As each evening closed, the appearance over the high range of Bulga was magnificent. Dark clouds, occasionally pierced by a bright ray of the sinking sun, drove in dense1 volumes across this mountain wall; and as they rolled on towards the lofty cone2 of Megásus, they revealed in their track the precipitous and rugged3 nature of bluffs4 which had before presented an unbroken surface. Rain not unfrequently fell during the night, and penetrating5 the flimsy cotton awnings6 as if they had been cullenders, rendered an umbrella necessary towards the protection of the damp pillow.
Resolved to view the mysterious Fantáli from the country of the Karaiyo Galla, whence might be determined7 the interesting question of its activity or quiescence8, I planned an excursion with Captain Graham to the lake Muttahára, whose glassy bosom9, surrounded by great belts of yellow grass, and stretching along the western base of the volcano, we had regarded with intense curiosity, as it sparkled under the beams of the setting sun. Absence of water on the road rendered it imperative10 that our party should be limited; and the insuperable aversion displayed by every follower11 to a second expedition to the low country caused little disappointment. Many had already suffered severely12 from inflammation of the eyes; and greater difficulty could hardly have been experienced in obtaining volunteers for the most desperate forlorn hope—the Aroosi beyond the Háwash, a tribe distinguished13 for surpassing ferocity, being declared the bitter enemy of every Christian14 and Mohammadan.
The governor had already proceeded in advance, to collect his vassals15; and on the morning fixed16 for our departure a heavy white fog, such as is wont17 to envelope the capital of Shoa during three-quarters of the year, veiled the entire face of nature. The first five miles led across the richly-cultivated terrace of Berhut, amid numerous hamlets which gradually became visible as the mist ascended18. Aingodiyé, on the top of the pass, together with the entire district of that denomination19, pertains20 to the Lady Asagásh, who, decked in her holiday costume, politely sallied forth21, with her train of household slaves and handmaidens, to greet the passing strangers.
This portly dame22, whose appearance is truly indicative of her wealth, was the favourite concubine of the famous Medóko at the period of his assassination23; and having been suffered by the despot to retain the extensive domains24 conferred upon her paramour during the days of his glory, a thrifty25 disposition26 has swelled27 her hoard28 of corn, oil, and beeves, beyond all bounds. In her retinue29 came a disconsolate30 couple chained together by the wrists—thieves no doubt—and said to be man and wife, whom the Wo?zoro facetiously31 declared it had been found requisite32 to link by bonds stronger than those of wedlock33, in order to counteract34 a decided35 disinclination to the society of the husband, evinced by the inconstant spouse36 in three several elopements.
Descending37 by a steep pass through the district of Goorooréza—a perfect wilderness38 of rugged mountains—we crossed the river of that name near its junction39 with the Casam, and shortly afterwards the Casam itself, from which all the villages for many miles round derive40 their supply of water. Taking its source in the elevated plains of Germáma, this tributary41 of the Háwash escapes through the mountains by a deep defile42, worn in the lapse43 of ages by the autumnal torrents44, betwixt Mentshar and Bulga. Thence it winds on beneath perpendicular45 bluffs jutting46 out from the high table-land. Of these the principal is the frowning promontory47 of Gougou, which, like a natural fortress48, abruptly49 terminates the Tudla Mariam plateau, extending to Angollála in one uninterrupted terrace, celebrated50 for the capsicums and fine cotton wool raised by its Christian population.
From the bed of the Casam the road wound up the Choba ravine, through a fissure51 formed near the point of junction by two gigantic blocks of granite52, which confine the rugged defile to just sufficient width for the transit53 of a mule54. The stupendous mass wore the appearance of having been hurled55 in remote ages from the summit of the impending56 cliff, the force of the concussion57 rending58 it in twain, and forming the key to a road, which by a handful of resolute59 men might be defended against the mightiest60 host. An ascent61 of one thousand feet over the Woleecha mountain, by a narrow path worn in the columnar trap, led to another elevated plateau, where, after the arrival of the governor, the staff was set up for the night at the Moslem62 village of Seeágur, eleven miles from Dummakoo.
The threshing-floor whereon our tent was erected63, standing64 upon one of the many tongues of table-land that intersect the district of Wolágur, looked down a long lone65 valley bounded on the opposite side by the perpendicular wall of Boorkikee, upon the verge66 of which, surrounded by a milk-bush hedge, rose the secluded67 church of Saint George, the last Christian edifice68 of Mentshar. The sudden termination of the terrace, which abruptly drops into the country of the Galla, commanded an extensive prospect69 over the wilderness of Táboo, bounded by the distant blue hills of the Gámoo and Aroosi. Rising among the Sáma Galla, and overflowing70 the level land in the season of its height, the Táboo, like most of the secondary streams in this district, is dissipated by the fiery71 heat of the plains before reaching the Háwash.
Double the number of retainers, both horse and foot, to that which actually appeared on the morrow, had been summoned; but many preferred paying the fine incurred72 by absence, to accompanying their liege lord into jungles hitherto little trodden by the Christian. A respectable retinue was, however, in attendance; and we set out at an early hour for the lake Muttahára. A rugged winding73 descent, due south, led to the foot of the Wolágur range, whence an extensive tract74 stretches away to Fantáli, beautifully wooded, covered with flocks and herds76, and disclosing in every direction the beehive cabins of the Karaiyo, a tribe equally rich in cattle and in pasture land.
It is now fifteen years since an Amhára expedition under the Dech Agafári overran this then independent district from the highlands of Mentshar. The inhabitants, flying for shelter to their thick hook-thorn coverts77, sustained little loss in killed; but the whole of their wealth was swept away, and thirty thousand fat beeves were presented to the monarch78 on the plains of Angollála, as an earnest of successful foray. Since that period the Karaiyo have been nominally79 dependent on Shoa, paying an annual tribute of twenty oxen, and the left tooth of every elephant entrapped80 or found dead—a mild taxation81, with which they are sufficiently82 content to abstain83 from revolt, although the hold over them is too slight to admit of farther impost—the principal advantage derived84 from their submission85 being the interposition of a barrier against the inroads upon the Amhára frontier of the savage86 Aroosi.
The Karaiyo territory, extending about forty miles in length by thirty in breadth, consists of a succession of open uncultivated plains, covered with luxuriant shade, and intersected by low ranges of grassy87 hills, dotted with spreading trees—altogether a highly enviable site for a small nomade tribe, although much scourged88 by the neighbouring Aroosi, and presenting the very theatre for a hasty inroad. Portions of the district often suffer much from drought; but a most opportune89 fall of rain the preceding night had completely deluged90 the country, and poured into every pool along the route a plentiful91 supply of muddy water.
Taking an easterly direction towards Fantáli, we passed numerous well-peopled hamlets, occupying all the secluded nooks, and as wealthy in flocks and herds as if the Amhára besom had never swept the land. From constant exposure to the heat and glare, and the habit of closing the eyelid92 to increase the power of vision, the swarthy features of even the youngest of the blinking inhabitants were deeply furrowed93 with premature94 wrinkles, which, with a turn-up nose, and the greasy95 unbecoming Galla costume, rendered those who had numbered many seasons, truly hideous96.
In an easterly direction the course was bounded by the great isolated97 crater98 of Sáboo, yawning in the very centre of a well populated plain, and said to have been in full activity in the time of Sáhela Selássie’s grandsire, who reigned99 only thirty years ago; an assertion which was fully75 borne out by the recent appearance of the lava100 streams. The long-horned oryx, with great herds of antelope101, grazed around every pool—the latter little disturbed by the presence of those who tended the flocks of sheep and goats, and whose groups of circular wigwams peeped forth in every sequestered102 corner.
An ancient crone of surpassing ugliness, attired103 in a leathern petticoat flounced with cowrie shells, was busily engaged by the way-side in transferring muddy water to her scrip, and looking up, was perfectly104 horrified105 at the appearance of a white face on the opposite border of the puddle106. For a few seconds her old yellow teeth chattered107 audibly, and then, satisfied that there was no deception108, she called loudly upon the goddess Atéti, threw herself back upon the ground, and became a prey109 to abject110 despair.
Resuming a southerly course from the foot of the crater, our path led at right angles over a tract where broken abysses, lava dykes111, and brilliant belts of verdure, were jumbled112 together in strange confusion. At an early hour in the afternoon we reached Inkóftoo, the principal Karaiyo kraal in the district of Kadécha Dima. Standing beside an extensive pool, screened on all sides by luxuriant trees, it was strongly fortified113 by stiff thorn-branches against the inroads of the lion; formidable troops of which, roaming almost unmolested, commit great havoc114 among the cattle, and had only the night before carried off a youth belonging to the village.
It wanted still some miles of the spot in which Habti Mariam had resolved to encamp, near the borders of the Muttahára lake, whose placid115 surface, not less than two miles across, extended almost to the base of Fantáli. The chief of Inkóftoo had seen a rhinoceros116 in the morning, among the dense thicket117 of hook-thorns covering the declivity118 of a hill on the way; but although one of the governor’s braves, elevating his sheep-skin mantle119 upon the point of his lance, charged the assembled multitude in the king’s name to abstain from clamour and from interference with the arrangements made for beating up the quarters of the “ouráris,” the clattering120 hoofs121 of the advancing cavalcade122 presently put the animal to flight towards the Háwash. It were difficult to determine whether the fear of the Aroosi or of wild beasts now predominated in the minds of our Amhára escort. In spite of a heavy fall of rain, large watch-fires were kindled123 in various parts of the lone bivouac, and not a single eye was closed until the day had fairly dawned.
点击收听单词发音
1 dense | |
a.密集的,稠密的,浓密的;密度大的 | |
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2 cone | |
n.圆锥体,圆锥形东西,球果 | |
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3 rugged | |
adj.高低不平的,粗糙的,粗壮的,强健的 | |
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4 bluffs | |
恐吓( bluff的名词复数 ); 悬崖; 峭壁 | |
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5 penetrating | |
adj.(声音)响亮的,尖锐的adj.(气味)刺激的adj.(思想)敏锐的,有洞察力的 | |
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6 awnings | |
篷帐布 | |
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7 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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8 quiescence | |
n.静止 | |
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9 bosom | |
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的 | |
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10 imperative | |
n.命令,需要;规则;祈使语气;adj.强制的;紧急的 | |
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11 follower | |
n.跟随者;随员;门徒;信徒 | |
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12 severely | |
adv.严格地;严厉地;非常恶劣地 | |
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13 distinguished | |
adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的 | |
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14 Christian | |
adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒 | |
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15 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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16 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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17 wont | |
adj.习惯于;v.习惯;n.习惯 | |
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18 ascended | |
v.上升,攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19 denomination | |
n.命名,取名,(度量衡、货币等的)单位 | |
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20 pertains | |
关于( pertain的第三人称单数 ); 有关; 存在; 适用 | |
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21 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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22 dame | |
n.女士 | |
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23 assassination | |
n.暗杀;暗杀事件 | |
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24 domains | |
n.范围( domain的名词复数 );领域;版图;地产 | |
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25 thrifty | |
adj.节俭的;兴旺的;健壮的 | |
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26 disposition | |
n.性情,性格;意向,倾向;排列,部署 | |
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27 swelled | |
增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 ); 肿胀; (使)凸出; 充满(激情) | |
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28 hoard | |
n./v.窖藏,贮存,囤积 | |
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29 retinue | |
n.侍从;随员 | |
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30 disconsolate | |
adj.忧郁的,不快的 | |
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31 facetiously | |
adv.爱开玩笑地;滑稽地,爱开玩笑地 | |
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32 requisite | |
adj.需要的,必不可少的;n.必需品 | |
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33 wedlock | |
n.婚姻,已婚状态 | |
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34 counteract | |
vt.对…起反作用,对抗,抵消 | |
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35 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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36 spouse | |
n.配偶(指夫或妻) | |
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37 descending | |
n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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38 wilderness | |
n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等,荒漠 | |
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39 junction | |
n.连接,接合;交叉点,接合处,枢纽站 | |
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40 derive | |
v.取得;导出;引申;来自;源自;出自 | |
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41 tributary | |
n.支流;纳贡国;adj.附庸的;辅助的;支流的 | |
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42 defile | |
v.弄污,弄脏;n.(山间)小道 | |
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43 lapse | |
n.过失,流逝,失效,抛弃信仰,间隔;vi.堕落,停止,失效,流逝;vt.使失效 | |
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44 torrents | |
n.倾注;奔流( torrent的名词复数 );急流;爆发;连续不断 | |
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45 perpendicular | |
adj.垂直的,直立的;n.垂直线,垂直的位置 | |
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46 jutting | |
v.(使)突出( jut的现在分词 );伸出;(从…)突出;高出 | |
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47 promontory | |
n.海角;岬 | |
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48 fortress | |
n.堡垒,防御工事 | |
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49 abruptly | |
adv.突然地,出其不意地 | |
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50 celebrated | |
adj.有名的,声誉卓著的 | |
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51 fissure | |
n.裂缝;裂伤 | |
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52 granite | |
adj.花岗岩,花岗石 | |
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53 transit | |
n.经过,运输;vt.穿越,旋转;vi.越过 | |
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54 mule | |
n.骡子,杂种,执拗的人 | |
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55 hurled | |
v.猛投,用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 );大声叫骂 | |
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56 impending | |
a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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57 concussion | |
n.脑震荡;震动 | |
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58 rending | |
v.撕碎( rend的现在分词 );分裂;(因愤怒、痛苦等而)揪扯(衣服或头发等);(声音等)刺破 | |
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59 resolute | |
adj.坚决的,果敢的 | |
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60 mightiest | |
adj.趾高气扬( mighty的最高级 );巨大的;强有力的;浩瀚的 | |
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61 ascent | |
n.(声望或地位)提高;上升,升高;登高 | |
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62 Moslem | |
n.回教徒,穆罕默德信徒;adj.回教徒的,回教的 | |
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63 ERECTED | |
adj. 直立的,竖立的,笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立,建立 | |
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64 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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65 lone | |
adj.孤寂的,单独的;唯一的 | |
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66 verge | |
n.边,边缘;v.接近,濒临 | |
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67 secluded | |
adj.与世隔绝的;隐退的;偏僻的v.使隔开,使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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68 edifice | |
n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿,教室) | |
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69 prospect | |
n.前景,前途;景色,视野 | |
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70 overflowing | |
n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的,充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式 | |
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71 fiery | |
adj.燃烧着的,火红的;暴躁的;激烈的 | |
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72 incurred | |
[医]招致的,遭受的; incur的过去式 | |
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73 winding | |
n.绕,缠,绕组,线圈 | |
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74 tract | |
n.传单,小册子,大片(土地或森林) | |
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75 fully | |
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 | |
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76 herds | |
兽群( herd的名词复数 ); 牧群; 人群; 群众 | |
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77 coverts | |
n.隐蔽的,不公开的,秘密的( covert的名词复数 );复羽 | |
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78 monarch | |
n.帝王,君主,最高统治者 | |
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79 nominally | |
在名义上,表面地; 应名儿 | |
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80 entrapped | |
v.使陷入圈套,使入陷阱( entrap的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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81 taxation | |
n.征税,税收,税金 | |
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82 sufficiently | |
adv.足够地,充分地 | |
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83 abstain | |
v.自制,戒绝,弃权,避免 | |
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84 derived | |
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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85 submission | |
n.服从,投降;温顺,谦虚;提出 | |
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86 savage | |
adj.野蛮的;凶恶的,残暴的;n.未开化的人 | |
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87 grassy | |
adj.盖满草的;长满草的 | |
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88 scourged | |
鞭打( scourge的过去式和过去分词 ); 惩罚,压迫 | |
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89 opportune | |
adj.合适的,适当的 | |
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90 deluged | |
v.使淹没( deluge的过去式和过去分词 );淹没;被洪水般涌来的事物所淹没;穷于应付 | |
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91 plentiful | |
adj.富裕的,丰富的 | |
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92 eyelid | |
n.眼睑,眼皮 | |
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93 furrowed | |
v.犁田,开沟( furrow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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94 premature | |
adj.比预期时间早的;不成熟的,仓促的 | |
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95 greasy | |
adj. 多脂的,油脂的 | |
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96 hideous | |
adj.丑陋的,可憎的,可怕的,恐怖的 | |
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97 isolated | |
adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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98 crater | |
n.火山口,弹坑 | |
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99 reigned | |
vi.当政,统治(reign的过去式形式) | |
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100 lava | |
n.熔岩,火山岩 | |
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101 antelope | |
n.羚羊;羚羊皮 | |
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102 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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103 attired | |
adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服,使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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104 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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105 horrified | |
a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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106 puddle | |
n.(雨)水坑,泥潭 | |
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107 chattered | |
(人)喋喋不休( chatter的过去式 ); 唠叨; (牙齿)打战; (机器)震颤 | |
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108 deception | |
n.欺骗,欺诈;骗局,诡计 | |
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109 prey | |
n.被掠食者,牺牲者,掠食;v.捕食,掠夺,折磨 | |
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110 abject | |
adj.极可怜的,卑屈的 | |
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111 dykes | |
abbr.diagonal wire cutters 斜线切割机n.堤( dyke的名词复数 );坝;堰;沟 | |
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112 jumbled | |
adj.混乱的;杂乱的 | |
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113 fortified | |
adj. 加强的 | |
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114 havoc | |
n.大破坏,浩劫,大混乱,大杂乱 | |
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115 placid | |
adj.安静的,平和的 | |
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116 rhinoceros | |
n.犀牛 | |
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117 thicket | |
n.灌木丛,树林 | |
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118 declivity | |
n.下坡,倾斜面 | |
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119 mantle | |
n.斗篷,覆罩之物,罩子;v.罩住,覆盖,脸红 | |
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120 clattering | |
发出咔哒声(clatter的现在分词形式) | |
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121 hoofs | |
n.(兽的)蹄,马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.(兽的)蹄,马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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122 cavalcade | |
n.车队等的行列 | |
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123 kindled | |
(使某物)燃烧,着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 ); 激起(感情等); 发亮,放光 | |
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