登陆注册
5370200000031

第31章

The next morning we proceeded as before, but the river had become so rapid and shallow and the boats were all so small, that though I had nothing with me but a change of clothes, a gun, and a few cooking utensils, two were required to take me on. The rock which appeared here and there on the riverbank was an indurated clay-slate, sometimes crystalline, and thrown up almost vertically. Right and left of us rose isolated limestone mountains, their white precipices glistening in the sun and contrasting beautifully with the luxuriant vegetation that elsewhere clothed them. The river bed was a mass of pebbles, mostly pure white quartz, but with abundance of jasper and agate, presenting a beautifully variegated appearance. It was only ten in the morning when we arrived at Budu, and, though there were plenty of people about, I could not induce them to allow me to go on to the next village. The Orang Kaya said that if I insisted on having men, of course he would get them, but when I took him at his word and said I must have them, there came a fresh remonstrance;and the idea of my going on that day seemed so painful that I was obliged to submit. I therefore walked out over the rice-fields, which are here very extensive, covering a number of the little hills and valleys into which the whole country seems broken up, and obtained a fine view of hills and mountains in every direction.

In the evening the Orang Kaya came in full dress (a spangled velvet jacket, but no trowsers), and invited me over to his house, where he gave me a seat of honour under a canopy of white calico and coloured handkerchiefs. The great verandah was crowded with people, and large plates of rice with cooked and fresh eggs were placed on the ground as presents for me. A very old man then dressed himself in bright-coloured cloths and many ornaments, and sitting at the door, murmured a long prayer or invocation, sprinkling rice from a basin he held in his hand, while several large gongs were loudly beaten and a salute of muskets fired off. A large jar of rice wine, very sour but with an agreeable flavour, was then handed around, and I asked to see some of their dances. These were, like most savage performances, very dull and ungraceful affairs; the men dressing themselves absurdly like women, and the girls making themselves as stiff and ridiculous as possible. All the time six or eight large Chinese gongs were being beaten by the vigorous arms of as many young men, producing such a deafening discord that I was glad to escape to the round house, where I slept very comfortably with half a dozen smoke-dried human skulls suspended over my head, The river was now so shallow that boats could hardly get along. Itherefore preferred walking to the next village, expecting to see something of the country, but was much disappointed, as the path lay almost entirely through dense bamboo thickets. The Dyaks get two crops off the ground in succession; one of rice, and the other of sugarcane, maize, and vegetables. The ground then lies fallow eight or ten years, and becomes covered with bamboos and shrubs, which often completely arch over the path and shut out everything from the view. Three hours' walking brought us to the village of Senankan, where I was again obliged to remain the whole day, which I agreed to do on the promise of the Orang Kaya that his men should next day take me through two other villages across to Senna, at the head of the Sarawak River. I amused myself as I best could till evening, by walking about the high ground near, to get views of the country and bearings of the chief mountains. There was then another public audience, with gifts of rice and eggs, and drinking of rice wine. These Dyaks cultivate a great extent of ground, and supply a good deal of rice to Sarawak. They are rich in gongs, brass trays, wire, silver coins, and other articles in which a Dyak's wealth consists; and their women and children are all highly ornamented with bead necklaces, shells, and brass wire.

In the morning I waited some time, but the men that were to accompany me did not make their appearance. On sending to the Orang Kaya I found that both he and another head-man had gone out for the day, and on inquiring the reason was told that they could not persuade any of their men to go with me because the journey was long and fatiguing one. As I was determined to get on, I told the few men that remained that the chiefs had behaved very badly, and that I should acquaint the Rajah with their conduct, and Iwanted to start immediately. Every man present made some excuse, but others were sent for, and by hint of threats and promises, and the exertion of all Bujon's eloquence, we succeeded in getting off after two hours' delay.

同类推荐
  • 荔枝

    荔枝

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 宥坐

    宥坐

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 送王书记归邠州

    送王书记归邠州

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 毛诗多识

    毛诗多识

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 云中事记

    云中事记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 昔经年华骨碌碌

    昔经年华骨碌碌

    原名:从草寮到三层楼——六姐妹的成长印象瓯门方言,姐妹泛指兄弟姐妹。每个人心中都有一个家,每个家不一定都有很多兄弟姐妹。无千金可遗,尚可遗一经。这是一本根据妹妹记忆叙写的自家回忆录。从懵懂童年到青葱岁月,只摞此间年华事。父亲、母亲、大姐、二姐、哥哥、妹妹、弟弟、幺弟。人物没有名字,只用称谓。小镇、收废、琐事、童趣、物什、变迁、80后、90后。各章独立,并非一个长篇故事。记忆之轴,凡桃俗李,平铺直叙,转瞬即逝,此作骨碌碌的样子。遗一本《昔经年华骨碌碌》
  • 玄门天宗

    玄门天宗

    天有多高,他就有多傲。地有多阔,他就有多恶。最狂的道士有多狂?最凶的道士有多凶?如来说:出家人要低调。他大笑:你低调你过来磕个头先。玉帝说:放肆,给我拿下!他大怒:找死,猴子扁他,一个将三界归一的道士,一段热血沸腾的玄门传奇。
  • 翔龙传说

    翔龙传说

    进化超前的萨尔星球王子萨尔斯为了星球的生存到准备到地球掠夺能源,却被一场太空事故弄的与一名普通地球中国人离奇结合。同时也在地球上发现7000年前就来到地球的萨尔星球能源勘探飞船的残骸,得知华夏族人祖先轩辕与萨尔星球之间的渊源。在与他同化的地球人影响下,萨尔斯做为一名华夏人利用所掌握的超前科技开始了自己改造中国的传奇故事。这对苦难深重的中国来说会是一个机会吗?这条龙真的会因此而飞起来吗&新书《末世狩猎者》已经上传!有兴趣的朋友可以过去看看,收藏一下。至于好看不好看,还是那句话,自己看着办!呵呵!……
  • 情深孕时:嫁给秦先生

    情深孕时:嫁给秦先生

    父亲入狱!被继母赶出家门!林欣怡在走投无路之时,遇到了传说中澜城最富有的权贵秦廉东,他对她伸出手来,“我帮你,不过你要用自己来交换。”可按辈分他算得上是叔叔辈的人,她有点蒙地说:“秦叔叔,不可以!”“不准叫叔叔!”秦廉东冷声命令。绝境之中不得不答应这场注定是忍辱负重的交易,她一直以为秦廉东不会想要她的心,想要的只是身体而已。所以当眼看着秦廉东挽着心爱之人将要步入婚姻殿堂时,她想他们的交易也该结束了。可他突然却出现,对她吼道:“交易还没终止,我的孩子你必须得生!”后来,每每情至深处时,她都会忍不住呢喃:“秦先生,余生我们要在一起!--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 蛤蟆镜

    蛤蟆镜

    小昌,80后新锐作家,广西作家协会会员,山东冠县人,1982年出生,大学教师。曾在《北方文学》、《黄河文学》、《延河》等杂志发表中短篇小说若干。现居广西北海。
  • 壁炉山庄的安妮

    壁炉山庄的安妮

    安妮已经是有着六个孩子的母亲了。在这个家庭里,每个人都有些有趣的小故事,尤其是性格迥异的孩子们的童年趣事,如同珍珠一样串起来,让这本书显得温馨美满。
  • 辽海丹忠录

    辽海丹忠录

    小说叙述明朝万历末年努儿哈赤袭抚顺,明将李永芳归降;明廷以杨镐为经略与奴儿哈赤征战未胜,遂擢熊廷为经略以代杨镐。小说叙写时事,多据史实,文笔详赡细腻,结构完整。
  • 中华国学经典读本:晏子春秋

    中华国学经典读本:晏子春秋

    《中华国学经典读本:晏子春秋》在编写中体现家庭藏书计划的理念,依据市场需求分批出版,所推书目遵循从“基础”到“拓展”的延伸,体现层级深入的理念,展现家庭藏书的层次。内容遵从经典,约请国内古代文史哲领域的专家把关,具有权威性;形式追求现代,采用双色印制;全面照应“经典藏书”理念。
  • 我想,我能,我成功:心态积极成功不是梦

    我想,我能,我成功:心态积极成功不是梦

    现实中不同的人选择不同的生存之道,于是他们处于不同的生活状态,有的人依靠自己的体力和技能,有的人依靠自己的学历和知识,还有一部分人则依靠自己的观念和勇气。那些只能出卖体力和技能的人们,大都生活在社会的底层,而那些一味地追求学历和知识的人永远也不能成就大的事业,唯有那些不断更新观念,大智大勇者能成为上层之人,做时代的强者。
  • 永恒剑墓

    永恒剑墓

    诸天万界,强者为尊……在同一时间内以相同的力度分别在两个世界的交接薄弱处产生刚好足以撼动空间的共振,就有亿亿万分之一的概率形成连接两个世界的空间通道。复仇的独孤飞羽自空间通道穿越到另一个世界,那里有着诸天万界奇人异事……