THERE was a certain traffic in our anchorage at Atuona; different indeed from the dead inertia1 and quiescence2 of the sister island, Nuka-hiva. Sails were seen steering3 from its mouth; now it would be a whale-boat manned with native rowdies, and heavy with copra for sale; now perhaps a single canoe come after commodities to buy. The anchorage was besides frequented by fishers; not only the lone4 females perched in niches5 of the cliff, but whole parties, who would sometimes camp and build a fire upon the beach, and sometimes lie in their canoes in the midst of the haven6 and jump by turns in the water; which they would cast eight or nine feet high, to drive, as we supposed, the fish into their nets. The goods the purchasers came to buy were sometimes quaint7. I remarked one outrigger returning with a single ham swung from a pole in the stern. And one day there came into Mr. Keane’s store a charming lad, excellently mannered, speaking French correctly though with a babyish accent; very handsome too, and much of a dandy, as was shown not only in his shining raiment, but by the nature of his purchases. These were five ship-biscuits, a bottle of scent8, and two balls of washing blue. He was from Tauata, whither he returned the same night in an outrigger, daring the deep with these young — ladyish treasures. The gross of the native passengers were more ill-favoured: tall, powerful fellows, well tattooed9, and with disquieting10 manners. Something coarse and jeering11 distinguished12 them, and I was often reminded of the slums of some great city. One night, as dusk was falling, a whale-boat put in on that part of the beach where I chanced to be alone. Six or seven ruffianly fellows scrambled13 out; all had enough English to give me ‘good — bye,’ which was the ordinary salutation; or ‘good-morning,’ which they seemed to regard as an intensitive; jests followed, they surrounded me with harsh laughter and rude looks, and I was glad to move away. I had not yet encountered Mr. Stewart, or I should have been reminded of his first landing at Atuona and the humorist who nibbled14 at the heel. But their neighbourhood depressed15 me; and I felt, if I had been there a castaway and out of reach of help, my heart would have been sick.
Nor was the traffic altogether native. While we lay in the anchorage there befell a strange coincidence. A schooner16 was observed at sea and aiming to enter. We knew all the schooners17 in the group, but this appeared larger than any; she was rigged, besides, after the English manner; and, coming to an anchor some way outside the CASCO, showed at last the blue ensign. There were at that time, according to rumour18, no fewer than four yachts in the Pacific; but it was strange that any two of them should thus lie side by side in that outlandish inlet: stranger still that in the owner of the NYANZA, Captain Dewar, I should find a man of the same country and the same county with myself, and one whom I had seen walking as a boy on the shores of the Alpes Maritimes.
We had besides a white visitor from shore, who came and departed in a crowded whale-boat manned by natives; having read of yachts in the Sunday papers, and being fired with the desire to see one. Captain Chase, they called him, an old whaler-man, thickset and white-bearded, with a strong Indiana drawl; years old in the country, a good backer in battle, and one of those dead shots whose practice at the target struck terror in the braves of Haamau. Captain Chase dwelt farther east in a bay called Hanamate, with a Mr. M’Callum; or rather they had dwelt together once, and were now amicably19 separated. The captain is to be found near one end of the bay, in a wreck20 of a house, and waited on by a Chinese. At the point of the opposing corner another habitation stands on a tall paepae. The surf runs there exceeding heavy, seas of seven and eight feet high bursting under the walls of the house, which is thus continually filled with their clamour, and rendered fit only for solitary21, or at least for silent, inmates22. Here it is that Mr. M’Callum, with a Shakespeare and a Burns, enjoys the society of the breakers. His name and his Burns testify to Scottish blood; but he is an American born, somewhere far east; followed the trade of a ship-carpenter; and was long employed, the captain of a hundred Indians, breaking up wrecks23 about Cape24 Flattery. Many of the whites who are to be found scattered25 in the South Seas represent the more artistic26 portion of their class; and not only enjoy the poetry of that new life, but came there on purpose to enjoy it. I have been shipmates with a man, no longer young, who sailed upon that voyage, his first time to sea, for the mere27 love of Samoa; and it was a few letters in a newspaper that sent him on that pilgrimage. Mr. M’Callum was another instance of the same. He had read of the South Seas; loved to read of them; and let their image fasten in his heart: till at length he could refrain no longer — must set forth28, a new Rudel, for that unseen homeland — and has now dwelt for years in Hiva-oa, and will lay his bones there in the end with full content; having no desire to behold29 again the places of his boyhood, only, perhaps — once, before he dies — the rude and wintry landscape of Cape Flattery. Yet he is an active man, full of schemes; has bought land of the natives; has planted five thousand coco-palms; has a desert island in his eye, which he desires to lease, and a schooner in the stocks, which he has laid and built himself, and even hopes to finish. Mr. M’Callum and I did not meet, but, like gallant30 troubadours, corresponded in verse. I hope he will not consider it a breach31 of copyright if I give here a specimen32 of his muse33. He and Bishop34 Dordillon are the two European bards35 of the Marquesas.
‘Sail, ho! Ahoy! CASCO,
First among the pleasure fleet
That came around to greet
These isles36 from San Francisco,
And first, too; only one
Among the literary men
That this way has ever been -
Welcome, then, to Stevenson.
Please not offended be
At this little notice
Of the CASCO, Captain Otis,
With the novelist’s family.
AVOIR UNE VOYAGE MAGNIFICAL
Is our wish sincere,
That you’ll have from here
ALLANT SUR LA GRANDE PACIFICAL.’
But our chief visitor was one Mapiao, a great Tahuku — which seems to mean priest, wizard, tattooer37, practiser of any art, or, in a word, esoteric person — and a man famed for his eloquence38 on public occasions and witty39 talk in private. His first appearance was typical of the man. He came down clamorous40 to the eastern landing, where the surf was running very high; scorned all our signals to go round the bay; carried his point, was brought aboard at some hazard to our skiff, and set down in one corner of the cockpit to his appointed task. He had been hired, as one cunning in the art, to make my old men’s beards into a wreath: what a wreath for Celia’s arbour! His own beard (which he carried, for greater safety, in a sailor’s knot) was not merely the adornment42 of his age, but a substantial piece of property. One hundred dollars was the estimated value; and as Brother Michel never knew a native to deposit a greater sum with Bishop Dordillon, our friend was a rich man in virtue43 of his chin. He had something of an East Indian cast, but taller and stronger: his nose hooked, his face narrow, his forehead very high, the whole elaborately tattooed. I may say I have never entertained a guest so trying. In the least particular he must be waited on; he would not go to the scuttle44 — butt45 for water; he would not even reach to get the glass, it must be given him in his hand; if aid were denied him, he would fold his arms, bow his head, and go without: only the work would suffer. Early the first forenoon he called aloud for biscuit and salmon46; biscuit and ham were brought; he looked on them inscrutably, and signed they should be set aside. A number of considerations crowded on my mind; how the sort of work on which he was engaged was probably tapu in a high degree; should by rights, perhaps, be transacted47 on a tapu platform which no female might approach; and it was possible that fish might be the essential diet. Some salted fish I therefore brought him, and along with that a glass of rum: at sight of which Mapiao displayed extraordinary animation48, pointed41 to the zenith, made a long speech in which I picked up UMATI— the word for the sun — and signed to me once more to place these dainties out of reach. At last I had understood, and every day the programme was the same. At an early period of the morning his dinner must be set forth on the roof of the house and at a proper distance, full in view but just out of reach; and not until the fit hour, which was the point of noon, would the artificer partake. This solemnity was the cause of an absurd misadventure. He was seated plaiting, as usual, at the beards, his dinner arrayed on the roof, and not far off a glass of water standing49. It appears he desired to drink; was of course far too great a gentleman to rise and get the water for himself; and spying Mrs. Stevenson, imperiously signed to her to hand it. The signal was misunderstood; Mrs. Stevenson was, by this time, prepared for any eccentricity50 on the part of our guest; and instead of passing him the water, flung his dinner overboard. I must do Mapiao justice: all laughed, but his laughter rang the loudest.
These troubles of service were at worst occasional; the embarrassment51 of the man’s talk incessant52. He was plainly a practised conversationalist; the nicety of his inflections, the elegance54 of his gestures, and the fine play of his expression, told us that. We, meanwhile, sat like aliens in a playhouse; we could see the actors were upon some material business and performing well, but the plot of the drama remained undiscoverable. Names of places, the name of Captain Hart, occasional disconnected words, tantalised without enlightening us; and the less we understood, the more gallantly55, the more copiously56, and with still the more explanatory gestures, Mapiao returned to the assault. We could see his vanity was on the rack; being come to a place where that fine jewel of his conversational53 talent could earn him no respect; and he had times of despair when he desisted from the endeavour, and instants of irritation57 when he regarded us with unconcealed contempt. Yet for me, as the practitioner58 of some kindred mystery to his own, he manifested to the last a measure of respect. As we sat under the awning59 in opposite corners of the cockpit, he braiding hairs from dead men’s chins, I forming runes upon a sheet of folio paper, he would nod across to me as one Tahuku to another, or, crossing the cockpit, study for a while my shapeless scrawl60 and encourage me with a heartfelt ‘MITAI! — good!’ So might a deaf painter sympathise far off with a musician, as the slave and master of some uncomprehended and yet kindred art. A silly trade, he doubtless considered it; but a man must make allowance for barbarians61 — CHAQUE PAYS A SES COUTUMES— and he felt the principle was there.
The time came at last when his labours, which resembled those rather of Penelope than Hercules, could be no more spun62 out, and nothing remained but to pay him and say farewell. After a long, learned argument in Marquesan, I gathered that his mind was set on fish-hooks; with three of which, and a brace63 of dollars, I thought he was not ill rewarded for passing his forenoons in our cockpit, eating, drinking, delivering his opinions, and pressing the ship’s company into his menial service. For all that, he was a man of so high a bearing, and so like an uncle of my own who should have gone mad and got tattooed, that I applied64 to him, when we were both on shore, to know if he were satisfied. ‘MITAI EHIPE?’ I asked. And he, with rich unction, offering at the same time his hand — ‘MITAI EHIPE, MITAI KAEHAE; KAOHA NUI!’ — or, to translate freely: ‘The ship is good, the victuals65 are up to the mark, and we part in friendship.’ Which testimonial uttered, he set off along the beach with his head bowed and the air of one deeply injured.
I saw him go, on my side, with relief. It would be more interesting to learn how our relation seemed to Mapiao. His exigence, we may suppose, was merely loyal. He had been hired by the ignorant to do a piece of work; and he was bound that he would do it the right way. Countless66 obstacles, continual ignorant ridicule67, availed not to dissuade68 him. He had his dinner laid out; watched it, as was fit, the while he worked; ate it at the fit hour; was in all things served and waited on; and could take his hire in the end with a clear conscience, telling himself the mystery was performed duly, the beards rightfully braided, and we (in spite of ourselves) correctly served. His view of our stupidity, even he, the mighty69 talker, must have lacked language to express. He never interfered70 with my Tahuku work; civilly praised it, idle as it seemed; civilly supposed that I was competent in my own mystery: such being the attitude of the intelligent and the polite. And we, on the other hand — who had yet the most to gain or lose, since the product was to be ours — who had professed71 our disability by the very act of hiring him to do it — were never weary of impeding72 his own more important labours, and sometimes lacked the sense and the civility to refrain from laughter.
收听单词发音 |
1
inertia
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| adj.惰性，惯性，懒惰，迟钝 | |
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quiescence
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| n.静止 | |
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steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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niches
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| 壁龛( niche的名词复数 )； 合适的位置[工作等]； （产品的）商机； 生态位（一个生物所占据的生境的最小单位） | |
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haven
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| n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所 | |
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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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tattooed
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| 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 | |
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disquieting
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| adj.令人不安的，令人不平静的v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的现在分词 ) | |
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jeering
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| adj.嘲弄的，揶揄的v.嘲笑( jeer的现在分词 ) | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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nibbled
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| v.啃，一点一点地咬（吃）( nibble的过去式和过去分词 )；啃出（洞），一点一点咬出（洞）；慢慢减少；小口咬 | |
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depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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schooner
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| n.纵帆船 | |
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schooners
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| n.（有两个以上桅杆的）纵帆船( schooner的名词复数 ) | |
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18
rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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19
amicably
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| adv.友善地 | |
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wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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wrecks
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| n.沉船( wreck的名词复数 )；（事故中）遭严重毁坏的汽车（或飞机等）；（身体或精神上）受到严重损伤的人；状况非常糟糕的车辆（或建筑物等）v.毁坏[毁灭]某物( wreck的第三人称单数 )；使（船舶）失事，使遇难，使下沉 | |
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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25
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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26
artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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27
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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28
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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31
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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33
muse
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| n.缪斯（希腊神话中的女神），创作灵感 | |
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34
bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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35
bards
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| n.诗人( bard的名词复数 ) | |
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36
isles
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| 岛( isle的名词复数 ) | |
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37
tattooer
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| 文身师，黥墨师 | |
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38
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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witty
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| adj.机智的，风趣的 | |
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40
clamorous
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| adj.吵闹的，喧哗的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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adornment
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| n.装饰；装饰品 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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44
scuttle
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| v.急赶，疾走，逃避；n.天窗；舷窗 | |
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butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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46
salmon
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| n.鲑，大马哈鱼，橙红色的 | |
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transacted
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| v.办理（业务等）( transact的过去式和过去分词 )；交易，谈判 | |
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animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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eccentricity
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| n.古怪，反常，怪癖 | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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conversational
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| adj.对话的，会话的 | |
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54
elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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copiously
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| adv.丰富地，充裕地 | |
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irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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practitioner
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| n.实践者，从事者；(医生或律师等)开业者 | |
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awning
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| n.遮阳篷；雨篷 | |
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scrawl
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| vt.潦草地书写；n.潦草的笔记，涂写 | |
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barbarians
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| n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 )；外国人；粗野的人；无教养的人 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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victuals
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| n.食物；食品 | |
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countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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dissuade
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| v.劝阻，阻止 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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professed
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| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
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impeding
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| a.(尤指坏事)即将发生的，临近的 | |
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