Why were we exiled?

& ltP & gt

& ltP> I stepped on the ground and felt an indescribable deep impression. Ned Land tried to kick the land with his foot, as if to possess it. In fact, we have been "passengers of the Nautilus"-according to Captain Nemo, we are actually prisoners of the Nautilus-only two months.

& ltP> In a few minutes, we will be within the range of bullets on the island shore. The land is almost entirely formed by reef-building coral deposits, but some dry rapids are mixed with granite residues, indicating that the island was formed in primitive Archean. The whole sky is covered with amazing forest curtains. Many tall trees-some of which have trunks as high as 200 feet-are connected by kudzu vine, which really looks like natural hammocks swaying in the wind. This is a lush mixture of acacia, fig, firebird, chestnut, hibiscus mutabilis, Banda and palm trees. Under the green holes of these trees and at the foot of their toothed trunks, there are many orchids, beans and ferns.

& ltP> However, the Canadian did not pay attention to the beautiful varieties of native plants in Papua, and he abandoned the beautiful ones in pursuit of practicality and usefulness. He saw a coconut tree, knocked down several coconuts on the tree and split them. We drank the juice and ate the meat inside, and we were satisfied. This just shows our dissatisfaction with the home-cooked meals on Nautilus.

& ltP> "It's delicious!" Ned Land said.

& ltP> "It's delicious!" Conseil replied.

& ltP> "I think," said the Canadian, "if we take these fruits back to the boat, will your Nemo object?"

& ltP> "I don't think he will object," I replied, "but he won't eat."

& ltP> "He deserved it!" Conseil said.

& ltP> "We can eat more!" Ned Land replied, "Because there will be more left."

& ltP> "Let me tell you something, Master Ned Land," I said to the harpooner who was about to hit another coconut tree again. "Coconuts are delicious, but don't fill all the boats with coconuts at once. It's wise to check whether there is anything else on the island, something delicious and useful. For example, fresh vegetables, the kitchen on Nautilus must be very popular. "

& ltP> "You are right, sir," Conseil replied. "I propose to divide our ship into three parts, one for fruits, the other for vegetables and the other for prey. But until now, I have never even seen the shadow of game. "

& ltP> "Conseil, you shouldn't be disappointed in this magazine." The Canadian replied.

& ltP> "Well, let's keep walking," I said, "but keep your eyes open and look around. Although there seems to be no one living on the island, there are probably some strangers whose views on the nature of pigs may be different from ours! muscle

& ltP> "Hey hey! Ned Land made a meaningful statement by making a strange noise and swinging the gums of the upper and lower jaws.

& ltP> "Ned Land, what's the matter with you-"Conseil shouted.

& ltP> "Seriously," the Canadian replied, "I'm beginning to understand the allure of human flesh!"

& ltP> "Ned! Ned. What did you say? " Conseil asked, "You, cannibal! Then I live in a cabin with you, and my life is not safe around you! Will I wake up one day and be bitten in half? "

& ltP> "Conseil's good friend, I like you very much, but I won't eat you until it's critical."

& ltP> "I don't believe it." Conseil replied. "Go hunting! I must catch some prey to satisfy the man who eats human flesh, otherwise, one morning, Mr. Wang will only see his servants serving him piece by piece. "

& ltP> When we tell jokes to each other and exchange some opinions, we put people under the dark vault of the forest. In just two hours, we traveled in all directions.

& ltP> met our wishes by accident, and we found many edible plants, one of which is the most useful product in tropical areas, and it became a valuable food that we didn't have on board. I'm talking about the bread tree. There are many such trees on Gepolo Island. I pay special attention to the kind without nucleolus, which is called "Lima" in Malaya.

& ltP> This tree is different from other trees in that its trunk is straight and 40 feet high. The top of the tree is very beautiful, ring-shaped, composed of wide leaves with many spikes on it. In the eyes of a biologist, it fully shows that this tree is a "bread fruit tree". Fortunately, this tree has been successfully transplanted to Mascarin. Green clumps, hanging down a thick spherical fruit, about a centimeter in size, uneven shape, like a hexagon. This is a beneficial plant, which is given by nature to areas that do not produce wheat. Without cultivation, breadfruit is produced for people for eight months in a year.

& ltP> Ned Land is familiar with these breadfruit. He has eaten on many trips before, and he knows very well how to prepare this edible thing. So seeing these fruits immediately aroused his appetite, and he couldn't stand it any longer.

& ltP> "Sir," he told me, "I'm really worried if I don't try the noodles of this bread tree!"

& ltP> "Try it, Ned Land, my good friend. Please feel free to taste. We are here to accumulate experience, so give it a try. "

& ltP> "That won't take long," the Canadian replied.

& ltP> So he took a fire mirror and lit the dry branches with sunlight, and the fire burst into flames. At this time, Conseil and I picked the best fruit on the bread tree. Some are not mature enough, and the thick epidermis is covered with white meat, but there are few fibers. Most of the others are yellow and sticky, just waiting for someone to pick them.

& ltP> These fruits have no kernels. Conseil took twelve or thirteen to Ned. Lan, he cut them into thick slices and put them on the red fire. When he slices, he always says:

& ltP> "Look, sir, how delicious this bread is!"

& ltP> "Especially since we haven't eaten bread for a long time!" Conseil said.

& ltP> Canadians added: "It can even be said that this is not ordinary bread, but delicious cake. Haven't you eaten, sir? "

& ltP> "No, Ned."

& ltP> "Then, get ready and try this unique thing. If you eat it and don't want it, I won't be the first harpooner in Tian Zi.

& ltP> After a few minutes, the part of the fruit facing the red fire was completely burnt. White vermicelli is exposed inside, like soft bread crumbs, and tastes like cabbage.

& ltP> It is true that this bread is delicious and I like it very much.

& ltP> "It's a pity that such good dough can't be kept fresh for a long time," I said/felt it unnecessary to take it back to the boat for storage. "

& ltP> "Really, sir!" Ned Land shouted, "You said this as a biologist; But I want to be a baker. Conseil, you go and pick these fruits, and we can take them with us when we go back. "

& ltP> "How are these fruits made?" I asked the Canadian.

& ltP> "Make this fruit starch paste into dough, which can be preserved for a long time and will not rot. When I want to eat, I will roast it in the ship's kitchen. Although it is a little sour, you must feel delicious. "

& ltP> "So, Master Ned Land, with this bread, it seems that we have everything, right? ……"

& ltP> "Shorter, Professor," the Canadian replied. "Some fruits, at least some vegetables!"

& ltP> "Let's go find fruits and vegetables."

& ltP> When we finish picking breadfruit, we will look for it and enrich our "ground" lunch.

& ltP> Our search was not in vain. By noon, we got a lot of bananas. This tropical beauty has existed for many years. Malaya people call it "Bisang", which means to eat it raw, not cooked. Besides bananas, we also have huge Jacques, sweet mangoes and incredible pineapples. It took us a lot of time to pick fruit this time, but the harvest was good and there is nothing to regret.

& ltP> Conseil always follows Ned Land. The harpooner walked ahead. When he walks through the Woods, he is very skilled, always picking delicious fruits and enriching the stored food.

& ltP> Conseil asked, "Ned Land's good friend, we don't lack anything, do we?"

& ltP> "Hmm!" The Canadian said impatiently.

& ltP> "Why! Are you still not satisfied? "

& ltP> "All these plants can't be a formal meal," Ned Land replied. "That's the last resort of the whole meal, and it's also the dessert after dinner. But where is the soup? Where is the meat? "

& ltP> "Yes," I said, "There seems to be something wrong with the ribs Ned promised me."

& ltP> "Sir," the Canadian replied, "the hunting is not over yet, but it hasn't started yet. Be patient! We are sure to meet some feathered animals. If not here, there must be another place ... "

& ltP> "If we can't touch it today, we can definitely touch it tomorrow," Conseil added, "because we shouldn't go too far. I'm going to propose returning to the boat. "

& ltP> "What! I'm going back! " Ned Land shouted.

& ltP> "We must go back before dark," I said.

& ltP> "So what time is it?" Asked the Canadian.

& ltP> "It's at least two o'clock in the afternoon." Conseil replied.

& ltP> "How time flies on the ground!" Master Ned Land sighed with regret.

& ltP> "Let's go." Conseil replied.

& ltP> When we came back from the forest, we got new food, because we temporarily picked vegetables and brown fruits, which had to be picked at the top of the tree. I recognized adzuki beans called "Abulu" by Malays, as well as top-class potatoes.

& ltP> arrived on the boat and brought back too many things. But Ned Lan felt that he didn't have enough food. Luckily, he got something else. When we got on the boat, he saw several trees, twenty-five to thirty feet high, belonging to the category of brown shelves. These trees are as useful and valuable as bread trees and are one of the most useful products in Malaya. This is sago, a plant that can grow without planting. Like mulberry, it grows naturally and does not need manual labor because it has its own buds and seeds.

& ltP> Ned Land knows how to deal with these trees. He took out his axe, waved it and soon cut down two or three sago trees. Judging from the white powder scattered on the leaves, these trees are very mature.

& ltP> I watched him cut down trees, not so much from the perspective of hungry people as from the perspective of biologists. He peeled an inch of epidermis from each trunk. Under the epidermis, there is a long fiber net composed of knotted knots, and fine powder like a plastic film sticks to it. This powder is sago, which is the main food of Melanesian residents.

& ltP> Ned Land just chopped the trunk into pieces at the moment, just as he cut firewood to burn it. He is going to extract the powder from the trunk in the future, let the powder pass through a thin layer of cloth, separate it from the fiber, dry it in the sun, let the steam dry, and then put it in a mold for curing.

& ltP> At five o'clock in the afternoon, we loaded our wealth and left the coast of the island. Half an hour later, our ship came to the Nautilus again. When we got to the boat, no one came out. This huge steel cone seems to have been neglected and abandoned. After we brought the food, I went downstairs to my room. I saw dinner in my room. I went to bed after dinner.

& ltP> The next day, 65438+1October 6th, there was no news on board. There is no sound inside, no anger. The ship is still alongside the Nautilus, where we left it yesterday. We decided to go to Gepolo Island again. Ned. Lan hopes that hunting today is luckier than yesterday. He wants to see another part of the forest.

& ltP> When the sun rises, we are already on board. The boat arrived at the island in a short time due to the propulsion of the waves that hit the island coast.

& ltP> Let's disembark and go ashore. I hope Canadians can lead the way intuitively or better, so we follow Ned Land, whose long legs walk very fast and often leave us far behind.

& ltP> Ned Land walked westward along the coast for a while, waded through some rapids, and reached the highland plain with amazing Woods on the edge. Some trees fly around the water, but they don't let people near them. They fly away when people come. Because of their vigilance, I understand that these birds know how to deal with us bipeds, so I come to the conclusion that even if there are no residents on the island, at least strangers often come to the island.

& ltP> Through a vast grassland, we came to the edge of a small forest, where many birds were singing and dancing, which seemed full of vitality.

& ltP> "These are just some birds." Conseil said.

& ltP> "But there is something to eat!" The harpooner replied.

& ltP> "No, Ned Land's good friend," Conseil replied, "because I only saw some parrots and geese there."

Ned Land, Conseil's good friend, replied seriously that a parrot is a pheasant to people who have nothing else to eat.

& ltP> "Besides, I said," This kind of bird cooks well, and it's worth moving a knife and fork. "

& ltP> In this way, under the dense leaves of the forest, a large group of parrots flew from branch to branch. As long as they are carefully educated, they can speak human language. At present, they are just accompanied by all kinds of female parrots and geese, chattering endlessly: there are colorful parrots with serious expressions, as if thinking about some philosophical problems; There is a big red parrot, and the Garosi parrot goose electric room, which makes noise when flying, looks like a piece of red yarn and flutters with the phoenix; There are Papua cherry geese dyed in the most beautiful sky blue, and all kinds of beautiful and lovely birds, but in general, they are inedible.

& ltP> However, a bird, which is a local specialty, has never crossed the border between Aru Islands and Papua Islands, and now I have never seen it among these birds. Fate has kept this bird for the time being, but I will appreciate it soon.

& ltP> After passing through a dense jungle, we came to a wooded plain. I see many beautiful birds flying in the air. Their long feathers enable them to fight against the phoenix. Their undulating flight, their graceful curves in the air and their bright colors attract and confuse people's eyes. I recognized them easily.

& ltP> "unparalleled bird, unparalleled bird!" I shouted.

& ltP> "finches, rectum suborder." Conseil replied.

& ltP> ""Crane clan? " Ned Land asked.

& ltP> "I don't think so, Ned Land. But I will rely on your good means to bring down the most beautiful and lovely things produced in the tropics! "

& ltP> "I'll give it a try, Professor, although I'm used to harpoons, which makes the gun worse."

& ltP> This Ukrainian is an important trade between Malays and China people; Malayan people use different methods to catch this kind of bird, but none of us can use it. They either put nets on the tops of tall trees where incomparable birds like to live, or glue them with powerful birds. They even poisoned the spring water that these birds often drink. As for us now, there is only one way, and that is to shoot them while they are flying. We seldom have a chance to hit them. Sure enough, we did waste some ammunition.

& ltP> By about eleven o'clock, we had passed the first mountain range that formed the center of the island, but we still got nothing. Belly rumbling, hunger torments us. Hunting hunters believe that their hunting will be fruitful, but they are wrong and can't get any prey. Fortunately, Conseil fired two shots and got the lunch prey by accident. He shot down a white pigeon and a mountain pigeon. Pull out their feathers quickly, hang them on a fork and roast them on burning dry wood. When barbecuing these interesting animals, Ned Land will prepare breadfruit. After a while, the white pigeons and the mountain pigeons were all eaten up, and everyone said it was delicious. These birds used to eat a lot of nutmeg, so their meat became a green and delicious dish like spices.

& ltP> "It tastes like a hen growing up with fragrant bacteria." Conseil said.

& ltP> "Ned, what are we missing now?" I asked the Canadian.

& ltP> "There is still a four-legged prey missing, Mr. Pierre Aronnax." Ned Land replied, "All these pigeons and mountain doves are just snacks and snacks. Therefore, as long as I haven't hit animals with my ribs, I will never be satisfied. "

& ltP> "Ned, if I can't catch a peerless bird, I'm not satisfied."

& ltP> "Then we will continue hunting," Conseil replied, "but we should go to the seaside. We have reached the first slope of the mountain, and I think we'd better go back to the forest.

& ltP> Conseil is very knowledgeable, so we followed his advice. After walking for an hour, we came to a forest that is really a sago tree. Some harmless snakes escaped from our feet. The incomparable bird saw us approaching and flew away. When I was so disappointed that I couldn't catch them, Conseil, who was walking in front of me, suddenly bent down, gave a cry of victory and came to me with a very beautiful and incomparable bird.

& ltP> "Good! You did it! Conseil. " I shouted.

& ltP> "No, sir, you flatter me." Conseil replied.

& ltP> "No, good boy, you really did an amazing thing. It's great to get a clean and unparalleled bird and hold it in your hand! "

& ltP> "If you look closely, you will know that I really don't have much credit."

& ltP> Conseil, why?

& ltP> "Because this bird is as drunk as a quail."

& ltP> "Are you drunk?"

& ltP> "Yes, sir, he was drunk eating nutmeg under the nutmeg tree, so I caught him under the tree. Ned's good friend, please look at this terrible result of overeating and excessive willfulness! "

& ltP> "Strange words!" The Canadian replied, "I only drank a little Gini in the past two months, so there is really no need to blame me!" " "

& ltP> So I checked this strange bird. Conseil was not mistaken. Wushuang Wu was drunk with nutmeg juice and limped all over. It can't fly and it's hard to walk. But I don't have to worry about it. Let it have a good sleep after drinking.

This unique bird,<P>, belongs to the most beautiful of the eight unique birds in Papua and neighboring islands. This is the "Great Emerald" unparalleled bird, the rarest one. It is three minutes long, with a small head and small eyes, near its mouth. Its mouth is yellow, its claws and nails are brown, its wings are purple, its wings are scarlet, its head and neck are pale yellow, its throat is emerald, and its abdomen and chest are chestnut. So it looks like a very gorgeous combination of various colors. Moreover, there are two angular fluffy green balls on the tail, which are connected with very delicate and light slender feathers and hang down like a long belt, so all this completely beautifies the overall image of this strange bird, so the locals poetically call it "the bird of the sun".

& ltP> I really hope to take this beautiful peerless bird back to Paris and give it to the Botanical Garden, because there is not a living peerless bird in the garden.

& ltP> "Is this kind of bird really rare?" The Canadian asked, estimating the tone of its prey in a way that is not from an artistic point of view.

& ltP> "It is very rare, my honest companions, especially those who can be captured alive. Even after death, these birds are still important trade objects. So the master tried to fake it, just like pearls and diamonds. "

& ltP> "Why!" Conseil shouted, "Did someone make a fake unparalleled bird?"

& ltP> "Yes, Conseil."

& ltP> "So, sir, do you know how the local people do it?"

& ltP> "Yes. When the phoenix rises in the east, the incomparable birds shed their beautiful feathers around their tails. These fallen feathers are called aileron feathers by biologists. The bird-maker put these feathers away and skillfully put them on the poor parrot who was killed and plucked in advance. Then, they glued fur joints and painted the bird's body with color. They gave these novel products to museums and bird lovers all over Europe. ,,

& ltP> "Well," Ned Land said, "although this is not a bird's body, it will always be a bird's feather. If birds are not for eating, I think there is no harm! "

& ltP> Although catching this incomparable bird satisfied my desire, the desire of Jana: The Great Hunter was not satisfied. Fortunately, at about two o'clock, Ned Land ran into a fat wild boar in the forest, a pig called "Baglio Tang" by the locals. The pig arrived just when we were pursuing the real four-legged meat, so it was very popular and was left behind. Ned Land prides himself on his accurate shooting. The wild boar was hit by an electric bullet and fell to the ground and died.

& ltP> The Canadian cut six or seven pieces of tenderloin from the pig for roasting at night. He peeled the pig, took out the internal organs and cleaned them. Then I went hunting, which showed the advantages of Ned Land and Conseil. Sure enough, when two friends were looking for trees, they drove away a large group of kangaroos. They spread their elastic legs and jumped away. Although these animals can jump and walk fast, they haven't escaped far before the electric bomb catches up with them.

& ltP> "Ah! Professor, "Ned Land shouted, and his interest in hunting became fanatical. "What a delicious prey, especially when it is cooked stiff! What a rare food on board the nautilus! Two! Three! Five on the ground! I thought when we were going to eat all this meat, those stupid things on the boat couldn't taste any meat residue. I am so happy. "

& ltP> I think this Canadian, in his excessive joy, might have slaughtered a whole group of kangaroos if he hadn't said so much! He only played a dozen times before he stopped. "This kangaroo is the first type of abdominal mammal," Conseil said. These kangaroos are short and short, and they are a kind of rabbit kangaroos. They usually live in tree holes and run very fast. Although they are not big, their meat is delicious and regarded as a treasure.

& ltP> We are satisfied with the result of the hunting. Happy Ned Land suggested that Yao Ming come to this charming island again. He will kill all the edible quadrupeds, leaving none. But he planned it like this, and Jing didn't expect the coming accident. "

& ltP> At six o'clock in the afternoon, we returned to the beach. Our ship is still in its original place. Nautilus is like a long reef: it appears two nautical miles offshore.

& ltP> Ned Land did not delay at all, and immediately prepared the big event of dinner. The tenderloin of "Baglio Tang" wild boar was roasted on a red fire, which soon gave off a very fragrant smell, and the air was full of fragrance! ……

& ltP> I think I am on the same side as Canadians. I am also happy in the face of these fresh barbecues! Please forgive me, just as I forgive Master Ned Land, for the same reason!

& ltP> dinner is really delicious. The addition of two mountain pigeons makes this special Lydan richer and more perfect. Sago noodles, breadfruit, some mangoes, six or seven pineapples and a coconut drink, we had a good time. I also think that my loyal companions don't even have the necessary lucidity.

& ltP> "Aren't we going back to the Nautilus tonight?" Conseil said.

& ltP> "Are we never going back?" Ned Land said.

& ltP> Just then, a stone fell at our feet and immediately interrupted the harpooner's proposal.