GULLIVER’S
TRAVELS
PART 2
PART I. A VOYAGE TO LILLIPUT.
CHAPTER I.
The author gives some account
of himself and family. His first inducements to travel. He is
shipwrecked, and swims for his life. Gets safe on shore in the country of
Lilliput; is made a prisoner, and carried up the country.
My father
had a small estate in Nottinghamshire: I was the third of five sons. He
sent me to Emanuel College in Cambridge at fourteen years old, where I resided
three years, and applied myself close to my studies; but the charge of maintaining
me, although I had a very scanty allowance, being too great for a narrow
fortune, I was bound apprentice to Mr. James Bates, an eminent surgeon in
London, with whom I continued four years. My father now and then sending
me small sums of money, I laid them out in learning navigation, and other parts
of the mathematics, useful to those who intend to travel, as I always believed
it would be, some time or other, my fortune to do. When I left Mr. Bates,
I went down to my father: where, by the assistance of him and my uncle John,
and some other relations, I got forty pounds, and a promise of thirty pounds a
year to maintain me at Leyden: there I studied physic two years and seven
months, knowing it would be useful in long voyages.
Soon after
my return from Leyden, I was recommended by my good master, Mr. Bates, to be
surgeon to the Swallow, Captain Abraham Pannel, commander; with whom I
continued three years and a half, making a voyage or two into the Levant, and
some other parts. When I came back I resolved to settle in London; to
which Mr. Bates, my master, encouraged me, and by him I was recommended to
several patients. I took part of a small house in the Old Jewry; and
being advised to alter my condition, I married Mrs. Mary Burton, second daughter
to Mr. Edmund Burton, hosier, in Newgate-street, with whom I received four
hundred pounds for a portion.
But my
good master Bates dying in two years after, and I having few friends, my
business began to fail; for my conscience would not suffer me to imitate the
bad practice of too many among my brethren. Having therefore consulted
with my wife, and some of my acquaintance, I determined to go again to
sea. I was surgeon successively in two ships, and made several voyages,
for six years, to the East and West Indies, by which I got some addition to my
fortune. My hours of leisure I spent in reading the best authors, ancient
and modern, being always provided with a good number of books; and when I was
ashore, in observing the manners and dispositions of the people, as well as
learning their language; wherein I had a great facility, by the strength of my
memory.
The last
of these voyages not proving very fortunate, I grew weary of the sea, and
intended to stay at home with my wife and family. I removed from the Old
Jewry to Fetter Lane, and from thence to Wapping, hoping to get business among
the sailors; but it would not turn to account. After three years
expectation that things would mend, I accepted an advantageous offer from
Captain William Prichard, master of the Antelope, who was making a voyage to
the South Sea. We set sail from Bristol, May 4, 1699, and our voyage was
at first very prosperous.
It would
not be proper, for some reasons, to trouble the reader with the particulars of
our adventures in those seas; let it suffice to inform him, that in our passage
from thence to the East Indies, we were driven by a violent storm to the
north-west of Van Diemen’s Land. By an observation, we found ourselves in
the latitude of 30 degrees 2 minutes south. Twelve of our crew were dead
by immoderate labour and ill food; the rest were in a very weak
condition. On the 5th of November, which was the beginning of summer in
those parts, the weather being very hazy, the seamen spied a rock within half a
cable’s length of the ship; but the wind was so strong, that we were driven
directly upon it, and immediately split. Six of the crew, of whom I was
one, having let down the boat into the sea, made a shift to get clear of the
ship and the rock. We rowed, by my computation, about three leagues, till
we were able to work no longer, being already spent with labour while we were
in the ship. We therefore trusted ourselves to the mercy of the waves,
and in about half an hour the boat was overset by a sudden flurry from the north.
What became of my companions in the boat, as well as of those who escaped on
the rock, or were left in the vessel, I cannot tell; but conclude they were all
lost. For my own part, I swam as fortune directed me, and was pushed
forward by wind and tide. I often let my legs drop, and could feel no
bottom; but when I was almost gone, and able to struggle no longer, I found
myself within my depth; and by this time the storm was much abated. The
declivity was so small, that I walked near a mile before I got to the shore,
which I conjectured was about eight o’clock in the evening. I then
advanced forward near half a mile, but could not discover any sign of houses or
inhabitants; at least I was in so weak a condition, that I did not observe
them. I was extremely tired, and with that, and the heat of the weather,
and about half a pint of brandy that I drank as I left the ship, I found myself
much inclined to sleep. I lay down on the grass, which was very short and
soft, where I slept sounder than ever I remembered to have done in my life,
and, as I reckoned, about nine hours; for when I awaked, it was just
day-light. I attempted to rise, but was not able to stir: for, as I
happened to lie on my back, I found my arms and legs were strongly fastened on
each side to the ground; and my hair, which was long and thick, tied down in
the same manner. I likewise felt several slender ligatures across my
body, from my arm-pits to my thighs. I could only look upwards; the sun
began to grow hot, and the light offended my eyes. I heard a confused
noise about me; but in the posture I lay, could see nothing except the
sky. In a little time I felt something alive moving on my left leg, which
advancing gently forward over my breast, came almost up to my chin; when, bending
my eyes downwards as much as I could, I perceived it to be a human creature not
six inches high, with a bow and arrow in his hands, and a quiver at his
back. In the mean time, I felt at least forty more of the same kind (as I
conjectured) following the first. I was in the utmost astonishment, and
roared so loud, that they all ran back in a fright; and some of them, as I was
afterwards told, were hurt with the falls they got by leaping from my sides
upon the ground. However, they soon returned, and one of them, who
ventured so far as to get a full sight of my face, lifting up his hands and
eyes by way of admiration, cried out in a shrill but distinct voice, Hekinah
degul: the others repeated the same words several times, but then I knew
not what they meant. I lay all this while, as the reader may believe, in
great uneasiness. At length, struggling to get loose, I had the fortune
to break the strings, and wrench out the pegs that fastened my left arm to the
ground; for, by lifting it up to my face, I discovered the methods they had
taken to bind me, and at the same time with a violent pull, which gave me
excessive pain, I a little loosened the strings that tied down my hair on the
left side, so that I was just able to turn my head about two inches. But
the creatures ran off a second time, before I could seize them; whereupon there
was a great shout in a very shrill accent, and after it ceased I heard one of
them cry aloud Tolgo phonac; when in an instant I felt above a hundred
arrows discharged on my left hand, which, pricked me like so many needles; and
besides, they shot another flight into the air, as we do bombs in Europe,
whereof many, I suppose, fell on my body, (though I felt them not), and some on
my face, which I immediately covered with my left hand. When this shower
of arrows was over, I fell a groaning with grief and pain; and then striving
again to get loose, they discharged another volley larger than the first, and
some of them attempted with spears to stick me in the sides; but by good luck I
had on a buff jerkin, which they could not pierce. I thought it the most
prudent method to lie still, and my design was to continue so till night, when,
my left hand being already loose, I could easily free myself: and as for the
inhabitants, I had reason to believe I might be a match for the greatest army
they could bring against me, if they were all of the same size with him that I
saw. But fortune disposed otherwise of me. When the people observed
I was quiet, they discharged no more arrows; but, by the noise I heard, I knew
their numbers increased; and about four yards from me, over against my right
ear, I heard a knocking for above an hour, like that of people at work; when
turning my head that way, as well as the pegs and strings would permit me, I
saw a stage erected about a foot and a half from the ground, capable of holding
four of the inhabitants, with two or three ladders to mount it: from whence one
of them, who seemed to be a person of quality, made me a long speech, whereof I
understood not one syllable. But I should have mentioned, that before the
principal person began his oration, he cried out three times, Langro dehul
san (these words and the former were afterwards repeated and explained to
me); whereupon, immediately, about fifty of the inhabitants came and cut the
strings that fastened the left side of my head, which gave me the liberty of
turning it to the right, and of observing the person and gesture of him that
was to speak. He appeared to be of a middle age, and taller than any of
the other three who attended him, whereof one was a page that held up his
train, and seemed to be somewhat longer than my middle finger; the other two
stood one on each side to support him. He acted every part of an orator,
and I could observe many periods of threatenings, and others of promises, pity,
and kindness. I answered in a few words, but in the most submissive
manner, lifting up my left hand, and both my eyes to the sun, as calling him
for a witness; and being almost famished with hunger, having not eaten a morsel
for some hours before I left the ship, I found the demands of nature so strong
upon me, that I could not forbear showing my impatience (perhaps against the
strict rules of decency) by putting my finger frequently to my mouth, to signify
that I wanted food. The hurgo (for so they call a great lord, as I
afterwards learnt) understood me very well. He descended from the stage,
and commanded that several ladders should be applied to my sides, on which
above a hundred of the inhabitants mounted and walked towards my mouth, laden
with baskets full of meat, which had been provided and sent thither by the
king’s orders, upon the first intelligence he received of me. I observed
there was the flesh of several animals, but could not distinguish them by the
taste. There were shoulders, legs, and loins, shaped like those of
mutton, and very well dressed, but smaller than the wings of a lark. I
ate them by two or three at a mouthful, and took three loaves at a time, about
the bigness of musket bullets. They supplied me as fast as they could,
showing a thousand marks of wonder and astonishment at my bulk and
appetite. I then made another sign, that I wanted drink. They found
by my eating that a small quantity would not suffice me; and being a most
ingenious people, they slung up, with great dexterity, one of their largest
hogsheads, then rolled it towards my hand, and beat out the top; I drank it off
at a draught, which I might well do, for it did not hold half a pint, and
tasted like a small wine of Burgundy, but much more delicious. They
brought me a second hogshead, which I drank in the same manner, and made signs
for more; but they had none to give me. When I had performed these
wonders, they shouted for joy, and danced upon my breast, repeating several
times as they did at first, Hekinah degul. They made me a sign
that I should throw down the two hogsheads, but first warning the people below
to stand out of the way, crying aloud, Borach mevolah; and when they saw
the vessels in the air, there was a universal shout of Hekinah degul.
I confess I was often tempted, while they were passing backwards and forwards
on my body, to seize forty or fifty of the first that came in my reach, and
dash them against the ground. But the remembrance of what I had felt,
which probably might not be the worst they could do, and the promise of honour
I made them—for so I interpreted my submissive behaviour—soon drove out these
imaginations. Besides, I now considered myself as bound by the laws of
hospitality, to a people who had treated me with so much expense and
magnificence. However, in my thoughts I could not sufficiently wonder at
the intrepidity of these diminutive mortals, who durst venture to mount and
walk upon my body, while one of my hands was at liberty, without trembling at
the very sight of so prodigious a creature as I must appear to them.
After some time, when they observed that I made no more demands for meat, there
appeared before me a person of high rank from his imperial majesty. His
excellency, having mounted on the small of my right leg, advanced forwards up
to my face, with about a dozen of his retinue; and producing his credentials
under the signet royal, which he applied close to my eyes, spoke about ten
minutes without any signs of anger, but with a kind of determinate resolution,
often pointing forwards, which, as I afterwards found, was towards the capital
city, about half a mile distant; whither it was agreed by his majesty in
council that I must be conveyed. I answered in few words, but to no
purpose, and made a sign with my hand that was loose, putting it to the other
(but over his excellency’s head for fear of hurting him or his train) and then
to my own head and body, to signify that I desired my liberty. It
appeared that he understood me well enough, for he shook his head by way of
disapprobation, and held his hand in a posture to show that I must be carried
as a prisoner. However, he made other signs to let me understand that I
should have meat and drink enough, and very good treatment. Whereupon I
once more thought of attempting to break my bonds; but again, when I felt the
smart of their arrows upon my face and hands, which were all in blisters, and
many of the darts still sticking in them, and observing likewise that the number
of my enemies increased, I gave tokens to let them know that they might do with
me what they pleased. Upon this, the hurgo and his train withdrew,
with much civility and cheerful countenances. Soon after I heard a
general shout, with frequent repetitions of the words Peplom selan; and
I felt great numbers of people on my left side relaxing the cords to such a
degree, that I was able to turn upon my right, and to ease myself with making
water; which I very plentifully did, to the great astonishment of the people;
who, conjecturing by my motion what I was going to do, immediately opened to
the right and left on that side, to avoid the torrent, which fell with such
noise and violence from me. But before this, they had daubed my face and
both my hands with a sort of ointment, very pleasant to the smell, which, in a
few minutes, removed all the smart of their arrows. These circumstances,
added to the refreshment I had received by their victuals and drink, which were
very nourishing, disposed me to sleep. I slept about eight hours, as I
was afterwards assured; and it was no wonder, for the physicians, by the
emperor’s order, had mingled a sleepy potion in the hogsheads of wine.
It seems,
that upon the first moment I was discovered sleeping on the ground, after my
landing, the emperor had early notice of it by an express; and determined in
council, that I should be tied in the manner I have related, (which was done in
the night while I slept;) that plenty of meat and drink should be sent to me,
and a machine prepared to carry me to the capital city.
This
resolution perhaps may appear very bold and dangerous, and I am confident would
not be imitated by any prince in Europe on the like occasion. However, in
my opinion, it was extremely prudent, as well as generous: for, supposing these
people had endeavoured to kill me with their spears and arrows, while I was
asleep, I should certainly have awaked with the first sense of smart, which
might so far have roused my rage and strength, as to have enabled me to break
the strings wherewith I was tied; after which, as they were not able to make
resistance, so they could expect no mercy.
These
people are most excellent mathematicians, and arrived to a great perfection in
mechanics, by the countenance and encouragement of the emperor, who is a
renowned patron of learning. This prince has several machines fixed on
wheels, for the carriage of trees and other great weights. He often
builds his largest men of war, whereof some are nine feet long, in the woods
where the timber grows, and has them carried on these engines three or four
hundred yards to the sea. Five hundred carpenters and engineers were
immediately set at work to prepare the greatest engine they had. It was a
frame of wood raised three inches from the ground, about seven feet long, and
four wide, moving upon twenty-two wheels. The shout I heard was upon the
arrival of this engine, which, it seems, set out in four hours after my
landing. It was brought parallel to me, as I lay. But the principal
difficulty was to raise and place me in this vehicle. Eighty poles, each
of one foot high, were erected for this purpose, and very strong cords, of the
bigness of packthread, were fastened by hooks to many bandages, which the
workmen had girt round my neck, my hands, my body, and my legs. Nine
hundred of the strongest men were employed to draw up these cords, by many
pulleys fastened on the poles; and thus, in less than three hours, I was raised
and slung into the engine, and there tied fast. All this I was told; for,
while the operation was performing, I lay in a profound sleep, by the force of
that soporiferous medicine infused into my liquor. Fifteen hundred of the
emperor’s largest horses, each about four inches and a half high, were employed
to draw me towards the metropolis, which, as I said, was half a mile distant.
About four
hours after we began our journey, I awaked by a very ridiculous accident; for
the carriage being stopped a while, to adjust something that was out of order,
two or three of the young natives had the curiosity to see how I looked when I
was asleep; they climbed up into the engine, and advancing very softly to my
face, one of them, an officer in the guards, put the sharp end of his half-pike
a good way up into my left nostril, which tickled my nose like a straw, and
made me sneeze violently; whereupon they stole off unperceived, and it was
three weeks before I knew the cause of my waking so suddenly. We made a
long march the remaining part of the day, and, rested at night with five hundred
guards on each side of me, half with torches, and half with bows and arrows,
ready to shoot me if I should offer to stir. The next morning at sun-rise
we continued our march, and arrived within two hundred yards of the city gates
about noon. The emperor, and all his court, came out to meet us; but his
great officers would by no means suffer his majesty to endanger his person by
mounting on my body.
At the
place where the carriage stopped there stood an ancient temple, esteemed to be
the largest in the whole kingdom; which, having been polluted some years before
by an unnatural murder, was, according to the zeal of those people, looked upon
as profane, and therefore had been applied to common use, and all the ornaments
and furniture carried away. In this edifice it was determined I should
lodge. The great gate fronting to the north was about four feet high, and
almost two feet wide, through which I could easily creep. On each side of
the gate was a small window, not above six inches from the ground: into that on
the left side, the king’s smith conveyed fourscore and eleven chains, like
those that hang to a lady’s watch in Europe, and almost as large, which were
locked to my left leg with six-and-thirty padlocks. Over against this
temple, on the other side of the great highway, at twenty feet distance, there
was a turret at least five feet high. Here the emperor ascended, with
many principal lords of his court, to have an opportunity of viewing me, as I
was told, for I could not see them. It was reckoned that above a hundred
thousand inhabitants came out of the town upon the same errand; and, in spite
of my guards, I believe there could not be fewer than ten thousand at several
times, who mounted my body by the help of ladders. But a proclamation was
soon issued, to forbid it upon pain of death. When the workmen found it
was impossible for me to break loose, they cut all the strings that bound me;
whereupon I rose up, with as melancholy a disposition as ever I had in my
life. But the noise and astonishment of the people, at seeing me rise and
walk, are not to be expressed. The chains that held my left leg were
about two yards long, and gave me not only the liberty of walking backwards and
forwards in a semicircle, but, being fixed within four inches of the gate,
allowed me to creep in, and lie at my full length in the temple.
To be continued
