, his non-compliance with the order given had resulted most prejudicially, the Danákil guides being now more than ever unwilling74 to persuade themselves that the party would be welcome.
Preparations were making the following morning to continue the march to Fárri, when the burly functionary was seen pompously75 approaching with measured step, followed by a retinue76 of many hundred armed followers77, whose shaven heads rose unturbaned above flowing white mantles78. Far from announcing himself in the customary manner, he remained seated in portentous79 dignity, beneath the shade of a venerable tamarind by the road-side, until, every camel having been loaded, the caravan was moving off the ground. A peremptory80 message was then received through one of his myrmidons, to the effect that he stood strictly81 charged with the king’s commands to suffer not one of the party to advance until the next day, and that he was prepared to enforce the interdiction82. There seemed little reason to doubt of this being a premeditated falsehood, as it afterwards proved to be; but the Ras el Káfilah having heard the injunction repeated in presence of the Wulásma Sule?man Moosa, Abogáz of Chánnoo, as coming direct from His Majesty, timidly declined any infringement83, and again threw down the loads.
Condescending84 at length in moody85 sullenness86 to approach with his host of retainers, the triumphant87 potentate88, armed with the rosary, or chaplet of one hundred beads89, which denoted his intolerant faith, squeezed his pursy figure into a chair, and composed himself with much apparent satisfaction at the success that had attended his scheme of opposition90. A debauched, ill-favoured, bloated specimen91 of mortality, the lines of intemperance92 were deeply graven on his truculent93 visage, which was at once cunning, sinister94, and forbidding. But the party were not long troubled with his obnoxious95 presence. The reception he experienced, although civil, was distant and studiously formal, and the sun, beating in a full blaze upon his bald crown, rendered his position so extremely untenable, that after stiffly murmuring replies to the customary inquiries96 anent the health and well-being97 of his august master, he rose unceremoniously, and abruptly98 withdrew.
Throughout this brief and very unbending interview, a brawny99 retainer stood behind the chair, denuded100 to the waist. In his right hand he ostentatiously displayed the chief gaoler’s sword of state—a short heavy blade upon the model of the old Roman falchion, enclosed in a scabbard of massive silver; and his left arm supported a buckler of stiff bull’s hide, elaborately emblazoned with crescents and brass101 studs. The benevolent102 and prepossessing aspect of the Wulásma Sule?man Moosa, who occupied a second seat, offered a striking contrast to the repulsive103 arrogance104 of his scowling105 colleague. On his right side, protruding106 upwards107 with the curve of a scorpion’s tail, he wore a semicircular weapon, also denominated a sword, though in fact more nearly allied108 to a reaping-hook—a proud badge of office, with a fluted109 tulip-shaped termination to the silver scabbard, which, according to the wont110 of the despot, had been conferred on the occasion of his first installation in office, but which ludicrously interfered111 with comfort in an armchair.
During the residue112 of the day, the conduct of the state-gaoler was perfectly113 in unison114 with his character and previous hostile proceedings115. He brought the white visitors neither presents nor supplies, according to the rules of Abyssinian hospitality; and although made fully17 aware that the camp was drained of provisions, prevented purchases by the undue116 exercise of his influence and authority. A pelting117 rain during the night, from which his sleek118 person was defended by naught119 save the pervious branches of a tamarind, had not tended to soften120 the asperities121, or to alleviate122 the sourness of his aspect, when the day dawned; and it was only on finding the party prepared to advance at the hazard of forcible opposition, that he finally yielded the point, and betwixt his closed teeth muttered his grumbling123 consent to an arrangement which he felt longer unable with prudence124 to oppose. “The English are a great nation,” whispered the nephew of Ali Shermárki, as he passed the haughty Abogáz, “and you had better take care to treat them civilly. Wullahi! one of their ships of war would carry this káfilah over the water, and you and all your host of followers into the bargain.”
点击收听单词发音
1 dreary | |
adj.令人沮丧的,沉闷的,单调乏味的 | |
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2 boisterous | |
adj.喧闹的,欢闹的 | |
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3 caravan | |
n.大蓬车;活动房屋 | |
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4 hummocks | |
n.小丘,岗( hummock的名词复数 ) | |
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5 prominences | |
n.织物中凸起的部分;声望( prominence的名词复数 );突出;重要;要事 | |
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6 abutting | |
adj.邻接的v.(与…)邻接( abut的现在分词 );(与…)毗连;接触;倚靠 | |
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7 wary | |
adj.谨慎的,机警的,小心的 | |
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8 herds | |
兽群( herd的名词复数 ); 牧群; 人群; 群众 | |
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9 pebbly | |
多卵石的,有卵石花纹的 | |
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10 torrents | |
n.倾注;奔流( torrent的名词复数 );急流;爆发;连续不断 | |
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11 brook | |
n.小河,溪;v.忍受,容让 | |
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12 ERECTED | |
adj. 直立的,竖立的,笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立,建立 | |
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13 sequestered | |
adj.扣押的;隐退的;幽静的;偏僻的v.使隔绝,使隔离( sequester的过去式和过去分词 );扣押 | |
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14 foliage | |
n.叶子,树叶,簇叶 | |
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15 aperture | |
n.孔,隙,窄的缺口 | |
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16 eastward | |
adv.向东;adj.向东的;n.东方,东部 | |
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17 fully | |
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 | |
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18 twig | |
n.小树枝,嫩枝;v.理解 | |
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19 melodious | |
adj.旋律美妙的,调子优美的,音乐性的 | |
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20 knoll | |
n.小山,小丘 | |
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21 ascended | |
v.上升,攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22 prospect | |
n.前景,前途;景色,视野 | |
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23 alluring | |
adj.吸引人的,迷人的 | |
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24 chaos | |
n.混乱,无秩序 | |
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25 disorder | |
n.紊乱,混乱;骚动,骚乱;疾病,失调 | |
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26 hoary | |
adj.古老的;鬓发斑白的 | |
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27 mantle | |
n.斗篷,覆罩之物,罩子;v.罩住,覆盖,脸红 | |
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28 azure | |
adj.天蓝色的,蔚蓝色的 | |
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29 groves | |
树丛,小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
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30 evergreens | |
n.常青树,常绿植物,万年青( evergreen的名词复数 ) | |
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31 repose | |
v.(使)休息;n.安息 | |
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32 hue | |
n.色度;色调;样子 | |
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33 lone | |
adj.孤寂的,单独的;唯一的 | |
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34 diurnal | |
adj.白天的,每日的 | |
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35 varied | |
adj.多样的,多变化的 | |
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36 hues | |
色彩( hue的名词复数 ); 色调; 信仰; 观点 | |
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37 iris | |
n.虹膜,彩虹 | |
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38 mingled | |
混合,混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 ); 混进,与…交往[联系] | |
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39 Christian | |
adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒 | |
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40 caravans | |
(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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41 majesty | |
n.雄伟,壮丽,庄严,威严;最高权威,王权 | |
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42 acquiescence | |
n.默许;顺从 | |
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43 famished | |
adj.饥饿的 | |
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44 warriors | |
武士,勇士,战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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45 component | |
n.组成部分,成分,元件;adj.组成的,合成的 | |
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46 lengthening | |
(时间或空间)延长,伸长( lengthen的现在分词 ); 加长 | |
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47 compliance | |
n.顺从;服从;附和;屈从 | |
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48 exorbitant | |
adj.过分的;过度的 | |
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49 previously | |
adv.以前,先前(地) | |
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50 evaded | |
逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 ); 避开; 回避; 想不出 | |
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51 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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52 ushering | |
v.引,领,陪同( usher的现在分词 ) | |
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53 delinquent | |
adj.犯法的,有过失的;n.违法者 | |
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54 contrived | |
adj.不自然的,做作的;虚构的 | |
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55 thwart | |
v.阻挠,妨碍,反对;adj.横(断的) | |
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56 Moslem | |
n.回教徒,穆罕默德信徒;adj.回教徒的,回教的 | |
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57 pretext | |
n.借口,托词 | |
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58 functionary | |
n.官员;公职人员 | |
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59 hereditary | |
adj.遗传的,遗传性的,可继承的,世袭的 | |
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60 exalts | |
赞扬( exalt的第三人称单数 ); 歌颂; 提升; 提拔 | |
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61 immediate | |
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的 | |
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62 amicable | |
adj.和平的,友好的;友善的 | |
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63 Christians | |
n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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64 dungeon | |
n.地牢,土牢 | |
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65 haughty | |
adj.傲慢的,高傲的 | |
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66 prerogative | |
n.特权 | |
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67 outlay | |
n.费用,经费,支出;v.花费 | |
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68 advent | |
n.(重要事件等的)到来,来临 | |
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69 rankled | |
v.(使)痛苦不已,(使)怨恨不已( rankle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70 interfere | |
v.(in)干涉,干预;(with)妨碍,打扰 | |
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71 inviolate | |
adj.未亵渎的,未受侵犯的 | |
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72 intrigues | |
n.密谋策划( intrigue的名词复数 );神秘气氛;引人入胜的复杂情节v.搞阴谋诡计( intrigue的第三人称单数 );激起…的好奇心 | |
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73 abortive | |
adj.不成功的,发育不全的 | |
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74 unwilling | |
adj.不情愿的 | |
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75 pompously | |
adv.傲慢地,盛大壮观地;大模大样 | |
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76 retinue | |
n.侍从;随员 | |
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77 followers | |
追随者( follower的名词复数 ); 用户; 契据的附面; 从动件 | |
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78 mantles | |
vt.&vi.覆盖(mantle的第三人称单数形式) | |
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79 portentous | |
adj.不祥的,可怕的,装腔作势的 | |
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80 peremptory | |
adj.紧急的,专横的,断然的 | |
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81 strictly | |
adv.严厉地,严格地;严密地 | |
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82 interdiction | |
n.禁止;封锁 | |
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83 infringement | |
n.违反;侵权 | |
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84 condescending | |
adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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85 moody | |
adj.心情不稳的,易怒的,喜怒无常的 | |
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86 sullenness | |
n. 愠怒, 沉闷, 情绪消沉 | |
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87 triumphant | |
adj.胜利的,成功的;狂欢的,喜悦的 | |
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88 potentate | |
n.统治者;君主 | |
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89 beads | |
n.(空心)小珠子( bead的名词复数 );水珠;珠子项链 | |
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90 opposition | |
n.反对,敌对 | |
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91 specimen | |
n.样本,标本 | |
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92 intemperance | |
n.放纵 | |
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93 truculent | |
adj.野蛮的,粗野的 | |
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94 sinister | |
adj.不吉利的,凶恶的,左边的 | |
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95 obnoxious | |
adj.极恼人的,讨人厌的,可憎的 | |
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96 inquiries | |
n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 );疑问;探究;打听 | |
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97 well-being | |
n.安康,安乐,幸福 | |
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98 abruptly | |
adv.突然地,出其不意地 | |
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99 brawny | |
adj.强壮的 | |
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100 denuded | |
adj.[医]变光的,裸露的v.使赤裸( denude的过去式和过去分词 );剥光覆盖物 | |
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101 brass | |
n.黄铜;黄铜器,铜管乐器 | |
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102 benevolent | |
adj.仁慈的,乐善好施的 | |
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103 repulsive | |
adj.排斥的,使人反感的 | |
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104 arrogance | |
n.傲慢,自大 | |
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105 scowling | |
怒视,生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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106 protruding | |
v.(使某物)伸出,(使某物)突出( protrude的现在分词 );凸 | |
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107 upwards | |
adv.向上,在更高处...以上 | |
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108 allied | |
adj.协约国的;同盟国的 | |
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109 fluted | |
a.有凹槽的 | |
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110 wont | |
adj.习惯于;v.习惯;n.习惯 | |
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111 interfered | |
v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 );调停;妨碍;干涉 | |
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112 residue | |
n.残余,剩余,残渣 | |
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113 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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114 unison | |
n.步调一致,行动一致 | |
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115 proceedings | |
n.进程,过程,议程;诉讼(程序);公报 | |
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116 undue | |
adj.过分的;不适当的;未到期的 | |
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117 pelting | |
微不足道的,无价值的,盛怒的 | |
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118 sleek | |
adj.光滑的,井然有序的;v.使光滑,梳拢 | |
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119 naught | |
n.无,零 [=nought] | |
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120 soften | |
v.(使)变柔软;(使)变柔和 | |
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121 asperities | |
n.粗暴( asperity的名词复数 );(表面的)粗糙;(环境的)艰苦;严寒的天气 | |
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122 alleviate | |
v.减轻,缓和,缓解(痛苦等) | |
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123 grumbling | |
adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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124 prudence | |
n.谨慎,精明,节俭 | |
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