Before daylight of the following morning, Ayto Tsánna gave the word to saddle, and the tedious descent of the south-eastern face of the steep Manya hill having been accomplished2 on foot, we gained the border of the wilderness as the sun rose, and took post on a small eminence3 to await the report of the scouts4 who were out in every direction among the tangled5 grass. The valley, environed by mountains, and extending eight or ten miles in one uninterrupted flat, was intersected throughout its extreme breadth by the four streams already named, their thickly-wooded banks harbouring antelope6, and a great variety of birds of the most brilliant plumage. These detached jungles, in many points uniting, formed a continuous belt of dark foliage7, and in others receding8 as the miry swamps became niggard of the requisite9 moisture, afforded limited vistas10 to the eye, although still accessible with difficulty either to man or horse.
A speedy summons arrived from the governor, who, with a large party of retainers, and two matchlock-men forming his body-guard, was seated on the banks of Jow-wahá. An elephant had been descried11 at the distance of some miles, and an uproar12 had in consequence commenced, sufficient to alarm the most fearless and sedate13 quarry14 in existence. After a protracted15 and tumultuous consultation16, the hunt was commenced according to the Abyssinian method—equestrians and pedestrians17 without number shouting and hallooing to each other as they threaded the paths trampled18 by the huge quadrupeds through a tangled swamp of canes19, so locked and interlaced that no human eye could penetrate20 one foot on either side, whilst crowds of Galla horsemen galloped21 on either flank, to complete the impossibility of success.
This turmoil22 continued under a burning sun until past two o’clock, when, having reached the extremity23 of the waste which divides the country of the Gibdósa Ada?el, the appearance of several horsemen hovering24 in the distance induced the governor to decamp with precipitation to the centre of the wilderness, without having seen aught save a few recent tracks imprinted25 on the burnt grass, and a charred26 log of wood which was long maintained to be an elephant. Here the tributary27 Gillé and Soopa, who had been called out under their respective chiefs, Abbo and Boroo (Boroo signifies “my yellow horse”), came pouring in from all directions—a wild and savage28 race, whom the Christians30 declared to be the most hardened, cruel, and insubordinate wretches31 in the whole world, men who would take a life for the possession of the veriest trifle. More than trebling the numerical strength of the Amhára, their appearance so alarmed the veteran “Wobo,” that he forthwith placed himself under the protection of his guests; and apprehending32 a termination to the day similar to the issue of Chevy Chase, requested that rifles might be discharged for the purpose of intimidation33, whilst he ordered his immediate34 attendants to raise the shrill35 war-cry to collect his scattered36 retainers. The Moslems meanwhile contented37 themselves with gazing at the unwonted appearance of the white strangers, and clumps39 of Christian29 spears soon restored the chief to his self-possession, and relieved the forebodings of his dismayed followers40, whose extraordinary politeness to the auxiliaries41 was beyond all things diverting; the most tender inquiries42 relative to health and wellbeing only eliciting43 a scowling44 glance, accompanied by a surly dogged reply.
It being in the interim45 reported that a man had been destroyed by a female elephant, at whose calf46 he had ventured to hurl47 his spear, Ayto Tsánna took the opportunity of freeing himself of his unpleasant Galla vassals48, by directing them to hem38 the skirts of the forest, whilst he requested us “to enter the thicket49, and destroy the enraged50 beast, whom no one else would approach.” Although well convinced of the impossibility of accomplishing this absurd request, a desire to efface51 former evil imputations induced a ready compliance52, and a body of Amhára spearmen were selected to point out the scene of the alleged53 accident. Crouching54 in a compact group at intervals55 of every few hundred yards as they advanced, they lowered their shields, bristled56 their spears, and in “the language of the chase,” offered up a prayer for Divine assistance, coupled with abuse and defiance57 to the much-dreaded object of their quest.
The story of the catastrophe58 proved on investigation59 to be utterly60 false, the man having been merely lacerated by a splinter in a fall from a tree, instead of killed outright61 by an elephant, as averred62 by his comrades. A search of two miles through the shady recesses63 of a magnificent forest, where some of the venerable trees measured upwards64 of forty feet in circumference65, and where the lemon grew wild in the utmost luxuriance and profusion66, led us again to the open plain, without aught being seen but a few of that rare species of ape styled the “monk of the wood.” Here a message from the governor was delivered, to the effect that the elephants were surrounded at the further extremity of the waste, and unless immediately attacked would make their escape. Rejoining him with all expedition, it was ascertained67 that want of method had again frustrated68 every design, and that the clamour of the unruly multitude had rendered futile69 this last chance of retrieving70 the fortunes of the day.
Evening was now fast closing around, and many miles were to be retraced71 to the camp, across bogs72 and quagmires73, rendered almost impassable by the tramp of six hundred horsemen. But before finally leaving the ground, the Galla chieftains and their wild host were assembled; and the governor, taking his seat in the midst, in a set speech informed them that their lord the king had sent them “a strong stranger” as a guest. That their country of Giddem had been chosen in preference to Bulga, Mentshar, or the banks of the Robi, and that elephants must be found on the morrow, or shame would be the portion of all in the eyes of their royal master. Bowing their heads, in token of implicit74 obedience75 to the high behest, the chiefs pledged themselves to spare no exertions76, and to appear early the following day with double the number of their respective tribes; which assurance given, the opportunity was embraced of urging an old dispute relative to the loss of certain Galla steeds, stated by Boroo, surnamed Amba Bukazia, to have been stolen by the Amhára borderers.
“Yellow Horse” rose to speak in favour of his countrymen. His portly figure betokened77 high command and perfect self-possession. The fines of his dark face had settled down into features expressive78 of the most imperturbable79 coolness, and his whole appearance was that of the haughty80 savage chieftain. Standing81 erect82 before his feudal83 superior, his attitude and demeanour were strikingly bold and dignified84. His mantle85, surmounted86 by a shaggy black skin, fell gracefully87 over his brawny89 shoulders; and his words flowed on, pleasing and mellifluous90, in a smooth stream of native eloquence91, which the soft language of the Galla admitted of his modulating92 into a masterly succession of measured rhymes. The interpreter sat opposite, with his eyes riveted93 on the orator94, and sentence after sentence being rendered into Amháric with ease and volubility, he conveyed to the governor through every marked intonation95 a close verbal interpretation96, without disturbing for a moment the graceful88 flow of the impassioned harangue97. But Ayto Tsánna having already decided98 the question, and mentally resolved not to listen to the appeal, gladly availed himself of my departure for camp to mount his own horse, and thus abruptly99 to terminate the unpleasant discussion.
点击收听单词发音
1 wilderness | |
n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等,荒漠 | |
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2 accomplished | |
adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的 | |
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3 eminence | |
n.卓越,显赫;高地,高处;名家 | |
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4 scouts | |
侦察员[机,舰]( scout的名词复数 ); 童子军; 搜索; 童子军成员 | |
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5 tangled | |
adj. 纠缠的,紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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6 antelope | |
n.羚羊;羚羊皮 | |
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7 foliage | |
n.叶子,树叶,簇叶 | |
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8 receding | |
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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9 requisite | |
adj.需要的,必不可少的;n.必需品 | |
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10 vistas | |
长条形景色( vista的名词复数 ); 回顾; 展望; (未来可能发生的)一系列情景 | |
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11 descried | |
adj.被注意到的,被发现的,被看到的 | |
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12 uproar | |
n.骚动,喧嚣,鼎沸 | |
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13 sedate | |
adj.沉着的,镇静的,安静的 | |
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14 quarry | |
n.采石场;v.采石;费力地找 | |
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15 protracted | |
adj.拖延的;延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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16 consultation | |
n.咨询;商量;商议;会议 | |
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17 pedestrians | |
n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 ) | |
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18 trampled | |
踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 ); 践踏; 无视; 侵犯 | |
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19 canes | |
n.(某些植物,如竹或甘蔗的)茎( cane的名词复数 );(用于制作家具等的)竹竿;竹杖 | |
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20 penetrate | |
v.透(渗)入;刺入,刺穿;洞察,了解 | |
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21 galloped | |
(使马)飞奔,奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 ); 快速做[说]某事 | |
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22 turmoil | |
n.骚乱,混乱,动乱 | |
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23 extremity | |
n.末端,尽头;尽力;终极;极度 | |
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24 hovering | |
鸟( hover的现在分词 ); 靠近(某事物); (人)徘徊; 犹豫 | |
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25 imprinted | |
v.盖印(imprint的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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26 charred | |
v.把…烧成炭( char的过去式);烧焦 | |
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27 tributary | |
n.支流;纳贡国;adj.附庸的;辅助的;支流的 | |
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28 savage | |
adj.野蛮的;凶恶的,残暴的;n.未开化的人 | |
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29 Christian | |
adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒 | |
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30 Christians | |
n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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31 wretches | |
n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 );可怜的人;恶棍;坏蛋 | |
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32 apprehending | |
逮捕,拘押( apprehend的现在分词 ); 理解 | |
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33 intimidation | |
n.恐吓,威胁 | |
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34 immediate | |
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的 | |
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35 shrill | |
adj.尖声的;刺耳的;v尖叫 | |
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36 scattered | |
adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的 | |
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37 contented | |
adj.满意的,安心的,知足的 | |
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38 hem | |
n.贴边,镶边;vt.缝贴边;(in)包围,限制 | |
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39 clumps | |
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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40 followers | |
追随者( follower的名词复数 ); 用户; 契据的附面; 从动件 | |
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41 auxiliaries | |
n.助动词 ( auxiliary的名词复数 );辅助工,辅助人员 | |
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42 inquiries | |
n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 );疑问;探究;打听 | |
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43 eliciting | |
n. 诱发, 引出 动词elicit的现在分词形式 | |
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44 scowling | |
怒视,生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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45 interim | |
adj.暂时的,临时的;n.间歇,过渡期间 | |
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46 calf | |
n.小牛,犊,幼仔,小牛皮 | |
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47 hurl | |
vt.猛投,力掷,声叫骂 | |
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48 vassals | |
n.奴仆( vassal的名词复数 );(封建时代)诸侯;从属者;下属 | |
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49 thicket | |
n.灌木丛,树林 | |
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50 enraged | |
使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 ); 歜; 激愤 | |
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51 efface | |
v.擦掉,抹去 | |
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52 compliance | |
n.顺从;服从;附和;屈从 | |
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53 alleged | |
a.被指控的,嫌疑的 | |
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54 crouching | |
v.屈膝,蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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55 intervals | |
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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56 bristled | |
adj. 直立的,多刺毛的 动词bristle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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57 defiance | |
n.挑战,挑衅,蔑视,违抗 | |
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58 catastrophe | |
n.大灾难,大祸 | |
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59 investigation | |
n.调查,调查研究 | |
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60 utterly | |
adv.完全地,绝对地 | |
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61 outright | |
adv.坦率地;彻底地;立即;adj.无疑的;彻底的 | |
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62 averred | |
v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 );证实;证明…属实;作为事实提出 | |
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63 recesses | |
n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 );(工作或业务活动的)中止或暂停期间;学校的课间休息;某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 );将(墙)做成凹形,在(墙)上做壁龛;休息,休会,休庭 | |
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64 upwards | |
adv.向上,在更高处...以上 | |
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65 circumference | |
n.圆周,周长,圆周线 | |
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66 profusion | |
n.挥霍;丰富 | |
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67 ascertained | |
v.弄清,确定,查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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68 frustrated | |
adj.挫败的,失意的,泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 );挫败;使受挫折;令人沮丧 | |
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69 futile | |
adj.无效的,无用的,无希望的 | |
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70 retrieving | |
n.检索(过程),取还v.取回( retrieve的现在分词 );恢复;寻回;检索(储存的信息) | |
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71 retraced | |
v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 );回忆;回顾;追溯 | |
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72 bogs | |
n.沼泽,泥塘( bog的名词复数 );厕所v.(使)陷入泥沼, (使)陷入困境( bog的第三人称单数 );妨碍,阻碍 | |
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73 quagmires | |
n.沼泽地,泥潭( quagmire的名词复数 ) | |
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74 implicit | |
a.暗示的,含蓄的,不明晰的,绝对的 | |
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75 obedience | |
n.服从,顺从 | |
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76 exertions | |
n.努力( exertion的名词复数 );费力;(能力、权力等的)运用;行使 | |
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77 betokened | |
v.预示,表示( betoken的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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78 expressive | |
adj.表现的,表达…的,富于表情的 | |
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79 imperturbable | |
adj.镇静的 | |
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80 haughty | |
adj.傲慢的,高傲的 | |
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81 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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82 erect | |
n./v.树立,建立,使竖立;adj.直立的,垂直的 | |
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83 feudal | |
adj.封建的,封地的,领地的 | |
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84 dignified | |
a.可敬的,高贵的 | |
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85 mantle | |
n.斗篷,覆罩之物,罩子;v.罩住,覆盖,脸红 | |
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86 surmounted | |
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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87 gracefully | |
ad.大大方方地;优美地 | |
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88 graceful | |
adj.优美的,优雅的;得体的 | |
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89 brawny | |
adj.强壮的 | |
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90 mellifluous | |
adj.(音乐等)柔美流畅的 | |
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91 eloquence | |
n.雄辩;口才,修辞 | |
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92 modulating | |
调整( modulate的现在分词 ); (对波幅、频率的)调制; 转调; 调整或改变(嗓音)的音调 | |
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93 riveted | |
铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 ); 把…固定住; 吸引; 引起某人的注意 | |
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94 orator | |
n.演说者,演讲者,雄辩家 | |
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95 intonation | |
n.语调,声调;发声 | |
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96 interpretation | |
n.解释,说明,描述;艺术处理 | |
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97 harangue | |
n.慷慨冗长的训话,言辞激烈的讲话 | |
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98 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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99 abruptly | |
adv.突然地,出其不意地 | |
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