Rise of the 1630s South America

Chapter 1206 Borrowing a knife to kill someone ([-])

Anthropological (physical characteristics), ethnological (affinity of customs, technology, beliefs) and linguistic (types of words) all link the inhabitants of Madagascar (the Malagasy) with the later Indonesians of Southeast Asia , that is to say, they are actually Malay-Polynesian cross-sea immigrants.

But this kind of immigration, which had lasted for centuries, did not follow up. For some reason, their connection with the mainland was cut off.Over a long period of time (from the Middle Ages to the present), the Malagasy people developed in an environment isolated from the outside world. Difficult environmental adaptation changed the legacy of history. The ancient traditions did not rejuvenate, so these emigration The Malagasy in a vast and complex world acquired their own national identity—they were neither Asian nor African, but Malagasy in the isolated world of Madagascar.

People on the east coast traditionally divide the Malagasy natives of Xinhuaxia Island into several ethnic groups, and their regional distribution and lifestyle indicate their adaptability to natural conditions, such as the forest ethnic group Tanara and Bezanoza The Nuo people, the Bezimi Salaka people living on the eastern coast, the Antemoro and Antezaka people in the southeastern mountainous area, and the Sakarawa and Bala people, etc., are herders in the west and south.

The Bala people that the people on the east coast are going to contact this time live on the Mahafali Plateau in the south. Compared with the open fields of the Daqing Basin where the big river flows, the Mahaffari Plateau is basically a dry, barren and even highland. .The alternation of wet seasons and dry seasons (often protracted) could only encourage the tendencies of pastoralism, and the development of agriculture in these regions required skills that the Bara did not have; The trade and extensive animal husbandry learned from Africa are their basic occupations.

Peng Yuanzhi traveled all the way, his lips were so thirsty that they were about to crack. The harsh climate of the Mahafari Plateau is so tormenting, not to mention that it is the dry season now-they have already crossed the dry Lanta River. It is not far from the residence of the Mananzano tribe (near the later city of Ampanish) - there is hardly any surface runoff worth mentioning (the rivers are mostly intermittent), and the plants only grow deep underground. resources, and if there is an overflowing swamp or pond in a low-lying basin, it must be a must-have for the surrounding tribes. The hard life is evident here, and this undoubtedly tempered the Bala people. Hard-working will and valor—the latter especially valued by the East Coasters, who could now count on the natives to fight the French.

"This is probably the area with the lowest population density in the entire Xinhua Island." Wiping the hot sweat from his forehead, Peng Yuanzhi licked his chapped lips and said resentfully.After finishing speaking, as if he couldn't hold it anymore, he quickly untied the glass military jug on his waist, took a big gulp of the sweet cool white water, and then heaved a sigh of relief.

"Sir, someone is coming." A non-commissioned officer acting as an interpreter suddenly reminded.After Lieutenant Peng Yuanzhi heard the words, he immediately set up an arbor and looked over, only to see a group of shepherds driving humped cattle and goats approaching slowly.

Some documents stored in the archives of Xinhua Port show that the Bala, Antondrois, and Mahafari on the Mahafari Plateau are probably the least civilized races on the entire Xinhua Island. Under the natural environment, they were forced to succumb to nature and dominated the vast area nearby in a nomadic form-this is the domain of goat and hump cattle civilization.

There were quite a few shepherds approaching, and Lamud from Bala, who was staying with Peng Yuanzhi and the others, immediately greeted them excitedly, still shouting something.Peng Yuanzhi turned his gaze to the interpreter, who blushed suddenly, and murmured, "His speech is too fast, and I didn't understand it."

Peng Yuanzhi sighed speechlessly, and simply stood there waiting for the group of natives to come over. Behind him were several camels and a dozen guards. The camels were loaded with various supplies, all of which were intended to be used to stutter. pulling people.

Lamud quickly finished communicating with the shepherds who approached. Then, under the surprised eyes of Peng Yuanzhi and others, a group of women with gourds on their heads came over and stuffed the gourds into everyone's hands silently.Peng Yuanzhi shook the gourd, and under Lamud's smiling and encouraging eyes, he opened the stopper, smelled it, and took a sip—it was clear fresh water!

"This is Chief Mananzano's greeting gift to friends who came from afar." The translator stammered and translated Lamud's words, "They set off from the tribe in the middle of the night, and they were in one place before dawn. Yongquan was filled with cocoa-sweet spring water, and then it took half a day to arrive here, and the spring water was used as a gift for friends."

"This--it's really a special gift." Peng Yuanzhi smiled and expressed his gratitude to the Bala people, because they spent most of the night to find the sweetest spring water for the distinguished guests, perhaps they are really the most "generous" way of hospitality.After all, in the arid Mahafari plateau, water issues dominate people's lives from beginning to end.

Chief Mananzano was a short, dainty middle-aged man whose face had been etched by years and hardships.He carried an arquebus on his back—perhaps the most sophisticated weapon in the tribe—with a slight smile on his face. After touching Peng Yuanzhi with his forehead and giving him a firm hug, Mananzano The chief turned and said a few words to the interpreter.

"The honorable chief said that he invited the guests to rest at the tribe's residence." The translator did not lose the chain this time, and translated it immediately.Peng Yuanzhi nodded his approval, so the team set off again and arrived at the tribe's camp after more than two hours.

The Mananzano tribe is not small, about 8000 to 2000 people, but most of them are scattered in a wide area outside, and there are less than [-] people living in the tribe's resident.The reason why this place (later Ampanish) became the residence of the Mananzano tribe is probably because the surrounding water resources are relatively abundant.Peng Yuanzhi saw on the road that there were some small plots of land distributed between bushes and small ponds around the resident, on which were planted drought-tolerant crops such as peanuts and sorghum, and the output was probably a luxury that the upper class of the tribe could enjoy at any time. and on the outskirts of these allotments, there is a barren pasture—a large expanse of pasture mainly composed of sandy yellow soil, short grass and shrubs, with dirty cattle and sheep wandering among them, a very monotonous scene.

Several young women brought some plates of peanuts and some seafood, and the cattle and sheep began to be slaughtered outside the tent. Chief Mananzano welcomed the guests from the east coast in this way.

"The enemy in the east (referring to the French colonists) captured our 'Vala' (Vala) and killed our people. We need to make them pay the price." Chief Mananzano untied his arquebus and put it beside him , looking at Peng Yuanzhi and others on the opposite side, said in a deep voice: "But they have a lot of muskets, we are not opponents, our entire tribe only has a few muskets, which were captured from them, and now I need your help."

"Wala" means pastoral in Bala language.The Mananzano tribe originally lived a semi-nomadic and semi-nomadic life in the Ambuwenbe area. The local water resources are richer than here, so it can support some planting agriculture, and the output of these planting agriculture is undoubtedly the whole One of the most important wealth of the tribe.However, as the French crossed the mountains and invaded westward, the Mananzano tribe was defeated by the French in the confrontation, Ambuwenbe and other places were lost one after another, and the economic strength of the tribe was greatly reduced. How can this be endured!Therefore, the people from the East Bank came here at the right time. Of course, the people from the East Bank also sent envoys to communicate in advance. come.

"Honorable Chief Mananzano, I'm here just for this." Peng Yuanzhi cleared his throat after listening to the interpreter's intermittent narration: "We have a batch of muskets on hand, which are suitable for your use, and we It can also teach you how to use these weapons. Now is the dry season, and there is still a long time before the rainy season. You can just get acquainted with these new weapons. After the rainy season is over, you can go out to find the French to regain the lost fields. With abundant aquatic plants and abundant crops, it is your natural home, so why let the French occupy it?"

Chief Mananzano was a little excited when he heard the words: "Even a seabird will try to protect its homeland under the pressure of an eagle, not to mention that the French killed many of our people, and I must avenge them. In the past Over the long years, my ancestors have faced many difficulties and encountered many enemies, but they have overcome them all, and so have I! Friends from afar, now with your help, I will be able to Defeat the French and take back what we lost."

Peng Yuanzhi nodded when he heard the words, and after listening to Chief Mananzano babbling about the "glorious past" of his ancestors, he kindly reminded: "The most expensive Chief Mananzano, hereby invite Allow me to suggest to you that before finally going to war with the French, you can lead the warriors of the tribe to conquer other tribes around, especially the Antondrois and Mahaffari who live in the north. It will greatly enhance the strength of your department, and you will have a better chance of winning against the French in the future, won't you?"

"Your suggestion is right, I have adopted it, friend." After a long silence, Chief Mananzano stroked the arquebus in his hand and said.

(End of this chapter)