2014年6月12日 星期四

「植物帝國」一書在翻譯上的謬誤(二)

之前看了「植物帝國」這本書,因為對後面講到採集橡膠的割膠法有疑問,於是經由館際合作借了它的原文版。

這一借之下,才發現本書的翻譯謬誤甚多,因此開始做勘誤,而且考慮到文章的長度,將勘誤1-50項留在原來的文章裡面,51項以後就另闢一文於此。

其實本書的勘誤我尚未完成三分之一,謬誤已有如此之多,不禁讓我想到,國內近年來翻譯國外科普書的風氣甚盛,是否都有一些謬誤呢?畢竟手邊有原文版的人已屬不多,會把兩本對照看的人更少。

本文只包括51(p.87)-125(p.162)的勘誤,1(p.12-87)-50(p.87),以及126(p.163)-204在另外兩篇文章中。

p.87
51. (p.91)十七世紀後期起,美國人就一直大聲疾呼譴責罪惡的奴隸貿易,
原文是:From the late 17th century onwards the Quakers had vociferously denounces the slave trade,
所以應該是:十七世紀後期起,貴格會教徒就一直大聲疾呼譴責罪惡的奴隸貿易,

52. (p.88) (p.93)十四世紀以來,因為阿拉伯醫生用糖來醫治胃痛、腹痛,
原文是:since the 14th century when Arab doctors used sugar to cure chest ailments.
所以應該是:十四世紀以來,因為阿拉伯醫生用糖來醫治胸部不適

【2014.6.13更新】
53. (p.91)(p.96)甜菜是一種和蕪菁相似的塊根植物,很適合在氣候涼爽溫和的地區栽種;
原文是:The latter, a biennial root crop with a strong resemblance to a turnip, is suited to a temperate climate;
所以應該是:甜菜是一種和蕪菁相似的二年生塊根植物,很適合在氣候涼爽溫和的地區栽種;

54. (p.94) (p.99)孕育於綠色植物的棉花綻放時潔白如雪,
原文是:Cotton's mass of white fibers, contained until maturity within the green fruit or boll,
所以應該是:孕育於綠色果實裡的棉花綻放時潔白如雪,

55. (p.95) (p.99)一旦小羊筋疲力竭,就餓死變成白色的「羊毛」供人採摘。
原文是:Once this was exhausted the lamb starved to death, making the 'wool' accessible for easy harvest.
因為前面說:On the end of the plant stems were fixed Scythian lambs, which bent down to graze the grass within reach. 在植物的末端綁著小羊,牠們伏下身來啃食吃得到的綠草。
所以後面這句應該是:一旦吃的到的綠草啃盡,小羊就餓死變成羊毛供人採摘。

p.97
56. 遺傳學家認為,現在的野生棉和哥倫布時代栽培的美洲棉是種子漂浮過海傳播的結果...
原文是:Geneticists have established that the presence of wild and cultivated cotton in the pre-Columbian Americans is due to a very early flotation in seed across the oceans,
所以應該是:遺傳學家認為,現在的野生棉和哥倫布時代栽培的美洲棉是種子漂浮過海傳播的結果...(新版已改正)

57. (p.101)種子表皮纖維細胞細長呈毛狀。
原文是:growing out from certain epidermal cells on the seed are the slender, hollow, single cell hairs.
所以應該是:由特定的種子表皮纖維細胞長出細長中空單細胞的毛

58. (p.102)棉花的紡紗技術在工業革命前無實質性變革
原文是:Many of the techniques that convert cotton fibers into yarn have not changed significantly since the Industrial Revolution.
所以應該是:棉花的紡紗技術在工業革命後至今無實質性變革

59. (p.102)在轟隆隆的機器聲中,悠揚飄然的棉花朵朵變成了紗,織成了布。
原文是:At the mill, the 'lint' or 'raw cotton' is ring spun. Fibres are mechanically raked to remove foreign matter. A picking machine wraps the fibres into a 'lap' and a carding machine brushes loose fibres into rows, which are then joined to create a soft sheet or 'web'. Finally, the webs are formed into an untwisted rope of 'card silver'. For higher quality yarns, the card silver is put through a combing machine, which removes unwanted short lengths. The silver is 'drawn' by a series of rollers to create firm, uniform strands of usable size. For thinner strands, the silver is pulled and slightly twisted, converting it to 'roving'. The roving is transferred to a spinning frame, where it is drawn further, twisted on a ring spinner, and wound on a bobbin as yarn.
所以應該是:在工廠中,“絨毛”或“棉花”紡成紗錠。棉纖維被機械梳理以除去異物。接著棉纖維被包裝成「圈」,梳棉機將鬆散的纖維刷為行,然後再合併,產生軟軟的棉片或「網」。最後,軟軟的棉片形成無撚繩。對於高品質的紗線,無撚繩要通過精梳機,從而去除掉短​​纖維。無撚繩是由一系列的滾輪製成的牢固,均勻,可用大小的線。要製造較細的線時,無撚繩被拉出並稍微扭曲,將其轉換為“粗紗”。粗紗被轉移到細紗機,在那裡它被進一步扭曲、捲繞在線軸上成為紗線。(筆者按:這一段很多紡織業的專有名詞,如有版友是紡織業的專家,請不吝賜教。)

60. (p.98) (p.103)外國產品無法輕易進入英國市場,但是,英國境內工藝的改造和新產品的推出並未受到阻止。
原文是:...there were stringent restrictions precluding foreigners from setting up in trades already established in Britain, but none preventing the establishment of new arts.
所以應該是:有嚴格的規定外地人到英國不能從事境內已有的產業,但是,新的產業並未受到阻止。

p.99
61. (p.104)紗的長度決定了布的品質和價錢,
原文是:The number of weft threads (woven across the width of the fabric) determines the quality and price of the cotton material,
所以應該是:緯線的數目決定了布的品質和價錢,

62. (p.106)那時候,人們喜歡棉布更甚於羊毛製品。
原文是:...who until this time had no option other than wollen cloth.
所以應該是:那時候,那些人們除了羊毛製品沒有其他選擇

63. (p.104)當時的幾個大名鼎鼎的英國貿易公司:俄國公司(一五五五年)、黎凡特公司(一五八一年)、維吉尼亞公司(一六0七年)與皇家非洲公司(一六六0年)都一樣,專門從事奴隸買賣。
原文是:There were several English Trading Companies, including Muscovy Company (1555), the Levant Company (1581), the Virginia Company (1607), which established Jamestown in Virginia (see page 23) and the Royal African Company (1660), integral to the slave trade (see page 52).
所以應該是:當時的幾個大名鼎鼎的英國貿易公司:俄國公司(一五五五年)、黎凡特公司(一五八一年)、維吉尼亞公司(一六0七年,建立了詹姆斯城)與皇家非洲公司(一六六0年,專門從事奴隸買賣)。

p.100
64. (p.105)波斯的絲綢買賣引起了東印度公司極大的興趣,它在印尼和印度之間以香料交換絲綢和棉花,尋找與中國、日本做生意的機會。
原文是:The Company was particularly attracted by the Persian silks trade, the Indonesia/India exchange of spices for silks and cottons, and the opportunities of China and Japan.
所以應該是:東印度公司對於波斯的絲綢買賣、在印尼和印度之間以香料交換絲綢和棉花、以及與中國、日本做生意的機會都有極大的興趣

65. (p.105)很有意思的是,荷蘭人並不想在香料貿易上與英國人一直這樣一較高低,
原文是:Ironically, the Dutch policy backfired in some ways;
所以應該是:很有意思的是,荷蘭人的作法也傷害到自己

66. (p.105)從蘇特拉運出,是所有運往英國的便宜貨中最貴的。
原文是:which became Surat's most valuable export to Britain in the 17th century before suffering from cheap imports.
所以應該是:它是十七世紀蘇特拉外銷到英國最有價值的貨物,直到被便宜的內銷品取代為止

67. (p.102)(p.108)其中三分之二是由東印度公司經辦。
原文是:and accounted for two-thirds of the Company's imports.
所以應該是:佔東印度公司進口總值的三分之二

p.103
68. (p.108)最初面臨的問題是它不能超過政府規定的經營範疇。於是它特地成立一個茶葉公司,
原文是:The original Company faced opposition to its monopoly and a rival Company was established.
所以應該是:東印度公司最初因為壟斷遭到反對,於是它特地成立一個公司

69. (p.109)特里威廉‧查塔姆第一伯爵的祖父,皮特珠寶公司老闆湯瑪斯‧皮特就是一個經典例子,
原文是:G.M. Trevelyan cites the example of Thomas Pitt, grandfather of the 1st Earl of Chatham and owner of the Pitt diamond.
所以應該是:特里威廉用湯瑪斯‧皮特,查塔姆第一伯爵的祖父,皮特珠寶公司老闆做為一個經典例子,

70. (p.104)(p.111)就好像新大陸奴隸們飄洋過海去按著菸草分額再領回自己的夥伴。
原文是:and the slaves themselves aboard ship were issued a tobacco ration to 'pacify' them.
所以應該是:然後奴隸們在船上領取可以讓他們鎮定的菸草配額

71. (p.106)(p.112)武力控制印度並不是英國的初衷,英國的如意算盤是想以滲透的方法,以當地領袖和地方政府為傀儡。
原文是:Yet is was not primarily by military might that the British came to control India, but rather by a technique of infiltration and control using native chiefs and government.
所以應該是:英國並不是以武力控制印度,而是以滲透的方法,以當地領袖和地方政府為傀儡

p.107
72. (p.112)此舉使得全國譁然。
原文是:When the Company came into conflict with the British Government,
所以應該是:當東印度公司與英國政府產生了(利益)衝突

73. (p.112)這些法規看來是政府管制商人的規範,實際上卻是內閣為了控制東印度公司所訂:內閣委員會就是公司的顧問,公司主管就是領兵的將軍。
原文是:These established practical Cabinet control over the East India Company, whose Council took on a purely advisory rule to the Government-backed Governor-General.
應該是:內閣建立了實際上控制東印度公司的制度,它的委員會對政府支持的總督承擔了一個純粹的諮詢的角色

74. (p.113)(這時的英國政府對公司採取放任管理)
原文是:(when the British Government assumed formal control)
所以應該是:(這時的英國政府正式接管印度

75. (p.113)從某種程度來講,英國在十八世紀八0年代初期失去十三個北美殖民州這件事是有辱面子的,多少也算傷了大英帝國的感情,喬治三世因此打算退位好穩住陣腳,
原文是:In some ways the shock and national feeling of shame at the loss of the 13 American colonies in the early 1780s, which caused George III to contemplate abdication, served to firm British resolve.
所以應該是:從某種程度來講,英國在十八世紀八0年代初期失去十三個北美殖民州這件事是有辱面子的,喬治三世因此打算退位,也是大英帝國擴張的理由之一

p.108
76. (p.114)製造業和殖民擴張關係最為密切。
原文是:Colonial expansion went hand-in-glove with advances made in manufacturing industries,
所以應該是:製造業的提升和殖民擴張關係最為密切。

77. (p.115)西印度群島、巴西、印度生產的原棉源源不斷地從黎凡特和敘利亞運來。
原文是:The raw cotton continued to come from established sources in the Levant and Syria, but was supplemented by imports from West Indies, Brazil and India.
所以應該是:原棉源源不斷地從黎凡特和敘利亞運來,輔以西印度群島、巴西、印度生產的原棉

p.109
78. (p.115)量少的手工織品相形見絀。
原文是:,not small amounts of handmade works of art.
所以應該是:而非以量少的手工織品

79.(p.115)除非漂亮的印度細棉布也可便宜購得,英國的棉紡業才能大步向前,令世人刮目相看。
原文是:, cotton manufacture could never have become of such great national importance unless a way to compete with the cheap, fine Indian calico imports could be found.
所以應該是:除非像漂亮的印度細棉布一樣的英國布也可便宜購得,英國的棉紡業才能對國家有重要性

80. (p.116)最早的突破是「紡紗機」,一種把棉花紡成紗的機器,
原文是:The first breakthrough was a 'spinning frame', a machine that spun cotton fibres into many threads at once,
所以應該是:最早的突破是「紡紗機」,一種可以一次紡多根紗的機器,

81. (p.110) (p.117)首先,原棉比其他紡織品的原料便宜很多,亞麻、絲、羊毛都比棉花價高,製成品利潤當然比棉製品的獲利高得多。
原文是:Firstly, the raw materials were far cheaper than other textiles, such as linen, silk or wool, and also the mark-up achieved from converting raw material to cloth was much higher.
所以應該是:首先,原棉的原料比其他紡織品(亞麻、絲、羊毛)便宜很多,棉製成品利潤當然獲利高得多

p.111
82. (p.117)一七六五年,手工棉品的產量是二十二公斤,十年後增加到九十公斤,一七八四年時,手工布和機織布的產量更達七百二十五萬公斤。此時,棉織品已經全由機器生產。
原文是:In 1765 the weight of spun cotton, all by hand, was 500,000 lb (226,800 kg). In 10 years this has risen to 2,000,000 lb (907,200 kg), a mixture of hand woven and machine, and by 1784 it had reached 16,000,000 lb (7,257,600 kg), all machine spun.
所以應該是:一七六五年,手工棉品的產量是二十二公斤,十年後增加到九十公斤,一七八四年時,手工布和機織布的產量更達七百二十五萬公斤。此時,棉織品已經全由機器生產。

83. (p.117)城市化腳步加快;同時,工人的生活水準下降,居住環境惡劣,衛生條件極差。
原文是:rapid urbanization prompted by the changing technology also created unsanitary living conditions for the workers and a low life expectancy.
應該是:城市化腳步加快;同時,居住環境惡劣,衛生條件極差,使工人的平均壽命下降

84. (p.118)技術的改進並沒有使城市的生活條件改善。汽燈照明、自來水及地下水道系統建設,對工人的生活環境並沒有實際意義。
原文是:Urban living conditions did get better, however, with the introduction of gas lighting, piped water and underground sewage systems.
所以應該是:汽燈照明、自來水及地下水道系統建設,使城市的生活條件改善

85. (p.118)工業革命使他們得到了益處,並對英國社會產生了深遠的影響。
原文是:with the Industrial Revolution as they gained political influence and greater access to goods.
所以應該是:工業革命使他們得到了政治上的影響力,也可得到更多的物資

86. (p.112)(p.118)隨後,一連串的打擊迫害接踵而至,哈格里夫被迫躲到鄉下去。一七七0年,他搬到了諾丁漢,在這裡取得了自己的專利。
原文是:The subsequent persecution was so bad that Hargreaves was forced to flee the county. He moved to Nottingham, where he obtain a patent for his jenny in 1770.
所以應該是:隨後,一連串的打擊迫害接踵而至,哈格里夫被迫跑路。他搬到了諾丁漢,並在一七七0年取得了自己的專利。

p.115
87. (p.121)用財政術語說,相當於一七00至一七五0年期間進口值的雙倍,而在一八一三至一八三三年間,棉織品的出口值就上昇了十五點五倍。
原文是:In financial terms, this equates to a doubling of export values between 1700 and 1750, while between 1813 and 1833 the value of cotton exports rose 15-and-a-half-fold.
所以應該是:用財政術語說,相當於一七00至一七五0年期間口值的雙倍,而在一八一三至一八三三年間,棉織品的出口值就上昇了十五點五倍。

88. (p.122)瓦特最重要的改進是增加汽缸,加大蒸汽功率,
原文是:Watt's greatest improvement, the addition of a separate vessel to condense the steam,
所以應該是:瓦特最重要的改進是加入另一個容器來凝結蒸汽(分離冷凝器)

89. (p.118-119)(p.127)十九世紀五0年代,英國已經開放貿易,對本國和殖民地地區的貿易實行稅率優惠。這種策略一直維持到一九三二年。但英國仍是一個主要世界市場,一八五0年至一八七0年,英國和殖民地貿易是進口量百分之二十,出口量百分之三十,其餘百分之七十則以「自由貿易」之名與無優惠國做生意,如美國、中國、奧圖曼帝國和南美洲的原西班牙、葡萄牙殖民地。這樣引發的問題是:如果英國要與全世界做生意的話,為什麼還要保留昂貴的特權呢?答案是:保護國內生產,它至少要保留部分特別稅收的權利,也就是說:如果其他國家進行貿易制裁和提高關稅的話,國家就有權為大量的本國產品提供市場,大開綠燈。
原文是:The home and colonial markets were opened up to foreign trade, and by the 1850s Britain had a free trading empire, with all preferential duties in Britain and the colonies gone, a state of affairs that lasted up until 1932 (with a hiatus during the First World War). Yet the empire remained a major marketplace, and between 1850 and 1870 it provided 20 per cent of Britain's imports, while it took 30 per cent of Britain's exports. The remaining 70 per cent were accounted for by 'free trade' with non-empire countries such as the USA, China, the Ottoman empire and former colonies of Spain and Portugal in South America. This raises the question: if the whole world traded with Britain, why did it maintain an expensive empire? The answer, at least in part, is economic: if trade sanctions and tariffs were imposed by other countries, the empire still provided an unrestricted marketplace for the vast quantities of manufactured goods coming out of British factories.
所以應該是:家鄉和殖民地對外貿易的市場被打開了,19世紀50年代英國是一個自由貿易帝國。在英國和殖民地,所有的優惠關稅消失,這個措施一直持續到1932(於第一次世界大戰間斷)。然而,帝國仍然是一個重大的市場,在1850年和1870年間,它提供了20%的英國進口物資,而消耗了英國出口總值的30%。其餘的70%是由非帝國的國家,如美國,中國,奧圖曼帝國以及西班牙和葡萄牙在南美洲的前殖民地間的「自由貿易」所吸收。這就提出了一個問題:如果整個世界都與英國交易,為什麼它還是一個昂貴的帝國?至少有一部分答案,是經濟:如果其他國家強加貿易制裁和關稅,帝國仍然提供英國工廠所生產的產品一個無限制的市場。(這一段原文畫線的地方筆者也覺得很難解釋,不知有沒有人願意賜教)

90. (p.120)(p.127)一七八四年,第一艘北美運棉船來到了利物浦。海關官員認為:在這裡集中吞吐美國棉是可行的。因此,如果仍以「航海法」為據,棉花進口將成非法,港口生意將會清淡。
原文是:It was in 1784 that the first bale of American cotton arrived in Liverpool. Customs officials, thinking it impossible that cotton could have been produced in the United States, seized it, and since, under the terms of the Navigation Act, it was illegal import, it was left to decay on the quayside.
所以應該是:在一七八四年,第一包美國棉花到達利物浦。海關官員認為美國不可能產棉花,所以根據航海法的規定,以非法進口物將它扣押,留在碼頭上腐爛

【2014.6.14更新】
p.121
91. (p.129)若給某人一頭騾...他就只會趕著騾去馱棉花,就像放鵝的傻瓜只會跟著鵝奔向水池。
原文是:Given a man and a mule ... they will take to cotton as naturally as a gander and a goose to a pond.
gander 是公鵝。
所以應該是:若給某人一頭騾...他就只會趕著騾去馱棉花,就像鵝奔向池塘一樣自然

92. (p.130)奴隸制度廢除後,南方的農場就以「收養」的方式繼續蓄奴。這裡土地貧瘠,需要大量的奴隸勞動,沒有奴隸血汗的滋潤,這裡的棉花不會生機蓬勃。
原文是:Another way that prohibition was avoided in the Old South was by 'breeding' salves on plantations where the soil was too impoverished for cotton growing.
breeding並不是「收養」,而是「繁殖」。
所以應該是:奴隸制度廢除後,一些土地貧瘠不適合棉花生長的南方農場就以「繁殖」的方式繼續蓄奴(並販賣),來規避法令
(筆者按:「繁殖」奴隸在當時是的確有發生的,在筆者手上的另一本書「邪惡植物博覽會」中提到一中叫做黃蝴蝶的植物(peacock flower, Caesalpinia pulcherrima syn. Poinciana pulcherrima)在十八世紀的醫學文獻中記載,當時的女性奴隸為了不讓自己的孩子使蓄奴者更富裕,會使用黃蝴蝶這類的植物的種子自行墮胎(邪惡植物博覽會,p.129-131)。

93. (p.122)(p.130)人們讀到的這些農場生活方式或者工人們生活的景況,並不是中產階級生活的仔細描繪。
原文是:These give scant detail about the methods of the plantations or the lives of the workers, but concentrate instead on the niceties of middle-class colonial life.
所以應該是:人們讀到的不是這些農場生活方式或者工人們生活的景況,而是中產階級生活的仔細描繪。

p.123
94. (p.131)裝一碗菜湯,然後圍到桌子前與白人一起吃。
原文是:got it full of cabbage soup then we were allowed to go [to] the table where the white folks ate and get the crumbs from the table.
提到的是「the table where the white folks ate」,是說白人也會在那張桌子上吃飯,並沒有說跟白人一起吃飯。
所以應該是:裝一碗菜湯,然後到白人的飯桌上配著殘羮剩菜一起吃

95. (p.131)我被帶到田裡,為棉花苗和其他作物幼苗除草,本來這些工作是大人做的。因為我還太小,不會使用工具,所以就用手拔。
原文是:he was carried to the field to pull grass from the young cotton and other growing crops. this work was done by hand because he was still too young to use the farm implements.
並沒有「本來這些工作是大人做的」這句。
所以應該是:我被帶到田裡,為棉花苗和其他作物幼苗除草。因為我還太小,不會使用工具,所以就用手拔。

96. 一個孩子穿著漂亮衣服,上鋼琴課,無拘無束、天真爛漫;另一個孩子卻得去除草,累得筋疲力竭,東倒西歪。
原文是:While one small child enjoyed a life of fine clothes, piano lessons and leisurely days, another was forced to pick cotton until he was close to collapse.
所以應該是:一個孩子穿著漂亮衣服,上鋼琴課,無拘無束、天真爛漫;另一個孩子卻得去摘棉花,累得筋疲力竭,東倒西歪。(新版已改正)

97. (p.128)(p.137)棉花在十九世紀的英國全球戰略中所起的作用如此巨大,令現代人費解。
原文是:The impact of cotton on the advancement of Britain to a position of global dominance in the 19th century cannot be understated.
是understate (低估),不是understand (理解)
所以應該是:棉花在十九世紀的英國躍上世界霸主過程中所起的作用如此巨大,不可低估

98. (p.135)(p.144)他是揭起眼皮,把葉子放進眼睛,葉子掉了出來,落地處,兩棵茶樹破土而出,...
原文是:He ripped off his eyelids and cast them to the ground; where they fell, two tea trees sprang up with the miraculous power to keep him awake.
所以應該是:他是撕下眼皮,扔在地上,落地處,兩棵茶樹破土而出,...

99. (p.137)(p.147) 茶葉沖泡後,茶色變濃,香氣溢出。
原文是:When acted upon by an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase, polyphenols acquire a reddish colour and form the flavouring compound of the beverage.
所以應該是:經過茶多酚氧化酶(polyphenol oxidase)的作用後,茶多酚轉化為茶中帶紅色有味道的化合物

100. (p.138)(p.147)栽種茶樹要在樹苗達一點五公尺高時移栽,行距一點五公尺,株距一公尺。
原文是:Tea bushes are planted about 5 ft (1.5 m) apart, in rows 3 ft (1 m) apart.
所以應該是:栽種茶樹的行距一公尺,株距一點五公尺

101. (p.141) (p.150)想想,每噸茶葉買進價只要一百英鎊,東印度公司能賺多少錢?這確實是一筆利潤豐厚,財源滾滾的好買賣,而這段時期,政府並未察覺茶葉稅收的遠景,也沒有以百分之一百一十九的高稅率徵收進口稅。
原文是:Considering that the Company was making £100 for each of the 375,000 tons of tea that was imported during the century, this was a very lucrative trade indeed. Neither were successive governments of the day slow to realize the potential tax revenue from tea, setting duty at an exorbitant 119 per cent.
所以應該是:想想,每噸茶葉可以賺進一百英鎊,整個世紀東印度公司進口了三十七萬五千噸茶葉,賺了多少錢?這確實是一筆利潤豐厚,財源滾滾的好買賣,而這段時期,政府並未察覺茶葉稅收的遠景,以百分之一百一十九的高稅率徵收進口稅。

p. 142
102. (p.151)人們認為,茶葉走私者之所以大有空間,乃是因為東印度公司合法進口的大量茶葉,僅滿足了英國市場茶葉需求的四分之一而已。
原文是:It has been calculated that tea smuggling became so widespread that, although the East India Company was importing huge quantities of tea legally, this made up only a quarter of the total amount of tea consumed in Britain.
所以應該是:茶葉走私猖獗到,根據估計,東印度公司合法進口的茶葉僅佔當時英國人消耗的茶葉量的四分之一而已

103. (p.152)走私者的命運也各不相同,
原文是:Fatalities were not uncommon,
所以應該是:傷亡經常發生

104. (p.152)五百公克的走私茶的價格是十先令六便士,
原文是:costing up to 10s 6d a pound in 1777,
不需要通通都要轉換成公制,更何況一磅也不是五百公克。
所以應該是:一磅的走私茶的價格是十先令六便士,

p.143
105. (p.153)假如有人要給中國皇帝寫封信的話,說的話不一定好聽:
原文是:Assuming the form of a mocking letter to the Emperor of China, it pleads,
所以應該是:在一封假裝要寫給中國皇帝的信中是這樣寫的

106. (p.154)以當時美洲的情況看,東海岸地區,特別是與英國政府限制政策有關的商業和工業,就十分討厭英國批發傷的影響。加勒比海地區的糖和菸草農場主們對他們要繳納的關稅也十分不以為然。
原文是:In the case of America, the eastern seaboard in particular associated British government with restrictions on commerce and industry, and disliked the influence of British merchants and Carribean sugar and tobacco planters in determining tariffs on their goods.
所以應該是:在美國,特別是東部沿海與英國政府對工商業的限制有關的地區,不喜歡英國商人以及加勒比海地區糖和煙草種植園主對制定商品關稅的影響力

107. (p.144)(p.155)麻塞諸塞總督哈欽森更拒絕允許茶葉船返航。
原文是:In response, the Royal Governor of Massachusetts, Thomas Hutchinson, refused to allow the tea ships to return to England until the duty had been paid.
所以應該是:麻塞諸塞總督哈欽森更拒絕允許茶葉船在未付稅之前返航。

108. (p.145) (p.156)他小心謹慎,不願冒險,每次交易有微利即可。事實上,他常常是冒一半的險獲全部的利。
原文是:He required a minimum profit on each venture of 50 per cent, but in fact he often made 100 per cent.
所以應該是:他每次買賣要求至少百分之五十的利潤,但其實他常常獲利百分之百

109. (p.146)(p.156)使其可以重新武裝,為一八一二年的南北戰爭做好準備。
原文是:Girard, known as the 'gentle tea merchant', made important loans to the young American Government that enabled re-arming for the 1812 war.
南北戰爭(American Civil War)的時間點是由1861到1865,1812年並不是南北戰爭。
所以應該是:使其可以重新武裝,為一八一二年的戰爭做好準備

p.147
110. (p.158)人們完全忽視了茶樹的栽培和製作技術。
原文是:there was widespread ignorance about the plant's cultivation or processing techniques.
所以應該是:人們茶樹的栽培和製作技術完全無知

111. (p.158)有的是加樹皮、不知名的樹葉、鋸木屑、鐵屑、香灰甚至羊屎,各種五花八門的物品都曾被摻進茶葉中。
原文是:less palatable additions included bark, leaves from entirely different species, sawdust, iron filings, soot and the appealing 'smouch', a mix of ash leaf and sheep dung.
所以應該是:有的是加樹皮、不知名的樹葉、鋸木屑、鐵屑、香灰甚至是'smouch' - 一種樹葉與羊屎的混合物

112. (p.148)(p.159)在印度的茶葉生產具體成形前,栽培實驗進行了十三年。最後的結果是,不僅土生土長的印度茶樹能夠人工栽培,而且來自中國的樹苗和種子也能在印度生長良好。
原文是:and it was a further 13 years before a concerted effort was made to establish a tea industry in India. In the event, it was not native Indian tea plants that were cultivated, but plants and seed acquired from the great tea-growing areas of China.
所以應該是:在此之後又十三年,印度的茶葉生產才具體成形。最後的結果是,不是土生土長的印度茶樹,而是來自中國的樹苗和種子在印度成長茁壯

113. (p.149)(p.162)最驚心動魄的一次逃跑發生在他搭乘的船受到海盜船的攻擊,當時福瓊正發著高燒;還有兩次遭遇海盜,他用唯一的一把手槍單槍匹馬與他們對戰。
原文是:his most daring escape occurred when the bot upon which he was a passenger came under attack from a number of pirate vessels. Fortune, running a high fever, was twice forced to repel the pirate attacks single-handed, armed only with a 12-bore shotgun and pistols.
所以應該是:最驚心動魄的一次逃跑發生在他搭乘的船受到海盜船的攻擊,當時福瓊正發著高燒,他被迫單槍匹馬用手槍與散彈槍兩次與他們對戰

114. (p.151)(p.163)他的嚮導為他剃頭,那人刀法笨拙生硬,
原文是:had his head shaved - by his guide, who used a razor so blunt ...
所以應該是:他的嚮導為他剃頭,那人用了一把極鈍的剃刀

【2014.6.15更新】
115. (p.151)(p.163)當和尚的第一天晚上,
原文是:on his first night in disguise...
並不是剃頭了就是和尚...
所以應該是:改裝的第一天晚上,

p.152
116. (p.164)他留在這裡繼續蒐集植物。
原文是:Indeed, Fortune indulged in a bit of 'freelancing' and continued to collect ornamental species.
所以應該是:他留在這裡繼續蒐集觀賞用植物。

117. (p.165)當地人相傳茶樹神聖不可接近,想採茶葉,只能朝猴子扔石頭,激怒猴子搖樹使茶葉落下。
原文是:He also heard the traditional story that in the areas where the tea shrubs were inaccessible, stones were thrown at the monkeys, who, angered, responded by throwing down branches - of tea.
所以應該是:在某些區域茶樹長在人無法接近的地方,想採茶葉,只能朝猴子扔石頭,激怒猴子拔起茶樹樹枝扔過來

118. (p.153) (p.166)第一次的運送沒有成功,因為茶樹的休眠期很短,
原文是:The first batch had not succeeded because tea seeds has a very short period of vitality...
所以應該是:第一次的運送沒有成功,因為茶樹種子只能保持短時間的活性

p.156
119. (p.169)他證明自己是英國人,又用很恰當的理由解釋了自己繞大吉嶺山區和在錫金南部地區旅行的原因而獲得釋放。
原文是:, providing Britain with the perfect excuse to annex the southern part of Sikkim around Darjeeling.
所以應該是:提供了英國政府完美的理由去佔領位於錫金南部,大吉嶺周圍的地區

120. (p.169)飆升了百分之八百三十七(從兩萬四千英鎊上升到二十多萬英鎊)。
原文是:...rose a staggering 837 per cent in 75 years between 1854 and 1929 (£24,000 to £20,087,000).
所以應該是:飆升了百分之八百三十七(從兩萬四千英鎊上升到二千多萬英鎊)。

121. (p.158)(p.172)這足以說明為什麼茶葉最早是在藥店裡出售,價格昂貴,種類稀少。
原文是:which would explain why it was sold from an apothecary's shop, alongside costly and rare spices.
所以應該是:這足以說明為什麼茶葉最早是在藥店裡跟其他珍貴的香料一起出售

p.159
122. (p.172)由家裡的女主人親自管理,並有專人保管鑰匙,嚴防傭人偷竊。
原文是:over which the lady of the house maintained strict control and took personal charge of the key to prevent servants stealing the valuable contents.
所以應該是:由家裡的女主人親自管理,並保管鑰匙,嚴防傭人偷竊。

123. (p.172)一六六0年,他的茶葉每五百克零售價是六英鎊至十英鎊。隨著茶葉品種的增多,喝茶的方式變多,對喝茶的各種爭論也熱鬧了起來。
原文是:In 1660 he was retailing tea at between £6 and £10 per pound (£13 and £22 per kilo). As with so many other new plant products, there rages a scholarly but heated debate about the pros and cons of tea consumption.
如果一定要換為公制,明明括號裡面已經提供了每公斤的價格不是嗎?一磅並不是五百公克!
所以應該是:一六六0年,他的茶葉每五百克零售價是六點五英鎊至十一英鎊。就像所有新的植物產品一樣,對喝茶的各種爭論也熱鬧了起來。

124. (p.160)(p.174)甚至在有些為人幫傭的人家,茶葉和糖的消費也成了常見生活開支的一部份。
原文是:Provision of tea and sugar even became part of some servants' terms of empolyment.
所以應該是:茶葉和糖甚至成了有些傭人受雇條件的一部份

125. (p.162)(p.176)從此,拉丁美洲的大農場裡有了來自歐洲的植物,雖生機盎然卻顯得形單影隻。
原文是:This was the lone parent plant from which all of Latin America's great coffee planatations were to grow.
所以應該是:這就是所有拉丁美洲咖啡園的種源由來

後續的勘誤請見「植物帝國」一書在翻譯上的謬誤(三)

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