the lost continent(消失的大陆)-第28章
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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。
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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
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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
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with the inhabitants； and exploring the city of black men。
As I had been given a semi…military uniform which bore insignia
