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 northwest 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 labor, and ill food, the rest were in a very
weak condition. On the fifth 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
labor 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
daylight. 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 downward 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 meantime, 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 I then 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 an 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 me 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, arid 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 an 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 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 flung 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 honor I made them,
for so I interpreted my submissive behavior, 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. 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
endeavored 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.
[Illustration:
HE DESIRED I WOULD STAND LIKE A COLOSSUS
From the painting by Arthur Rackham]
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 flung into the engine, and there tied fast. All this I
was told, for, while the whole 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 an 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 awaking so suddenly. We made a long march the
remaining part of that 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 sunrise 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 on 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 an 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.
GULLIVER AT THE COURT OF LILLIPUT
By Jonathan Swift
My gentleness and good behavior had gained so far on the emperor
and his court, and indeed upon the army and people in general,
that I began to conceive hopes of getting my liberty in a short
time. I took all possible methods to cultivate this favorable
disposition. The natives came, by degrees, to be less apprehensive
of any danger from me. I would sometimes lie down and let five or
six of them dance on my hand; and, at last, the boys and girls
would venture to come and play at hide-and-seek in my hair. I had
now made a good progress in understanding and speaking their
language. The emperor had a mind, one day, to entertain me with
several of the country shows, wherein they exceed all nations I
have known, both for dexterity and magnificence. I was diverted
with none so much as that of the rope-dances, performed upon a
slender white thread, extended about two feet, and twelve inches
from the ground. Upon which I shall desire liberty, with the
reader's patience, to enlarge a little.
This diversion is only practised by those persons who are
candidates for great employments, and high favor at court. They
are trained in this art from their youth, and are not always of
noble birth, or liberal education. When a great office is vacant,
either by death or disgrace (which often happens), five or six of
those candidates petition the emperor to entertain his Majesty and
the court with a dance on the rope, and whoever jumps the highest,
without falling, succeeds in the office. Very often the chief
ministers themselves are commanded to show their skill, and to
convince the emperor that they have not lost their faculty.
Flimnap, the treasurer, is allowed to cut a caper on the strait
rope at least an inch higher than any other lord in the whole
empire. I have seen him do the somerset several times together,
upon a trencher fixed on the rope, which is no thicker than a
common packthread in England. My friend Reldresal, principal
secretary for private affairs, is, in my opinion, if I am not
partial, the second after the treasurer; the rest of the great
officers are much upon a par.
These diversions are often attended with fatal accidents, whereof
great numbers are on record. I myself have seen two or three
candidates break a limb. But the danger is much greater when the
ministers themselves are commanded to show their dexterity; for,
by contending to excel themselves and their fellows, they strain
so far, that there is hardly one of them who has not received a
fall, and some of them two or three. I was assured, that, a year
or two before my arrival, Flimnap would have infallibly broke his
neck, if one of the king's cushions, that accidentally lay on the
ground, had not weakened the force of his fall.
There is likewise another diversion, which is only shown before
the emperor and empress, and first minister, upon particular
occasions. The emperor lays on the table three fine silken threads
of six inches long: one is blue, the other red, and the third
green. These threads are proposed as prizes for those persons whom
the emperor hath a mind to distinguish by a peculiar mark of his
favor. The ceremony is performed in his Majesty's great chamber of
state, where the candidates are to undergo a trial of dexterity
very different from the former, and such as I have not observed
the least resemblance of in any other country of the old or new
world. The emperor holds a stick in his hands, both ends parallel
to the horizon, while the candidates advancing, one by one,
sometimes leap over the stick, sometimes creep under it backwards
and forwards several times, according as the stick is advanced or
depressed. Sometimes the emperor holds one end of the stick, and
his first minister the other; sometimes the minister has it
entirely to himself. Whoever performs his part with most agility,
and holds out the longest in leaping and creeping, is rewarded
with the blue-colored silk, the red is given to the next, and the
green to the third, which they all wear girt twice round about the
middle, and you see few great persons about this court who are not
adorned with one of these girdles.
The horses of the army, and those of the royal stables, having
been daily led before me, were no longer shy, but would come up to
my very feet without starting, The riders would leap them over my
hand as I held it on the ground, and one of the emperor's
huntsmen, upon a large courser, took my foot, shoe and all; which
was, indeed, a prodigious leap. I had the good fortune to divert
the emperor, one day, after a very extraordinary manner: I desired
he would order several sticks of two feet high, and the thickness
of an ordinary cane, to be brought me; whereupon his Majesty
commanded the master of his woods to give directions accordingly,
and the next morning six woodmen arrived with as many carriages,
drawn by eight horses to each. I took nine of these sticks, and
fixing them firmly in the ground, in a quadrangular figure, two
feet and a half square, I took four other sticks, and tied them
parallel at each corner, about two feet from the ground; then I
fastened my handkerchief to the nine sticks that stood erect, and
extended it on all sides till it was as tight as the top of a
drum; and the four parallel sticks, rising about five inches
higher than the handkerchief, served as ledges on each side. When
I had finished my work, I desired the emperor to let a troop of
his best horse, twenty-four in number, come and exercise upon this
plain. His Majesty approved of the proposal, and I took them up
one by one in my hands, ready mounted and armed, with the proper
officers to exercise them. As soon as they got in order, they
divided into two parties, performed mock skirmishes, discharged
blunt arrows, drew their swords, fled and pursued, attacked and
retired, and in short discovered the best military discipline I
ever beheld. The parallel sticks secured them and their horses
from falling over the stage; and the emperor was so much
delighted, that he ordered this entertainment to be repeated
several days, and once was pleased to be lifted up, and give the
word of command; and, with great difficulty, persuaded even the
empress herself to let me hold her in her close chair within two
yards of the stage, from whence she was able to take a full view
of the whole performance. It was by good fortune that no ill
accident happened in these entertainments, only once a fiery
horse, that belonged to one of the captains, pawing with his hoof,
struck a hole in my handkerchief, and his foot slipping, he
overthrew his rider and himself; but I immediately relieved them
both, and covering the hole with one hand, I set down the troop
with the other, in the same manner as I took them up. The horse
that fell was strained in the left shoulder, but the rider got no
hurt, and I repaired my handkerchief as well as I could; however,
I would not trust to the strength of it any more in such dangerous
enterprises.