THE history of the Marquesas is, of late years, much confused by the coming and going of the French. At least twice they have seized the archipelago, at least once deserted1 it; and in the meanwhile the natives pursued almost without interruption their desultory2 cannibal wars. Through these events and changing dynasties, a single considerable figure may be seen to move: that of the high chief, a king, Temoana. Odds3 and ends of his history came to my ears: how he was at first a convert to the Protestant mission; how he was kidnapped or exiled from his native land, served as cook aboard a whaler, and was shown, for small charge, in English seaports4; how he returned at last to the Marquesas, fell under the strong and benign5 influence of the late bishop6, extended his influence in the group, was for a while joint7 ruler with the prelate, and died at last the chief supporter of Catholicism and the French. His widow remains8 in receipt of two pounds a month from the French Government. Queen she is usually called, but in the official almanac she figures as ‘MADAME VAEKEHU, GRANDE CHEFESSE.’ His son (natural or adoptive, I know not which), Stanislao Moanatini, chief of Akaui, serves in Tai-o-hae as a kind of Minister of Public Works; and the daughter of Stanislao is High Chiefess of the southern island of Tauata. These, then, are the greatest folk of the archipelago; we thought them also the most estimable. This is the rule in Polynesia, with few exceptions; the higher the family, the better the man — better in sense, better in manners, and usually taller and stronger in body. A stranger advances blindfold9. He scrapes acquaintance as he can. Save the tattoo10 in the Marquesas, nothing indicates the difference of rank; and yet almost invariably we found, after we had made them, that our friends were persons of station. I have said ‘usually taller and stronger.’ I might have been more absolute, — over all Polynesia, and a part of Micronesia, the rule holds good; the great ones of the isle11, and even of the village, are greater of bone and muscle, and often heavier of flesh, than any commoner. The usual explanation — that the high-born child is more industriously12 shampooed, is probably the true one. In New Caledonia, at least, where the difference does not exist, has never been remarked, the practice of shampooing seems to be itself unknown. Doctors would be well employed in a study of the point.
Vaekehu lives at the other end of the town from the Residency, beyond the buildings of the mission. Her house is on the European plan: a table in the midst of the chief room; photographs and religious pictures on the wall. It commands to either hand a charming vista13: through the front door, a peep of green lawn, scurrying14 pigs, the pendent fans of the coco-palm and splendour of the bursting surf: through the back, mounting forest glades15 and coronals of precipice16. Here, in the strong thorough-draught, Her Majesty17 received us in a simple gown of print, and with no mark of royalty18 but the exquisite19 finish of her tattooed20 mittens21, the elaboration of her manners, and the gentle falsetto in which all the highly refined among Marquesan ladies (and Vaekehu above all others) delight to sing their language. An adopted daughter interpreted, while we gave the news, and rehearsed by name our friends of Anaho. As we talked, we could see, through the landward door, another lady of the household at her toilet under the green trees; who presently, when her hair was arranged, and her hat wreathed with flowers, appeared upon the back verandah with gracious salutations.
Vaekehu is very deaf; ‘MERCI’ is her only word of French; and I do not know that she seemed clever. An exquisite, kind refinement22, with a shade of quietism, gathered perhaps from the nuns23, was what chiefly struck us. Or rather, upon that first occasion, we were conscious of a sense as of district-visiting on our part, and reduced evangelical gentility on the part of our hostess. The other impression followed after she was more at ease, and came with Stanislao and his little girl to dine on board the CASCO. She had dressed for the occasion: wore white, which very well became her strong brown face; and sat among us, eating or smoking her cigarette, quite cut off from all society, or only now and then included through the intermediary of her son. It was a position that might have been ridiculous, and she made it ornamental24; making believe to hear and to be entertained; her face, whenever she met our eyes, lighting25 with the smile of good society; her contributions to the talk, when she made any, and that was seldom, always complimentary26 and pleasing. No attention was paid to the child, for instance, but what she remarked and thanked us for. Her parting with each, when she came to leave, was gracious and pretty, as had been every step of her behaviour. When Mrs. Stevenson held out her hand to say good-bye, Vaekehu took it, held it, and a moment smiled upon her; dropped it, and then, as upon a kindly27 after-thought, and with a sort of warmth of condescension28, held out both hands and kissed my wife upon both cheeks. Given the same relation of years and of rank, the thing would have been so done on the boards of the COMEDIE FRANCAISE; just so might Madame Brohan have warmed and condescended29 to Madame Broisat in the MARQUIS DE VILLEMER. It was my part to accompany our guests ashore30: when I kissed the little girl good-bye at the pier31 steps, Vaekehu gave a cry of gratification, reached down her hand into the boat, took mine, and pressed it with that flattering softness which seems the coquetry of the old lady in every quarter of the earth. The next moment she had taken Stanislao’s arm, and they moved off along the pier in the moonlight, leaving me bewildered. This was a queen of cannibals; she was tattooed from hand to foot, and perhaps the greatest masterpiece of that art now extant, so that a while ago, before she was grown prim32, her leg was one of the sights of Tai-o — hae; she had been passed from chief to chief; she had been fought for and taken in war; perhaps, being so great a lady, she had sat on the high place, and throned it there, alone of her sex, while the drums were going twenty strong and the priests carried up the blood-stained baskets of long-pig. And now behold33 her, out of that past of violence and sickening feasts, step forth34, in her age, a quiet, smooth, elaborate old lady, such as you might find at home (mittened also, but not often so well-mannered) in a score of country houses. Only Vaekehu’s mittens were of dye, not of silk; and they had been paid for, not in money, but the cooked flesh of men. It came in my mind with a clap, what she could think of it herself, and whether at heart, perhaps, she might not regret and aspire35 after the barbarous and stirring past. But when I asked Stanislao — ‘Ah!’ said he, ‘she is content; she is religious, she passes all her days with the sisters.’
Stanislao (Stanislaos, with the final consonant36 evaded37 after the Polynesian habit) was sent by Bishop Dordillon to South America, and there educated by the fathers. His French is fluent, his talk sensible and spirited, and in his capacity of ganger-in-chief, he is of excellent service to the French. With the prestige of his name and family, and with the stick when needful, he keeps the natives working and the roads passable. Without Stanislao and the convicts, I am in doubt what would become of the present regimen in Nuka-hiva; whether the highways might not be suffered to close up, the pier to wash away, and the Residency to fall piecemeal38 about the ears of impotent officials. And yet though the hereditary39 favourer, and one of the chief props40 of French authority, he has always an eye upon the past. He showed me where the old public place had stood, still to be traced by random41 piles of stone; told me how great and fine it was, and surrounded on all sides by populous42 houses, whence, at the beating of the drums, the folk crowded to make holiday. The drum-beat of the Polynesian has a strange and gloomy stimulation43 for the nerves of all. White persons feel it — at these precipitate44 sounds their hearts beat faster; and, according to old residents, its effect on the natives was extreme. Bishop Dordillon might entreat45; Temoana himself command and threaten; at the note of the drum wild instincts triumphed. And now it might beat upon these ruins, and who should assemble? The houses are down, the people dead, their lineage extinct; and the sweepings46 and fugitives47 of distant bays and islands encamp upon their graves. The decline of the dance Stanislao especially laments48. ‘CHAQUE PAYS A SES COUTUMES,’ said he; but in the report of any gendarme49, perhaps corruptly50 eager to increase the number of DELITS and the instruments of his own power, custom after custom is placed on the expurgatorial index. ‘TENEZ, UNE DANSE QUI N’EST PAS PERMISE,’ said Stanislao: ‘JE NE SAIS PAS POURQUOI, ELLE EST TRES JOLIE, ELLE VA COMME CA,’ and sticking his umbrella upright in the road, he sketched51 the steps and gestures. All his criticisms of the present, all his regrets for the past, struck me as temperate52 and sensible. The short term of office of the Resident he thought the chief defect of the administration; that officer having scarce begun to be efficient ere he was recalled. I thought I gathered, too, that he regarded with some fear the coming change from a naval53 to a civil governor. I am sure at least that I regard it so myself; for the civil servants of France have never appeared to any foreigner as at all the flower of their country, while her naval officers may challenge competition with the world. In all his talk, Stanislao was particular to speak of his own country as a land of savages55; and when he stated an opinion of his own, it was with some apologetic preface, alleging56 that he was ‘a savage54 who had travelled.’ There was a deal, in this elaborate modesty57, of honest pride. Yet there was something in the precaution that saddened me; and I could not but fear he was only forestalling58 a taunt59 that he had heard too often.
I recall with interest two interviews with Stanislao. The first was a certain afternoon of tropic rain, which we passed together in the verandah of the club; talking at times with heightened voices as the showers redoubled overhead, passing at times into the billiard-room, to consult, in the dim, cloudy daylight, that map of the world which forms its chief adornment60. He was naturally ignorant of English history, so that I had much of news to communicate. The story of Gordon I told him in full, and many episodes of the Indian Mutiny, Lucknow, the second battle of Cawn — pore, the relief of Arrah, the death of poor Spottis-woode, and Sir Hugh Rose’s hotspur, midland campaign. He was intent to hear; his brown face, strongly marked with small-pox, kindled61 and changed with each vicissitude62. His eyes glowed with the reflected light of battle; his questions were many and intelligent, and it was chiefly these that sent us so often to the map. But it is of our parting that I keep the strongest sense. We were to sail on the morrow, and the night had fallen, dark, gusty63, and rainy, when we stumbled up the hill to bid farewell to Stanislao. He had already loaded us with gifts; but more were waiting. We sat about the table over cigars and green cocoa-nuts; claps of wind blew through the house and extinguished the lamp, which was always instantly relighted with a single match; and these recurrent intervals64 of darkness were felt as a relief. For there was something painful and embarrassing in the kindness of that separation. ‘AH, VOUS DEVRIEZ RESTER ICI, MON CHER AMI!’ cried Stanislao. ‘VOUS ETES LES GENS QU’IL FAUT POUR LES KANAQUES; VOUS ETES DOUX, VOUS ET VOTRE FAMILLE; VOUS SERIEZ OBEIS DANS TOUTES LES ILES.’ We had been civil; not always that, my conscience told me, and never anything beyond; and all this to-do is a measure, not of our considerateness, but of the want of it in others. The rest of the evening, on to Vaekehu’s and back as far as to the pier, Stanislao walked with my arm and sheltered me with his umbrella; and after the boat had put off, we could still distinguish, in the murky65 darkness, his gestures of farewell. His words, if there were any, were drowned by the rain and the loud surf.
I have mentioned presents, a vexed66 question in the South Seas; and one which well illustrates67 the common, ignorant habit of regarding races in a lump. In many quarters the Polynesian gives only to receive. I have visited islands where the population mobbed me for all the world like dogs after the waggon68 of cat’s-meat; and where the frequent proposition, ‘You my pleni (friend),’ or (with more of pathos) ‘You all ‘e same my father,’ must be received with hearty69 laughter and a shout. And perhaps everywhere, among the greedy and rapacious70, a gift is regarded as a sprat to catch a whale. It is the habit to give gifts and to receive returns, and such characters, complying with the custom, will look to it nearly that they do not lose. But for persons of a different stamp the statement must be reversed. The shabby Polynesian is anxious till he has received the return gift; the generous is uneasy until he has made it. The first is disappointed if you have not given more than he; the second is miserable71 if he thinks he has given less than you. This is my experience; if it clash with that of others, I pity their fortune, and praise mine: the circumstances cannot change what I have seen, nor lessen72 what I have received. And indeed I find that those who oppose me often argue from a ground of singular presumptions73; comparing Polynesians with an ideal person, compact of generosity74 and gratitude75, whom I never had the pleasure of encountering; and forgetting that what is almost poverty to us is wealth almost unthinkable to them. I will give one instance: I chanced to speak with consideration of these gifts of Stanislao’s with a certain clever man, a great hater and contemner76 of Kanakas. ‘Well! what were they?’ he cried. ‘A pack of old men’s beards. Trash!’ And the same gentleman, some half an hour later, being upon a different train of thought, dwelt at length on the esteem77 in which the Marquesans held that sort of property, how they preferred it to all others except land, and what fancy prices it would fetch. Using his own figures, I computed78 that, in this commodity alone, the gifts of Vaekehu and Stanislao represented between two and three hundred dollars; and the queen’s official salary is of two hundred and forty in the year.
But generosity on the one hand, and conspicuous79 meanness on the other, are in the South Seas, as at home, the exception. It is neither with any hope of gain, nor with any lively wish to please, that the ordinary Polynesian chooses and presents his gifts. A plain social duty lies before him, which he performs correctly, but without the least enthusiasm. And we shall best understand his attitude of mind, if we examine our own to the cognate80 absurdity81 of marriage presents. There we give without any special thought of a return; yet if the circumstance arise, and the return be withheld82, we shall judge ourselves insulted. We give them usually without affection, and almost never with a genuine desire to please; and our gift is rather a mark of our own status than a measure of our love to the recipients83. So in a great measure and with the common run of the Polynesians; their gifts are formal; they imply no more than social recognition; and they are made and reciprocated84, as we pay and return our morning visits. And the practice of marking and measuring events and sentiments by presents is universal in the island world. A gift plays with them the part of stamp and seal; and has entered profoundly into the mind of islanders. Peace and war, marriage, adoption85 and naturalisation, are celebrated86 or declared by the acceptance or the refusal of gifts; and it is as natural for the islander to bring a gift as for us to carry a card — case.
收听单词发音 |
1
deserted
|
|
| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
desultory
|
|
| adj.散漫的，无方法的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
odds
|
|
| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
seaports
|
|
| n.海港( seaport的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
benign
|
|
| adj.善良的，慈祥的；良性的，无危险的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
bishop
|
|
| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
joint
|
|
| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
remains
|
|
| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
blindfold
|
|
| vt.蒙住…的眼睛；adj.盲目的；adv.盲目地；n.蒙眼的绷带[布等]； 障眼物，蒙蔽人的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
tattoo
|
|
| n.纹身，(皮肤上的)刺花纹；vt.刺花纹于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
isle
|
|
| n.小岛，岛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
industriously
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
vista
|
|
| n.远景，深景，展望，回想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
scurrying
|
|
| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
glades
|
|
| n.林中空地( glade的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
precipice
|
|
| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
majesty
|
|
| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
royalty
|
|
| n.皇家，皇族 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
exquisite
|
|
| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
tattooed
|
|
| v.刺青，文身( tattoo的过去式和过去分词 )；连续有节奏地敲击；作连续有节奏的敲击 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
mittens
|
|
| 不分指手套 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
refinement
|
|
| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
nuns
|
|
| n.（通常指基督教的）修女， （佛教的）尼姑( nun的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
ornamental
|
|
| adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
lighting
|
|
| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
complimentary
|
|
| adj.赠送的，免费的，赞美的，恭维的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
condescension
|
|
| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
condescended
|
|
| 屈尊，俯就( condescend的过去式和过去分词 )； 故意表示和蔼可亲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
ashore
|
|
| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
pier
|
|
| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
prim
|
|
| adj.拘泥形式的，一本正经的；n.循规蹈矩，整洁；adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
behold
|
|
| v.看，注视，看到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
aspire
|
|
| vi.(to，after)渴望，追求，有志于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
consonant
|
|
| n.辅音；adj.[音]符合的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
evaded
|
|
| 逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
piecemeal
|
|
| adj.零碎的；n.片，块；adv.逐渐地；v.弄成碎块 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
hereditary
|
|
| adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
props
|
|
| 小道具； 支柱( prop的名词复数 )； 支持者； 道具； （橄榄球中的）支柱前锋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
random
|
|
| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
populous
|
|
| adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
stimulation
|
|
| n.刺激，激励，鼓舞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
precipitate
|
|
| adj.突如其来的；vt.使突然发生；n.沉淀物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
entreat
|
|
| v.恳求，恳请 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
sweepings
|
|
| n.笼统的( sweeping的名词复数 )；（在投票等中的）大胜；影响广泛的；包罗万象的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
fugitives
|
|
| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
laments
|
|
| n.悲恸，哀歌，挽歌( lament的名词复数 )v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
gendarme
|
|
| n.宪兵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
corruptly
|
|
| 腐败（堕落）地，可被收买的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
sketched
|
|
| v.草拟（sketch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
temperate
|
|
| adj.温和的，温带的，自我克制的，不过分的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
naval
|
|
| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
savages
|
|
| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
alleging
|
|
| 断言，宣称，辩解( allege的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
modesty
|
|
| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
forestalling
|
|
| v.先发制人，预先阻止( forestall的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
59
taunt
|
|
| n.辱骂，嘲弄；v.嘲弄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
adornment
|
|
| n.装饰；装饰品 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
vicissitude
|
|
| n.变化，变迁，荣枯，盛衰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
gusty
|
|
| adj.起大风的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
murky
|
|
| adj.黑暗的，朦胧的；adv.阴暗地，混浊地；n.阴暗；昏暗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
vexed
|
|
| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
illustrates
|
|
| 给…加插图( illustrate的第三人称单数 )； 说明； 表明； （用示例、图画等）说明 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
waggon
|
|
| n.运货马车，运货车；敞篷车箱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
hearty
|
|
| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
rapacious
|
|
| adj.贪婪的，强夺的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
miserable
|
|
| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
lessen
|
|
| vt.减少，减轻；缩小 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
presumptions
|
|
| n.假定( presumption的名词复数 )；认定；推定；放肆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
generosity
|
|
| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
gratitude
|
|
| adj.感激，感谢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
contemner
|
|
| n.谴责者，宣判者，定罪者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
77
esteem
|
|
| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
computed
|
|
| adj.[医]计算的，使用计算机的v.计算，估算( compute的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
conspicuous
|
|
| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
cognate
|
|
| adj.同类的，同源的，同族的；n.同家族的人，同源词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
absurdity
|
|
| n.荒谬，愚蠢；谬论 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
withheld
|
|
| withhold过去式及过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
recipients
|
|
| adj.接受的；受领的；容纳的；愿意接受的n.收件人；接受者；受领者；接受器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
reciprocated
|
|
| v.报答，酬答( reciprocate的过去式和过去分词 )；（机器的部件）直线往复运动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
adoption
|
|
| n.采用，采纳，通过；收养 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
celebrated
|
|
| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |