GULLIVER’S
TRAVELS
PART 18
CHAPTER III.
A phenomenon solved by modern
philosophy and astronomy. The Laputians’ great improvements in the
latter. The king’s method of suppressing insurrections.
I desired
leave of this prince to see the curiosities of the island, which he was graciously
pleased to grant, and ordered my tutor to attend me. I chiefly wanted to
know, to what cause, in art or in nature, it owed its several motions, whereof
I will now give a philosophical account to the reader.
The flying
or floating island is exactly circular, its diameter 7837 yards, or about four
miles and a half, and consequently contains ten thousand acres. It is
three hundred yards thick. The bottom, or under surface, which appears to
those who view it below, is one even regular plate of adamant, shooting up to
the height of about two hundred yards. Above it lie the several minerals
in their usual order, and over all is a coat of rich mould, ten or twelve feet
deep. The declivity of the upper surface, from the circumference to the
centre, is the natural cause why all the dews and rains, which fall upon the
island, are conveyed in small rivulets toward the middle, where they are
emptied into four large basins, each of about half a mile in circuit, and two
hundred yards distant from the centre. From these basins the water is
continually exhaled by the sun in the daytime, which effectually prevents their
overflowing. Besides, as it is in the power of the monarch to raise the
island above the region of clouds and vapours, he can prevent the falling of
dews and rain whenever he pleases. For the highest clouds cannot rise
above two miles, as naturalists agree, at least they were never known to do so
in that country.
At the
centre of the island there is a chasm about fifty yards in diameter, whence the
astronomers descend into a large dome, which is therefore called flandona
gagnole, or the astronomer’s cave, situated at the depth of a hundred yards
beneath the upper surface of the adamant. In this cave are twenty lamps
continually burning, which, from the reflection of the adamant, cast a strong
light into every part. The place is stored with great variety of
sextants, quadrants, telescopes, astrolabes, and other astronomical
instruments. But the greatest curiosity, upon which the fate of the island
depends, is a loadstone of a prodigious size, in shape resembling a weaver’s
shuttle. It is in length six yards, and in the thickest part at least
three yards over. This magnet is sustained by a very strong axle of
adamant passing through its middle, upon which it plays, and is poised so
exactly that the weakest hand can turn it. It is hooped round with a
hollow cylinder of adamant, four feet yards in diameter, placed horizontally,
and supported by eight adamantine feet, each six yards high. In the
middle of the concave side, there is a groove twelve inches deep, in which the
extremities of the axle are lodged, and turned round as there is occasion.
The stone
cannot be removed from its place by any force, because the hoop and its feet
are one continued piece with that body of adamant which constitutes the bottom
of the island.
By means
of this loadstone, the island is made to rise and fall, and move from one place
to another. For, with respect to that part of the earth over which the
monarch presides, the stone is endued at one of its sides with an attractive
power, and at the other with a repulsive. Upon placing the magnet erect,
with its attracting end towards the earth, the island descends; but when the
repelling extremity points downwards, the island mounts directly upwards.
When the position of the stone is oblique, the motion of the island is so too:
for in this magnet, the forces always act in lines parallel to its direction.
By this
oblique motion, the island is conveyed to different parts of the monarch’s
dominions. To explain the manner of its progress, let A B
represent a line drawn across the dominions of Balnibarbi, let the line c
d represent the loadstone, of which let d be the repelling end,
and c the attracting end, the island being over C: let the stone
be placed in position c d, with its repelling end downwards; then
the island will be driven upwards obliquely towards D. When it is
arrived at D, let the stone be turned upon its axle, till its attracting
end points towards E, and then the island will be carried obliquely
towards E; where, if the stone be again turned upon its axle till it
stands in the position E F, with its repelling point downwards,
the island will rise obliquely towards F, where, by directing the
attracting end towards G, the island may be carried to G, and
from G to H, by turning the stone, so as to make its repelling
extremity to point directly downward. And thus, by changing the situation
of the stone, as often as there is occasion, the island is made to rise and
fall by turns in an oblique direction, and by those alternate risings and
fallings (the obliquity being not considerable) is conveyed from one part of
the dominions to the other.
But it
must be observed, that this island cannot move beyond the extent of the
dominions below, nor can it rise above the height of four miles. For
which the astronomers (who have written large systems concerning the stone)
assign the following reason: that the magnetic virtue does not extend beyond
the distance of four miles, and that the mineral, which acts upon the stone in
the bowels of the earth, and in the sea about six leagues distant from the
shore, is not diffused through the whole globe, but terminated with the limits
of the king’s dominions; and it was easy, from the great advantage of such a
superior situation, for a prince to bring under his obedience whatever country
lay within the attraction of that magnet.
When the
stone is put parallel to the plane of the horizon, the island stands still; for
in that case the extremities of it, being at equal distance from the earth, act
with equal force, the one in drawing downwards, the other in pushing upwards,
and consequently no motion can ensue.
This
loadstone is under the care of certain astronomers, who, from time to time,
give it such positions as the monarch directs. They spend the greatest
part of their lives in observing the celestial bodies, which they do by the
assistance of glasses, far excelling ours in goodness. For, although
their largest telescopes do not exceed three feet, they magnify much more than
those of a hundred with us, and show the stars with greater clearness.
This advantage has enabled them to extend their discoveries much further than
our astronomers in Europe; for they have made a catalogue of ten thousand fixed
stars, whereas the largest of ours do not contain above one third part of that
number. They have likewise discovered two lesser stars, or satellites,
which revolve about Mars; whereof the innermost is distant from the centre of
the primary planet exactly three of his diameters, and the outermost, five; the
former revolves in the space of ten hours, and the latter in twenty-one and a
half; so that the squares of their periodical times are very near in the same
proportion with the cubes of their distance from the centre of Mars; which
evidently shows them to be governed by the same law of gravitation that
influences the other heavenly bodies.
They have
observed ninety-three different comets, and settled their periods with great
exactness. If this be true (and they affirm it with great confidence) it
is much to be wished, that their observations were made public, whereby the
theory of comets, which at present is very lame and defective, might be brought
to the same perfection with other arts of astronomy.
The king
would be the most absolute prince in the universe, if he could but prevail on a
ministry to join with him; but these having their estates below on the
continent, and considering that the office of a favourite has a very uncertain
tenure, would never consent to the enslaving of their country.
If any
town should engage in rebellion or mutiny, fall into violent factions, or
refuse to pay the usual tribute, the king has two methods of reducing them to
obedience. The first and the mildest course is, by keeping the island
hovering over such a town, and the lands about it, whereby he can deprive them
of the benefit of the sun and the rain, and consequently afflict the
inhabitants with dearth and diseases: and if the crime deserve it, they are at
the same time pelted from above with great stones, against which they have no
defence but by creeping into cellars or caves, while the roofs of their houses
are beaten to pieces. But if they still continue obstinate, or offer to
raise insurrections, he proceeds to the last remedy, by letting the island drop
directly upon their heads, which makes a universal destruction both of houses
and men. However, this is an extremity to which the prince is seldom
driven, neither indeed is he willing to put it in execution; nor dare his
ministers advise him to an action, which, as it would render them odious to the
people, so it would be a great damage to their own estates, which all lie
below; for the island is the king’s demesne.
But there
is still indeed a more weighty reason, why the kings of this country have been
always averse from executing so terrible an action, unless upon the utmost
necessity. For, if the town intended to be destroyed should have in it
any tall rocks, as it generally falls out in the larger cities, a situation
probably chosen at first with a view to prevent such a catastrophe; or if it
abound in high spires, or pillars of stone, a sudden fall might endanger the
bottom or under surface of the island, which, although it consist, as I have
said, of one entire adamant, two hundred yards thick, might happen to crack by
too great a shock, or burst by approaching too near the fires from the houses
below, as the backs, both of iron and stone, will often do in our
chimneys. Of all this the people are well apprised, and understand how
far to carry their obstinacy, where their liberty or property is
concerned. And the king, when he is highest provoked, and most determined
to press a city to rubbish, orders the island to descend with great gentleness,
out of a pretence of tenderness to his people, but, indeed, for fear of
breaking the adamantine bottom; in which case, it is the opinion of all their
philosophers, that the loadstone could no longer hold it up, and the whole mass
would fall to the ground.
By a
fundamental law of this realm, neither the king, nor either of his two eldest
sons, are permitted to leave the island; nor the queen, till she is past
child-bearing.
CHAPTER IV.
The author leaves Laputa; is
conveyed to Balnibarbi; arrives at the metropolis. A description of the
metropolis, and the country adjoining. The author hospitably received by
a great lord. His conversation with that lord.
Although I
cannot say that I was ill treated in this island, yet I must confess I thought
myself too much neglected, not without some degree of contempt; for neither
prince nor people appeared to be curious in any part of knowledge, except
mathematics and music, wherein I was far their inferior, and upon that account
very little regarded.
On the
other side, after having seen all the curiosities of the island, I was very
desirous to leave it, being heartily weary of those people. They were
indeed excellent in two sciences for which I have great esteem, and wherein I
am not unversed; but, at the same time, so abstracted and involved in
speculation, that I never met with such disagreeable companions. I
conversed only with women, tradesmen, flappers, and court-pages, during two
months of my abode there; by which, at last, I rendered myself extremely
contemptible; yet these were the only people from whom I could ever receive a
reasonable answer.
I had
obtained, by hard study, a good degree of knowledge in their language: I was
weary of being confined to an island where I received so little countenance,
and resolved to leave it with the first opportunity.
There was
a great lord at court, nearly related to the king, and for that reason alone
used with respect. He was universally reckoned the most ignorant and
stupid person among them. He had performed many eminent services for the
crown, had great natural and acquired parts, adorned with integrity and honour;
but so ill an ear for music, that his detractors reported, “he had been often
known to beat time in the wrong place;” neither could his tutors, without
extreme difficulty, teach him to demonstrate the most easy proposition in the
mathematics. He was pleased to show me many marks of favour, often did me
the honour of a visit, desired to be informed in the affairs of Europe, the laws
and customs, the manners and learning of the several countries where I had
travelled. He listened to me with great attention, and made very wise
observations on all I spoke. He had two flappers attending him for state,
but never made use of them, except at court and in visits of ceremony, and
would always command them to withdraw, when we were alone together.
I
entreated this illustrious person, to intercede in my behalf with his majesty,
for leave to depart; which he accordingly did, as he was pleased to tell me,
with regret: for indeed he had made me several offers very advantageous, which,
however, I refused, with expressions of the highest acknowledgment.
On the
16th of February I took leave of his majesty and the court. The king made
me a present to the value of about two hundred pounds English, and my
protector, his kinsman, as much more, together with a letter of recommendation
to a friend of his in Lagado, the metropolis. The island being then
hovering over a mountain about two miles from it, I was let down from the
lowest gallery, in the same manner as I had been taken up.
The
continent, as far as it is subject to the monarch of the flying island, passes
under the general name of Balnibarbi; and the metropolis, as I said
before, is called Lagado. I felt some little satisfaction in
finding myself on firm ground. I walked to the city without any concern,
being clad like one of the natives, and sufficiently instructed to converse
with them. I soon found out the person’s house to whom I was recommended,
presented my letter from his friend the grandee in the island, and was received
with much kindness. This great lord, whose name was Munodi, ordered me an
apartment in his own house, where I continued during my stay, and was
entertained in a most hospitable manner.
The next
morning after my arrival, he took me in his chariot to see the town, which is
about half the bigness of London; but the houses very strangely built, and most
of them out of repair. The people in the streets walked fast, looked wild,
their eyes fixed, and were generally in rags. We passed through one of
the town gates, and went about three miles into the country, where I saw many
labourers working with several sorts of tools in the ground, but was not able
to conjecture what they were about: neither did observe any expectation either
of corn or grass, although the soil appeared to be excellent. I could not
forbear admiring at these odd appearances, both in town and country; and I made
bold to desire my conductor, that he would be pleased to explain to me, what
could be meant by so many busy heads, hands, and faces, both in the streets and
the fields, because I did not discover any good effects they produced; but, on
the contrary, I never knew a soil so unhappily cultivated, houses so ill
contrived and so ruinous, or a people whose countenances and habit expressed so
much misery and want.
This lord
Munodi was a person of the first rank, and had been some years governor of
Lagado; but, by a cabal of ministers, was discharged for insufficiency.
However, the king treated him with tenderness, as a well-meaning man, but of a
low contemptible understanding.
When I
gave that free censure of the country and its inhabitants, he made no further
answer than by telling me, “that I had not been long enough among them to form
a judgment; and that the different nations of the world had different customs;”
with other common topics to the same purpose. But, when we returned to
his palace, he asked me “how I liked the building, what absurdities I observed,
and what quarrel I had with the dress or looks of his domestics?” This he
might safely do; because every thing about him was magnificent, regular, and
polite. I answered, “that his excellency’s prudence, quality, and
fortune, had exempted him from those defects, which folly and beggary had
produced in others.” He said, “if I would go with him to his country-house,
about twenty miles distant, where his estate lay, there would be more leisure
for this kind of conversation.” I told his excellency “that I was
entirely at his disposal;” and accordingly we set out next morning.
During our
journey he made me observe the several methods used by farmers in managing
their lands, which to me were wholly unaccountable; for, except in some very
few places, I could not discover one ear of corn or blade of grass. But,
in three hours travelling, the scene was wholly altered; we came into a most
beautiful country; farmers’ houses, at small distances, neatly built; the
fields enclosed, containing vineyards, corn-grounds, and meadows. Neither
do I remember to have seen a more delightful prospect. His excellency
observed my countenance to clear up; he told me, with a sigh, “that there his
estate began, and would continue the same, till we should come to his house:
that his countrymen ridiculed and despised him, for managing his affairs no
better, and for setting so ill an example to the kingdom; which, however, was
followed by very few, such as were old, and wilful, and weak like himself.”
We came at
length to the house, which was indeed a noble structure, built according to the
best rules of ancient architecture. The fountains, gardens, walks,
avenues, and groves, were all disposed with exact judgment and taste. I
gave due praises to every thing I saw, whereof his excellency took not the
least notice till after supper; when, there being no third companion, he told
me with a very melancholy air “that he doubted he must throw down his houses in
town and country, to rebuild them after the present mode; destroy all his
plantations, and cast others into such a form as modern usage required, and
give the same directions to all his tenants, unless he would submit to incur
the censure of pride, singularity, affectation, ignorance, caprice, and perhaps
increase his majesty’s displeasure; that the admiration I appeared to be under
would cease or diminish, when he had informed me of some particulars which,
probably, I never heard of at court, the people there being too much taken up
in their own speculations, to have regard to what passed here below.”
The sum of
his discourse was to this effect: “That about forty years ago, certain persons
went up to Laputa, either upon business or diversion, and, after five months
continuance, came back with a very little smattering in mathematics, but full
of volatile spirits acquired in that airy region: that these persons, upon
their return, began to dislike the management of every thing below, and fell
into schemes of putting all arts, sciences, languages, and mechanics, upon a
new foot. To this end, they procured a royal patent for erecting an
academy of projectors in Lagado; and the humour prevailed so strongly among the
people, that there is not a town of any consequence in the kingdom without such
an academy. In these colleges the professors contrive new rules and
methods of agriculture and building, and new instruments, and tools for all
trades and manufactures; whereby, as they undertake, one man shall do the work
of ten; a palace may be built in a week, of materials so durable as to last for
ever without repairing. All the fruits of the earth shall come to
maturity at whatever season we think fit to choose, and increase a hundred fold
more than they do at present; with innumerable other happy proposals. The
only inconvenience is, that none of these projects are yet brought to
perfection; and in the mean time, the whole country lies miserably waste, the
houses in ruins, and the people without food or clothes. By all which,
instead of being discouraged, they are fifty times more violently bent upon
prosecuting their schemes, driven equally on by hope and despair: that as for
himself, being not of an enterprising spirit, he was content to go on in the
old forms, to live in the houses his ancestors had built, and act as they did,
in every part of life, without innovation: that some few other persons of
quality and gentry had done the same, but were looked on with an eye of
contempt and ill-will, as enemies to art, ignorant, and ill common-wealth’s
men, preferring their own ease and sloth before the general improvement of
their country.”
His
lordship added, “That he would not, by any further particulars, prevent the
pleasure I should certainly take in viewing the grand academy, whither he was
resolved I should go.” He only desired me to observe a ruined building,
upon the side of a mountain about three miles distant, of which he gave me this
account: “That he had a very convenient mill within half a mile of his house,
turned by a current from a large river, and sufficient for his own family, as
well as a great number of his tenants; that about seven years ago, a club of
those projectors came to him with proposals to destroy this mill, and build
another on the side of that mountain, on the long ridge whereof a long canal
must be cut, for a repository of water, to be conveyed up by pipes and engines
to supply the mill, because the wind and air upon a height agitated the water,
and thereby made it fitter for motion, and because the water, descending down a
declivity, would turn the mill with half the current of a river whose course is
more upon a level.” He said, “that being then not very well with the court,
and pressed by many of his friends, he complied with the proposal; and after
employing a hundred men for two years, the work miscarried, the projectors went
off, laying the blame entirely upon him, railing at him ever since, and putting
others upon the same experiment, with equal assurance of success, as well as
equal disappointment.”
In a few
days we came back to town; and his excellency, considering the bad character he
had in the academy, would not go with me himself, but recommended me to a
friend of his, to bear me company thither. My lord was pleased to
represent me as a great admirer of projects, and a person of much curiosity and
easy belief; which, indeed, was not without truth; for I had myself been a sort
of projector in my younger days.
To be continued
