green mansions-第8章
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re a set of hollow bronze statues that looked at me； but I knew that the living animals inside of them were tickled at my singing； strumming； and pirouetting。 Cla…cla was； however； an exception； and encouraged me not infrequently by emitting a sound； half cackle and half screech； by way of laughter； for she had come to her second childhood； or； at all events； had dropped the stolid mask which the young Guayana savage； in imitation of his elders； adjusts to his face at about the age of twelve； to wear it thereafter all his life long； or only to drop it occasionally when very drunk。 The youngsters also openly manifested their pleasure； although； as a rule； they try to restrain their feelings in the presence of grown…up people； and with them I became a greet favourite。
By and by I returned to my foil…making； and gave them fencing lessons； and sometimes invited two or three of the biggest boys to attack me simultaneously； just to show how easily I could disarm and kill them。 This practice excited some interest in Kua…ko； who had a little more of curiosity and geniality and less of the put…on dignity of the others； and with him I became most intimate。 Fencing with Kua…ko was highly amusing： no sooner was he in position； foil in hand； than all my instructions were thrown to the winds； and he would charge and attack me in his own barbarous manner； with the result that I would send his foil spinning a dozen yards away； while he； struck motionless； would gaze after it in open…mouthed astonishment。
Three weeks had passed by not unpleasantly when； one morning； I took it into my head to walk by myself across that somewhat sterile savannah west of the village and stream； which ended； as I have said； in a long； low； stony ridge。 From the village there was nothing to attract the eye in that direction； but I wished to get a better view of that great solitary hill or mountain of Ytaioa； and of the cloud…like summits beyond it in the distance。 From the stream the ground rose in a gradual slope； and the highest part of the ridge for which I made was about two miles from the starting…pointa parched brown plain； with nothing growing on it but scattered tussocks of sere hair…like grass。
When I reached the top and could see the country beyond； I was agreeably disappointed at the discovery that the sterile ground extended only about a mile and a quarter on the further side； and was succeeded by a foresta very inviting patch of woodland covering five or six square miles； occupying a kind of oblong basin； extending from the foot of Ytaioa on the north to a low range of rocky hills on the south。 From the wooded basin long narrow strips of forest ran out in various directions like the arms of an octopus； one pair embracing the slopes of Ytaioa； another much broader belt extending along a valley which cut through the ridge of hills on the south side at right angles and was lost to sight beyond； far away in the west and south and north distant mountains appeared； not in regular ranges； but in groups or singly； or looking like blue banked…up clouds on the horizon。
Glad at having discovered the existence of this forest so near home； and wondering why my Indian friends had never taken me to it nor ever went out on that side； I set forth with a light heart to explore it for myself； regretting only that I was without a proper weapon for procuring game。 The walk from the ridge over the savannah was easy； as the barren； stony ground sloped downwards the whole way。 The outer part of the wood on my side was very open； composed in most part of dwarf trees that grow on stony soil； and scattered thorny bushes bearing a yellow pea…shaped blossom。 Presently I came to thicker wood； where the trees were much taller and in greater variety； and after this came another sterile strip； like that on the edge of the wood where stone cropped out from the ground and nothing grew except the yellow…flowered thorn bushes。 Passing this sterile ribbon； which seemed to extend to a considerable distance north and south； and was fifty to a hundred yards wide； the forest again became dense and the trees large； with much undergrowth in places obstructing the view and making progress difficult。
I spent several hours in this wild paradise； which was so much more delightful than the extensive gloomier forests I had so often penetrated in Guayana； for here； if the trees did not attain to such majestic proportions； the variety of vegetable forms was even greater； as far as I went it was nowhere dark under the trees； and the number of lovely parasites everywhere illustrated the kindly influence of light and air。 Even where the trees were largest the sunshine penetrated； subdued by the foliage to exquisite greenish…golden tints； filling the wide lower spaces with tender half…lights； and faint blue…and…gray shadows。 Lying on my back and gazing up； I felt reluctant to rise and renew my ramble。 For what a roof was that above my head！ Roof I call it； just as the poets in their poverty sometimes describe the infinite ethereal sky by that word； but it was no more roof…like and hindering to the soaring spirit than the higher clouds that float in changing forms and tints； and like the foliage chasten the intolerable noonday beams。 How far above me seemed that leafy cloudland into which I gazed！ Nature； we know； first taught the architect to produce by long colonnades the illusion of distance； but the light…excluding roof prevents him from getting the same effect above。 Here Nature is unapproachable with her green； airy canopy； a sun…impregnated cloudcloud above cloud； and though the highest may be unreached by the eye； the beams yet filter through； illuming the wide spaces beneathchamber succeeded by chamber； each with its own special lights and shadows。 Far above me； but not nearly so far as it seemed； the tender gloom of one such chamber or space is traversed now by a golden shaft of light falling through some break in the upper foliage； giving a strange glory to everything it touchesprojecting leaves； and beard…like tuft of moss； and snaky bush…rope。 And in the most open part of that most open space； suspended on nothing to the eye； the shaft reveals a tangle of shining silver threadsthe web of some large tree…spider。 These seemingly distant yet distinctly visible threads serve to remind me that the human artist is only able to get his horizontal distance by a monotonous reduplication of pillar and arch； placed at regular intervals； and that the least departure from this order would destroy the effect。 But Nature produces her effects at random； and seems only to increase the beautiful illusion by that infinite variety of decoration in which she revels； binding tree to tree in a tangle of anaconda…like lianas； and dwindling down from these huge cables to airy webs and hair…like fibres that vibrate to the wind of the passing insect's wing。
Thus in idleness； with such thoughts for company； I spent my time； glad that no human being； savage or civilized； was with me。 It was better to be alone to listen to the monkeys that chattered without offending； to watch them occupied with the unserious business of their lives。 With that luxuriant tropical nature； its green clouds and illusive aerial spaces； full of mystery； they harmonized well in language； appearance； and motionsmountebank angels； living their fantastic lives far above earth in a half…way heaven of their own。
I saw more monkeys on that morning than I usually saw in the course of a week's rambling。 And other animals were seen； I particularly remember two accouries I startled； that after rushing away a few yards stopped and stood peering back at me as if not knowing whether to regard me as friend or enemy。 Birds； too； were strangely abundant； and altogether this struck me as being the richest hunting…ground I had seen； and it astonished me to think that the Indians of the village did not appear to visit it。
On my return in the afternoon I gave an enthusiastic account of my day's ramble； speaking not of the things that had moved my soul； but only of those which move the Guayana Indian's soulthe animal food he craves； and which； one would imagine； Nature would prefer him to do without； so hard he finds it to wrest a
