第 40 节
作者:
无边的寒冷 更新:2021-03-11 18:28 字数:9322
ants looking like officers marching on both sides of the column; and
sometimes turning back as if to give orders。 Would that Sir John
Lubbock had been there to interpret their speech!
Each ant of the column bore a yellowish burden; not too large to
interfere with his activity。 A column marshaled in the same fashion;
but only half the width of the other; emerged equally continuously from
the lower entrance。 From the smaller size of this column I suppose that
a number of the carrier ants remain within; stowing away their burdens
in store…houses。 Attending this latter column for eighteen paces; I
came upon a marvelous scene of orderly activity。 A stump of a tree;
from which the outer bark had been removed; leaving an under layer
apparently permeated with a rich; sweet secretion; was completely
covered with ants; which were removing the latter in minute portions。
Strange to say; however; a quantity of reddish ants of much larger size
and with large mandibles seemed to do the whole work of stripping off
this layer。 They were working from above; and had already bared some
inches of the stump; which was four feet six inches in diameter。 As the
small morsels fell among the myriads of ants which swarmed round the
base they were broken up; three or four ants sometimes working at one
bit till they had reduced it into manageable portions。 It was a
splendid sight to see this vast and busy crowd inspired by a common
purpose; and with the true instinct of discipline; forever forming into
column at the foot of the stump。
Toward dusk the reddish ants; which may be termed quarriers; gave up
work; and this was the signal for the workers below to return home。 The
quarriers came down the stump pushing the laborers; rather rudely as I
thought; out of their way; and then forming in what might be called
〃light skirmishing order;〃 they marched to the lower entrance of the
town; meeting as they went the column of workers going up to the stump。
They met it of course at once; and a minute of great helter…skelter
followed; this column falling back on itself as if assailed; in great
confusion。 If this be the ordinary day's routine; why does that column
fall into confusion; and why; after throwing it into disorder; do the
reddish ants close their ranks and march into the town in compact
order; parallel with the working column going the other way; and which
they seemed to terrorize? Is it possible that the smaller ants are only
slaves of the larger? Inscrutable are the ways of ants! However; when
the advancing column had recovered from its confusion it formed up;
and; wheeling round in most regular order; fell behind the rear…guard
of the working column; and before dark not an ant remained outside
except a dead body。
Soon after the last of its living comrades had disappeared; six ants;
with a red one (dare I say?) 〃in command;〃 came out and seemed to hold
a somewhat fussy consultation round the corpse which had fallen on the
line of march to the stump。 After a minute or two; three of them got
hold of it; and with the other four as spectators or mourners; they
dragged it for about six feet and concealed it under a leaf; after
which they returned home; all this was most fascinating。 A little later
Captain Murray destroyed both entrances to the town; but before
daylight; by dint of extraordinary labor; they were reconstructed lower
down the slope; and the work at the stump was going on as if nothing so
unprecedented had happened。
I should have liked also to study the ways of the white ant; the great
timber…destroying pest of this country; which abounds on this hill。 He
is a large ant of a pale buff color。 Up the trunk of a tree he builds
a tunnel of sand; held together by a viscid secretion; and under this
he works; cutting a deep groove in the wood; and always extending the
tunnel upward。 I broke away two inches of such a tunnel in the
afternoon; and by the next morning it was restored。 Among many other
varieties of ants; there is one found by the natives; which people call
the 〃soldier ant。〃 I saw many of these big fellows; more than an inch
long; with great mandibles。 Their works must be on a gigantic scale;
and their bite or grip very painful; but being with a party; I was not
able to make their acquaintance。
When it grew dark; tiny lamps began to move in all directions。 Some
came from on high; like falling stars; but most moved among the trees a
few feet from the ground with a slow undulatory motion; the fire having
a pale blue tinge; as one imagines an incandescent sapphire might have。
The great tree…crickets kept up for a time the most ludicrous sound I
ever heardone sitting in a tree and calling to another。 From the
deafening noise; which at times drowned our voices; one would suppose
the creature making it to be at least as large as an eagle。
The accommodation of the 〃Sanitarium〃 is most limited。 The two
gentlemen; well armed; slept in the veranda; the Misses Shaw in camp
beds in the inner cabin; and I in a swinging cot in the outer; the
table being removed to make room for it。 The bull…dog mounted guard
over all; and showed his vigilance by an occasional growl。 The eleven
attendants stowed themselves away under the cabin; except a garrulous
couple; who kept the fire blazing till daylight。 My cot was most
comfortable; but I failed to sleep。 The forest was full of quaint; busy
noises; broken in upon occasionally by the hoot of the 〃spectre bird;〃
and the long; low; plaintive cry of some animal。
All the white residents in the Malacca Settlements have been greatly
excited about a tragedy which has just occurred at the Dindings; off
this coast; in which Mr。 Lloyd; the British superintendent; was
horribly murdered by the Chinese; his wife; and Mrs。 Innes; who was on
a visit to her; narrowly escaping the same fate。 Lying awake I could
not help thinking of this; and of the ease with which the Resident
could be overpowered and murdered by any of our followers who might
have a grudge against him; when; as I thought; the door behind my head
from the back ladder was burst open; and my cot and I came down on the
floor at the head; the simple fact being; that the head…rope; not
having been properly secured; gave way with a run。 An hour afterward
the foot…ropes gave way; and I was deposited on the floor altogether;
and was soon covered with small ants。
Early in the morning the apes began to call to each other with a
plaintive 〃Hoo…houey;〃 and in the gray dawn I saw an iguana fully four
feet long glide silently down the trunk of a tree; the branches of
which were loaded with epiphytes。 Captain Shaw asked the imaum of one
of the mosques of Malacca about alligator's eggs a few days ago; and
his reply was; that the young that went down to the sea became
alligators; and those which came up the rivers became iguanas。 At
daylight; after coffee and bananas; we left the hill; and after an
accident; promptly remedied by Mr。 Hayward; reached Serambang when the
sun was high in the heavens。 I should think that there are very few
circumstances which Mr。 Hayward is not prepared to meet。 He has a
reserve of quiet strength which I should like to see fully drawn upon。
He has the scar of a spear wound on his brow; which Captain Murray says
was received in holding sixty armed men at bay; while he secured the
retreat of some helpless persons。 Yet he continues to be much burdened
by his responsibility for these fair girls; who; however; are enjoying
themselves thoroughly; and will be none the worse。
We had scarcely returned when a large company of Chinamen; carrying
bannerets and joss…sticks; came to the Residency to give a spectacle or
miracle…play; the first part consisting of a representation of a huge
dragon; which kicked; and jumped; and crawled; and bellowed in a manner
totally unworthy of that ancient and splendid myth; and the second; of
a fierce melee; or succession of combats with spears; shields; and
battle…axes。 The performances were accompanied by much drumming; and by
the beating of tom…toms; an essentially infernal noise; which I cannot
help associating with the orgies of devil…worship。 The 〃Capitan China;〃
in a beautiful costume; sat with us in the veranda to see the
performance。
I have written a great deal about the Chinese and very little about the
Malays; the nominal possessors of the country; but the Chinese may be
said to be everywhere; and the Malays nowhere。 You have to look for
them if you want to see them。 Besides; the Chinese are as ten to two of
the whole population。 Still the laws are administered in the name of
the Datu Klana; the Malay ruler。 The land owned by Malays is being
measured; and printed title…deeds are being given; a payment of 2s。 an
acre per annum being levied instead of any taxes on produce。 Export
duties are levied on certain articles; but the navigation of the rivers
is free。 Debt slavery; one curse of the Malay States; has been
abolished by the energy of Captain Murray with the cordial co…operation
of the Datu Klana; and now the whole population have the status and
rights of free men。 It is a great pity that this Prince is in Malacca;
for he is said to be a very enlightened ruler。 The photograph