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！
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 had done looking
than when he began。 He at length asked me a single short question；
which I supposed meant 〃Who are you？〃 I answered in English quite
composedly as though he would understand me； and endeavoured to be
my very most natural self as well as I could。 He appeared more and
more puzzled； and then retired； returning with two others much like
himself。 Then they took me into an inner room； and the two fresh
arrivals stripped me； while the chief looked on。 They felt my
pulse； they looked at my tongue； they listened at my chest； they
felt all my muscles； and at the end of each operation they looked
at the chief and nodded； and said something in a tone quite
pleasant； as though I were all right。 They even pulled down my
eyelids； and looked； I suppose； to see if they were bloodshot； but
it was not so。 At length they gave up； and I think that all were
satisfied of my being in the most perfect health； and very robust
to boot。 At last the old magistrate made me a speech of about five
minutes long； which the other two appeared to think greatly to the
point； but from which I gathered nothing。 As soon as it was ended；
they proceeded to overhaul my swag and the contents of my pockets。
This gave me little uneasiness； for I had no money with me； nor
anything which they were at all likely to want； or which I cared
about losing。 At least I fancied so； but I soon found my mistake。
They got on comfortably at first； though they were much puzzled
with my tobacco…pipe and insisted on seeing me use it。 When I had
shown them what I did with it； they were astonished but not
displeased； and seemed to like the smell。 But by and by they came
to my watch； which I had hidden away in the inmost pocket that I
had； and had forgotten when they began their search。 They seemed
concerned and uneasy as soon as they got hold of it。 They then
made me open it and show the works； and when I had done so they
gave signs of very grave displeasure； which disturbed me all the
more because I could not conceive wherein it could have offended
them。
I remember that when they first found it I had thought of Paley；
and how he tells us that a savage on seeing a watch would at once
conclude that it was designed。 True； these people were not
savages； but I none the less felt sure that this was the conclusion
they would arrive at； and I was thinking what a wonderfully wise
man Archbishop Paley must have been； when I was aroused by a look
of horror and dismay upon the face of the magistrate； a look which
conveyed to me the impression that he regarded my watch not as
having been designed； but rather as the designer of himself and of
the universe； or as at any rate one of the great first causes of
all things。
Then it struck me that this view was quite as likely to be taken as
the other by a people who had no experience of European
civilisation； and I was a little piqued with Paley for having led
me so much astray； but I soon discovered that I had misinterpreted
the expression on the magistrate's face； and that it was one not of
fear； but hatred。 He spoke to me solemnly and sternly for two or
three minutes。 Then； reflecting that this was of no use； he caused
me to be conducted through several passages into a large room；
which I afterwards found was the museum of the town； and wherein I
beheld a sight which astonished me more than anything that I had
yet seen。
It was filled with cases containing all manner of curiositiessuch
as skeletons； stuffed birds and animals； carvings in stone （whereof
I saw several that were like those on the saddle； only smaller）；
but the greater part of the room was occupied by broken machinery
of all descriptions。 The larger specimens had a case to
themselves； and tickets with writing on them in a character which I
could not understand。 There were fragments of steam engines； all
broken and rusted； among them I saw a cylinder and piston； a broken
fly…wheel； and part of a crank； which was laid on the ground by
their side。 Again； there was a very old carriage whose wheels in
spite of rust and decay； I could see； had been designed originally
for iron rails。 Indeed； there were fragments of a great many of
our own most advanced inventions； but they seemed all to be several
hundred years old； and to be placed where they were； not for
instruction； but curiosity。 As I said before； all were marred and
broken。
We passed many cases； and at last came to one in which there were
several clocks and two or three old watches。 Here the magistrate
stopped； and opening the case began comparing my watch with the
others。 The design was different； but the thing was clearly the
same。 On this he turned to me and made me a speech in a severe and
injured tone of voice； pointing repeatedly to the watches in the
case； and to my own； neither did he seem in the least appeased
until I made signs to him that he had better take my watch and put
it with the others。 This had some effect in calming him。 I said
in English （trusting to tone and manner to convey my meaning） that
I was exceedingly sorry if I had been found to have anything
contraband in my possession； that I had had no intention of evading
the ordinary tolls； and that I would gladly forfeit the watch if my
doing so would atone for an unintentional violation of the law。 He
began presently to relent； and spoke to me in a kinder manner。 I
think he saw that I had offended without knowledge； but I believe
the chief thing that brought him round was my not seeming to be
afraid of him； although I was quite respectful； this； and my having
light hair and complexion； on which he had remarked previously by
signs； as every one else had done。
I afterwards found that it was reckoned a very great merit to have
fair hair； this being a thing of the rarest possible occurrence；
and greatly admired and envied in all who were possessed of it。
However that might be； my watch was taken from me； but our peace
was made； and I was conducted back to the room where I had been
examined。 The magistrate then made me another speech； whereon I
was taken to a building hard by； which I soon discovered to be the
common prison of the town； but in which an apartment was assigned
me separate from the other prisoners。 The room contained a bed；
table； and chairs； also a fireplace and a washing…stand。 There was
another door； which opened on to a balcony； with a flight of steps
descending into a walled garden of some size。 The man who
conducted me into this room made signs to me that I might go down
and walk in the garden whenever I pleased； and intimated that I
should shortly have something brought me to eat。 I was allowed to
retain my blankets； and the few things which I had wrapped inside
them； but it was plain that I was to consider myself a prisoner
for how long a period I could not by any means determine。 He then
left me alone。
CHAPTER VIII： IN PRISON
And now for the first time my courage completely failed me。 It is
enough to say that I was penniless； and a prisoner in a foreign
country； where I had no friend； nor any knowledge of the customs or
language of the people。 I was at the mercy of men with whom I had
little in common。 And yet； engrossed as I was with my extremely
difficult and doubtful position； I could not help feeling deeply
interested in the people among whom I had fallen。 What was the
meaning of that room full of old machinery which I had just seen；
and of the displeasure with which the magistrate had regarded my
watch？ The people had very little machinery now。 I had been
struck with this over and over again； though I had not been more
than four…and…twenty hours in the country。 They were about as far
advanced as Europeans of the twelfth or thirteenth century；
certainly not more so。 And yet they must have had at one time the
fullest knowledge of our own most recent inventions。 How could it
have happened that having been once so far in advance they were now
as much behind us？ It was evident that it was not from ignorance。
They knew my watch as a watch wh