登陆注册
5413800000096

第96章

Drawing aside into the bushes we awaited their coming up, and as they drew near we observed that it was a procession of the natives, many of whom were dancing and gesticulating in the most frantic manner.They had an exceedingly hideous aspect, owing to the black, red, and yellow paints with which their faces and naked bodies were bedaubed.In the midst of these came a band of men carrying three or four planks, on which were seated in rows upwards of a dozen men.I shuddered involuntarily as I recollected the sacrifice of human victims at the island of Emo, and turned with a look of fear to Jack as I said, -"Oh, Jack! I have a terrible dread that they are going to commit some of their cruel practices on these wretched men.We had better not go to the temple.We shall only be horrified without being able to do any good, for I fear they are going to kill them."Jack's face wore an expression of deep compassion as he said, in a low voice, "No fear, Ralph; the sufferings of these poor fellows are over long ago."I turned with a start as he spoke, and, glancing at the men, who were now quite near to the spot where we stood, saw that they were all dead.They were tied firmly with ropes in a sitting posture on the planks, and seemed, as they bent their sightless eye-balls and grinning mouths over the dancing crew below, as if they were laughing in ghastly mockery at the utter inability of their enemies to hurt them now.These, we discovered afterwards, were the men who had been slain in the battle of the previous day, and were now on their way to be first presented to the gods, and then eaten.

Behind these came two men leading between them a third, whose hands were pinioned behind his back.He walked with a firm step, and wore a look of utter indifference on his face, as they led him along; so that we concluded he must be a criminal who was about to receive some slight punishment for his faults.The rear of the procession was brought up by a shouting crowd of women and children, with whom we mingled and followed to the temple.

Here we arrived in a few minutes.The temple was a tall circular building, open at one side.Around it were strewn heaps of human bones and skulls.At a table inside sat the priest, an elderly man, with a long gray beard.He was seated on a stool, and before him lay several knives, made of wood, bone, and splinters of bamboo, with which he performed his office of dissecting dead bodies.Farther in lay a variety of articles that had been dedicated to the god, and among them were many spears and clubs.Iobserved among the latter some with human teeth sticking in them, where the victims had been clubbed in their mouths.

Before this temple the bodies, which were painted with vermilion and soot, were arranged in a sitting posture; and a man, called a "dan-vosa" (orator), advanced, and, laying his hands on their heads, began to chide them, apparently, in a low bantering tone.

What he said we knew not, but, as he went on, he waxed warm, and at last shouted to them at the top of his lungs, and finally finished by kicking the bodies over and running away, amid the shouts and laughter of the people, who now rushed forward.Seizing the bodies by a leg, or an arm, or by the hair of the head, they dragged them over stumps and stones and through sloughs, until they were exhausted.The bodies were then brought back to the temple and dissected by the priest, after which they were taken out to be baked.

Close to the temple a large fire was kindled, in which stones were heated red hot.When ready these were spread out on the ground, and a thick coating of leaves strewn over them to slack the heat.

On this "lovo," or oven, the bodies were then placed, covered over, and left to bake.

The crowd now ran, with terrible yells, towards a neighbouring hill or mound, on which we observed the frame-work of a house lying ready to be erected.Sick with horror, yet fascinated by curiosity, we staggered after them mechanically, scarce knowing where we were going or what we did, and feeling a sort of impression that all we saw was a dreadful dream.

Arrived at the place, we saw the multitude crowding round a certain spot.We pressed forward and obtained a sight of what they were doing.A large wooden beam or post lay on the ground, beside the other parts of the frame-work of the house, and close to the end of it was a hole about seven feet deep and upwards of two feet wide.

While we looked, the man whom we had before observed with his hands pinioned, was carried into the circle.His hands were now free, but his legs were tightly strapped together.The post of the house was then placed in the hole, and the man put in beside it.His head was a good way below the surface of the hole, and his arms were clasped round the post.Earth was now thrown in until all was covered over and stamped down; and this, we were afterwards told, was a CEREMONY usually performed at the dedication of a new temple, or the erection of a chief's house "Come, come," cried Jack, on beholding this horrible tragedy, "we have seen enough, enough, far more than enough! Let us go."Jack's face looked ghastly pale and haggard as we hurried back to rejoin the teacher, and I have no doubt that he felt terrible anxiety when he considered the number and ferocity of the savages, and the weakness of the few arms which were ready indeed to essay, but impotent to effect, Avatea's deliverance from these ruthless men.

同类推荐
  • 拙轩词话

    拙轩词话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 幼学琼林

    幼学琼林

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 唐月令注续补遗

    唐月令注续补遗

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 台案汇录戊集

    台案汇录戊集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Salammbo

    Salammbo

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 得妻

    得妻

    卢清楚和离后行商,莫名其妙就成了商界女大佬。可她背后还有更厉害的东家,东家神秘至极,极少有人见过。直到某一天,她无意间进了崔景行的书房……
  • 邻家哥哥偷心贼

    邻家哥哥偷心贼

    当青梅竹马的邻家哥哥变成杀父仇人,7年后父母双双归来,顾八宝懵了,仇人竟然不是仇人?这份感情该何去何从?
  • 言零幻想

    言零幻想

    幻想,言零公司旗下一款全浸入式游戏,游戏内是超能力,科学与魔法!所有玩家所拥有的能力全然不一,无国界的世界领域决定了其热烈的程度。幻想,并非幻想。
  • 重生小棋仙

    重生小棋仙

    天才围棋少女因被超级电脑打败而来到了异世界,而在这个已经被毁灭过一次的修仙世界中,她又能凭借着自己的本事闯出一片怎样的天地?
  • 打工这一条路

    打工这一条路

    30岁那年,为了走出人生困境,她踏上打工之路;40岁以来,为了子女读书,她在这条路上持续长跑,50余岁,是为了什么呢,她还在这条路上,老牛拉破车。于城市而言,她是外乡人,于乡里人而言,她是忙“事业”的大忙人,于女儿来说,她是那个幼时缺席,长大了突然出现的人。带着团聚的目的走上打工这条路,未成想,她的前方是分离,归与不归,岂是个人所能左右的。
  • 追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    青涩蜕变,如今她是能独当一面的女boss,爱了冷泽聿七年,也同样花了七年时间去忘记他。以为是陌路,他突然向他表白,扬言要娶她,她只当他是脑子抽风,他的殷勤她也全都无视。他帮她查她父母的死因,赶走身边情敌,解释当初拒绝她的告别,和故意对她冷漠都是无奈之举。突然爆出她父母的死居然和冷家有丝毫联系,还莫名跳出个公爵未婚夫,扬言要与她履行婚约。峰回路转,破镜还能重圆吗? PS:我又开新文了,每逢假期必书荒,新文《有你的世界遇到爱》,喜欢我的文的朋友可以来看看,这是重生类现言,对这个题材感兴趣的一定要收藏起来。
  • 让你的努力,配得上你的梦想

    让你的努力,配得上你的梦想

    你的梦想绝对不会辜负你的努力,当你为一件事拼命努力的时候,全世界都会帮助你。本书是博采雅集和九臣文化联袂打造的超级青春励志书,共收录汤木、杨熹文、陶瓷兔子等十几位人气作者为本书定制的私藏原创作品。激励千万心灵的暖心励志之作,写给尚未成功却一直拼命努力的的人。每天让自己进步一点,每天给自己一些希望,世界再大,也会因你的努力而变得更好。或许我们不是最好的,但是我们可以成为更好的自己。永不放弃,让你的努力,配得上你的梦想。
  • 红楼之禛惜黛玉

    红楼之禛惜黛玉

    她,眉如黛,人如玉他,活阎王,冷面佛的相遇,或许注定了纠缠生命的纠缠,或许注定了相守一部红楼,那是半壁江山。不知道多少人感叹,红楼未完,但是真正的结局却已无人知晓。林黛玉,心中的仙子,文采的化身。一个另类的红楼,一个美丽的黛玉。纯粹个人借红楼黛玉小写,无关名著红楼。爱者则看,不爱者请绕道。******************************此文共分三卷,一共六十万到七十万字左右,也或许会稍有变动,虽是大坑,却坚持每天更新,进者仔细哦!第一卷《玉生香》,讲述康熙在世时雍正和妹妹的情感萌发,一个成熟,一个年轻,但是却互相知心,一点一滴,涓涓如细流,美而纯。第二卷《帝王心》,讲述雍正在位时雍正和妹妹的相互扶持,随着时光的流逝,智慧沉淀,感情越发成熟而妩媚,做出人生更好的抉择。第三卷《指尖柔》,尚且待议。****************************************************梅灵的红楼系列文,欢迎大家去看。红楼之禛惜黛玉:红楼之水掬黛心:情续红楼画眉蹙:红楼之禛心俜玉:红楼之蛊惑香玉:红楼之雍帝霸玉:
  • 当你老了(2018)

    当你老了(2018)

    《当你老了》是爱尔兰诗人叶芝一生的爱情诗选,选自他的诗集《路口》《玫瑰》《苇中的风》《七座森林》《绿盔》《责任》《柯尔的野天鹅》《麦克·罗巴蒂斯和舞者》《塔楼》《旋梯》《新作》和《译作》。
  • 快穿系统:boss,有点甜

    快穿系统:boss,有点甜

    “我叶云殇,从来没有对您撒过谎,所以阿姨您相信我吧!我们的产品绝对放心。”打了无数电话……