she-第16章
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travelling over swelling grassy plains towards a cup…
shaped hill。 Whether or not it was the same hill that
we had seen from the canal I do not know； and have
never since been able to discover； for； as we
afterwards found out； these people will give little
information upon such points。 Next I glanced at the
men who were bearing me。 They were of a magnificent
build； few of them being under six feet in height； and
yellowish in color。 Generally their appearance had a
good deal in common with that of the East African
Somali； only their hair was not frizzed up； and hung
in thick black locks upon their shoulders。 Their
features were aquiline； and in many cases exceedingly
handsome； the teeth being especially regular and
beautiful。 But notwithstanding their beauty； it struck
me that； on the whole； I had never seen a more evil
looking set of faces。 There was an aspect of cold and
sullen cruelty stamped upon them that revolted me； and
which in some cases was almost uncanny in its
intensity。
Another thing which struck me about them was that they
never seemed to smile。 Sometimes they sang the
monotonous song of which I have spoken； but when they
were not singing they remained almost perfectly
silent； and the light of a laugh never came to
brighten their sombre and evil countenances。 Of what
race could these people be？ Their language was a
bastard Arabic； and yet they were not Arabs； I was
quite sure of that。 For one thing they were too dark；
or； rather； yellow。 I could not say why； but I know
that their appearance filled me with a sick fear of
which I felt ashamed。 While I was still wondering
another litter came up alongside of mine。 In itfor
the curtains were drawnsat an old man； clothed in a
whitish robe； made apparently from coarse linen； that
hung loosely about him； who； I at once jumped to the
conclusion； was the shadowy figure who had stood on
the bank and been addressed as 〃Father。〃
He was a wonderful…looking old man； with a snowy
beard； so long that the ends of it hung over the sides
of the litter； and he had a hooked nose； above which
flashed out a pair of eyes as keen as a snake's； while
his whole countenance was instinct with a look of wise
and sardonic humor impossible to describe on paper。
〃Art thou awake； stranger？〃 he said； in a deep and low
voice。
〃Surely； my father；〃 I answered； courteously； feeling
certain that I should do well to conciliate this
ancient Mammon of Unrighteousness。
He stroked his beautiful white beard； and smiled
faintly。
〃From whatever country thou camest；〃 he said； 〃and； by
the way； it must be from one where somewhat of our
language is known； they teach their children courtesy
there； my stranger son。 And now； wherefore comest thou
unto this land； which scarce an alien foot has pressed
from the time that man knoweth？ Art thou and those
with thee weary of life？〃
〃'We came to find new things；〃 I answered boldly。 〃We
are tired of the old things； we have come up out of
the sea to know that which is unknown。 We are of a
brave race who fear not death； my very much respected
fatherthat is； if we can get a little fresh
information before we die。〃
〃Humph！〃 said the old gentleman； 〃that may be true； it
is rash to contradict； otherwise I should say that
thou wast lying； my son。 However； I dare say that _i_
She…who…must…be…obeyed _i_ will meet thy wishes in the
matter。〃
〃Who is ' _i_ She…who…must…be…obeyed _i_ '？〃 I asked；
curiously。
The old man glanced at the bearers； and then answered；
with a little smile that somehow sent my blood to my
heart
〃Surely； my stranger son； thou wilt learn soon enough；
if it be her pleasure to see thee at all in the
flesh。〃
〃In the flesh？〃 I answered。 〃What may my father wish
to convey？〃
But the old man only laughed a dreadful laugh； and
made no reply。
〃What is the name of my father's people？〃 I asked。
〃The name of my people is Amahagger〃 （the People of
the Rocks）。
〃And； if。 a son might ask； what is the name of my
father？〃
〃My name is Billali。〃
〃And whither go we； my father？〃
〃That shalt thou see；〃 and at a sign from him his
bearers stared forward at a run till they reached the
litter in which Job was reposing （with one leg hanging
over the side）。 Apparently； however； he could not make
much out of Job； for presently I saw his bearers trot
forward to Leo's litter。
And after that； as nothing fresh occurred； I yielded
to the pleasant swaying motion of the litter； and went
to sleep again。 I was dreadfully tired。 When I woke I
found that we were passing through a rocky defile of a
lava formation with precipitous sides； in which grew
many beautiful trees and flowering shrubs。
Presently this defile took a turn； and a lovely sight
unfolded itself to my eyes。 Before us was a vast cup
of green from four to six miles in extent； of the
shape of a Roman amphitheatre。 The sides of this great
cup were rocky； and clothed with bush； but the centre
was of the richest meadow land； studded with single
trees of magnificent growth； and watered by meandering
brooks。 On this rich plain grazed herds of goats and
cattle； but I saw no sheep。 At first I could not
imagine what this strange spot could be； but presently
it flashed upon me that it must represent the crater
of some long…extinct volcano； which had afterwards
been a lake； and was ultimately drained in some
unexplained way。 And here I may state that from my
subsequent experience of this and a much larger； but
otherwise similar spot； which I shall have occasion to
describe by and by； I have every reason to believe
that this conclusion was correct。 What puzzled me；
however； was that； although there were people moving
about herding the goats and cattle； I saw no signs of
any human habitation。 Where did they all live？ I
wondered。 My curiosity was soon destined to be
gratified。 Turning to the left； the string of litters
followed the cliffy sides of the crater for a distance
of about half a mile； or perhaps a little less； and
then halted。 Seeing the old gentleman； my adopted
〃father；〃 Billali； emerge from his litter； I did the
same； and so did Leo and Job。 The first thing I saw
was our wretched Arab companion； Mahomed； lying
exhausted on the ground。 It appeared that he had not
been provided with a litter； but had been forced to
run the entire distance； and； as he was already quite
worn out when we started； his condition now was one of
great prostration。
On looking round we discovered that the place where we
had halted was a platform in front of the mouth of a
great cave； and piled upon this platform were the
entire contents of the whaleboat； even down to the
oars and sail。 Round the cave stood groups of the men
who had escorted us； and other men of a similar stamp。
They were all tall and all handsome； though they
varied in their degree of darkness of skin； some being
as dark as Mahomed； and some as yellow as a Chinese。
They were naked； except for the leopard…skin round the
waist； and each of them carried a huge spear。
There were also some women among them； who； instead of
the leopard…skin； wore a tanned hide of a small red
buck； something like that of the oribe'； only rather
darker in color。 These women were； as a class；
exceedingly good…looking； with large； dark eyes； well…
cut features； and a thick bush of curling hairnot
crisped like a negro'sranging from black to chestnut
in hue； with all shades of intermediate color。 Some；
but very few of them； wore a yellowish linen garment；
such as I have described as worn by Billali； but this；
as we afterwards discovered； was a mark of rank；
rather than an attempt at clothing。 For the rest；
their appearance was not quite so terrifying as that
of the men； and they sometimes； though rarely； smiled。
As soon as we had alighted they gathered round us and
examined us with curiosity； but without excitement。
Leo's tall； athletic form and clear…cut Grecian face；
however； evidently excited their attention； and when
he politely lifted his hat to them； and showed his
curling yellow hair； there
