allan quatermain-第61部分
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Endnote 1
Among the Zulus a man assumes the ring; which is made of a species
of black gum twisted in with the hair; and polished a brilliant
black; when he has reached a certain dignity and age; or is the
husband of a sufficient number of wives。 Till he is in a position
to wear a ring he is looked on as a boy; though he may be thirty…five
years of age; or even more。 A。 Q。}
Endnote 2
One of the fleetest of the African antelopes。 A。 Q。
Endnote 3
Alluding to the Zulu custom of opening the stomach of a dead
foe。 They have a superstition that; if this is not done; as
the body of their enemy swells up so will the bodies of those
who killed him swell up。 A。 Q。
Endnote 4
No doubt this owl was a wingless bird。 I afterwards learnt that
the hooting of an owl is a favourite signal among the Masai tribes。
A。 Q。
Endnote 5
Since I saw the above I have examined hundreds of these swords;
but have never been able to discover how the gold plates were
inlaid in the fretwork。 The armourers who make them in Zu…vendis
bind themselves by oath not to reveal the secret。 A。 Q。
Endnote 6
The Masai Elmoran or young warriors can own no property; so all
the booty they may win in battle belongs to their fathers
alone。 A。 Q。
Endnote 7
As I think I have already said; one of Umslopogaas's Zulu names
was the 'Woodpecker'。 I could never make out why he was called
so until I saw him in action with Inkosi…kaas; when I at once
recognized the resemblance。 A。 Q。
Endnote 8
By a sad coincidence; since the above was written by Mr Quatermain;
the Masai have; in April 1886; massacred a missionary and his
wife Mr and Mrs Houghton on this very Tana River; and at
the spot described。 These are; I believe; the first white people
who are known to have fallen victims to this cruel tribe。 Editor。
Endnote 9
Mr Allan Quatermain misquotes Pleasure sat at the helm。 Editor。
Endnote 10
Where Alph the sacred river ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea
Endnote 11
Mr Quatermain does not seem to have been aware that it is common
for animal…worshipping people to annually sacrifice the beasts
they adore。 See Herodotus; ii。 45。 Editor。
Endnote 12
There is another theory which might account for the origin of
the Zu…Vendi which does not seem to have struck my friend Mr
Quatermain and his companions; and that is; that they are descendants
of the Phoenicians。 The cradle of the Phoenician race is supposed
to have been have been on the western shore of the Persian Gulf。
Thence; as there is good evidence to show; they emigrated in
two streams; one of which took possession of the shores of Palestine;
while the other is supposed by savants to have immigrated down
the coast of Eastern Africa where; near Mozambique; signs and
remains of their occupation are not wanting。 Indeed; it would
have been very extraordinary if they did not; when leaving the
Persian Gulf; make straight for the East Coast; seeing that the
north…east monsoon blows for six months in the year dead in that
direction; while for the other six months it blows back again。
And; by the way of illustrating the probability; I may add that
to this day a very extensive trade is carried on between the
Persian Gulf and Lamu and other East African ports as far south
as Madagascar; which is of course the ancient Ebony Isle of the
'Arabian Nights'。 Editor。
Endnote 13
There are twenty…two letters in the Phoenician alphabet
(see Appendix; Maspero's Histoire ancienne des peuples de
l'Orient; p。 746; etc。) Unfortunately Mr Quatermain gives us
no specimen of the Zu…Vendi writing; but what he here states
seems to go a long way towards substantiating the theory advanced
in the note on p。 149。 Editor。
Endnote 14
These are internal measurements。 A。 Q。
Endnote 15
Light was also admitted by sliding shutters under the eaves of
the dome and in the roof。 A。 Q。
Endnote 16
This line is interesting as being one of the few allusions to
be found in the Zu…Vendi ritual to a vague divine essence independent
of the material splendour of the orb they worship。 'Taia';
the word used here; has a very indeterminate meaning; and signifies
essence; vital principle; spirit; or even God。
Endnote 17
Alluding to the Zulu custom。 A。 Q。
Endnote 18
In Zu…Vendis members of the Royal House can only be married by
the High Priest or a formally appointed deputy。 A。 Q。
Endnote 19
Alluding to the Zu…Vendi custom of carrying dead officers on
a framework of spears。
Endnote 20
The Zu…Vendi people do not use bows。 A。 Q。
Endnote 21
Of course; the roof of the Temple; being so high; caught the
light some time before the breaking of the dawn。 A。 Q。
Endnote 22
Of course the Court of Probate would allow nothing of the
sort。 Editor。
Endnote 23
It is suggested to me that this book is The Cruise of the 〃Falcon〃;
with which work I am personally unacquainted。
End