south sea tales(南海传说)-第7章
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by Narau； a native teacher； who for seven years had been Lotu； ever since
the day he had been saved from the hot oven by Dr。 James Ellery Brown at
the trifling expense of one hundred sticks of tobacco； two cotton blankets；
and a large bottle of painkiller。 At the last moment； after twenty hours of
solitary supplication and prayer； Narau's ears had heard the call to go forth
with John Starhurst on the mission to the mountains。
〃Master； I will surely go with thee；〃 he had announced。
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John Starhurst had hailed him with sober delight。 Truly； the Lord was
with him thus to spur on so broken…spirited a creature as Narau。
〃I am indeed without spirit； the weakest of the Lord's vessels；〃 Narau
explained； the first day in the canoe。
〃You should have faith； stronger faith；〃 the missionary chided him。
Another canoe journeyed up the Rewa that day。 But it journeyed an
hour astern； and it took care not to be seen。 This canoe was also the
property of Ra Vatu。 In it was Erirola； Ra Vatu's first cousin and trusted
henchman； and in the small basket that never left his hand was a whale
tooth。 It was a magnificent tooth； fully six inches long； beautifully
proportioned； the ivory turned yellow and purple with age。 This tooth was
likewise the property of Ra Vatu； and in Fiji； when such a tooth goes forth；
things usually happen。 For this is the virtue of the whale tooth： Whoever
accepts it cannot refuse the request that may accompany it or follow it。
The request may be anything from a human life to a tribal alliance； and no
Fijian is so dead to honor as to deny the request when once the tooth has
been accepted。 Sometimes the request hangs fire； or the fulfilment is
delayed； with untoward consequences。
High up the Rewa； at the village of a chief； Mongondro by name； John
Starhurst rested at the end of the second day of the journey。 In the morning；
attended by Narau； he expected to start on foot for the smoky mountains
that were now green and velvety with nearness。 Mongondro was a sweet…
tempered； mild…mannered little old chief； short…sighted and afflicted with
elephantiasis； and no longer inclined toward the turbulence of war。 He
received the missionary with warm hospitality； gave him food from his
own table； and even discussed religious matters with him。 Mongondro was
of an inquiring bent of mind； and pleased John Starhurst greatly by asking
him to account for the existence and beginning of things。 When the
missionary had finished his summary of the Creation according to Genesis；
he saw that Mongondro was deeply affected。 The little old chief smoked
silently for some time。 Then he took the pipe from his mouth and shook
his head sadly。
〃It cannot be；〃 he said。 〃I； Mongondro； in my youth； was a good
workman with the adze。 Yet three months did it take me to make a canoe
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a small canoe； a very small canoe。 And you say that all this land and water
was made by one man〃
〃Nay； was made by one God； the only true God；〃 the missinary
interrupted。
〃It is the same thing；〃 Mongondro went on； 〃that all the land and all
the water； the trees； the fish； and bush and mountains； the sun； the moon；
and the stars； were made in six days！ No； no。 I tell you that in my youth I
was an able man； yet did it require me three months for one small canoe。 It
is a story to frighten children with； but no man can believe it。〃
〃I am a man；〃 the missionary said。
〃True； you are a man。 But it is not given to my dark understanding to
know what you believe。〃
〃I tell you； I do believe that everything was made in six days。〃
〃So you say； so you say；〃 the old cannibal murmured soothingly。
It was not until after John Starhurst and Narau had gone off to bed that
Erirola crept into the chief's house； and； after diplomatic speech； handed
the whale tooth to Mongondro。
The old chief held the tooth in his hands for a long time。 It was a
beautiful tooth； and he yearned for it。 Also； he divined the request that
must accompany it。 〃No； no； whale teeth were beautiful；〃 and his mouth
watered for it； but he passed it back to Erirola with many apologies。
。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。
In the early dawn John Starhurst was afoot； striding along the bush
trail in his big leather boots； at his heels the faithful Narau； himself at the
heels of a naked guide lent him by Mongondro to show the way to the next
village； which was reached by midday。 Here a new guide showed the way。
A mile in the rear plodded Erirola； the whale tooth in the basket slung on
his shoulder。 For two days more he brought up the missionary's rear；
offering the tooth to the village chiefs。 But village after village refused the
tooth。 It followed so quickly the missionary's advent that they divined the
request that would be made； and would have none of it。
They were getting deep into the mountains； and Erirola took a secret
trail； cut in ahead of the missionary； and reached the stronghold of the Buli
of Gatoka。 Now the Buli was unaware of John Starhurst's imminent arrival。
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Also； the tooth was beautifulan extraordinary specimen； while the
coloring of it was of the rarest order。 The tooth was presented publicly。
The Buli of Gatoka； seated on his best mat； surrounded by his chief men；
three busy fly…brushers at his back； deigned to receive from the hand of his
herald the whale tooth presented by Ra Vatu and carried into the
mountains by his cousin； Erirola。 A clapping of hands went up at the
acceptance of the present； the assembled headman； heralds； and fly…
brushers crying aloud in chorus：
〃A！ woi！ woi！ woi！ A！ woi！ woi！ woi！ A tabua levu！ woi！ woi！ A
mudua； mudua； mudua！'
〃Soon will come a man； a white man；〃 Erirola began； after the proper
pause。 〃He is a missionary man； and he will come today。 Ra Vatu is
pleased to desire his boots。 He wishes to present them to his good friend；
Mongondro； and it is in his mind to send them with the feet along in them；
for Mongondro is an old man and his teeth are not good。 Be sure； O Buli；
that the feet go along in the boots。 As for the rest of him； it may stop here。〃
The delight in the whale tooth faded out of the Buli's eyes； and he
glanced about him dubiously。 Yet had he already accepted the tooth。
〃A little thing like a missionary does not matter；〃 Erirola prompted。
〃No； a little thing like a missionary does not matter；〃 the Buli
answered； himself again。 〃Mongondro shall have the boots。 Go； you young
men； some three or four of you； and meet the missionary on the trail。 Be
sure you bring back the boots as well。〃
〃It is too late；〃 said Erirola。 〃Listen！ He comes now。〃
Breaking through the thicket of brush； John Starhurst； with Narau
close on his heels； strode upon the scene。 The famous boots； having filled
in wading the stream； squirted fine jets of water at every step。 Starhurst
looked about him with flashing eyes。 Upborne by an unwavering trust；
untouched by doubt or fear； he exulted in all he saw。 He knew that since
the beginning of time he was the first white man ever to tread the
mountain stronghold of Gatoka。
The grass houses clung to the steep mountain side or overhung the
rushing Rewa。 On either side towered a mighty precipice。 At the best；
three hours of sunlight penetrated that narrow gorge。 No cocoanuts nor
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bananas were to be seen； though dense； tropic vegetation overran
everything； dripping in airy festoons from the sheer lips of the precipices
and running riot in all the crannied ledges。 At the far end of the gorge the
Rewa leaped eight hundred feet in a single span； while the atmosphere of
the rock fortress pulsed to the rhythmic thunder of the fall。
From the Buli's house； John Starhurst saw emerging the Buli and his
followers。
〃I bring you good tidings；〃 was the missionary's greeting。
〃Who has sent you？〃 the Buli rejoined quietly。
〃God。〃
〃It is a new name in Viti Levu；〃 the Buli grinned。 〃Of what islands；
villages； or passes may he be chief？〃
〃He is the chief over all islands； all villages； all passes；〃 John Starhurst
answered solemnly。 〃He is the Lord over heaven and earth； and I am come
to bring His word to you。〃
〃Has he sent whale teeth？〃 was the insolent query。
〃No； but more precious than whale teeth is the〃
〃It is the custom； between chiefs； to send whale teeth；〃 the Buli
interrupted。
〃Your chief is either a niggard； or you are a fool； to come empty…
handed into the mountains。 Behold； a more generous than you is before
you。〃
So saying； he showed the whale tooth he had received from Erirola。
Narau groaned。
〃It is the whale tooth of Ra Vatu；〃 he whispered to Starhurst。 〃I know
it well。 Now are we undone。〃
〃A gracious thing；〃 the missionary answered； passing his hand through
his long beard and adjusting his glasses。 〃Ra Vatu has arranged that we
should be well received。〃
But Narau groaned again； and backed away from the heels he had
dogged so faithfully。
〃Ra Vatu is soon to become Lotu；〃 Starhurst explained； 〃and I have
come bringing the Lotu to you。〃
〃I want none of your Lotu；〃 said the Buli； proudly。 〃And it is in my
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mind that you will be
