英國語文第六冊(雙語):熱帶地區(qū)(二)(6)

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Both the panther and the leopard are widely diffused through the tropical regions of the Old World, being natives of Africa, Persia, China, India, and many of the Indian islands; so that they have a much more extensive range than either the tiger or the lion. The manner in which they seize their prey, lurking near the sides of woods, and darting forward with a sudden spring, resembles that of the tiger; and the chase of the panther is said to be more dangerous than that of the lion, as it easily climbs the trees and pursues its enemy upon the branches.

黑豹和美洲豹原本生活在非洲、波斯、中國、印度和許多的印度群島上，如今則大都分散在東半球的熱帶地區(qū)，所以它們的活動范圍比老虎和獅子要廣泛得多。豹在捕捉獵物時會潛伏在樹林邊，之后猛地跳起來向前沖，捕獵方式和老虎相似。據說追趕豹比追趕獅子更加危險，因為豹比獅子更擅長爬樹并在樹枝上追逐敵人。

On turning to the wilds of northern Australia, new aspects of savage life rise before our view. With new plants and new animals, a new variety of the human race makes its appearance, differing from the Malayan in figure, in physiognomy, in language, and in many of its customs and manners. Though this race occupies one of the lowest grades in the scale of humanity, it still offers many points of interest to the observer, and claims our attention both by its qualities and its defects.

當視線轉入澳大利亞北部的荒野時，眼前會映入野蠻人生活的場景。那里有著新穎的動植物和另一種在外形、長相、語言和許多風俗習慣上都不同于馬來人的新人種。雖然這種人種是人類種族中等級最低的人種之一，但是他們?yōu)橛^察者們提供了很多有趣的觀察點，不管他們的人種特征還是缺陷都值得我們去探究。

When hunting the kangaroo, the native Australian rivals in energy and perseverance, in skill and keenness of eye, the Red Indian tracking the wild animals of the Brazilian forest. His glance roves from side to side, in a vigilant, uneasy manner. As soon as he sees a kangaroo, he checks his pace and stands immovable, like one transfixed; while his wives, who are at some distance behind him, fall to the ground as if they had been shot. Looking about a hundred yards to the right of the native, you will see a kangaroo erect upon its hind legs and supported by its tail; it is reared to its utmost height, so that its head is between five and six feet above the ground; its short fore-paws hang by its sides, its ears are pointed: it is listening as carefully as the native; and you see a little head peering out from the pouch, to inquire what has alarmed its mother. The native moves not: you cannot tell whether it is a human being or the charred trunk of a burned tree which is before you, and for several minutes the whole group preserve their relative position. At length the kangaroo becomes reassured, drops upon its forepaws, gives an awkward leap or two, and goes on feeding.

澳大利亞的土著居民在捕獵袋鼠時他們的精力、毅力、技巧和敏銳的眼睛能與巴西森林里的野生動物相匹敵。他們的眼睛會警覺不安地在四周來回環(huán)顧，當看到袋鼠時他們會停下腳步像被釘住了一樣一動不動，身后不遠處他們的妻子則像中彈般趴在地上。在他們右邊一百碼左右你會看到一只后腿直立用尾巴支撐身體的袋鼠，它的后腳直立到最高高度因此看上去它的頭距離地面會有五到六英尺那么高，它的短前爪垂在身體兩側，耳朵尖尖的，它正和當地的土著居民一樣細細聆聽著周圍的動靜。你還會看到一個小腦袋從袋鼠的袋子里探出來，瞧瞧是什么嚇著了自己的媽媽。土著居民們處于靜止狀態(tài)：你會分不清在你面前站著的是一個人還是一棵燒焦的樹干，所有人都會維持當前的姿勢長達幾分鐘之久。最后，袋鼠消除了疑慮，安心地放下前爪，笨拙地跳了一兩下后繼續(xù)進食。