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diff --git a/16202.txt b/16202.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2ae9493 --- /dev/null +++ b/16202.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4053 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Voyage to Cacklogallinia, by Captain Samuel +Brunt, et al + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: A Voyage to Cacklogallinia + With a Description of the Religion, Policy, Customs and Manners of That Country + + +Author: Captain Samuel Brunt + + + +Release Date: July 4, 2005 [eBook #16202] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A VOYAGE TO CACKLOGALLINIA*** + + +E-text prepared by David Starner, Louise Hope, William Flis, and the +Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team +(https://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which + includes the original illustration. + See 16202-h.htm or 16202-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/6/2/0/16202/16202-h/16202-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/6/2/0/16202/16202-h.zip) + + +Transcriber's note: The 18th-century text showed direct quotation in a + number of ways, including italics and continuous + quotation marks. In this e-text, longer italicized + passages are shown as block quotes (indented) + without quotation marks, while passages with marginal + quotes are shown as block quotes with quotation marks. + + A list of corrections to the text can be found at the + end of the file. + + + + + +A VOYAGE TO CACKLOGALLINIA + +With a Description of the Religion, Policy, Customs and Manners +of that Country + +by + +CAPTAIN SAMUEL BRUNT + +Reproduced from the Original Edition, 1727, +with an Introduction by + +MARJORIE NICOLSON + +Published for +THE FACSIMILE TEXT SOCIETY +By Columbia University Press +New York: MCMXL + + + + + + + +INTRODUCTION + +_A Voyage to Cacklogallinia_ appeared in London, in 1727, from the pen +of a pseudonymous "Captain Samuel Brunt." Posterity has continued to +preserve the anonymity of the author, perhaps more jealously than he +would have wished. Whatever his real parentage, he must for the present +be referred only to the literary family of which his progenitor "Captain +Lemuel Gulliver" is the most distinguished member. Like so many other +works of that period, _A Voyage to Cacklogallinia_ has sometimes been +attributed to Swift; its similarities to the fourth book of _Gulliver's +Travels_ are unmistakable. Again, the work has sometimes been attributed +to Defoe. There is, however, no good reason to believe that either Defoe +or Swift was concerned in its authorship, except in so far as both gave +impetus to lesser writers in this form of composition. + +Fortunately the authorship of the work is of little importance. It +lives, not because of anything remarkable in the style or anything +original in its author's point of view, but because of its satiric +reflection of the background of its age. It is republished both because +of its historical value and because of its peculiarly contemporary +appeal today. Its satire needs no learned paraphernalia of footnotes; it +can be readily understood and appreciated by readers in an age dominated +on the one hand by economics and on the other, by science. Its satire-- +not too subtle--is as pertinent in our own period as it was two +hundred years ago. Its irony is concerned with stock exchanges and +feverish speculation. It is a tale of incredible inflation and abrupt +and devastating depression. Its "voyage to the moon" has not lost its +appeal to men and women who can still remember a period when human +flights seemed incredible and who have lived to see "flying chariots" +spanning oceans and continents and ascending into the stratosphere. + +The first and most obvious interest of the tale is in its reflection +of economic conditions in the early eighteenth century. The period +following the Revolution of 1688 saw tremendous changes in attitudes +toward credit and speculation. A new and powerful economic instrument +was put into the hands of men who had not yet discovered its dangers. +With the natural confusion which ensued between "credit" and "wealth," +with a new emphasis upon the possible values inherent in "expectations +of wealth" rather than immediate control over money, an unheard-of +speculative emphasis appeared in business. The rapid increase in new +trades and new industrial systems afforded possibilities of immediate +rise to affluence. The outside public engaged in speculation to a degree +not before known. Exaggerated gains, violent fluctuations in prices, +meteoric rises and collapses--these gave rein to a gambling spirit +perennial in man. The word "Projects" enters into literature as a +recurrent motif, strangely familiar to our present generation, which +needs only to turn Defoe's _Essay on Projects_ into contemporary +language to see the similarities between the year 1697 and the year +1939. That essay is filled with talk of "new Inventions, Engines, and I +know not what, which have rais'd the Fancies of Credulous People to such +height, that merely on the shadow of Expectation, they have form'd +Companies, chose Committees, appointed Officers, Shares, and Books, +rais'd great Stocks, and cri'd up an empty Notion to that degree that +People have been betray'd to part with their Money for Shares in a +New-Nothing." + +Of the many speculative schemes of the early eighteenth century, none +is better known than the "South Sea Bubble." After a long period during +which English trade with the Spanish West Indies was carried on by +subterfuge, an Act of Parliament in 1710 incorporated into a joint-stock +company the state creditors, upon the basis of their loan of ten million +pounds to the Government and conferred upon them the monopoly of the +English trade with the Indies. In spite of these advantages, however, +the South Sea Company found itself so hampered and limited in credit +that it offered to convert the national debt into a "single redeemable +obligation" to the company in return for a monopoly of British foreign +trade outside England. The immediate and spectacular effect of that +offer is reflected in the many descriptions, both serious and satiric, +of an era of speculation which to many generations might seem +incredible--though not to this generation which has itself lived +through an orgy of speculation. + +Clearly the South Sea Bubble, which reached its climax in 1720, was the +chief source of Captain Samuel Brunt's satire, which has an important +place in the minor literature called forth by the wild speculation +connected with the Bubble.[1] If the "Projects" proposed to Captain +Brunt[2] seem extreme to any modern reader, let him turn to the list of +"bubbles," still accessible in many places.[3] Nothing in Brunt is so +fantastic as many of the actual schemes suggested and acted upon in +the eighteenth century. The possibility of extracting gold from the +mountains of the moon is no more fanciful than several of the proposals +seriously received by Englishmen under the spell of speculation. As in +the kingdom of Cacklogallinia, so in London, men mortgaged their homes +and women sold their jewels [4] in order to purchase shares in wildcat +companies, born one day, only to die the next. As the anonymous author +of one of many South Sea Ballads wrote in his "Merry Remarks upon +Exchange Alley Bubbles": + + Our greatest ladies hither come, + And ply in chariots daily; + Oft pawn their jewels for a sum + To venture in the Alley. + +The meteoric rise in the price of shares in the moon-mountain project +of the Cacklogallinians is no greater than the actual rise in prices of +shares during the South Sea Bubble, when, between April and July, 1720, +shares rose from L120 to L1,020. The fluctuating market of the +Cacklogallinian 'Change, which responded to every rumor, follows +faithfully the actual situation in London in 1720; and the final crash +which shook Cacklogallinian foundations--subtly suggested by Brunt's +unwillingness to return and face the enraged multitude--is an echo of +the crash which shook England when the Bubble was pricked. + +But its reflection of the economic background of the age is not the only +reason for the interest and importance of _A Voyage to Cacklogallinia_, +either in its generation or in our own. The little tale has its place in +the history of science, particularly in that movement of science which, +beginning with the "new astronomy" in the early seventeenth century, +was to produce one of the most important chapters in the history +of aviation.[5] So far as literature is concerned, _A Voyage to +Cacklogallinia_ belongs to the literary _genre_ of "voyages to the moon" +which from Lucian to H.G. Wells (even to modern "pulp magazines") have +enthralled human imagination. Yet while its fantasy looks back to +Lucian's Icaro-Menippus, who flew to the moon by using the wing of +a vulture and the wing of an eagle, its suggestion of the growing +scientific temper of modern times makes it much more than mere fantasy. +In the semilegendary history of Iran is to be found a tale, retold by +Firdausi in the _Shaknameh_, of Kavi Usan, who "essayed the sky To +outsoar angels" by fastening four eagles to his throne. The Iranian +motif was adopted in the romances of Alexander the Great and so passed +into European literature. The researches of Leonardo da Vinci upon the +muscles of birds and the principles of the flight of birds brought over +to the realm of science ideas long familiar in tale and legend. Francis +Bacon did not hesitate to suggest in his _Natural History_ (Experiment +886) that there are possibilities of human flight by the use of birds +and "advises others to think further upon this experiment as giving +some light to the invention of the art of flying." + +John Wilkins, one of the most influential early members of the Royal +Society, in his _Mathematicall Magick_,[6] in 1648, suggested "four +several ways whereby this flying in the air hath been or may be +attempted." He listed, as the second, "By the help of fowls." Ten years +earlier there appeared in England during the same year two works which +were to have great influence in popularizing the theme of light: +Wilkins's _Discovery of a World in the Moone_,[7] a serious +semiscientific work on the nature of the moon and the possibility of +man's flying thither, and a prose romance by Francis Godwin, _The Man in +the Moone: or, A Discourse of a Voyage thither by D. Gonsales._[8] These +two works were largely responsible for the emergence of the old theme of +flight to the moon in imaginative literature; the English translation of +Lucian at almost the same time perhaps aided in advancing the popularity +of the idea. + +The similarities between Brunt's romance and Godwin's tale a century +earlier are too striking to be fortuitous, and, indeed, there is no +question that Brunt used Godwin as one of his chief sources. An earlier +_Robinson Crusoe_, an idyllic _Gulliver's Travels_, Godwin's _The Man in +the Moone_ helped to establish in English literature the vogue of the +traveler's tale to strange countries. Domingo, like Captain Samuel +Brunt, draws from the "exotic" tradition. Both travelers find themselves +in strange lands; both experience many other adventures before they make +their way to the moon, drawn by birds. + +But the century which elapsed between Godwin's fanciful tale and Brunt's +fantastic romance felt the impact of the new science. No matter how +clearly both tales draw from old traditions of legend and literature, +no matter how many elements of fantasy remain, there is a profound and +fundamental difference between them. Godwin's hero made his way to the +moon by mere chance; it happened that he harnessed himself to his gansas +during their period of hibernation. Too late, he discovered that gansas +hibernate in the moon! The earlier voyage took only "Eleven or Twelve +daies"--and that by gansa power! The earlier author did not suggest that +his hero encountered any particular difficulties of respiration, nor did +he pause to consider in detail the problem of the nature of the +intervening air through which his hero passed. + +But a hundred years of science had intervened between Godwin's tale and +that of Captain Samuel Brunt. The later voyage to the moon is no less +fantastic in its outlines than is the earlier, yet it shows clearly the +impact of science upon popular imagination. The imagination of man had +expanded with the expanding universe. Brunt takes care to indicate the +vast distance between the earth and the moon by subtle mathematical +suggestion. Although both travelers flew "with incredible swiftness," +the eighteenth-century flyers found that it was "about a Month before +we came into the Attraction of the Moon." Brunt's account of the +preparation for the ascent into the orb of the moon is almost as careful +as a modern account of an ascent into the stratosphere. His bird flyers +lay their plans deliberately and upon the basis of the most recent +scientific discoveries. There is nothing fortuitous about their final +ascent. Brunt was clearly aware of the work of many scientists, notably +Boyle, upon the nature and rarefaction of the air. His flyers proceed +by slow stages, accustoming themselves gradually to the rarefied air, +assisting their respiration by the use of wet sponges. They learn by +experience the answer to the problems with which Godwin's mind had +played but which many later scientific writers had considered more +definitely: what is the nature of gravity; how far beyond the confines +of the earth does it extend; what would happen to man could he "pass the +Atmosphere"? The generation to which Captain Samuel Brunt belonged might +still delight in the fantastic; but like our own generation, it insisted +that fantasy must rest upon that which is at least scientifically +possible, if not probable. + +_A Voyage to Cacklogallinia_ is republished today because of its appeal +to many readers. It offers something to the student of economic history; +something to the student of early science. It is one of several +little-known "voyages to the moon," of which the most famous are +those of Cyrano de Bergerac, a form of reading in which our ancestors +delighted and which deserve to be collected. But apart from having a +not-inconsiderable historical interest, it remains the kind of tale +which may be read at any time because it appeals to the fundamental love +of adventure in human beings. Its author was undoubtedly only one of +many men who, under the influence of Godwin, Swift, and others, could +weave a tale in an accepted pattern. Yet there are elements which +make it unique; and it deserves at least this opportunity of rising +phoenix-like from the ashes of the past and being treasured by +posterity. + +MARJORIE NICOLSON +Smith College +Northampton, Mass. +Nov. 3, 1939 + + + + + [1: The best treatment of the South Sea Bubble for students of + literature will be found in Lewis Melville, _The South Sea Bubble_, + Boston, 1923. The author has also included in his volume extracts + from dozens of satires which appeared after 1720. He does not, + however, mention _A Voyage to Cacklogallinia_.] + + [2: Pages 107 ff.] + + [3: The list of "bubbles" may be found in Melville, _op. cit._, + chap, iv; Cobbett, _Parliamentary History_, VII, 656 ff., Somers, + _Tracts_ [ed. 1815], XIII, 818.] + + [4: Contemporary letters indicating the interest of both men and + women in speculation may be found in _Historical Manuscripts + Commission_, XLV, 200, and CXXV, 288, 294-95, 349-50.] + + [5: I have discussed the relationship between aviation and the "new + astronomy" in several articles dealing with voyages to the moon. + Bibliography may be found in two of these, "A World in the Moon," + in _Smith College Studies in Modern Languages_, Vol. XVII (No. 2, + January, 1936), and "Swift's 'Flying Island' in the 'Voyage to + Laputa,'" _Annals of Science_, II (October, 1937), 405-31.] + + [6: _Mathematicall Magick; or, The Wonders That May Be Performed + by Mechanicall Geometry_, London, 1648; in _Mathematical and + Philosophical Works_, London, 1802, II, 199.] + + [7: _The Discovery of a World in the Moone; or, A Discourse Tending + to Prove, That 'Tis Probable There May Be Another Habitable World in + That Planet_, London, 1638.] + + [8: _The Man in the Moone; or, A Discourse of a Voyage thither + by D. Gonsales_, [By F.G.], London, 1638. This has recently been + republished from the first edition by Grant McColley in _Smith + College Studies in Modern Languages_ XIX (1937).] + + * * * * * + + [Illustration] + + * * * * * + + + + + +A VOYAGE TO CACKLOGALLINIA: + +With a Description of the Religion, Policy, Customs and Manners, +of that Country + +by + +CAPTAIN SAMUEL BRUNT + +London: +Printed by J. WATSON in Black-Fryers, and +sold by the Booksellers of London and +Westminster. 1727 + +[Price Sticht, Two Shillings and Sixpence.] + + + + + +Nothing is more common than a Traveller's beginning the Account of +his Voyages with one of his own Family; in which, if he can't boast +Antiquity, he is sure to make it up with the Probity of his Ancestors. +As it can no way interest my Reader, I shall decline following a Method, +which I can't but think ridiculous, as unnecessary. I shall only say, +that by the Death of my Father and Mother, which happen'd while I was +an Infant, I fell to the Care of my Grandfather by my Mother, who was a +Citizen of some Note in _Bristol_, and at the Age of Thirteen sent me to +Sea Prentice to a Master of a Merchant-man. + +My two first Voyages were to _Jamaica_, in which nothing remarkable +happen'd. Our third Voyage was to _Guinea_ and _Jamaica_; we slaved, and +arrived happily at that Island; but it being Time of War, and our Men +fearing they should be press'd (for we were mann'd a-peak) Twelve, +and myself, went on Shore a little to the Eastward of _Port Morante_, +designing to foot it to _Port Royal_. We had taken no Arms, suspecting +no Danger; but I soon found we wanted Precaution: For we were, in less +than an Hour after our Landing, encompass'd by about Forty Run-away +Negroes, well arm'd, who, without a Word speaking, pour'd in upon us a +Volley of Shot, which laid Eight of our Company dead, and wounded the +rest. I was shot thro' the right Arm. + +After this Discharge, they ran upon us with their Axes, and (tho' we +cried for Mercy) cruelly butcher'd my remaining four Companions. + +I had shared their Fate, had not he who seemed to Head the Party, +interposed between me and the fatal Axe already lifted for my +Destruction. He seized the designed Executioner by the Arm, and said, +_No kill te Boy, me scavez him; me no have him make deady_. I knew not +to what I should attribute this Humanity, and was not less surprized +than pleas'd at my Escape. + +They struck off the Heads of my Companions, which they carried with 'em +to the Mountains, putting me in the Center of the Company. + +I march'd very pensively, lamenting the Murder of my Ship-mates, and +often wish'd the Negro who saved me had been less charitable; for I +began to doubt I was reserved for future Tortures, and to be made a +Spectacle to their Wives and Children; when my Protector coming up to +me, said, _No be sadd_, Sam, _you no scavez me?_ I look'd earnestly at +the Fellow, and remember'd he was a Slave of a Planter's, a distant +Relation of mine, who had been a long while settled in the Island: He +had twice before run from his Master, and while I was at the Plantation +my first Voyage, he was brought in, and his Feet ordered to be cut off +to the Instep (a common Punishment inflicted on run-away Slaves) by my +Intercession this was remitted, and he escaped with a Whipping. + +I ask'd if his Name was not _Cuffey_, Mr. _Tenant_'s Negro? + + "My Name _Cuffey_, said he, me no _*Baccararo_ Negro now; me Freeman. + [*_Baccararo_, the Name Negroes give the Whites.] You no let cutty + my Foot, so me no let cutty your Head; no be sadd, you have _bumby + grande *yam yam_. [*_Yam yam_, in Negroes Dialect, signifies + victuals.]" + +He endeavoured to comfort me under my Afflictions in this barbarous +Dialect; but I was so possess'd with the Notion of my being reserv'd to +be murdered, that I received but little Consolation. + +We marched very slowly, both on account of the Heat, and of the Plunder +they had got from some Plantations; for every one had his Load of Kidds, +Turkies, and other Provisions. + +About Three in the Afternoon, we reach'd a Village of run-away Negroes, +and we were received by the Inhabitants with all possible Demonstrations +of Joy. The Women sung, danc'd, and clapp'd their Hands, and the Men +brought _Mobby_ (a sort of Drink) and Rum, to welcome the return'd +Party. One of the Negro Men ask'd _Cuffey_, why he did not bring my +Head, instead of bringing me alive? He gave his Reason, at which he +seem'd satisfied, but said it was dangerous to let a _Baccararo_ know +their Retreat; that he would tell Captain _Thomas_, and he must expect +his Orders concerning me. + +_Cuffey_ said he would go to give Captain _Thomas_ an Account of what +had happen'd in this _Sortie_, and would carry me with him. As they +spoke in the Negroes _English_, I understood them perfectly well. My +Friend then went to Captain _Thomas_, who was the Chief of all the +run-away Blacks, and took me with him. This Chief of theirs was about +Seventy Five Years old, a hale, strong, well-proportion'd Man, about Six +Foot Three Inches high; the Wooll of his Head and his Beard were white +with Age, he sat upon a little Platform rais'd about a Foot from the +Ground, accompanied by Eight or Ten near his own Age, smoaking Segars, +which are Tobacco Leaves roll'd up hollow. + +_Cuffey_, at his Entrance, threw himself on his Face, and clapp'd +his Hands over his Head; then rising, he, with a visible Awe in +his Countenance, drew nearer, and address'd the Captain in the +_Cholomantaean_ Language, in which he gave an Account, as I suppose, of +his Expedition; for when he had done speaking, my Comrades Heads were +brought in, and thrown at the Captain's Feet, who returned but a short +Answer to _Cuffey_, tho' he presented him with a Segar, made him sit +down, and drank to him in a Calabash of Rum. + +After this Ceremony, Captain _Thomas_ address'd himself to me in perfect +good _English_. + + Young Man, _said he,_ I would have you banish all Fear; you are not + fallen into the Hands of barbarous Christians, whose Practice and + Profession are as distant as the Country they came from, is from + this Island, which they have usurp'd from the original Natives. + Capt. _Cuffey_'s returning the Service you once did him, by saving + your Life, which we shall not, after the Example of your Country, + take in cold Blood, may give you a Specimen of our Morals. We + believe in, and fear a God, and whatever you may conclude from the + Slaughter of your Companions, yet we are far from thirsting after + the Blood of the Whites; and it's Necessity alone which obliges us + to what bears the face of Cruelty. Nothing is so dear to Man as + Liberty, and we have no way of avoiding Slavery, of which our Bodies + wear the inhuman Marks, but by a War, in which, if we give no + Quarter, the _English_ must blame themselves; since even, with a + shew of Justice, they put to the most cruel Deaths those among us, + who have the Misfortune to fall into their Hands; and make that a + Crime in us (the Desire of Liberty, I mean) which they look upon + as the distinguishing Mark of a great Soul. Your Wound shall be + dress'd; you shall want nothing necessary we have; and we will see + you safe to some Plantation the first Opportunity. All the Return we + expect, is, that you will not discover to the Whites our Place of + Retreat: I don't exact from you an Oath to keep the Secret; for who + will violate his Word, will not be bound down, by calling God for a + Witness. If you betray us, he will punish you; and the Fear of your + being a Villain shall not engage me to put it out of your Power to + hurt us, by taking the Life of one to whom any of us has promised + Security. Go and repose your self, Captain _Cuffey_ will shew you + his House. + +I made an Answer full of Acknowledgments, and _Cuffey_ carried me home, +where my Hurt, which was a Flesh Wound, was dress'd: He saw me laid on a +Matrass, and left me. About Eight, a Negro Wench brought me some Kid +very well drest, and leaving me, bid me good Night. Notwithstanding my +Hurt, I slept tolerably well, being heartily fatigued with the Day's +Walk. + +Next Morning, _Cuffey_ saw my Wound drest by a Negro sent for from +another Village, who had been Slave to a Surgeon several Years, and was +very expert in his Business. The Village where I was contained about Two +and Fifty Houses, made of wild Canes and Cabbage Trees; it was the +Residence of Captain _Thomas_. Here were all sorts of Handicrafts, as, +Joyners, Smiths, Gunsmiths, Taylors, _&c._ for in _Jamaica_ the Whites +teach their Slaves the Arts they severally exercise. The Houses were +furnished with all Necessaries, which they had plundered from the +Plantations; and they had great Quantities of Corn and Dunghill +Fowl. + +Captain _Thomas_ sometimes sent for me, and endeavour'd, by his +Kindness, to make my Stay among 'em as little irksome as possible. He +often entertain'd me with the Cruelty of the _English_ to their Slaves, +and the Injustice of depriving Men of that Liberty they were born +to. + +In about a Fortnight, my Wound was thoroughly cured, and I begg'd of +Captain _Thomas_ to let me be directed to the next Plantation. He +promis'd I shou'd, as, soon as he could do it with Safety. I waited with +Patience, for I did not think it just he should, for my sake, hazard his +own, and the Lives of his Followers. + +About a Week after this Promise, I reminded him of it, and he told me, +that a Party from a Neighbour Village being out, he could not send me +away: For shou'd those Men miscarry, he might be suspected of having, by +my Means, betray'd 'em to make his own Peace with the Whites; for (said +he) the Treachery our People have observed among those of your Colour, +has made 'em extreamly suspicious. I was obliged to seem contented with +his Reason, and waited the Return of this Party, which in about ten Days +after, came back, laden with Provisions, Kitchen Furniture and Bedding; +but the most acceptable part of their Booty, was Two small Caggs of +Powder, of Eight Pound Weight each, and near Two Hundred of Lead. They +also brought with 'em the Heads of the Overseer, and the Distiller +belonging to _Littleton_'s Plantation, both white Men, whom they met +separately in the Woods. + +Captain _Thomas_ now promis'd me, that the next Day I should be guided +to _Plantane-Garden-River-Plantation_, which was no small Satisfaction +to me. I left the Captain at Eleven o' Clock who gave Orders for the +entertaining the Party, and the spending the Day in Merriment. About +Three, when they were in the midst of their Jollity, one of the Scouts +brought Word, that he had discovered a Party of white Men, who were +coming up the Mountain. The Captain immediately ordered all the Women +and Children to a more remote Village, and sent for the ablest Men from +thence, while he prepared to give the Enemy a warm Reception. Every Man +took a Fusil, a Pistol, and an Axe: Ambuscades were laid in all the +Avenues to the Village; he exhorted his Men to behave themselves +bravely, there being no way to save their Lives, but by exposing them +for the common Safety. He told 'em, they had many Advantages; for the +Whites did not so well, as they, know all the Passages to the Mountain; +and that they could not, at most, march in the widest, above Two +a-breast; that the Way was rugged, troublesome to climb, and expos'd +them to their Fire, while they lay hid in their Ambuscades he had +appointed 'em. + + But (said he) were we to meet 'em upon even Terms, yet our + Circumstances ought to inspire Resolution in the most fearful: For, + were any among us of so poor a Spirit, to prefer Slavery to Death, + Experience shews us, all Hopes of Life, even on such vile Terms, + are entirely vain. It is then certainly more eligible to die bravely + in Defence of our Liberty, than to end our Lives in lingring and + exquisite Torments by the Hands of an Executioner. For my Part, I am + resolved never to fall alive into the Hands of the Whites, and I + think every one in the same Circumstances ought to take the same + Resolution. + +After this Exhortation, and the Departure of those laid in Ambush, he +order'd me to go with the Women, Children, and _Cuffey_, whom he had +sent to head the Men he had commanded from the other Village. I had not +been gone a Quarter of an Hour, in which time I was hardly got Half a +Mile, before I heard a very warm Firing. We went still higher up the +Mountain, thro' a very difficult Passage; the Village we were order'd +to, was about half a League from that we left, than which it was much +larger, and more populous; for here were at least One Hundred and Twenty +Houses, and as many able Men, with about four times the Number of Women +and Children. + +The Alarm had been given them by an Express from Captain _Thomas_, and +we met about half way, near Fifty Negroes arm'd in the manner already +mentioned. They were headed by an old Woman, whom they look'd upon a +Prophetess. _Cuffey_ recommended me to her Protection, took upon him the +Command of the Men, and return'd, after asking this Beldame's Blessing, +which she gave him with Assurance of repelling the Whites. + +The Fire all this while was very brisk, and the old Woman said to me, +that she saw those in Ambush run away from the Whites, tho' she lay with +her Face on the Ground. _No matter_, continued she, _let the Cowards +perish, the Whites will burn _Cormaco (the Village I came from)_ that's +all. They come again another Day, then poor Negroes all +lost._ + +The Shot continued near two Hours, but not with near that Briskness it +began; and the old Woman rising, bid me see the Smoke of _Cormaco_. +_Captain Thomas_, said she, _send away the white Man._ + +I staid by my Protectress, whom I durst not quit, tho' I did not like +her Company. About half an Hour after the Shot began, and continued for +near that Space pretty brisk, and then ceas'd. Soon after, we saw a +Negro dispatch'd by Captain _Thomas_, who told us the Whites had burnt +_Cormaco_, but were gone away, and that Captain _Thomas_ was coming. He +appeared not long after with _Cuffey_, and about Forty other Negroes. +I learn'd from him, that the _English_, by Fault of their Scouts, had +seized the Places where he design'd his Ambushes, kill'd Part of the Men +he had sent, and pursued the rest to the Village, where they defended +themselves, till the Whites had broke thro' the back Part of some +Houses, and set Fire to the whole Village; that he then retired with his +Men up the Mountains, the Whites following him; but he having the Start, +while they were busied in burning and plundering, he wheel'd round, and +came upon their Backs, and from the Woods and Bushes poured in his Shot; +his Men being all well cover'd, the Whites did them no Harm, and thought +proper to retire with the Loss of Six Men, and many wounded, for there +were Thirty and a Captain. We have lost, said he, Twenty Two Men, and +our Village is burnt. Soon after, we were join'd by about Forty more +Negroes, and we all went to the Village I was order'd to, which they +called _Barbascouta_. + +The next Morning, a Council was call'd, which breaking up, four Negroes, +who had not behaved well in this last Action, were brought bound, and +laid in the largest Street upon their Backs; all the Women and Children +piss'd upon them; after which, Captain _Thomas_ told 'em, That the +Example they had given, had it been follow'd, must have ended in the +Destruction of 'em all; and tho' their Crime was pardon'd, and their +Lives given 'em, yet they must not hereafter think of being Freemen, +since they did not deserve that Liberty which they were not zealous in +defending; neither cou'd they, after the Disgrace they had suffer'd, +and which they deservedly had brought on themselves, hope ever to be +admitted into the Company of brave Men, were they exempted from the +Slavery to which their Pusillanimity had condemn'd 'em. After this +they were sold to the best Bidder. I remember, he who was sold at the +greatest Price, brought no more than Two Dozen of Fowls and a Kid, to +be paid the next publick Festival. The Scout who had not given timely +Advice of the Enemy's Approach, was next brought out and beheaded; and +Three, who run away at the first Attack, were hang'd. Out-Centinels were +placed, and all the Men lay that Night on their Arms, for _Qwanaboa_, +their Prophetess, foretold another Attack, which she apprehended wou'd +prove their Ruine, if not prevented by uncommon Vigilance and +Bravery. + +Four Days pass'd, and none of the Enemy appearing, they began to recover +their Spirits, and grew less cautious; their most advanced Scouts were +recalled, and they imagin'd the _English_ had no Knowledge of this +Village. The Fifth at Night, when they were in perfect Tranquillity, +the _English_, who had, by a distant and difficult way, climb'd the +Mountains, and got above the Village, about Twelve at Night, came down +upon 'em, and were in the Streets before the Negroes had any Inkling of +their being so near. They enter'd the Village with Thirty or Forty Men, +and about half that Number intercepted all the Ways. Here began a cruel +Slaughter, for none they could light on were spared, but Women and +Children, who were all taken. Capt. _Thomas_ fought, and died like a +Hero; my grateful _Cuffey_, join'd by about a Dozen more, made all +possible Resistance; but finding their utmost Efforts useless, taking +me with them, with Menaces, if I did not go freely, they clamber'd over +some Rocks, and skulking thro' the thick of the Woods, reach'd a Morass +on the top of the Mountain, where we lay hid Three Days. The Fourth, +press'd by Hunger, Six of 'em ventured out to get Plantanes, but they +never returned; for which Reason, the Fifth Day we went in Search of +Food. At Night we got into a Plantane Walk, from whence, after having +fill'd our Bellies, and loaded our Backs, with the ripe Fruit, we +retired to the Woods. + +Next Day, _Cuffey_ went out by himself, and, at his Return, told us, +he had observ'd a large Canoe with Sails and Paddles, at the Sea Side, +which belonged he believ'd to some Fishing Negroes. He propos'd the +siezing, loading it with Plantanes, and going to the _Spanish_ Coast, +which he was sure he could make shift to find, having been there with +the _Buccaniers_. This was unanimously agreed to by the rest. I desired +to be left behind, but their Fear wou'd not let 'em consent to my Stay. +At Night we went again to the Plantane Walk, where I hop'd to make my +Escape; but one of 'em always held me by the Arm, suspecting I would +give 'em the slip. Being loaded, we follow'd _Cuffey_ to the Canoe, +where we found a Negro asleep, whom they bound, and having taken what +Plantanes they thought fit, and found two large Runlets of Water in the +Canoe, with Fishing-nets and other Tackle, they set Sail about Eleven +o' Clock with a fine Hand Breeze, which carried us before Day to the +last End of the Island. + +The next Day about Even, we saw _Hispaniola_, and landed at Four o'Clock +the Day following in a Creek, where we filled our Runlets with fresh +Water, and going up into the Country, we catched a Number of Land +Crabbs, which we dress'd and eat. + +We lay two Days in this Creek, and in the Night of the second, coasted +along the Island unperceived; but as we cross'd the Streights between +Cape _Maese_ and Cape _Nicholas_, which divides the Islands of +_Hispaniola_ and _Cuba_, we were seen and chased by a Sloop, which very +soon came up with us, and proved a Free-booter, whose Crew was of all +Nations and Colours. They offer'd the Seven Negroes their Liberty, and +each Half a Share of an able Seaman, which they readily accepted. To me +they would have given a whole Share, but I refusing to join 'em, they +resolved to set me on Shore with the first Conveniency, tho' some were +for throwing me over-board. + +We were Eight Days without seeing a Sail, but the Ninth, about Break of +day the Man at the Top-mast Head, descried one on our Leeward Bow. The +Pyrates immediately prepared for an Engagement; we clapp'd our Helm +a-weather, eas'd out our Main-sheet, and gave Chase. She proved a tall +Ship, and did not seem to make Sail to avoid us; which was the Reason we +brought to, and a Consultation was held, whether it was safe or not to +venture upon her? It was resolved in the Affirmative. In Consequence of +this, we bore away for her, and when we were in less than Gun Shot, we +perceived she was very deep, _Spanish_ built, and mounted Thirty Guns by +the Number of Ports, tho' we were surprized they were all close, and not +a Man appeared on her Decks. + +The Resolution was taken, to board on the Quarter, which they did; but +seeing no body appear, they feared some Stratagem. However, some of the +Crew ran into the Steerage and Great Cabbin; but seeing nobody, they +went between Decks, and, upon Examination, found her a Ship abandon'd, +and that she had Six Foot Water in the Hold. They took out of the Great +Cabbin Two Chests of Pieces of Eight, with some Hammocks and Cloaths +from between Decks, and so left her. + +The next Day, we spied another Sail, which gave us Chase: We lay bye, +till we saw she was an Overmatch for us; for by the Canvass she spread, +we concluded her no less than a Man of War of Fifty Guns. We clapp'd +upon a Wind, and made all the Sail, and lay as close as we possibly +could, but it blowing a fresh Gale, we found she gain'd upon us. This +obliged our Men to throw over the Treasure which they had found the Day +before, and had been the Cause of no small Joy. Finding she still gained +upon us, we threw over our Eight Guns, which together with the Wind's +slackening, was the Means of our Escape; for now we visibly wrong'd the +Ship, and in less than Six Hours, lost her. + +The Loss of the Money was a considerable Affliction to the Crew, but +that of their Guns was so great a one, it had well near set them all +together by the Ears. Some condemn'd the Captain for ordering them to be +thrown over, others justifying what he had done, as the only Means of +their Escape. At length, good Words, and a Bowl of Punch the Captain +made for each Mess, laid this Storm for a while; but that which at first +pacify'd these turbulent Spirits, was what blew them up again: For when +they were all drunk, the Boatswain said the Captain was a Coward, and +took a Merchant-man for a Man of War: That his Fear had magnified the +Object, and deprived them of the Means of either taking others, or +defending themselves. This he said in the Captain's Hearing, who, +without returning any Answer, took a Pistol from his Girdle, and shot +him dead; and then seizing another Mutineer, he ordered him a Hundred +Lashes at the Gangway, which were very honestly paid him. + +After this, he called all Hands upon Deck, and told them he should not +be fit to command so many brave Fellows, would he suffer any to insult +him: That if any on board thought he was a braver Man than himself, he +was ready to shew him his Error, either with his Fusil, Pistol, or +Cutlass: That since they had done him the Honour to chuse him Captain, +he would carry Command, which all brave and experienced Men knew +necessary, and none but Cowards would murmur at. That, as to the +Boatswain, he had deserved his Death, since one Mutineer was enough to +breed Confusion in the Vessel, which must end in the Destruction of them +all. + + What, _continued he_, I have already said, I repeat, If any Man + has a Mind to exchange a Ball with me, I am ready for him; but while + I am Captain, I will be Captain, and let the boldest of ye disobey + my Commands. + +This resolute Procedure quash'd the Mutineers, and he ever after kept +a strict Command, and was esteemed a gallant Man. + +Two Days after this, we fell in with a _Spanish Garde de Costa_, and Two +Sloops; they boarded, and with very little Resistance, took the Ship, +tho' she had Fourscore Hands on board, and our Sloop but Ninety. She was +mounted with Twenty Guns, but her great Shot did us but little Damage. +The two Sloops were _English_, going to the Bay of _Campechy_ with +Provisions, which we wanted very much. They were taken but the Day +before by the _Spaniards_, and tho' they endeavoured to get off, when +they saw we had carried the Frigate, yet our Sloop wrong'd 'em so much, +that we soon came up with, and took them. There were Twelve _Englishmen_ +on board the Prize, Four of which took on with us. + +Our Captain now quitted his Sloop, went on board the Ship, which he +called the _Basilisk_, and left the Three Sloops to the _Spaniards_. +The Eight _English_, who refused to take on with him, he kept on board, +promising to set them on shore on the East End of _Jamaica_ in few Days, +but refused them one of the Sloops, which they desired; I suppose, +fearing, at their Arrival, some Man of War might be sent in Search of +him, or, may be, hoping to bring them over, for, it's certain he had no +Design to land them as he promis'd. + +Our Ship's Crew was now extreamly jocund, for they had Provisions for +at least Three Months, with what they took out of the _English_ Sloops, +and, in Money, they found upwards of an Hundred and Sixty Thousand +Pieces of Eight, and Two Thousand Gold Quadruples. We lost but Three Men +in boarding, so that our Crew, with the Four _English_ who join'd 'em, +consisted of Ninety and One Man. + +For Three Weeks after we met with no Adventure; wherefore the Captain +resolved to cruize off the _Havana_, and many of our Water-casks being +emptied, and we not far from the River of _Chagre_, we made for, and +came to an Anchor at the Mouth of that River, and sent our Boats ashore +with the Casks. + +After we had water'd, we steer'd for the _Havana_, and between +_Portobello_ and _Carthagena_, we spied a Sail; as she clapp'd upon a +Wind, as soon as she descry'd us, and we went upon One Mast, we soon +met, but were as willing to shake her off, as we had been to speak to +her. She proved a Forty Gun _French_ Ship, which handled us without the +least Ceremony. We began the Fight by a Broad-side, as we were under her +Stern, which raked her fore and aft, and must, doubtless, as she was +full of Men, do great Execution. She returned the Compliment; and tho' +we lost but few Men, yet they miserably cut our Rigging. Our Captain +found his Business was to board, or her Weight of Metal would soon send +us to the Bottom. We enter'd the greater Number of our Men, who were so +warmly received, that but few came off; and as she was preparing to +board us in her Turn, if we had not, by a lucky Shot, brought her +Main-top-mast by the board, by which Accident we got off, she had +certainly carried us. Upon this we got our Fore-Tack to the Cat-head, +hoisted our Top-sails a-trip, and went away all Sails drawing. In few +Hours we lost Sight of her, and then upon the Muster, we found that she +had kill'd us Two and Forty of our Men, and wounded Fifteen, which was a +very sensible Loss, and made the Captain alter his Course, and think of +lying off _Campechy_, in hopes of geting more Men. + +He order'd all the well Men upon Deck, and proposed it to 'em: They all +agreed it was the best Course they cou'd take, and many of them advised +to quit the Ship, for the first good Sloop which should fall in their +Way. The Captain answered, it was Time enough to think of that when they +had met with one for their Turn. + +They now fell to knotting and splicing the Rigging, when the Day began +to be overcast, and threaten dirty Weather: The Thunder growl'd at a +distance, and it began to blow hard; a smart Thunder-shower was +succeeded by a Flash of Lightning, which shiver'd our Main-mast down +to the Step. A dreadful Peal of Thunder follow'd; the Sea began to run +high, the Wind minutely encreas'd, and dark Clouds intercepted the Day; +so that we had little more Light, than what the terrifying flashes of +Lightning afforded us. Our Captain, who was an able Seaman, at the first +Signal of an approaching Storm, handed his Top-sails, took a Reef in his +Foresail, and the Men were furling the Mainsail, when the Lightning +shiver'd the Mast, which was cut away with the utmost Expedition. We lay +some time under a Mizzen-balast, but were at last forc'd to put before +the Wind, and, for Four Days, we scudded with the Goose-wings of our +Foresail, in which Time we had not the least Glimpse of Sun or Stars, +but by very short Intervals; nor indeed did I see them, till after we +struck, but by Slatches. The Fifth Day, about Noon, our Foremast came +by the board; we broach'd to, and a Sea fill'd us; we were at our Dying +Rowls, and every Man gave himself for lost. But in this Danger, which +ought to have awakened those unhappy Wretches, to some Care of their +future Happiness, the Ship rang with Imprecations, and not a Word was +uttered, not back'd with Oaths and Curses. However, it pleased the Great +Disposer of Life and Death, that the Ship cleared her self of the Water, +which had filled the Waist to the Top of the Gunnel. They did all they +could to keep her Head to the Sea, and setting up a small Jury-mast, +to which they clapp'd a Top-gallant-yard, we again scudded, altogether +ignorant where we were; for a Sea which pooped us the second Day, had +carried away the Binnacle with the Two Compasses; and they either had +not, or knew not, where to find another. We left our selves to the Mercy +of the Sea and Wind, for we had no other Party to take; and tho' the +former run Mountain-high, yet finding the Ship made no Water, the +Captain apprehended no Danger, but that of being drove on some Coast. + +I had not the least Compassion for any of the Pyrates, he alone +excepted; for he was much more humane to us who would not take on with +him, than could be expected from one of his Profession, which he told +me, one Day, he had enter'd upon much against his Inclinations, and that +he would gladly quit that detestable Life, were it possible for him: But +as he had no Hopes of Pardon, having, on board a Man of War, killed a +Boatswain, who abused him, he was obliged to continue his Villainies for +his own Security. This Man alone shewed some Sense of a Deity. I never +heard him in the Storm swear an Oath; but, on the contrary, I often +heard him, as by stealth, say, _Lord have Mercy on me! Great God forgive +me!_ The Seventh Day, a Sea poop'd us, and wash'd away this unhappy Man, +and the Two who were at the Wheel, whom we never more set Eyes on. Two +others immediately stepp'd into their Places. The Loss of the Captain +was an Addition to our Misfortune, which together with the violent +Continuance of the Storm, took away all Hopes of Safety. + +On the Tenth Day, about Nine in the Morning, we struck upon a Rock with +that Violence, that those who were in their Hammocks were thrown out, +and those who walk'd the Deck, were struck off their Legs. The Pumps +were immediately try'd, and some ran into the Hold, and found the Ship +made a great deal of Water. They plied the Pumps, but in less than ten +Minutes, she struck again, and a Sea coming over us, I saw no more +either of the Ship or the Crew. I rose by the Side of a large Timber, +which I laid hold of, and got upon, heartily recommending my self to my +Creator, and sincerely endeavouring to reconcile myself to my God, by an +unfeigned Repentance of the Follies of my past Life, and by making a +very solemn Resolution, that if his Mercy should preserve me from a +Danger which none but his Omnipotence could draw me out of, to have, for +the future, a strict Guard upon all my Thoughts, Words, and Actions, and +to shew my Gratitude, by the Purity and Uprightness of my future Life. + +The Want of an Observation for so many Days, and the Loss of our +Captain, the only Artist on board, with the Want of a Compass, was the +Reason of our being altogether ignorant of the Coast on which our Vessel +perish'd. The Piece of the Wreck which I was upon, was, after being +toss'd some Hours, thrown ashore, and I got so far on Land, that the +returning Surf did not reach me. What became of the rest of the Crew, +I know not, but concluded they all perish'd, till some Years after, +I met in _England_ one of the _Englishmen_ who would not take on with +the Pyrates, and who told me, that, by a peculiar Providence, he and +the other Seven, were, after four Days floating on broken Pieces of the +Ship, taken up by some _Indian_ Canoes; that they were two Years among +the _Indians_, who treated them very humanly; and when they were one Day +a-fishing with them about three Leagues from the Shore, they spied a +Sail at a great Distance, and signifying their Desire to return to +_Europe_, the _Indians_ very courteously gave them a Canoe and Eight +Paddles, with which they reach'd the Ship, it being becalm'd, and found +her _French_. They were received on board in the Latitude of ---- +Degrees North, and when they arrived at _Rochelle_, were kindly used, +and sent to _England_. + +As we naturally are fond of Life, I return'd Thanks to Providence for my +Escape, and thought myself extreamly happy, tho' thrown on an unknown +Coast, and destitute of every thing necessary to sustain me: But I +trusted in that Goodness which had preserved, and which I hoped would +provide for me. To despond, I thought, would be mistrusting the Bounty +of our Creator, and might be the ready way to plunge me into the +Miseries Men naturally apprehend in my Circumstances. I therefore +heartily recommended me to the Divine Protection, and enter'd the Woods +which lay along the Coast. + +The Storm, which seem'd rais'd for the Destruction of those Enemies +of Mankind, and Shame of human Nature, ceas'd in few Hours after the +Vessel perish'd. I found in the Woods all sorts of _Indian_ Fruits, as, +Guavers, Cushoes, Sowresops, Oranges, _&c._ with which I appeased my +Hunger. I was desirous, yet fearful of discovering, whether I was in a +desolate or inhabited Country, and whether I was on the Continent, or +some Island. + +I wandered in the Woods till Sun-set, and then apprehending Danger from +wild Beasts, I climb'd a tall Tree, where I sat, tho' I could not sleep, +till Morning. By the time it had been dark about an Hour, I was cruelly +terrified by hearing human Voices in the Air; for tho' I did not +understand, I plainly heard these Words: _Sup gravimiaco caputasco +deumorian_; with others which I could not retain. + +Let any Man suppose himself in my Circumstances, and he will much easier +form an Idea, than I describe the Agony I was in on this surprizing +Accident. The Sun was two Hours high before I durst descend; but seeing +nothing to apprehend, I came down, prosecuted my Journey, as I had +begun, Eastward. In three Hours, or thereabout, I came to the Extremity +of the Wood, which was bounded by a large Meadow, enamell'd with the +most beautiful-coloured Flowers, and hedg'd on the three other Sides +with Limes, and with large Orange-Trees, placed at equal Distances +in the Fence. This, with the Prospect I had of Corn Fields, made me +conclude the Country inhabited by a civiliz'd People. + +I cross'd the Meadow, highly delighted with the agreeable Prospect which +lay before me. To avoid trampling on, and doing Damage to the Corn, +I turn'd a little to the Northward, in hopes of falling in with some +Village, or meeting with some or other of the Inhabitants. I found here +very rich Pastures, and large Flocks of Sheep, intermix'd with Deer; the +Sheep were, as in _Jamaica_, cover'd with short Hair, like that of a +Greyhound; and the Deer, which I wonder'd at instead of flying from, +came up to me, and gazed, as if I was a Creature which they were not +accustomed to the Sight of. The Sheep following their Example, I was so +hemm'd in, that, had I not made my way with a Stick I broke out of a +Hedge, I don't know how I should have got clear of them. + +What astonished me, was to see such a Number of Corn-fields and +Pasture-grounds, in a flourishing Condition, and well fenced, and yet +not meet with the least Track or Path. However, I walk'd on till about +Three o' Clock, as I guess'd by the Sun, which, tho' it was excessive +hot, was no way uneasy to me, being flickered by the Hedges. Being come +to the Banks of a large River, bordered with Cedars, the tallest I ever +saw, and being under no Apprehension of wild Beasts in a Country so well +cultivated, I laid me down under one of the largest, and slept till the +Sun was near setting; and doubtless, not having closed my Eyes the Night +before, I should have continued my Nap, had I not been wakened with the +Sound of human Voices. + +I started up, and look'd round me, but could perceive nothing like a +Man. I then holloo'd, and heard somebody say, _Quaw shoomaw_: I +answered, _Quaw shoomaw_; upon which I heard Two speak, and answer each +other, as I thought, over my Head. I look'd up, but could, by reason of +the Thickness and Height of the Tree, see nothing. I went some Paces +from it, and looking up again, I heard a Voice, which utered these Words +hastily, _Quaw shoomaw? starts_; which is, having afterwards learned the +Language, _Who art thou? stand_. + +Hardly had these Words reached my Ears, when I saw a Cock and Hen fly +down from the Tree, and light near me; they were about Six Foot tall, +and their Bodies somewhat larger than a good Weather. The Cock who was +the larger the Two, coming pretty near me, tho' he discover'd in his +Eyes both Fear and Astonishment, repeated the Words, _Quaw shoomaw_. The +Hen, who kept a greater Distance, cried out, _Ednu sinvi_, which I since +learn'd, is, _Whence come you?_ + +I was as much surprized to hear Fowls speak, as they were to see such a +Monster as I appeared to be. I answer'd in her own Words, _Ednu sinvi_, +upon which she ask'd me, I suppose, a String of Questions, with a +Loquacity common to the sex and then fell a cackling. Three or four +Chickens came running to her, and at the Sight of me hid their Heads +under their Mother's Wing, as I suppos'd her. One of them, who was a +Cock not above Five Foot high, at last took Courage to peep out, and +said something to his Father; and, as I guess taking Courage from what +Answer he return'd, ventured to approach me. He walk'd round me tho' +he kept some Distance, and spoke in a threatning Tone. I answer'd in +a melancholy one, and in my own Language, That I was an unfortunate +shipwreck'd Man. The Youngster, I suppose, thinking me a harmless +Animal, ventured to strike at me, and if I had not avoided the Stroke, +I believe he had split my Skull, for his Spurrs were about Eighteen +Inches long, near Five about, and as sharp as Needles. + +I saw his Father angry at this Proceeding, and he gave him a terrible +Cuff with his Wing, and sent him home. Then speaking to me, he made +Signs I should follow him; I understood, and obey'd him. After we had +pass'd a small Copse of about a Quarter of a Mile, we came into a fine +Meadow, where we saw several Hens milking Goats; they sat on their +Rumps, and were as dextrous with their two Feet, as any of our +Dairy-Maids with their Hands. They carried two Pails a-piece with a +Yoke, like our Tub-women; and indeed there are not in _Europe_ any who +exceed this Nation in Mechanicks, as far as they are useful to them. I +have seen a _Cacklogallinian_ (for so they call themselves) hover with +a Pair of Sheers in his two Feet, and cut Trees with all the Regularity +imaginable; for, in a Walk of a League long, which is very common before +the Houses of the Nobility, you won't see (not to say a Bough, but even) +a Leaf grow beyond the rest. They are the best Weavers in the Universe, +and make Cloath of stript Feathers, which they have the Art of spinning, +and which is the Staple Commodity of the Kingdom; for no Feathers are +comparable to these for this Manufacture. When I pass'd the Meadow, +every one quitted her Employment to come and stare at me; they all spoke +together so loud, and with such Volubility, that I almost fancied my +self among a Score of Gammers at a Country Christening. + +This Meadow led to a Farm House which belonged to my Guide, or more +properly, Master; for I soon was made sensible, that they look'd upon me +as an irrational Beast, of a Species hitherto unknown to them. We were +no sooner within Doors, than the Family flock'd round to admire me, +asking Abundance of Questions which I did not understand. One of the +Hens brought me a Bowl of Goats Milk, which I received very thankfully, +and drank off. They then offer'd me Corn, which I rejecting, one of +them went out, and fetch'd me a Piece of boil'd Mutton; for these +_Cacklogallinians_, contrary to the Nature of _European_ Cocks, live +mostly on Flesh, except the poorer Sort, who feed on Grain. They do not +go to Roost, but lye on Feather-beds and Matrass, with warm Coverings; +for, at the setting of the Sun, there falls so great a Dew, that I was, +in the Night, as sensible of Cold, as ever I was in _Europe_ in the +Winter. + +After I had eat my Piece of Meat, a Bed was made for me in my Master's +Chamber, whither he conducted me. He made Signs, that I should lye down, +and was not a little astonish'd, I perceived, to see me open the +Bedding, go into it, and cover my self up. The pulling off my Cloaths he +did not wonder at, for the Rich and Great among 'em wear Mantles, and +cover their Legs with fine Cloath. + +I slept very heartily, and very much at my Ease. My Master, who was a +rich Farmer, went the next Day to _Ludbitallya_, the Metropolis of the +Kingdom, about Forty Miles from his Home, to acquaint his Landlord + who was a Minister of State, what a Rarity he had in Possession. +He set out about Six in the Morning, and returned at Noon; for the +_Cacklogallinians_ will fly at the Rate of Twenty Miles an Hour. His +Landlord came in less than that Space after in great State. He was +preceded by Half a Dozen Servants, who carried large Battens in their +right Feet, and made no Ceremony of knocking any on the Head who came +in their Way. He was in a sort of Palanquin, covered with fine Cloth, +and powdered with silver Stars in Circles, supported by four +_Cacklogallinians_ adorn'd with silver Chains. As to his Person, he was +about Nine Foot high when he stood upright, and very corpulent; for, +what is wonderful among these People (if I may be allow'd that Term) +they grow in Bulk, and their Appetites increase in Proportion to their +Riches and Honour, of which I was an Eye-witness in the Persons of my +Master and his Male Children, for the Females are not perceivably +affected with a Change of Fortune. This holds good in its Opposite, for +Adversity will bring down the tallest to the Size or a Dwarf, that is, +to Three Foot. + +But to return to this Minister, whose Name was _Brusquallio_. He was +cover'd with a rich loose Garment embroider'd, and wore on his Neck a +yellow, green and red Ribbon, from which hung a Gold Medal of a Cock +trampling on a Lion, which is the Badge of the greatest Honour the +Emperor of _Cacklogallinia_ can bestow on a Subject. He had a great +Number of Followers, who paid him a sort of Adoration. When he alighted, +my Master met him on the Out-side of the Door, threw himself on his +Belly, and held his Beak to the Ground, till the other order'd him to +rise; for I have since learnt both their Customs and Language. When he +came in, I was brought to him. + +My Master, as I have since learnt, told his Lordship, that he fancied I +had some Glimmerings of Reason, notwithstanding the hideous Make of my +Person, and gave for an Instance, my getting into my Bed as decently as +a _Cacklogallinian_; and that of my Species certainly had a Language +among 'em, for he had heard me very distinctly utter some unintelligible +Words, and even repeat some after him. + +I threw my self on my Knees, and in the most humble Posture address'd my +self to his Lordship, telling him in _English_, that I was a harmless +unfortunate Man, who was cast upon their Coast, was an Object of +Compassion, and below their Anger; that as I never did, nor meant Harm +to any, I hoped to experience his Lordship's Mercy. + +He seem'd highly delighted to hear me speak, and viewed me with a +visible Surprize. My Master coming to me, said, _Ednu sinvi_? which I +repeated after him (as I perceiv'd he was desirous I should) to the +great Satisfaction of the Minister, who, as I have since known, desired +to purchase, have me taught the _Cacklogallinian_ and Court Language +(for the Court did not speak that of the Country, for a Reason hereafter +to be mention'd) and present me to his Imperial Majesty, as the greatest +Rarity in Nature. When he bid my Master set a Price, he answer'd, That +his Lordship's doing him the Honour to accept such a Trifle from his +Slave, he esteem'd beyond any Sum of Money, notwithstanding his Poverty. + + Well, _says the Grandee_, bring him to me to-morrow, I accept the + Present, and you shall have no Reason to repent your trusting to me. + +The Minister got into his Palanquin, and his four Bearers flew off with +him with that incredible Swiftness, his Attendance had much ado to keep +up with it. + +The next Morning, my Master taking me by the Sleeve with his Beak, +led me out of Doors, and then walk'd forward. I stood still, and he +returned, pull'd me by the Coat, and walk'd on again; by which I guess'd +he would have me follow him, as I accordingly did, accompanied by one of +his Servants, who kept by my Side. He went too fast, for me to keep him +Company; which he perceiving, spoke to the Servant, and they took Wing +together, and each of them laying hold on an Arm, lifted me about Thirty +Foot from the Ground, and in Four Hours, alighted about a Quarter of a +Mile distant from a very large Town. + +I had forgot to acquaint the Reader, that before I began this airy +Journey, my Master took a Mantle, which his Servant carried under his +Wing, and cover'd me, that I had only an Open to see and respire: This +was to prevent the Impertinence he might expect from the Mob at the +Sight of such a Novelty as I was. + +When we alighted, he made Signs to me to lye down, sent his Servant to +the Town, and cover'd me all over. The Servant soon returned with a +close Palanquin, which they made me Signs to go into, and I was in an +Instant hurried thro' the Air, and set down in a Stable Yard, and +conducted from thence into a little House, to which this Yard afforded +the only Passage. Both the Avenue, and the Smallness of the House no way +answerable to the Charge and Titles of the Minister to whom it belong'd, +were Matter of Surprize to me; tho' I since learnt it was in him Policy, +that he made no greater Figure in Town than a private Gentleman, not to +encrease the Number of those who envied him; for tho' he was now Nine +Foot high, yet in a late Reign he was dwindled from the Height peculiar +to the Rank of his Family, of Six Foot Nine Inches, to Three Foot Ten. +In the Country, I was told his Seat far exceeded any of the Royal +Palaces, tho' as yet not finish'd, and both his Furniture and Equipage +were answerable; and he never travelled without a great Number of +Servants, who join'd him a Mile or two without the Gates. + +This great Person shewed me to his family, every one of which admired +me as a most monstrous Production of Nature. My Master was rewarded, +by being made _Nosocomionarcha_, or Paymaster to the Invalids, had the +Title of _Quityardo_, which answers to our _Squire_, conferred on him, +and was ever after a Favourite of the Minister. He sprung up immediately +Nine Inches higher, grew considerably more bulky, and would eat you +Three or Four _Cacklogallinian_ Chicks in a Day; for the Ministers, +and those in Post, feed on their own Species, and not one of the poorer +Sort is in any Security of their Lives, in case a hungry Grandee sets +his Eyes on, and has a Mind to him. Nay, the slavish Spirit of the +_Cacklogallinians_ is such, that many of them, thro' Folly or +Superstition, will come in Bodies to the House of a Minister, and beg as +the greatest Favour and Honour, they and their Families may be served up +to his Lordship's Table; and I have seen the Fools, who had thus offered +themselves, and been accepted, if there was not immediate Occasion for +them, strut in the Streets with a Chain of Silver about their Necks, +which they look'd upon as the greatest Honour; and when call'd for by +his Lordship's Cook, run exulting, and offer their Throats to his Knife; +tho' this Nation was, in Time past, the bravest, and the most tenacious +of their Liberty, of any of the feather'd Race. But I have digress'd too +far. + +My new Master, or, more properly, Lord, order'd an Apartment and a Table +for me, with a Tutor to teach me the Languages, by whose Diligence, and +my own _Avidity_ of Learning, I began in Four Months to understand a +great Part of what was said to me; and my Lord was so very much pleased +at my Progress, that he gave my Tutor a Post, which raised him about +Four Inches. My Lord forbore asking me any Questions concerning my self, +till I was perfectly Master or the Languages, which I was in about +Eleven Months. + +He one Day sent for me into his Chamber, and accosted me in the +following Words: + + Probusomo (_which is, Monster of Nature, the Name he gave me_) + I have suspended my Curiosity of enquiring whence, and how you came + into this Kingdom, till we could perfectly understand each other, + that I might not be troubled with an imperfect Relation: Now that + you are Master of our Language, tell me of what Part of the World + you are; whether you are of savage, or a civiliz'd Nation? if of the + latter, what is your Policy, what are your Manners and Customs, and + what Accident brought you hither? + +I threw my self on my Face, and kiss'd his right golden Spur (for the +Grandees saw off those which Nature has provided them, and substitute +these in their Places) then rising, I answer'd, That I was of _Europe_, +a Country so distant from _Cacklogallinia_, that I was near Six Moons at +Sea, before I was cast on its Coast. + + Why, _said he_, is it possible you can swim so long? for you being + destitute of Wings, can have no other Method of passing so vast a + Water. + +I told him we pass'd the Seas in Ships, and gave him a Description of +them, but could not make him have the least Idea of what I meant, till +the next Day, that I hollow'd, shap'd, and rigg'd a Piece of Cork, made +Sails of fine Linnen, and brought it to his Excellency in a Bason of +Water. I told him, we were a civiliz'd Nation, and govern'd by a King, +who however did nothing without the Advice of his Great Council, which +consisted of Grandees born to that Honour, and _Quityardo's_ elected by +the People to represent them. That, to these Representatives the People +had delegated the Power of acting for them, and entrusted their Liberty +and Estates to their Probity; consequently nothing could be supposed to +be done by the Prince, but by the universal Consent of the Nation, and +the People could bear no Burthens, but what they voluntarily took upon +themselves for the common Good. + + I have never, _answer'd he_, read, that any of your Species was seen + in this Kingdom before you; but it is certain you must have copy'd + your Policy from us. But, said he, are all these Representatives + publick-spirited, zealous for the common Welfare, Proof against + Preferments, Titles, and private Advantages? Have they always the + Good of the Nation at Heart so far, as to prefer it to that of their + Families? Do they sollicite the People to chuse them, or are they + their free Choice? If the latter, what Amends do the People make to + these Representatives, who neglect their private Affairs, to apply + themselves to those of the Publick? + +I told his Excellency, that I did not doubt their being such Men as he +spoke them; that I was very young when I left my Country, and beside I +was not born in a Rank which, had I been of riper Years, permitted me to +meddle with State Affairs: However, I had heard from my Elders, that +none were elected, till the King sent his Mandates to the several +Provinces, ordering them to chuse the wisest among them to assist his +Majesty with their Advice: And as the Interest of each Province in +particular, and of the whole Nation in general, turn'd upon the Probity +and Judgment of the Representatives, to whom an unlimited Power was +delegated, it did not stand to Reason, that they would make Choice of +any, whose Love for his Country, whose Sagacity and Honour they had not +made Proof of; or at least, whose Life did not give them Hopes, that he +would prove a real Patriot. + +That they were the free Choice of the People, was plain, by the +Backwardness shewn by those elected to undertake so weighty a Charge, +which had no other Recompence than the Applause of the Publick, for the +faithful Execution of their Trust. Another Reason which induced me to +believe the Choice such, was, that the _English_, (of which Nation I +own'd my self) were any one rich enough to bribe the Majority of a +Province, and are too wise a People to entrust their Liberty to such a +Person; for it's natural to believe, whoever would buy their Votes, +would sell his own: But, that the Majority of a Province was to be +brib'd, or that a free People would, on any account, risque their +Liberty, by giving their Representatives a Power to enslave 'em, either +by making the Prince absolute, and furnishing him with Standing Armies, +to maintain a despotick Power or else by selling them to Foreigners, +could never enter into the Thoughts of a reasonable Creature. + +_Has_, said he, (who smiled all the while I held this Discourse) _your +Nation any near Neighbours?_ I answer'd, That, by the means of our +Shipping, we might be said near Neighbours to every Nation; but that our +Island was separated but Seven Leagues from the Continent, inhabited by +a warlike and powerful People. _Have you any Commerce with the Nations +on the Continent?_ We are, said I, the greatest Dealers in _Europe_. +_Have you any Religion among you?_ We have, in the main, I replied, but +one, tho' it is branch'd out into a great many Sects, differing only in +some trifling Ceremonies, in Essentials we all agree. + + Religion, _answer'd my Lord_, is absolutely necessary in a + well-govern'd State; but do your great Men make any Profession of + Religion? or, to ask a more proper Question, do they do more than + profess it? + +My Lord, said I, our great Men are the brightest Examples of Piety. +Their Veracity is such, that they would not for an Empire falsify +their Word once given. Their Justice won't suffer a Creditor to go from +their Gate unsatisfied: Their Chastity makes them look on Adultery and +Furnication the most abominable Crimes; and even the naming of them +will make their Bloods run cold. They exhaust their Revenues in Acts +of Charity, and every great Man among us is a Husband and Father to +the Widow and Orphan. They esteem themselves Stewards to the Poor, and +that in a future State they are accountable for every Doit lavish'd in +Equipage or superfluous Dishes. Their Tables are not nicely, but +plentifully served, and always open to the honest Needy. At Court, as +I have learn'd, there is neither Envy nor Detraction, no one undermines +another, nor intercepts the Prince's Bounty or Favour by slandrous +Reports; and neither Interest, Riches, nor Quality, but Merit only +recommends the Candidate to a Post: A Bribe was never heard of there; +which, together with the exact Justice practised, is the Reason that a +Minister, after Twelve or Fourteen Years, shall die not a Doit richer +than he was at the Entrance upon his Office: Nay, I've been told, that +a Paymaster General of the Army, after he had past his Accounts before +the Grand Council of the Nation, with a general Applause, found his +Patrimony so impoverish'd by his Charity to Soldiers Widows, he was +oblig'd to turn Merchant for his Support; but being unfortunate, he +petition'd for a small Government. + +_As you say you have divers Sects of Religion, you must have Priests +among you, pray what sort of Men are they?_ I answer'd, their Lives and +Doctrine were of a-piece, their Example differing nothing from their +Precepts: That Hypocrisy, Avarice, Ambition, litigious Suits, Lying, +Revenge, and Obscenity, were Vices known to 'em by Name only: That they +were a mortify'd Set of Men, who look'd upon nothing transitory worth +their Concern; and having their Thoughts always employ'd on Meditations +of a future Happiness, neglected every thing on Earth but their Duty; +and for this Reason, they often became a Prey to Knaves, who slipp'd no +Opportunity of spoiling them, knowing their Lenity such, that, if +detected, they should not be prosecuted. I have been assured, that a +Priest being told, such a Farmer had stole away a great many Tithe +Sheafs, the good Divine answer'd, _If he's poor, it's no Theft; what I +have belongs to the Needy, and he takes but his own_. The Day after he +sent him all the Corn he was Master of, and by this Act of Charity, +wou'd have starved before next Harvest, if a Minister of State, in love +with his Virtue, had not provided for him. And I myself knew one, +who hearing black Puddings were a Preservative against pestilential +Infections, and that the Plague was within Two Thousand Leagues of our +Island, laid out his whole Patrimony in Puddings, and sent 'em to every +Sea-port in the Kingdom. + +_Have you Physicians among you?_ We have, said I, Men of extensive +Charity, great Humility, profound Learning, without the least Tincture +of Vanity. They are so very conscientious, that shou'd they prescribe +for a Patient, and he recover before he had taken all the Druggs brought +in, they will pay for those which remain, out of their own Pockets. +They never take a fee, but when they prescribe, tho' they visit you +frequently, and never prescribe, without they see an absolute Necessity. +They a modest, that they attribute the Recovery of a Person to divine +Providence, and are ready to accuse themselves of Ignorance or +Negligence should he die under their Hands. + +_Have you any Lawyers in your part of the World?_ Lawyers, said I, we +have, but not more than necessary. + +_You have then_, said my Lord, _very few, or are a litigious People. +What sort of Creatures are they?_ They are, said I, brought up many +Years in the Study of the Laws, and pass a strict Examination, not only +as to their Knowledge, but their Morals, before they are admitted to the +Bar; which is the Reason, that we have no Tricks, no Delays, to weary +and ruine the poor Client who has a Right, but no Money; they come +directly to the Merits of the Cause, and never endeavour by their +Rhetorick to put a fair Face on a bad one; and not one, if his Client +does not deceive him, will appear on the Side of Oppression or +Injustice; and if he is himself impos'd upon, when he perceives it, he +will not defend the Wrong. This Care of examining into the Probity of +the Students, and Candidates for the Bar, is the Reason our Lawyers are +very near in as great Reputation as our Priests. + + Do you know from what you have said, _Probusomo_, that I conclude + your Statesmen Fools, and that you will soon fall a Prey to some + other Nation; or you either very ignorant of your National Affairs, + or a very great Lyar; or otherwise think me easily impos'd upon. I + have been many Years at the Head of the _Cacklogallinian_ Affairs, + under our August Master, _Hippomina Connuferento_, Darling of the + Sun, Delight of the Moon, Terror of the Universe, Gate of Happiness, + Source of Honour, Disposer of Kingdoms, and High Priest of the + _Cacklogallinian_ Church. I have, I say, long, in Obedience to this + Most Potent Prince, acted as Prime Minister, and to tell me, that + such a one will baulk his Master's, or his own Interest, on the + Score of Religion; nay, in his publick Capacity, that he believes + one Word of it, or has Ears for Justice or Compassion, wou'd be the + same thing as telling me, a Flatterer, in his Encomiums has a strict + Eye to Truth, or that a Poet who writes in Praise of great Men, + believes them really possess'd of the Virtues he attributes to 'em, + and has no other View in his Epistle than that of edifying others, + by shewing the bright Example of his Patrons. My Business now calls + me to Court; the Emperor, as yet, has never heard of you: For + whoever dares acquaint him with any thing, without my Permission, + passes his Time very ill. To Morrow, I'll present you to His + Majesty. + +He left the Room, and I retired to my Apartment, where none cou'd come +at me, but who pass'd thro' my Lord's, which was Death to do, or even +to fly within Twenty Yards of his House, without Permission. Nay, the +proudest among them, and those of the highest Rank alight at his +Outer-gate, and walk into the House. + +The next Morning my Lord came into my Apartment: + + "Well, _Probusomo_, said he, I intend this Day to present you to his + Imperial Majesty; and tho' you are of a Species hitherto unknown in + our Parts of the World, and are, for that Reason, look'd upon as a + kind of Monster, as perhaps one of us should be, were we to appear + in your Nation, yet I have observ'd some Points of Discretion in + your Behaviour, and I begin to have a Kindness for you, for which + Reason I intend to instruct you how to demean your self; and if you + are wise enough to act and be guided by the Counsels I shall + prescribe to you, while you are at Court, I can, in spite of your + awkard Form, get you naturalized, and then perhaps may prefer you to + some Charge in the Government, considerable enough to enable you to + pass the rest of your Days in Ease and Plenty. + + "You that don't know what a Court is (_proceeded he_) should receive + some Idea of it before you enter there. You must first be informed, + that Emperors do not always trouble themselves with the Affairs of + State; for they sometimes pass their whole Lives in a continued + Round of indolent Pleasures, while their Favourites govern all. I + don't doubt but you have already made your Observation upon the + servile Crowd who attend my Motions, who wait upon my Commands, with + an Obsequiousness that perhaps is not practised in your Parts of the + World, betwixt Creatures of the same Species, yet many of them hate + me, as I do them,--perhaps you'll think this strange; but when the + secret Springs of this Attachment to my Interest come to unfold + themselves to you, which will soon happen, by the Observations I see + you are capable of making, your Admiration will cease. However, I + shall be a little particular in explaining some Matters to you, that + you may thereby be the better qualified to serve my + Interest. + + "You must then know, that all this assiduous Court is not paid to my + Person, but to my Place. They know, that I not only hold the Reins + of the Government in my Hands, but keep the publick Treasure under + my own Eye, and that the Power of giving is only mine. It is not + their Love, but their Avarice, that makes them thus obedient to my + Nod; and the same Respect would be paid to the meanest of my + Domesticks, were such a one put in my Place. + + "Their Hatred to me proceeds from various Causes. In some it is Envy, + because they think themselves affronted and injur'd by my great + Rise, as knowing themselves to be of greater Consideration in their + Country, and fancifying themselves themselves to be as well + qualified by their Parts. Others again are out of Humour, because I + do not comply with all their unreasonable Demands, their Luxury + always keeping them necessitous. Some of these are such as have + Parts enough to be troublesome; they are hard to be managed, and + indeed are the most dangerous Creatures I have to deal with. There + is a third Sort, who hate and oppose me, only because they love + their Country, but these I don't much fear, for their Party is very + weak at present. + + "And since I am upon this Subject, I can't forbear observing to you, + that were it not for the Luxury of some, and the Folly of others, I + could never have stood my Ground so long, and executed those + Measures which I have brought about; and happy it is for a Person in + my Station (if he has any odd Measure in View) that many of the + upper Rank should happen to be Fools; I have myself kept several + Persons dancing Attendance after me, Year after Year, made them + maintain in publick Assemblies, that Nine was more than Fifteen; + that Black was White and a Hundred other things of equal Absurdity, + only by promising to stick a parti-colour'd Feather in their Tails; + and when this was done, it only made them the Scorn and Jest of + every thing of good Sense: Yet it answered my Purpose, and did not + hinder others of equal Folly from making Court for the same thing. + + "Thus I have accounted with you why these People are subservient to + me, while they hate me; but I have not given you the Reason on my + Side for keeping up this Correspondence and Union with them, for + whom I have as little Esteem as they can have for me. Then, in a + Word it is, I can't do without them. This you'll easily comprehend + when you understand the Nature of our Government; for you'll know, + that this Power here is lodged in the many, not in the few: It is + they who can abolish old Laws, and make new; the Power of Life and + Death is in them, and from their Decrees there is no Appeal; and + tho' I do all, and command all, nay, command even them, yet the + Right is theirs, and they might exert it all times if they had + Virtue enough to break off their Correspondence with me. + + "Things being in this Situation, no doubt, you'll think my + Establishment well fix'd; but I am not without my Fears and my + Dangers, and there is no judging of the Power of one in my Station, + by the Flattery that is paid him, for Flatterers take things + frequently by outward Appearances; and notwithstanding my arbitrary + manner of treating some Persons, my Safety is depending upon the + Breath of others, and I am obliged to pay a more servile Court to + some behind the Curtain, than is paid to me without. + + "Those upon whom my Fate and Fortune depend, are the _Squabbaws_ of + the Court (the Reader is to understand, that this is a Name for + certain Females, who are maintain'd for the Emperor's Luxury and + Pleasure, and always sojourn at Court) and it is to their Avarice + that I owe my Grandeur, as well as its Continuance so long. There + was a Time, when I foolishly mistook my own Interest so far, as by + my Conduct to give some Offence to these _Squabbaws_ for which I + suffered a severe Disgrace: I then endeavour'd to shelter my self + among those who are stiled the Patriots, but they would neither + receive me into their Counsels, nor put the least Trust in me. I had + then Leisure to reflect on the Folly of this Conduct, and had Time + to compute how much I was a Loser, by putting on the Mask of the + Patriot and, I confess, it had such an Effect upon me, and gave me + such an Aversion to Patriotism, that I could never prevail upon + myself to do any thing for the publick Good ever since. + + "I then immediately apply'd all my Thoughts towards making my Peace, + and there fell out a Chain of lucky Incidents, which happily brought + it about. One of these was the Death of several great Personages, + who were too mighty for me at that time in Rank and Dignity, and + whose Parts eclipsed mine in the Opinion of the Publick, tho' I + always thought otherwise. + + "Their Deaths were so sudden, that the Emperor was puzzled whom to + chuse in their Places, (it being necessary they should soon be + fill'd up) and he had but a very small Acquaintance among his + People; so that he was under a kind of Necessity of throwing his + Affairs into my Hands, I having the Reputation of being pretty well + practised in certain Branches of his Revenues. + + "I had Reason to suspect, that this new Preferment was not intended + as a Favour, and that I was to continue no longer in this Station, + than till some other Person more agreeable could be fix'd upon; but + in order to improve the Opportunity, I apply'd my self strenuously + to the Avarice of the _Squabbaws_, and gave with Prodigality; for I + bore in Mind my former Miscarriages. This had all its Effect; they + had never met with a Person so fit for their Purpose, and by these + Arguments they began to be convinc'd, that if another should be + preferr'd to my Place, they would be no Gainers by the Change. + + "Since this good Understanding betwixt us, Matters have been so + managed, that no Person has had Access to the Emperor, but thro' my + Recommendation; so that my Enemies cannot fill his Ears with + Complaints of my Administration; and whenever I observe any Person + attempting to lay the State of Affairs before his Imperial Majesty, + the _Squabbaws_, by my Instructions, are to insinuate into the royal + Ear some Jealousies and Fears of that Person, that the Emperor may + forbid his Admittance; so that he only sees with my Eyes, and hears + by my Report. + + "As this in a great Measure has render'd me safe against the Attempts + of my Enemies, yet I can't deny but that it has encreas'd their + Number, and furnish'd them with Matter to clamour against me; and + these Clamours have possess'd the Publick with a kind of an Aversion + to my Conduct, tho' they have not reach'd the Throne. + + "But as it is not possible, but that the Officers of State belonging + to a great Emperor, of which there must be many in Number, must + sometimes have Opportunities of talking with him, I have taken Care + to prevent any Danger from thence, by chusing for those Posts Birds + of the weakest Capacities, altogether ignorant of the Affairs of the + Empire; for one in a high Station, who makes the publick Interest + subservient to his own, will never be safe, unless he takes Care, + that no Creature who acts with him, shall have any Sense except + himself. I am not the first who have laid this down as a Maxim; some + of my Predecessors began to practise it, as a necessary Piece of + Self-Defence. 'Tis true I have carried it a little further than + they, and with greater Reason, because I have not forgot in how bad + a Light I stood when _Fowls_ of Parts sway'd the publick Counsels, + with what Sagacity they saw thro' all my private Views and Designs, + and with what Facility they brought about my Disgrace; and + therefore, when I have discover'd in any of those concern'd with me + in Business, a fine Discernment, and a Genius for great Affairs, I + have from that Minute look'd upon such as dangerous, and for that + Reason either procured their Disgrace, or under the Pretence of + doing them Honour, prevail'd upon the Emperor to confer upon them + the Government of some distant Province, where they are removed too + far from the Imperial Counsels, to be able to do me any + Harm. + + "But to come nearer to my present Purpose; my Design of placing you + at Court, is to serve as a Spy for me upon the _Squabbaws_; for my + Enemies, who have tried in vain all other Means to overturn me, may + perhaps at last attempt it that Way; and the Avarice of these + _Squabbaws_, which has hitherto been my Support, may one Time or + other (if I am not very vigilant) prove my Ruine. For if my Enemies + should bribe them, to be privately introduced to confer with the + Emperor, there is an End of my Reign; for I am not insensible, that + his Imperial Majesty has no Personal Affection for me, and it is his + own Ease and Indolence that hinders him from looking out for some + other Servant to supply my Place; for Alterations cannot be made + without some little Trouble. + + "Be therefore vigilant for my Interest, as you value your own: Be + always quick in your Intelligence, watch every Step and Motion of + the _Squabbaws_, and acquaint me with every thing that passes in + their most secret Transactions. Let me know who are their Advisers, + their Favourites, their Companions; but above all, be quick in + informing me, if any Person should be admitted to confer with the + Emperor; and if possible, hear what is the Subject of their + Discourse. Your grotesque Form may recommend you to the _Squabbaws_; + for Animals sometimes become Favourites amongst us, only for the + Oddness of their Figure. They will say or do any thing before you, + because they will never imagine you capable of making any Remarks; + for the _Cacklogallinians_ have such a Notion, that no Creatures are + endued with Reason like themselves. + + "But it will be necessary to instruct you in the Manner of making + your Address, when you enter the Court. You must remember then to + pay your Compliments to the _Squabbaws_, before you do to the + Emperor; and of these the _Vultuaquilians_ claim the Precedence to + those of our own Nation, particularly the bulkiest. It is the + Praftice here to do so, for the Emperor, as to what regards himself, + is no great Lover of Ceremony. The Form of addressing these + _Squabbaws_ has something in it very singular; but the servile + Manners of the _Cacklogallinians_ to those in any Power has made it + necessary to be comply'd with, and is the Cause that they now expect + it. You must make a low Obeisance to the Ground, at which time they + will turn their Backsides upon you, and spreading all the Feathers + of their Tails, give you an Opportunity of saluting them behind. You + will see the _Cacklogallinians_ of Figure and Rank pressing in, + endeavouring who shall be first in kissing the Posteriors of these + _Squabbaws_; and those upon whom they are graciously pleased to turn + their Backsides, and spread their Tails, return highly satisfied, as + if some extraordinary Honour had been conferr'd upon them; nay, I my + self am obliged to do it in as obsequious a Manner as any other, + every time I approach them." + +When he had spoke these Words, a Servant came in to give him Notice, +that the Coach was ready. He ordered me to put on my Mantle, and attend +him: I did so, and he was pleased to do me the Honour to carry me with +him in his Coach. In the Way, he discoursed me upon several Subjects. +Among other things, it came into his Head to enquire of me, whether, in +the Parts of the World from whence I came, there were any such things as +Poets. I gave him to understand, that we had several who had been famous +in my own Country. He desired to know what kind of Persons they were: I +answered him, they were the faithful Registers of the glorious Actions +of great Men, whose Praises they sung, in order to stir up others, by +their Examples, to the Practice of Vertue, and Love of their Country; +and that as it required a great Genius, and fine Understanding, to be a +good Poet, they were, for that Reason, highly caressed by the Great, and +their Works so well paid for, that it was as rare to see a Poet poor, as +a Minister of State grow rich by his Employment. This I said, as well +out of Regard to Truth, as for the Honour of my Country. He appeared +pretty much surpriz'd at this Account of our Poets, and told me theirs +were of a different Character, and met with a different Fate; for they +were but little regarded by any great Birds, except the Vain and the +Silly, who wanted a little Flattery, for which they paid some small +Gratuity, while they wou'd not accept of them as Companions; for it was +not fashionable for those of Figure to converse with any thing inferior +to them in Wealth or Quality, which was reputed to have Sense: On the +contrary, when they receiv'd such for Companions, it was upon the +Account of their being either _Buffoons_ or _Pandars_; and this he was +pleased to say was the Fashion. + +He also confess'd to me, that he himself never had any great Regard for +that Sort of Persons, which he own'd he sometimes had Reason to repent; +for he found that by their Verses and Discourses, they influenced the +Publick very much, by whom they were look'd upon with more Esteem, than +by the Courtiers; and that his Enemies had made a proper Advantage of +his Contempt of them; for they had taken the most ingenious amongst +them into their Party, and exasperated them against him; so that +their Compositions had kept up a Spirit against him, and he had the +Mortification of seeing the People always receive with Pleasure any +thing that exposed and satyriz'd his Conduct. That indeed in his own +Defence, he had imploy'd some others to chant his Praise; but they +were such wretched Poetasters, and did it so awkardly, that their +Performances prov'd more bitter Invectives than the Satyrs of +the others; for whenever there happen'd the least Flaw in his +Administration, he was sure to receive congratulatory Verses immediately +upon it; and that was the Time they chose to proclaim the Happiness the +Subject enjoy'd by his wise Management: And they carried this Matter to +such a ridiculous Height, that there was not a Vice or a Folly, that +either he or any of his Family were remarkable for, but they were +prais'd for the contrary Vertues and Accomplishments. + +By this Time we arriv'd at the Gates of the Palace; for the Coach being +drawn by Six Ostriches, we were but a little Time upon the Way; and +mounting the great Stair-case, without being any way molested by the +People's Curiosity (for the Moment my Lord appear'd every Fowl of what +Quality soever, clapp'd his Beak to the Ground, and did not alter that +Posture till he was past) he bid me stay in the Anti-chamber till sent +for, and went himself into the Presence. He had not been there five +Minutes, before I heard that Door open, and a Jay with a strait-body'd +Coat, which button'd on his Breast, and thro' which his Wings and Legs +pass'd, came hopping into the Room where I was, surrounded by the +Courtiers, who view'd me with Surprize, but were so well bred as to +whisper their Sentiments of me. This impertinent Jay peck'd 'em by the +Legs, or pull'd 'em by the Crown-feathers, without Distinction: Nay, I +saw some _Cacklogallinians_ of the great Order, whose Heads he could not +reach, stoop to him, and beg he would do them the Honour to pull their +Crowns. Every one shew'd him Respect, and made way for him to come up +to me; he view'd me some time, and then peck'd me by the Finger; for he +did not reach higher than my Hand, when it hung down. I returned the +Compliment with a Wherret of my Fist, which knock'd him over, and had +cost me my Life, durst any have struck in the Palace. There was a +terrible Uproar, and I was apprehensive, that I should pay dear for my +Resentment; but the Emperor to whom my Lord was then giving an Account +of me, being inform'd, that the Impertinence of the Jay had caus'd the +Disturbance, he order'd him to be carried to the Guard, that he should +be lock'd up for three Days, and take two Purges and a Vomit (for +Criminals not guilty of Capital Crimes, are punish'd by a Number of +Vomits or Purges, which are more or less, according to the Vileness +of the Fact) I was called into the Presence-chamber, where I made my +Compliment as instructed, and then address'd my self to the Ladies, +giving the Precedence always to the bulkiest, according to my +Instructions. The first _Squabbaw_ whom I address'd my self to, was +about Seven Foot round; her Crop hung within Six Inches of the Floor, +which I have since learn'd is a particular Beauty; the Effluvia of her +Body were extreamly strong, and oblig'd his Imperial Majesty, when she +spread her Tail to me, to smell to an Aromatick Leaf. + +This Prince, tho' of a very advanced Age, has been represented, both +by the Reports of his Ministers, and others, as a Person of great +Incontinency, in which I think he was injured; for tho' he pass'd +most of his private Hours only in the Company of the _Vultuaquilian +Squabbaws_ (so call'd from the Province where they were born) he did it, +partly because of his long Accquaintance with them, and partly to hinder +the too frequent Visits of the first Minister, who scarce ever came into +his Presence, but to importune him, for new Grants and Promotions for +Himself and Family; and as to the _Cacklogallinian Squabbaws_, he +sometimes admitted them to please their Husbands and Relations, who +flatter themselves with an imaginary Honour, to have their Wives and +Daughters near him. I have good Grounds for what I advance; for I was +Five Years in his Court, and frequently convers'd with his _Squabbaws_. +This won't I hope, be thought a piece of Vanity in me, when the Reader +reflects, that I was look'd upon as a Monkey is with our +Ladies. + +The Emperor was highly delighted with the Present his Minister made him, +and order'd all possible Care to be taken of me. My Lord told him I +might be as useful to his Majesty as my Make was curious, for he found +me very intelligent, learning the Languages with great Facility, and +that it was possible I might be serviceable in extending his Dominions, +by bringing that Part of the World, which my Species inhabited, in +Subjection to his Imperial Majesty. + +_Have they_, said the Emperor, _any Gold among them?_ I took the +Liberty of assuring his Majesty, that we were the richest Nation in the +Universe; that by our Trade, which never was so flourishing as at this +Time, we brought in immense Quantities of that valuable Metal, and that +we suffer'd none to be exported. _It may then_, replied his Majesty, _be +worth our while, one Day to think of this._ + +The Emperor order'd me to be conducted to an Apartment, and Leave was +given to all the _Vultuaquilian_ first, and _Cacklogallinian_ Quality, +to see me the next Day. I had every thing I could wish provided for me, +and a Month after I had been at Court, I had the Liberty of the Palace, +and the Emperor would often call me into his Closet (as he found I was +not ignorant in Arithmetick) to help him weigh and count his Wedges of +Gold, and set down the Number, Weight and Value of each Piece; for this +was a Diversion in which he amused himself. + +This Prince was not very curious, for in the five Years I was in his +Court, he scarce ever asked me one Question concerning the _Europeans_; +nor was he in one Respect the Bubble of his Favourites, for I never saw +him give one Piece of Gold to any of them, even the _Squabbaws_. + +The Grandees, who perceived me grow in Favour so far, as that the Jay +was turn'd out of Court for his Sawciness to me, which he redoubled +after his having been confined, strove who shou'd shew me the most +Respect, and make me the greatest Professions of friendship. They not +only offer'd me their Purses, but even their Wives and Daughters, whom +they often left with me and whose Immodesty has often put me to the +Blush. Nay, a _Boutofallalian_, a Title answering to our Duke, told me, +if I continued this Shyness, and would not do him the Honour to pass now +and then an Hour with his Lady, he shou'd not take me for his Friend; +and leaving her with me, he lock'd the Door. + +Her Grace was as generous as her Spouse; and when I urg'd the Difference +of our Species, she said, she was satisfied that wou'd be no Impediment, +by what she had seen, for I had indeed no other Covering than a Mantle, +and both his Majesty and his _Squabbaws_ took a Pleasure to teaze me, by +pulling it off, and leaving me naked in a full Circle. In short, I was +forc'd to save my self by the Window being on a Ground Floor, after all +my Excuses were to no Purpose: But fearing the Lady's Resentment, I +begg'd the Minister, exaggerating her Husband's Merits, to give him a +Pension, and I my self carried and delivered the Grant to her Grace, +which made my Peace with both. + +One Day, an old Colonel, who was very poor, accosted me in the Emperor's +Garden. _My Lord_, said he, _I beg you will vouchsafe me an Audience of +Quarter of an Hour; I shall look upon it as the greatest Condescension +in you, and as the greatest Honour done me._ I told him he mistook my +Title, and gave me one I never did aspire to; but that I was very ready +to hear and serve him, for I had seen him often at Court offering +Petitions, which were always rejected, and I had a Compassion for him. + + "Your Goodness, _said he_, can alone be equalled by your Modesty; + give me Leave then to tell you, I have served long and faithfully + in the late Wars against the _Owls_ and _Magpyes_, but to my great + Surprize, at my Return home; my Regiment, without any Fault + alledg'd, was taken from me, and given to a _Valet de Chambre_ who + had never seen an Enemy; his Master was a _Boutofallalian_, had a + Mind to reward his Pimp, and all that I cou'd say, might as well + have been let alone. I had no Estate but what I sold, and gave to a + Courtier to get this Regiment, after I had served many Years as a + Captain, without the least Blemish in my Character. I have since + been in almost a starving Condition, and have wearied my self out + with Petitions to no Purpose; for if any, as very few, were + received, they were never answered, and perhaps never read. I have + therefore no Hopes but what are founded on your Charity: I see it + vain to hope for Employment, and shall change my Suit to that of + being put into the Hospital of the _Meritorians_ (_which in + _English_, signifies disabled and superannuated Soldiers_) I + beg your Compassion for a most unfortunate and perishing Man, who + has served his Prince and Country with Fidelity, and on several + Occasions has distinguish'd himself, as Your Honour will be + satisfied, if you will take the Pains to examine these Certificates." + +He put several into my Hands; one mentioned his being the first who +broke Ranks, and put the right Wing of the Enemy in Disorder, which was +followed by a signal Victory over the _Magpyes_ and _Owls_: Then another +mentioned his taking the Royal Banner, in the Battle of _Bellfugaro_: A +third certify'd his surprizing a great Convoy of Provisions, carrying to +the Enemy's Camp, the Loss of which, made them break up the Siege of +_Barbaquero_. In short, he had about Twenty, signed by the General and +chief Officers, which spoke him a Fool of singular Gallantry. When I had +return'd them, I ask'd, in what he thought I could serve him? + + "I beg, _said he_, you wou'd recommend me to the Minister to be + provided for as a superannuated Officer; your Honour cannot do an + Act of greater Charity." + + "Sir, _said I_, is it possible you can be so great a Stranger to + the Court, as to imagine Merit carries any Weight with it. Your + Certificates prove you have done your Duty like a gallant Officer; + but then you have done no more than what was expected from you, and + what you were paid for." + + "I acknowledge what your Honour says, _replied the Colonel_, but I + can name many, who have run away, or been taken violently ill at the + time of a Battle, and who are not only continued in Post, but even + advanced." + +I answer'd, it was very true; but that such Fowls were otherwise +serviceable in the Government, had handsome Wives or Daughters, or could +procure such of their Acquaintance, or perhaps were elected into the +Grand Council of the Nation, and had a Vote to dispose of. + + But, Sir, I will deal with you ingenuously, I can do you no Service + at all in this Affair; for the Minister has so many _Bable-Cypherians + (in _English_, Members of the Great Council)_ to oblige, and they + have so many _Valet de Chambres_, Butlers, and Footmen to provide + for in the Hospital, that it's more likely the Officers and Soldiers + now there will be turn'd out to make Place for them, than any other + will be admitted. If you have Interest to get a Number of these + _Bable-Cypherians_ to back your Petition, which you may get, if you + can bribe and cajole the Attendants of their _Squabbaws_, or their + own Valets, it's possible you may succeed in your Pretensions. + +"I'll sooner, _said he_, starve, than be guilty of so great a +Condescension, or more properly, so mean an Action." This he said with +some Warmth, and I replied as coolly, it was in his own Option. "I find +then, _said the Colonel_, you won't serve me." + + I have, _said I_, given you Reasons which prove this Way I cannot: + But if giving your Petition and Certificates to the Emperor will be + of use, I'll venture to do it for you. + +"The Emperor, _replied he_, is a good Prince, but has little Interest +with the Minister; and to hope any thing, but thro' his Canal, is +altogether vain." Saying this, he took his Leave in a very courteous +manner. The Minister was inform'd, that I had entertain'd a long +Discourse with this Officer, and ask'd me the Subject of it. I told him +what he desired, but that I declined troubling his Excellency with such +Trifles. + + "These Fowls, _said he_, who build on their own Merit, are extremely + impertinent. The Colonel now in Question is one of your Fowls who + might by his Principles have made a Fortune, had he lived Two or + Three Hundred Years ago; but they are now obsolete, and he starves + by tenaciously practising his musty Morals. Why, he'll have the + Impudence to be always speaking Truth; and tho' he has been thrust + out of the Palace for this Vice more than once, he is not to be + corrected. He will tell a Fowl of Quality without Ceremony, that + he's a Pimp, and was raised by the Hens of his Family: He'll make no + Bones of telling another, if his Prudence made him decline Danger, + that he's a Coward: A Third he'll impudently remind of his former + Livery, tho' his good Fortune has raised him to the Title of a + Grandee. Nay, he had the Face to tell me, upon my refusing to take + his Petition, That it was great Pity, when I was imprisoned for + Peculation, that the Justice of the Nation did not first purge, and + then hang me; that I was a publick Robber, and deserv'd the Gallows + more richly than a common Thief. His Poverty and Folly made me pity + and pardon him, if leaving him to be laugh'd at and starv'd, are to + be esteemed no Punishment. As I really pity'd the Fowl, I found + where he lodged, and supplied him with sufficient to keep him above + Want, tho' I would never trust him with the Knowledge of his + Benefactor, nor would ever after be seen to give him the least + Countenance." + + + + +The Character of the _Cacklogallinians_ in general. + + +The _Cacklogallinians_ were, in former Ages, a Wise and a Warlike +Nation, both fear'd and esteem'd by their Neighbours. Their Blood was +pure, without being mix'd with that of the _Owls_, _Magpies_, _Eagles_, +_Vulturs_, _Jays_, _Partridges_, _Herns_, _Hawks_, or any other Species; +the Scum of which Nation, by the Fertility of the Country, and the +want of Foresight in the _Cacklogallinians_, has been allured to, and +permitted to settle in _Cacklogallinia_, and by their Intermarriages has +caused the great Degeneracy those Families, which have kept their Blood +untainted, complain of. + +The History of their Neighbours are standing Witnesses of the Worth of +their Ancestors, and shew the vast Difference between the ancient and +modern _Cacklogallinians_. The former, tho' tenacious of their Liberty, +were remarkable for their Loyalty; and each thought it his peculiar +Interest zealously to promote that of the Publick. But not to be prolix +in the Character of the old _Cacklogallinians_, I shall give it in few +Words. They were what the _English_ now are, Wise, Modest, Brave, Human, +Loyal, Publick-spirited, capable of governing their own, and conquering +other Kingdoms; Hospitable to Strangers: They encourag'd Merit, and +abominated Flattery. A Pimp in those Days wou'd have starv'd, and even +the Concubine of a Prince not been admitted among Hens of Virtue, tho' +to make the Fortune of a Husband. There was no Upstarts among the +Nobility, and if any were rais'd to Titles, it was by Force of a +conspicuous Merit, which gave a Lustre to the August Assembly in which +he was enroll'd. Justice was impartially administer'd, and the selling +of the People to a Prince or Minister, was a Villainy unknown. None +bribed the People to chuse 'em for their Representatives; Posts in the +Government were given to Fowls capable to serve it, without being +burthened with this or that Family, nor were their Revenues loaded with +Pensions to worthless and vicious Persons, and given for Services which +would be a Disgrace to publish. Trade flourish'd, Money was plenty, none +of their Neighbours durst encroach on their Commerce; their Taxes were +inconsiderable: In a Word, as I before said, they were what our happy +Nation now is, admired for the Prudence of their Administration at home, +and the Terror of their Arms abroad. They are now directly the Reverse +of what they were, and even in my Time, they were sinking in the Opinion +of their Neighbours, who began to consider them as a declining Nation, +which Alteration, I must own (for I love to speak the Truth) was not a +little owing to the Administration of my Friend, the first Minister, who +in taking upon him to manage the Interests of Nations, went out of his +Depth, for Affairs of that Nature seemed to be above his Capacity. His +Education, his Study, his Practice, were rather mercantile, than +otherwise, and all that Knowledge which his Partizans boast so much in +him, was confined to the Business of the Taxes, a Road in which he was +(as it were) grown old, and to Money-Projects, which was owing to a +strict Correspondence he always kept with certain projecting and +mercantile People, and being used to carry all Points at home by Gold, +he knew no other way of doing Business abroad; so that when their +Neighbours used to differ among themselves, about some Points of +Interest, and one Side or other stood in Need of the Assistance of the +_Cacklogallinians_, they sometimes push'd themselves into the Quarrel, +and perhaps paid great Sums of Money for the Favour of sending Armies to +the Succour of one Side or other, so that they became the Tools which +other Nations work'd with. They are naturally prone to Rebellion, have +let the _Cormorants_ chouse them out of several valuable Branches of +their Commerce; and yet the _Cormorants_ are People with whom they have +kept the most lasting Friendship of all their Neighbours. They love War, +and rather than not fight, they will give Money to be let into the +Quarrel (as has been hinted before) they know beforehand, however +victorious they may prove, nothing but Blows will fall to their Share. +If they are under a mild Government, and grow rich, they are always +finding Fault with their Superiors, and ever ready to revolt: But if +they are oppress'd and kept poor, like our Spaniels, they fawn on their +Masters, and seem in Love with Tyranny; which should any dare to speak +against, he is esteem'd an Enemy to the Happiness of his Country. They +are very proud, yet very mean in some Particulars, and will, for their +Interest, sacrifice the Honour of their Families. They look upon nothing +infamous but Poverty, for which Reason, the most scandalous Methods of +procuring Riches, such as Lying, Robbing the Publick, Cheating Orphans, +Pimping, Perjury, _& c._ are not look'd upon with evil Eyes, provided +they prove successful. This Maxim holds with 'em, both in publick and +private Affairs. I knew One rais'd from a Fowl of Three Foot Six Inches, +to be a _Makeseulsibi_, a Post which rais'd him to Eight Foot Six, and +is one of the greatest in the Kingdom. He is to instruct the Grandees, +when in Council, in Points of Law, and is Guardian to all Orphans. +Complaint was made to the Emperor, that he converted their Estates to +his own Use, and left them all to starve; he was therefore, by the +Emperor's Consent, and to satisfy the People, brought to a Tryal. He +answer'd, That he did not deny the Charge; but that he wanted the Money +to make a Figure equal to his Post: However, the Enquiry discover'd +his vast Acqusitions, and prov'd him to be so rich, that he was look'd +upon with Respect, and he lived and died in as much Grandeur, and +Tranquillity, as if he had been a Patriot, and at his Funeral, his great +Service to his Country was blazon'd out in Figures and Hieroglyphicks by +the Heralds; which being a thing I seem'd amaz'd at, and enquiring of +many, how it came to pass, that a Fowl should be treated with Honour, +who had been esteem'd an Oppressor? the common Answer was, he died rich, +and that was enough for all Honours. + + +The Religion of the _Cacklogallinians_. + +This Nation pretends to believe a first Being, and to worship one God, +tho' I confess, when I was first amongst them, I thought otherwise; for +I Found the People of the best Rank amongst them always ridiculing +Religion. They had formerly a Globe of pure Gold in their Temples, an +Emblem of Eternity: It was inscribed with unintelligible Characters, by +which they figured the Inscrurability of his Decrees. This some call'd +superstitious, and were for having razed, and the Ball, which was, in +their Opinion, too big, new melted, and cast into a different Form. Some +were for a Square, to give an Emblem, of Justice; others would have it, +an Octogon, by which they would shadow his Ubiquity. Another Party +insisted upon its being cast again, but in no regular Form; for all +Forms and Regularity they look'd upon superstitious. Their Disputes on +this Subject ran so high, that they came to Blows, and each Party, as it +was victorious, modelled the Globe to his own Humour or Caprice. But the +Ball being so often melted, and Part of the Gold being lost in each +Fusion, it was at last almost imperceivable. These Bickerings shed a +great deal of Blood, and being at length tired with worrying each other +upon this Account, a new Globe was cast, but not exactly round, to +satisfy tender Consciences. In process of Time, it was thought that a +brazen Globe might do as well as one of Gold, and new Disputes beginning +to arise, it was decreed, that this Globe should stand in the Temple, +but that every one in particular should have at home an Idol after his +own Fashion provided they wou'd only bow to this, and the Revenues were +continued to the Priests to furnish Sacrifices. The Heads of the Priests +at last thinking these Sacrifices altogether needless, and a very great +Expence, dropp'd 'em by Degrees: However, some say this was done by some +of the Grandees, as a Means to make the Priests less respected, and put +the Money in their own Coffers, which has made them both rich and +insolent. They were formerly a cunning Set, but they are not look'd upon +as such now, for they take but little Care, either to cultivate the +Interest, or support the Credit and Dignity of their Order; and as some +of them are given to Luxury, which they have not taken due Care to +conceal, the common Sort do not entertain the same Respect for them they +did in former Times. + +However, the poor Clergy (for they are not all rich, Affairs of Religion +being modell'd after those of the State, the Great devouring the Small) +lead moral Lives, and there is a Sect amongst them which keeps up the +golden Ball, continues the Sacrifices, and detests Perjury; but these +are obliged to perform their Ceremonies by Stealth, and are prosecuted +as an obstinate ill-designing People. + +The Grandees have no Statues in their Houses; they own indeed a Deity, +some of them at least, but don't think the worshipping that Deity of any +Consequence. The meaner People began to be as polite as the Courtiers, +and to have as little Religion, before I left _Cacklogallinia_. This +Irreligion I can attribute to nothing so much as the Contempt of the +Clergy, whom some of the Nobility, especially of the Court, have +endeavour'd to render hateful and ridiculous to the People, by +representing them as a lazy, useless, Order of Birds, no better than +the Drones. They also chufe out now and then, some to place at their +Head, who had distinguish'd themselves for their Infidelity, and had +declared themselves Enemies to the Religion of the Country, by which +means the whole Order lost their Sway with the People; besides which, +the richer Sort amongst them were generally reputed to be much addicted +to Gluttony. + + +Of the Policy and Government of the _Cacklogallinians_. + +The _Cacklogallinians_ boast mightily of their being the only Nation in +the World which enjoys Liberty, and therefore, upon all Occasions, they +talk of, and treat the rest of the World as Slaves. They pretend to +maintain, that their Monarchy being elective, their Emperors are no more +than their Servants, and that they can exercise no longer a Power, than +they are pleas'd to give it them, which is just as much as will serve to +put the Laws in Execution, and keep the great Machine of Government in +good Order; and that whenever he attempts to transgress those Bounds, +they make no Ceremony of turning him out, and setting up another in his +Room. But, by what I could judge by my own proper Observation, this +appeared to me, to be no more than an empty Boast (for indeed the +_Cacklogallinians_ are apt to run into an Extravagance of Vanity, +whenever they speak of themselves) for in my Time my Friend and Patron +the first Minister acted as absolutely, and dependently of all Creatures +(except of the _Squabbaws_) as the most arbitrary Prince, who +acknowledges no Law but his own Will and Pleasure. + +It is, true there is a Council consisting of a great Number of Persons, +in whose Name all great Affairs relating to the Civil Government are +transacted, the Members of which Council are call'd _Bable-Cypherians_; +but it is no Secret, that the first Minister causes whom he pleases to +sit in this Council, as well as turns out any Person he dislikes; and +while I was amongst them, there happen'd some Instances of what I +maintain; and he contrived to have several whom he suspected of being +Enemies to his Family, or to his Administration, to be disgraced from +the said Council, and others appointed in their Places: Nay, I have +often seen several worthless Birds paying their Court to the first +Minister, and solliciting him to be admitted into the Great Council, +in the same manner that they begg'd for an Employment; yet at the same +time, if you were to talk to a _Cacklogallinian_, he wou'd pretend to +persuade you, that no Fowl of any Rank or Quality whatsoever can ever +sit in the said Council, but by the Majority of free Voices of Persons +who are his Equals. But as I oserv'd before, they are so possess'd with +a Spirit of boasting, that when they talk of themselves, there is no +Regard to be had to any thing they say. + +What is most remarkable is, that Hens as well as Cocks frequently stand +Candidates to be Members of the said Council, and especially those who +are distinguish'd by the Name of _Squabbaws_; and tho' the important +Affairs of managing their Amours takes up so much of their Time, that +they have but little Leisure to attend such publick Affairs, yet they +very much influence what passes there, especially the Court _Squabbaws_, +whom I have frequently seen to receive Presents from Persons who had +Matters to lay before the said Council. When this happened, it was their +Custom to send for my Friend the first Minister, and instruct him how +they would have the thing done; upon which Occasions they designedly +absented themselves from the said Council, that by their not appearing +to favour or oppose such things, the Bribery might not be suspected; and +it generally pass'd as well without them, for my good Patron who carried +it so loftily to the rest of the World, was nevertheless extreamly their +Slave. + +As to their Laws, which they pretend to be the best and wisest of any +in the World, they are, in Effect, a Source of continual Plague and +Vexation to the Subject, which is owing to many Causes, but principally +to this, that when a new Law is agreed to pass, the great Council +generally appoint such amongst them as are Lawyers by Profession, to +word it, or (as we say) to draw it up, who always, in Order to promote +the Business of their own Profession, contrive it in ambiguous Terms; so +that there is a double Meaning runs thro' every Sentence. This furnishes +eternal Matter of Dispute betwixt Party and Party, and at the same time +gives the _Caja_ (for so they call a Judge) a Power of putting what +Construction he pleases upon the Law. I have my self been frequently +present, when the _Caja_ has been sitting to hear and determine Causes, +and have observ'd, that when the _Cacklogallinian_ Advocates have been +setting forth the Merit of their Cause, and one of them has produced a +Precedent, to shew, that such a _Caja_ in former Times, put such a +Construction upon such a Law, yet the _Caja_ then presiding has +determined the thing quite otherwise, giving for a Reason, _That +might be his Opinion, but this is ours._ + +Upon the whole, the Property of private Birds, which they would make you +believe was much safer amongst them, than under any other Government in +the World, appeared to me to stand upon a very precarious Foot, since it +was always at the Mercy of the Law, and the most cunning and sagacious +amongst them could never pretend to be sure what Law was: Nay, it was +often found by Experience, that what was Law one Day amongst them, was +not so another; so that I could not help thinking, that whenever Party +and Party differr'd concerning Matters of Property, the least expensive, +and most prudent Method would have been, to have referr'd the Decision +of the Cause to some Game of Hazard. + +This Ambiguity of the Law makes a corrupt _Caja_ a terrible Plague to +the Subject; and it is a Plague which they have often felt, as I found, +by consulting their Annals; for frequently, under bad Ministers, Birds +have been chosen out for _Caja_'s, not for their Integrity or Knowledge, +but for their Obsequiousness to the Commands of those who chose them; +and my Patron, the first Minister, was censured for endeavouring to +corrupt, and making them as bad as he could. By which Means, and by +retaining Spies in the Houses of all Fowl of great Interest and Figure +in their Country, it was reported he awed them from attempting any +Measures against his Interest, or that of his Family, and that he had +threaten'd several with Confiscation and Banishment, when he found them +attempting to introduce better Schemes than his own, because such +Proceedings might tend to overthrow him. + +But this I speak from common Report; for I cannot give any Instances of +Corruption in any of the _Caja_'s from my own personal Knowledge; for I +conceived so dreadful a Notion of their Laws, that I endeavoured to +avoid all Converse with any who belong'd to it. + +How often have I reflected on the Happiness of my dear Country, in that +Liberty there enjoy'd, where none are oppress'd by Force, or allured by +Bribes, to give up their native Freedom; where a self-interested and +designing Minister is sure to answer for his Administration to a +Parliament freely chosen, consisting of Gentlemen of publick Spirits, +Honour, known Probity and Wisdom; whose Fortunes put them above a +servile Dependence; who have an Eye to nothing but the publick Good, and +exact from the Ministers a just Account of the _Publick Treasure_! When +I have seen the Fowl of Honour thrust out to make Place for a Sycophant, +Court paid to Pandars and lewd Hens, and no Posts disposed of, but thro' +the Interest of Lust; how often, _Britain_, have I congratulated thy +Happiness, where Virtue is rewarded, Vice discountenanc'd and punish'd; +where the Man of Merit is provided for, and not oblig'd to pay a +Levee to the kept Mistress of a Statesman; and where the Ignorant, +Pusillanimous, and Vicious, however distinguish'd by Birth and Fortune, +are held in Contempt, and never admitted to publick Employment! + +When among the _Cacklogallinians_ Taxes are laid, the Money is brought +into the publick Treasury, of which the Minister keeps the Keys: He lets +this Money out upon Pawns, at an exorbitant Interest. If an inferior +Agent is to pass his Accounts, he must share the Pillage with the +Minister, and some few Heads of the Grand Council. I knew one paid him +Three Hundred Thousand _Rackfantassines_, equal to a Hundred Thousand +Pounds Sterling, which he computed was about one Third of his +Acquisition; and Birds of most abandon'd Reputations are sometimes put +into Places of Profit, which, like Spunges, suck all they can, and are +easily squeezed again. + +As to their Trade, they have, of late Years, lost some of the most +advantageous Parts of it to the _Cormorants_, which perhaps might be +brought about by several that were _Cormorants_ by Birth, who found +Means of working themselves into the Management of their publick +Affairs. They seem to endeavour all they can, (for what Policy I know +not) to encourage the young _Cacklogallinian_ Nobility and Gentry, in +a Contempt of Religion, and in all Debauchery, perhaps to render them +supine and thoughtless; and bringing them up without Principle, they may +be fit Tools to work the enslaving their Country. + +They are extremely severe in their military Discipline: A Soldier, for a +trifling Fault, shall have all the Feathers stripp'd off his Back, and a +corroding Plaister clapp'd on, which will eat to the Bones in a small +Space of Time. For a capital Crime, every one in the Regiment is ordered +to peck him as he's ty'd to a Post, till he dies. I have seen one who +was condemn'd to this Death have Part of his Entrails torn out of his +Side in a few Pecks. + +Whoever speaks against the Ministry, is purged or vomited so severely, +that he sometimes dies. Even Want of Complaisance to any menial Servant +of a Minister, is esteem'd an Affront to his Master, and punish'd by a +Year's Imprisonment; but a Slight put on any of the _Squabbaws_, is so +heinous, that the Offender is punish'd, as for the highest Scandal. +Sometimes it has happened, that Persons Question'd and Convicted for +Fraud, Bribery, or other Crimes, by some Turn of Fortune having better'd +their Circumstances, have afterwards been raised to Posts of Honour and +Trust, and afterwards growing more wealthy, have been look'd upon with +the same Esteem as the most worthy. I've known a Sharper, who could +neither write nor read, made a _Battano_, in _English_, a Judge +Advocate; and what rais'd him was his Dexterity at _Gestaro_, which +is like the Play our School-boys divert themselves with, call'd +_Hussle-cap_. + +Tho' they have a Standing Army, yet the _Cacklogallinians_ are all +inlisted, and obliged to serve (in case of an Invasion) without Pay. +They have no fortify'd Places, they being look'd upon as a Refuge for +Malecontents, except only the imperial Palace. The Reader may wonder how +any Place can be fortified against those who can fly over the highest +Walls; I must therefore inform him, that their strong Holds have all the +open Places cover'd with Canvass stretch'd from Side to Side; upon which +is strew'd an Herb so venemous, that, in six Hours after it has been +expos'd to the Sun, it emits so pestiferous a Stench, that no Fowl can +approach it by many Yards, but what will fall dead; and this Stench, by +the Effluvia mounting, is no way offensive to those below. This is the +Reason their Sieges are rather Blockades, and no fortify'd Town was ever +taken but by starving. For tho' I have said, the _Cacklogallinians_ have +no such, yet their Neighbours have this Canvass, and Plenty of the Herb +in and about most of their Towns, and can, in Twenty four Hours, put +them in a Posture of Defence. + +Upon the Decease of any Party, his Estate goes to the eldest of his +Children, whether Male or Female; for the others, the Cocks are put into +the Army, or to Trades; the Hens are married to the next Relations, who +are obliged to take them, or allow them a Pension for Life, according to +their Quality. Polygamy is forbid, tho' universally practised among the +better Sort. There were publick Colleges erected for the Education and +Provision of poor Chickens; but as there is a strong Party, which takes +them to be of ill Consequence; they are discountenanc'd so much, that it +is thought they must fall some time or other. + + +The Customs, Manners, Dress, and Diversions of the _Cacklogallinians_. + +The _Cacklogallinians_ value themselves on being a polite Nation; and +indeed those amongst them who have travell'd, are very complaisant, full +of their Professions of Friendship, and Offers of Service, tho' it's the +first time they ever set Eyes on the Party to whom they make them; but +if he takes this for any more than the Effects of good Breeding, and +reminds a Courtier of his Promise, he is look'd upon as one who wants +Education, and treated as a Peasant. + +They are not at all sociable, tho' they frequently visit each other, +which is with much Ceremony amongst the better Sort; for he who makes +the Visit, sends before him a Servant to give Notice, that he intends to +do himself the Honour to kiss the Spur of the Master of the House. If he +is, or will be at home, Answer is made, that he returns Thanks for the +Honour intended him, which he will expect with Impatience. When the +Visiter arrives, Notice is given to the Family by one of his Servants, +who strikes a brass Pan (hung at the Doors of all Persons of +Distinction) so long, and with such Violence, that were it in _England_, +he'd be indicted for a common Disturber. After this Peal, the Door is +opened, and the Visiter received according to his Quality, either at the +Street Door, Parlour Door, or in the Hall. He's led in, and seated on a +Carpet, enquires after the Welfare of the Family, after which he takes +Notice of the Weather, and then with great Ceremony takes his Leave, +conducted as he was received. + +None visit the Minister of State, neither is there any thing like the +_English_ Hospitality seen in the Visits of private Persons; for they +never present you any Refreshment, not even that of cold Water, except +at a formal Invitation, or a Wedding. At the latter they are very +profuse. When a young Couple is married, for a Week they are never seen +asunder; but after that, it is look'd upon indecent to be seen with a +Wife in any publick Company; and one would think they married to be +reveng'd on each other for some former Injuries; for the Wife takes Care +to shew her Contempt of her Husband, and he his Aversion to his Wife. +They are great Admirers of Puppet-shews and other Spectacles, and will +let their Families at Home want Necessaries, rather than not be seen at +the Booth. What they most delight in is bloody Spectacles. There are +poor _Cacklogallinians_, who fight on Stages for Money; if they cut one +another to Pieces, the Spectators go away highly satisfied; but if their +Art prevents their shedding much Blood, the Combatants are poorly +rewarded, and look'd upon as a Couple of Cheats or Cowards. + +A Goat had (as Tradition says) done formerly great Damage to the Corn of +_Danafalio_, a Saint in great Veneration amongst them, who lived about +Twelve Hundred Years ago; for which Reason, every Family, on a certain +Day, diverts it self by breaking the Legs and Ribs of a Goat, and +flaying it alive. + +Their Burial of the Dead is so expensive, that it often ruines the Heir. +When the Corpse is carried out of the House, a Herald goes before, who +proclaims the Titles of the Deceas'd: If he has none, he has Three Days +Notice to make a Genealogy for him. I saw the Burial of a _quondam_ +Taylor, who was nearly ally'd to a first Minister, and heard the +Herald's Oration, which was as near as I remember, in these Words. + + See, Fellow-Citizens, the Vanity of all sublunary Things! and lament + your own hard Fate in the Loss of the Illustrious _Evanosmador_. If + Virtue, if Art, if Nobility of Blood, could any way have influenc'd + the Tyrant Death, who could boast a greater Soul! Who exceed him in + the Mysteries of his Art! Or lastly, Whose Veins were fill'd with a + more noble Blood! + +Here he repeated his Genealogy, which spoke him descended from a Number +of Sovereign Princes, Grandees, _Caja_'s, &c. + +When the Corpse arrives at the great Market-place, where all the Dead +are burnt, a Priest makes a Funeral Oration; which done, a great Number +of Mourners, hired for that purpose, begin their Lamentations, which +last till the Body is entirely consum'd. The Fire is made with Billets, +on which the Arms of the Deceased are either carv'd or painted, which +cannot cost less than an _English_ Crown each. Every one of the Company +is presented with two of these Billets; one he lays on the Pile, the +other he carries home, and hangs up in his House. After the Consumption +of the Corpse, the Picture of the Deceas'd is hung over the Door for the +Space of Twelve Moons. Their Ceremonies in marshalling the Company are +tedious, and therefore I shall not mention them; I shall only take +Notice, that the Dead are drawn by Six, or Eight Ostriches, cover'd +with Cloath of Gold, upon an open Chariot. + +When any begins to sicken, a Physician is sent for, who, after having +examin'd the Patient, sends for a _Venenugallpotior_, something like +our Apothecary, and gives him his Direction, takes his Fee, which is +extravagant enough, and goes into his _Palanquin_; for a Physician, let +him be a Second _Hermes_, or _Galen_, will never get Bread, if he does +not make a Figure. He's sure to repeat his Visits, Morning and Even, +if the Patient as often repeats his Fees; but whenever he finds any +Symptoms of a weak Purse, he sets a Mark on that House, and no +Intreaties will prevail with him to go under that Roof. + +When the Relations of the Sick perceive him past Hopes of Recovery, they +fall to plundering his House, neglect him entirely, and very often fall +together by the Ears, begin with Blows, and end with a Law-suit, which +seldom fails ruining both Plaintiff and Defendant; for their Lawyers +rarely bring a Suit to Issue, till their Clients are brought to Beggary; +and tho' they all know this to be the Consequence of their Litigation, +yet is there no Nation so fond of going to Law. + +When any one falls into Poverty, he's look'd upon as infected; for all +his Acquaintance shun him; nay, very often his own Children will not own +him, if in happier Circumstances: And what will seem wonderful to a +_Briton_, who esteems Merit in Rags, and contemns the Vicious, tho' +encompass'd with a Crowd of Servants, and distinguish'd by the glaring +Titles of his Family; no sooner does a _Cacklogollinian_ grow rich, but +all the World courts him, tho' sprung from a Dunghill: And even those +who can never hope any thing from him, shew him a profound Respect. Ask +who such a one is, and they never tell you, that he is such a Fowl of +Honour, or of such good Qualities, but answer, he is worth so much: +Nay, Riches give a Man such Superiority, that a Merchant, the Son of a +Butcher, presum'd so much upon the immense Sums he possess'd, that he +had the Boldness to tell the Emperor to his Face, if he did not prohibit +the Importation of Corn (which was then very much wanted) he having a +great Quantity by him, would draw his Money out of the publick Treasury, +and then his Majesty might see who was able to supply him. The Emperor +was advised to lay him by the Heels for his Sawciness, but the good +Prince forgave him. + +Their Dress is a close Doublet, and a a loose Mantle, which is either +rich or plain, fine or coarse, not according to the Quality, but +according to the Ability of the Wearer; for very often you can't +distinguish, in respect of Dress, the Grandee from the Merchant, or the +_Squabbaw_ from her Attendant; for the meaner Sort lay all on their +Backs. Their Necks are adorned with Ribbons, Bells, Medals, _&c._ +and their Tail-feathers are beautify'd with additional ones from the +Peacock, or Figures painted with various Colours, which must be by the +Emperor's Permission, as has been before observ'd. + +Their Exercises are pretty violent, and they are great Lovers of a Play +for which I can find no Name in _English_. They begin with giving their +next Neighbour a great Bang with the Wing, which is return'd by a Kick +or Peck, or Stroke with the Spur; you would imagine they were so many +engaged in a Battle, for they strike without Fear or Wit, and never mind +on whom the Strokes light; for every one deals them about promiscuously, +and as thick as he can lay them on. They will continue this Diversion, +till they are not able to stand, or till some of the Company gets a +Wing, a Leg, or a Head broke, or some other Damage, which the Party hurt +never takes ill. This Play is indeed practised only among the younger, +or the meaner Sort. + +They are mighty fond of the _Cuckoo_, and will sit two Hours upon a +Stretch to hear a Set of them exercise their natural Talent, for which +they are paid and caress'd. I knew a Lady of Quality who gave a Pension +of Five Thousand _Spasma_'s, each _Spasma_ worth Two Shillings Sterling, +to one of these Birds to sing her to Sleep every Night. The Air of this +Country is too cold for these _Cuckoo_'s, who come from a more southern +Clime, which is the Reason they stay not above three Years before they +wing their Flight home, where they build Palaces with the Profits of +their Journey: But as those who return send others in their stead, the +_Cacklogallinians_ are never long deprived of the Entertainment these +Birds afford 'em. + +Another Diversion they have, is the making the Ostriches run Races: The +Feeding, Training, and Betting upon these Birds, have ruined many of the +noblest Families. They are also mightily addicted to Dice, and will set +and lose their Wives and Children, which they sometimes see eaten by the +Winner, if he is of Quality. + + +This small Sketch of the _Cacklogallinians_ I thought necessary, that +the Reader might have some Idea of them. I happen'd to be cast on their +Coast, just after they had made a Peace with the _Magpyes_, a puissant +and neighbouring Nation, after a long, sanguine, and expensive War, +which had well nigh exhausted the Forces and Treasure of both Parties, +occasioned by the _Cacklogallinians_ pretending they had a Right to +nominate a Successor to the Emperor _Chuctinio_, who was in an advanced +Age, and without issue; and the _Magpyes_ pretended their King, as a +Relation to that Emperor, had a Right to succeed to the Throne of the +_Bubohibonians_, which is the Nation of _Owls_. + +All the neighbouring States join'd the _Cacklogallinians_, in +endeavouring to prevent this vast Increase of Power to the _Magpyes_, +since it must necessarily destroy the Balance of Power; and as their +prince was both powerful and ambitious, they apprehended he would +aim at an universal Monarchy: But then they would not allow the +_Cacklogallinians_ had any more Right than their Neighbours, to name +a Successor; and if that Monarchy were to fall to the Share of any +powerful Prince, it might be as dangerous to the common Good, as if +yielded to the _Magpyes_; they therefore would have it divided. + +The Peacock, who pretends to be the High-Priest of all Nations, and +exacts on that Account Tributes from them, and calls himself the +Disposer of Kingdoms, had his Tributes stopp'd by the _Magpyes_, about +the same time; and complaining of this Injury, he invited _Bigoteasy_ to +declare War against _Gripeallyominte_, King of the _Magpyes_, which, on +account of former Friendship, he absolutely refused. This so enraged the +good High Priest, that he raised a Rebellion against him; he was +dethron'd, taken Prisoner by his Subjects, and died in Confinement, +and his Kingdom given by the Peacock, and the unanimous Consent of the +People, to the greatest Prince that History ever mention'd, either for +Wisdom or Bravery. + +These Wars lasted Sixty and Seven Years, and the _Cacklogallinians_ bore +the greatest Share of the Expence; which had so far indebted them, that +every Brain was at Work to project Methods for raising Money to pay the +Interest. + +These Schemes, which were every Day presented to the Minister, grew so +numerous, that, had he applied himself to nothing else but their +Examination, it would have taken up a great Part of his Time: And, +indeed, I must own, that my Friend, the first Minister, gave himself but +very little Trouble in things of this Nature, for all his Schemes, and +all his Thoughts center'd in himself; and when I have gone to carry him +Intelligence in a Morning, and all the great Fowl that came to pay their +Levee, have been answer'd, that he was busy in his Closet upon Affairs +of Importance to the State, and saw no Company, I have found him (for +there were Orders for admitting me) either writing Directions concerning +his Ostriches, or his Country Sports, or his Buildings, or examining his +private Accounts; and tho' I often thought but meanly of my own Species, +yet I began to think, from the Conduct of this great Minister, that a +Cock was a far more selfish, and more worthless Animal than Man; +insomuch, that I have so despised them ever since, as to think them good +for nothing but the Spit. + +The Schemes which he put in Practice were all the Invention of others, +tho' he assum'd the Credit of them; and I will be bold to say, that, +before my Time, amongst Numbers that were offer'd to him, he generally +chose the worst. + +I was therefore order'd, after I had been two Years at Court, to take +this Business upon me, with the Title of _Castleairiano_, or Project +Examiner, and a Salary of Thirty Thousand _Spasma_'s. The first Project +offer'd me, was the laying a Tax on Cloath, and all manner of Stuffs. +This I rejected, because it being the chief Manufacture of the Country, +it would, by raising the Price abroad, be a Hindrance to the Commerce of +the Nation, and give the _Cormorants_ who made it, tho' nothing so fine +as the _Cacklogallinians_, an Opportunity, by under-selling them, to +become the chief Merchants in this Branch of Trade. But it would be +tedious to mention the many Offers, with my Reasons for accepting or +rejecting them, which I once a Week gave a List of to the Minister, who +was often so good as to approve my Judgment. + +There were Projects for taxing Soot, Corn, Ribbons, for coining all the +Plate of the Nobility, for prohibiting the wearing of Gold or Silver. +Some were for the Government's taking all the Torchtrees (which gave a +Light, and are used like our Candles) and dispose of them, by which +great Sums might be raised. Some were for laying a Tax on all who kept +Coaches; others upon all who wore Silver or Gold Spurs: But these +touching only the Rich, the Minister would not listen to. The Tax which +he approved of most, was on the Light of the Sun, according to the Hours +it was enjoy'd; so that the poor Peasant, who rose with it, paid for +Twelve Hours Day-light, and the Nobility and Gentry, who kept their Beds +till Noon, paid only for Six. + +Another Tax was laid upon those who drank only Spring Water. This fell +altogether on the Poor, for the better Sort drank the Juice of a certain +Tree imported from the _Bubohibonians_. + +Whoever had not an Estate in Land of an Hundred _Spasma_'s was also +tax'd Ten _Spasma_'s a Year, to be paid out of their Day Labour. He +who deliver'd a Project of fetching Gold from the Moon, was caress'd +prodigiously, and his way of reasoning approved; tho' I gave it in with +a [+] as rejected by me, yet he was rewarded, and Preparation order'd +for the Journey, in which I was commanded to accompany him: For, he +insinuated to the Minister, that it was possible the Inhabitants might +be of my Species; nay, that I myself might have dropp'd out of that +World, which was more reasonable than to believe the Story I told, of +having pass'd so great a Sea; and that I very likely had form'd this +Story out of a Tenderness to my Country lest his Imperial Majesty should +attempt its Conquest. + +He had so possess'd the Minister with this Notion, that my arguing +against it was to no purpose. He told me one Day, That all the +Philosophers allow'd, nay, maintain'd, that both Animals, Vegetables, +and Minerals, were generated, grew, and were nourished, by the Spirit of +the World: A Quintessence partaking of all the Four Elements, tho' it +was no One, might be called Air, and was not; Fire, and was not Fire, +_&c._ That this Spirit was assisted by the Influence of the Planets, +and tended to the highest Perfection of Purity. That all Metals were +generated by the said Spirit, and differ'd from one another, but +according to the Purity or Impurity of the _Matrices_ which receiv'd it. +That as the Planets Influence was necessary, that of the Moon must, +as the nearest to the Earth, be the most efficacious: That as it was +visible to the Eye, the Moon was more depurated than the Earth; was +surrounded by a thinner Air, in which the Spirit of the World is more +abundant, and was nearer to the other Planets, he naturally concluded, +that it must abound in Gold Mines; and this Conclusion was strengthened +by the Mountains discernible in the Moon; and Mountains being mostly +rocky, afforded the purest _Matrice_ for the Universal Spirit; so that +it seem'd to him impossible, that any other Metal, less pure, could be +generated in that World. That such Metals, for their Use, were often +preferable to Gold, and that in denying my Descent from thence, I was in +Fact, doing an Injury to those I wish'd to serve, since by Intercourse +with those Inhabitants, both Worlds might find their Advantage. + +I answered his Excellency, That I wished he might ever find his and +his Country's Good, in all his Undertakings, since I had so great +Obligations to both; but that what I had told him of my self was every +way consonant to Truth; that I was so far from being an Inhabitant of +the Moon, that I did not believe it habitable; and if it were, I did not +think a Voyage thither practicable, for Reasons I wou'd give the +Projector, whenever his Excellency would condescend to hear my +Objections and his Answers: That if he, after that, would persist in +the Undertaking, she should find me ready to sacrifice that Life in the +Attempt, which I held from his Goodness. + + Well, _return'd he_, to morrow I will have him at my House, don't + fail being there at Dinner; I will be denied to every one else, and + hope his Reasons will convince you; for I have, I own, a greater + Opinion of your Veracity, in what relates to this Affair, than of + your Judgment. + +The next Day I waited on his Excellency, where I found the Projector +mention'd. He began the Discourse, addressing himself to me, after the +usual Ceremonies. + + "I am sorry, _said he_, to find what I propos'd meet with any + Objection from one whose Penetration makes me fear some Obstacle + considerable, which has escaped my Scrutiny. However, if I have + the Mortification to have my Views baffled, yet shall I reap + the Advantage of being instructed in what I am ignorant of. His + Excellency has commanded me to lay before you what my Reasons are, + for supposing the Moon an inhabited Globe. I shall therefore, with + all possible Brevity, obey his Excellency's Commands. I shall not + name the ancient Sages, both of this and the neighbouring Nations, + who have been of the same Opinion, because I have already cited them + in my Memorial; but shall first offer you some Principles on which I + have, beside the Authorities mention'd, founded my own. + + "First, I esteem the Moon an opaque solid Body, as is our Earth, and + consequently adapted for the Entertainment and Nourishment of its + Inhabitants. Now, that it is a solid Body, is evident by the + Repercussion of the Light which it receives from the Sun." + + "Sir, _said I_, you are here begging the Question; for it is + possible, that the Moon of itself is a luminous Body; and I am + apt to believe it such for this Reason: Its Light is seen in more + than one Place at a time, whereas a Body which gives a Light by + Reflection only, that Light is perceivable in that Point alone, + where the Angle of Reflection is equal to that of Incidence." + +He answer'd, + + My Objection did not hold good in regard to a Body whose Surface is + rugged and uneven, as is that of the Moon. That it is an opaque and + solid Body, is visible by the Eclipses of the Sun; for a pellucid + Body could not deprive us of the Light of that glorious Planet. That + the Moon does eclipse the Sun in the same manner as our Earth + eclipses the Moon (as all know it does) makes me conclude these two + Bodies of a Nature, since the like Interposition produces the like + Effect. When I say they are of a Nature, I mean opaque, which to + prove, I argue thus: If this Planet be of it self luminous, it must + appear much brighter when eclips'd in its _perigee_, or nearest + Distance from the Earth, and its Light must be less consequently + when in its _Apogee_, or greatest Distance from it; for the nearer a + luminous Body approaches the Eye, the stronger Impression it makes + upon the Sight. Beside, the Shadow of the Earth, had the Moon any + innate and peculiar Light, cou'd not obscure it, but, on the + contrary, would render it more conspicuous, as is evident to Reason. + + "Now Experience shews us, that the Moon appears with the greater + Light eclips'd in its _Apogee_, or greater Distance, and more + obscure when in its _Perigee_, or nearer Distance, consequent has no + peculiar Light of its own. That a Shadow could obscure its inherent + Light, had it any, would be making a Body of a Shadow, which is so + far from being corporeal, that it is nothing but a Deprivation of + the Light of the Sun, by the Interposition of the opaque Body of the + Earth. + + "I could give many more Reasons, but to avoid Prolixity, I refer you + to my Memorial, knowing how precious Time is to your Excellency. + + "I shall now speak of the principal and constituent Parts of this + Planet; to wit, the Sea, the firm Land; its Extrinsicks, as Meteors, + Seasons, and Inhabitants." + + "I find, _said his Excellency_, you have forgot what you promised, + the being concise; you have already couch'd what you are going to + repeat, in Writing. I am satisfied that you have in your Memorial + demonstrated, that the Moon is like ours, a World, and this Earth, + like that, a Planet; I would willingly hear if _Probusomo_ can bring + any Objection of Weight to the undertaking the Journey; for I look + upon the Distance which you have computed to be about 179712 + _Lapidians_ (answerable to so many _English_ Miles) to be none at + all, since we have _Cacklogallinians_, who, with Provisions for a + Week, will fly 480 _Lapidians_ a Day, and hold it for many Days. But + this Swiftness, as you have made appear, is not requisite, since you + judge, that in ascending some five _Lapidians_, you will have + reach'd the Atmosphere, and the rest will be attended by no other + Fatigue, than that of preventing too swift a Descent. Propose what + you have to object, _Probusomo_, for I will provide you able + Bearers, who shall carry you, and with the Strength of theirs, + supply your Defect of Wings." + +I answer'd, That since his Excellency commanded, I would give in those +Objections which occurr'd: The first was the extream Coldness of the +Air; the second its great Subtlety, which to me made this Undertaking +impracticable; besides, the Distance is such, by the learned Gentleman's +Calculation, that could the _Cacklogallinians_, without resting, fly at +the rate of 1500 _Lapidians_ a Day, the Journey could not be ended in +less than six Moons: That there were no Inns in the Way, nor Places to +rest in; and supposing we could carry Provisions for that Length of +Time, I could not perceive how they could be always on Wing, and subsist +without Sleep. + +His Excellency seem'd to think the Difficulties I rais'd merited +Consideration, and after some Pause, asked the Projector, if he could +solve them. + + "As to the first Objection, my Lord, _said he_, I answer, that altho' + the second Region may be endow'd with Coldness proper for the + Production of Meteors, yet may it not be unsupportable; neither can + we suppose, that the Air above, which if not destin'd to the same + End, is of the same Nature, but on the contrary, we may rather + suppose it exempt from all Extremes, consequently our Passage thro' + this cold Region being performed, which we have Reason to conclude + but short, for this condens'd Air which encompasses the Earth on + every Part, weighs about 108 _Liparia_'s on a Square Inch (_Liparia_ + is near a Sixth of our Pound) and we may very easily compute from + thence, what Space of this Air we have to pass, by computing what is + necessary to support this Globe of Earth, we shall find the AEtherial + altogether temperate. + + "As to the second Objection, I anwer, that the Subtlety of the Air I + look upon no Obstacle; for the Air near the Earth, especially in dry + Places, where there are no impure Exhalations, by the intense Heat + of the Sun, it is perhaps as thin, and as much rarified, as the + AEtherial. This I suppose from the Tenuity of the Air on the top of + the Mountain _Tenera_, where 'tis said none can inhabit on that + account. But I have my self flown to the top of this Mountain, and + carry'd with me a wet Spunge, thro' which I drew my Breath for some + time, but by Degrees I became habituated to this Tenuity, and + respired with Ease; nay, after staying there some few Days, I found + the denser Air, on my Descent, caus'd a Difficulty in my + Respiration: From whence I concluded, that, by Degrees, the thinnest + Air may become Natural; and as I felt no Hunger while on the + Mountain, I may suppose the same Air we breathe may also nourish us. + And this is no vain Imagination, for the _Aker_ (that is, Viper) we + see live by the Spirit included in the Air, which is the Principle + of Life in all; but in case I am out in this Conjecture, we may + carry Provisions with us. + + "As to the resting our selves, I affirm from the Principles of sound + Philosophy, that when once out of the Reach of the magnetick Power + of the Earth, we shall no longer gravitate, for what we call + Gravity, is no other than Attraction, consequently we may repose our + selves in the Air, if there is Occasion, which I believe there will + not; for as we shall then have no Weight to exhaust the Spirits, + there can be no Need of refreshing them either with Meat or Sleep." + +The Minister rose up, and said he was fully satisfied with his Answers; +the only Thing gave him Uneasiness, was the Length of Time I said was +requisite to make this Journey. + + "My Lord, _replied the Projector_, I can't agree that such a Time is + necessary; for being above the Attraction of the Earth, which is the + only laborious Part of our Passage, we may go with an inconceivable + Swiftness, especially when we come within the Attraction of the + Moon, which will certainly be encreas'd by the Weight of Provisions, + which we shall by way of Precaution carry with us, and which will be + no Burthen after we have pass'd the Atmosphere; so that what Weight + a Thousand _Cacklogallinians_ can hardly raise to that Heighth, one + might support, the rest of the Journey." + +His Excellency perceiv'd by my Countenance I was not satisfied, and +therefore bid me take Heart, he wou'd send a Number of _Palanquins_ with +us, and if we found the second Region impervious by Reason of the Cold, +we shou'd have the Liberty to return. + +The only Talk now in Town was our designed Journey to the Moon, for +which a great many of the swiftest Flyers were inlifted with Promises of +great Reward. _Palanquins_ were made sharp at each End, to cut the Air; +the warmest Mantles and Hoods were made for the Bearers, and the +Projector's and my _Palanquin_ were close, and lined with +Down. + +A Company was erected, Shares sold of the Treasure we were to bring +back; and happy was he who could first subscribe. These Subscriptions +were sold at 2000 _per Cent._ Advantage, and in less than two Months, +the Time spent in preparing for our Journey, I saw at least Five Hundred +Lacqueys, who had fallen into the Trade of buying and selling these +Subscriptions in their gilt _Palanquins_, and Train of Servants after +them. The _Squabbaws_, the _Vultuaquilians_, the Minister, and some of +the Grand Council, shared amongst them Fifty Millions of _Spasma_'s, +ready Money, for what they sold of this chimerical Treasure. + +This open'd my Eyes, and I found I had been very short-sighted, in +condemning the Minister for giving Ear to a Project so contrary to +Reason: But when I saw the noblest Families, and such whose Ruine was +necessary to his own Support, sell their Estates to buy Shares, I look'd +upon him as the wisest Minister in the known World; and was lost in +Wonder, when I confider'd the Depth of his Designs. + +I took the Liberty, once to mention my Astonishment to him, with all the +Deference due to his exalted Quality, and with the Praises he justly +deserved. He answer'd me, that he fear'd I saw farther than was either +convenient, or safe for me, if my Taciturnity did not equal my +Penetration. This he spoke in a Tone which gave me Apprehension of +Danger; I threw my self at his Feet, and begg'd he would rather kill me, +than suspect my Zeal for his Service; that what I had taken the Liberty +of saying to his Excellency, I had never the Imprudence to mention to +any other; and that I hop'd the Experience he had of me would assure him +of my Secrecy. _Learn_, said he, _that Ministers work like Moles, and +it's as dangerous to shew them you can enter into their Views, as to +attempt their Lives: I have a Confidence in you; but had any other held +me the same Discourse, I would have put it out of his Power to have +repeated it to a third Person._ + + + + +The Author begins his Journey to the MOON. + + +All things necessary being provided, and the _Palanquins_ of Provisions +being sent before to join us at the Mountain _Tenera_, I had an Audience +of Leave of his Imperial Majesty and his _Squabbaws_; after which, I +went to receive my last Instructions from his Excellency. He gave me a +Paper, with Orders not to open it, till I was arrived at the Mountain, +which was about a Thousand Miles from the City. He having wish'd me a +good Journey, said he had given Orders to six lusty _Cacklogallimans_ to +obey those I should give them; that he depended on my Fidelity and +Prudence, and therefore, as I would find, had reposed a great Trust in +me. I made him a suitable Answer, and retired to my Apartment in the +Palace, where I found the Projector, who told me we were to set out the +next Morning before Day. I asked him, in Case we succeeded in our +Journey, and found the Riches we coveted, how we should bring away any +Quantity? + + "If, _said he_, that happens, we shall, in a second Journey, be + provided with Vehicles, if there is Occasion; but I propose to + extract such a Quantity of the Soul of Gold, which I can infuse into + Lead at our Return, that we may be rich enough to pave the Streets + with that valuable Metal; for a Grain will, infused into Lead, make + an Ounce of pure Gold. Now, if a Penny-weight of the Soul will make + Twenty four Ounces, or Two Pound of Gold, consider what immense + Treasure we may bring back with us, since the _Palanquineers_ can + fly with Five Hundred Weight in a _Palanquin_." + +The next Morning we set forward at about Three o' Clock, and reach'd the +Mountain in about Forty six Hours. We first refresh'd our selves, and +when I was alone, I open'd my Instructions, which ran thus: + + As Experience proves you are not to be led by chimerical Notions, + and that your Capacity and Fidelity render you fit to undertake the + most difficult and secret Affairs, his Imperial Majesty thought none + so fit as yourself to be entrusted in the Management of the present + Scheme; which that you may do to his Majesty's Satisfaction, and + your own Interest and Credit, you are to observe the following + Instructions. + + "You are to order _Volatilio_, the first Proposer of the Journey now + undertaken, to go to the Top of the Hill a Day before you, and from + thence to acquaint you with the Nature of the Air; and if you find + it practicable, you are to follow him. If you gain the Summit, and + that the Air is too thin for Respiration, you are to descend again, + dispatch an Express to his Majesty, and clap _Volatilio_ in Irons, + then dispatch away one of the six Messengers whom I ordered to + attend you: They, _Volatilio_, and the whole Caravan, are to obey + you, till you have pass'd the Atmosphere, when you and they are to + follow the Directions of _Volatilio_, in what regards the Way only; + but, in Case that you can respire on the Top of the Mountain, order + _Volatilio_ to precede you a Day's Ascent, return the next, and + immediately dispatch a second Messenger with the Account he gives, + and continue on the Mountain for farther Instructions, before you + proceed, should it prove practicable. I need not tell you the + Publick must be amused with Hopes of Success, tho' you have Reason + to despair of it; nor need I even hint to you what Method you ought + to take. I wish you Health, and that your Conduct may answer my + Expectations." + +I acted pursuant to these Instructions, and sent _Volatilio_ forward, +who reach'd the Top of the Hill; but finding the Air too thin to +continue there, without the Help of humected Spunges, he therefore sent +those back he carried with him to the mid Space of the Mountain, and an +Express to me, by which he informed me what he had done; that he +resolved to continue there a natural Day, and then join me where he had +sent his Followers, to which Place he desired I would ascend, and defer +the dispatching any Express to his Majesty, till he saw me again. + +I ascended to the Mid-space, and found a vast Alteration in the Air, +which even here was very sensibly rarified. + +My Projector came to me at his appointed Time, and told me he did not +question the Success of our Enterprize, since he imagined the Air above +the second Region rather denser than that near the Earth, and hoped the +Cold was not more intense than on the Mountain's Top; and that if this +prov'd so, we cou'd breathe and support the Cold with little Difficulty. +I answer'd, that it was natural to conclude the Air next the Earth more +dense than that above it, as the weightiest always descends the first. + + "That Reason, _said he_, is not conclusive, for the Air immediately + encompassing the Earth, is more sensible of its attractive Power, + than that at a greater Distance, as you may be satisfied, in placing + two Pieces of Iron, one near, and the other at a Distance from the + Loadstone; the nearest Piece will be strongly attracted, while that + at a greater Distance is but weakly affected. Now supposing the Air + only of an equal Density thro'out when we have left the Earth, + (which, by the Reflection of Heat from the Mountains, rarifies the + circumambient Air, and renders it more subtle than that above it) we + may respire without Pain; for in less than Six Hours I, by Degrees, + withdrew my Spunge." + +I dispatch'd an Express with the Account I had received, and set +forward, resolving to wait for further Instructions on the top of the +Mountain. I was at a good Distance from the Summit, when I was obliged, +by the Thinness of the Air, to have Recourse to my wet Spunge, and +was Four and Twenty Hours before I could intirely remove it. The +_Cacklogallinians_ found less Difficulty than I in their Respiration, +but more in supporting the rigid Cold, especially at Night, when the +Damps fell. We staid here Eight Days, that the Subtlety of the Air might +become habitual to us. + +On the seventh Day, the Messenger return'd with Credentials for +_Volatilio_ and my self, to the Potentate in whose Dominions we might +happen, and Orders to proceed on our Journey. This Messenger told me, +that on the Contents of my Letter being publish'd, the Town was +illuminated throughout, and such a Number of Coaches and _Palanquins_ +bespoke, that he believed, at our Return, we should find none out of +them but the Ostriches. Our Credentials ran thus. + + "HIPPOMENE-CONNUFERENTO, Emperor and absolute Monarch of the greatest + Empire in the Terrestrial Globe, Disposer of Kingdoms, Judge of + Kings, Dispenser of Justice, Light of the World, Joy of the Sun, + Darling of Mortals, Scourge of Tyrants, and Refuge of the Distress'd, + to the Puissant Monarch of that Kingdom in the Moon, to which our + Ambassadors shall arrive: Or, To the Mighty and Sole Lord of that + beautiful Planet, sends Greeting. + + "Dearly Beloved Brother, and most Mighty Prince, as it has been long + doubted by our Ancestors, as well as by those of our Time, whether + the Moon were, or were not inhabited, We, who have ever encouraged + those who seek the universal Good of Mortals, supposing it possible, + if that Planet were possess'd by such, that an Intercourse between + the two Worlds might be of mutual Advantage to both, have sent our + two Ambassadors, _Volatilio_ and _Probusomo_, to attempt a Passage + to your World, and to assure you, if they succeed, of the great + Desire we have of entertaining with you a reciprocal Friendship, of + giving all possible Demonstrations of our Affection, and to invite + you to send to our World your Ambassadors, with whom we may consult + our common Interest. So recommending ours to your Protection, we + heartily bid you farewell. + + "Given at our Court, _&c._" + +According to the Orders we receiv'd, _Volatilio_ took his Flight in an +oblique Ascent, without a _Palanquin_, but wrapt up as warm as possible, +accompanied by two Servants. He parted with great Alacrity, and we soon +lost Sight of him. Some Half a Score, in Complaisance, took a Flight of +three Hours to see him part of his Way towards his Discovery. + +He went off at break of Day, to avoid those Vapours which the Heat of +the Sun exhales, and which by Night would have rendered his Passage, he +thought, impossible; for he hoped, in a small Space to gain beyond the +Heighth they rise to. At the Return of those who convoy'd him, I sent +away an Express, to acquaint the Emperor with their Report, which was, +That they found no sensible Alteration as to the Rarefaction of the Air, +and that the Cold was rather less intense. This News at Court made every +one run mad after Shares, which the Proprietors sold at what Rate they +pleas'd. + +The next Day in the Even, we saw _Volatilio_ on his Return: His first +Salutation was, + + Courage my Friend, I have pas'd the Atmosphere, and, by Experience, + have found my Conjecture true; for being out of the magnetick Power + of the Earth, we rested in the Air, as on the solid Earth, and in an + Air extreamly temperate, and less subtle than what we breathe. + +I sent again this Account to Court, but the Courtiers having no more +Shares to sell, gave out, that _Volatilio_ did not return as he +promis'd, and it was expected, that I despair'd of the Undertaking, +and believ'd him lost. + +This was such a Damp to the Town; that Shares fell to Half Value, and +none of the Courtiers would buy, sell they cou'd not, having (I mean +those let into the Secret) already dispos'd of all by their Agents, tho' +they pretended the contrary. + +The Express return'd, with private Orders for me to confirm this Report, +which I was oblig'd to do, and stay eight Days longer, as the publick +Instructions to us both commanded. + +This was a great Mortification to _Volatilio_, and, I own, the Report he +made had rais'd my Curiosity so much, that I was uneasy at this Delay; +but we were to obey, and not to enquire into the Reasons of +it. + +The Messenger returning, told me, that my last Letter had fallen the +Shares to five _per Cent._ under _Par_, nothing but Lamentations eccho'd +thro' the Streets, and it was impossible to give an Idea of the Change +it had occasion'd. The Letter the Minister sent me order'd me to write +him Word, that _Volatilio_ was returned, had found no Obstacles, and +that I was preparing to depart. That the Court had bought up a vast +Number of Shares, and that he took Care of my Interest in particular; +that I need stay for no farther Instructions, but make the best of my +Way. + +I gave Notice to the Caravan, that we would set forward the next +Morning, which we accordingly did, and as near as I could compute, +we flew that Day, 180 Miles. What surpriz'd me was, that in less +than an Hour and half's Ascent, _Volatilio_, who would not go in his +_Palanquin_, folded his Wings, and came to me on Foot, and told me I +might get out and stretch my Limbs. My _Palanquineers_ stood still, and +confirm'd what he said; and more, that they had not for a Quarter of an +Hour past been sensible of my Weight, which had lessen'd by Degrees, so +as not to be felt at all. + +I left my _Palanquin_, and found what _Volatilio_ had conjectur'd, and +his Report verified; for I could with as much Ease lift a _Palanquin_ of +Provisions, which did not on Earth weigh less than 500 Weight, as I +could on our Globe raise a Feather. The Cold was very much abated, and +I found my Spirits rais'd. + +I would here have sent back half the _Palanquin_-Bearers, but +_Volatilio_ was of Opinion we should keep them a Day longer; for, +perhaps, said he, we may send them all (except those which carry you) +away; for if the Universal Spirit included in the Air should suffice for +our Nourishment, we have no Business with Provisions. + +I approv'd his Reason, and we proceeded on, sure of falling first into +the Attraction of the Moon, it being the nearest Planet to us. + +I shall not detain the Reader with my Observations in this aerial +Journey; _Gallileus_, who by his Writings gives me room to believe he +had, before me, visited this Planet, whatever were his Reasons for not +owning it, having left nothing, which is not mentioned in his _Systema +Mundi_. + +I observ'd only, which I take Notice of for those who have not read him, +that when the Moon has but a small Part of his Body enlighten'd, that +the Earth, the other Moon, has a proportionable Part of its Hemisphere +visibly darken'd; I mean a Part in proportion to that of the Moon which +is enlighten'd; and that both these Moons, of which ours is much the +larger, mutually participate the same Light of the Sun, and the same +Obscurity of the Eclipses, and mutually assist each other: For when the +Moon is in Conjunction with the Sun, and its _pars superior_ receives +all the Light, then its inferior Hemisphere is enlighten'd by the +Earth's reflecting the Rays of the Sun, otherwise it would be intirely +dark; and when those two Planets are in Opposition, then that Part of +the Earth which is deprived of the Rays of the Sun, is enlighten'd by a +full Moon. + +The next Day _Volatilio_ was for sending back the Provisions, but I +judg'd it proper not to go forward, but to stay the Space of a natural +Day, in the same Situation, because in that time, or in no other in the +Journey, we should require Sustenance, and also because their Return +would be easier, than if we carried them still forward. + +This was agreed to, and none of us finding any Appetite, Weakness, or +Sinking of our Spirits, dismiss'd all but those who carried my +_Palanquin_, and proceeded forward with an incredible Swiftness. + +We were about a Month before we came into the Attraction of the Moon, in +all which time none of us had the least Inclination to Sleep or Meat, or +found our selves any way fatigued, nor, till we reach'd that Planet, did +we close our Eyes; the Attraction was so great, that it was all the +Bearers and _Volatilio_ could do to prevent our being dash'd to Pieces +on a Mountain; we descended with that inconceivable Swiftness, that I +apprehended it impossible, in our Return, to avoid that Misfortune in +the World we left; since the Attraction, if its Virtue was augmented in +proportion to its Magnitude, must be much stronger. + +This Thought made me very uneasy for those who return'd. I spoke of it +to _Volatilio_ who bid me apprehend nothing; for, said he, the Magnetick +Virtue of the Load-stone is so far from being in Proportion to its Size, +that the very large ones have less attractive Power than those which are +middling. + +When I had recover'd from the Fright, which the Rapidity of our Descent +had put me into, I view'd the circumjacent Country with equal Wonder and +Delight; Nature seem'd here to have lavish'd all her Favours; on +whatsoever Side I turn'd my Eye, the most ravishing Prospect was offer'd +to my Sight. The Mountain yielded a gradual Descent to most beautiful +Meadows, enamell'd with Cowslips, Roses, Lilies, Jessamines, Carnations, +and other fragrant Flowers, unknown to the Inhabitants of our Globe, +which were as grateful to the Smell, as entertaining to the Eye. The +chrystal Rivulets which smoothly glided thro' these inchanting Meads, +seem'd so many Mirrors reflecting the various Beauties of those +odoriferous Flowers which adorn'd their Banks. The Mountain, which was +of considerable Height, afforded us a great Variety in our Prospect, and +the Woods, Pastures, Meads, and small Arms of the Sea, were intermingled +with that surprizing Beauty and Order, that they seem'd rather dispos'd +by Art, than the Product of Nature; the Earth it self yielded a grateful +and enlivening Scent, and is so pure, that it does not sully the Hands. +The Cedars, which cloath'd the middle Part of the Summit, were streight, +tall, and so large, that seven Men would hardly fathom the Bowl of one; +round these twin'd the grateful Honey-suckle, and encircling Vine, whose +purple Grapes appearing frequent from among the Leaves of the wide +extended Branches, gave an inconceivable Pleasure to the Beholder. The +Lily of the Valley, Violet, Tuberose, Pink, Julip and Jonquil, cloath'd +their spacious Roots, and the verdant Soil afforded every salutiferous +Herb and Plant, whose Vertues diffus'd thro' the ambient Air (without +the invenom'd and the griping Fist of the _Cacklogallinian_ Empiricks) +Preservatives to the blessed Inhabitants of the Lunar World. + +The Heavens here were ever serene; no Thunder-bearing Cloud obscur'd the +Sky; the whispering Zephyrs wanton'd in the Leaves, and gently bore +along the enchanting Musick of the feather'd Choir: The Sea here knew no +Storms, nor threatning Wave, with Mountain swell, menaced the Ships, +which safely plough'd the peaceful Bosom of the Deep. _AEolus_ and all +his boisterous Sons were banish'd from these happy Seats, and only +kindly Breezes fann'd the fragrant Air. In short, all was ravishing, and +Nature seem'd here to have given her last Perfection to her Works, and +to rejoice in her finish'd Labours. + +I found my Spirits so invigorated by the refreshing Odours, of this +Paradice, so elated with the Serenity of the Heavens, and the Beauties +which every where entertained and rejoiced my Sight, that in Extasy I +broke out into this grateful Soliloquy. + + O Source of Wisdom, Eternal Light of the Universe! what Adorations + can express the grateful Acknowledgments of thy diffusive Bounty! + Who can contemplate the beauty of thy Works, the Product of thy + single _Fiat_, and not acknowledge thy Omnipotence, Omniscience, and + extensive Goodness! What Tongue can refrain from singing thy Praise! + What Heart so hard, but must be melted into Love! Oh Eternal + Creator, pity my Weakness, and since I cannot speak a Gratitude + adequate to thy Mercies, accept the Fulness of my Heart, too + redundant for Expression. + +As I spoke this, in the _Cacklogallinian_ Tongue, _Volatilio_ came up to +me, and said, + + "Alas! _Probusomo_, how can a finite Being return Praises adequate to + infinite Mercies! Let us return such as we are capable of; let the + Probity of our Lives speak our Gratitude; by our Charity for each + other endeavour to imitate the Divine Goodness, and speak our Love + to him, by that we shew to Mortals, the Work of his Divine Will, + however they may differ from us, and from one another, in their + Species. I am glad I am not deceived in my Opinion of you. I + believed from the Observation I made of your Life in a corrupt and + dissolute Court, that you fear'd the first Being of Beings, and for + that Reason chose you Companion of this hitherto unattempted + Journey; for I expected a Blessing would attend my Undertaking, + while such a one was embark'd with me: For to the Shame of our + Nation, we own a Deity in Words, but deny him in our Actions: We + acknowledge this Divine Being must be pure and just, and that our + Lives (as he must abominate all Impurity and Injustice) ought to be + conformable to his Attributes, wou'd we hope his Favour and + Protection, notwithstanding we act diametrically opposite, as the + most ready Method to procure our Happiness." + +Finding our selves press'd by Hunger, we descended the Mountain, at the +Foot of which we found a Plantation of Olive Trees, and abundance of +Pear, standing Apricock, Nectarn, Peach, Orange, and Lemon Trees, +interspers'd. We satisfied our craving Appetites with the Fruit we +gather'd, and then getting into my _Palanquin_, _Volatilio_ leading the +Way, we went in Search of the Inhabitants. Our Flight was little better +than a Soar, that we might with more Advantage view the Country. + +After a couple of Hours, he saw a House, but of so great a Height, +and so very large, I who was short-sighted in Comparison of the +_Cacklogallinians_, took it for a great Hill; I told him my Opinion, but +he assured me I was mistaken. We therefore urg'd forward, and I alighted +not far from this Palace, for I could term it no other, from the +Largeness and Beauty of its Structure. We had been discover'd, as I had +reason to believe, some Time, and a Number of People about Thirty, at +our alighting, immediately encompass'd me. The gigantick Make of these +Inhabitants struck me with a panick Fear, which I also discover'd in the +Eyes of the _Cacklogallinians_. + +They were of different Statures, from Thirty to an Hundred and Fifty +Foot high, as near as I cou'd guess; some of them were near as thick +as long, some proportionable, and others shap'd like a Pine, being no +thicker than my self, tho' tall of an Hundred Foot. + +I resolv'd however to conceal, if possible, the Terror I was in, and +coming out of my _Palanquin_, I went to salute the Company, when I +observ'd they retired from me in proportion as I advanced, and like a +Vapour, or an _Ignis fatuus_, the Air being mov'd by my Motion, drove +those which were directly opposite still before me. + +I stood still, they did the same; if I was astonish'd at their Make, and +at what other things I had observ'd, I was more so, when I saw one of +the tallest, dwindle in the Twinkling of an Eye, to a Pigmy, fly into +the Air without Wings, and carry off a Giant in each Hand by the Hair of +the Head. + +They were all differently dress'd at their first Appearance; some like +Generals in Armour, some were in Ecclesiastical, and some in Gowns not +unlike our Barristers at Law. Some were dress'd as fine as Imagination +could make 'em, but with the quickness of Thought, these Dresses were +all changed, who was cover'd with Rags one Moment, the next was in +Purple, with a Crown on his Head; the Beau in Rags; the Priest assum'd +the Air and Dress of a Bully, and the General was turn'd into a demure +Figure resembling a _Quaker_. + +I was struck dumb with Amazement, and while I was considering with my +self what this should mean, I observ'd a Man riding up to us, mounted on +a Lion; when he came to the others, I found him of the common Size with +the Inhabitants of our Globe; he had on his Head a Crown of Bays, which +in an Instant chang'd to a Fool's Cap, and his Lion to an Ass. He drew +from his Breast a Rowl like a Quire of Written Paper, which using as a +Sword, he set upon the others, and dispers'd them. Some ran over the +Sea, as on dry Ground; others flew into the Air, and some sunk into the +Earth. Then alighting from his Ass, he opened the Jaws of the Animal, +went down his Throat, and they both vanish'd. + +After I had recover'd my Fright, I told _Volatilio_, that I fear'd this +Planet was inhabited by evil Spirits. He answered, that what we had +seen, was sufficient to induce us to believe so. We look'd for the +House, which we saw rise into the Air, and vanish in Flame and Smoke, +which strengthen'd our Opinion. However, we resolv'd to go forward, when +one of the _Palanquineers_ said he saw a House on the left, and People +of my Size and Species making towards us. + +We determin'd therefore to wait their Arrival, which was in less than a +Quarter of an Hour. They accosted me very courteously, as I could gather +from their Gestures, tho' they seem'd surprized at the Size of the +_Cacklogallinians_. I was not less amaz'd at the Beauty of their +Persons, and the Becomingness of their Dress, either of which I can give +no just Idea of. Let it suffice, that I seem'd both in my own, and in +the Eyes of the _Cacklogallinians_, something of the same Species, but +frightfully ugly. + +These People are neither a corporeal, nor an aerial Substance, but (I +know not how otherwise to express my self) between both. They spoke to +me in a Language I did not understand, but the Tone of their Voices, and +the Smoothness of their Syllables, were divinely harmonious. I bow'd my +Body to the Ground three times, and offer'd my Credentials, which one of +them took, but by the shaking of his Head, I found understood nothing of +the Contents. _Volatilio_ then address'd himself to them, which made +them look on one another, as People who hardly believed their Senses. +As I had address'd these _Selenites_ in the _Cacklogallinian_ Language, +I had a Mind to try, if speaking in those of the _Europeans_ (for I +understood, beside my own, the _French_ and _Spanish_) I should have any +better Success. I therefore spoke in _English_, and, to my great Joy, +one of the Company answer'd me. He ask'd me, Whether I came from the +World? if so, how I durst undertake so perilous a Journey? I told him, +I would satisfy his Curiosity in answering all his Questions, but +desired he would give me some Time; for I had been so terrified by +Phantoms, since my Arrival, that I was hardly capable of Recollection. + +While I was speaking, a Man on Horseback ran full speed upon me with a +drawn Sabre, to cleave me down; but the _Selenite_ waving his Hand, he +soon vanish'd. + + "You need, _said he_, apprehend nothing from these Shades; they are + the Souls of the Inhabitants of your World, which being loos'd from + the Body by Sleep, resort here, and for the short Space allotted + them, indulge the Passions which predominate, or undergo the + Misfortunes they fear while they are in your Globe. Look ye, _said + he_, yonder is a Wretch going to the Gallows, and his Soul feels the + same Agony, as if it was a real Sentence to be executed on him. Our + Charity obliges us, when we see those imaginary Ills, to drive the + Soul back to its Body, which we do, by waving our Hand in the Air, + and the agonizing Dreamer wakes. We do also retain them by a Virtue + peculiar to the _Selenites_, and as they sometimes administer a + great deal of Diversion, we do it for our Entertainment, which is + the Reason of those long Naps of two or three Days, nay, of as many + Weeks, which cause the Wonder of your World. The Souls of your + impure Dreamers never reach beyond the middle Region. But we delay + too long inviting you to our Habitations, where you shall have all + possible Care taken of you. But by what Art have you taught Fowls + articulate Sounds? and where could you possibly find them of that + Size?" + +I told him they were rational Beings, but that the Story was now too +long to tell him; he presented me to the rest of the Company, and, at +my Request, the _Cacklogallinians_ were humanly treated, whom otherwise +they had look'd upon as overgrown dunghill Fowls. _Volatilio_ did not +appear much surpriz'd at this, who had once esteem'd me a Prodigy of +Nature. As we walk'd to the House, one of the _Selenites_ address'd me +in the _Spanish_ Language, with the known Affiability and Gravity of +that Nation. + + "Sir, _said he_, I cannot consider you as other, than the bravest and + wisest of all Mortals, who could find the Way to reach our World, + and had the Courage to undertake the Journey; for it's certain, none + cloath'd in Flesh ever (before you) made so bold an Attempt, or at + least succeeded in it: Tho' I have read the Chimera's of _Dominick + Gonzales_. While you stay amongst us, you may depend upon our + treating you with all the Respect answerable to so great Merit, and + in every thing endeavour, as far as the Power we have will permit, + that the Design of your Journey may not be frustrated, which I am + apt to believe, is no other than to extend your Knowledge." + +I return'd him many Thanks for his Humanity, but told him I durst not +attribute to my self the Character he gave me; that I was a Lover of +Truth, and would not, on any Account, disguise the real Motive which +sent me on an Undertaking I look'd upon impossible to go thro' with, +and which I very unwillingly embark'd in: But since, contrary to my +Expectations, Providence has guided me to this Terrestrial Paradice, +I should esteem my self extreamly happy, if I might be permitted to ask +such Questions as my Curiosity might prompt me to. + +He answer'd, that nothing I desir'd to know should be kept from me. We +soon reach'd the House, which was regular, neat, and convenient. We all +sat down in an inner Hall, and he who spoke _English_, desired I would +give an Account, both of the Motives, the Manner, and Accidents of my +Journey, which I did as succinctly as possible, interpreting the +Credentials, when I gave them. + +He was astonish'd at the Account I gave him of the _Cacklogallinians_, +and said, if my Account was not back'd with ocular Demonstration, he +should take their Story for the Ravings of a distemper'd Brain. + + "I find, _said he_, you begin to be drowzy; I would therefore have + you and your rational Fowls (as you call them) repose your selves, + while I in the _Vernacular_ Language, repeat to my Companions the + Wonders I have heard from you." + +We were indeed very sleepy, and I was heartily glad of the Proposal, as +were also the _Cacklogallinians_, when I mention'd it to them. They, as +well as my self, were provided each of them with a Bed, in very handsome +and commodious Rooms. These Beds were so very soft, that I seem'd to lye +on a Couch of Air. When we awak'd, the _Selenites_ came into my Chamber, +and told me it was time to take some Nourishment; that they had provided +Corn for my Companions, and desir'd I would sit down to Supper with +them, it being their usual time. + + "Why, Sir, _said I_, to our _English_ Interpreter, do you sup by + Day-light? You mistake, _said he_, it is now Night; your World to + the Inhabitants of this Hemisphere (which is always turn'd to it, + this Planet moving in an Epicycle) reflects so strong the Sun's + Light, that your Error is excusable. What then, _said I_, do those + of the other Hemisphere for Light? They have it, _said he_, from the + Planets." + +I went with them into a Parlour, where, after a Hymn was sung, we sat +down to a Table cover'd with Sallets and all sorts of Fruits. + + "You must, _said the Selenite_, content your self with what we can + offer you, which is nothing but the spontaneous Products of the + Earth: We cannot invite you to other, since the eating any thing + that has had Life, is look'd upon with Abhorrence, and never known + in this World: But I am satisfied you will easily accommodate + your self to our Diet, since the Taste of our Fruits is much more + exquisite than yours, since they fully satisfy, and never cloy:" + +Which I found true by Experience, and I was so far from hankering after +Flesh, that even the Thoughts of it were shocking and nauseous to me. + +We drank the most delicious Wine, which they press'd from the Grape +into their Cups, and which was no way intoxicating. After Supper, the +_Selenite_ address'd himself to me in Words to this Effect. + + "I have acquainted my Friends here present, who are come to pass some + Days with me, both with the Contents of the _Cacklogallinian_ + Emperor's Letter, and the Reasons which mov'd this Prince to desire + an Intercourse between the two Worlds, and we will all of us wait on + you to our Prince's Court, tho' strictly speaking, we neither have, + nor need a Governour; and we pay the distant Respect due to your + Princes to the eldest among us, as he is the nearest to eternal + Happiness. But that I may give you some Idea, both of this World, + and its Inhabitants, you must learn, that Men in yours are endued + with a Soul and an Understanding; the Soul is a material Substance, + and cloathes the Understanding, as the Body does the Soul; at the + Separation of these two, the Body is again resolved into Earth, and + the Soul of the Virtuous is placed in this Planet, till the + Understanding being freed from it by a Separation we may call Death, + tho' not attended with Fear or Agony, it is resolved into our Earth, + and its Principle of Life, the Understanding, returns to the Great + Creator; for till we have here purg'd off what of Humanity remains + attach'd to the Soul, we can never hope to appear before the pure + Eyes of the Deity. + + "We are here, _said he_, in a State of Ease and Happiness, tho' no + way comparable to that we expect at our Dissolution, which we as + earnestly long for, as you Mortals carefully avoid it. We forget + nothing that pass'd while we were cloath'd in Flesh, and Inhabitants + of your Globe, and have no other Uneasiness, than what the + Reflection of our Ingratitude to the Eternal Goodness, while in + Life, creates in us, which the Eternal lessens in proportion to our + Repentance, which is here very sincere. This will cease your Wonder + at hearing the Sublunary Languages. + + "We have here no Passions to gratify, no Wants to supply, the Roots + of Vice, which under no Denomination is known among us; consequently + no Laws, nor Governours to execute them, are here necessary. + + "Had the _Cacklogallinian_ Prince known thus much, he would have been + sensible how vain were his Expectations of getting from us the Gold + he thirsts after: For were we to meet with the purest Veins of that + Metal, by removing only one Turf, not a _Selenite_ would think it + worth his while. + + "This is a Place of Peace and Tranquillity, and this World is exactly + adapted to the Temper of its Inhabitants: Nature here is in an + Eternal Calm; we enjoy an everlasting Spring; the Soil yields + nothing noxious, and we can never want the Necessaries of Life, + since every Herb affords a salubrious Repast to the _Selenites_. + + "We pass our Days without Labour, without other Anxiety, than what I + mention'd, and the longing Desire we have for our Dissolution, makes + every coming Day encrease our Happiness. + + "We have not here, as in your World, Distinction of Sexes; for know, + all Souls are masculine (if I may be allow'd that Term, after what + I've said) however distinguish'd in the Body; and tho' of late Years + the Number of those which change your World for this (especially of + the _European_ Quarter) is very small; yet we do not apprehend our + World will be left unpeopled." + + "You say, _replied I_, that none but the virtuous Soul reaches these + blissfull Seats; what then becomes of the Vicious? and how comes it, + that the Soul, when loosed by Sleep, I suppose without Distinction, + retires hither?" + + "The Decrees, _said he_, of the Almighty are inscrutable, and you + ask me Questions are not in my Power to resolve you." + + "Have not, _said I_, the _Cacklogallinians_ Souls, think you, since + they're endued with Reason?" "If they have, _said he_, they never + are sent hither." + +I repeated this Discourse to the _Cacklogallinians_, which made +_Volatilio_ extreamly melancholly. + + Happy Men! _said he,_ to whose Species the divine Goodness has been + so indulgent! Miserable _Cacklogallinians_! if destin'd, after + bearing the Ills of Life, to Annihilation. Let us, _Probusomo_, + never think of returning, but beg we may be allow'd to end our Days + with these Favourites of Heaven. + +I interpreted this to the _Selenite_, who shook his Head, and said it +was, he believ'd, impossible. That he did not doubt but Providence would +reward the Virtuous of his Species; that his Mercy and Justice were +without Bound, which ought to keep him from desponding. + +The next Day a great Number of _Selenites_ came to see me, and +entertain'd me with abundance of Candour. I seeing no Difference in +Dress, nor any Deference paid to any, as distinguish'd by a superior +Rank, I took Liberty to ask my _English Selenite_, if all the +Inhabitants were upon a Level, and if they had no Servants nor +Artificers? + + "We have, _said he_, no Distinctions among us; who in your World + begg'd Alms, with us, has the same Respect as he who govern'd a + Province: Tho', to say Truth, we have but few of your sublunary + Quality among us. We have no Occasion for Servants; we are all + Artificers, and none where Help is necessary, but offers his with + Alacrity. For Example, would I build a House, every one here, and + as many more as were wanting, would take a Pleasure to assist me." + +He told me, that the next Day they intended to present me to _Abrahijo_, +the oldest _Selenite_. + +Accordingly, we set out at Sun-rising, and entered a Bark about a League +from the House, and having pass'd about four Leagues on a River which +ran thro' a Valley beautiful beyond Description, we went ashore within +an Hundred Yards _Abrahijo_'s Place of Abode. + +When we came in, the venerable old Man, whose compos'd and chearful +Countenance spoke the Heaven of his Mind, rose from his Chair, and came +to meet us; he was of a great Age, but free from the Infirmities which +attend it in our World. + +The _English Selenite_ presented me to him with few Words, and he +received me with Tenderness. + +After he was inform'd of my Story, he spoke to me by our Interpreter, +to this Effect. + + "My Son, I hope you will reap a solid Advantage from the perilous + Journey you have made, tho' your Expectation of finding Riches among + us is frustrated. All that I have to give you, is my Advice to + return to your World, place your Happiness in nothing transitory; + nor imagine that any Riches, but those which are Eternal, which + neither _Thief can carry away, nor Rust corrupt_, are worthy of your + Pursuit. Keep continually in your Eye the Joys prepared for those + who employ the Talents they are entrusted with, as they ought: + Reflect upon the little Content your World can afford you: Consider + how short is Life, and that you have but little Time to spare for + Trifles, when the grand Business, the securing your eternal Rest, + ought to employ your Mind. You are there in a State of Probation, + and you must there chuse whether you will be happy or miserable; you + will not be put to a second Trial; you sign at once your own + Sentence, and it will stand irrevocable, either for or against you. + Weigh well the Difference between a momentary and imperfect, and an + eternal and solid Happiness, to which the Divine Goodness invites + you; nay, by that Calmness, that Peace of Mind, which attends a + virtuous Life, bribes you to make Choice of, if you desire to be + among us, be your own Friend, and you will be sure to have those + Desires gratify'd. But you must now return, since it was never + known, that gross Flesh and Blood ever before breath'd this Air, and + that your Stay may be fatal to you, and disturb the Tranquillity of + the _Selenites_. This I prophesy, and my Compassion obliges me to + warn you of it." + +I made him a profound Reverence, thank'd him for his charitable +Admonition, and told him I hoped nothing should win me from the +Performance of a Duty which carry'd with it such ineffable Rewards. +That if no greater were promised, than those indulged to the +_Selenites_, I would refuse no Misery attending the most abject Life, +to be enrolled in the Number of the Inhabitants of that happy Region. + + "I wish, _replied he_, the false Glare of the World does not hinder + the Execution of these just Resolutions: But that I may give you + what Assistance is in our Power, in hopes of having you among us, we + will shew the World unmask'd; that is, we will detain some time the + Souls of Sleepers, that you may see what Man is, how false, how + vain, in all he acts or wishes. Know, that the Soul loos'd by Sleep, + has the Power to call about it all the Images which it would employ, + can raise imaginary Structures, form Seas, Lands, Fowls, Beasts, or + whatever the rational Faculty is intent upon. You shall now take + some Refreshment, and after that we will both divert and instruct + you." + +The Table was spread by himself and the other _Selenites_, the +_Cacklogallinians_ and my self invited, and I observ'd it differ'd +nothing, either in Quality or Quantity, from that of my _English_ +Host. + +After a solemn Adoration of the ineffable Creator, each took his Place; +having finish'd our Meal, at which a strict Silence was observed, +_Abrahijo_ took me by the Hand, and led me into a neighbouring Field, +the Beauty of which far excell'd that of the most labour'd and +artificial Garden among us. + + "Here, _said he_, observe yon Shade; I shall not detain it, that you + may see the Care and Uneasiness attending Riches." + +The Shade represented an old withered starv'd Carcass, brooding over +Chests of Money. Immediately appeared three ill-look'd Fellows; Want, +Despair, and Murder, were lively-pictur'd in their Faces; they were +taking out the Iron Bars of the old Man's Window, when all vanish'd of a +sudden. I ask'd the Meaning of it; he told me, the Terror the Dream of +Thieves put him into, had awaken'd him; and the Minute he slept again, I +should see again his Shade. Hardly had _Abrahijo_ done speaking, when I +again saw the old Man, with a young well-dress'd Spark standing by him, +who paid him great Respect. I heard him say very distinctly, + + "Sir, do you think I am made of Money, or can you imagine the + Treasure of a Nation will supply your Extravagance? The Value I have + for you on Account of your Father, who was my good Friend, has made + me tire all my Acquaintance, by borrowing of them to furnish your + Pockets: However, I'll try, if I cannot borrow One Thousand more for + you, tho' I wish your Estate will bear it, and that I don't out of + my Love to you, rashly bring myself into Trouble. You know I am + engaged for all; and if the Mortgage you have given should not be + valid, I am an undone Man. I can't, I protest, raise this Money + under Fifteen _per Cent_, and it's cheap, very cheap, considering + how scarce a Commodity it is grown. It's a Pity so generous a young + Gentleman should be straiten'd. I don't question a Pair of Gloves + for the Trouble I have. I know you too well to insist on't: I am old + and crazy, Coach-hire is very dear, I can't walk, God help me, and + my Circumstances won't afford a Coach. A Couple of Guineas is a + Trifle with you: I'll get you the Thousand Pound, if I can, at + Fifteen _per Cent._ but if my Friend should insist on Twenty (for + Money is very hard to be got with the best Security) must I refuse + it? Yes; I can't suffer you to pay such an exorbitant Premium; it is + too much, too much in Conscience; I can't advise you to it." + +The young Gentleman answer'd, he was sensible of his Friendship, and +left all to him. + + "Well, well, _said the Miser_, come again two Hours hence, I'll see + what's to be done." + +He went away, t'other barr'd the Door after him, and falls to rummaging +his Bags, and telling out the Sum to be lent to the young Gentleman: +When, on a sudden, his Doors flew open, and a Couple of Rogues bound him +in his Bed, and went off laden with Baggs. Soon after, a meagre Servant +comes in, and unbinds him; he tears his Hair, raves, stamps, and has all +the Gestures of a Madman; he sends the Servant out, takes a Halter, +throws it over a Beam, and going to hang himself, vanishes. + +Soon after, he appeared again with Officers, who hurry the young +Gentleman to Goal. He follows him, gets his Estate made over to him, and +then sets his Prisoner at Liberty: The Scene of the Goal vanishes, and +he's in a noble Mansion-Seat with the young Gentleman in Rags, who gives +him Possession, and receives a Trifle from him for that Consideration. +He turns away all the Servants, and in a Palace he is alone roasting an +Egg over a Handful of Fire for his Dinner. His Son comes in, as he is by +himself, goes to murder him, and he vanishes again. He returns to our +Sight, digging in his Garden, and hiding Money, for Soldiers appear in +the neighbouring Village: He has scarce buried it, when they rifle his +House; this makes us lose him again for a little Space. His Coachman +comes to him, tells him his Son is kill'd; he answers, + + "No matter, he was a great Expence, I shall save at least Forty + Pounds a Year by his Death, it's a good Legacy, _Tom_." + +He tells him a Lord offer'd him Five Hundred Pounds to carry off his +young Lady, but that he refused it, and thought himself obliged to +acquaint him with his Lordship's Design. + + "You are a Fool, _replies the old Man_; take the Money, I'll consent, + we'll snack it--Quit of another. My Lord shan't have a Groat with + her. What a Charge are Children! This Lord is the best Friend I have, + to take her off my Hands. To be sure bring the Money, carry her to + my Lord, and bring the Money; go take Time by the Fore-lock, he may + recant, then so much Money's lost. Go, run to my Lord, tell him + you'll do it." + +Here he thrust the Fellow out, and appear'd with a smiling Countenance. +A Man comes in, and tells him the Exchequer is shut up, Stocks are +fallen, a War declar'd, and a new Tax laid on Land; he beats his Breast, +groans aloud, and vanishes. + + "By this Wretch, _said Abrahijo_, you see the Care and Anxiety wait + on the Miserable. The Love of Gold in him has extinguish'd Nature; + nay, it predominates over Self-love; for he hastens his End, by not + allowing his Body either Rest, or sufficient Nourishment, only that + he may encrease the Number of his Coffers." + +Another Shade appear'd with a great Crowd of People, huzzaing, a +_Venditor_, a _Venditor_; he goes before them, steps into every Shop, +enquires after the Health of each Family, kisses the Wives, and out of +his thrusts Gold into their Mouths. Here he bows to a Tinker, there +embraces a Cobler, shakes a Scavinger by the Hand, stands bare-headed, +and compliments an Ale-Wife, invites a Score of Shoemakers, Taylors, +Pedlars, Weavers, and Hostlers, to do him the Honour of their Company +to Dinner. + +The Scene changes; he's at Court, the Ministers repay him his servile +Cringes by theirs; one comes up to him, and says, he hopes, when the +Bill comes into the House, he will favour him with his Vote for its +passing: He answers, he shall discharge the Trust reposed in him, like a +Man of Honour, in forwarding what is for the Good of his Country, and +opposing the contrary, tho' the Consequence were his own Ruin: That he +begg'd his Lordship's Pardon, if he dissented from him in Opinion, and +did not think what he required warrantable in a Man of Honour. + + "You are not well inform'd, _replied the Nobleman_, but we'll talk of + that another Day, when I hope I shall convince you, that you did not + well understand me; my present Business is to wish you Joy, + _Courvite_'s Regiment is vacant, and tho' you have never serv'd, + your personal Bravery and good Conduct in the Senate have spoke so + much in your behalf, that you will to morrow have the Commission + sent you." + + "My Lord, _replied the Patriot_, this is an unexpected favour, and I + am satisfied I owe it to your Lordship's Goodness. I hope an + Opportunity to speak my Gratitude, will present it self; in the mean + while count upon me, in whatever I can serve your Interest." + +At these Words, with a visible Joy in his Looks, he vanish'd. + +Three dirty Mechanicks appeared in a Shoemaker's Shop, who was a +Dreamer. He was declaiming to his Companions over a Pot of Beer, after +the following Manner. + + "Look ye, Neighbours, there's an old Proverb says, _It is not the + Hood which makes the Monk_; the being born a Gentleman does not make + a Man of Sense; and the being bred a Tradesman, does not deprive us + of it; for how many great Men have leap'd from the Shop-board, + sprung up from the Stall, and have, by patching and heel-piecing + Religion and the State, made their Names famous to After-Ages? I can + name many, but I shall mention only _John_ of _Leyden_. Now, I see + no Reason, why Meanness of Birth should be an Obstacle to Merit, and + I am resolved, as I find a great many Things which ought to be + redress'd both in Church and State, if you my Friends will stand by + me, to aim at the setting both upright: For you must own, they are + basely trod awry. Trade is dead, Money is scarce, the Parsons are + proud, rich and lazy; War is necessary for the Circulation of Money; + and an honest Man may starve in these Times of Peace and Beggary. + + "There are a great many Mysteries in Religion, which, as we don't + know what to make of them, are altogether unnecessary, and ought to + be laid aside, as well as a great many Ceremonies, which ought to be + lopp'd off for being chargeable." + +The rest gave their assenting Nod, and seem'd to wonder at, and applaud +his Eloquency. In a Moment, I saw him preaching to a Mobb against the +Luxury of the Age, and telling them it shew'd a Meanness of Spirit to +want Necessaries, while the Gentry, by force of long Usurpations on +their Rights, rioted in all manner of Excess. That Providence brought +none into the World that he might starve; but that all on Earth had a +Right to what was necessary to their Support, which they ought to sieze, +since the Rich refus'd to share with them. From a Preacher I saw him a +Captain of a Rabble, plundering the Houses of the Nobility, was terrible +to all; and tho' he declared for levelling, would be serv'd with the +Pomp and Delicacy of a Prince; marries his Daughters to Lords, hoards +an immense Treasure, and wakes from his golden Dream. + +Another Shade I saw suborning Witnesses, giving them Instructions what +to swear, packing Juries, banishing, hanging and beheading all his +Enemies, sending immense Sums to foreign Courts, to support his Power at +Home, bribing Senates, and carrying all before him without Controul, +when he vanish'd. My _English_ Friend told me, that Soul belong'd to the +Body of a Money-Scrivener, who almost crack'd his Brain with Politicks, +and thought of nothing less than being a prime Minister. I knew him +while I was in the World; his whole Discourse always ran on Liberty, +Trade, Free Elections, _&c._ and constantly inveigh'd against all +corrupt and self-interested Practices. I saw Persons descended from the +ancient Nobility fawning on Valets who were arrived to great Preferment +for Pimping; I beheld others contriving Schemes, to bring their Wives +and Daughters into the Company of Persons in Power, and aiming to +gain Preferment for themselves, at the Expence of the Vertue of their +Families; nor was there a Vice, a Folly or a Baseness, practised in this +World below, tho' ever so secret, which I did not see there represented, +the Particulars of which being too long for this Place, I must beg Leave +to refer them to the Second Volume of my Voyages. + +In the mean time I was allow'd a Week to satisfy my Curiosity, and make +my Observations on all the strange things which were there to be seen, +which I may justly reckon the most agreeable Part of my whole Life; and +also a further Time to refresh my self: Which being done, we prepared +for our Journey, being provided with all things necessary for that +Purpose. + +As I found in my self that longing Desire (which is natural to all Men, +who have been long absent from Home) of returning to see my own Country; +and being besides unwilling to go back to _Cacklogallinia_, the Actions +and Designs of the first Minister, to which I was privy, having made +such Impressions upon me, that I was prejudic'd against their whole +Nation; nor was that Prejudice remov'd, by being acquainted with their +Laws, Customs and Manners, some of which appeared to me unreasonable, +and others barbarous. + +I say, upon the aforesaid Considerations, I apply'd my self to some of +the _Selenites_, whose Courtesy I had already experienced, asking them, +whether they could direct me to find out some Part of the Terrestrial +World, known and frequented to by _Europeans_: They were so good to give +me full and plain Instructions what Course to steer thro' the Air for +that Purpose, which I was very well able to follow, having a Pocket +Compass about me, which I brought from _England_, it having long been +my Custom never to stir any where without one. + +It being necessary to bring _Volatilio_ into the Design, I went to him +and told him, that as we were so unfortunate not to succeed in finding +out the Country of Gold, it would be adviseable to return home some +other Way, in hopes of better Success in going back; otherwise we might, +in all Probability, meet with a disagreeable Welcome from the Emperor +and the whole Court. _Volatilio_ hearken'd to these Reasons, and besides +having the true Spirit of a Projector in him, which is, not to be +discouraged at Disappointments, he consented to my Proposal. + +Accordingly we set out, and after some Days travelling, we meeting with +little or nothing in our Journey differing from our former, we lighted +safely upon the _Blue Mountain_ in _Jamaica_. Here I was within my own +Knowledge; for having formerly made several Voyages to _Jamaica_, was no +Stranger to the Place. + +Now therefore I thought it time to acquaint the _Cacklogallinians_ +with the innocent Fraud I had put upon them; they seem'd frighted and +surprized, as not knowing how to get home to their own Country: For +_Volatilio_ apear'd to be quite out of his Element. However, I directed +them which Way to steer, which was directly Southward; and having rested +for some time, they took their Leave of me, and _Volatilio_, with his +_Palanquineers_, began their Flight, as I had directed them, and I never +saw them more. + +As for my Part, I made the best of my Way to _Kingston_, where coming +acquainted with one Captain _Madden_, Commander of the _London Frigate_, +he was so kind, upon hearing my Story, to offer to give me my Passage +_gratis_, with whom having embark'd at _Port Royal_, I reach'd my native +Country, after a Passage of Nine Weeks. + + + _FINIS._ + + + * * * * * + + +Thranscriber's note: The following corrections were made: + +p. xi + retold by Firdausi in the _Shaknameh_, of Kavi Usan + _spelling as in original, but no comma_ + +p. 28 + Latitude of ---- Degrees North + _original has blank space_ + +p. 73-77 + He put several into my Hands _to end of chapter_ + _original has entire text in one paragraph_ + +p. 75 + is altogether vain + _original reads_ altoherget + +p. 78 + allured to... + _not an error_ + +p. 84 + and new Disputes + _original reads_ and and new... + + the poor Clergy (for they are not all rich, + _original reads_ are not all rich) _with extra parenthesis_ + +p. 87 + It is, true there is a Council + _comma in original_ + +p. 119 + Shares sold of the Treasure + _original reads_ Teasure + +p. 135 + Julip and Jonquil + _so in original_: Tulip? + +p. 138 end + ...and view the Country. + _original has comma at end of paragraph_ + +p. 144 + Affiability and Gravity + _spelling as in original_ + +p. 147 + I went with them... + _original has paragraph in quotation marks_ + +p. 151 + I repeated... + _original has beginning of paragraph in quotation marks_ + +p. 152 + ...to assist me." He told me... + _original continues quotation marks to end of paragraph_ + +p. 158 + Goal (twice) + _spelling as in original_ (Gaol) + +p. 161 + _Courvite_'s Regiment + _original has_ Reigment ] + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A VOYAGE TO CACKLOGALLINIA*** + + +******* This file should be named 16202.txt or 16202.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/6/2/0/16202 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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