herland(她乡)-第16节
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than women doas a whole。〃
〃Because they love it so muchespecially men。 This animal is
kept shut up； or chained。〃
〃Why？〃 suddenly asked Somel。 〃We keep our father cats shut
up because we do not want too much fathering； but they are not chained
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they have large grounds to run in。〃
〃A valuable dog would be stolen if he was let loose；〃 I said。 〃We
put collars on them； with the owner's name； in case they do stray。
Besides； they get into fightsa valuable dog might easily be killed by a
bigger one。〃
〃I see；〃 she said。 〃They fight when they meetis that
common？〃 We admitted that it was。
〃They are kept shut up； or chained。〃 She paused again； and
asked； 〃Is not a dog fond of running？ Are they not built for speed？〃 That
we admitted； too； and Jeff； still malicious； enlightened them further。
〃I've always thought it was a pathetic sight； both waysto see a
man or a woman taking a dog to walkat the end of a string。〃
〃Have you bred them to be as neat in their habits as cats are？〃
was the next question。 And when Jeff told them of the effect of dogs on
sidewalk merchandise and the streets generally； they found it hard to
believe。
You see； their country was as neat as a Dutch kitchen； and as to
sanitationbut I might as well start in now with as much as I can
remember of the history of this amazing country before further
description。
And I'll summarize here a bit as to our opportunities for learning
it。 I will not try to repeat the careful； detailed account I lost； I'll just say
that we were kept in that fortress a good six months all told； and after that；
three in a pleasant enough city whereto Terry's infinite disgustthere
were only 〃Colonels〃 and little childrenno young women whatever。
Then we were under surveillance for three morealways with a tutor or a
guard or both。 But those months were pleasant because we were really
getting acquainted with the girls。 That was a chapter！ or will beI will
try to do justice to it。
We learned their language pretty thoroughlyhad to； and they
learned ours much more quickly and used it to hasten our own studies。
Jeff； who was never without reading matter of some sort； had
two little books with him； a novel and a little anthology of verse； and I had
one of those pocket encyclopediasa fat little thing； bursting with facts。
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These were used in our educationand theirs。 Then as soon as we were up
to it； they furnished us with plenty of their own books； and I went in for
the history partI wanted to understand the genesis of this miracle of
theirs。
And this is what happened； according to their records。
As to geographyat about the time of the Christian era this land
had a free passage to the sea。 I'm not saying where； for good reasons。
But there was a fairly easy pass through that wall of mountains behind us；
and there is no doubt in my mind that these people were of Aryan stock；
and were once in contact with the best civilization of the old world。
They were 〃white；〃 but somewhat darker than our northern races because
of their constant exposure to sun and air。
The country was far larger then； including much land beyond the
pass； and a strip of coast。 They had ships； commerce； an army； a king
for at that time they were what they so calmly called us a bi…sexual race。
What happened to them first was merely a succession of historic
misfortunes such as have befallen other nations often enough。 They were
decimated by war； driven up from their coastline till finally the reduced
population； with many of the men killed in battle； occupied this hinterland；
and defended it for years； in the mountain passes。 Where it was open to
any possible attack from below they strengthened the natural defenses so
that it became unscalably secure； as we found it。
They were a polygamous people； and a slave…holding people；
like all of their time； and during the generation or two of this struggle to
defend their mountain home they built the fortresses； such as the one we
were held in； and other of their oldest buildings； some still in use。
Nothing but earthquakes could destroy such architecturehuge solid
blocks； holding by their own weight。 They must have had efficient
workmen and enough of them in those days。
They made a brave fight for their existence； but no nation can
stand up against what the steamship companies call 〃an act of God。〃
While the whole fighting force was doing its best to defend their mountain
pathway； there occurred a volcanic outburst； with some local tremors； and
the result was the complete filling up of the passtheir only outlet。
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Instead of a passage； a new ridge； sheer and high； stood between them and
the sea； they were walled in； and beneath that wall lay their whole little
army。 Very few men were left alive； save the slaves； and these now seized
their opportunity； rose in revolt； killed their remaining masters even to the
youngest boy； killed the old women too； and the mothers； intending to take
possession of the country with the remaining young women and girls。
But this succession of misfortunes was too much for those
infuriated virgins。 There were many of them； and but few of these
would…be masters； so the young women； instead of submitting； rose in
sheer desperation and slew their brutal conquerors。
This sounds like Titus Andronicus； I know； but that is their
account。 I suppose they were about crazycan you blame them？
There was literally no one left on this beautiful high garden land
but a bunch of hysterical girls and some older slave women。
That was about two thousand years ago。
At first there was a period of sheer despair。 The mountains
towered between them and their old enemies； but also between them and
escape。 There was no way up or down or outthey simply had to stay
there。 Some were for suicide； but not the majority。 They must have
been a plucky lot； as a whole； and they decided to liveas long as they did
live。 Of course they had hope； as youth must； that something would
happen to change their fate。
So they set to work； to bury the dead； to plow and sow； to care
for one another。
Speaking of burying the dead； I will set down while I think of it；
that they had adopted cremation in about the thirteenth century； for the
same reason that they had left off raising cattle they could not spare the
room。 They were much surprised to learn that we were still burying
asked our reasons for it； and were much dissatisfied with what we gave。
We told them of the belief in the resurrection of the body； and they asked
if our God was not as well able to resurrect from ashes as from long
corruption。 We told them of how people thought it repugnant to have their
loved ones burn； and they asked if it was less repugnant to have them
decay。 They were inconveniently reasonable； those women。
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Wellthat original bunch of girls set to work to clean up the
place and make their living as best they could。 Some of the remaining
slave women rendered invaluable service； teaching such trades as they
knew。 They had such records as were then kept； all the tools and
implements of the time； and a most fertile land to work in。
There were a handful of the younger mat
