第 69 节
作者:温暖寒冬      更新:2022-07-12 16:20      字数:9303
  the finger…holes with which they were liberally riddled; and during
  the night one of them fell down; revealing six Japanese sleeping in
  a row; each head on a wooden pillow。
  The grandeur of the route ceased with the mountain…passes; but in
  the brilliant sunshine the ride from Oshamambe to Mori; which took
  me two days; was as pretty and pleasant as it could be。  At first
  we got on very slowly; as besides my four horses there were four
  led ones going home; which got up fights and entangled their ropes;
  and occasionally lay down and rolled; and besides these there were
  three foals following their mothers; and if they stayed behind the
  mares hung back neighing; and if they frolicked ahead the mares
  wanted to look after them; and the whole string showed a combined
  inclination to dispense with their riders and join the many herds
  of horses which we passed。  It was so tedious that; after enduring
  it for some time I got Ito's horse and mine into a scow at a river
  of some size; and left the disorderly drove to follow at leisure。
  At Yurapu; where there is an Aino village of thirty houses; we saw
  the last of the aborigines; and the interest of the journey ended。
  Strips of hard sand below high…water mark; strips of red roses;
  ranges of wooded mountains; rivers deep and shallow; a few villages
  of old grey houses amidst grey sand and bleaching driftwood; and
  then came the river Yurapu; a broad; deep stream; navigable in a
  canoe for fourteen miles。  The scenery there was truly beautiful in
  the late and splendid afternoon。  The long blue waves rolled on
  shore; each one crested with light as it curled before it broke;
  and hurled its snowy drift for miles along the coast with a deep
  booming music。  The glorious inland view was composed of six ranges
  of forest…covered mountains; broken; chasmed; caverned; and dark
  with timber; and above them bald; grey peaks rose against a green
  sky of singular purity。  I longed to take a boat up the Yurapu;
  which penetrates by many a gorge into their solemn recesses; but
  had not strength to carry my wish。
  After this I exchanged the silence or low musical speech of Aino
  guides for the harsh and ceaseless clatter of Japanese。  At
  Yamakushinoi; a small hamlet on the sea…shore; where I slept; there
  was a sweet; quiet yadoya; delightfully situated; with a wooded
  cliff at the back; over which a crescent hung out of a pure sky;
  and besides; there were the more solid pleasures of fish; eggs; and
  black beans。  Thus; instead of being starved and finding wretched
  accommodation; the week I spent on Volcano Bay has been the best
  fed; as it was certainly the most comfortable; week of my travels
  in northern Japan。
  Another glorious day favoured my ride to Mori; but I was
  unfortunate in my horse at each stage; and the Japanese guide was
  grumpy and ill…natureda most unusual thing。  Otoshibe and a few
  other small villages of grey houses; with 〃an ancient and fish…like
  smell;〃 lie along the coast; busy enough doubtless in the season;
  but now looking deserted and decayed; and houses are rather
  plentifully sprinkled along many parts of the shore; with a
  wonderful profusion of vegetables and flowers about them; raised
  from seeds liberally supplied by the Kaitakushi Department from its
  Nanai experimental farm and nurseries。  For a considerable part of
  the way to Mori there is no track at all; though there is a good
  deal of travel。  One makes one's way fatiguingly along soft sea
  sand or coarse shingle close to the sea; or absolutely in it; under
  cliffs of hardened clay or yellow conglomerate; fording many small
  streams; several of which have cut their way deeply through a
  stratum of black volcanic sand。  I have crossed about 100 rivers
  and streams on the Yezo coast; and all the larger ones are marked
  by a most noticeable peculiarity; i。e。 that on nearing the sea they
  turn south; and run for some distance parallel with it; before they
  succeed in finding an exit through the bank of sand and shingle
  which forms the beach and blocks their progress。
  On the way I saw two Ainos land through the surf in a canoe; in
  which they had paddled for nearly 100 miles。  A river canoe is dug
  out of a single log; and two men can fashion one in five days; but
  on examining this one; which was twenty…five feet long; I found
  that it consisted of two halves; laced together with very strong
  bark fibre for their whole length; and with high sides also laced
  on。  They consider that they are stronger for rough sea and surf
  work when made in two parts。  Their bark…fibre rope is beautifully
  made; and they twist it of all sizes; from twine up to a nine…inch
  hawser。
  Beautiful as the blue ocean was; I had too much of it; for the
  horses were either walking in a lather of sea foam or were crowded
  between the cliff and the sea; every larger wave breaking over my
  foot and irreverently splashing my face; and the surges were so
  loud…tongued and incessant; throwing themselves on the beach with a
  tremendous boom; and drawing the shingle back with them with an
  equally tremendous rattle; so impolite and noisy; bent only on
  showing their strength; reckless; rude; self…willed; and
  inconsiderate!  This purposeless display of force; and this
  incessant waste of power; and the noisy self…assertion in both;
  approach vulgarity!
  Towards evening we crossed the last of the bridgeless rivers; and
  put up at Mori; which I left three weeks before; and I was very
  thankful to have accomplished my object without disappointment;
  disaster; or any considerable discomfort。  Had I not promised to
  return Ito to his master by a given day; I should like to spend the
  next six weeks in the Yezo wilds; for the climate is good; the
  scenery beautiful; and the objects of interest are many。
  Another splendid day favoured my ride from Mori to Togenoshita;
  where I remained for the night; and I had exceptionally good horses
  for both days; though the one which Ito rode; while going at a
  rapid 〃scramble;〃 threw himself down three times and rolled over to
  rid himself from flies。  I had not admired the wood between Mori
  and Ginsainoma (the lakes) on the sullen; grey day on which I saw
  it before; but this time there was an abundance of light and shadow
  and solar glitter; and many a scarlet spray and crimson trailer;
  and many a maple flaming in the valleys; gladdened me with the
  music of colour。  From the top of the pass beyond the lakes there
  is a grand view of the volcano in all its nakedness; with its lava
  beds and fields of pumice; with the lakes of Onuma; Konuma; and
  Ginsainoma; lying in the forests at its feet; and from the top of
  another hill there is a remarkable view of windy Hakodate; with its
  headland looking like Gibraltar。  The slopes of this hill are
  covered with the Aconitum Japonicum; of which the Ainos make their
  arrow poison。
  The yadoya at Togenoshita was a very pleasant and friendly one; and
  when Ito woke me yesterday morning; saying; 〃Are you sorry that
  it's the last morning?  I am;〃 I felt we had one subject in common;
  for I was very sorry to end my pleasant Yezo tour; and very sorry
  to part with the boy who had made himself more useful and
  invaluable even than before。  It was most wearisome to have
  Hakodate in sight for twelve miles; so near across the bay; so far
  across the long; flat; stony strip which connects the headland upon
  which it is built with the mainland。  For about three miles the
  road is rudely macadamised; and as soon as the bare…footed horses
  get upon it they seem lame of all their legs; they hang back;
  stumbling; dragging; edging to the side; and trying to run down
  every opening; so that when we got into the interminable main
  street I sent Ito on to the Consulate for my letters; and
  dismounted; hoping that as it was raining I should not see any
  foreigners; but I was not so lucky; for first I met Mr。 Dening; and
  then; seeing the Consul and Dr。 Hepburn coming down the road;
  evidently dressed for dining in the flag…ship; and looking spruce
  and clean; I dodged up an alley to avoid them; but they saw me; and
  did not wonder that I wished to escape notice; for my old betto's
  hat; my torn green paper waterproof; and my riding…skirt and boots;
  were not only splashed but CAKED with mud; and I had the general
  look of a person 〃fresh from the wilds。〃  I。 L。 B。
  ITINERARY OF TOUR IN YEZO。
  Hakodate to
  No。 of Houses。
  Jap。     Aino。       Ri。     Cho。
  Ginsainoma       4                    7       18
  Mori           105                    4
  Mororan         57                   11
  Horobets        18          47        5        1
  Shiraoi         11          51        6       32
  Tomakomai       38                    5       21
  Yubets           7           3        3        5
  Sarufuto        63                    7        5
  Biratori                    53        5
  Mombets         27                    5        1
  From Horobets to
  Jap。     Aino。       Ri。     Cho。
  Old Mororan      9          30        4       28
  Usu              3          99        6        2
  Lebunge          1          27        5       22
  Oshamambe       56          38        6       34
  Yamakushinai    40