stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第20节
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STORIES
〃Have you killed many white people？〃 asked Whitson。
〃Yes； a good number； but not； of course； as many as black。 Lately we
have always tried to catch whites； because when you have eaten white
flesh for some time； the flesh of a native no longer satisfies you。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃The flavour is not so strong。〃
〃Did you induce the other two policemen to come up by means of the
story about Umhlonhlo？〃
〃Yes； they came up just as you did； and my sons caught them with the
thongs。 Umhlonhlo has brought us plenty of food。〃
〃Were you able to take the cartridges out of their revolvers as you did
out of mine？〃
〃No； I had no opportunity； but it was not necessary； because my sons
were so expert at throwing the thongs that they could always catch people
over the arms； and thus render them unable to shoot。〃
〃How did they manage to become so expert？〃
〃By continued practice。 I used to walk up the path over and over again；
and let them throw the thong over me。 Then the woman was always there
with the club； so that； if one of the thongs missed； she was ready to strike。
I； also； was usually ready to help； in case of necessity。〃
〃Why did you think it necessary to take the cartridges out of my
revolver？〃
〃Because I feared you from the first； and were it not that he〃baring
his teeth and glancing at Langley； who shuddered〃looked so nice； and
that we wanted fresh meat so badly； I would not have risked bringing you。
But it would have been all right if I had only let your revolver alone。〃
〃You say Umhlonhlo has brought you plenty of food； did you ever get
any one besides ourselves and the other two policemen to come up here by
telling them that story？〃
〃Yes； two othersone a man who was searching for gold on the Free
State side of the mountains； and the other a trader whom I met at Maseru。
But these each came alone。〃
〃I see the buckle of a woman's belt in there。 Whom did that belong to？
You surely never got a white woman up here？〃
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〃Yes； we did；〃 said Ghamba； with a horrible half…smile which bared
the gums high above the sockets of his tusks。 〃She was a young girl who
had strayed from a waggon passing over the mountain by the Ladysmith
road； only a day's walk from here。 I pretended to show her the shortest
way to her waggon； and thus brought her as far as she could walk in this
direction。 I then killed her； and came up here and fetched my sons。 We
carried her up in the night。 She was very young and plump； and I have
never eaten anything that I enjoyed so much。〃 （Whitson turned cold with
horror。 He remembered the girl's mysterious disappearance； and the
fruitless searches undertaken in consequence。） 〃His flesh〃glancing again
at Langley〃looks something like hers did； and I am sure it would taste
just as nice。 There was still a little of her left when I went away last week。
If you will go in there and look where the rock is split on the right…hand
side； you will〃 But he did not finish the sentence； for a bullet from
Whitson's revolver crushed through his brain； and he tumbled forward on
his face into the fire。
It was only after tremendous difficulty that Whitson and Langley
succeeded in escaping from the mountains。 However； on the evening of
the third day after their adventure in the cave； they came in sight of the
police camp。 Whitson sat down on a stone； and motioned his companion to
do the same。
〃See here； sonny；〃 he said； 〃I want to have a short talk with you。 I am a
bit cross with you as the cause of my having been sucked in by that dd
murdering old walrus。 You ought to know the inhabitants of this country
better than a simple stranger like me； and so I took your lead。 Now；
another thing： you nearly bust us both by your blasted foolishness in going
to sleep that day； but let that pass； because perhaps it would have been
worse if we had not been put on our guard； not but that it would take a d
d smart cannibal to eat Hiram Whitson。 But this is what I am coming to：
you； my boy； are a darned sight too fond of hearing your own tongue clack。
Now； take a warning from me； and don't let a word of what has happened
since we left camp for Pietermaritzburg pass your lips。 I did all the
shooting； and I'm not a bit ashamed of it； but； by the eternal God； if you
open your lips to a soul； I'll shoot you like a dog or a cannibal！ Remember
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STORIES
that； sonny； and say it quietly over to yourself the first time you feel that
you want to blab。 Now； shake hands。〃
This was probably the longest speech that Whitson had ever made。
About two years after the events narrated； Whitson took his discharge
and returned to America。 He left behind him a sealed packet addressed to
his commanding officer； and which was not to be delivered for twelve
months after his departure。
Owing； however； to a strange combination of fortuitous circumstances；
this packet never reached its proper destination； its wrapper； bearing the
address； having been scorched off in a fire which took place in the house
where it was left。
NOTE
Many people have heard or read of the cannibals of Natal； who turned
large tracts of country into a shambles in the early part of this century；
after Tshaka's impis had swept off all the cattle； and then kept the
miserable people continually on the move so that they were unable to
cultivate。 One Umdava originated the practice of eating human flesh。
Gathering together the fragments of four scattered tribes； he trained them
to hunt human beings as others hunted game。 This gang was a greater
scourge to the country surrounding the present site of Pietermaritzburg
than even Tshaka's murdering hordes。 It was broken up in or about the
year 1824； when the Europeans first came to the country； and the remnants
of many scattered tribes returned and settled under their protection。
All this is history with which most people in South Africa are familiar；
but many do not know that some of the cannibals fled to Basutoland；
where； among almost inaccessible mountains； they carried on their
horrible practices for many years。
It is a well…known fact that when men once surrender themselves to
any unnatural and brutal vice； the gratification of the abnormal instinct
thus acquired becomes the most imperative need of their nature。 The
Falkland Islands case； as bearing specially upon the foregoing narrative；
may be mentioned。 Some convicts escaped from the Falkland Island
convict station； and succeeded in reaching the coast of Patagonia。 They
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then endeavored to make their way to Montevideo； but having to keep
along the shore so as to avoid the natives； who would have killed them had
they ventured inland； were easily intercepted by the government cutter；
which was always despatched in cases of the kind to head off fugitives
upon their only possible course。 Of the party only one man was found
alive。 In their dreadful need the men had cast lots as to who should be
killed and eaten by the others； and this went on until only the one man
remained。 His sufferings had been so horrible that he was let off any
further punishment； and simply brought back to the island to complete the
term of his sentence。 Some months after； this man induced another to
escape with him in a boat； and； when the boat was overtaken； it was found
that he had killed his companion for the purpose of eating the latter's flesh。
This was apparent from the fact that the supply of food which the fugitives
had tak
