green mansions-第7章
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At last I was scarcely able to stand on my legs。 But even the seasoned old savage was affected by this time。 In vino veritas； said the ancients； and the principle holds good where there is no vinum； but only mild casserie。 Runi now informed me that he had once known a white man； that he was a bad man； which had caused him to say that all white men were bad； even as David； still more sweepingly； had proclaimed that all men were liars。 Now he found that it was not so； that I was a good man。 His friendliness increased with intoxication。 He presented me with a curious little tinder…box； made from the conical tail of an armadillo； hollowed out； and provided with a wooden stopperthis to be used in place of the box I had deprived myself of。 He also furnished me with a grass hammock； and had it hung up there and then； so that I could lie down when inclined。 There was nothing he would not do for me。 And at last； when many more cups had been emptied； and a third or fourth jar brought out； he began to unburthen his heart of its dark and dangerous secrets。 He shed tearsfor the 〃man without at ear〃 dwells not in the woods of Guayana： tears for those who had been treacherously slain long years ago； for his father； who had been killed by Tripica； the father of Managa； who was still above ground。 But let him and all his people beware of Runi。 He had spilt their blood before； he had fed the fox and vulture with their flesh； and would never rest while Managa lived with his people at Uritaythe five hills of Uritay； which were two days' journey from Parahuari。 While thus talking of his old enemy he lashed himself into a kind of frenzy； smiting his chest and gnashing his teeth； and finally seizing a spear； he buried its point deep into the clay floor； only to wrench it out and strike it into the earth again and again； to show how he would serve Managa； and any one of Managa's people he might meet withman； woman； or child。 Then he staggered out from the door to flourish his spear； and looking to the north…west； he shouted aloud to Managa to come and slay his people and burn down his house； as he had so often threatened to do。
〃Let him come！ Let Managa come！〃 I cried； staggering out after him。 〃I am your friend； your brother； I have no spear and no arrows； but I have thisthis！〃 And here I drew out and flourished my revolver。 〃Where is Managa？〃 I continued。 〃Where are the hills of Uritay？〃 He pointed to a star low down in the south…west。 〃Then；〃 I shouted； 〃let this bullet find Managa； sitting by the fire among his people； and let him fall and pour out his blood on the ground！〃 And with that I discharged my pistol in the direction he had pointed to。 A scream of terror burst out from the women and children； while Runi at my side； in an access of fierce delight and admiration； turned and embraced me。 It was the first and last embrace I ever suffered from a naked male savage； and although this did not seem a time for fastidious feelings； to be hugged to his sweltering body was an unpleasant experience。
More cups of casserie followed this outburst； and at last； unable to keep it up any longer； I staggered to my hammock； but being unable to get into it； Runi； overflowing with kindness； came to my assistance； whereupon we fell and rolled together on the floor。 Finally I was raised by the others and tumbled into my swinging bed； and fell at once into a deep； dreamless sleep； from which I did not awake until after sunrise on the following morning。
CHAPTER II
It is fortunate that casserie is manufactured by an extremely slow； laborious process； since the women； who are the drink…makers； in the first place have to reduce the material （cassava bread） to a pulp by means of their own molars； after which it is watered down and put away in troughs to ferment。 Great is the diligence of these willing slaves； but； work how they will； they can only satisfy their lords' love of a big drink at long intervals。 Such a function as that at which I had assisted is therefore the result of much patient mastication and silent fermentationthe delicate flower of a plant that has been a long time growing。
Having now established myself as one of the family； at the cost of some disagreeable sensations and a pang or two of self…disgust； I resolved to let nothing further trouble me at Parahuari； but to live the easy； careless life of the idle man； joining in hunting and fishing expeditions when in the mood； at other times enjoying existence in my own way； apart from my fellows； conversing with wild nature in that solitary place。 Besides Runi； there were； in our little community； two oldish men； his cousins I believe； who had wives and grown…up children。 Another family consisted of Piake； Runi's nephew； his brother Kua…koabout whom there will be much to sayand a sister Oalava。 Piake had a wife and two children； Kua…ko was unmarried and about nineteen or twenty years old； Oalava was the youngest of the three。 Last of all； who should perhaps have been first； was Runi's mother； called Cla…cla； probably in imitation of the cry of some bird； for in these latitudes a person is rarely； perhaps never； called by his or her real name； which is a secret jealously preserved； even from near relations。 I believe that Cla…cla herself was the only living being who knew the name her parents had bestowed on her at birth。 She was a very old woman； spare in figure； brown as old sun…baked leather； her face written over with innumerable wrinkles； and her long coarse hair perfectly white； yet she was exceedingly active； and seemed to do more work than any other woman in the community； more than that； when the day's toil was over and nothing remained for the others to do； then Cla…cla's night work would begin； and this was to talk all the others； or at all events all the men； to sleep。 She was like a self…regulating machine； and punctually every evening； when the door was closed； and the night fire made up； and every man in his hammock； she would set herself going； telling the most interminable stories； until the last listener was fast asleep； later in the night； if any man woke with a snort or grunt； off she would go again； taking up the thread of the tale where she had dropped it。
Old Cla…cla amused me very much； by night and day； and I seldom tired of watching her owlish countenance as she sat by the fire； never allowing it to sink low for want of fuel； always studying he pot when it was on to simmer； and at the same time attending to the movements of the others about her； ready at a moment's notice to give assistance or to dart out on a stray chicken or refractory child。
So much did she amuse me； although without intending it； that I thought it would be only fair； in my turn； to do something for her entertainment。 I was engaged one day in shaping a wooden foil with my knife； whistling and singing snatches of old melodies at my work； when all at once I caught sight of the ancient dame looking greatly delighted； chuckling internally； nodding her head； and keeping time with her hands。 Evidently she was able to appreciate a style of music superior to that of the aboriginals； and forthwith I abandoned my foils for the time and set about the manufacture of a guitar； which cost me much labour and brought out more ingenuity than I had ever thought myself capable of。 To reduce the wood to the right thinness； then to bend and fasten it with wooden pegs and with gums； to add the arm； frets； keys； and finally the catgut stringsthose of another kind being out of the questionkept me busy for some days。 When completed it was a rude instrument； scarcely tunable； nevertheless when I smote the strings； playing lively music； or accompanied myself in singing； I found that it was a great success； and so was as much pleased with my own performance as if I had had the most perfect guitar ever made in old Spain。 I also skipped about the floor； strum…strumming at the same time； instructing them in the most lively dances of the whites； in which the feet must be as nimble as the player's fingers。 It is true that these exhibitions were always witnessed by the adults with a profound gravity； which would have disheartened a stranger to their ways。 They were a set of hollow bro
