madam how and lady why(豪夫人和怀女士)-第48节
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you wonderful things about them。How some of them have mouths full of
strong teeth； like these porpoises； and others； like the great sperm whale in
the South Sea； have huge teeth in their lower jaws； and in the upper only
holes into which those teeth fit； others like the bottle…nose； only two teeth
or so in the lower jaw； and others； like the narwhal； two straight tusks in
the upper jaw； only one of which grows； and is what you call a narwhal's
horn。
Oh yes。 I know of a walking…stick made of one。
And strangest of all； how the right…whales have a few little teeth when
they are born； which never come through the gums； but； instead； they
grow all along their gums； an enormous curtain of clotted hair； which
serves as a net to keep in the tiny sea… animals on which they feed； and let
the water strain out。
You mean whalebone？ Is whalebone hair？
So it seems。 And so is a rhinoceros's horn。 A rhinoceros used to be
hairy all over in old times： but now he carries all his hair on the end of
his nose； except a few bristles on his tail。 And the right…whale； not to be
done in oddity； carries all his on his gums。
But have no whales any hair？
No real whales： but the Manati； which is very nearly a whale； has
long bristly hair left。 Don't you remember M。's letter about the one he
saw at Rio Janeiro？
This is all very funny： but what is the use of knowing so much about
things' teeth and hair？
What is the use of learning Latin and Greek； and a dozen things more
which you have to learn？ You don't know yet： but wiser people than
you tell you that they will be of use some day。 And I can tell you； that if
you would only study that gar…fish long enough； and compare him with
another fish something like him； who has a long beak to his lower jaw； and
none to his upperand how he eats I cannot guess；and both of them
again with certain fishes like them； which M。 Agassiz has found lately； not
in the sea； but in the river Amazon； and then think carefully enough over
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
their bones and teeth； and their history from the time they are hatched
why； you would find out； I believe； a story about the river Amazon itself；
more wonderful than all the fairy tales you ever read。
Now there is luncheon ready。 Come down below； and don't tumble
down the companion…stairs； and by the time you have eaten your dinner
we shall be very near the shore。
* * *
So？ Here is my little man on deck； after a good night's rest。 And he
has not been the least sick； I hear。
Not a bit： but the cabin was so stuffy and hot； I asked leave to come
on deck。 What a huge steamer！ But I do not like it as well as the yacht。
It smells of oil and steam； and …
And pigs and bullocks too； I am sorry to say。 Don't go forward above
them； but stay here with me； and look round。
Where are we now？ What are those high hills； far away to the left；
above the lowlands and woods？
Those are the shore of the Old Worldthe Welsh mountains。
And in front of us I can see nothing but flat land。 Where is that？
That is the mouth of the Severn and Avon； where we shall be in half an
hour more。
And there； on the right； over the low hills； I can see higher ones； blue
and hazy。
Those are an island of the Old World； called now the Mendip Hills；
and we are steaming along the great strait between the Mendips and the
Welsh mountains； which once was coral reef； and is now the Severn sea；
and by the time you have eaten your breakfast we shall steam in through a
crack in that coral…reef； and you will see what you missed seeing when
you went to Ireland； because you went on board at night。
* * *
Oh！ Where have we got to now？ Where is the wide Severn Sea？
Two or three miles beyond us； and here we are in narrow little Avon。
Narrow indeed。 I wonder that the steamer does not run against those
rocks。 But how beautiful they are； and how the trees hang down over the
water； and are all reflected in it！
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
Yes。 The gorge of the Avon is always lovely。 I saw it first when I
was a little boy like you； and I have seen it many a time since； in sunshine
and in storm； and thought it more lovely every time。 Look！ there is
something curious。
What？ Those great rusty rings fixed into the rock？
Yes。 Those may be as old； for aught I know； as Queen Elizabeth's or
James's reign。
But why were they put there？
For ships to hold on by； if they lost the tide。
What do you mean？
It is high tide now。 That is why the water is almost up to the
branches of the trees。 But when the tide turns； it will all rush out in a
torrent which would sweep ships out to sea again； if they had not steam； as
we have； to help them up against the stream。 So sailing ships； in old
times； fastened themselves to those rings； and rode against the stream till
the tide turned； and carried them up to Bristol。
But what is the tide？ And why does it go up and down？ And why
does it alter with the moon； as I heard you all saying so often in Ireland？
That is a long story； which I must tell you something about some other
time。 Now I want you to look at something else： and that is； the rocks
themselves； in which the rings are。 They are very curious in my eyes；
and very valuable； for they taught me a lesson in geology when I was quite
a boy： and I want them to teach it to you now。
What is there curious in them？
This。 You will soon see for yourself； even from the steamer's deck；
that they are not the same rock as the high limestone hills above。 They
are made up of red sand and pebbles； and they are a whole world younger；
indeed some say two worlds younger； than the limestone hills above； and
lie upon the top of the limestone。 Now you may see what I meant when I
said that the newer rocks； though they lie on the top of the older； were
often lower down than they are。
But how do you know that they lie on the limestone？
Look into that corner of the river； as we turn round； and you will see
with your own eyes。 There are the sandstones； lying flat on the turned…up
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
edges of another rock。
Yes； I see。 The layers of it are almost upright。
Then that upright rock underneath is part of the great limestone hill
above。 So the hill must have been raised out of the sea； ages ago； and
eaten back by the waves； and then the sand and pebbles made a beach at
its foot； and hardened into stone； and there it is。 And when you get
through the limestone hills to Bristol； you will see more of these same red
sandstone rocks； spread about at the foot of the limestone…hills； on the
other side。
But why is the sandstone two worlds newer than the limestone？
Because between that sandstone and that limestone come hundreds of
feet of rock； which carry in them all the coal in England。 Don't you
remember that I told you that once before？
Oh yes。 But I see no coal between them there。
No。 But there is plenty of coal between them over in Wales； and
plenty too between them on the other side of Bristol。 What you are
looking at there is just the lip of a great coal…box； where the bottom and
the lid join。 The bottom is the mountain limestone； and the lid is the new
red sandstone； or Trias； as they call it now： but the coal you cannot see。
It is stowed inside the box； miles away from here。 But now； look at the
cliffs and the downs； which （they tell me） are just like the downs in the
Holy Land； and the woods and villas； high over your head。
And what is that in the air？ A bridge？
Yesthat is the famous Suspension Bridgeand a beautiful work of art
it is。 Ay； stare at it； and wonder at it； little man； of course。
