the expedition of humphry clinker-第47部分

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community；　who　had　been　taken　prisoner　by　the　Indians　that　were
in　alliance　with　the　English。　At　the　peace；　he　had　sold　out　upon
half　pay；　and　was　returned　to　Britain；　with　a　view　to　pass　the
rest　of　his　life　in　his　own　country；　where　he　hoped　to　find　some
retreat　where　his　slender　finances　would　afford　him　a　decent
subsistence。　Such　are　the　outlines　of　Mr　Lismahago's　history；　to
which　Tabitha　did　seriously　incline　her　ear；　　indeed；　she　seemed
to　be　taken　with　the　same　charms　that　captivated　the　heart　of
Desdemona；　who　loved　the　Moor　for　the　dangers　he　had　past。

The　description　of　poor　Murphy's　sufferings；　which　threw　my
sister　Liddy　into　a　swoon；　extracted　some　sighs　from　the　breast
of　Mrs　Tabby：　when　she　understood　he　had　been　rendered　unfit　for
marriage；　she　began　to　spit；　and　ejaculated；　'Jesus；　what　cruel
barbarians！'　and　she　made　wry　faces　at　the　lady's　nuptial　repast；
but　she　was　eagerly　curious　to　know　the　particulars　of　her
marriage…dress；　whether　she　wore　high…breasted　stays　or　bodice；　a
robe　of　silk　or　velvet；　and　laces　of　Mechlin　or　minionette　　she
supposed；　as　they　were　connected　with　the　French；　she　used　rouge；
and　had　her　hair　dressed　in　the　Parisian　fashion。　The　captain
would　have　declined　giving　a　catagorical　explanation　of　all　these
particulars；　observing；　in　general；　that　the　Indians　were　too
tenacious　of　their　own　customs　to　adopt　the　modes　of　any　nation
whatsoever；　he　said；　moreover；　that　neither　the　simplicity　of
their　manners　nor　the　commerce　of　their　country；　would　admit　of
those　articles　of　luxury　which　are　deemed　magnificence　in　Europe；
and　that　they　were　too　virtuous　and　sensible　to　encourage　the
introduction　of　any　fashion　which　might　help　to　render　them
corrupt　and　effeminate。

These　observations　served　only　to　inflame　her　desire　of　knowing
the　particulars　about　which　she　had　enquired；　and；　with　all　his
evasion；　he　could　not　help　discovering　the　following
circumstances　　that　his　princess　had　neither　shoes；　stockings；
shift；　nor　any　kind　of　linen　　that　her　bridal　dress　consisted　of
a　petticoat　of　red　bays；　and　a　fringed　blanket；　fastened　about
her　shoulders　with　a　copper　skewer；　but　of　ornaments　she　had
great　plenty。　　Her　hair　was　curiously　plaited；　and　interwoven
with　bobbins　of　human　bone　　one　eye…lid　was　painted　green；　and
the　other　yellow；　the　cheeks　were　blue；　the　lips　white；　the　teeth
red；　and　there　was　a　black　list　drawn　down　the　middle　of　the
forehead　as　far　as　the　tip　of　the　nose　　a　couple　of　gaudy
parrot's　feathers　were　stuck　through　the　division　of　the
nostrils　　there　was　a　blue　stone　set　in　the　chin；　her　ear…rings
consisted　of　two　pieces　of　hickery；　of　the　size　and　shape　of
drum…sticks　　her　arms　and　legs　were　adorned　with　bracelets　of
wampum　　her　breast　glittered　with　numerous　strings　of　glass
beads　　she　wore　a　curious　pouch；　or　pocket　of　woven　grass；
elegantly　painted　with　various　colours　　about　her　neck　was　hung
the　fresh　scalp　of　a　Mohawk　warrior；　whom　her　deceased　lover　had
lately　slain　in　battle　　and；　finally；　she　was　anointed　from　head
to　foot　with　bear's　grease；　which　sent　forth　a　most　agreeable
odour。

One　would　imagine　that　these　paraphernalia　would　not　have　been
much　admired　by　a　modern　fine　lady；　but　Mrs　Tabitha　was　resolved
to　approve　of　all　the　captains　connexions。　　She　wished；　indeed；
the　squaw　had　been　better　provided　with　linen；　but　she　owned
there　was　much　taste　and　fancy　in　her　ornaments；　she　made　no
doubt；　therefore；　that　madam　Squinkinacoosta　was　a　young　lady　of
good　sense　and　rare　accomplishments；　and　a　good　christian　at
bottom。　Then　she　asked　whether　his　consort　had　been　high　church
or　low…church；　presbyterian　or　anabaptist；　or　had　been　favoured
with　any　glimmering　of　the　new　light　of　the　gospel？　When　he
confessed　that　she　and　her　whole　nation　were　utter　strangers　to
the　christian　faith；　she　gazed　at　him　with　signs　of　astonishment；
and　Humphry　Clinker；　who　chanced　to　be　in　the　room；　uttered　a
hollow　groan。

After　some　pause；　'In　the　name　of　God；　captain　Lismahago　（cried
she）；　what　religion　do　they　profess？'　'As　to　religion；　madam
（answered　the　lieutenant）；　it　is　among　those　Indians　a　matter　of
great　simplicity　　they　never　heard　of　any　Alliance　between　Church
and　State。　　They；　in　general；　worship　two　contending　principles；
one　the　Fountain　of　all　Good；　the　other　the　source　of　all　evil。
The　common　people　there；　as　in　other　countries；　run　into　the
absurdities　of　superstition；　but　sensible　men　pay　adoration　to　a
Supreme　Being；　who　created　and　sustains　the　universe。'　'O！　what
pity　（exclaimed　the　pious　Tabby）；　that　some　holy　man　has　not　been
inspired　to　go　and　convert　these　poor　heathens！'

The　lieutenant　told　her；　that　while　he　resided　among　them；　two
French　missionaries　arrived；　in　order　to　convert　them　to　the
catholic　religion；　but　when　they　talked　of　mysteries　and
revelations；　which　they　could　neither　explain　nor　authenticate；
and　called　in　the　evidence　of　miracles　which　they　believed　upon
hearsay；　when　they　taught　that　the　Supreme　Creator　of　Heaven　and
Earth　had　allowed　his　only　Son；　his　own　equal　in　power　and　glory；
to　enter　the　bowels　of　a　woman；　to　be　born　as　a　human　creature；
to　be　insulted；　flagellated；　and　even　executed　as　a　malefactor；
when　they　pretended　to　create　God　himself；　to　swallow；　digest；
revive；　and　multiply　him　ad　infinitum；　by　the　help　of　a　little
flour　and　water；　the　Indians　were　shocked　at　the　impiety　of　their
presumption。　　They　were　examined　by　the　assembly　of　the　sachems
who　desired　them　to　prove　the　divinity　of　their　mission　by　some
miracle。　　They　answered；　that　it　was　not　in　their　power。　　'If　you
were　really　sent　by　Heaven　for　our　conversion　（said　one　of　the
sachems）；　you　would　certainly　have　some　supernatural　endowments；
at　least　you　would　have　the　gift　of　tongues；　in　order　to　explain
your　doctrine　to　the　different　nations　among　which　you　are
employed；　but　you　are　so　ignorant　of　our　language；　that　you
cannot　express　yourselves　even　on　the　most　trifling　subjects。'　In
a　word；　the　assembly　were　convinced　of　their　being　cheats；　and
even　suspected　them　of　being　spies：　they　ordered　them　a　bag　of
Indian　corn　apiece；　and　appointed　a　guide　to　conduct　them　to　the
frontiers；　but　the　missionaries　having　more　zeal　than　discretion；
refused　to　quit　the　vineyard。　　They　persisted　in　saying　mass；　in
preaching；　baptizing；　and　squabbling　with　the　conjurers；　or
priests　of　the　country；　till　they　had　thrown　the　whole　community
into　confusion。　　Then　the　assembly　proceeded　to　try　them　as
impious　impostors；　who　represented　the　Almighty　as　a　trifling；
weak；　capricious　being；　and　pretended　to　make；　unmake；　and
reproduce　him　at　pleasure；　they　were；　therefore；　convicted　of
blasphemy　and　sedition；　and　condemned　to　the　stale；　where　they
died　singing　Salve　regina；　in　a　rapture　of　joy；　for　the　crown　of
martyrdom　which　they　had　thus　obtained。

In　the　course　of　this　conversation；　lieutenant　Lismahago　dropt
some　hints　by　which　it　appeared　he　himself　was　a　free…thinker。
Our　aunt　seemed　to　be　startled　at　certain　sarcasms　he　threw　out
against　the　creed　of　saint　Athanasius　　He　dwelt　much　upon　the
words；　reason；　philosophy；　and　contradiction　in　terms　　he　bid
defiance　to　the　eternity　of　hell…fire；　and　even　threw　such　squibs
at　the　immortality　of　the　soul；　as　singed　a　little　the　whiskers
of　Mrs　Tabitha's　faith；　for；　by　this　time　she　began　to　look　upon
Lismahago　as　a　prodigy　of　learning　and　sagacity。　　In　short；　he
could　be　no　longer　insensible　to　the　advances　she　made　towards
his　affection；　and　although　there　was　something　repulsive　in　his
nature；　he　overcame　it　so　far　as　to　make　some　return　to　her
civilities。　　Perhaps；　he　thought　it　would　be　no　bad　scheme；　in　a
superannuated　lieutenant　on　half…pay；　to　effect　a　conjunction
with　an　old　maid；　who；　in　all　probability；　had　fortune　enough　to
keep　him　easy　and　comfortable　in　the　fag…end　of　his　days　　An
ogling　correspondence　forthwith　commenced　between　this　amiable
pair　of　originals　　He　began　to　sweeten　the　natural　acidity　of　his
discourse　with　the　treacle　of　compliment　and　commendation　　He
from　time　to　time　offered　her　snuff；　of　which　he　himself　took
great　quantities；　and　even　made　her　a　present　of　a　purse　of　silk
grass；　woven　by　the　hands　of　the　amiable　Squinkinacoosta；　who　had
used　it　as　a　shot…pouch　in　her　hunting　expeditions。

From　Doncaster　northwards；　all　the　windows　of　all　the　inns　are
scrawled　with　doggeral　rhimes；　in　abuse　of　the　Scotch　nation；　and
what　surprised　me　very　much；　I　did　not　perceive　one　line　written
in　the　way　of　recrimination　　Curious　to　hear　what　Lismahago　would
say　on　this　subject；　I　pointed　out　to　him　a　very　scurrilous
epigram　against　his　countrymen；　which　was　engraved　on　one　of　the
windows　of　the　parlour　where　we　sat。　　He　read　it　with　the　most
starched　composure；　and　when　I　asked　his　opinion　of　the　poetry；
'It　is　vara　terse　and　vara　poignant　（said　he）；　but　with　the　help
of　a　wat　dish…clout；　it　might　be　rendered　more　clear　and
parspicuous。　　I　marvel　much　that　some　modern　wit　has　not
published　a　collection　of　these　essays　under　the　title　of　the
Glaziers　Triumph　over　Sawney　the　Scot　　I'm　persuaded　it　would　be
a　vara　agreeable　offering　to　the　patriots　of　London　and
Westminster。'　When　I　expressed　some　surprize　that　the　natives　of
Scotland；　who　travel　this　way；　had　not　broke　all　the　windows　upon
the　road；　'With　submission　（replied　the　lieutenant）；　that　were
but　shallow　policy　　it　would　only　serve　to　make　the　satire　more
cutting　and　severe；　and　I　think　it　is　much　better　to　let　it　stand
in　the　window；　than　have　it　presented　in　the　reckoning。'

My　uncle's　jaws　began　to　quiver　with　indignation。　　He　said；　the
scribblers　of　such　infamous　stuff　deserved　to　be　scourged　at　the
cart's　tail　for　disgracing　their　country　with　such　monuments　of
malice　and　stupidity。　　'These　vermin　（said　he）　do　not　consider；
that　they　are　affording　their　fellow　subjects；　whom　they　abuse；
continual　matter　of　self…gratulation；　as　well　as　the　means　of
executing　the　most　manly　vengeance　that　can　be　taken　for　such
low；　illiberal　attacks。　For　my　part；　I　admire　the　philosophic
forbearance　of　the　Scots；　as　much　as　I　despise　the　insolence　of
those　wretched　libellers；　which　is　akin　to　the　arrogance　of　the
vi