she-第17章
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he politely lifted his hat to them； and showed his
curling yellow hair； there was a slight murmur of
admiration。 Nor did it stop there； for； after
regarding him critically from head to foot； the
handsomest of the young womenone wearing a robe； and
with hair of a shade between brown and chestnut
deliberately advanced to him； and in a way that would
have been winning had it not been so determined；
quietly put her arm round his neck； bent forward； and
kissed him on the lips。
I gave a gasp； expecting to see Leo instantly speared；
and Job ejaculated； 〃The hussywell； I never！〃 As for
Leo； he looked slightly astonished； and then；
remarking that we had got into a country where they
clearly followed the customs of the early Christians；
deliberately returned the embrace。
Again I gasped； thinking that something would happen；
but。 to my surprise； though some of the young women
showed traces of vexation； the older ones and the men
only smiled slightly。 When we came to understand the
customs of this extraordinary people the mystery was
explained。 It then appeared that； in direct opposition
to the habits of almost every other savage race in the
world； women among the Amahagger are not only upon
terms of perfect equality with the men； but are not
held to them by any binding ties。 Descent is traced
only through the line of the mother； and while
individuals are as proud of a long and superior female
ancestry as we are of our families in Europe； they
never pay attention to； or even acknowledge； any man
as their father； even when their male parentage is
perfectly well known。 There is but one titular male
parent of each tribe； or； as they call it；
〃household；〃 and he is its elected and immediate
ruler； with the title of 〃Father。〃 For instance； the
man Billali was the father of this 〃household；〃 which
consisted of about seven thousand individuals all
told； and no other man was ever called by that name。
When a woman took a fancy to a man she signified her
preference by advancing and embracing him publicly； in
the same way that this handsome and exceedingly prompt
young lady； who was called Ustane； had embraced Leo。
If he kissed her in return it was a token that he
accepted her； and the arrangement continued till one
of them wearied of it。 I am bound； however； to say
that the change of husbands was not nearly so frequent
as might have been expected。 Nor did quarrels arise
out of it； at least among the men； who； when their
wives deserted them in favor of a rival； accepted the
whole thing much as we accept the income…tax or our
marriage laws； as something not to be disputed； and as
tending to the good of the community； however
disagreeable they may in particular instances prove to
the individual。
It is very curious to observe how the customs of
mankind on this matter vary in different countries；
making morality an affair of latitude； and what is
right and proper in one place wrong and improper in
another。 It must； however； be understood that； as all
civilized nations appear to accept it as an axiom that
ceremony is the touchstone of morality； there is； even
according to our canons； nothing immoral about this
Amahagger custom； seeing that the interchange of the
embrace answers to our ceremony of marriage； which； as
we know； justifies most things。
CHAPTER VII
USTANE SINGS
When the kissing operation was finishedby the way；
none of the young ladies offered to pet me in this
fashion； though I saw one hovering round Job； to that
respectable individual's evident alarmthe old man
Billali advanced； and graciously waved us into the
cave； whither we went； followed by Ustane； who did not
seem inclined to take the hints I gave her that we
liked privacy。
Before we had gone five paces it struck me that the
cave that we were entering was none of Nature's
handiwork； but； on the contrary； had been hollowed by
the hand of man。 So far as we could judge it appeared
to be about one hundred feet in length by fifty wide；
and very lofty； resembling a cathedral aisle more than
anything else。 From this main aisle opened passages at
a distance of every twelve or fifteen feet； leading； I
supposed； to smaller chambers。 About fifty feet from
the entrance of the cave； just where the light began
to get dim； a fire was burning； which threw huge
shadows upon the gloomy walls around。 Here Billali
halted； and asked us to be seated； saying that the
people would bring us food； and accordingly we
squatted ourselves down upon the rugs of skins which
were spread for us； and waited。 Presently the food；
consisting of goat's flesh boiled； fresh milk in an
earthenware pot； and boiled cobs of Indian corn； was
brought by young girls。 We were almost starving； and I
do not think that I ever in my life ate with such
satisfaction。 Indeed； before we had finished we
literally ate up everything that was set before us。
When we had done； our somewhat saturnine host；
Billali； who had been watching us in perfect silence；
rose and addressed us。 He said that it was a wonderful
thing that had happened。 No man had ever known or
heard of white strangers arriving in the country of
the People of the Rocks。 Sometimes； though rarely；
black men had come here； and from them they had heard
of the existence of men much whiter than themselves；
who sailed on the sea in ships； but for the arrival of
such there was no precedent。 We had； however； been
seen dragging the boat up the canal； and he told us
frankly that he had at once given orders for our
destruction； seeing that it was unlawful for any
stranger to enter here； when a message had come from 〃
_i_ She…who…must…be…obeyed _i_ ；〃 saying that our
lives were to be spared； and that we were to be
brought hither。
〃Pardon me； my father；〃 I interrupted at this point；
〃but if； as I understand； _i_ She…who…must…be…obeyed
_i_ lives yet farther off； how could she have known of
our approach？〃
Billali turned； and seeing that we were alonefor the
young lady； Ustane； had withdrawn when he had begun to
speaksaid； with a curious little laugh
〃Are there none in your land who can see without eyes
and hear without ears？ Ask no questions； _i_ She _i_
knew。〃
I shrugged my shoulders at this； and he proceeded to
say that no further instructions had been received on
the subject of our disposal； and this being so he was
about to start to interview 〃 _i_ She…who…must…be…
obeyed _i_ ；〃 generally spoken of； for the sake of
brevity； as 〃Hiya〃 or _i_ She _i_ simply； who he gave
us to understand was the Queen of the Amahagger； and
learn her wishes。
I asked him how long he proposed to be away； and he
said that by travelling hard he might be back on the
fifth day； but there were many miles of marsh to cross
before he came to where _i_ She _i_ was。 He then said
that every arrangement would be made for our comfort
during his absence； and that； as he personally had
taken a fancy to us； he sincerely trusted that the
answer he should bring from _i_ She _i_ would be one
favorable to the continuation of our existence； but at
the same time he did not wish to conceal from us that
he thought this doubtful； as every stranger who had
ever come into the country during his grandmother's
life； his mother's life； and his own life； had been
put to death without mercy； and in a way that he would
not harrow our feelings by describing； and this had
been done by the order of _i_ She _i_ herself； at
least he supposed it was by her order。 At any rate；
she never interfered to save them。
〃Why；〃 I said； 〃but how can that be？ You are an old
man； and the time you talk of must reach back three
men's lives。 How； therefore； could _i_ She _i_ have
ordered the death of anybody at the beginning of the
life of your grandmother； seeing that she herself
would not have been born？〃
Again he smiledthat same faint； peculiar smile； and
with a deep bow departed； without making any answer；
nor did we see him again for five days。
When he had gone we discussed the situation； which
filled me with alarm。 I did not at all like the
