按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
e were savage； that they had indeed begun to treat with the Portuguese； but it was only from fear； that otherwise they were a barbarous nation； who finding themselves too much crowded in their own country； had extended themselves to the sea… shore； that they ravished the country and laid everything waste where they came； that they were man…eaters； and were on that account dreadful in all those parts。 My companion and I being undeceived by this terrible relation； thought it would be the highest imprudence to expose ourselves both together to a death almost certain and unprofitable； and agreed that I should go with our Abyssin and a Portuguese to observe the country； that if I should prove so happy as to escape being killed by the inhabitants； and to discover a way； I should either return； or send back the Abyssin or Portuguese。 Having fixed upon this； I hired a little bark to Jubo； a place about forty leagues distant from Pate； on board which I put some provisions； together with my sacerdotal vestments； and all that was necessary for saying mass： in this vessel we reached the coast； which we found inhabited by several nations： each nation is subject to its own king； these petty monarchies are so numerous； that I counted at least ten in less than four leagues。
Chapter II
The author lands： The difficulty of his journey。 An account of the Galles； and of the author's reception at the king's tent； Their manner of swearing； and of letting blood。 The author returns to the Indies； and finds the patriarch of Aethiopia。
On this coast we landed； with an intention of travelling on foot to Jubo； a journey of much greater length and difficulty than we imagined。 We durst not go far from our bark； and therefore were obliged to a toilsome march along the windings of the shore； sometimes clambering up rocks； and sometimes wading through the sands； so that we were every moment in the utmost danger of falling from the one； or sinking in the other。 Our lodging was either in the rocks or on the sands； and even that incommoded by continual apprehensions of being devoured by lions and tigers。 Amidst all these calamities our provisions failed us； we had little hopes of a supply； for we found neither villages； houses； nor any trace of a human creature； and had miserably perished by thirst and hunger had we not met with some fishermen's boats； who exchanged their fish for tobacco。
Through all these fatigues we at length came to Jubo； a kingdom of considerable extent； situated almost under the line； and tributary to the Portuguese； who carry on a trade here for ivory and other commodities。 This region so abounds with elephants； that though the teeth of the male only are valuable； they load several ships with ivory every year。 All this coast is much infested with ravenous beasts； monkeys； and serpents； of which last here are some seven feet in length； and thicker than an ordinary man； in the head of this serpent is found a stone about the bigness of an egg； resembling bezoar； and of great efficacy； as it is said； against all kinds of poison。 I stayed here some time to inform myself whether I might； by pursuing this road； reach Abyssinia； and could get no other intelligence but that two thousand Galles （the same people who inhabited Melinda） had encamped about three leagues from Jubo； that they had been induced to fix in that place by the plenty of provisions they found there。 These Galles lay everything where they come in ruin； putting all to the sword without distinction of age or sex； which barbarities； though their numbers are not great； have spread the terror of them over all the country。 They choose a king； whom they call Lubo： every eighth year they carry their wives with them； and expose their children without any tenderness in the woods； it being prohibited； on pain of death； to take any care of those which are born in the camp。 This is their way of living when they are in arms； but afterwards when they settle at home they breed up their children。 They feed upon raw cow's flesh； when they kill a cow； they keep the blood to rub their bodies with； and wear the guts about their necks for ornaments； which they afterwards give to their wives。
Several of these Galles came to see me； and as it seemed they had never beheld a white man before； they gazed on me with amazement； so strong was their curiosity that they even pulled off my shoes and stockings； that they might be satisfied whether all my body was of the same colour with my face。 I could remark； that after they had observed me some time； they discovered some aversion from a white； however； seeing me pull out my handkerchief； they asked me for it with a great deal of eagerness； I cut it into several pieces that I might satisfy them all； and distributed it amongst them； they bound them about their heads； but gave me to understand that they should have liked them better if they had been red： after this we were seldom without their company； which gave occasion to an accident； which though it seemed to threaten some danger at first； turned afterwards to our advantage。
As these people were continually teasing us； our Portuguese one day threatened in jest to kill one of them。 The black ran in the utmost dread to seek his comrades； and we were in one moment almost covered with Galles； we thought it the most proper course to decline the first impulse of their fury； and retired into our house。 Our retreat inspired them with courage； they redoubled their cries； and posted themselves on an eminence near at hand that overlooked us； there they insulted us by brandishing their lances and daggers。 We were fortunately not above a stone's cast from the sea； and could therefore have retreated to our bark had we found ourselves reduced to extremities。 This made us not very solicitous about their menaces； but finding that they continued to hover about our habitation； and being wearied with their clamours； we thought it might be a good expedient to fright them away by firing four muskets towards them； in such a manner that they might hear the bullets hiss about two feet over their heads。 This had the effect we wished； the noise and fire of our arms struck them with so much terror that they fell upon the ground； and durst not for some time so much as lift up their heads。 They forgot immediately their natural temper； their ferocity and haughtiness were softened into mildness and submission； they asked pardon for their insolence； and we were ever after good friends。
After our reconciliation we visited each other frequently； and had some conversation about the journey I had undertaken； and the desire I had of finding a new passage into Aethiopia。 It was necessary on this account to consult their lubo or king： I found him in a straw hut something larger than those of his subjects； surrounded by his courtiers； who had each a stick in his hand； which is longer or shorter according to the quality of the person admitted into the king's presence。 The ceremony made use of at the reception of a stranger is somewhat unusual； as soon as he enters； all the courtiers strike him with their cudgels till he goes back to the door； the amity then subsisting between us did not secure me