I could now hold out no longer; but, standing up, made my speech in

the following manner, or very near it: "Mighty king--you, reverend

ragans--and honourable colambs--with the good people of this august

assembly--I am come hither, led by the force of your own prediction, at

the request of his majesty and the states, at the peril of my life, to

accomplish things said to be predicted of me, glumm Peter. If, then,

you have a prediction, if, then, your prediction describes me, and the

circumstances of these times, it consisting of several parts, they ought

seriously to be weighed, that I may know when and where I am to begin my

operation, and when and where to leave off; for in predictions the whole

is to be accomplished as much as any member of it.

"It is said I shall destroy the traitor of the ancient limits of your

monarchy. Are you willing, therefore, that should be done? yea, or nay?"

Then every one answered, "Yea."--"And by common consent establish

what the old ragan would have taught you?" Here the king rose up; but

Barbarsa giving him a touch (for every one waited to be guided by the

voice of the ragans), he sat down again; and no one answering Yea, west;

"I am ready to enter upon it and settle the question."

I again put the same question, and told them, as it was their own

concern, I would have an answer before I proceeded. One of the ragans

then rose, and said that part of the prediction was too loose to be

relied on, for it was to settle what he would have taught: "Now, who

knows," says he, "what he would have taught?" The assembly paused a

considerable time, and just as I was opening my mouth to speak, an

ancient and venerable ragan rose: says he, "I am sorry, at my years,

to find that truth wants an advocate; my age and infirmities might well

have excused me from speaking in this assembly, so many of my brethren

being present, younger and better qualified for that purpose than

myself; but as we are upon a sacred thing, and lest, as I find none of

them care to declare the truth, I should also be thought to consent

to its suppression if I sat silent and suffered it to be hid under a

quibble, I must beg to be heard a few words. My brother, who spoke last,

says the words are too loose which say, 'and by common consent establish

what I would have taught;' but I beg leave to think it far otherwise,

for we all know what he would have taught, and the memory of that hath

been as exactly kept as the prediction; for how could our ancestors have

opposed his doctrine, but from hearing and disapproving it? And we all

know, not only the prediction, but the doctrine, hath been punctually

handed down to us; though, woe be to us! we have not proclaimed it as

we have done the prediction; and let me tell you, when you, my brethren,

severally come to my years, and have but a single step farther to

hoximo, you will wish you had taught it, as I do, who believe and

approve it." The poor old man, having spoke as long as his breath and

spirits would permit him, sat down, and I again resumed the question,

as I now thought, on a much better foundation than before, and was

immediately told by another ragan that there would be no end to the

assembly if we considered every point at once, for we might next go upon

what countries we should conquer, and of whom to demand tribute; which

would be debating about the fruit before the seed was sown. But his

opinion was, to go on and quell the rebellion, and restore the monarchy,

and then go upon the other points.

I told them, if they had made so light of the prediction as not to

declare publicly, since they knew it, what the ragan would have taught,

it ill became me to be more zealous in their own concerns than they were

themselves; and I should imagine there was very little truth in any

part of it, and would never hazard my life for their sakes who would not

speak the truth to save the kingdom, and desired leave of the states for

my departure; for I was not a person, I told them, to be cajoled into

anything. I undertook it at first voluntarily; and no man could, or

should, compel me to it: my life they might take, but my honour they

should never stain, though I was assured I could easily, with their

concurrence, complete all that related to them.

The senior colamb immediately rising, desired me to have a little

patience, and not to leave the assembly (for I was going out) till I had

heard him.

"Here is," says he, "this day a thing started, which, I think, every

whit as much concerns us all, and the body, and every member of the

people to know, as it does Peter; and I am surprised, unless the present

ragans believe what their predecessor would have taught to be better

than what they now teach (for nothing else can make us consent to it),

that they should scruple to let us know it, and keep us ignorant, who

are worshippers as well as themselves, of any matter which so nearly

concerns us to know. I am for obliging the ragans to declare the truth.

If this be a true prediction, all the relatives to it are true, and I

insist that we hear it."

This speech emboldened several others; and all the populace siding with

the colambs out of curiosity, cried out to know it.

Perceiving the ragans still hush, I rose; and beckoning the populace to

silence, "Mighty king--you, honourable colambs--and you, good people,"

says I--"for it is to you I now speak, hear me with attention. You

think, perhaps, that the suppression of the truth by your ragans

(charged to their teeth by the most reverend of their whole body, whose

infirmities rendering him unable, though his will is good, to declare

this secret to you) will prevent the knowledge of that truth your old

ragan would have taught, but you are mistaken; and that you may know I

don't come here at a venture to try if I can relieve you, but with an

assurance of doing it if you consent, I must let you know from me

what the ragan would have taught. The ragan would have demolished this

trumpery piece of dirt, this grimalkin, set out with horrid face and

colour to fright children; this," I say, "he would have demolished,

being assured it could neither do good nor hurt, give joy or grief

to any man, or serve any other purpose whatsoever, but to procure a

maintenance to a set of men who know much better than they dare to tell

you. Can any of you believe this stupid piece of earth hears me?" Some

of the ragans cried, "Yes!"--"And that he can revenge any affront I

shall give him?" Again, "Yes, to be sure!"--"Let him then, if he dare,"

says I, whipping out my cutlass, and with the backside of it striking

his head off. "This," says I, "O glumms, is what the ragan knew, and

what I defy them to deny. Now," says I, "I will further show you to whom

the old ragan would have taught you to make your petitions and pay your

adorations; and that is to the Supreme Being, Maker of heaven and

earth, of us and all things; who provides for us meat and drink, and

all things, by causing the earth, which He has made, to produce things

necessary for our use; that Being, whom you have heard of by the name

of Collwar, and are taught at present to be afraid to speak to. And

I appeal to your own hearts if many of you have ever thought of him.

Again," says I, "let anything in the shape of man, that gives himself

leave to consider at all, only tell me if what he can make, and does

make, with his own hands, hath not more occasion to depend on him as its

maker than he on that? Why, then, should not we depend upon and pray to

our Maker?

"You very greatly mistake me, O glumms," says I, "if you imagine I would

have all those reverend men turned out of employment as useless. No, I

find they know too much of what is valuable; and therefore those who are

willing to continue in the service of the mouch, and faithfully to teach

you the old ragan's doctrine, and such farther lights of the great Being

as they shall hereafter receive, let them continue your ragans still,

and let others be chosen and trained up in that doctrine."

Here the poor old man got up again with much difficulty. "Mr. Peter,"

says he, "you are the-man predicted of; you have declared the old

ragan's mind, and all my brethren know it."

Finding I had the populace on my side (for I did not doubt the king and

the colambs), I put the question to the ragans: "Reverend ragans," says

I, "you see your prediction this day about to be fulfilled; for if it

is a true one, no force of man can withstand it. You see your Image

disgraced; you see, and I appeal to you all for the truth of it, that

what the ragan would have taught has, without your assistance, been

disclosed. I therefore would have you the first to break the bondage of

idolatry and turn to the true Collwar, as it will be so much glory to

you. Will you, and which of you, from henceforth serve Collwar, and no

longer worship an idol? Such of you as will do so, let them continue

in the mouch: if none of you will, it shall be my business to qualify a

sufficient number of true ragans to form a succession for that purpose.

The issue of this great affair depends upon your answers." They waited

some time for a spokesman to begin, and so soon as he was able to get

up, the poor old ragan said, "I will continue in it, and do all the good

I can: and blessed be the day this prediction is fulfilled to succeeding

generations! I have lived long enough to have seen this." Then the

rest of the ragans, one by one, followed his example. And thus, with

prodigious acclamations, both the ragans and people ended the great

affair of religion.

I now more and more believed the truth of the prediction, and told them

I should have occasion for seven hundred men before I set out against

the rebels; and desired that they might be commanded by Nasgig. This was

readily granted. I then told them, as I purposed to act nothing without

their concurrence, I desired the colambs would remain in the city till I

set out, that they might be readily called together.

I then desired I might be quite private from company till I departed.

I took Nasgig home with me; and when we came there, "My dear friend,"

says he, "what have you done to-day! You have crushed a power hitherto

immovable; and I shall never more think anything too difficult for you

to attempt."--"Nasgig," says I, "I am glad it is over. And now," says

I, "you must enter on a new employ: but first, can you provide me

fifty honest, faithful glumms for a particular expedition? they must

be sensible, close, and temporising." He said he would, and come to me

again.

I then desired a private audience with the king; who, on seeing me,

began upon my success at the moucheratt. I told his majesty, if I alone,

and a stranger, could gain such influence there, I might have had much

more if he had joined me, especially as he had told me he gave no credit

to the Image; and that I expected he would have appeared on my side.

"Ah, Peter!" says he, "monarchs neither see, hear, nor perceive with

their own eyes, ears, or understandings. I would willingly have done it;

but Barbarsa prevented me, by assuring me it would be my ruin; and as he

is my bosom friend, what reproaches must I have suffered if it had gone

amiss! Nay, I will tell you that he and Nicor are of opinion that your

coming hither, which is looked upon by us all as such a blessing, will

one day undo me; 'for,' say they, 'though he may perform what you expect

from him, it is not to be supposed he should suffer it to redound to

you.' 'No,' say they, 'if he can do these great things, he can soon set

you aside.' Thus, though I have no doubt of you, is my spirit wasting

within me through perpetual fears and jealousies; and I cannot get these

men, who, knowing all my secrets, are feared by me, into my own way of

thinking."

"Mighty sir," says I, "don't think I came hither to possess, but redress

a kingdom. I lived far more to my ease in my grotto than I can in this

palace; but I now desire you," drawing my sword and putting it into his

hand, "to pierce this heart's blood and make yourself easy in my death,

rather than, suffering me to survive, live in distrust of me. No, great

king," says I, "it is not that I would injure you; but though I have

been so short a time in your dominions, I find there are those who

would, and will too, unless you exert the monarch, and shake off those

harpies which, lying always at your ear, are ever buzzing disquiet and

mischief to you."--"Peter," says he, "what do you mean? sure I have no

more traitors in my State!"--"Your majesty has," says I.--"How can you

prove it?" says he. "But pray inform me who they are?"--"I came not

hither, great king," says I, "to turn informer, but reformer; and so far

as that is necessary in order to this, I will give you satisfaction.

I only desire you will wholly guide yourself by my direction for three

days, and you shall be able to help yourself to all the information you

can require without ray telling you. In the meantime, appear no more

thoughtful than usual, or in any other way alter your accustomed

habits.".

Nasgig having sent me the fifty men, I asked them if they were to be

trusted, and if they could carefully and artfully execute a commission

I had to charge them with. They assuring me they would, I told them I

would let them into my design, which would be the best instructions I

could give them, and left the management alone to them.

My confidence in them made them twice as diligent as all the particular

directions in the world would have done; so I only told them I had a

mind the revolted towns and also the enemy's army should know that the

person so long ago predicted of was now at Brandleguarp, and had, as

the first step towards reducing them and killing the traitor Harlokin,

already altered their religion to the old ragan's plan; and that they

had now nothing to expect but destruction to themselves as soon as I

appeared against them with my unknown fire and smoke, which I always

had with me; and that the thing was looked upon to be as good as done

already at Brandleguarp; and then to slip away again unperceived. They

all promised me exact performance, and went off.

Nasgig then coming in, I told him he was now under my command, and must

take six hundred glumms with him to Graundevolet; tell Youwarkee to show

him my ship, and then he must bring me the things I had described to her

by the name of cannon. He must bring them by ropes, as I was brought;

and bring powder, which she would direct him to, and the heavy balls

which lay in the room with the powder. I told him if he thought he

should not have men enough he must take more; and must be as expeditious

as was consistent with safety. I desired him to tell Youwarkee I hoped

in a short time to send for her and all the family over to me. "And now,

Nasgig," says I, "my orders are finished; but," says I, "the king! I

must assist that good man. I therefore want to know the particular times

Barbarsa and Yaccombourse usually meet."--"That," says he, "is every

night when she is not with the king; for he is excessively fond of her,

and seldom lies without her; but whenever he does, Barbarsa is admitted

to her."--"And how can I know," says I, "when she will or will not lie

with the king?"

"When she is to lie with him," says he, "the king never sups without

her."--"-Now," says I, "you must show me your lodging, that I may find

it in your absence; and give orders to the guard to let me, and whoever

comes with me, enter at any time." He then took me to his chamber; but I

passed through so many rooms, galleries, and passages, that I was sure

I should never find it again, so I asked him if Maleck knew the way?

and he assuring me he did, I took my leave of him, and he set out for

Graundevolet.

[Illustration: 5171]

[Illustration: 0172]

CHAPTER XV.

_The king hears Barbarsa and Yaccombourse discourse on the plot--They

are impeached by Peter at a moucherait--Condemned and executed--Nicor

submits, and is released._

I HAD now several important irons in the fire, and all to be struck

whilst hot; there was the securing religion, sowing sedition amongst the

enemy, tripping up the heels of two ministers and a she-favourite, and

transporting artillery in the air some hundred leagues; either of which

failing might have been of exceeding bad consequence; but as the affair

of the ministers now lay next at hand, I entered upon that in the

following manner.

The king coming to me the next day, as by appointment, and having

assured me he had hinted nothing to any one, no, not to Barbarsa or

Yaccom-bourse, told me that Barbarsa had given orders for stopping

Nasgig and his men; and had persuaded him not to be in such haste in

suffering me to do as I pleased, but to show his authority and keep me

under. Says I, "Your majesty's safety is so near my heart, that even

want of confidence in me shall not make me decline my endeavours to

serve you. But have you suffered him to stop Nasgig?"--"No," says he,

"Nasgig was gone some time before he sent."--"Oh, sir!" says I, "you do

not half know the worth of that man! but you shall hereafter, and will

reward him accordingly. But now, sir," says I, "to what we meet upon;

if you will, as I told you, but comply with me for three days, without

asking questions, I will show you the greatest traitors in your

dominions, and put them into your power too." He promised me again he

would. "Then, sir," says I, "you must not send to Yaccombourse to sup

with you to-night."--"Nor lie with me?"--"No," says I.--"Pray, what

hurt can arise to my affairs from her?" says he.--"Sir," says I, "you

promised me to ask no questions."--"Agreed, agreed!" says he.--"Then,"

says I, "please to meet me at Nasgig's lodgings without being perceived,

if you can; at least without notice taken."--"Good," says he.--"And when

you are there, see or hear what you will, you must not say a word till

you are retired again." All which the king engaging to perform, we

parted till evening.

I called Maleck, and asked if he knew the way to Nasgig's lodging. He

told me, very well: and, the time being come, he conducted me thither,

where I had not waited long before the king came, most of the court

being in bed. I desired the king to stay in the outer room till I went

into the bedchamber two or three times, and I thought we must have put

it off till another night: but listening once again, I found they were

come, so I called the king, and led him to the place, entreating him,

whatever he heard, to keep his patience or he would ruin all. We first

heard much amorous discourse between Barbarsa and Yaccombourse, and then

the ensuing dialogue.

_Yac_. My dearest Barbarsa, what was all that uproar at the moucheratt

the other day?

_Bar_. Nothing, my love, but that mad fellow Peter, who sets up for a

conjuror, and wants us all to dance to his pipe.

_Yac_. I heard he overcame the ragans at an argument about the Image.

_Bar_. Why, I don't know how that was, but it was the doating old ragan

did their business; and truly the king's fingers itched to be on

Peter's side, but I gave him a judicious nod, and you know he durst not

displease so dear a friend as I am; ha, ha, ha! Am not I a sad fellow,

my love, to talk so of my king?

_Yac_. He that wants but one step to a throne, is almost a king's fellow

_Bar_. And that but a short one too, my dear Yaccee; but I must get rid

of that Nasgig, though I think I have almost spoiled him with the king,

too. I don't love your thinking rascals: that fellow thinks more than I

do, Yaccee.

_Yac_. He'll never think to so good purpose, I believe. But how goes

cousin Harlokin on? I find Gauingrunt is gone over.

_Bar_. And so shall Bazin, Istell, Pezele, and Ginkatt too, my dear; for

I am at work there. And then good-night, my poor King Georigetti; thou

shalt be advised to fly, and I'll keep the throne warm for thee.--I

don't see but King Barbarsa and Queen Yaccombourse sound much better

than Georigetti. Well, my dear, whenever we come to sovereignty, which

now cannot be long, if Nicor has but played his part well, for I have

not had an account of his success yet; I say, when we come into power,

never let us be above minding our own affairs, or suffer ourselves to be

led by the nose, as this poor insignificant king does. For, in short,

he may as well be a king of mats, as a king of flesh, if he will not use

his faculties, but suffer me to make a fool of him thus; and I should

be a fool indeed to neglect it, when he thinks it the greatest piece of

service I can do him.

_Yac_. Come, come, my dear! let us enjoy ourselves like king and queen

till we come to the dignity.

Finding a pause, the king, who had admirably kept his temper, even

beyond imagination, stole into the outer room. "Peter," says he,

"I thank you; you have shown me myself. What fools are we kings! In

endeavouring to make others happy, how miserable do we make ourselves!

How easily are we deceived by the designing flattery of those

below us!--Ungrateful villain!--Degenerate strumpet!--I hate you

both.--Peter," says he, "give me your sword; I'll destroy them both

immediately."

"Hold, sir," says I, "your majesty has heard sufficient to found a true

judgment upon; but kings should not be executioners, or act by passion

or revenge; but as you would punish that in others, so carefully avoid

it yourself. You who are in so exalted a station, as always to have

it in your power to punish a known crime in individuals, have not that

necessity to prompt you to a violent act that private persons have, to

whom it may be difficult to obtain justice. Therefore my advice is, that

you summon the colambs to-morrow, when Barbarsa and Nicor cannot fail

to attend; and I would also desire Yaccombourse to be there, you having

great proposals to make to the states which you shall want her to hear.

I will in the meantime prepare the servants under Quilly, and order

Maleck with another posse to attend, as by your command, to execute

your orders given by me, and I myself will impeach those bad persons in

public; and Nicor, if he will not ingenuously confess what commission

he was charged with from Barbarsa, shall be put to the torture I direct,

till he discovers it."

The king was very well pleased with this method; so I ordered Quilly, as

from the king, to bring all my servants to the assembly, appointing him

his place, and Maleck to select me fifty stout persons and to wait to

execute my orders on a signal given. So soon as the assembly met, I told

them, since I had concerned myself in their affairs, I had made it my

business to search into the cause of their calamities; and finding some

of the traitors were now approached, not only near to, but even into the

capital city, his majesty had therefore ordered me to ask their advice,

what punishment was adequate, in their judgments, to the crime

of conspiring against him and the State, and holding treasonable

correspondence with his enemies under the show of his greatest friends.

I stopped, and looked at Barbarsa; he turned as pale as ashes and was

rising to speak, when the senior colamb declared, if any such thing

could be made appear, the common punishment of Crash-doorpt was too

trivial; but they deserved to be dropped alive either to hoximo or Mount

Alkoe. The several colambs all declaring the same to be their judgment,

and even those to be too mild for their deserts, I then stepped up to

Barbarsa, who sat at the king's left hand, as did Yaccombourse at his

right, and telling them and Nicor they were all prisoners of state, I

delivered Barbarsa and Yaccombourse in custody to Quilly and his men,

and Nicor to Maleck and his men, ordering them into separate apartments,

with strict commands that neither should speak to the other upon pain of

the last pronounced judgment.

Barbarsa would have spoke, and called out to the king, begging him not

to desert so faithful a servant for the insinuations of so vile a man

as Peter; but the king only told him the vile man could be made appear

presently, and he hoped he would meet his deserts.

I then stood up and told the assembly the whole of what we heard, how

it first came to be discovered, and that the king himself had been an

ear-witness of it, which the king confirming, the whole assembly rang

with confusion, and revenge and indignation appeared in every face.

I then proposed, as we yet knew not what that secret commission was

which Nicor was charged with, having enough against the rest, that

Nicor might be brought forth; and upon refusal to answer, be put to the

torture.

Nicor appearing before the assembly, I told him I was commanded by the

king to ask him what commission he was charged with by Barbarsa, and

to whom. I told him the safest way for his life, his honour, and his

country, was to make a true confession at first, or I had authority to

put him to the torture; for, as for slitting and banishment, as they

were too slight to atone for this offence, he might rest satisfied his

would be of another sort, if he hesitated at delivering the thing in its

full truth.

My prelude terrifying him, he openly confessed that his last commission

was to several towns, as from the king, and with his gripsack, to order

their submission to Harlokin, the king not being in any condition to

relieve them; and that as soon as they had submitted, Harlokin would be

let into this city, which could not stand against him.

He also declared that it had been agreed, and the boundaries settled,

how far Barbarsa, who was to be declared king and marry Yaccombourse,

should govern, and how far Harlokin; that Barbarsa was to be styled King

of the East, and Harlokin King of the West; and that either of them, on

the other's dying childless, was to inherit the whole monarchy.

The king declaring this to be all true, and that by my procurement

he heard it all mentioned but the last night between Barbarsa and

Yaccombourse as they were solacing themselves in bed, the whole assembly

ordered them to be brought out, carried with cords about their necks,

and precipitated into Mount Alkoe.

I then begged they might be suffered to speak for themselves before

execution; and acquainting them severally with the evidence, I first

asked Barbarsa what he had to say against his sentence. He declared his

ambition, and the easiness of his master's temper, had instigated him

to attempt what had been charged upon him; having, as he thought, a fair

opportunity of so doing.--I then asked Yaccombourse the same question;

she answered me, her ambition had been her sole governor from a child,

and I had done my worst in preventing the progress of that; and whatever

else I could do was not worth her notice; "But to have reigned,"

says she, with some emotion, "was worth the lives of millions, and

overbalanced everything!"

I pleaded hard for Nicor, as I perceived him to be only the favourite's

favourite, and not in the scrape for his own views, more than what he

might merit from his new master; and as he had declared the truth, and

I believed I might make further use of him, I obtained that he might

be only committed to me, and that I might have liberty of pardoning or

slitting as I saw fit; and, as I expected, he afterwards proved very

useful to me and my designs, and I pardoned him.

Before the assembly rose, a party of the natives of Mount Alkoe were

ordered to convey Yaccombourse and Barbarsa to the mountain, slip their

graundees, and drop them there; and thus ended the lives of these two

aspiring persons.

When I came home, I called Nicor before me. "You know," says I, "Nicor,

you are obliged to me for this moment of your life; but I don't remind

you of it for any return I want to myself; but as you are sensible my

endeavours are to serve this State, I offer you life and freedom upon

condition you employ your utmost diligence to repair your past conduct,

by a free declaration of everything in your power that may be for the

benefit of the kingdom, as you know the springs by which all these bad

movements have been set at work; and I desire your opinion how best to

counteract the schemes formed, and redress the evils."

Nicor being fully convinced of his error, and having lost his patron,

was very submissive; and declared he believed none of the provinces

would have gone over to Harlokin, unless they had thought it was the

king's order Barbarsa had acted by, which, by bearing his gripsack, they

made no doubt of. He advised to send expresses with the king's gripsack

to such places as had lately submitted, and to such as were about it,

to put a stop to them. I told him I had done that; "But not by the

gripsack," says he, "and unless they see and hear that, they will give

no credit to the message." He then gave me some particular hints in other

affairs of no mean consequence; and seeing him truly under concern, and,

to my thinking, sincere in what he said, I told him I was an absolute

enemy to confinement, and if any person of repute would engage he should

be forthcoming upon all occasions that I might have recourse to him, I

would let him have his liberty.

Poor Nicor, as it commonly happens to great men in disgrace, finding

himself abandoned by all his friends, after trying everybody, dropping

some tears, told me next morning he was highly sensible of what a dye

his offences had been, for that not one amongst all his former friends

would even look upon him in his present circumstances, wherefore he must

submit to fate.

Nicor having borne a good character before seduced by Barbarsa, and

knowing that an obliged enemy often becomes the sincerest friend, I

pressed him again to try his friends. He told me everybody was shy of

engaging in such an affair; and that he had rather suffer himself, than

meanly to entreat any one into an unwilling compliance.--"Come, Nicor,"

says I, "will you be your own security to me? May I take your own

word?"--He said he could not expect that; for as the terror of slitting

lay over him, and in my hands too, he could not answer but he might

deceive me in case he should conceive I had a design against him; which

I myself, too, might have from a mistaken motive.

"Why, then, Nicor," says I, "you are free; now use your own discretion.

I think you will never cause my judgment to be impeached for what I have

done; but if you do, I can't condemn myself for it, and hope I shall

have no reason to repent it."

Nicor fell at my feet, embraced them, and was so overcome with my

generosity to him, that I could with difficulty prevail on him to rise

again; saying he was now more than ever ashamed to see my face. I told

him I had not done with him, but would use him henceforth as my

friend, and ordered him to call upon me daily, for I might have several

occasions for him; and, truly, next to Nasgig, he proved the usefullest

man in the kingdom.

[Illustration: 5183]

[Illustration: 0184]

CHAPTER XVI.

_Nasgig returns with the cannon--Peter informs him of the

execution--Appoints him a guard--Settles the order of his march against

Harlokin--Combat between Nasgig and the rebel general--The battle--Peter

returning with Harlokids head, is met by a Sweecoan--A public

festival--Slavery abolished._

THE tenth day Nasgig arrived, whilst I happened to be in the king's

garden; and hearing the trumpet coming before, I called out to him to

give Nasgig notice where I was, and to desire him to alight there.

After ceremonies past, and I had inquired after my wife and children,

and his answers had informed me of their healths, "Well," says Nasgig,

"my friend, am I to live or die?"--"Explain yourself," says I.--"Nay, I

only mean," says he, "have you discovered me to the king?"--"Pardon me,"

says I, "dear Nasgig, I must own the truth, I have."--"Then," says he,

"I suppose his majesty has no more commands for me?"--"No," says I,

"it is not so bad as that neither."--"But, pray," says he, "what says

Barbarsa to it?"--"Oh, nothing at all!" says I; "quite quiet."--"Nor

Yaccombourse? Did you discover her baseness to the king?"--"Yes," says

I, "and the king behaved like a king upon the occasion."--"And where

are they now?" says he.--"Only in Mount Alkoe," says I.--"Mount Alkoe!"

replies he, "what do you mean by that? How can they be in Mount Alkoe?

Did they go of their own accords?"--"They fled off, I suppose,

with ropes about their necks," says I, "as your criminals go to

Crashdoorpt."--"Are they slit too?" says he.--"No," says I, "but slipt,

I'll assure you. Come, my good friend, I'll let you into the history of

it." And then I told all that had happened, and the king's satisfaction

at the judgment of the moucheratt "And now," says I, "Nasgig, you may

call yourself the favourite, I promise you, for his majesty enjoys

himself but to greet you on your return: but have a care of power; most

grow giddy with it, and the next thing to that is a fall."--"Pray," says

he, "what is become of Nicor? Is he under the same condemnation?"--"No,"

says I, "Nicor is now by my means absolutely free, and no two greater

than he and I." I told him then my proceedings with him; he was glad of

it; for, he said, Nicor he believed was honest at bottom.

By this time up came the cannon; and truly had my countrymen but the

graundee to convey their cannon at so easy an expense from place to

place, the whole world would not stand before us. They brought me five

cannon, and three swivel guns, and a larger quantity of ammunition than

I had spoken for.

I introduced Nasgig to the king upon his return, as the person to whose

conduct the safe arrival of my cannon was owing. His majesty embracing

him, told him the service he had done him was so great in the affair

of Barbarsa, and his management of it so prudent, he should from

thenceforth take him into his peculiar confidence and esteem.

Nasgig thanked his majesty for his acceptance of that act of his duty,

and desired to know when he pleased the operations for the campaign

should begin.--"Ask my father," says the king; "do you conduct the war,

and let him conduct you."

Then Nasgig desired to know what number of troops would be requisite.

I asked him what number the enemy had; he said about thirty

thousand.--"Then," says I, "take you six only, besides the bearers of me

and the artillery; and pick me out fifty of the best men you have, as a

guard for my person, and send them to me."

I showed these men my cutlasses and pistols, and showed them the use

and management of them: "And," says I, "as our enemies fight with pikes,

keep you at a distance first, and when you would assault, toss by the

pike with your hand, and closing in, have at the graundee; and this

edge" (showing them the sharpness of it) "will strip it down from

shoulder to heel; you need strike but once for it, but be sure come near

enough; or," says I, "if you find it difficult to turn aside the pike,

give it one smart stroke with this; it will cut it in two, and then the

point being gone, it will be useless."

"These instructions," says I, "if rightly observed, will make us

conquerors."

The next thing was to settle the order of my march, which I did in the

following manner; and, taking leave of the king, I set out.

First, ten companies of one hundred men, including officers, with each a

gripsack, in ten double lines, fifty abreast.

Secondly, four hundred bearers of the cannon, with two hundred to the

right, the like to the left, as relays.

Thirdly, two hundred men with the ammunition, stores, hatchets, and

other implements.

Fourthly, fifty body-guards, in two lines.

Fifthly, myself, borne by eight, with twelve on the right, and as many

on the left, for relays.

Sixthly, two thousand men in columns, on each side the cannon and me,

fifty in a line, double lines.

Seventhly, one thousand men in the rear, fifty in a line, double lines.

I consulted with Nasgig how Harlokin's army lay, that I might avoid the

revolted towns, rather choosing to take them in my return; for my design

was to encounter Harlokin first, and I did not doubt, if I conquered

him, but the towns would surrender of course.

When we arrived within a small flight of his army, I caused a halt at

a proper place for my cannon, and having pitched them, which I did by

several flat stones, one on another to a proper elevation, I loaded

them, and also my small-arms, consisting of six muskets and three

brace of pistols, and placing my army, two thousand just behind me, two

thousand to my right, and the same number to my left, I gave a strict

command for none of them to stir forwards without orders, which Nasgig,

who stood just behind me, was to give. I then sent a defiance to

Harlokin by a gripsack, who sent me word he fought for a kingdom, and

would accept it; and, as I heard afterwards, he was glad I did, for

since the intelligence I had scattered in his army, they had in great

numbers deserted him, and he was afraid it would have proved general. I

then putting the end of a match into a pistol-pan with a little powder,

by flashing lighted it; and this I put under my chair, for I sat in

that, with my muskets three on each side, a pistol in my right hand, and

five more in my girdle. In this manner I waited Harlokin's coming, and

in about an hour we saw the van of his army, consisting of about five

thousand men, who flew in five layers, one over another. I had not

loaded my cannon with ball, but small-sized stones, about sixty in

each; and seeing the length of their line, I spread my cannons' mouths

somewhat wider than their breeches, and then taking my observation by

a bright star, for there was a clear dawn all round the horizon, I

observed, as I retired to my chair, how that star answered to the

elevation of my cannon; and when the foremost ranks, who, not seeing my

men stir, were approaching almost over me, to fall on them, and had come

to my pitch, I fired two pieces of my ordnance at once, and so mauled

them, that there dropped about ninety upon the first discharge, together

with their commander; the rest being in flight and so close together,

not being able to turn fast enough to fly, being stopped by those behind

them, not only hindered those behind from turning about, but clogged

up their own passage. Seeing them in such a prodigious cluster, I so

successfully fired two more pieces, that I brought down double the

number of the first shot; and then giving the word to fall on, my

cutlass-guard and the pikemen did prodigious execution. But fearing the

main body should advance before we had got in order again, I commanded

them to fall back to their former stations, and to let the remainder of

the enemy go off.

This did me more good in the event than if I had killed twice as many;

for they not only never returned themselves, but flying some to the

right, some to the left, and passing by the two wings of their own army,

consisting of six thousand men each, they severally reported that

they were all that was left of the whole van of the army; and that the

prediction would certainly be fulfilled, for that their companions had

died by fire and smoke. This report struck such terror into each wing,

that every one shifted for himself, and never appeared more.

The main battle, consisting of about ten thousand men, knowing nothing

of what had happened to the wings--for Harlokin had ordered the wings to

take a great compass round to enclose us--hearing we were but a handful,

advanced boldly; and as I had ordered my men not to mount too high, the

enemy sunk to their pitch. When they came near, I asked Nasgig who led

them; if it was Harlokin. He told me no, his general, but that he was

behind; and Nasgig begging me to let him try his skill with the general,

I consented, they not being yet come to the pitch of my cannon. Nasgig

immediately took the graundee, and advancing singly with one of my

cutlasses in his hand, challenged the general in single combat. He, like

a man of honour, accepting it, ordered a halt, and to it they went, each

emulous of glory, and of taking all the advantage he could, so that they

suddenly did not strike or push; but sometimes one, then the other

was uppermost, and whirling expeditiously round, met almost breast to

breast; when the general, who had not a pike, but a pikestaff headed

with a large stone, gave Nasgig such a stroke on his head that he

reeled, and sunk considerably, and I began to be in pain for him, the

general lowering after him. But Nasgig springing forward beneath him,

and rising light as air behind the general, had gained his height again

before the general could turn about to discern him, and then plunging

forward, and receiving a stroke across his left arm, at the same time

he gave the general such a blow near the outside of the shoulder as slit

the graundee almost down to his hip, and took away part of the flesh of

the left arm, upon which the general fell fluttering down in vast pain

very near me; but not before Nasgig, in his fall, descending, had taken

another severe cut at him.

[Illustration: 0192]

[Illustration: 0191]

Immediately upon this defeat Nasgig again took his place behind me, our

army shouting to the skies; but no sooner had the general dropped,

but on came Harlokin, with majesty and terror mixed in his looks, and

seeming to disdain the air he rode on, waved his men to the attack

with his hand. When he came near enough to hear me, I called him vile

traitor, to oppose the army of his lawful sovereign, telling him, if he

would submit, he should be received to mercy. "Base creeping insect,"

says Harlokin, "if thou hast aught to say to me worth hearing, meet me

in the air! This hand shall show thee soon who'll most want mercy; and

though I scorn to stoop to thee myself, this messenger shall satisfy the

world thou art an impostor, and send thee back lifeless to the fond

king that sent thee hither." With that he hurled a javelin pointed with

flint, sharp as a needle, at me; but I avoiding it, "This, then," says

I, "if words will not do, shall justify the truth of our prediction."

And then levelling a musket at him, I shot him through the very heart,

that he fell dead within twenty paces of me. But perceiving another

to take his room, notwithstanding the confusion my musket made amongst

them, I ran to my match, and giving fire to two more pieces of ordnance

at the same time, they fell so thick about me, that I had enough to

do to escape being crushed to death by them; and the living remainder

separating, fled quite away, and put an end to the war. I waited in the

field three days, to see if they would make head again; but they were so

far from it, that before I could return, as I found afterwards, most of

the revolting provinces had sent their deputies, who themselves carried

the first news of the defeat, to beg to be received into mercy; all of

whom were detained there till my return with Harlokin's head.

At my return to Brandleguarp I was met by the king, the colambs, and

almost the whole body of the people; every man, woman, and child, with

two sweecoe lights in their hands, which unusual sight in the air gave

me great alarm, till I inquired of Nasgig what it meant, who told me it

must certainly be a sweecoan, or he knew not what it was. I asking

again what he meant by that, he told me it was a particular method of

rejoicing he had heard of, but never seen; wherein, if the king goes

in triumph, all the people of Brandleguarp, from fifteen to sixty, are

obliged to attend him with sweecoes. He said it was reported amongst

them that in Begsurbeck's time there were two of them, but there had

been none since.

When we met them, I perceived they had opened into two lines or ranks

of a prodigious length; at the farther end of which was the king, with

innumerable lights about him, the whole looking like a prodigious avenue

or vista of lights, bounded at the farther end, where the king was, with

a pyramid light. This had the most solemn and magnificent effect on the

eye that anything of light could possibly have; but as we passed through

the ranks, each of the spectators having two lights, one was given to

each soldier of the whole army. And then to look backward, as well as

forward, the beauty of the scene was inexpressible. We marched all the

way amidst the shouts of people, and the sounds of the gripsacks, going

very slowly between the ranks; and at length arriving at the pyramid

where the king was, I heard abundance of sweet voices, chanting my

actions in triumphal songs; but I could take little notice of these,

or of my son with his flageolet amongst them, for the extravagant

appearance of the pyramid, which seemed to reach the very sky. For,

first, there was a long line of a full half-mile, which hovered at even

height with the two side ranks; in the centre of that, and over it,

was the king single; over him another line, shorter than the first,

and again over that, shorter and shorter lines; till, at a prodigious

height, it ended in one single light *These all hovering, kept their

stations; while the king darted a little space forward to meet me,

and congratulate my success; then turning and preceding me, the whole

pyramid turned, and marched before us, singing all the way to the city,

the pyramid changing several times into divers forms, as into squares,

half-moons, with the horns sometimes erect and again reversed, and

various other figures. And yet amongst this infinite number of globes

there was not the least glaring or offensive light, but only what was

agreeable to the people themselves. As the rear of the army entered the

lines, they closed upon it, and followed us into Brandleguarp. While we

passed the city to the palace, the whole body of people kept hovering

till the king and myself were alighted, and then every one alighted

where he best could. All the streets and avenues to the palace were

blocked up with people, crowding to receive the king's beneficence; for

he had proclaimed a feast and open housekeeping to the people for six

days. The king, the colambs, ragans, and great officers of state, with

myself, had a magnificent entertainment prepared us in Begsurbeck's

great room; and his majesty, after supper, being very impatient to know

how the battle went, I told him the only valorous exploit was performed

by my friend Nasgig, who opened the way to victory by the slaughter of

Harlokin's general. Nasgig then rose, desiring only that so much might

be attributed to him as fortune had accidentally thrown into his scale;

for it might have been equally his fate as the general's to have fallen.

"But except that skirmish," says he, "and some flying cuts at the van,

we have had no engagement at all, nor have we lost a single man; Peter

only sitting in his chair, and commanding victory. He spake aloud but

thrice, and whispered once to them, but so powerfully that, having

at the two first words laid above three hundred of the enemy at their

lengths, and brought Harlokin to his feet, with a whisper, at the third

word he concluded the war. The whole time, from the first sight of

the enemy to their total defeat, took not up more space than one might

fairly spend in traversing his majesty's garden. In short, sir," says

Nasgig, "your majesty needs no other defence against public or private

enemies, as I can see, than Peter; and my profession, whilst he is with

us, can be of little use to the State."

After these compliments from Nasgig, and separate ones from the king and

the rest, I told them it was the highest felicity to me to be made

an instrument by the great Collwar in freeing so mighty a kingdom and

considerable a people from the misery of a tyrannical power. "You live,"

says I, "so happily under the mild government of Georigetti, that it is

shocking but to think into what a distressed state you must have fallen

under the power of a usurper, who, claiming all as his own by way of

conquest, would have reduced you to a miserable servitude. But," says I,

"there is, and I am sorry to see it, still amongst you an evil that you

great ones feel not, and yet it cries for redress. Are we not all, from

the king to the meanest wretch amongst us, formed with the same members?

Do we not all breathe the same air? inhabit the same earth? Are we

not all subject to the same disorders? and do we not all feel pain and

oppression alike? Have we not all the same senses, the same faculties?

and, in short, are we not all equally creatures of, and servants to, the

same master, the great Collwar? Would not the king have been a slave but

for the accident of being begotten by one who was a king? and would

not the poorest creature amongst us have been the king had he been so

begotten? Did you great men, by any superior merit before your births,

procure a title to the high stations in which you are placed? No, you

did not. Therefore give me leave to tell you what I would have done. As

every man has equal right to the protection of Collwar, why, when you

have no enemy to distress you, will you distress one another? Consider,

you great ones, and act upon this disinterested principle; do to

another, what you, in his place, would have him do to you; dismiss your

slaves, let all men be what Collwar made them, free. But if this unequal

distinction amongst you, of man and man, is still retained, though you

are at present free from the late disaster, it shall be succeeded with

more, and heavier. And now, that you may know I would not have every

man a lord, nor every one a beggar, remember I would only have every

serving-man at liberty to choose his own master, and every master his

own man; for he that has property and benefits to bestow will never want

dependants, for the sake of those benefits to serve him, as he that has

them not must serve for the sake of obtaining them. But then let it be

done with free-will; he that then serves you will have an interest in

it, and do it, for his own sake, with a willing mind; and you, who are

served, will be tenderer and kinder to a good servant, as knowing by a

contrary usage you shall lose him. I desire this may now be declared to

be so, or your reasons, if any there are, against it."

One of the ragans said he thought I spoke what was very just, and would

be highly acceptable to Collwar.

Then two of the colambs rose to speak together, and after a short

compliment who should begin, they both declared they only arose to

testify their consents.

The king referring it to me, and the colambs consenting, I ordered

freedom to be proclaimed through the city; so that every one appeared at

their usual duties, to serve their own masters for a month, and then to

be at liberty to come to a fresh agreement with them, or who else they

pleased.

"This, sir," says I to the king, "will now be a day of joy indeed to

those poor hearts who would have been in no fear of losing before, let

who would have reigned; for can any man believe a slave cares who is

uppermost? he is but a slave still. But now," says I, "those who were

so before may by industry gain property; and then their own interest

engages them to defend the State.

"There is but one thing more I will trouble you with now--and that,"

says I to the ragans, "is, that we all meet at the mouch to-morrow, to

render Collwar thanks for the late, and implore future favour." And this

passed without any contradiction.

When we met, the poor ragans were at a great loss for want of their

image, not knowing what to do or say; for their practice had been to

prostrate themselves on the ground, making several odd gestures; but

whether they prayed, or only seemed to do so, no one knew.

While the people were gathering, I called to a ragan, seeing him out of

character. "Suppose," said I "(for I see you want your image), you and

your brethren had received a favour of the king, and you was deputed

by them to thank him, you would scarce be at a loss to express your

gratitude to him, and tell him how highly you all esteemed his benefits,

hoping you should retain a just sense of them, and behave yourselves as

dutiful subjects for the future, and then desire him to keep you still

in his protection. And this," says I, "as you believe in such a Being as

Collwar, who understands what you say, you may with equal courage do

to Him, keeping but your mind intent upon Him, as if you saw Him

present."--"Indeed," says he, "I believe you are right, we may so; but

it is a new thing, and you must excuse us if we do it not so well at

first."

I found I had a very apt scholar, for after he had begun, he made a

most extraordinary prayer in regular order, the people standing very

attentive. It was not long, but he justly observed the points I hinted

to him.

When he had done, another and another went on, till we had heard ten of

them, and in every one something new, and very _à propos;_ and several

of them afterwards confessed they never had the like satisfaction in

their lives, for they had new hearts and new thoughts, they said.

We spent the sixth-day feast in every gaiety imaginable, and especially

of dancing, of which they were very fond in their way; but it was not so

agreeable to me as my own country way, there being too much antic in it.

New deputies daily arrived from the revolted towns, and several little

republics, not claimed by Georigetti before, begged to be taken under

his protection; so that in one week the king saw himself not only

released from the dread of being driven from his throne, but courted

by some, submitted to by others, and almost at the summit of glory a

sovereign can attain to.

[Illustration: 5202]

[Illustration: 0203]

CHAPTER XVII.

_A visitation of the revolted provinces proposed by Peter--His new name

of the country received--Religion settled in the west--Slavery abolished

there--Lasmeel returns with Peter--Peter teaches him letters--The king

surprised at written correspondence--Peter describes the make of a beast

to the king._

THE festival being over, the colambs begged leave to depart; but the

king, who now did nothing without me, consulted with me if it was yet

proper. I told him, as things had so long been in confusion in the west,

that though the provinces had made their submission, yet the necessity

of their circumstances, and the general terror, might have caused them

only to dissemble till their affairs were composed again, and that as it

was more than probable some relations of the deceased Harlokin, or other

popular person, might engage them in another revolt, I thought it would

not be improper to advise with his colambs about the establishment of

the present tranquillity, and not by too great a security, give way to

future commotions; and as all the colambs were then present, it might be

proper to summon them once more.

When they were met, the king declared the more particular satisfaction

he took in that meeting than he had heretofore done, when they had been

put to it for means to secure their lives and properties: "For

now," says he, "our deliberations must turn upon securing our new

acquisitions, and on settling those provinces which, till now, have

never fallen under my power. But," says he, "I shall refer it to Peter

to propose to you what at present seems most necessary for you to

consider of; and that adjusted, shall dismiss you."

I told them that as the too sudden healing of wounds in the body

natural, before the bottom was clean and uncorrupt, made them liable to

break out again with greater malignity, so wounds in the body political,

if skinned over only, without probing and cleansing the source and

spring from whence they arose, would rankle and fret within till a

proper opportunity, and then burst forth again with redoubled violence.

I would therefore propose a visitation of the several provinces; an

inquiry into their conduct; an examination into the lives and principles

of the colambs, the inferior officers, and magistrates; and either

to retain the old, or appoint new, as there should be occasion. This

visitation I would have performed by his majesty--"and so many of you,

the honourable colambs," says I, "as he shall see fit should attend him

in royal state, that his new subjects may see his majesty, and hear his

most gracious words; and being sensible of his good disposition towards

them, may be won, by his equity and justice, to a zealous submission to

his government, which nothing but the perception of their own senses

can establish in the heart This, I don't doubt, will answer the end I

propose, and consolidate the peace and happiness of Norm--Normns--I must

say Doorpt Swangeanti."

Hearing me hesitate at the word Normndbsgrsutt, and call it Doorpt

Swangeanti, the whole assembly rang with Doorpt Swangeanti! and, at

last, came to a resolution that the west being now again united to the

east, the whole dominions should be called Sass Doorpt Swangeanti, or

the Great Flight Land.

They approved the visitation, and all offered to go with the king, but

insisted I should be of the party, which agreeing to do, I chose me out

two of the most knowing ragans to teach the new religion amongst them,

for in every project I had my view to advance religion.

Some were for having the deputies released, and despatched with notice

of the king's intentions; but I objecting that they might disrelish

their confinement, and possibly raise reports prejudicial to our

proceedings, it was thought better to take them with us, and go

ourselves as soon as possible.

We set out with a prodigious retinue, first to the right, in order to

sweep round the whole country, and take all the towns in our way, and

occasionally enter the middle parts, as the towns lay commodious.

We were met by the magistrates and chief officers of each district, at

some distance from each city, with strings about their necks, and the

crashee instrument borne before them in much humility. His majesty said

but little to them on the way, but ordered them to precede him to the

city, and conduct him to the colamb's house; when he was commanded to

surrender his employment to his majesty, as did all the other officers

who held posts under him. Then an examination was taken of their lives,

characters, and behaviour in their stations; and finding most of them

had behaved well to the government they had lived under (for their

plea was, they had found things under a usurpation, and being so, that

government was natural to them, having singly no power to alter it);

upon their perfect submission to the king, and solemn engagement to

advance and maintain his right, they received their commissions anew

from his majesty's own mouth. But where any one had been cruel or

oppressive to the subjects, or committed any notorious crime, or breach

of trust (for the meanest persons had liberty to complain), he was

rejected, and for the most part sent to Crashdoorpt, to prevent the ill

effects of his disgrace.

We having displaced but five colambs and a few inferior officers, the

moderation and justice of our proceedings gave the utmost satisfaction

both to the magistrates and people.

Having observed at Brandleguarp abundance of the small images my

wife had spoken of, and thinking this a proper opportunity to show my

resentment against them, I ordered several of the ragans of the west

before me, and asked what small images they had amongst them. One, who

spoke for the rest, told me, very few, he believed; for he had scarce

had any brought to him to be blessed. "Where," says I, "is your Great

Image?" He told me, "At Youk."--"And have not the people here many small

ones?"--"Very few," says he; "for they have not been forced upon

us long."--"How forced upon you!" says I; "don't the people worship

them?"--"A small number now do," says he.--"Pray speak out," says I.

"When might you not worship them?"--"Never, that I know of," says he,

"in our state, till about ten years ago, when Harlokin obliged us to

it."--"What! did you worship them before?" says I.--"No," says he,

"never since it has been a separate kingdom; for we would follow the old

ragan's advice of worshipping Collwar, which they not admitting of, the

State was divided between us who would and them who would not come

into the ragan's doctrine: and though Harlokin was a zealous

image-worshipper, yet all he could do would not bring the people

heartily into it, for Collwar never wanted a greater majority." This

pleased me prodigiously, being what was never hinted to me before; and I

resolved not to let my scheme be a loser by it.

As we were to visit Youk in about eight days, I summoned the ragans and

people to meet at the mouch; there recounting the great things done by

Collwar in all nations. "This I could make appear," says I, "by many

examples; but as you have one even at your own towns, I need go no

farther.

"I must begin in ancient times, when, I presume, you all worshipped

an idol; have you any tradition before this?"--They said, "No."--"This

image," says I, "was worshipped in Begsurbeck's days, when an old ragan,

whose mind Collwar had enlightened with the truth, would have withdrawn

your reverence from the image to the original Collwar himself; you would

not consent: he threatens you, but promises success to Begsurbeck, who

did consent; and he had it to an old age. Then those who would also

consent, were so far encouraged as to be able to form an independent

kingdom. Could nobody yet see the cause? was it not apparent Collwar was

angry with the east, that would not follow the old ragan, and cherished

the west, who would?

"But, to be short, let us apply the present instance, and sure it will

convince us who is right, who wrong.

"So long as the west followed Collwar, they flourished, and the east

declined; but no sooner had the west degenerated under the command of

Harlokin, and the east by my means had embraced Collwar, but the tables

were turned: the east is found weighty, and the west kicks the beam.

These things whoso sees not, is blind indeed: therefore let publication

be made for the destruction of all small images, and let the harbourers

of them, contrary to this order, be slit; and for myself, I will destroy

this mother-monster. Take you, holy ragans, care to destroy the brood."

And having said this, I hacked the new idol to pieces.

I ordered proclamation for abolishing slavery, under the restrictions

used at Brandleguarp: and thus having composed the west, and given a

general satisfaction, we returned, almost the whole west accompanying

us, till the east received us; and never was so happy a union, or more

present to testify it, since the creation, I believe.

I ordered several of the principal men's sons to court, in order for

employments, and to furnish our future colambs; and this I did, as

knowing each country would rather approve of a member of their own

body for their head than a stranger; and, in my opinion, it is the most

natural union. And then breeding them under the eye of the king eight or

ten years, or more, they are, as it were, naturalised to him too, and in

better capacity to serve both king and country.

As my head was constantly at work for the good of this people, I

turned the most trifling incidents into some use or other; and made

the narrowest prospects extend to the vastest distances. I shall here

instance in one only. There was at Youk a private man's son, whom by

mere accident I happened to ask some slight question of; and he giving

me, with a profound respect and graceful assurance, a most pertinent

answer; that, and the manner of its delivery, gave me a pleasure, which

upon farther discourse with him, was, contrary to custom, very much

increased; for I found in him an extensive genius, and a desire for my

conversation. I desired his father to put him under my care, which the

old man, as I was then in so great repute, readily agreed to; and his

son desiring nothing more, I took him with me to Brandleguarp. I soon

procured him a pretty post but of small duty, for I had purposed other

employment for him, but of sufficient significancy to procure him

respect. I took great delight in talking with him on different subjects,

and observed by his questions upon them, which often puzzled me, or his

answers to them, he had a most pregnant fancy and surprising solidity,

joined to a continual and unwearied application. I frequently mentioning

books, writing, and letters to him, and telling him what great things

might be attained that way, his inquisitive temper, and the schemes

he had formed thereon, put me upon thinking of several things I should

never have hit upon without him. I considered all the ways I could

contrive to teach him letters; and letting him into my design, he asked

me how I did to make a letter. I described a pen to him, and told him I

put a black liquor into it, and as I drew that along upon a flat white

thing we made use of, called paper, it would make marks which way ever I

drew it, into what shape I pleased. "Why then," says he, "anything that

will make a mark upon another thing as I please, will do."--"True,"

says I, "but what shall we get that will make a black mark?"--We were

entering further into this debate; but the king sending for me, I left

him unsatisfied. I stayed late with the king that night, so did not

see Lasmeel (for that was his name) till next night, wondering what was

become of him. I asked him then where he had been all the day. He told

me he had been looking for a pen and paper. I laughed, and asked him if

he had found them.--"Yes," says he, "or something that will do as well:"

so he opened one side of his graundee, and showed me a large flat leaf,

smooth and pulpy, very long and wide, and about a quarter of an inch

thick, almost like an Indian fig-leaf.--"And what am I to do with this?"

says I.--"To mark it," says he, "and see where you mark."--"With what?"

says I.--"With this," says he, putting his hand again into his graundee,

and taking out three or four strong sharp prickles. I looked at them

both; and clapping him on the head, "Lasmeel," says I, "if you and I

were in England, you should be made a privy-councillor."--"What! won't

it do, then?" says he.--I told him we would try.--"I thought," says he,

"it would have done very well; for I marked one all about, and though I

could not see much at first, by that time I had made an end, that I did

first was quite of a different colour from the leaf, and I could see it

as plain as could be." I told him as he was of an age to comprehend what

I meant, I would take another method with him than with a child; so I

reasoned from sentences backwards to words, and from them to syllables,

and so on to letters. I then made one, the vowel A, told him its sound,

and added a consonant to it, and told him that part of the sound of each

distinct letter put together, as the two letters themselves were, made

another sound, which I called a syllable; and that joining two or more

of them together made a word, by putting the same letters together as

made the sounds of those syllables which made that word. Then setting

him a copy of letters, which with very little difficulty were to

be drawn upon the leaf, and telling him their sounds, I left him to

himself; and when he had done, though I named them but twice over, his

memory was so strong as to retain the sounds, as he called them, of

every one but F, L, and Q.

In two months' time I made him master of anything I wrote to him; and

as he delighted in it, he wrote a great deal himself, so that we kept

an epistolary correspondence, and he would set down all the common

occurrences of the day, as what he heard and saw, with his remarks on

divers things.

One day, as the king and I were walking in the gardens, and talking

of the customs of my country, and about our wars, telling him how our

soldiers fought on horseback, the king could not conceive what I meant

by a horse. I told him my wife had said there were neither beasts nor

fishes in the country; which I was very much surprised at, considering

how we abounded with both: "And therefore," says I, "to tell your

majesty that a horse is a creature with four legs, you must naturally

believe it to be somewhat like a man with four legs."--"Why, truly,"

says he, "I believe it is; but has it the graundee?" I could not forbear

smiling, even at his majesty, and wanted to find some similitude to

compare it to, to carry the king's mind that way; for else he would

sooner, I thought, conceive it like a tree or a mountain than what

it really was; and as I was musing, it came into my head I had given

Lasmeel a small print of a horse, which I found in one of the captain's

pockets at Graundevolet, and believing it to be the stamp of a

tobacco-paper, had kept it to please the children with; so I told the

king I believed I could show him the figure of a horse. He told me it

would much oblige him.

Seeing several of the guards waiting at the garden arch, I looked, and

at last found one of Lasmeel's leaves in the garden, and cutting one of

them up with my knife, I took the point of that, and wrote to Lasmeel

to send me by the bearer the picture of a horse I gave him, that I

might show it the king. And calling one of the guards, "Carry that to

Lasmeel," says I; "he is, I believe, in my apartment, and bring me an

answer directly." Then falling into discourse again with the king, and

presently turning at the end of the walk, I saw the same guard again.

Says I "You cannot have brought me an answer already."--"You have not

told me," says he, "what to bring you an answer to."--"Nor shall I,"

says I; "do as you are bid;" for I perceived then what the fellow stuck

at. He walked off with the leaf, but very discontentedly. The king said

he wondered how I could act such a contradiction. "This, father," says

he, "is not what I expected from you; to order a man to bring an answer

without giving him a message." I desired his patience only till the man

came back. Presently says the king, "Here he comes!--Well," says he,

"what answer?"--"Sir," says the fellow, "I have only had the walk for

my pains: for he sent it back again, and a little white thing with

it."--"Ha, ha!" says the king, "I thought so.--Come, father, own you

have once been in the wrong; for I am sure you intended to give him

a message, but having forgot it, would not submit to be told of your

mistake by a guard." I looked very grave, reading what Lasmeel had

wrote; which was to tell me he had obeyed my orders by sending the

horse, for he was just then drawing it out upon a leaf.

"Come, come," says the king, "give the man his message, father, and

let him go again."--"Sir," says I, "there is no need of that, he has

punctually obeyed me; and Lasmeel was then at the table in my oval

chamber with a leaf, and this picture in my hand, before him."

The king was ready to sink when I said so, and showed the print. "Truly,

father," says he, "I have been to blame to question you; for though

these things are above my comprehension, I am not to think anything

beyond your skill." I made no reply to it; but showing the king the

picture, the guard sneaked off; and glad he was, I believe, he could do

so.

I went then upon the explanation of my horse, and answering fifty

questions about him, at last he asked what his inside was: "Exactly the

same as your majesty's," said I.--"And can he eat and breathe too?" says

he.--"Just as you can," says I.--"Well," says he, "I would never have

believed there had been such a creature: what would I give for one of

them!"--I set forth the divers other uses we put them to, besides the

wars; and by the picture, with some supposed alterations, I described a

cow, a sheep, and numberless other quadrupeds; my account of which gave

him great pleasure.

[Illustration: 0216]

CHAPTER XVIII.

_Peter sends for his family--A rising of former slaves on that

account--Takes a view of the city--Description of it, and of the

country--Hot and cold springs._

HAVING now some leisure time on my hands to consider over my own

affairs, I had thoughts of transporting my family, with all my effects,

to Sass Doorpt Swangeanti, but yet had no mind to relinquish all thought

of my ship and cargo; for the greatest part of this was still remaining,

I having had but the pickings through the gulf. I once had a mind to

have gone myself; but considering the immense distance over sea, though

I had once come safe, I thought I ought not to tempt Providence, where

my presence was not absolutely necessary.

Nasgig, to whose care and conduct any enterprise might be trusted,

offered his service to go and execute any commands I should give him.

His only difficulty, he said, was that it would be impossible for him to

remember the different names of many things, which he had no idea of, to

convey the knowledge of them to his mind when he saw them; but barring

that, he doubted not to give me satisfaction. I told him I would send

an assistant with him, who could remember whatever I once told him; and

that I might not burden his memory with names only, Lasmeel should carry

his memory with him, and that he, Nasgig, should only have the executive

part.

Lasmeel, who had sat waiting an opportunity to put in for a share in the

adventure, having a longing desire to see the ship, told Nasgig he had

a peculiar art of memory, so as to remember whatever he would as long

as he pleased, and that if he carried that with him, they need fear no

mistakes.

The king having granted me as many of his guards as I pleased, for the

carriage of my things, we appointed them to be ready on the fourth day;

when Nasgig and Lasmeel set out with them.

I ordered Lasmeel, however, to be with me the next morning, that we

might set down proper instructions; which I told him would be very long,

and that he must bring a good number of leaves with him.

When Lasmeel entered my chamber next morning, he informed me that the

whole city was in an uproar, especially those who had been freed by me.

"What!" says I, "have they so soon forgot their subjection, to misapply

their liberty already? But step and bring me word what's the matter, and

order some of the ringleaders hither to me." Lasmeel upon inquiry found

that it had been given out I was going to leave the country, and they

all said, wherever I went they were determined to go and settle with me;

for if I left them, they should be reduced to slavery again. However, he

brought some of them to me, and upon my telling them I thanked them for

their affection to me, but blamed them for showing it in so tumultuous a

manner, and that I was so far from intending to leave them, that I was

sending for my family and effects in order to settle amongst them, they

rejoiced very much, and told me they would carry the good news to their

companions, and disperse immediately. But I was now in more perplexity

than before, for they having signified my designs to the rest, they

rushed into the gallery in such numbers that they forced me up to my

very chamber. I told them this was an unprecedented manner of using a

person they pretended a kindness for; and told them if they made use of

such risings to express their gratitude to me, it would be the direct

means to oblige me to leave them: "For," says I, "do you think I can be

safe in a kingdom where greater deference is paid to me than to the

crown?" They begged my pardon, they said, and would obey me in anything;

but the present trouble was only to offer their services to fetch my

family and goods, or to do anything else I should want them for; and if

I would favour them in that, they would retire directly. I told them

when I had considered of it they should hear from me; and this again

quieted them.

This disturbance not only took up much of my time, which I could have

better employed, but put me to a non-plus how to come off with them;

till I sent Maleck to tell them though I set a great value upon their

esteem, yet after what had passed, it would be the most unadvisable

thing in nature for me to accept their kindness; for having before

requested a body of men of the king, as he had graciously granted them,

it would be preferring them to the king, should I now relinquish his

grant and make use of their offer; and after this I heard no more of it.

I had scarce met with a more difficult task than to fix exact rules for

the conduct of my present undertaking, there being so many things to be

expressed, wherein the least perplexity arising, might have caused both

delay and damage; for I was not only forced to set down the things I

would have brought, but the manner and method of packing and securing

them; but as Lasmeel could read my writing to Pedro at home, and

Youwarkee on board, it would be a means, though far from an expeditious

one, of bringing matters into some order; and after I had done as I

thought, I could have enumerated many more things, and was obliged to

add an _et cætera_ to the end of my catalogue; and while they were ready

for flight, I added divers other particulars and circumstances. Nay,

when they were even upon the graundee, I recollected the most material

thing of all; for my greatest concern was, having broke up so many of my

chests, to find package for the things; I say, even so late as that, I

bethought me of the several great water-casks I had on board, that would

hold an infinite number of small things, and would be slung easily; so I

stopped them and set down that, and they were no sooner out of sight and

hearing, but remembering twenty more, I was then forced to trust them to

my _et cætera_.

I had sent my own flying-chair to bring the boys who had not the

graundee, with orders for Pedro to sit tied in the chair, with Dicky

tied in his arms; Jemmy to sit tied to the board before the chair, and

David behind: so I hoped they would come safe enough; and then my wife

and Sally were able to help themselves.

Having despatched my caravan, and being all alone, I called Quilly the

next morning, and telling him I had thoughts of viewing the country, I

bade him prepare to go with me.

I had now been here above six months, and yet upon coming to walk

gravely about the city, I found myself as much a stranger to the

knowledge of the place as if that had been the first day of my arrival,

though I had been over it several times in my chair.

This city is not only one of, but actually the most curious piece

of work in the world, and consists of one immense entire stone of a

considerable height, and it may be seven miles in length, and near as

broad as it is long. The streets and habitable part of it are scooped,

as it were, out of the solid stone, to the level with the rest of the

country, very flat and smooth at bottom, the rock rising perpendicular

from the streets on each side.

[Illustration: 8221]

The figure of the city is a direct square; each side about six miles

long, with a large open circle in the centre of the square, about a

mile in diameter, and from each of the sides of the outer streets to the

opposite side runs another street, cutting the centre of the circle as

in the figure.

Along the whole face of the rock, bounding the streets and the circle,

there are archways; those in the circle, and the four cross streets, for

the gentry and better people; and those in the outer streets, for the

meaner; and it is as easy to know as by a sign where a great man lives,

by the grandeur of his entrance, and lavish distribution of the pillars,

carving, and statues about his portico, within and without: for as they

have no doors, you may look in, and are not forbid entrance; and though

it should look odd to an English reader, that an Englishman should

speak with pleasure of a land of darkness, as that almost was, yet I am

satisfied whoever shall see it after me will be persuaded, that for

the real grandeur of their entrances, and for the magnificence of the

apartments and sculpture, no part of the universe can produce the like;

and though within doors there is no other manner of light than the

sweecoes, yet that, when you are once used to it, is so agreeable and

free from all noisome savour, that I never once regretted the loss of

the sun within doors, though I often have when abroad; but then that

would be injurious to the proper inhabitants, though they can no more

see in total darkness than myself.

I have been over some of these private houses, which contain, it may

be, thirty rooms, great and small, some higher, some lower, full of

sweecoe-lights, and extremely well proportioned and beautiful.

The king's palace, with all the apartments, stands in, and takes up,

one full fourth part of the square of the whole city; and is, indeed, of

itself a perfect city.

There is no great man's house without one or more long galleries for

the ladies to divert themselves at divers sports in, particularly at one

like our bowls on a bowling-green, and at somewhat like nine-holes, at

which they play for wines, and drink a great deal, for none of them will

intoxicate.

In my walk and survey of the city, one of the colambs being making a

house to reside in when at Brandleguarp, I had the curiosity to go in.

I saw there abundance of botts stand filled with a greenish liquor, and

asked Quilly what that was. He said it was what the stone-men used in

making houses. I proceeded farther in, where I saw several men at work,

and stayed a good while to observe them. Each man had a bott of this

liquor in his left hand, and stood before a large bank of stone, it may

be 30 feet high, reaching forward up to the ceiling of the place, and

ascending by steps from bottom to top; the workmen standing some on one

step, some on another, pouring on this liquor with their left hands, and

with their right holding a wooden tool, shaped like a little spade. I

observed wherever they poured on this water, a smoke arose for a little

space of time, and then the place turned white, which was scraped off

like fine powder with the spade-handle; and then pouring new liquor, he

scraped again, working all the while by sweecoe-lights.

Having my watch in my pocket, I measured a spot of a yard long, about a

foot high, and a foot and a half on the upper flat, to see how long he

would be fetching down that piece; and he got it away in little above

two hours. By this means I came to know how they made their houses;

for I had neither seen any tool I thought proper, nor even iron itself,

except my own, since I came into the country. Upon inquiry, I found that

the scrapings of this stone, and a portion of common earth, mixed with a

water they have, will cement like plaster; and they use it in the small

ornamental work of their buildings. I then went farther into this house,

where I saw one making the figure of a glumm by the same method; but it

standing upright in the solid rock against the wall, the workman held

his liquor in an open shell, and dipping such stuff as my bed was made

of, bound up in short rolls, some larger, some less, into the liquor,

he touched the figure, and then scraped till he had reduced it into a

perfect piece.

It is impossible to imagine how this work rids away; for in ten months'

time after I saw it, this house was completed, having a great number

of fine, large, and lofty rooms in it, exquisitely carved to all

appearance.

My wonder ceased as to the palace, when I saw how easily this work was

done; but sure there is no other such room in the world as Begsurbeck's,

that I described above.

The palace, as I said before, taking up one quarter of the city, opens

into four streets by four different arches; and before one of the sides,

which I call the front, is a large triangle, formed by the entrance

out of one of the cross streets, and the two ends of the front of

the palace. Along the lower front of it, all the way runs a piazza of

considerable height, supported by vast round columns, which seemed to

bear up the whole front of the rock, over which was a gallery of equal

length, with balustrades along it, supported with pillars of a yet finer

make, and over that a pediment with divers figures, and other work, to

the top of the rock, which being there quite even for its whole length,

was enclosed with balustrades between pedestals all the way, on which

stood the statues of their ancient kings, so large as to appear equal to

the life. The other two sides of the triangle were dwellings for divers

officers belonging to the palace. Under the middle arch of the piazza

was the way into the palace, through a long, spacious arched passage,

whose farther end opened into a large square; on each side of this

passage were large staircases, if I may so call them, by which you

ascend gradually, and without steps, into the upper apartments.

The next morning we took another walk, for I told Quilly I had a mind to

take a prospect of the country. We then went out at the back arch of the

palace, as we had the day before at one of the sides, there being a like

passage through the rock from that we went out at, to an opposite arch

leading into the garden. I say, we went out at the back arch, and after

passing a large quadrangle with lodgings all round it, we ascended

through a cut in the rock to a large flat, where we plainly saw the

Black Mountain with its top in the very sky, the sides of which afforded

numberless trees, though the ground within view afforded very little

verdure, or even shrubs. But the most beautiful sight from the rock

was to see the people come home loaded from the mountain, and from the

woods, with, it may be, forty pound weight each on their backs; and

mounting over the rock, to see them dart along the streets to their

several dwellings, over the heads of thousands of others walking in all

parts of the streets, while others were flying other ways. It was very

pleasant to see a man walking gravely in one street, and as quick as

thought to see him over the rock, settled in another, perhaps two miles

distant.

The near view of the country seeming so barren, naturally led me to ask

Quilly from whence they got provision for so many people as the city

contained, which, to be sure, could not be less than three hundred

thousand. He told me that they had nothing but what came from the Great

Forest on the skirts of the mountain. "But for the grain of it, and some

few outward marks," says I, "I could have sworn I had eaten some of my

country beef the other day at the king's table."--"I don't know what

your beef, as you call it, is; but I am sure we have nothing here but

the fruit of some tree or shrub, that ever I heard of."--"I wonder,"

says I, "Quilly, how your cooks dress their victuals. I have eaten many

things boiled, and otherwise dressed hot, but have seen no rivers, or

water, since I came into this country, except for drinking, or washing

my hands, and I don't know where that comes from. And another thing,"

says I, "surprises me, though I see no sun as we have to warm the air,

you are very temperate in the town, and it is seldom cold here; but I

neither see fire nor smoke."--"We have," says Quilly, "several very good

springs under the palace, both of hot water and cold, and I don't know

what we should do with fires; we see the dread of them sufficiently at

Mount Alkoe. Our cooks dress their fruits at the hot springs."--"That is

a fancy," said I; "they cannot boil them there."--"I am sure we have no

other dressing," says he.--"Well, Quilly," says I, "we will go home the

way you told me of, and to-morrow you shall show me the springs; but,

pray, how come you to be so much afraid of Mount Alkoe? I suppose your

eyes won't bear the light; is not that all?"--"No, no," says Quilly,

"that is the country of bad men. Some of us have flown over there

accidentally, when the mountain has been cool, as it is sometimes for

a good while together, and have heard such noises as would frighten any

honest man out of his senses, for there they beat and punish bad men."

I could not make much of his story, nor did I inquire further, for I had

before determined, if possible, to get over thither. As we were now come

into the garden, I ordered Quilly to get ready my dinner, and I would

come in presently.

We went next morning to view the springs, and indeed it was a sight

well worth considering. We were in divers offices under the rock (Quilly

carrying two globe-lights before me), in which were springs of very

clear water, some of hot, and some of cold, rising within two or three

inches of the surface of the floor. We then went into the kitchen, which

was bigger than I ever saw one of our churches, and where were a great

number of these springs, the hot all boiling full speed day and night,

and smoking like a caldron, the water rising through very small chinks

in the stone into basons, some bigger, some less; and they had several

deep stone jars to set anything to boil in. But what was the most

surprising was, you should see a spring of very cold water within a few

feet of one of hot, and they never rise higher or sink lower than they

are. I talked with the master cook, an ingenious man, about them; and he

told me they lie in this manner all over the rocky part of the country,

and that the first thing any one does in looking out for a house, is

to see for the water, whether both hot and cold may be found within the

compass he designs to make use of; and finding that, he goes on, or else

searches another place. And he told me where this convenience was not

in great plenty the people did not inhabit, which made the towns all so

very populous. He said, too, that those warm springs made the air more

wholesome about the towns than in other parts where there were none of

them. I thanked him for his information, which finished my search for

that time.

[Illustration: 0229]

CHAPTER XIX.

_Peter sends for his family--Pendlehamby gives a fabulous account of the

peopling of that country--Their policy and government--Peter's

discourse on trade--Youwarkee arrives--Invites the king and nobles to a

treat--Sends to Graundevolet for fowls._

THE days hanging heavy on my hands till the arrival of my family, I

sent Pendlehamby word that as I had sent for my family and effects in

order to settle in this country, and expected them very soon, I should

be glad of his, my brother, and sister's company, to welcome them on

their arrival.

My father came alone, which gave me an opportunity of informing myself

in the rise and policy of the State, as I purposed to take several

farther steps in their affairs, if they might prove agreeable and

consistent; for hitherto, having had only slight sketches or hints of

things, I could form no just idea of the whole of their laws, customs,

and government. Explaining myself, therefore, to him, I begged his

instructions in those particulars.

"Son Peter," says my father, "you have already done too much in a short

time to leave any room to think you can do no more: and as you have

hitherto directed your own proceedings with such incredible success,

neither the king nor colambs will interpose against your inclination,

but give you all the advices in our powers; and I shall esteem your

selecting me for that purpose no small honour.

"Know, then, that this State, by the tradition of our ragans, has

subsisted eleven thousand years; for, before that time, the great

mountain Emina, then not far from the Black Mountain, but now fallen and

sunk in the sea, roaring and raging in its own bowels for many ages, at

last burst asunder with great violence, and threw up numberless unformed

fleshy masses to the very stars; two of which happening in their passage

to touch the side of the Black Mountain (for all the rest fell into the

sea and were lost) lodged there, and lying close together as they grew,

united to each other till they were joined in one; and, in process of

time, by the dews of heaven, became a glumm and a gaw-ry; but being so

linked together by the adhesion of their flesh, they were obliged both

to move which way either would. Living thus a long time in great love

and fondness for each other, they had but one inclination, lest both

should be sufferers upon the least disagreement.

"In process of time they grew tired of each other's constant society,

and one willing to go here and the other there, bred perpetual disorders

between them; for prevention whereof for the future they agreed to cut

themselves asunder with sharp stones. The pain indeed was intolerable

during the operation; but, however, they effected it, and the wounds

each received were very dangerous, and a long time before they were

perfectly healed; but at length, sometimes agreeing, sometimes not,

they begat a son, whom they called Perigen, and a daughter they called

Philella. These two, as they grew up, despising their parents, who lived

on the top of the mountain, ventured to descend into the plains, and

living upon the fruits they found there, sheltered themselves in this

very rock. Meantime, the old glumm and gawry, having lived to a great

age, were so infirm that neither of them was able to walk for a long

time; till one day, being near each other, and trying to rise by

the assistance of each other, they both got up, and leaning upon and

supporting each other, they also walked commodiously. This mutual

assistance kept them in good humour a great while, till one day, passing

along near hoximo, they both fell in.

"Perigen and Philella had several children in the plains; who, as they

grew up, increasing, spread into remote parts, and peopled the country.

At last, one of them being a very passionate man, at the instigation

of his wife, became the first murderer, by slaying his father. This so

enraged the people, that the murderer and his wife, in abhorrence of the

fact, were conveyed to Mount Alkoe, where was then only a very narrow

deep pit, into which they were both thrown headlong; but the persons who

carried them thither, had scarce retired from the mouth of the pit, when

it burst out with fire, raging prodigiously, and has kept burning

ever since. Arco and Telamine (the murderer and his wife) lived seven

thousand years in the flames; till having with their teeth wrought a

passage through the side of the mountain, they begat a new generation

about the foot of the mountain; and having brought fire with them,

resolved to keep it burning ever after in memory of their escape; and

power being given them over bad men, they and their progeny are now

wholly employed in beating and tormenting them.

"A great while after Arco and Telamine were thus disposed of, the people

of this country multiplying, it happened one year that all the fruits

were so dry that the people, not able to live any longer upon the

moisture of them only, as they had always done before, and fearing all

to be consumed with drought, one of their ragans praying very much, and

promising to make an image to Collwar and preserve it for ever, if he

would send them but moisture, in one night's time the earth cast up

such a flood that they were forced to mount on the rocks for fear of

drowning. But the next day it all sunk away again, except several little

bubbles which remained in many places for a long time, and the people

lived only on the moisture they sucked from the stone where those

bubbles settled for many years; for they found that the water arose to

the height of the surface, and no higher; and where they found most

of those chinks and bubbles they settled and formed cities, living

altogether in holes of the rock; till one Lallio, having found out the

art of crumbling the rock to dust by a liquor he got from the trees, and

working himself a noble house in the rock, in the place where our palace

now stands, he told them if they would make him their king, they should

each have such a house as his own. To this they agreed, and then he

discovered the secret to them.

"This Lallio directed the cutting out this whole city, divided the

people into colonies where the waters were most plenty; and while half

the people worked at the streets and houses, the other half brought them

provisions. In short, he grew so powerful that no one durst dispute his

commands; all which authority he transmitted to his successors, who,

finding by the increase of the people and the many divisions of them

that they grew insolent and ungovernable, they appointed a colamb in

every province, as a vice-king, with absolute authority over all causes,

except murder and treason, which are referred to the king and colambs in

moucheratt.

"As we had no want but of victuals and habitations, the king, when he

gave a colambat, gave also the lands and the fruits thereof, together

with all the hot and cold springs, to the colamb, who again distributed

parcels to the great officers under him, and they part of theirs to the

meaner officers under them, for their subsistence, with such a number of

the common people as was necessary in respect to the dignity of the post

each enjoyed, who for their services are fed by their masters.

"In all cases of war, the king lays before the moucheratt the number

of his own troops he designs to send; when each colamb's quota being

settled at such a proportion of the whole, he forthwith sends his number

from out of his own lasks, and also from the several officers under

him; so that every man, let the number be ever so great, can be at the

rendezvous in a very few days.

"We have but three professions, besides the ragans and soldiery, amongst

us, and these are cooks, house-makers, and pike-makers, of which every

colamb has several among his lasks; and these, upon the new regulations,

will be the only gainers, as they may work where they please, and

according to their skill will be their provision; but how the poor

labourers will be the better for it, I cannot see."

"Dear sir," says I, "there are, you see, amongst lasks, some of such

parts, that it is great pity they should be confined from showing them;

and my meaning in giving liberty is in order for what is to follow; that

is, for the introduction of arts amongst you. Now, every man who has

natural parts will exert them when any art is laid before him; and he

will find so much delight in making new discoveries that, did no profit

attend it, the satisfaction of the discovery to a prying genius

would compensate the pains; but I propose a profit also to the

artificer."--"Why, what profit," says my father, "can arise but food,

and perhaps a servant of their own to provide it for them?"

"Sir," says I, "the man who has nothing to hope loses the use of one of

his faculties; and if I guess right, and you live ten years longer, you

shall see this State as much altered as the difference has been between

a lask and a tree he feeds on. You shall all be possessed of that which

will bring you fruits from the woods without a lask to fetch it. Those

who were before your slaves shall then take it as an honour to be

employed by you, and at the same time shall employ others dependent on

them; so as the great and small shall be under mutual obligations to

each other, and both to the truly industrious artificer; and yet every

one content only with what he merits."

"Dear son," says my father, "these will be glorious days indeed! But,

come, come, you have played a good part already; don't, by attempting

what you can't master, eclipse the glory so justly due to you."--"No,

sir," says I, "nothing shall be attempted by me to my dishonour; for I

shall ever remember my friend Glanepze. Sir," says I, "see here."

(showing him my watch).--"Why, this," says he, "hung by my daughter's

side at Graundevolet."--"It did so," says I; "and, pray, what did you

take it for?"--"A bott," says he.--"I thought so," says I; "but as you

asked no questions, I did not then force the knowledge of it upon you.

But put it to your ear."--He did so. "What noise is that?" says he. "Is

it alive?"--"No," says I, "it is not; but it is as significant. If I ask

it what time of the day it is, or how long I have been going from this

place to that, I look but in its face, and it tells me presently."

My father, looking upon it a good while, and perceiving that the minute

hand had got farther than it was at first, was just dropping it out

of his hand, had I not caught it. "Why, it is alive," says he; "it

moves!"--"Sir," says I, "if you had dropped it, you had done me an

inexpressible injury."--"Oh ho," says he, "I find now how you do your

wonders; it is something you have shut up here that assists you; it is

an evil spirit!" I laughing heartily, he was sorry for what he had said,

believing he had shown some ignorance. "No, sir," says I, "it is no

spirit, good or evil, but a machine made by some of my countrymen, to

measure time with."--"I have heard," says he, "of measuring an abb, or

the ground, or a rock; but never yet heard of measuring time."--"Why,

sir," says I, "don't you say three days hence I will do so; or such a

one is three years old? Is not that a measuring of time by so many

days or years?"--"Truly," says he, "in one sense I think it is."--"Now,

sir," says I, "how do you measure a day?"--"Why, by rising and lying

down," says he.--"But suppose I say I will go now, and come again, and

have a particular time in my head when I will return, how shall I do to

make you know that time?"--"Why, that will be afterwards, another time,"

says he; "or I can think how long it will be."--"But," says I, "how can

you make me know when you think it will be?"--"You must think too,"

says he.--"But then," says I, "we may deceive each other, by thinking

differently. Now this will set us to rights:" then I described the

figures to him, telling him how many parts they divided the day into,

and that by looking on it I could tell how many of such parts were

passed; and that if he went from me, and said he would come one, or two,

or three parts hence, I should know when to expect him. I then showed

him the wheels, and explained where the force lay, and why it went no

faster or slower, as well as I could; and from my desire of teaching,

insensibly perfected myself more and more in it. So that beginning to

have a little idea of it, he wished he had one. "And," says he, "will

you teach all our people to make such things?"--"Then they would be

disregarded, sir," says I.--"It is impossible," says he.--"I'll tell

you, sir, how I mean," said I. "I can, hereafter, show you a hundred

things as useful as this; now, if everybody was to make these, how would

other things be made? Besides, if everybody made them, nobody would

want them; and then what would anybody get by them, besides the pleasing

their own fancy? But if only twenty men make them in one town, all

the rest must come to them; and they who make these, must go to one of

twenty others, who make another thing that these men want, and so on;

by which means, every man wanting something he does not make, it will be

the better for every maker of everything."

"Son," says my father, "excuse me; I am really ashamed, now you have

better informed me, I asked so foolish a question." I told him we had

a saying in my country, that everything is easy when it is known. "I

think," says he, "a man might find everything in your country."

Two days after, my wife and daughter Sally came very early; but sure no

joy could be greater than ours at sight of each other. I embraced

them both over and over, as did my father, especially Sally, who was a

charming child. They told me I might expect everything that evening,

for they left them alighting at the height of Battringdrigg; for though

they came out the last, yet the body of the people with their baggage

could not come so fast as they did. And little Sally said, "We stayed

and rested ourselves, purely, daddy, at Battringdrigg, before the crowd

came; but as soon as mammy had seen all my brothers safe, who came

before the rest, and kissed Dicky, we set out again."

About seven hours after arrived the second convoy from abroad, that ever

entered that country. I had too much to do with my wife and children

that night, to spare a thought to my cargo; so I only set a guard over

them; for though I had now been married about sixteen years, Youwarkee

was ever new to me.

I was now obliged to the king again, for some additional conveniences to

my former apartment; and the young ones were mightily pleased to have so

much more room than we had at home, and to see the sweecoes; but finding

themselves waited upon in so elegant a manner, and by so many servants

(for with our new rooms, we had all the servants belonging to them),

they thought themselves in a paradise to the grotto, where all we wanted

we were forced to help ourselves to.

The next day Tommy came to see us, the king having given him a very

pretty post, since the death of Yaccombourse; and Hallycarnie, with

the Princess Jahamel, her mistress, who was mightily pleased to see

Youwarkee in her English dress, and invited her and the children to her

apartment.

It was but a few months since my wife saw the children; yet she scarce

knew them, they were so altered; for the two courtiers behaved with so

much politeness, that their brothers and Sally looked but with an

ill eye upon them, finding all the fault, and dropping as many little

invidious expressions on them as possible. But I sharply rebuked them:

"We were all made chiefly," I told them, "to please our Maker, and that

could be done only by the goodness of the heart; and if their hearts

were more pure, they were the best children; but if they liked their

brothers' and sisters' outward behaviour better than their own, they

might so far imitate them."

When we were settled in our new apartment, I unpacked my chairs and

tables, and set out my side-board, and made such a figure as had never

before been seen in that part of the world. I wanted now some shoes for

Pedro, his own being almost past wear, for the young ones never had worn

any, but could find none; till applying to Lasmeel, and showing him what

I wanted, he pointed to one of the great water-casks; but as there were

eleven of them, big and little, I knew not where to begin; till, having

invited the king and several of the ministers to dine with me, I was

forced to look over my goods for several other things I should want.

In my search, I found half a ream of paper, a leathern ink-bottle, but

no ink in it, some quills, and books of accounts, and several other

things relative to writing. The prize gave me courage to attempt the

other casks; but I found little more that I immediately wanted. In

the last cask were several books, two of them romances, six volumes

of English plays, two of devotion; the next were either Spanish or

Portuguese, and the last looked like a Bible; but just opening it, and

taking it to be of the same language, I put them all in again, thinking

to divert myself with them some other time. I here found some more

paper, and so many shoes, as, when I had fellowed them, served me as

long as I stayed in the country.

Having, as I said before, invited the king to eat with me, I was sorry

I had not ordered my fowls to be brought; and Youwarkee said she thought

to have done it, but I had not wrote for them. I told her I would send

Maleck for some of them, I was resolved; for I should pique myself on

giving the king a dish he had never before tasted. So I called Maleck,

telling him he must take thirty men with him to Graundevolet: "And carry

six empty chests with you," says I, "and put eight of my fowls in each

chest, and bring them with all expedition."--"Where do they lie, sir?"

says he.--"You will find them at roost," says I, "when it is dark."--"I

never was there," says he, "and don't know the way."--"What," says

I, "never at Graundevolet!"--"Yes," says he, "but not at roost."--I

laughed, saying, "Maleck, did not you see fowls when you was there?"

He said he did not know; what were they like?--"They are a bird," says

I.--"And what sort of a thing is that?" says he. Youwee hearing us in

this debate, "Maleck," says she, "did not you see me toss down little

nuts to something that you stared at? you saw them eat the nuts."--"Oh

dear," says he, "I know it very well, with two legs and no arms."--"The

same," says I, "Maleck; do you go look for a little house, almost by my

grotto, and at night you will find these things stand on sticks in that

house. Take them down gently, and come away with them in the chests."

Maleck performed his business to a hair; but instead of forty-eight,

brought me sixty, telling me he found the chests would hold them very

well; and I kept them afterwards in the king's garden.

[Illustration: 5242]

[Illustration: 0243]

CHAPTER XX.