It seemed to me that the adventures John Boyes underwent were something quite out of the common; in these matter-of-fact days they may be said to be almost unique. In the days
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of exploration and discovery, when Captain Cook and such heroes lived and thrived, they were perhaps common enough; but every year the opportunities of such adventure get more and more remote, and as the uttermost parts of the earth are brought under the influence of civilization will become ever more impossible. For this reason alone a story such as told here seems to be worth recording2.
There is no attempt at literary style. The man tells his tale in a simple, matter-of-fact way, and, as his Editor, I have thought it better from every point of view to leave his words as he has written them.
The reader will judge for himself as to the interest of the adventures here related, but I think any one will admit that no ordinary force of character was necessary to carry them through to a successful issue. The whole life of the author during the time he was a wanderer in the Kikuyu country, and later while he was practically supreme3 ruler of the tribe—a tribe numbering half a million of people—was one of imminent4 daily risk.
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Each hour he went about with his life in his hands, and if he came out scatheless5 from the mêlée, he has only to thank his courage, nerve, and resource. All these qualities he obviously possessed6 in a high degree.
He appears to have been harshly treated by the British East Africa authorities. Doubtless much that he did was grossly misrepresented to them by more or less interested parties. He certainly did yeoman’s service to the colony in its early days by opening up an unknown and hostile country which lay right on the borderland of the Uganda Railway, at that time in course of construction. His energetic action enabled the coolies on the line to work safe from many hostile attacks. He supplied them with the food without which they would have starved—all for a very small reward, and at great personal risk to himself. But the love of adventure was in him, and such people do not work for profit alone. The life itself brings its own reward.
An impartial7 observer will perhaps be able to understand the point of view of the British
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Administration, and will appreciate their difficulty, indeed their ability, to allow an independent white power to rule beside their own; but the public will judge for themselves whether they set about to do what they did with regard to John Boyes in the most tactful way, or whether they treated a brave fellow-countryman in the manner he deserved.
C. W. L. B.
August, 1911.
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1 narrated | |
v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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2 recording | |
n.录音,记录 | |
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3 supreme | |
adj.极度的,最重要的;至高的,最高的 | |
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4 imminent | |
adj.即将发生的,临近的,逼近的 | |
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5 scatheless | |
adj.无损伤的,平安的 | |
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6 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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7 impartial | |
adj.(in,to)公正的,无偏见的 | |
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