the land of footprints-第33章
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For these rules and customs he never attempts to give a reason。 They are； and that is all there is to it。 A mere statement： 〃This is the custom〃 settles the matter finally。 There is no necessity； nor passing thought even； of finding any logical cause。 The matter was worked out in the mental evolution of remote ancestors。 At that time； perhaps； insurgent and Standpatter； Conservative and Radical fought out the questions of the day； and the Muckrakers swung by their tails and chattered about it。 Those days are all long since over。 The questions of the world are settled forever。 The people have passed through the struggles of their formative period to the ultimate highest perfection of adjustment to material and spiritual environment of which they were capable under the influence of their original racial force。
Parenthetically； it is now a question whether or not an added impulse can be communicated from without。 Such an impulse must （a） unsettle all the old beliefs； （b） inspire an era of skepticism； （c） reintroduce the old struggle of ideas between the Insurgent and the Standpatter； and Radical and the Conservative； （d） in the meantime furnish； from the older civilization； materials； both in the thought…world and in the object…world； for building slowly a new set of customs more closely approximating those we are building for ourselves。 This is a longer and slower and more complicated affair than teaching the native to wear clothes and sing hymns； or to build houses and drink gin； but it is what must be accomplished step by step before the African peoples are really civilized。 I； personally； do not think it can be done。
Now having； a hundred thousand years or so ago； worked out the highest good of the human race； according to them； what must they say to themselves and what must their attitude be when the white man has come and has unrolled his carpet of wonderful tricks？ The dilemma is evident。 Either we； as black men； must admit that our hundred…thousand…year…old ideas as to what constitutes the highest type of human relation to environment is all wrong； or else we must evolve a new attitude toward this new phenomena。 It is human nature to do the latter。 Therefore the native has not abandoned his old gods； nor has he adopted a new。 He still believes firmly that his way is the best way of doing things； but he acknowledges the Superman。
To the Superman； with all races； anything is possible。 Only our Superman is an idea； and ideal。 The native has his Superman before him in the actual flesh。
We will suppose that our own Superman has appeared among us； accomplishing things that apparantly contravene all our established tenets of skill； of intellect； of possibility。 It will be readily acknowledged that such an individual would at first create some astonishment。 He wanders into a crowded hotel lobby； let us say； evidently with the desire of going to the bar。 Instead of pushing laboriously through the crowd； he floats just above their heads； gets his drink； and floats out again！ That is levitation； and is probably just as simple to him as striking a match is to you and me。 After we get thoroughly accustomed to him and his life； we are no longer vastly astonished； though always interested； at the various manifestations of his extraordinary powers。 We go right along using the marvellous wireless； aeroplanes； motor cars； constructive machinery； and the like that make us confident…justly； of course…in that we are about the smartest lot of people on earth。 And if we see red； white； and blue streamers of light crossing the zenith at noon； we do not manifest any very profound amazement。 〃There's that confounded Superman again；〃 we mutter； if we happen to be busy。 〃I wonder what stunt he's going to do now！〃
A consideration of the above beautiful fable may go a little way toward explaining the supposed native stolidity in the face of the white man's wonders。 A few years ago some misguided person brought a balloon to Nairobi。 The balloon interested the white people a lot； but everybody was chiefly occupied wondering what the natives would do when they saw THAT！ The natives did not do anything。 They gathered in large numbers； and most interestedly watched it go up； and then went home again。 But they were not stricken with wonder to any great extent。 So also with locomotives； motor cars； telephones； phonographs…any of our modern ingenuities。 The native is pleased and entertained； but not astonished。 〃Stupid creature； no imagination；〃 say we； because our pride in showing off is a wee bit hurt。
Why should he be astonished？ His mental revolution took place when he saw the first match struck。 It is manifestly impossible for any one to make fire instantaneously by rubbing one small stick。 When for the first time he saw it done； he was indeed vastly astounded。 The immutable had been changed。 The law had been transcended。 The impossible had been accomplished。 And then； as logical sequence； his mind completed the syllogism。 If the white man can do this impossibility； why not all the rest？ To defy the laws of nature by flying in the air or forcing great masses of iron to transport one； is no more wonderful than to defy them by striking a light。 Since the white man can provedly do one； what earthly reason exists why he should not do anything else that hits his fancy？ There is nothing to get astonished at。
This does not necessarily mean that the native looks on the white man as a god。 On the contrary； your African is very shrewd in the reading of character。 But indubitably white men possess great magic； uncertain in its extent。
That is as far as I should care to go； without much deeper acquaintance； into the attitude of the native mind toward the whites。 A superficial study of it； beyond the general principals I have enunciated； discloses many strange contradictions。 The native respects the white man's warlike skill； he respects his physical prowess； he certainly acknowledges tacitly his moral superiority in the right to command。 In case of dispute he likes the white man's adjudication； in case of illness the man's medicine； in case of trouble the white man's sustaining hand。 Yet he almost never attempts to copy the white man's appearance or ways of doing things。 His own savage customs and habits he fulfils with as much pride as ever in their eternal fitness。 Once I was badgering Memba Sasa； asking him whether he thought the white skin or the black skin the more ornamental。 〃You are not white；〃 he retorted at last。 〃That；〃 pointing to a leaf of my notebook； 〃is white。 You are red。 I do not like the looks of red people。〃
They call our speech the 〃snake language；〃 because of its hissing sound。 Once this is brought to your attention； indeed； you cannot help noticing the superabundance of the sibilants。
A queer melange the pigeonholes of an African's brain must contain…fear and respect； strongly mingled with clear estimate of intrinsic character of individuals and a satisfaction with his own standards。
Nor； I think； do we realize sufficiently the actual fundamental differences between the African and our peoples。 Physically they must be in many ways as different from our selves as though they actually belonged to a different species。 The Masai are a fine big race； enduring； well developed and efficient。 They live exclusively on cow's milk mixed with blood； no meat； no fruit； no vegetables； no grain； just that and nothing more。 Obviously they must differ from us most radically； or else all our dietetic theories are wrong。 It is a well…known fact that any native requires a triple dose of white man's medicine。 Furthermore a native's sensitiveness to pain is very much less than the white man's。 This is indubitable。 For example； the Wakamba file…or； rather； chip； by means of a small chisel…all their front teeth down to needle points； When these happen to fall out； the warrior substitutes an artificial tooth which he drives down into the socket。 If the savage got the same effects from such a performance that a white man's dental system would arouse； even 〃savage stoicism〃 would hardly do him much good。 There is nothing to be gained by multiplying examples。 Every African traveller can recall a thousand。
Incidentally； and by the way； I wa
