英國語文第五冊(雙語):漢德森海灣(5)

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Trade is carried on with the natives by means of a standard valuation, called in some parts of the country a castor. This is to obviate the necessity of circulating money, of which there is little or none, excepting in the colony of Red River. Probably a trader tells an Indian, after looking over his furs, that he has got fifty or sixty castors; at the same time he hands to him fifty or sixty little bits of wood in lieu of cash, so that the latter may know, by returning these in payment of the goods for which he really exchanges his skins, how fast his funds decrease. Having selected the blankets, knives, and other articles which he wishes to purchase, to the extent that his wooden money will admit of, he packs up his goods and departs to show his treasures to his wife. The value of a castor is from one to two shillings. The natives generally visit the trading establishments twice a year;—once in October, when they bring in the produce of their autumn hunts; and again in March, when they come in with that ofthe great winter hunt.

當(dāng)?shù)厝说馁Q(mào)易是通過標(biāo)準(zhǔn)定價(jià)進(jìn)行的，這在該國一些地區(qū)被稱為蓖麻。這是為避免流通錢的需要，除了在紅河殖民地其他幾乎沒有。在看了他的皮毛貿(mào)易品之后，購買者對印第安人說，他愿出50或者60蓖麻，同時(shí)他交給印第安人50或者60片小片木塊來代替鈔票，結(jié)果后者也許認(rèn)為，如果他送還與自己所賣皮毛交換的蓖麻，他的儲(chǔ)備量就會(huì)迅速減少。在選擇了地毯，小刀和其他一些他想購買的物品，這些物品也是木質(zhì)錢幣可購買范圍內(nèi)的，他就會(huì)打包好自己的商品并離開向自己的妻子炫耀自己的東西了。一蓖麻的價(jià)值從一至兩先令不等。當(dāng)?shù)厝顺３⒂^貿(mào)易基地，一年兩次——一次是在十月，他們帶著秋天收獲的產(chǎn)物；另一次是在三月，他們帶著冬天捕獲的物品。

The number of castors that an Indian makes in a winter hunt varies from fifty to two hundred, according to his perseverance and activity, and the part of the country in which he hunts. The largest amount I ever heard of made by one man, was two hundred and sixty castors. The poor fellow was soon afterwards poisoned by his relatives, who were jealous of his superior abilities as a hunter, and envious of the favour shown him by the white men.

印第安人在冬天捕獵的蓖麻價(jià)值在50到200之間，根據(jù)他的毅力及行動(dòng)，他做捕獵的地區(qū)具體決定。我聽過的最多的數(shù)量是260蓖麻價(jià)值的獵物。這個(gè)可憐的人不久之后就被他的親人投毒害死了，他們嫉妒他出色的捕獵能力及妒忌他受到白人的賞識(shí)。

After the furs are collected in spring at all the different out-posts, they are packed in conveniently-sized bales, and forwarded, by means of boats and canoes, to the depots on the sea-coast, whence they are transported to England. The whole country in summer is, consequently, in commotion with the passing and repassing of brigades of boats laden with bales of merchandise and furs; the still waters of the lakes and rivers are rippled by the paddle and the oar; and the long silent echoes, which have slumbered in the icy embrace of a dreary winter, are now once more awakened by the merry voice and tuneful song of the hardy voyageur.

春天，皮毛收集在不同的前哨處，打包成便利尺寸的包裹并通過船和獨(dú)木舟運(yùn)載，送往海岸邊的倉庫，從那兒再次運(yùn)往英格蘭。夏天，這個(gè)國家都忙碌于運(yùn)輸及再次運(yùn)輸裝載滿商品和皮毛的包裹中，河流和湖泊的水域在船槳的劃動(dòng)中泛起漣漪，長長的安靜的回響被寒冷的冬天包圍，但是現(xiàn)在再一次被勇敢的航行者唱著的愉快和諧的歌聲喚醒。