按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
impression made upon me at first； and； though I remained in doubt
for several months； I feel now no longer uncertain。
When I had done eating； my hosts approached； and pointed down the
valley leading to their own country； as though wanting to show that
I must go with them； at the same time they laid hold of my arms；
and made as though they would take me； but used no violence。 I
laughed； and motioned my hand across my throat； pointing down the
valley as though I was afraid lest I should be killed when I got
there。 But they divined me at once； and shook their heads with
much decision； to show that I was in no danger。 Their manner quite
reassured me； and in half an hour or so I had packed up my swag；
and was eager for the forward journey； feeling wonderfully
strengthened and refreshed by good food and sleep； while my hope
and curiosity were aroused to their very utmost by the
extraordinary position in which I found myself。
But already my excitement had begun to cool and I reflected that
these people might not be the ten tribes after all； in which case I
could not but regret that my hopes of making money； which had led
me into so much trouble and danger； were almost annihilated by the
fact that the country was full to overflowing； with a people who
had probably already developed its more available resources。
Moreover； how was I to get back？ For there was something about my
hosts which told me that they had got me； and meant to keep me； in
spite of all their goodness。
CHAPTER VII： FIRST IMPRESSIONS
We followed an Alpine path for some four miles； now hundreds of
feet above a brawling stream which descended from the glaciers； and
now nearly alongside it。 The morning was cold and somewhat foggy；
for the autumn had made great strides latterly。 Sometimes we went
through forests of pine； or rather yew trees； though they looked
like pine； and I remember that now and again we passed a little
wayside shrine； wherein there would be a statue of great beauty；
representing some figure； male or female； in the very heyday of
youth； strength； and beauty； or of the most dignified maturity and
old age。 My hosts always bowed their heads as they passed one of
these shrines； and it shocked me to see statues that had no
apparent object； beyond the chronicling of some unusual individual
excellence or beauty； receive so serious a homage。 However； I
showed no sign of wonder or disapproval； for I remembered that to
be all things to all men was one of the injunctions of the Gentile
Apostle； which for the present I should do well to heed。 Shortly
after passing one of these chapels we came suddenly upon a village
which started up out of the mist； and I was alarmed lest I should
be made an object of curiosity or dislike。 But it was not so。 My
guides spoke to many in passing； and those spoken to showed much
amazement。 My guides； however； were well known； and the natural
politeness of the people prevented them from putting me to any
inconvenience； but they could not help eyeing me； nor I them。 I
may as well say at once what my after…experience taught menamely；
that with all their faults and extraordinary obliquity of mental
vision upon many subjects； they are the very best…bred people that
I ever fell in with。
The village was just like the one we had left； only rather larger。
The streets were narrow and unpaved； but very fairly clean。 The
vine grew outside many of the houses； and there were some with
sign…boards； on which was painted a bottle and a glass； that made
me feel much at home。 Even on this ledge of human society there
was a stunted growth of shoplets； which had taken root and
vegetated somehow； though as in an air mercantile of the bleakest。
It was here as hitherto： all things were generically the same as
in Europe； the differences being of species only； and I was amused
at seeing in a window some bottles with barley…sugar and sweetmeats
for children； as at home； but the barley…sugar was in plates； not
in twisted sticks； and was coloured blue。 Glass was plentiful in
the better houses。
Lastly； I should say that the people were of a physical beauty
which was simply amazing。 I never saw anything in the least
comparable to them。 The women were vigorous； and had a most
majestic gait； their heads being set upon their shoulders with a
grace beyond all power of expression。 Each feature was finished；
eyelids； eyelashes； and ears being almost invariably perfect。
Their colour was equal to that of the finest Italian paintings；
being of the clearest olive； and yet ruddy with a glow of perfect
health。 Their expression was divine； and as they glanced at me
timidly but with parted lips in great bewilderment； I forgot all
thoughts of their conversion in feelings that were far more
earthly。 I was dazzled as I saw one after the other； of whom I
could only feel that each was the loveliest I had ever seen。 Even
in middle age they were still comely； and the old grey…haired women
at their cottage doors had a dignity； not to say majesty； of their
own。
The men were as handsome as the women beautiful。 I have always
delighted in and reverenced beauty； but I felt simply abashed in
the presence of such a splendid typea compound of all that is
best in Egyptian； Greek and Italian。 The children were infinite in
number； and exceedingly merry； I need hardly say that they came in
for their full share of the prevailing beauty。 I expressed by
signs my admiration and pleasure to my guides； and they were
greatly pleased。 I should add that all seemed to take a pride in
their personal appearance； and that even the poorest （and none
seemed rich） were well kempt and tidy。 I could fill many pages
with a description of their dress and the ornaments which they
wore； and a hundred details which struck me with all the force of
novelty； but I must not stay to do so。
When we had got past the village the fog rose； and revealed
magnificent views of the snowy mountains and their nearer
abutments； while in front I could now and again catch glimpses of
the great plains which I had surveyed on the preceding evening。
The country was highly cultivated； every ledge being planted with
chestnuts； walnuts； and apple…trees from which the apples were now
gathering。 Goats were abundant； also a kind of small black cattle；
in the marshes near the river； which was now fast widening； and
running between larger flats from which the hills receded more and
more。 I saw a few sheep with rounded noses and enormous tails。
Dogs were there in plenty； and very English； but I saw no cats； nor
indeed are these creatures known； their place being supplied by a
sort of small terrier。
In about four hours of walking from the time we started； and after
passing two or three more villages； we came upon a considerable
town； and my guides made many attempts to make me understand
something； but I gathered no inkling of their meaning； except that
I need be under no apprehension of danger。 I will spare the reader
any description of the town； and would only bid him think of
Domodossola or Faido。 Suffice it that I found myself taken before
the chief magistrate； and by his orders was placed in an apartment
with two other people； who were the first I had seen looking
anything but well and handsome。 In fact； one of them was plainly
very much out of health； and coughed violently from time to time in
spite of manifest efforts to suppress it。 The other looked pale
and ill but he was marvellously self…contained； and it was
impossible to say what was the matter with him。 Both of them
appeared astonished at seeing one who was evidently a stranger； but
they were too ill to come up to me； and form conclusions concerning
me。 These two were first called out； and in about a quarter of an
hour I was made to follow them； which I did in some fear； and with
much curiosity。
The chief magistrate was a venerable…looking man； with white hair
and beard and a face of great sagacity。 He looked me all over for
about five minutes； letting his eyes wander from the crown of my
head to the soles of my feet； up and down； and down and up； neither
did his mind seem in the least clearer when he ha