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！
d in size； and in its white woolly covering； a small fat lamb； but had short legs； hand…like feet with large claws； and a long prehensile tail。 It was a Cuscus （C。 maculatus）； one of the curious marsupial animals of the Papuan region； and I was very desirous to obtain the skin。 The owners； however； said they wanted to eat it； and though I offered them a good price； and promised to give them all the meat； there was grout hesitation。 Suspecting the reason； I offered； though it was night； to set to work immediately and get out the body for them； to which they agreed。 The creature was much hacked about； and the two hind feet almost cut off； but it was the largest and finest specimen of the kind I had seen； and after an hour's hard work I handed over the body to the owners； who immediately cut it up and roasted it for supper。
As this was a very good place for birds； I determined to remain a month longer； and took the opportunity of a native boat going to Dobbo； to send Ali for a fresh supply of ammunition and provisions。 They started on the 10th of April； and the house was crowded with about a hundred men； boys； women； and girls； bringing their loads of sugar…cane； plantains； sirih…leaf； yams； &c。； one lad going from each house to sell the produce and make purchases。 The noise was indescribable。 At least fifty of the hundred were always talking at once； and that not in the low measured tones of the apathetically polite Malay； but with loud voices； shouts； and screaming laughter； in which the women and children were even more conspicuous than the men。 It was only while gazing at me that their tongues were moderately quiet； because their eyes were fully occupied。 The black vegetable soil here overlying the coral rock is very rich； and the sugar…cane was finer than any I had ever seen。 The canes brought to the boat were often ten and even twelve feet long； and thick in proportion； with short joints throughout； swelling between the knots with the； abundance of the rich juice。 At Dobbo they get a high price for it； 1d。 to 3d。 a stick； and there is an insatiable demand among the crews of the praus and the Baba fishermen。 Here they eat it continually。 They half live on it； and sometimes feed their pigs with it。 Near every house are great heaps of the refuse cane； and large wicker…baskets to contain this refuse as it is produced form a regular part of the furniture of a house。 Whatever time of the day you enter； you are sure to find three or four people with a yard of cane in one hand； a knife in the other； and a basket between their legs； hacking； paring； chewing； and basket…filling； with a persevering assiduity which reminds one of a hungry cow grazing； or of a caterpillar eating up a leaf。
After five days' absence the boats returned from Dobbo； bringing Ali and all the things I had sent for quite safe。 A large party had assembled to be ready to carry home the goods brought； among which were a good many cocoa…nut； which are a great luxury here。 It seems strange that they should never plant them； but the reason simply is； that they cannot bring their hearts to bury a good nut for the prospective advantage of a crop twelve years hence。 There is also the chance of the fruits being dug up and eaten unless watched night and day。 Among the things I had sent for was a box of arrack； and I was now of course besieged with requests for a little drop。 I gave them a flask （about two bottles； which was very soon finished； and I was assured that there were many present who had not had a taste。 As I feared my box would very soon be emptied if I supplied all their demands； I told them I had given them one； but the second they must pay for； and that afterwards I must have a Paradise bird for each flask。 They immediately sent round to all the neighbouring houses； and mustered up a rupee in Dutch copper money； got their second flask； and drunk it as quickly as the first； and were then very talkative； but less noisy and importunate than I had expected。 Two or three of them got round me and begged me for the twentieth time to tell them the name of my country。 Then； as they could not pronounce it satisfactorily； they insisted that I was deceiving them； and that it was a name of my own invention。 One funny old man； who bore a ludicrous resemblance； to a friend of mine at home； was almost indignant。 〃Ung…lung！ 〃said he； 〃who ever heard of such a name？ang langanger…lungthat can't be the name of your country； you are playing with us。〃 Then he tried to give a convincing illustration。 〃My country is Wanumbaianybody can say Wanumbai。 I'm an ‘ orang…Wanumbai； but； N…glung！ who ever heard of such a name？ Do tell us the real name of your country； and then when you are gone we shall know how to talk about you。〃 To this luminous argument and remonstrance I could oppose nothing but assertion； and the whole party remained firmly convinced that I was for some reason or other deceiving them。 They then attacked me on another pointwhat all the animals and birds and insects and shells were preserved so carefully for。 They had often asked me this before； and I had tried to explain to them that they would be stuffed； and made to look as if alive； and people in my country would go to look at them。 But this was not satisfying； in my country there must be many better things to look at； and they could not believe I would take so much trouble with their birds and beasts just for people to look at。 They did not want to look at them； and we； who made calico and glass and knives； and all sorts of wonderful things； could not want things from Aru to look at。 They had evidently been thinking about it； and had at length got what seemed a very satisfactory theory； for the same old man said to me； in a low； mysterious voice； 〃What becomes of them when you go on to the sea？〃 〃Why； they are all packed up in boxes；〃 said I 〃What did you think became of them？〃 〃They all come to life again； don't they？〃 said he； and though I tried to joke it off； and said if they did we should have plenty to eat at sea； he stuck to his opinion； and kept repeating； with an air of deep conviction； 〃Yes； they all come to life again； that's what they dothey all come to life again。〃
After a little while； and a good deal of talking among themselves； he began again〃I know all about itoh yes！ Before you came we had rain every dayvery wet indeed； now； ever since you have been here； it is fine hot weather。 Oh； yes！ I know all about it； you can't deceive me。〃 And so I was set down as a conjurer； and was unable to repel the charge。 But the conjurer was completely puzzled by the next question： 〃What；〃 said the old man； 〃is the great ship； where the Bugis and Chinamen go to sell their things？ It is always in the great seaits name is Jong； tell us all about it。〃 In vain I inquired what they knew about it； they knew nothing but that it was called 〃Jong；〃 and was always in the sea； and was a very great ship； and concluded with； 〃Perhaps that is your country？〃 Finding that I could not or would not tell them anything about 〃Jong；〃 there came more regrets that I would not tell them the real name of my country； and then a long string of compliments； to the effect that I was a much better sort of a person than the Bugis and Chinese； who sometimes came to trade with them； for I gave them things for nothing； and did not try to cheat them。 How long would I stop？ was the next earnest inquiry。 Would I stay two or three months？ They would get me plenty of birds and animals； and I might soon finish all the goods I had brought； and then； said the old spokesman； 〃Don't go away； but send for more things from Dobbo； and stay here a year or two。〃 And then again the old story； 〃Do tell us the name of your country。 We know the Bugis men； and the Macassar men； and the Java men； and the China men； only you； we don't know from what country you come。 Ung…lung！ it can't be； I know that is not the name of your country。〃 Seeing no end to this long talk； I said I was tired； and wanted to go to sleep； so after begging one a little bit of dry fish for his supper； and another a little salt to eat with his sagothey went off very quietly； and I went outside and took a stroll round the house by moonlight； thinking of the simple people and the strange productions