IX

I have already informed you of one trip I have made to the moon in

search of my silver hatchet: I afterwards made another in a much

pleasanter manner, and stayed in it long enough to take notice of

several things, which I will endeavor to describe as accurately as my

memory will permit.

I went on a voyage of discovery at the request of a distant relation,

who had a strange notion that there were people to be found equal in

magnitude to those described by Gulliver in the empire of Brobdingnag.

For my part I always treated that account as fabulous; however, to

oblige him, for he had made me his heir, I undertook it, and sailed for

the South Seas, where we arrived without meeting with anything

remarkable, except some flying men and women who were playing at

leapfrog, and dancing minuets in the air.

On the eighteenth day, after we had passed the island of Otaheite, a

hurricane blew our ship at least one thousand leagues above the surface

of the water, and kept it at that height till a fresh gale arising

filled the sails in every part, and onwards we traveled at a prodigious

rate; thus we proceeded above the clouds for six weeks. At last we

discovered a great land in the sky, like a shining island, round and

bright, where, coming into a convenient harbor, we went on shore, and

soon found it was inhabited. Below us we saw another earth, containing

cities, trees, mountains, rivers, seas, etc., which we conjectured was

this world, which we had left. Here we saw huge figures riding upon

vultures of a prodigious size, and each of them having three heads. To

form some idea of the magnitude of these birds, I must inform you that

each of their wings is as wide and six times the length of the

main-sheet of our vessel, which was about six hundred tons burden. Thus,

instead of riding upon horses, as we do in this world, the inhabitants

of the moon (for we now found we were in Madam Luna) fly about on these

birds. The king, we found, was engaged in a war with the sun, and he

offered me a commission, but I declined the honor his majesty intended

me. Everything in _this_ world is of extraordinary magnitude! a common

flea being much larger than one of our sheep: in making war their

principal weapons are radishes, which are used as darts: those who are

wounded by them die immediately. Their shields are made of mushrooms,

and their darts (when radishes are out of season) of the tops of

asparagus. Some of the natives of the dog-star are to be seen here;

commerce tempts them to ramble; and their faces are like large

mastiffs', with their eyes near the lower end or tip of their noses:

they have no eyelids, but cover their eyes with the end of their tongues

when they go to sleep; they are generally twenty feet high. As to the

natives of the moon; none of them are less in stature than thirty-six

feet: they are not called the human species, but the cooking animals,

for they all dress their food by fire, as we do, but lose no time at

their meals, as they open their left side, and place the whole quantity

at once in their stomach, then shut it again till the same day in the

next month; for they never indulge themselves with food more than twelve

times a year, or once a month. All but gluttons and epicures must prefer

this method to ours.

There is but one sex either of the cooking or any other animals in the

moon; they are all produced from trees of various sizes and foliage;

that which produces the cooking animal, or human species, is much more

beautiful than any of the others; it has large, straight boughs and

flesh-colored leaves, and the fruit it produces are nuts or pods, with

hard shells, at least two yards long; when they become ripe, which is

known from their changing color, they are gathered with great care, and

laid by as long as they think proper; when they choose to animate the

seed of these nuts, they throw them into a large cauldron of boiling

water, which opens the shells in a few hours, and out jumps the

creature.

Nature forms their minds for different pursuits before they come into

the world; from one shell comes forth a warrior, from another a

philosopher, from a third a divine, from a fourth a lawyer, from a fifth

a farmer, from a sixth a clown, etc., etc., and all of them immediately

begin to perfect themselves by practicing what they before knew only in

theory.

When they grown old they do not die, but turn into air and dissolve like

smoke! As for their drink, they need none. They have but one finger upon

each hand, with which they perform everything in as perfect a manner as

we do who have four besides the thumb. Their heads are placed under

their right arm, and when they are going to travel or about any violent

exercise, they generally leave them at home, for they can consult them

at any distance: this is a very common practice; and when those of rank

or quality among the Lunarians have an inclination to see what's going

forward among the common people, they stay at home, i.e., the body stays

at home and sends the head only, which is suffered to be present

_incog._, and return at pleasure with an account of what has passed.

[Illustration: WARRIORS OF THE MOON]

Their eyes they can take in and out of their places when they please,

and can see as well with them in their hand as in their heads! and if by

any accident they lose or damage one, they can borrow or purchase

another, and see as clearly with it as their own. Dealers in eyes are on

that account very numerous in most parts of the moon, and in this

article alone all the inhabitants are whimsical: sometimes green and

sometimes yellow eyes are the fashion. I know these things appear

strange; but if the shadow of a doubt can remain on any person's mind, I

say, let him take a voyage there himself, and then he will know I am a

traveler of veracity.

* * * * *

X

During the early part of his present Majesty's reign I had some business

with a distant relation who then lived on the Isle of Thanet; it was a

family dispute, and not likely to be finished soon. I made it a practice

during my residence there, the weather being fine, to walk out every

morning. After a few of these excursions, I observed an object upon a

great eminence about three miles distant: I extended my walk to it, and

found the ruins of an ancient temple: I approached it with admiration

and astonishment; the traces of grandeur and magnificence which yet

remained were evident proofs of its former splendor: here I could not

help lamenting the ravages and devastations of time, of which that once

noble structure exhibited such a melancholy proof. I walked round it

several times, meditating on the fleeting and transitory nature of all

terrestrial things; on the eastern end were the remains of a lofty

tower, near forty feet high, overgrown with ivy, the top apparently

flat; I surveyed it on every side very minutely, thinking that if I

could gain its summit I should enjoy the most delightful prospect of the

circumjacent country. Animated with this hope, I resolved, if possible,

to gain the summit, which I at length effected by means of the ivy,

though not without great difficulty and danger; the top I found covered

with this evergreen, except a large chasm in the middle. After I had

surveyed with pleasing wonder the beauties of art and nature that

conspired to enrich the scene, curiosity prompted me to sound the

opening in the middle, in order to ascertain its depth, as I entertained

a suspicion that it might probably communicate with some unexplored

subterranean cavern in the hill; but having no line, I was at a loss how

to proceed. After revolving the matter in my thoughts for some time, I

resolved to drop a stone down and listen to the echo; having found one

that answered my purpose, I placed myself over the hole, with one foot

on each side, and stooping down to listen, I dropped the stone, which I

had no sooner done than I heard a rustling below, and suddenly a

monstrous eagle put up its head right opposite my face, and rising up

with irresistible force, carried me away, seated on its shoulders: I

instantly grasped it around the neck, which was large enough to fill my

arms, and its wings, when extended, were ten yards from one extremity to

the other. As it rose with a regular ascent, my seat was perfectly easy,

and I enjoyed the prospect below with inexpressible pleasure. It hovered

over Margate for some time, was seen by several people, and many shots

were fired at it; one ball hit the heel of my shoe, but did me no

injury. It then directed its course to Dover Cliff, where it alighted,

and I thought of dismounting, but was prevented by a sudden discharge of

musketry from a party of marines that were exercising on the beach; the

balls flew about my head, and rattled on the feathers of the eagle like

hailstones, yet I could not perceive it had received any injury. It

instantly reascended and flew over the sea towards Calais, but so very

high that the Channel seemed to be no broader than the Thames at London

Bridge. In a quarter of an hour I found myself over a thick wood in

France, when the eagle descended very rapidly, which caused me to slip

down to the back part of its head; but as it alighted on a large tree,

and raised its head, I recovered my seat as before, but saw no

possibility of disengaging myself without the danger of being killed by

the fall; so I determined to sit fast, thinking it would carry me to the

Alps, or some other high mountain, where I could dismount without any

danger. After resting a few minutes it took wing, flew several times

round the wood, and screamed loud enough to be heard across the English

Channel. In a few minutes one of the same species arose out of the wood,

and flew directly towards us; it surveyed me with evident marks of

displeasure, and came very near me. After flying several times round,

they both directed their course to the southwest. I soon observed that

the one I rode upon could not keep pace with the other, but inclined

towards the earth, on account of my weight; its companion perceiving

this, turned round and placed itself in such a position that the other

could rest its head on its rump; in this manner they proceeded till

noon, when I saw the rock of Gibraltar very distinctly. The day being

clear, the earth's surface appeared just like a map, where land, sea,

lakes, rivers, mountains, and the like were perfectly distinguishable;

and having some knowledge of geography, I was at no loss to determine

what part of the globe I was in.

While I was contemplating this wonderful prospect a dreadful howling

suddenly began all around me, and in a moment I was invested by

thousands of small black, deformed, frightful-looking creatures, who

pressed me on all sides in such a manner that I could neither move hand

nor foot; but I had not been in their possession more than ten minutes

when I heard the most delightful music that can possibly be imagined,

which was suddenly changed into a noise the most awful and tremendous,

to which the report of a cannon, or the loudest claps of thunder could

bear no more proportion than the gentle zephyrs of the evening to the

most dreadful hurricane; but the shortness of its duration prevented all

those fatal effects which a prolongation of it would certainly have been

attended with.

The music commenced, and I saw a great number of the most beautiful

little creatures seize the other party, and throw them with great

violence into something like a snuffbox, which they shut down, and one

threw it away with incredible velocity; then turning to me, he said they

whom he had secured were a party of devils, who had wandered from their

proper habitation; and that the vehicle in which they were inclosed

would fly with unabating rapidity for ten thousand years, when it would

burst of its own accord, and the devils would recover their liberty and

faculties, as at the present moment. He had no sooner finished this

relation than the music ceased, and they all disappeared, leaving me in

a state of mind bordering on the confines of despair.

When I had recomposed myself a little, I looked before me with

inexpressible pleasure, and observed that the eagles were preparing to

light on the peak of Teneriffe: they descended to the top of a rock, but

seeing no possible means of escape if I dismounted, I determined to

remain where I was. The eagles sat down seemingly fatigued, when the

heat of the sun soon caused them both to fall asleep, nor did I long

resist its fascinating power. In the cool of the evening, when the sun

had retired below the horizon, I was aroused from sleep by the eagle

moving under me; and have stretched myself along its back, I sat up, and

reassumed my traveling position, when they both took wing, and having

placed themselves as before, directed their course to South America. The

moon shining bright during the whole night, I had a fine view of all the

islands in those seas.

About the break of day we reached the great continent of America, that

part called Terra-Firma, and descended on the top of a very high

mountain. At this time, the moon, far distant in the west, and obscured

by dark clouds, but just afforded light sufficient for me to discover a

kind of shrubbery all around bearing fruit something like cabbages,

which the eagles began to feed on very eagerly. I endeavored to discover

my situation, but fogs and passing clouds involved me in the thickest

darkness, and what rendered the scene still more shocking was the

tremendous howling of wild beasts, some of which appeared to be very

near: however, I determined to keep my seat, imagining that the eagle

would carry me away if any of them should make a hostile attempt. When

daylight began to appear I thought of examining the fruit which I had

seen the eagles eat, and as some was hanging which I could easily come

at, I took out my knife and cut a slice; but how great was my surprise

to see that it had all the appearance of roast beef regularly mixed,

both fat and lean! I tasted it, and found it well-flavored and

delicious, then cut several large slices, and put in my pocket, where I

found a crust of bread which I had brought from Margate; took it out,

and found three musket-balls that had been lodged in it on Dover Cliff.

I extracted them, and cutting a few slices more, made a hearty meal of

bread and cold beef fruit. I then cut down two of the largest that grew

near me, and tying them together with one of my garters, hung them over

the eagle's neck for another occasion, filling my pockets at the same

time. While I was settling these affairs, I observed a large fruit like

an inflated bladder which I wished to try an experiment upon; and when I

struck my knife into one of them, a fine pure liquor like Holland gin

rushed out, which the eagles observing, eagerly drank up from the

ground. I cut down the bladder as fast as I could, and saved about half

a pint in the bottom of it, which I tasted, and could not distinguish it

from the best mountain wine. I drank it all, and found myself greatly

refreshed. By this time the eagles began to stagger against the shrubs.

I endeavored to keep my seat, but was soon thrown to some distance among

the bushes. In attempting to rise, I put my hand upon a large hedgehog,

which happened to lie among the grass upon its back; it instantly closed

round my hand, so that I found it impossible to shake it off. I struck

it several times against the ground without effect; but while I was thus

employed I heard a rustling among the shrubbery, and looking up, I saw a

huge animal within three yards of me; I could make no defence, but held

out both my hands, when it rushed upon me and seized that on which the

hedgehog was fixed. My hand being soon released, I ran to some distance

where I saw the creature suddenly drop down and expire with the hedgehog

in its throat. When the danger was past, I went to view the eagles, and

found them lying on the grass fast asleep, being intoxicated with the

liquor they had drunk. Indeed, I found myself considerably elevated by

it, and seeing everything quiet, I began to search for some more, which

I soon found; and having cut down two large bladders, about a gallon

each, I tied them together, and hung them over the neck of the other

eagle, and the two smaller ones I tied with a cord round my own waist.

Having secured a good stock of provisions, and perceiving the eagles

begin to recover, I again took my seat. In half an hour they arose

majestically from the place, without taking the least notice of their

encumbrance. Each reassumed its former station; and directing their

course to the northward, they crossed the Gulf of Mexico, entered North

America, and steered directly for the Polar regions, which gave me the

finest opportunity of viewing this vast continent that can possibly be

imagined.

Before we entered the frigid zone the cold began to affect me; but

piercing one of my bladders I took a draught, and found that it could

make no impression on me afterwards. Passing over Hudson's Bay, I saw

several of the company's ships lying at anchor, and many tribes of

Indians marching with their furs to market.

By this time I was so reconciled to my seat, and become such an expert

rider, that I could sit up and look around me; but in general I lay

along the eagle's neck, grasping it in my arms, with my hands immersed

in its feathers, in order to keep them warm.

In these cold climates I observed that the eagles flew with greater

rapidity, in order, I suppose, to keep their blood in circulation. In

passing Baffin's Bay I saw several large Greenlandmen to the eastward,

and many surprising mountains of ice in those seas.

While I was surveying these wonders of nature it occurred to me that

this was a good opportunity to discover the northwest passage, if any

such thing existed, and not only obtain the reward offered by

government, but the honor of a discovery pregnant with so many

advantages to every European nation. But while my thoughts were absorbed

in this pleasing reverie I was alarmed by the first eagle striking its

head against a solid transparent substance, and in a moment that which I

rode experienced the same fate, and both fell down seemingly dead.

Here our lives must inevitably have terminated, had not a sense of

danger and the singularity of my situation inspired me with a degree of

skill and dexterity which enabled us to fall near two miles

perpendicular with as little inconvenience as if we had been let down

with a rope; for no sooner did I perceive the eagles strike against a

frozen cloud, which is very common near the poles, than (they being

close together) I laid myself along the back of the foremost and took

hold of its wings to keep them extended, at the same time stretching out

my legs behind to support the wings of the other. This had the desired

effect, and we descended very safe on a mountain of ice, which I

supposed to be about three miles above the level of the sea.

I dismounted, unloading the eagles, opened one of the bladders, and

administered some of the liquor to each of them, without once

considering that the horrors of destruction seemed to have conspired

against me. The roaring of waves, crashing of ice, and the howling of

bears, conspired to form a scene the most awful and tremendous; but,

notwithstanding this, my concern for the recovery of the eagles was so

great that I was insensible of the danger to which I was exposed. Having

rendered them every assistance in my power, I stood over them in painful

anxiety, fully sensible that it was only by means of them that I could

possibly be delivered from these abodes of despair.

But suddenly a monstrous bear began to roar behind me, with a voice like

thunder. I turned round, and seeing the creature just ready to devour

me, having the bladder of liquor in my hands, through fear I squeezed it

so hard that it burst, and the liquor, flying in the eyes of the animal,

totally deprived it of sight. It instantly turned from me, ran away in a

state of distraction, and soon fell over a precipice of ice into the

sea, where I saw it no more.

The danger being over, I again turned my attention to the eagles, whom I

found in a fair way of recovery, and suspecting that they were faint for

want of victuals, I took one of the beef fruit, cut it into small

slices, and presented them with it, which they devoured with avidity.

Having given them plenty to eat and drink, and disposed of the remainder

of my provisions, I took possession of my seat as before. After

composing myself and adjusting everything in the best manner, I began to

eat and drink very heartily; and through the effects of the mountain, as

I called it, was very cheerful, and began to sing a few verses of a song

which I had learned when I was a boy: but the noise soon alarmed the

eagles, who had been asleep, through the quantity of liquor which they

had drunk, and they arose seemingly much terrified.

[Illustration: WE DESCENDED SAFE ON A MOUNTAIN OF ICE]

Happily for me, however, when I was feeding them I had accidentally

turned their heads towards the southeast, which course they pursued with

a rapid motion. In a few hours I saw the Western Isles, and soon after

had the inexpressible pleasure of seeing Old England. I took no notice

of the seas or islands over which I passed.

The eagles descended gradually as they drew near the shore, intending,

as I supposed, to alight on one of the Welsh mountains; but when they

came to the distance of about sixty yards, two guns were fired at them,

loaded with balls, one of which penetrated a bladder of liquor that hung

to my waist; the other entered the breast of the foremost eagle, who

fell to the ground, while that which I rode, having received no injury,

flew away with amazing swiftness.

This circumstance alarmed me exceedingly, and I began to think it was

impossible for me to escape with my life; but recovering a little, I

once more looked down upon the earth, when, to my inexpressible joy, I

saw Margate at a little distance, and the eagle descending on the old

tower whence it had carried me on the morning of the day before. It no

sooner came down than I threw myself off, happy to find that I was once

more restored to the world. The eagle flew away in a few minutes, and I

sat down to compose my fluttering spirits, which I did in a few hours.

I soon paid a visit to my friends, and related these adventures.

Amazement stood in every countenance; their congratulations on my

returning in safety were repeated with an unaffected degree of pleasure,

and we passed the evening as we are doing now, every person present

paying the highest compliments to my COURAGE and VERACITY.