第 51 节
作者:津鸿一瞥      更新:2021-10-16 18:44      字数:9322
  a steamer of some twelve or fourteen hundred tons burden; and with
  accommodation for a cargo of steerage passengers。  She should carry
  two or three guns in case of her being attacked by savages at the
  mouth of the river。  Boats of considerable size should be also
  provided; and I think it would be desirable that these also should
  carry two or three six…pounders。  The ship should be taken up the
  river as far as was considered safe; and a picked party should then
  ascend in the boats。  The presence both of Arowhena and myself
  would be necessary at this stage; inasmuch as our knowledge of the
  language would disarm suspicion; and facilitate negotiations。
  We should begin by representing the advantages afforded to labour
  in the colony of Queensland; and point out to the Erewhonians that
  by emigrating thither; they would be able to amass; each and all of
  them; enormous fortunesa fact which would be easily provable by a
  reference to statistics。  I have no doubt that a very great number
  might be thus induced to come back with us in the larger boats; and
  that we could fill our vessel with emigrants in three or four
  journeys。
  Should we be attacked; our course would be even simpler; for the
  Erewhonians have no gunpowder; and would be so surprised with its
  effects that we should be able to capture as many as we chose; in
  this case we should feel able to engage them on more advantageous
  terms; for they would be prisoners of war。  But even though we were
  to meet with no violence; I doubt not that a cargo of seven or
  eight hundred Erewhonians could be induced; when they were once on
  board the vessel; to sign an agreement which should be mutually
  advantageous both to us and them。
  We should then proceed to Queensland; and dispose of our engagement
  with the Erewhonians to the sugar…growers of that settlement; who
  are in great want of labour; it is believed that the money thus
  realised would enable us to declare a handsome dividend; and leave
  a considerable balance; which might be spent in repeating our
  operations and bringing over other cargoes of Erewhonians; with
  fresh consequent profits。  In fact we could go backwards and
  forwards as long as there was a demand for labour in Queensland; or
  indeed in any other Christian colony; for the supply of Erewhonians
  would be unlimited; and they could be packed closely and fed at a
  very reasonable cost。
  It would be my duty and Arowhena's to see that our emigrants should
  be boarded and lodged in the households of religious sugar…growers;
  these persons would give them the benefit of that instruction
  whereof they stand so greatly in need。  Each day; as soon as they
  could be spared from their work in the plantations; they would be
  assembled for praise; and be thoroughly grounded in the Church
  Catechism; while the whole of every Sabbath should be devoted to
  singing psalms and church…going。
  This must be insisted upon; both in order to put a stop to any
  uneasy feeling which might show itself either in Queensland or in
  the mother country as to the means whereby the Erewhonians had been
  obtained; and also because it would give our own shareholders the
  comfort of reflecting that they were saving souls and filling their
  own pockets at one and the same moment。  By the time the emigrants
  had got too old for work they would have become thoroughly
  instructed in religion; they could then be shipped back to Erewhon
  and carry the good seed with them。
  I can see no hitch nor difficulty about the matter; and trust that
  this book will sufficiently advertise the scheme to insure the
  subscription of the necessary capital; as soon as this is
  forthcoming I will guarantee that I convert the Erewhonians not
  only into good Christians but into a source of considerable profit
  to the shareholders。
  I should add that I cannot claim the credit for having originated
  the above scheme。  I had been for months at my wit's end; forming
  plan after plan for the evangelisation of Erewhon; when by one of
  those special interpositions which should be a sufficient answer to
  the sceptic; and make even the most confirmed rationalist
  irrational; my eye was directed to the following paragraph in the
  Times newspaper; of one of the first days in January 1872:…
  〃POLYNESIANS IN QUEENSLAND。The Marquis of Normanby; the new
  Governor of Queensland; has completed his inspection of the
  northern districts of the colony。  It is stated that at Mackay; one
  of the best sugar…growing districts; his Excellency saw a good deal
  of the Polynesians。  In the course of a speech to those who
  entertained him there; the Marquis said:… 'I have been told that
  the means by which Polynesians were obtained were not legitimate;
  but I have failed to perceive this; in so far at least as
  Queensland is concerned; and; if one can judge by the countenances
  and manners of the Polynesians; they experience no regret at their
  position。'  But his Excellency pointed out the advantage of giving
  them religious instruction。  It would tend to set at rest an uneasy
  feeling which at present existed in the country to know that they
  were inclined to retain the Polynesians; and teach them religion。〃
  I feel that comment is unnecessary; and will therefore conclude
  with one word of thanks to the reader who may have had the patience
  to follow me through my adventures without losing his temper; but
  with two; for any who may write at once to the Secretary of the
  Erewhon Evangelisation Company; limited (at the address which shall
  hereafter be advertised); and request to have his name put down as
  a shareholder。
  P。S。I had just received and corrected the last proof of the
  foregoing volume; and was walking down the Strand from Temple Bar
  to Charing Cross; when on passing Exeter Hall I saw a number of
  devout…looking people crowding into the building with faces full of
  interested and complacent anticipation。  I stopped; and saw an
  announcement that a missionary meeting was to be held forthwith;
  and that the native missionary; the Rev。 William Habakkuk; from
  (the colony from which I had started on my adventures); would be
  introduced; and make a short address。  After some little difficulty
  I obtained admission; and heard two or three speeches; which were
  prefatory to the introduction of Mr。 Habakkuk。  One of these struck
  me as perhaps the most presumptuous that I had ever heard。  The
  speaker said that the races of whom Mr。 Habakkuk was a specimen;
  were in all probability the lost ten tribes of Israel。  I dared not
  contradict him then; but I felt angry and injured at hearing the
  speaker jump to so preposterous a conclusion upon such insufficient
  grounds。  The discovery of the ten tribes was mine; and mine only。
  I was still in the very height of indignation; when there was a
  murmur of expectation in the hall; and Mr。 Habakkuk was brought
  forward。  The reader may judge of my surprise at finding that he
  was none other than my old friend Chowbok!
  My jaw dropped; and my eyes almost started out of my head with
  astonishment。  The poor fellow was dreadfully frightened; and the
  storm of applause which greeted his introduction seemed only to add
  to his confusion。  I dare not trust myself to report his speech
  indeed I could hardly listen to it; for I was nearly choked with
  trying to suppress my feelings。  I am sure that I caught the words
  〃Adelaide; the Queen Dowager;〃 and I thought that I heard 〃Mary
  Magdalene〃 shortly afterwards; but I had then to leave the hall for
  fear of being turned out。  While on the staircase; I heard another
  burst of prolonged and rapturous applause; so I suppose the
  audience were satisfied。
  The feelings that came uppermost in my mind were hardly of a very
  solemn character; but I thought of my first acquaintance with
  Chowbok; of the scene in the woodshed; of the innumerable lies he
  had told me; of his repeated attempts upon the brandy; and of many
  an incident which I have not thought it worth while to dwell upon;
  and I could not but derive some satisfaction from the hope that my
  own efforts might have contributed to the change which had been
  doubtless wrought upon him; and that the rite which I had
  performed; however unprofessionally; on that wild upland river…bed;
  had not been wholly without effect。  I trust that what I have
  written about him in the earlier part of my book may not be
  libellous; and that it may do him no harm with his employers。  He
  was then unregenerate。  I must certainly find him out and have a
  talk with him; but before I shall have time to do so these pages
  will be in the hands of the public。
  At the last moment I see a probability of a complication which
  causes me much uneasiness。  Please subscribe quickly。  Address to
  the Mansion…House; care of the Lord Mayor; whom I will instruct to
  receive names and subscriptions for me until I can organise a
  committee。
  Footnotes:
  {1}  The last part of Chapter XXIII in this Gutenberg eText。DP。
  {2}  See Handel's compositions for the harpsichord; published by
  Litolf; p。 78。
  {3}  The myth above alluded to exists in Erewhon with changed
  names; and considerable modifications。  I have taken the liberty of
  referring to the story as familiar to ourselves。
  {4}  What a SAFE word 〃rel