the lost continent-第18部分

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carrying　Christianity　to　all　the　benighted　heathen　of　Europe；　and　Asia　as　well。〃

〃You　are　a　Christian　people？〃　I　asked。

He　looked　at　me　in　surprise；　nodding　his　head　affirmatively。

〃I　am　a　Christian；〃　I　said。　　〃My　people　are　the　most　powerful　on　earth。〃

He　smiled；　and　shook　his　head　indulgently；　as　a　father　to　a　child　who　sets　up　his　childish　judgment　against　that　of　his　elders。

Then　I　set　out　to　prove　my　point。　　I　told　him　of　our　cities；　of　our　army；　of　our　great　navy。　　He　came　right　back　at　me　asking　for　figures；　and　when　he　was　done　I　had　to　admit　that　only　in　our　navy　were　we　numerically　superior。

Menelek　XIV　is　the　undisputed　ruler　of　all　the　continent　of　Africa；　of　all　of　ancient　Europe　except　the　British　Isles；　Scandinavia；　and　eastern　Russia；　and　has　large　possessions　and　prosperous　colonies　in　what　once　were　Arabia　and　Turkey　in　Asia。

He　has　a　standing　army　of　ten　million　men；　and　his　people　possess　slaveswhite　slavesto　the　number　of　ten　or　fifteen　million。

Colonel　Belik　was　much　surprised；　however；　upon　his　part　to　learn　of　the　great　nation　which　lay　across　the　ocean；　and　when　he　found　that　I　was　a　naval　officer；　he　was　inclined　to　accord　me　even　greater　consideration　than　formerly。　　It　was　difficult　for　him　to　believe　my　assertion　that　there　were　but　few　blacks　in　my　country；　and　that　these　occupied　a　lower　social　plane　than　the　whites。

Just　the　reverse　is　true　in　Colonel　Belik's　land。　　He　considered　whites　inferior　beings；　creatures　of　a　lower　order；　and　assuring　me　that　even　the　few　white　freemen　of　Abyssinia　were　never　accorded　anything　approximating　a　position　of　social　equality　with　the　blacks。　　They　live　in　the　poorer　districts　of　the　cities；　in　little　white　colonies；　and　a　black　who　marries　a　white　is　socially　ostracized。

The　arms　and　ammunition　of　the　Abyssinians　are　greatly　inferior　to　ours；　yet　they　are　tremendously　effective　against　the　ill…armed　barbarians　of　Europe。　　Their　rifles　are　of　a　type　similar　to　the　magazine　rifles　of　twentieth　century　Pan…America；　but　carrying　only　five　cartridges　in　the　magazine；　in　addition　to　the　one　in　the　chamber。　　They　are　of　extraordinary　length；　even　those　of　the　cavalry；　and　are　of　extreme　accuracy。

The　Abyssinians　themselves　are　a　fine　looking　race　of　black　mentall；　muscular；　with　fine　teeth；　and　regular　features；　which　incline　distinctly　toward　Semitic　moldI　refer　to　the　full…blooded　natives　of　Abyssinia。　　They　are　the　patricians　the　aristocracy。　　The　army　is　officered　almost　exclusively　by　them。　　Among　the　soldiery　a　lower　type　of　negro　predominates；　with　thicker　lips　and　broader；　flatter　noses。　These　men　are　recruited；　so　the　colonel　told　me；　from　among　the　conquered　tribes　of　Africa。　　They　are　good　soldiers　brave　and　loyal。　　They　can　read　and　write；　and　they　are　endowed　with　a　self…confidence　and　pride　which；　from　my　readings　of　the　words　of　ancient　African　explorers；　must　have　been　wanting　in　their　earliest　progenitors。　　On　the　whole；　it　is　apparent　that　the　black　race　has　thrived　far　better　in　the　past　two　centuries　under　men　of　its　own　color　than　it　had　under　the　domination　of　whites　during　all　previous　history。

I　had　been　a　prisoner　at　the　little　frontier　post　for　over　a　month；　when　orders　came　to　Colonel　Belik　to　hasten　to　the　eastern　frontier　with　the　major　portion　of　his　command；　leaving　only　one　troop　to　garrison　the　fort。　　As　his　body　servant；　I　accompanied　him　mounted　upon　a　fiery　little　Abyssinian　pony。

We　marched　rapidly　for　ten　days　through　the　heart　of　the　ancient　German　empire；　halting　when　night　found　us　in　proximity　to　water。　　Often　we　passed　small　posts　similar　to　that　at　which　the　colonel's　regiment　had　been　quartered；　finding　in　each　instance　that　only　a　single　company　or　troop　remained　for　defence；　the　balance　having　been　withdrawn　toward　the　northeast；　in　the　same　direction　in　which　we　were　moving。

Naturally；　the　colonel　had　not　confided　to　me　the　nature　of　his　orders。　　But　the　rapidity　of　our　march　and　the　fact　that　all　available　troops　were　being　hastened　toward　the　northeast　assured　me　that　a　matter　of　vital　importance　to　the　dominion　of　Menelek　XIV　in　that　part　of　Europe　was　threatening　or　had　already　broken。

I　could　not　believe　that　a　simple　rising　of　the　savage　tribes　of　whites　would　necessitate　the　mobilizing　of　such　a　force　as　we　presently　met　with　converging　from　the　south　into　our　trail。　　There　were　large　bodies　of　cavalry　and　infantry；　endless　streams　of　artillery　wagons　and　guns；　and　countless　horse…drawn　covered　vehicles　laden　with　camp　equipage；　munitions；　and　provisions。

Here；　for　the　first　time；　I　saw　camels；　great　caravans　of　them；　bearing　all　sorts　of　heavy　burdens；　and　miles　upon　miles　of　elephants　doing　similar　service。　　It　was　a　scene　of　wondrous　and　barbaric　splendor；　for　the　men　and　beasts　from　the　south　were　gaily　caparisoned　in　rich　colors；　in　marked　contrast　to　the　gray　uniformed　forces　of　the　frontier；　with　which　I　had　been　familiar。

The　rumor　reached　us　that　Menelek　himself　was　coming；　and　the　pitch　of　excitement　to　which　this　announcement　raised　the　troops　was　little　short　of　miraculousat　least；　to　one　of　my　race　and　nationality　whose　rulers　for　centuries　had　been　but　ordinary　men；　holding　office　at　the　will　of　the　people　for　a　few　brief　years。

As　I　witnessed　it；　I　could　not　but　speculate　upon　the　moral　effect　upon　his　troops　of　a　sovereign's　presence　in　the　midst　of　battle。　　All　else　being　equal　in　war　between　the　troops　of　a　republic　and　an　empire；　could　not　this　exhilarated　mental　state；　amounting　almost　to　hysteria　on　the　part　of　the　imperial　troops；　weigh　heavily　against　the　soldiers　of　a　president？　　I　wonder。

But　if　the　emperor　chanced　to　be　absent？　　What　then？　Again　I　wonder。

On　the　eleventh　day　we　reached　our　destinationa　walled　frontier　city　of　about　twenty　thousand。　　We　passed　some　lakes；　and　crossed　some　old　canals　before　entering　the　gates。　　Within；　beside　the　frame　buildings；　were　many　built　of　ancient　brick　and　well…cut　stone。　　These；　I　was　told；　were　of　material　taken　from　the　ruins　of　the　ancient　city　which；　once；　had　stood　upon　the　site　of　the　present　town。

The　name　of　the　town；　translated　from　the　Abyssinian；　is　New　Gondar。　　It　stands；　I　am　convinced；　upon　the　ruins　of　ancient　Berlin；　the　one　time　capital　of　the　old　German　empire；　but　except　for　the　old　building　material　used　in　the　new　town　there　is　no　sign　of　the　former　city。

The　day　after　we　arrived；　the　town　was　gaily　decorated　with　flags；　streamers；　gorgeous　rugs；　and　banners；　for　the　rumor　had　proved　truethe　emperor　was　coming。

Colonel　Belik　had　accorded　me　the　greatest　liberty；　permitting　me　to　go　where　I　pleased；　after　my　few　duties　had　been　performed。　　As　a　result　of　his　kindness；　I　spent　much　time　wandering　about　New　Gondar；　talking　with　the　inhabitants；　and　exploring　the　city　of　black　men。

As　I　had　been　given　a　semi…military　uniform　which　bore　insignia　indicating　that　I　was　an　officer's　body　servant；　even　the　blacks　treated　me　with　a　species　of　respect；　though　I　could　see　by　their　manner　that　I　was　really　as　the　dirt　beneath　their　feet。　　They　answered　my　questions　civilly　enough；　but　they　would　not　enter　into　conversation　with　me。　It　was　from　other　slaves　that　I　learned　the　gossip　of　the　city。

Troops　were　pouring　in　from　the　west　and　south；　and　pouring　out　toward　the　east。　　I　asked　an　old　slave　who　was　sweeping　the　dirt　into　little　piles　in　the　gutters　of　the　street　where　the　soldiers　were　going。　　He　looked　at　me　in　surprise。

〃Why；　to　fight　the　yellow　men；　of　course；〃　he　said。　　〃They　have　crossed　the　border；　and　are　marching　toward　New　Gondar。〃

〃Who　will　win？〃　I　asked。

He　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃Who　knows？〃　he　said。　　〃I　hope　it　will　be　the　yellow　men；　but　Menelek　is　powerfulit　will　take　many　yellow　men　to　defeat　him。〃

Crowds　were　gathering　along　the　sidewalks　to　view　the　emperor's　entry　into　the　city。　　I　took　my　place　among　them；　although　I　hate　crowds；　and　I　am　glad　that　I　did；　for　I　witnessed　such　a　spectacle　of　barbaric　splendor　as　no　other　Pan…American　has　ever　looked　upon。

Down　the　broad　main　thoroughfare；　which　may　once　have　been　the　historic　Unter　den　Linden；　came　a　brilliant　cortege。　　At　the　head　rode　a　regiment　of　red…coated　hussarsenormous　men；　black　as　night。　　There　were　troops　of　riflemen　mounted　on　camels。　　The　emperor　rode　in　a　golden　howdah　upon　the　back　of　a　huge　elephant　so　covered　with　rich　hangings　and　embellished　with　scintillating　gems　that　scarce　more　than　the　beast's　eyes　and　feet　were　visible。

Menelek　was　a　rather　gross…looking　man；　well　past　middle　age；　but　he　carried　himself　with　an　air　of　dignity　befitting　one　descended　in　unbroken　line　from　the　Prophetas　was　his　claim。

His　eyes　were　bright　but　crafty；　and　his　features　denoted　both　sensuality　and　cruelness。　　In　his　youth　he　may　have　been　a　rather　fine　looking　black；　but　when　I　saw　him　his　appearance　was　revoltingto　me；　at　least。

Following　the　emperor　came　regiment　after　regiment　from　the　various　branches　of　the　service；　among　them　batteries　of　field　guns　mounted　on　elephants。

In　the　center　of　the　troops　following　the　imperial　elephant　marched　a　great　caravan　of　slaves。　　The　old　street　sweeper　at　my　elbow　told　me　that　these　were　the　gifts　brought　in　from　the　far　outlying　districts　by　the　commanding　officers　of　the　frontier　posts。　　The　majority　of　them　were　women；　destined；　I　was　told；　for　the　harems　of　the　emperor　and　his　favorites。　　It　made　my　old　companion　clench　his　fists　to　see　those　poor　white　women　marching　past　to　their　horrid　fates；　and；　though　I　shared　his　sentiments；　I　was　as　powerless　to　alter　their　destinies　as　he。

For　a　week　the　troops　kept　pouring　in　and　out　of　New　Gondar　in；　always；　from　the　south　and　west；　but　always　toward　the　east。　　Each　new　contingent　brought　its　gifts　to　the　emperor。　From　the　south　they　brought　rugs　and　ornaments　and　jewels；　from　the　west；　slaves；　for　the　commanding　officers　of　the　western　frontier　posts　had　naught　else　to　bring。

From　the　number　of　women　they　brought；　I　judged　that　they　knew　the　weakness　of　their　imperial　master。

And　then　soldiers　commenced　coming　in　from　the　east；　but　not　with　the　gay　assurance　of　those　who　came　from　the　south　and　westno；　these　others　came　in　covered　wagons；　blood…soaked　and　suffering。　　They　c