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