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！
I have spoken of； against which we must watch continuously； especially
at night； keeping the brutes off by means of fires。 Sometimes we were
forced to wade great rivers； or worse still； to walk over them on
swaying bridges made of cables of twisted reeds that until I grew
accustomed to them caused my head to swim； though never did I permit
myself to show fear before the natives。 Again； once we came to swampy
lands that were full of snakes which terrified me much； especially
after I had seen some natives whom they bit； die within a few minutes。
Other snakes there were also； as thick as a man's body； and four or
five paces in length； which lived in trees and killed their food by
coiling round it and pressing it to death。 These snakes； it was said；
would take men in this fashion； though I never saw one of them do so。
At any rate； they were terrible to look on； and reminded me of their
forefather through whose mouth Satan talked with Mother Eve in the
Garden of Eden； and thus brought us all to woe。
Once； too； on the bank of a great river； I saw such a snake that at
the sight of it my knees knocked together。 By St。 Hubert； the beast
was sixty feet or more in length； its head was of the bigness of a
barrel； and its skin was of all the colours of the rainbow。 Moreover；
it seemed to hold me with its eyes； for till it slipped away into the
river I could not move a foot。
Month after month we travelled thus； covering a matter of perhaps five
miles a day； since sometimes the country was open and we crossed it
with speed。 Yet although our dangers were so many； strangely enough；
during all this time； even in that heat neither of us fell sick； as I
think because of the herb which Kari carried in his bag； that I found
was named /Coca/； whereof we obtained more as we went and ate from
time to time。 Nor did we ever really suffer from starvation； since
when we were hungry we took more of this herb which supported us until
we could find food。 These mercies I set down to the good offices of
St。 Hubert watching from Heaven over me； his poor namesake and godson；
though perhaps the skill and courage of Kari which provided against
everything had something to do with them。
At length； in the ninth month of our travelling； as Kari reckoned it
by means of knots which he tied on pieces of native string； for I had
long lost count of time； we came to the borders of a great desert that
the natives said stretched southwards for a hundred leagues and more
and was without water。 Moreover； to the east of this desert rose a
chain of mountains bordered by precipices up which no man could climb。
Here； therefore； it seemed as though our journey must end； since Kari
had no knowledge of how he crossed or went round this desert in his
madness of bygone years； if indeed he ever travelled that road at all；
a matter of which I was not certain。
For a week or more we remained among the tribe that lived in a
beautiful watered valley upon the borders of this desert； wondering
what we should do。 For my part I was by now so tired of travelling
upon an endless quest that I should have been glad to stay among that
tribe； a very gentle and friendly people； who like all the rest
believed me to be a god； and make my home there till I died。 But this
was not Kari's mind； which was set fiercely upon winning back to his
own country that he believed to lie towards the south。
Day by day we sat there regaining our strength upon the good food of
that valley； and staring first at the desert to the south； then at the
precipices on our left hand； and lastly at the ocean upon our right。
Now this people； I should say； drew their wealth from the sea as well
as from the land； since they were great fishermen and went out upon it
in rude boats or rafts made of a wooden frame to which were lashed
blown…up skins and bundles of dried reeds。 Upon these boats； frail as
they seemed； such as further south were called balsas； they made
considerable journeys to distant islands where they caught vast
quantities of fish； some of which they used to manure their land。
Moreover； besides the oars； they rigged a square cotton sail upon the
balsas which enabled them to run before the wind without labour；
steering the craft by means of a paddle at the stern。
While we were there I observed that on the springing up of a wind from
the north； although it was of no great strength； the /balsas/ all came
to shore and were drawn up out of reach of the waves。 When I inquired
why through Kari； the answer given was because the fishing season was
over； since that wind from the north would blow for a long time
without changing and those who went out in it upon the sea might be
driven southwards to return no more。 They stated； indeed； that often
this had happened to venturesome men who had vanished away and been
lost。
〃If you wish to travel south； there is a way of doing so；〃 I said to
Kari。
At the time he made no answer； but on the following day asked me
suddenly if I dared attempt such a journey。
〃Why not？〃 I answered。 〃It is as easy to die in the water as on land
and I weary of journeying through endless swamps and forests or of
crossing torrents and climbing mountain ridges。〃
The end of it was that for a knife and a few nails Kari purchased the
largest /balsa/ that these people had； provisioning it with as much
dried fish； corn and water in earthenware jars as it would carry
together with ourselves； and such of our remaining goods as we wished
to take with us。 Then we announced that I； the god who had come out of
the sea； desired to return into the sea with himself； my servant。
So on a certain fine morning when the wind was blowing steadily but
not too strongly from the north； we embarked upon that /balsa/ while
the simple savages made obeisance with wonder in their eyes； hoisted
the square canvas； and sailed away upon what I suppose was one of the
maddest voyages ever made by man。
Although it was so clumsy the /balsa/ moved through the water at a
good rate； covering quite two leagues the hour； I should say； before
that strong and steady wind。 Soon the village that we had left
vanished； then the mountains behind it grew dim and in time vanished
also； and there remained nothing but the great wilderness upon our
left and the vast sea around。 Steering clear of the land so as to
avoid sunken rocks； we sailed on all that day and all the night that
followed； and when the light came again perceived that we were running
past a coastline that was backed by high mountains on some of which
lay snow。 By the second evening these mountains had become tremendous；
and between them I saw valleys down which ran streams of water。
Thus we went on for three days and nights； the wind from the north
blowing all the while and the /balsa/ taking no hurt； by the end of
which time I reckon that we had travelled as far along the coast as we
had done in six months when we journeyed over land； at which I
rejoiced。 Kari rejoiced also； because he said that the shape and
greatness of the mountains we were passing reminded him of those of
his own country； to which he believed that we were drawing near。
On the fourth morning； how