rezanov-第10部分

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han　reward；　I　concluded　to　bring　it　here　and　offer　it　as　a　manifest　of　my　ad…　miration　for　what　the　great　Franciscan　Order　of　the　Most　Holy　Church　of　Rome　has　accomplished　in　the　Californias。　　Have　I　been　too　presump…　tuous？〃

The　priests　all　wore　the　eager　expressions　of　chil…　dren。

〃Could　we　not　see　them　first？〃　asked　Father　Lan…　daeta　of　his　superior；　and　Father　Abella　sent　a　ser…　vant　with　an　order　to　unload　the　horse　and　bring　in　the　presents。

Not　a　vestige　of　reserve　lingered。　　Priests　and　guests　sat　about　the　table　eating　and　drinking　and　chatting　as　were　they　old　friends　reunited；　and　Rezanov　extracted　much　of　the　information　he　de…　sired。　　The　white　population〃gente　de　razon〃　of　Alta　California；　the　peculiar　province　of　the　Franciscansthe　Jesuits　having　been　the　first　to　invade　Baja　California；　and　with　little　success　numbered　about　two　thousand；　the　Christianized　Indians　about　twenty　thousand。　　There　were　nine…　teen　Missions　and　four　Presidial　districtsSan　Diego；　close　to　the　border　of　Baja　California；　Santa　Barbara；　Monterey；　and　San　Francisco。　　Each　Mis…　sion　had　an　immense　grant　of　land；　or　rancho　generally　fifteen　miles　squarefor　the　raising　of　live　stock；　agricultural　necessities；　and　the　grape。　At　the　Presidio　of　San　Francisco　there　were　some　seventy　men；　including　invalids；　and　the　number　varied　little　at　the　other　military　centres；　Rezanov　inferred；　although　there　was　a　natural　effort　to　im…　press　the　foreigner　with　the　casual　inferiority　of　the　armed　force　within　his　ken。　　Cattle　and　horses　increased　so　rapidly　that　every　few　years　there　was　a　wholesale　slaughter；　although　the　agricultural　yield　was　enormous。　　What　the　Missions　were　un…　able　to　manufacture　was　sent　them　from　Mexico；　and　disposed　of　the　small　salaries　of　the　priests；　the　〃Pious　Fund　of　California〃　in　the　city　of　Mexico　being　systematically　embezzled。　　The　first　Presidio　and　Mission　were　founded　at　San　Diego　in　July　of　1769；　the　last　at　San　Francisco　in　Sep…　tember　and　October　of　1776。

Rezanov's　polite　interest　in　the　virgin　country　was　cut　short　by　the　entrance　of　two　Indians　carry…　ing　heavy　bundles；　which　they　opened　upon　the　floor　without　further　delay。

The　cloth　of　gold　was　magnificent；　and　the　padres　handled　it　as　rapturously　as　had　their　souls　and　fin…　gers　been　of　the　sex　symbolized　while　exalted　by　the　essence　of　maternity；　in　whose　service　it　would　be　anointed。　　Rezanov　looked　on　with　an　amused　sigh；　yet　conscious　of　being　more　comprehending　and　sympathetic　than　if　he　had　journeyed　straight　from　Europe　to　California。　　It　was　not　the　first　time　he　had　felt　a　passing　gratitude　for　his　uncomfort…　able　but　illuminating　sojourn　so　close　to　the　springs　of　nature。

The　priests　were　as　well　pleased　with　the　pieces　of　fine　English　cloth；　and　as　their　own　homespun　robes　rasped　like　hair　shirts；　they　silently　but　uni…　formly　congratulated　themselves　that　the　color　was　brown。

Father　Abella　turned　to　Rezanov；　his　saturnine　features　relaxed。

〃We　are　deeply　grateful　to　your　excellency；　and　our　prayers　shall　follow　you　always。　　Never　have　we　received　presents　so　timely　and　so　magnificent。　And　be　sure　we　shall　not　forget　the　brave　officers　that　have　brought　you　safely　to　our　distant　shores；　nor　the　distinguished　scholar　who　guards　your　ex…　cellency's　health。〃　　He　turned　to　Langsdorff　and　repeated　himself　in　Latin。　　The　naturalist；　whose　sharp　nose　was　always　lifted　as　if　in　protest　against　oversight　and　ready　to　pounce　upon　and　penetrate　the　least　of　mysteries；　bowed　with　his　hand　on　his　heart；　and　translated　for　the　benefit　of　the　officers。

〃Humph！〃　said　Davidov　in　Russian。　　〃Much　the　Chamberlain　will　care　for　the　prayers　of　the　Cath…　olic　Church　if　he　has　to　go　home　with　his　cargo。　But　he　has　a　fine　opportunity　here　for　the　display　of　his　diplomatic　talents。　　I　fancy　they　will　avail　him　more　than　they　did　at　Nagasakiwhere　I　am　told　he　swore　more　than　once　when　he　should　have　kow…　towed　and　grinned。〃

〃I　shouldn't　like　to　see　him　grin；〃　replied　Khos…　tov；　as　they　finally　started　for　the　outbuildings。　　〃If　he　could　go　as　far　as　that　he　would　be　the　most　terrible　man　living。　　Were　it　not　for　the　fire　in　him　that　melts　the　iron　just　so　often　he　would　be　crafty　and　cruel　instead　of　subtle　and　firm。　　He　is　a　for…　tunate　man！　　There　were　many　fairies　at　his　cradle！　I　have　always　envied　him；　and　now　he　is　going　to　win　that　beautiful　Dona　Concha。　　She　will　look　at　none　of　us。〃

〃We　will　doubtless　meet　others　as　beautiful　at　the　ball　to…night；〃　said　Davidov　philosophically。　〃You　are　not　in　love　with　a　girl　who　has　barely　spoken　to　you；　I　suppose。〃

〃She　had　almost　given　me　a　rose　this　morning；　when　Rezanov；　who　was　flattering　the　good　Dona　Ignacia　with　a　moment　of　his　attention；　turned　too　soon。　　I　might　have　been　air。　　She　looked　straight　through　me。　　Such　eyes！　　Such　teeth！　　Such　a　form！　She　is　the　most　enchanting　girl　I　have　ever　seen。　And　he　will　monopolize　her　without　troubling　to　notice　whether　we　even　admire　her　or　not。　　Pray　heaven　he　does　not　break　her　heart。〃

〃He　is　honorable。　　One　must　admit　that；　if　he　does　fancy　his　own　will　was　a　personal　gift　from　the　Almighty。　　Perhaps　she　will　break　his。　　I　never　saw　a　more　accomplished　flirt。〃

〃I　know　women；〃　replied　the　shrewder　Khos…　tov。　　When　men　like　Rezanov　make　an　effort　to　please〃　　He　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃Some　men　are　the　offspring　of　Mars　and　Venus　and　most　of　us　are　not。　　We　can　at　least　be　philosophers。　Let　us　hope　the　dinner　will　be　excellent。〃



VII

It　proved　to　be　the　most　delicate　and　savory　repast　that　had　excited　their　appetites　this　side　of　Europe。　The　friars　had　their　consolations；　and　even　Dona　Ignacia　Arguello　was　less　gastronomic　than　Father　Landaeta。　　Rezanov；　whose　epicurianism　had　sur…　vived　a　year　of　dried　fish　and　the　coarse　luxuries　of　his　managers；　suddenly　saw　all　life　in　the　light　of　the　humorist；　and　told　so　many　amusing　versions　of　his　adventures　in　the　wilderness；　and　even　of　his　misadventure　with　Japan；　that　the　priests　choked　over　their　wine；　and　Langsdorff；　who　had　not　a　grain　of　humor；　swelled　with　pride　in　his　chance　relationship　to　a　man　who　seemed　able　to　manip…　ulate　every　string　in　the　human　network。

〃He　will　succeed；〃　he　said　to　Davidov。　　〃He　will　succeed。　　I　almost　hoped　he　would　not；　he　is　so　in…　differentI　might　almost　say　so　hostileto　my　own　scientific　adventures。　　But　when　he　is　in　this　mood；　when　those　cold　eyes　brim　with　laughter　and　ordinary　humanity；　I　am　nothing　better　than　his　slave。〃

Rezanov；　in　reply　to　an　entreaty　from　Father　Uria　to　tell　them　more　of　his　mission　and　of　the　strange　picture…book　country　they　had　never　hoped　to　hear　of　at　first　hand；　assumed　a　tone　of　great　frankness　and　intimacy。　　〃We　were；　with　astound…　ing　cleverness；　treated　from　the　first　like　an　audi…　ence　in　a　new　theatre。　　After　we　had　solemnly　been　towed　by　a　string　of　boats　to　anchor；　under　the　Papen　mountains；　all　Nagasaki　appeared　to　turn　out；　men；　women　and　children。　　Thousands　of　little　boats；　decorated　with　flags　by　day　and　colored　lan…　terns　by　night；　and　filled　with　people　in　gala　attire；　swarmed　about　us；　gazed　at　us　through　telescopes；　were　so　thick　on　the　bay　one　could　have　traversed　it　on　foot。　　The　imperial　sailors　were　distinguished　by　their　uniforms　of　a　large　blue　and　white　check；　suggesting　the　pinafores　of　a　brobdingnagian　baby。　The　barges　of　the　imperial　princes　were　covered　with　blue　and　white　awnings　and　towed　to　the　sound　of　kettledrums　and　the　loud　measured　cries　of　the　boatmen。　　At　night　the　thousands　of　illuminated　lanterns；　of　every　color　and　shade；　the　waving　of　fans；　the　incessant　chattering；　and　the　more　har…　monious　noise　that　rose　unceasingly　above；　made　up　a　scene　as　brilliant　as　it　was　juvenile　and　absurd。　In　the　daytime　it　was　more　interesting；　with　the　background　of　hills　cultivated　to　their　crests　in　the　form　of　terraces；　varied　with　rice　fields；　hamlets；　groves；　and　paper　villas　encircled　with　little　gardens　as　glowing　and　various　of　color　as　the　night　lan…　terns。　　When；　at　last；　I　was　graciously　permitted　to　have　a　residence　on　a　point　of　land　called　Megasaki；　I　was　conveyed　thither　in　the　pleasure　barge　of　the　Prince　of　Fisi。　　There　was　place　for　sixty　oarsmen；　but　as　one　of　the　few　tokens　of　respect；　I　was　en…　abled　to　record　for　the　comfort　of　the　mighty　sov…　ereign　whose　representative　I　was；　the　barge　was　towed　by　a　long　line　of　boats；　decorated　with　flags；　the　voices　of　the　rowers　rising　and　falling　in　meas…　ured　cadence　as　they　announced　to　all　Japan　the　honor　about　to　be　conferred　upon　her。　　I　sat　on　a　chair　of　state　in　the　central　compartment　of　the　barge；　and　quite　alone；　my　suite　standing　on　a　raised　deck　beyond。　　Before　me　on　a　table；　mar…　vellously　inlaid；　were　my　credentials。　　I　was　sur…　rounded　by　curtains　of　sky…blue　silk　and　panels　of　polished　lacquer　inwrought　with　the　Imperial　arms　in　gold。　　The　awning　of　blue　and　white　silk　was　lined　with　a　delicate　and　beautiful　tapestry；　and　the　reverse　sides　of　the　silken　partitions　were　of　canvas　painted　by　the　masters　of　the　country。　　The　pol…　ished　floor　was　covered　by　a　magnificent　carpet　woven　with　alarming　dragons　whose　jaws　pointed　directly　at　my　chair　of　state。　　And　such　an　escort　and　such　a　reception；　both　of　ceremony　and　of　curiosity；　no　Russian　had　ever　boasted　before。　Flags　waved；　kettledrums　beat；　fans　were　flung　into　my　very　lap　to　autograph。　　The　bay；　the　hills；　were　a　blaze　of　color　and　a　confusion　of　sound。　　The　barracks　were　hung　with　tapestries　and　gay　silks。　　I；　with　my　arms　folded　and　in　full　uniform；　my　fea…　tures　composed　to　the　impassivity　of　one　of　their　own　wooden　gods；　was　the　central　figure　of　this　magnificent　farce；　and　it　may　be　placed　to　the　ever…　lasting　credit　of　the　discipline　of　courts　that　not　one　of　my　staff　smiled。　　They　stood　with　their　arms　folded　and　their　eyes　on　the　inlaid　devices　at　their　feet。

〃When　this　first　act　was　over　and　I　was　locked　in　for　the　night　and　felt　myself　able　to　kick　my　way　through　the　flimsy　walls；　yet　as　completely　a　pris…　oner　as　if　they　had　been　of　stone；　I　will　confess　that　I　fell　into　a　most　undiplomatical　rage；　and　when　I　found　myself　played　with　from　month　to　month　by　a　people　I　scorned　as　a　grotesque　mix…　ture　of　barbarian　and　mannikin；　I　was　alternately　infuriated；　and