The brave Count Gosamer, with a pair of hell-fire spurs on, riding upon Sphinx, directed the whole retinue towards the Madeiras. But the Count had no small share of an amiable5 vanity, and perceiving great multitudes of people, Gascons, &c., assembled upon the French coast, he could not refrain from showing some singular capers6, such as they had never seen before: but especially when he observed all the members of the National Assembly extend themselves along the shore, as a piece of French politeness, to honour this expedition, with Rousseau, Voltaire, and Beelzebub at their head; he set spurs to Sphinx, and at the same time cut and cracked away as hard as he could, holding in the reins7 with all his might, striving to make the creature plunge8 and show some uncommon9 diversion. But sulky and ill-tempered was Sphinx at the time: she plunged10 indeed—such a devil of a plunge, that she dashed him in one jerk over her head, and he fell precipitately11 into the water before her. It was in the Bay of Biscay, all the world knows a very boisterous12 sea, and Sphinx, fearing he would be drowned, never turned to the left or the right out of her way, but advancing furious, just stooped her head a little, and supped the poor count off the water, into her mouth, together with the quantity of two or three tuns of water, which she must have taken in along with him, but which were, to such an enormous creature as Sphinx, nothing more than a spoonful would be to any of you or me. She swallowed him, but when she had got him in her stomach, his long spurs so scratched and tickled13 her, that they produced the effect of an emetic14. No sooner was he in, but out he was squirted with the most horrible impetuosity, like a ball or a shell from the calibre of a mortar15. Sphinx was at this time quite sea-sick, and the unfortunate count was driven forth17 like a sky-rocket, and landed upon the peak of Teneriffe, plunged over head and ears in the snow—requiescat in pace!
I perceived all this mischief18 from my seat in the ark, but was in such a convulsion of laughter that I could not utter an intelligible19 word. And now Sphinx, deprived of her postillion, went on in a zigzag20 direction, and gambolled21 away after a most dreadful manner. And thus had everything gone to wreck22, had I not given instant orders to Gog and Magog to sally forth. They plunged into the water, and swimming on each side, got at length right before the animal, and then seized the reins. Thus they continued swimming on each side, like tritons, holding the muzzle23 of Sphinx, while I, sallying forth astride upon the creature's back, steered24 forward on our voyage to the Cape of Good Hope.
Arriving at the Cape, I immediately gave orders to repair my former chariot and machines, which were very expeditiously26 performed by the excellent artists I had brought with me from Europe. And now everything being refitted, we launched forth upon the water: perhaps there never was anything seen more glorious or more august. 'Twas magnificent to behold27 Sphinx make her obeisance28 on the water, and the crickets chirp29 upon the bulls in return of the salute30; while Gog and Magog, advancing, took the reins of the great John Mowmowsky, and leading towards us chariot and all, instantly disposed of them to the forepart of the ark by hooks and eyes, and tackled Sphinx before all the bulls. Thus the whole had a most tremendous and triumphal appearance. In front floated forwards the mighty31 Sphinx, with Gog and Magog on each side; next followed in order the bulls with crickets upon their heads; and then advanced the chariot of Queen Mab, containing the curious seat and orrery of heaven; after which appeared the boat and ark of council, overtopped with two balloons, which gave an air of greater lightness and elegance32 to the whole. I placed in the galleries under the balloons, and on the backs of the bulls, a number of excellent vocal33 performers, with martial34 music of clarionets and trumpets35. They sung the "Watery36 Dangers," and the "Pomp of Deep Cerulean!" The sun shone glorious on the water while the procession advanced toward the land, under five hundred arches of ice, illuminated37 with coloured lights, and adorned38 in the most grotesque39 and fanciful style with sea-weed, elegant festoons, and shells of every kind; while a thousand water-spouts danced eternally before and after us, attracting the water from the sea in a kind of cone40, and suddenly uniting with the most fantastical thunder and lightning.
Having landed our whole retinue, we immediately began to proceed toward the heart of Africa, but first thought it expedient41 to place a number of wheels under the ark for its greater facility of advancing. We journeyed nearly due north for several days, and met with nothing remarkable42 except the astonishment43 of the savage44 natives to behold our equipage.
The Dutch Government at the Cape, to do them justice, gave us every possible assistance for the expedition. I presume they had received instruction on that head from their High Mightinesses in Holland. However, they presented us with a specimen45 of some of the most excellent of their Cape wine, and showed us every politeness in their power. As to the face of the country, as we advanced, it appeared in many places capable of every cultivation46, and of abundant fertility. The natives and Hottentots of this part of Africa have been frequently described by travellers, and therefore it is not necessary to say any more about them. But in the more interior parts of Africa the appearance, manners, and genius of the people are totally different.
We directed our course by the compass and the stars, getting every day prodigious47 quantities of game in the woods, and at night encamping within a proper enclosure for fear of the wild beasts. One whole day in particular we heard on every side, among the hills, the horrible roaring of lions, resounding48 from rock to rock like broken thunder. It seemed as if there was a general rendezvous49 of all these savage animals to fall upon our party. That whole day we advanced with caution, our hunters scarcely venturing beyond pistol shot from the caravan50 for fear of dissolution. At night we encamped as usual, and threw up a circular entrenchment51 round our tents. We had scarce retired52 to repose53 when we found ourselves serenaded by at least one thousand lions, approaching equally on every side, and within a hundred paces. Our cattle showed the most horrible symptoms of fear, all trembling, and in cold perspiration54. I directly ordered the whole company to stand to their arms, and not to make any noise by firing till I should command them. I then took a large quantity of tar16, which I had brought with our caravan for that purpose, and strewed55 it in a continued stream round the encampment, within which circle of tar I immediately placed another train or circle of gunpowder56, and having taken this precaution, I anxiously waited the lions' approach. These dreadful animals, knowing, I presume, the force of our troop, advanced very slowly, and with caution, approaching on every side of us with an equal pace, and growling57 in hideous58 concert, so as to resemble an earthquake, or some similar convulsion of the world. When they had at length advanced and steeped all their paws in the tar, they put their noses to it, smelling it as if it were blood, and daubed their great bushy hair and whiskers with it equal to their paws. At that very instant, when, in concert, they were to give the mortal dart59 upon us, I discharged a pistol at the train of gunpowder, which instantly exploded on every side, made all the lions recoil60 in general uproar61, and take to flight with the utmost precipitation. In an instant we could behold them scattered62 through the woods at some distance, roaring in agony, and moving about like so many Will-o'-the-Wisps, their paws and faces all on fire from the tar and the gun-powder. I then ordered a general pursuit: we followed them on every side through the woods, their own light serving as our guide, until, before the rising of the sun, we followed into their fastnesses and shot or otherwise destroyed every one of them, and during the whole of our journey after we never heard the roaring of a lion, nor did any wild beast presume to make another attack upon our party, which shows the excellence63 of immediate25 presence of mind, and the terror inspired into the savage enemies by a proper and well-timed proceeding.
We at length arrived on the confines of an immeasurable desert—an immense plain, extending on every side of us like an ocean. Not a tree, nor a shrub64, nor a blade of grass was to be seen, but all appeared an extreme fine sand, mixed with gold-dust and little sparkling pearls.
The gold-dust and pearls appeared to us of little value, because we could have no expectation of returning to England for a considerable time. We observed, at a great distance, something like a smoke arising just over the verge65 of the horizon, and looking with our telescopes we perceived it to be a whirlwind tearing up the sand and tossing it about in the heavens with frightful66 impetuosity. I immediately ordered my company to erect67 a mound68 around us of a great size, which we did with astonishing labour and perseverance69, and then roofed it over with certain planks70 and timber, which we had with us for the purpose. Our labour was scarcely finished when the sand came rolling in like the waves of the sea; 'twas a storm and river of sand united. It continued to advance in the same direction, without intermission, for three days, and completely covered over the mound we had erected71, and buried us all within. The intense heat of the place was intolerable; but guessing, by the cessation of the noise, that the storm was passed, we set about digging a passage to the light of day again, which we effected in a very short time, and ascending72, perceived that the whole had been so completely covered with the sand, that there appeared no hills, but one continued plain, with inequalities or ridges73 on it like the waves of the sea. We soon extricated74 our vehicle and retinue from the burning sands, but not without great danger, as the heat was very violent, and began to proceed on our voyage. Storms of sand of a similar nature several times attacked us, but by using the same precautions we preserved ourselves repeatedly from destruction. Having travelled more than nine thousand miles over this inhospitable plain, exposed to the perpendicular75 rays of a burning sun, without ever meeting a rivulet76, or a shower from heaven to refresh us, we at length became almost desperate, when, to our inexpressible joy, we beheld77 some mountains at a great distance, and on our nearer approach observed them covered with a carpet of verdure and groves78 and woods. Nothing could appear more romantic or beautiful than the rocks and precipices79 intermingled with flowers and shrubs80 of every kind, and palm-trees of such a prodigious size as to surpass anything ever seen in Europe. Fruits of all kinds appeared growing wild in the utmost abundance, and antelopes81 and sheep and buffaloes82 wandered about the groves and valleys in profusion83. The trees resounded84 with the melody of birds, and everything displayed a general scene of rural happiness and joy.
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1
baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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retinue
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| n.侍从；随员 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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capers
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| n.开玩笑( caper的名词复数 )；刺山柑v.跳跃，雀跃( caper的第三人称单数 ) | |
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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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8
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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precipitately
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| adv.猛进地 | |
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boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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13
tickled
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| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
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emetic
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| n.催吐剂；adj.催吐的 | |
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15
mortar
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| n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合 | |
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tar
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| n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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19
intelligible
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| adj.可理解的，明白易懂的，清楚的 | |
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zigzag
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| n.曲折，之字形；adj.曲折的，锯齿形的；adv.曲折地，成锯齿形地；vt.使曲折；vi.曲折前行 | |
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gambolled
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| v.蹦跳，跳跃，嬉戏( gambol的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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24
steered
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| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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25
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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expeditiously
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| adv.迅速地，敏捷地 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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obeisance
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| n.鞠躬，敬礼 | |
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chirp
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| v.(尤指鸟)唧唧喳喳的叫 | |
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30
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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vocal
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| adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目 | |
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martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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trumpets
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| 喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花 | |
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watery
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| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
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illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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cone
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| n.圆锥体，圆锥形东西，球果 | |
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expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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42
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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44
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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46
cultivation
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| n.耕作，培养，栽培（法），养成 | |
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prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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resounding
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| adj. 响亮的 | |
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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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50
caravan
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| n.大蓬车；活动房屋 | |
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51
entrenchment
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| n.壕沟，防御设施 | |
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52
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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53
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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55
strewed
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| v.撒在…上( strew的过去式和过去分词 )；散落于；点缀；撒满 | |
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56
gunpowder
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| n.火药 | |
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57
growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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recoil
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| vi.退却，退缩，畏缩 | |
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uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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62
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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shrub
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| n.灌木，灌木丛 | |
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verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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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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mound
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| n.土墩，堤，小山；v.筑堤，用土堆防卫 | |
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perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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71
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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ridges
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| n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊 | |
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extricated
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| v.使摆脱困难，脱身( extricate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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76
rivulet
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| n.小溪，小河 | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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groves
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| 树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
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precipices
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| n.悬崖，峭壁( precipice的名词复数 ) | |
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shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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81
antelopes
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| 羚羊( antelope的名词复数 )； 羚羊皮革 | |
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82
buffaloes
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| n.水牛（分非洲水牛和亚洲水牛两种）( buffalo的名词复数 )；（南非或北美的）野牛；威胁；恐吓 | |
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profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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84
resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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