第18章

类别:其他 作者:David Livingstone字数:8610更新时间:18/12/14 10:02:35
Ourprogressupwasdistressinglyslow。Theriverwasinflood,andwehadathree-knotcurrentagainstusinmanyplaces。Thesedelayskeptussixmonthsinthedelta,insteadof,asweanticipated,onlysixdays;for,findingitimpossibletocarrythesectionsuptotheRuowithoutgreatlossoftime,itwasthoughtbesttolandthematShupanga,and,puttingthehullofthe\"LadyNyassa\"togetherthere,totowheruptothefootoftheMurchisonCataracts。 Afewdaysbeforethe\"Pioneer\"reachedShupanga,CaptainWilson,seeingthehopelessstateofaffairs,generouslyresolvedtohastenwiththeMissionladiesuptothosewho,wethought,wereanxiouslyawaitingtheirarrival,andthereforestartedinhisgigfortheRuo,takingMissMackenzie,Mrs。Burrup,andhissurgeon,Dr。Ramsay。 TheywereaccompaniedbyDr。KirkandMr。Sewell,paymasterofthe\"Gorgon,\"inthewhale-boatofthe\"LadyNyassa。”Asourslow-paced- launch,\"MaRobert,\"hadformerlygoneuptothefootofthecataractsinninedays\'steaming,itwassupposedthattheboatsmighteasilyreachtheexpectedmeeting-placeattheRuoinaweek; buttheShirewasnowinflood,andinitsmostrapidstate;andtheywerelongeringettingupabouthalfthedistance,thanitwashopedtheywouldbeinthewholenavigablepartoftheriver。TheycouldhearnothingoftheBishopfromthechiefoftheisland,Malo,atthemouthoftheRuo。\"Nowhitemanhadevercometohisvillage,\"hesaid。TheyproceededontoChibisa\'s,sufferingterriblyfrommosquitoesatnight。Theirtoilinstemmingtherapidcurrentmadethemestimatethedistance,bythewindings,asnearer300than200 miles。TheMakololowhohadremainedatChibisa\'stoldthemthesadnewsofthedeathofthegoodBishopandofMr。Burrup。Otherinformationreceivedthereawakenedfreshanxietyonbehalfofthesurvivors;so,leavingtheladieswithDr。RamsayandtheMakololo,CaptainWilsonandDr。Kirkwentupthehills,inhopesofbeingabletorenderassistance,andonthewaytheymetsomeoftheMissionpartyatSoche\'s。TheexcessivefatiguethatourfriendshadundergoneinthevoyageuptoChibisa\'sinnowisedeterredthemfromthisfurtherattemptforthebenefitoftheircountrymen,butthefreshlabour,withdiminishedrations,wastoomuchfortheirstrength。Theywerereducedtoadietofnativebeansandanoccasionalfowl。Bothbecameveryilloffever,CaptainWilsonsodangerouslythathisfellow-suffererlostallhopesofhisrecovery。 Hisstrongable-bodiedcockswaindidgoodserviceincheerfullycarryinghismuch-lovedCommander,andtheymanagedtoreturntotheboat,andbroughtthetwobereavedandsorrow-strickenladiesbacktothe\"Pioneer。” WelearntthattheBishop,wishingtofindashorterroutedowntotheShire,hadsenttwomentoexplorethecountrybetweenMagomeroandthejunctionoftheRuo;andinDecemberMessrs。ProctorandScudamore,withanumberofManganjacarriers,leftMagomeroforthesamepurpose。TheyweretogoclosetoMountChoro,andthenskirttheElephantMarsh,withMountClarendonontheirleft。Theirguidesseemtohaveledthemawaytotheeast,insteadofsouth;totheupperwatersoftheRuointheShirwavalley,insteadoftoitsmouth。EnteringanAnguruslave-tradingvillage,theysoonbegantosuspectthatthepeoplemeantmischief,andjustbeforesunsetawomantoldsomeoftheirmenthatiftheyslepttheretheywouldallbekilled。Ontheirpreparingtoleave,theAngurufollowedthemandshottheirarrowsattheretreatingparty。Twoofthecarrierswerecaptured,andallthegoodsweretakenbytheserobbers。Anarrow- headstruckdeepintothestockofProctor\'sgun;andthetwomissionaries,barelyescapingwiththeirlives,swamadeepriveratnight,andreturnedtoMagomerofamishedandexhausted。 ThewivesofthecaptivecarrierscametotheBishopdayafterdayweepingandimploringhimtorescuetheirhusbandsfromslavery。Themenhadbeencaughtwhileinhisservice,nooneelsecouldbeentreated;therewasnopubliclawnoranypowersuperiortohisown,towhichanappealcouldbemade;forinhimChurchandStatewere,inthedisorganizedstateofthecountry,virtuallyunited。ItseemedtohimtobeclearlyhisdutytotryandrescuethesekidnappedmembersoftheMissionfamily。HeaccordinglyinvitedtheveteranMakololotogowithhimonthissomewhathazardouserrand。 Nothingcouldhavebeenproposedtothemwhichtheywouldhavelikedbetter,andtheywentwithalacritytoeatthesheepoftheAnguru,onlyregrettingthattheenemydidnotkeepcattleaswell。Hadthematterbeenleftentirelyintheirhands,theywouldhavemadeacleansweepofthatpartofthecountry;buttheBishoprestrainedthem,andwentinanopenmanner,thuscommendingthemeasuretoallthenatives,asoneofjustice。Thisdeliberation,however,gavethedelinquentsachanceofescape。 Themissionariesweresuccessful;theoffendingvillagewasburned,andafewsheepandgoatsweresecuredwhichcouldnotbeconsideredotherthanaverymildpunishmentfortheoffencecommitted;theheadman,Muana-somba,afraidtoretaintheprisonersanylonger,forthwithliberatedthem,andtheyreturnedtotheirhomes。ThisincidenttookplaceatthetimewewereattheRuoandduringtherains,andprovedverytryingtothehealthofthemissionaries;theywerefrequentlywetted,andhadhardlyanyfoodbutroastedmaize。 Mr。Scudamorewasneverwellafterwards。DirectlyontheirreturntoMagomero,theBishopandMr。Burrup,bothsufferingfromdiarrhoeainconsequenceofwet,hunger,andexposure,startedforChibisa\'stogodowntotheRuobytheShire。SofullydidtheBishopexpectarenewalofthesoakingwetfromwhichhehadjustreturned,thatonleavingMagomerohewalkedthroughthestream。Therivuletsweresoswollenthatittookfivedaystodoajourneythatwouldotherwisehaveoccupiedonlytwodaysandahalf。 NoneoftheManganjabeingwillingtotakethemdowntheriverduringtheflood,threeMakololocanoe-menagreedtogowiththem。Afterpaddlingtillnearsunset,theydecidedtostopandsleeponshore; butthemosquitoesweresonumerousthattheyinsistedongoingonagain;theBishop,beingaweekbehindthetimehehadengagedtobeattheRuo,reluctantlyconsented,andinthedarknessthecanoewasupsetinoneofthestrongeddiesorwhirlpools,whichsuddenlyboilupinfloodtimeneartheoutgoingbranchesoftheriver;clothing,medicines,tea,coffee,andsugarwerealllost。Wetandweary,andtormentedbymosquitoes,theylayinthecanoetillmorningdawned,andthenproceededtoMalo,anislandatthemouthoftheRuo,wheretheBishopwasatonceseizedwithfever。 Hadtheybeenintheirusualhealth,theywoulddoubtlesshavepushedontoShupanga,ortotheship;butfeverrapidlyprostratestheenergies,andinducesadrowsystupor,fromwhich,ifnotrousedbymedicine,thepatientgraduallysinksintothesleepofdeath。Stillmindful,however,ofhisoffice,theBishopconsoledhimselfbythinkingthathemightgainthefriendshipofthechief,whichwouldbeofessentialservicetohiminhisfuturelabours。Thatheartlessman,however,probablysuspiciousofallforeignersfromtheknowledgehehadacquiredofwhiteslave-traders,wantedtoturnthedyingBishopoutofthehut,asherequireditforhiscorn,butyieldedtotheexpostulationsoftheMakololo。Dayafterdayforthreeweeksdidthesefaithfulfellowsremainbesidehismatonthefloor;till,withoutmedicineorevenproperfood,hedied。Theydughisgraveontheedgeofthedeepdarkforestwherethenativesburiedtheirdead。Mr。Burrup,himselffargonewithdysentery,staggeredfromthehut,and,asintheduskofeveningtheycommittedtheBishop\'sbodytothegrave,repeatedfrommemoryportionsofourbeautifulservicefortheBurialoftheDead——\"earthtoearth,ashestoashes,dusttodust;insureandcertainhopeoftheresurrectionofthedeadthroughourLordJesusChrist。”Andinthissadwayendedtheearthlycareerofone,ofwhomitcansafelybesaidthatforunselfishgoodnessofheart,andearnestdevotiontothenobleworkhehadundertaken,noneofthecommendationsofhisfriendscanexceedthereality。ThegraveinwhichhisbodyrestsisaboutahundredyardsfromtheconfluenceoftheRuo,ontheleftbankoftheShire,andoppositetheislandofMalo。TheMakololothentookMr。 Burrupupinthecanoeasfarastheycould,and,makingalitterofbranches,carriedhimthemselves,orgototherstocarryhim,allthewaybacktohiscountrymenatMagomero。Theyhurriedhimonlestheshoulddieintheirhands,andblamebeattachedtothem。Soonafterhisreturnheexpired,fromthediseasewhichwasonhimwhenhestartedtomeethiswife。 CaptainWilsonarrivedatShupangaonthe11thofMarch,havingbeenthreeweeksontheShire。Onthe15ththe\"Pioneer\"steameddowntotheKongone。The\"Gorgon\"hadbeendrivenouttoseainagale,andhadgonetoJohannaforprovisions,anditwasthe2ndofAprilbeforeshereturned。Itwasfortunateforusthatshehadobtainedasupply,asourprovisionswereexhausted,andwehadtobuysomefromthemasterofthebrig。The\"Gorgon\"leftfortheCapeonthe4th,takingall,exceptone,oftheMissionpartywhohadcomeinJanuary。 WetakethisopportunityofexpressingourheartfeltgratitudetothegallantCaptainI。C。Wilsonandhisofficersforinnumerableactsofkindnessandheartyco-operation。OurwarmestthanksarealsoduetoCaptainR。B。OldfieldandtheotherofficersfromtheAdmiraldownwards,andwebegtoassurethemthatnothingcouldbemoreencouragingtousinourdifficultiesandtrials,thantheknowledgethatwepossessedtheirfriendshipandsympathyinourlabours。 TheRev。JamesStewart,oftheFreeChurchofScotland,arrivedinthe\"Gorgon。”Hehadwiselycomeouttoinspectthecountry,beforedecidingontheformationofaMissionintheinterior。Tothisobjecthedevotedmanymonthsofearnestlabour。ThisMissionwasintendedtoembraceboththeindustrialandthereligiouselement; andastheroutebytheZambesiandShireformstheonlyoneatpresentknown,withbutacoupleofdays\'landjourneytothehighlands,whichstretchtoanunknowndistanceintothecontinent,andasnojealousywaslikelytobeexcitedinthemindofamanofBishopMackenzie\'senlargedviews——therebeingmoreoverroomforhundredsofMissions——wegladlyextendedthelittleaidinourpowertoanenvoyfromtheenergeticbodyabovementioned,butrecommendedhimtoexaminethefieldwithhisowneyes。 DuringoursubsequentdetentionatShupanga,heproceededasfaruptheShireastheUpperCataracts,andsawthemereremnantsofthatdensepopulation,whichweatfirsthadfoundlivinginpeaceandplenty,butwhichwasnowscatteredanddestroyedbyfamineandslave-hunting。Theland,whichbothbeforeandafterwefoundsofairandfruitful,wasburnedupbyaseveredrought;infact,itwasatitsveryworst。Withmostpraiseworthyenergy,andinspiteofoccasionalattacksoffever,hethenascendedtheZambesiasfarasKebrabasa;and,whatmaybeofinteresttosome,comparedit,inparts,totheDanube。Hisestimateofthehighlandswouldnaturallybelowerthanours。Themaindrawbacksinhisopinion,however,weretheslave-trade,andthepowerallowedtheeffetePortugueseofshuttingupthecountryfromallexceptafewconvictsoftheirownnation。Thetimeofhiscomingwasinopportune;thedisasterswhich,frominexperience,hadbefallentheMissionoftheUniversities,hadadepressingeffectonthemindsofmanyathome,andrenderedanewattemptunadvisable;though,hadtheScotchperseveranceandenergybeenintroduced,itishighlyprobablethattheywouldhavereacted,mostbeneficially,onthezealofourEnglishbrethren,anddesertionwouldneverhavebeenheardof。Afterexaminingthecountry,Mr。 StewartdescendedtheZambesiinthebeginningofthefollowingyear,andproceededhomewardswithhisreport,byMosambiqueandtheCape。 Onthe7thofAprilwehadonlyonemanfitforduty;alltherestweredownwithfever,orwiththevilespiritsecretlysoldtothembythePortugueseofficerofcustoms,inspiteofourearnestrequesttohimtorefrainfromthepernicioustraffic。 Westartedonthe11thforShupangawithanotherloadofthe\"LadyNyassa。”Aswesteamedupthedelta,weobservedmanyofthenativeswearingstripsofpalm-leaf,thesignsofsicknessandmourning;fortheytoosufferfromfever。Thisistheunhealthyseason;therainsareover,andthehotsundrawsupmalariafromthedecayedvegetation;diseaseseemedpeculiarlyseverethisyear。OnourwayupwemetMr。Waller,whohadcomefromMagomeroforprovisions;themissionariesweresufferingseverelyfromwantoffood;theliberatedpeoplewerestarving,anddyingofdiarrhoea,andloathsomesores。 TheAjawa,stimulatedintheirslaveraidsbysuppliesofammunitionandclothfromthePortuguese,haddestroyedthelargecropsofthepastyear;adroughthadfollowed,andlittleornofoodcouldbebought。Withhisusualenergy,Mr。Wallerhiredcanoes,loadedthemwithstores,andtookthemupthelongwearywaytoChibisa\'s。 BeforehearrivedhewasinformedthattheMissionoftheUniversities,nowdeprivedofitsbraveleader,hadretiredfromthehighlandsdowntotheLowShireValley。Thisappearedtous,whoknewthedangerofleadingasedentarylife,thegreatestmistaketheycouldhavemade,andwastheresultofnoothercounselorresponsibilitythantheirown。Wallerwouldhavereascendedatoncetothehigheraltitude,butvariousobjectionsstoodintheway。ThelossofpoorScudamoreandDickinson,inthislow-lyingsituation,butaddedtotheregretthatthehighlandshadnotreceivedafairtrial。 WhenthenewsoftheBishop\'sunfortunatecollisionswiththenatives,andofhisuntimelyend,reachedEngland,muchblamewasimputedtohim。Thepolicy,whichwiththeformalsanctionofallhiscompanionshehadadopted,beingdirectlycontrarytotheadvicewhichDr。Livingstonetendered,andtotheassurancesofthepeaceablenatureoftheMissionwhichtheDoctorhadgiventothenatives,afriendlydisapprovalofabishop\'sengaginginwarwasventuredon,whenwemethimatChibisa\'sinNovember。ButwhenwefoundhisconductregardedwithsomuchbitternessinEngland,whetherfromadispositionto\"standbythedownman,\"orfromhavinganintimateknowledgeofthepeculiarcircumstancesofthecountryinwhichhewasplaced,orfromthethoroughconfidencewhichintimacycausedustoreposeinhisgenuinepiety,anddevoutserviceofGod,wecametothinkmuchmorelenientlyofhisproceedings,thanhisassailantsdid。Heneverseemedtodoubtbutthathehaddonehisduty;andthroughouthehadalwaysbeensupportedbyhisassociates。 ThequestionwhetheraBishop,intheeventofhisflockbeingtornfromhisbosom,maymakewartorescuethem,requiresseriousconsideration。ItseemstonarrowitselfintowhetheraChristianmanmaylawfullyusethecivilpowerortheswordatallindefensivewar,aspoliceorotherwise。Wewoulddoalmostanythingtoavoidacollisionwithdegradednatives;butincaseofaninvasion——ourbloodboilsattheverythoughtofourwives,daughters,orsistersbeingtouched——we,asmenwithhumanfeelings,wouldunhesitatinglyfighttothedeath,withallthefuryinourpower。 ThegoodBishopwasasintenselyaversetousingarms,beforehemettheslave-hunters,asanymaninEngland。Inthecoursehepursuedhemayhavemadeamistake,butitisamistakewhichveryfewEnglishmenonmeetingbandsofhelplesscaptives,ormembersofhisfamilyinbonds,wouldhavefailedtocommitlikewise。 DuringunhealthyApril,thefeverwasmoresevereinShupangaandMazarothanusual。Wehadseveralcasesonboard——theywerequicklycured,but,fromourbeinginthedelta,asquicklyreturned。AboutthemiddleofthemonthMrs。Livingstonewasprostratedbythisdisease;anditwasaccompaniedbyobstinatevomiting。Nothingisyetknownthatcanallaythisdistressingsymptom,whichofcourserendersmedicineofnoavail,asitisinstantlyrejected。ShereceivedwhatevermedicalaidcouldberenderedfromDr。Kirk,butbecameunconscious,andhereyeswereclosedinthesleepofdeathasthesunsetontheeveningoftheChristianSabbath,the27thApril,1862。Acoffinwasmadeduringthenight,agravewasdugnextdayunderthebranchesofthegreatbaobab-tree,andwithsympathizingheartsthelittlebandofhiscountrymenassistedthebereavedhusbandinburyinghisdead。Athisrequest,theRev。JamesStewartreadtheburial-service;andtheseamenkindlyvolunteeredtomountguardforsomenightsatthespotwhereherbodyrestsinhope。 Thosewhoarenotawarehowthisbrave,good,EnglishwifemadeadelightfulhomeatKolobeng,athousandmilesinlandfromtheCape,andasthedaughterofMoffatandaChristianladyexercisedmostbeneficialinfluenceovertherudetribesoftheinterior,maywonderthatsheshouldhavebravedthedangersandtoilsofthisdown- troddenland。Sheknewthemall,and,inthedisinterestedanddutifulattempttorenewherlabours,wascalledtoherrestinstead。 \"Fiat,Domine,voluntastua!\" Onthe5thofMayDr。KirkandCharlesLivingstonestartedintheboatforTette,inordertoseethepropertyoftheExpeditionbroughtdownincanoes。TheytookfourMazarocanoe-mentomanagetheboat,andawhitesailortocookforthem;but,unfortunately,hecaughtfevertheverydayafterleavingtheship,andwasillmostofthetrip;sotheyhadtocookforthemselves,andtotakecareofhimbesides。 Wenowproceededwithpreparationsforthelaunchofthe\"LadyNyassa。”GroundwaslevelledonthebankatShupanga,forthepurposeofarrangingthecompartmentsinorder:shewasplacedonpalm-treeswhichwerebroughtfromaplacelowerdowntheriverforways,andtheengineerandhisassistantsweresoonbusilyengaged; aboutafortnightaftertheywereallbroughtfromKongone,thesectionswerescrewedtogether。Theblacksaremoreaddictedtostealingwhereslaveryexiststhanelsewhere。Wewereannoyedbythieveswhocarriedofftheironscrew-bolts,butweregratifiedtofindthatstrychninesavedusfromtheman-thiefaswellasthehyena-thief。Ahyenawaskilledbyit,andafterthenativessawthedeadanimalandknewhowwehaddestroyedit,theyconcludedthatitwasnotsafetostealfrommenwhopossessedamedicinesopowerful。 Thehalf-caste,whokeptShupanga-house,saidhewishedtohavesometogivetotheZulus,ofwhomhewasmortallyafraid,andtowhomhehadtopayanunwillingtribute。 The\"Pioneer\"madeseveraltripstotheKongone,andreturnedwiththelastloadonthe12thofJune。Onthe23rdthe\"LadyNyassa\"wassafelylaunched,theworkofputtinghertogetherhavingbeeninterruptedbyfeveranddysentery,andmanyothercauseswhichitwouldonlywearythereadertonarrateindetail。Nativesfromallpartsofthecountrycametoseethelaunch,mostofthemquitecertainthat,beingmadeofiron,shemustgotothebottomassoonassheenteredthewater。Earnestdiscussionshadtakenplaceamongthemwithregardtotheproprietyofusingironforship-building。 Themajorityaffirmedthatitwouldneveranswer。Theysaid,\"Ifweputahoeintothewater,orthesmallestbitofiron,itsinksimmediately。Howthencansuchamassofironfloat?itmustgotothebottom。”Theminorityansweredthatthismightbetruewiththem,butwhitemenhadmedicineforeverything。\"Theycouldevenmakeawoman,allexceptthespeaking;lookatthatoneonthefigure-headofthevessel。”Theunbelieverswereastonished,andcouldhardlybelievetheireyes,whentheysawtheshipfloatlightlyandgracefullyontheriver,insteadofgoingtothebottom,astheysoconfidentlypredicted。\"Truly,\"theysaid,\"thesemenhavepowerfulmedicine。” BirdsarenumerousontheShupangaestate。Somekindsremainalltheyearround,whilemanyothersarethereonlyforafewmonths。