the land of footprints-第29部分
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Kikuyus are apt to count the most weakly and spindly examples： though some of these people； perhaps a majority； are well made。
Furthermore； the native differentiates himself still further in impression from our negro in his carriage and the mental attitude that lies behind it。 Our people are trying to pattern themselves on white men； and succeed in giving a more or less shambling imitation thereof。 The native has standards； ideas； and ideals that perfectly satisfy him； and that antedated the white man's coming by thousands of years。 The consciousness of this reflects itself in his outward bearing。 He does not shuffle； he is not either obsequious or impudent。 Even when he acknowledges the white man's divinity and pays it appropriate respect； he does not lose the poise of his own well…worked…out attitude toward life and toward himself。
We are fond of calling these people primitive。 In the world's standard of measurement they are primitive； very primitive indeed。 But ordinarily by that term； we mean also undeveloped； embryonic。 In that sense we are wrong。 Instead of being at the very dawn of human development； these people are at the end…as far as they themselves are concerned。 The original racial impulse that started them down the years toward development has fulfilled its duty and spent its force。 They have worked out all their problems； established all their customs； arranged the world and its phenomena in a philosophy to their complete satisfaction。 They have lived； ethnologists tell us； for thousands； perhaps hundreds of thousands of years； just as we find them to…day。 From our standpoint that is in a hopeless intellectual darkness； for they know absolutely nothing of the most elementary subjects of knowledge。 From their standpoint； however； they have reached the highest DESIRABLE pinnacle of human development。 Nothing remains to be changed。 Their customs； religions； and duties have been worked out and immutably established long ago； and nobody dreams of questioning either their wisdom or their imperative necessity。 They are the conservatives of the world。
Nor must we conclude…looking at them with the eyes of our own civilization…that the savage is； from his standpoint； lazy and idle。 His life is laid out more rigidly than ours will be for a great many thousands of years。 From childhood to old age he performs his every act in accord with prohibitions and requirements。 He must remember them all； for ignorance does not divert consequences。 He must observe them all； in pain of terrible punishments。 For example； never may he cultivate on the site of a grave； and the plants that spring up from it must never be cut。* He must make certain complicated offerings before venturing to harvest a crop。 On crossing the first stream of a journey he must touch his lips with the end of his wetted bow； wade across； drop a stone on the far side； and then drink。 If he cuts his nails； he must throw the parings into a thicket。 If he drink from a stream； and also cross it； he must eject a mouthful of water back into the stream。 He must be particularly careful not to look his mother…in…law in the face。 Hundreds of omens by the manner of their happening may modify actions； as； on what side of the road a woodpecker calls； or in which direction a hyena or jackal crosses the path； how the ground hornbill flies or alights； and the like。 He must notice these things； and change his plans according to their occurrence。 If he does not notice them； they exercise their influence just the same。 This does not encourage a distrait mental attitude。 Also it goes far to explain otherwise unexplainable visitations。 Truly； as Hobley says in his unexcelled work on the A…Kamba； 〃the life of a savage native is a complex matter； and he is hedged round by all sorts of rules and prohibitions； the infringement of which will probably cause his death； if only by the intense belief he has in the rules which guide his life。〃
*Customs are not universal among the different tribes。 I am merely illustrating。
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；
