美国学生历史 第91期:1800年的美国(2)

 　　230. Traveling in 1800. 230．旅行条件（1800年）

　　The traveler in those days had a very hard time. 这一时期的旅行者备受磨难，

　　On the best roads of the north, in the best coach, and with the best weather one might cover as many as forty miles a day. 在北方最好的路上，即使乘坐最好的四轮马车，赶上最好的天气，一天最多可以走四十英里。

　　But the traveler had to start very early in the morning to do this. 而且，旅行者必须一大早就出发。

　　Generally he thought himself fortunate if he made twenty-five miles in the twenty-four hours. 如果他能够在二十四小时走二十五英里，一般他就会认为自己很幸运。

　　South of the Potomac there were no public coaches, and the traveler generally rode on horseback. 波托马克的南部没有长途公汽，旅行者一般骑马完成行程，

　　A few rich men like Washington rode in their own coaches. 像华盛顿这样的富人乘坐他们自己的四轮马车。

　　Everywhere, north and south, the inns were uncomfortable and the food was poor. 不论南方还是北方，各地的客栈都令人不舒服，而且食物也很差。

　　Whenever it was possible the traveler went by water. 如果有可能的话，旅行者会乘船出门，

　　But that was dangerous work. 但是，乘船非常危险，

　　Lighthouses were far apart, there were no public buoys¹ to guide the mariner², and almost nothing had been done to improve navigation. 灯塔分布疏远，没有公共的浮标导引水手，航行条件没有任何改善。

　　231. The Steamboat. 231．汽船

　　The steamboat came to change all this. 汽船的发明改变了这一切，

　　While Washington was still President, a queer-looking boat sailed up and down the Delaware. 在华盛顿还是总统的时候，有一艘看起来非常奇怪的船一起一伏地出现在特拉华人的视线中，

　　She was propelled³ by oars⁴ or paddles which were worked by steam. 这艘船是靠蒸汽带动的橹或者桨来推进，

　　This boat must have been very uncomfortable, and few persons wished to go on her. 它必定自下水就运行不畅，很少有人希望乘坐这样的船。

　　Robert Fulton made the first successful steamboat. 罗伯特·富尔顿成功制造出第一艘汽船，

　　She was named the Clermont and was launched in 1807. 把它命名为"科勒蒙特"号。这艘船于1807年下水，

　　She had paddle wheels and steamed against the wind and tide of the Hudson River. 它有叶轮，蒸汽推动着它在哈得孙河上迎风破浪。

　　At first some people thought that she was bewitched. 开始的时候人们以为这艘船中了邪，

　　But when it was found that she ran safely and regularly, people began to travel on her. 但是，当发现它行驶起来安全、稳定时，人们开始乘坐这艘船旅行。

　　Before a great while steamboats appeared in all parts of the country. 不久，美国各地都出现了汽船。

1 buoys   

n.浮标( buoy的名词复数 )；航标；救生圈；救生衣v.使浮起( buoy的第三人称单数 )；支持；为…设浮标；振奋…的精神

参考例句：

• The channel is marked by buoys. 航道有浮标表示。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Often they mark the path with buoys. 他们常常用浮标作为航道的标志。 来自辞典例句

2 mariner   

n.水手号不载人航天探测器，海员，航海者

参考例句：

• A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner.平静的大海决不能造就熟练的水手。
• A mariner must have his eye upon rocks and sands as well as upon the North Star.海员不仅要盯着北极星，还要注意暗礁和险滩。

3 propelled   

推进( propel的过去式和过去分词 )； 推动； 驱动； 驱使

参考例句：

• A volcano erupted and propelled rocks high into the sky. 火山爆发，把无数的石块抛向天空。
• His addiction to drugs propelled him towards a life of crime. 他吸毒成瘾使他走上犯罪的道路。

4 oars   

n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• He pulled as hard as he could on the oars. 他拼命地划桨。
• The sailors are bending to the oars. 水手们在拼命地划桨。 来自《简明英汉词典》