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If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: Symzonia - Voyage of Discovery - -Author: Adam Seaborn - -Release Date: April 3, 2017 [EBook #54485] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SYMZONIA *** - - - - -Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project -Gutenberg (This book was produced from scanned images of -public domain material from the Google Books project.) - - - - - - - - - SYMZONIA; - - VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY. - - - BY CAPTAIN ADAM SEABORN. - - - NEW-YORK: - PRINTED BY J. SEYMOUR, 49 JOHN-STREET. - 1820. - - - - - - - -Southern District of New-York, ss. - - -Be it remembered, that on the second day of November, in the -forty-fifth year of the Independence of the United States of America, -Jonathan Seymour, of the said District, hath deposited in this office -the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor, -in the words following, to wit: - - - "Symzonia; a Voyage of Discovery. By Captain Adam Seaborn." - - -In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, -entitled "An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the -Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of -such copies, during the time therein mentioned." And also to an Act, -entitled "an Act, supplementary to an Act, entitled an Act for the -encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, -and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the -times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the -arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints." - - - GILBERT LIVINGSTON THOMPSON, - Clerk of the Southern District of New-York. - - - - - - - -ADVERTISEMENT. - - -The Author of this work, and of the discoveries which it relates, -leaves it to his readers to decide whether he excels most as -a navigator or a writer, and whether he amuses as much as he -instructs. If he has any professional vanity, arising from his -enterprises upon the sea, it does not tempt him to conceal that, in -the achievements here recorded, he availed himself of all the lights -and facilities afforded by the sublime theory of an internal world, -published by Captain John Cleve Symmes, and by the application of -steam to the navigation of vessels, for which the world is indebted -to Fulton. Far from coveting what does not belong to himself, he -feels, after having discovered and explored a world before unknown, -that he can well afford to bestow on others the praise to which they -are entitled. He has one consolation, in which he is confident of -the sympathy of those who wish him well; namely, that if the book is -not bought and read, it will not be because it is not an American -book. He gives notice that he has no intention to relinquish his -right to the invention of oblique paddles for steam ships, though -the circumstances narrated at the close of the volume hinder him from -taking out a patent at present. - - - - - - - -CONTENTS. - - -CHAPTER I. - - The Author's reasons for undertaking a voyage of discovery.--He - builds a vessel for his purpose upon a new plan.--His departure - from the United States. Page 13 - - -CHAPTER II. - - The Author arrives at the Falkland Islands--Describes West Point - Island, and States harbour--Visits the city of the Gentoo Penguins - on the Grand Jason--Gives some account of the polity and habits - of those civilized amphibia--Sails for South Georgia. Page 21 - - -CHAPTER III. - - The Author passes South Georgia, and proceeds in search of Sandwich - land--States to his officers and men his reasons for believing - in the existence of great bodies of land within the antarctic - circle, and for the opinion that the polar region is subject to - great heat in summer.--Crew mutiny at the instigation of Mr. Slim, - third mate.--Happy discovery of a southern continent, which, at - the unanimous and earnest solicitation of his officers and men, - he names Seaborn's Land. Page 37 - - -CHAPTER IV. - - The Author in great peril, from the vast rise and fall of the - tide in the polar sea--Brief account of his observations at - Seaborn's Land.--He takes formal possession of the country, in - the manner usual in such cases, in the name and on behalf of the - United States.--Leaves a sealing party on one of the islands near - the coast, and proceeds to the south, to extend his discoveries. - Page 58 - - -CHAPTER V. - - The Author discovers the south extremity of Seaborn's Land, - which he names Cape Worldsend.--The compass becomes useless.--He - states the manner in which he obviated the difficulty occasioned - thereby.--He enters the internal world: describes the phenomena - which occur.--Discovers Token Island.--Occurrences at that Island. - Page 76 - - -CHAPTER VI. - - The Author departs from Token Island, in search of an internal - continent.--Wind, weather, and other phenomena of the internal - seas.--Great alarm of the crew.--Discovery of an inhabited country. - Page 89 - - -CHAPTER VII. - - Description of the first view of the coast.--The Author names - the discovered country Symzonia.--Enters the harbour.--His first - interview with the Symzonians.--Sketch of their appearance.--He - commences the study of the Symzonian language.--Wonderful powers - of mind displayed by the natives.--Account of an ærial vessel. - Page 99 - - -CHAPTER VIII. - - The Author leaves the ship to visit the seat of - government.--Description of the country.--Account of the polity - of the Symzonians, as stated by his conductor.--Comparison of - the industry, its objects and ends in the two worlds, and of the - necessities and habits of the internals and externals.--Expulsion - of the unworthy from Symzonia, to a place of exile near the - north pole.--External world supposed to have been peopled by - the outcasts. Page 117 - - -CHAPTER IX. - - The Author arrives at the seat of government.--Description of the - Auditory.--Symzonian manner of assembling for devotion and public - business.--Etiquette of the Symzonian Court.--He is admitted to - an audience by the Best Man.--Account of the interview, and of - his unfortunate efforts to exalt the character of the externals, - by describing some of their splendid follies. Page 135 - - -CHAPTER X. - - Containing some account of the strange rationality of the - Symzonians.--Their simplicity of dress.--Manner of making - cloth.--Circulating medium.--Taxes. Page 156 - - -CHAPTER XI. - - Containing some account of the Symzonian engine of defence.--Story - of a very ancient war with an internal nation called Belzubians, - which caused the invention of this engine.--Opposition of the - Good men to its being used.--Fultria the inventor's speech in - defence of it.--Deliberations of the Council.--Termination of the - war.--Sentiments of the people on the subject. Page 165 - - -CHAPTER XII. - - Wonderful faculties of the Symzonians.--Translation of my books - into their language.--Proposition of a Wise man to make slaves - of the Author and his people.--The Author's remonstrance.--The - Wise man disgraced. Page 176 - - -CHAPTER XIII. - - Recreations of the Symzonians.--Wonderful provision of nature - for supplying the internal world with light.--Character and - employments of the women of Symzonia. Page 181 - - -CHAPTER XIV. - - The Author examines the records of the Assembly.--Grounds of - proposal for admittance to the order of Worthies.--Shell fish of - Symzonia.--Great quantities of Pearls, and the use to which they - are applied. Page 188 - - -CHAPTER XV. - - The Author is ordered to depart from Symzonia.--The Best Man's - reasons for sending him away.--His ineffectual efforts to obtain - a place of rendezvous for purposes of trade. Page 195 - - -CHAPTER XVI. - - The Author returns to the Explorer.--Holds a council of - officers--Determines to return to Seaborn's Land.--Takes leave - of Surui--Sails from Symzonia.--Touches at Token Island.--Arrives - at Boneto's station. Page 205 - - -CHAPTER XVII. - - The Author loads the Explorer with seal skins, and sails from - Seaborn's Land.--Discovers Albicore's Islands.--Transactions at - those islands.--He determines to conceal his discoveries from - the world.--His reasons for this determination, and measures to - effect it.--Sails for Canton. Page 216 - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - - The Author arrives at Canton.--Transactions in China.--Sails - for the United States.--Loss of manuscripts.--Difficulties with - Mr. Slim. Page 222 - - -CHAPTER XIX. - - Hurricane off the Isle of France.--Its consequences.--Death of - Mr. Slim. Page 229 - - -CHAPTER XX. - - The Author arrives in the United States.--Consigns his cargo - to Mr. Slippery.--Is reduced to poverty by the failure of - Mr. Slippery.--His great distress.--Inducement to publish this - brief account of his discoveries.--Conclusion. Page 235 - - - - - - - -A VOYAGE. - -CHAPTER I. - - The Author's reasons for undertaking a voyage of discovery.--He - builds a vessel for his purpose upon a new plan.--His departure - from the United States. - - -In the year 1817, I projected a voyage of discovery, in the hope of -finding a passage to a new and untried world. I flattered myself -that I should open the way to new fields for the enterprise of -my fellow-citizens, supply new sources of wealth, fresh food -for curiosity, and additional means of enjoyment; objects of vast -importance, since the resources of the known world have been exhausted -by research, its wealth monopolized, its wonders of curiosity explored, -its every thing investigated and understood! - -The state of the civilized world, and the growing evidences of the -perfectibility of the human mind, seemed to indicate the necessity -of a more extended sphere of action. Discontent and uneasiness were -every where apparent. The faculties of man had begun to dwindle for -want of scope, and the happiness of society required new and more -copious contributions. - -I reasoned with myself as follows: A bountiful Providence provides food -for the appetite which it creates; therefore the desire of mankind for -a greater world to bustle in, manifested by their dissatisfaction with -the one which they possess, is sufficient evidence that the means of -gratification are provided. And who can doubt but that this is the -time to find the means of satisfying so general a desire? - -A great obstacle presented itself at the outset. The aid of steam in -the navigation of my ship, was necessary to render my enterprise safe -and expeditious against the adverse circumstances which I was sure -to meet. But steam vessels were adapted only to smooth water. Every -attempt to employ them upon the ocean had been unsuccessful. I foresaw -that I must have a vessel capable of encountering severe gales in a -dense atmosphere, of being rapidly impelled against strong currents, -both of wind and water, and of surmounting, without harm, the impetuous -tides, and resisting the violent winds to be expected in the polar -seas. Moreover, she must be of such strength as to sustain the shock -of floating ice, or of taking the ground; and of such capacity as to -contain fuel and provisions for at least fifty men for three years, -with apartments from which the external air could be excluded, -and which might be artificially warmed during the rigours of a -polar winter. - -But he whose soul is fired with the true spirit of discovery, is not -to be dismayed. I saw the end, and instantly began to use the means of -attaining it. I caused a steam vessel of 400 tons to be constructed -with double frames; the timbers being inclined from a perpendicular -about 45 degrees; so that the outer set crossed the others at right -angles. The timbers were let into each other to the depth of three -inches, and were secured by powerful bolts. This structure of massive -grating was incalculably firmer than the frame of a ship could possibly -be made upon the ordinary plan. The bottom was covered with four inch -plank, over which, after they were fastened and caulked, a layer of -three inch plank was put on; and the whole was sheathed with copper -of unusual thickness. - -I remembered the misfortune of the discoverer Sindbad, whose -ship, when he approached the magnetic mountain, fell to pieces, in -consequence of the iron being all drawn out of it. To guard against -a similar disaster, I fastened my vessel first with tree-nails, and -then throughout with copper bolts firmly rivetted and clenched. To -obviate the dangers of exposed and upright paddles, I built her with -double top-sides for a space of thirty feet. Within this space the -inner frames sloped in from the bends, on an angle of 45 degrees, -and were covered and finished, in all respects, like the sides of a -common ship. The outer work was carried up in the usual manner, so -that the aperture was not apparent to external observation. Through -this outer side a longitudinal port was cut, 30 feet long and 3 feet -wide, for the paddles to play through obliquely, like the fins of a -seal. The nave of the wheel was two feet within the sill of the port, -between the double walls, and supported by both of them. The blades -of the paddles, made of the best ash timber, and firmly coaked and -rivetted together, were fitted into sockets in the nave; whence they -could be easily unshipped for the purpose of closing the ports in bad -weather, and rendering the vessel perfectly secure, with the paddles -inboard. The shaft by which the power of steam was communicated -to the paddles, passed through the inner side of the ship only, so -that water could not be forced into the ship, even in the roughest -weather, when the ports were closed. The inconvenience caused by the -rolling of a vessel with upright wheels, was avoided by the obliquity -of my paddles; the ship never rolling so much as to bring them to a -perpendicular, or dip the nave to which they were fastened. To avoid -accidents from fire, I built beneath and on the sides of the furnace -and boiler of the engine, two narrow cisterns, perfectly tight, and -of incombustible materials. These were kept constantly filled with -the waste water of the engine, which was allowed to escape only by -a spout at the top. No fire was permitted out of this enclosure. The -economy of fuel, which was necessary from the length of the voyage, -and from the emergencies which might happen, obliged me to adopt -all the means of motion in my power. I therefore rigged my vessel -as a ketch, with one large mast, and a long sliding topmast, which -could be easily launched or sent up by the assistance of the engine; -and a small mast abaft fitted to be struck at pleasure. - -Having thus constructed a vessel which possessed the qualities most -essential to my purpose, I finished the interior in such manner as I -judged best calculated to render myself and people comfortable during -the voyage. I took care to have one apartment large enough to contain -all my crew. This was situated next to the furnace chamber, and had -communication with it, by means of a tight covered passage. By a tube -from the furnace, heated air could be conveyed to this apartment, -and steam from the boiler by another tube, should the state of the -air at any time require it. - -Confident that, with this vessel, I could reach any place to which -there was a passage by water, whether on the external or internal -world, I named her the Explorer. - -I furnished her with abundant stores for three years; among which were -large supplies of dried and preserved vegetables and fruits, pickles, -acids, and other anti-scorbutics. The room not occupied by water and -provisions, was filled with coal. Thinking I might meet with regions -where none but salt water could be had, from land, sea, or clouds, -I took on board one of Youle's cambouses for converting salt into -fresh water. Besides the best of cables, both of iron and hemp, and -an extra supply of common and ice anchors, I failed not to provide -one launch, as large as could be carried on deck, and four whale boats. - -My next care was to select my officers and crew from among the -most skilful, temperate, and orderly mariners I could find; whom I -shipped for a sealing voyage in the South Seas, having a clause in the -articles authorizing me to cruize and seek for seal wherever I might -judge proper, for the term of three years. The crew consisted of 4 -mates, 1 boatswain, 1 boatswain's mate, 3 engineers, 4 carpenters, -3 blacksmiths, 2 coopers, and 32 seamen; in all, 50 men, besides -myself. In addition to a portable forge, and materials for repairing -any damage which might happen to the engine, I took, on the suggestion -of the chief blacksmith, duplicates of such parts of the engine as -were most liable to fail. Of nautical instruments, chronometers, -and books treating upon matters in any way connected with my object, -I provided liberally. Least of all, did I omit Symmes's Memoirs, -and printed Lectures. Finally, having completed my arrangements, and -settled all my affairs, I took leave of my wife and children, whom, -as I had no particular friends, I left to the humanity and kindness -of the world, and set sail on the 1st day of August, 1817. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER II. - - The Author arrives at the Falkland Islands--Describes West Point - Island, and States harbour--Visits the city of the Gentoo Penguins - on the Grand Jason--Gives some account of the polity and habits - of those civilized amphibia--Sails for South Georgia. - - -I soon had cause to congratulate myself on my ingenuity. My fin paddles -worked to admiration. When the wind failed, I could, by setting the -engine in motion, propel my vessel at the rate of 12 knots per hour; -and with a favourable wind, and under a press both of canvass and -steam, found it easy to drive her at the rate of 16 knots. - -With such advantages, there was no necessity of going the roundabout -passage to gain the trade wind. I therefore stood straight for Cape -St. Roque. Whether I did or did not see a flying fish, catch a dolphin, -or observe a black whirling cloud called a water-spout, is of very -little importance to the world. On the sixteenth day after leaving -port, we saw the land of Cape St. Roque, in South America, and on -the twenty-fourth, anchored in the harbour of Rio de Janeiro, having -experienced the usual changes of wind and weather, and discovered -that air and water are much the same elements, and are governed by -much the same laws, at sea as on shore. - -I entered this harbour under sail, with the paddle ports closed, that -no suspicion might be excited; my object in calling at this place -being only to provide myself with live stock and fruits. I took on -board two fine horses, four mules, two cows, with calves, a parcel -of pigs, sheep, and goats, with a quantity of fruit and vegetables; -and, on the 26th of August, sailed again. - -On the 4th of September, we entered the harbour of West Point, Falkland -Islands. Here I had determined to pass a month for the benefit of my -health, which a short passage by water had not completely restored, -from the debility occasioned by the vexations and anxieties of -business in those retrograde times, and the pernicious habits of -living, common among civilized men, upon food rendered palateable by -a skilful admixture of poisons. These Islands being incontestibly in -the healthiest region of the globe, I believed that, by a short stay -amongst them, I should regain the firm health so necessary to a man -who undertakes great things; and at the same time, by employing my -people in sealing, learn them how to manage the boats, to land through -a surf, and to execute all the difficult and dangerous operations, -incident to the occupation of explorers of unknown shores. At the -same time, I should be pursuing the ostensible object of my voyage; -a matter very necessary to be kept in view, for my people were engaged -on shares of what should be obtained by their industry. - -The first day was devoted partly to preparations for a sealing -excursion to the Jason Islands, and partly to recreation. West Point -Island abounds with hogs and goats, the hunting of which is both -pleasant for exercise, and profitable by supplying excellent food. Here -are no tangled forests to embarrass the sportsman, nor bushes or briars -to annoy his clothes or his flesh. Neither are there gnats, moschetos, -sand-flies, snakes, scorpions, or other reptiles, to render every step -dangerous or painful. Near the shore, which is fringed with granite -rocks, a border of tussoc extends around the island, like a belt, -of from one-eighth to a quarter of a mile in width. The tussoc flag -grows from the top of a bog formed apparently by the roots of the -plants which had flourished and decayed on the spot for many successive -years. The bogs are, usually, three to five feet in height, and one to -three feet in diameter. The substance of them resembles cork, though -it is less compact. They stand irregularly one to two feet asunder, -so as to afford convenient room for a passage between them, in every -direction, over a foundation of much the same substance as the bogs -themselves, which is usually quite dry. The dry white tussoc grass of -preceding years hangs round the top of the bog like a broad frill; -while the fresh green growth, which waves over the top like a tuft -of lofty feathers, gives the whole, when viewed from a distance, -the aspect of an extensive field of indian corn. The root of the -fresh tussoc is pleasant to the palate, being much like the meat of a -chestnut, and it affords an abundance of excellent feed to the hogs, -that enjoy an elysium here. Within this border of tussoc, and from it -to the steep ascent of the mountains, a region of grass intervenes, -which has the appearance of a rich upland meadow. It grows about knee -high, and extends as far as the rise of the land is moderate. Beyond -it, short mountain grass and a few heath plants are found contending -with fragments of granite, and with the polar blasts to which the -lofty summit of the mountain is exposed. It was delightful, after a -confinement on ship-board, to ramble over this sequestered and pleasant -scene; to chase the wild hogs from their tussoc covert to the rising -grounds, where they were sure victims of the spear or the bullet; -and to invade from above the retreats of the gigantic albatross, -in the cliffs of perpendicular rocks, a thousand feet above the sea. - -On the second day we landed a sealing party of thirty men, under the -command of Mr. Boneto, chief mate, on the Jason Islands, which are -similar in their formation to those I have described. Intending to -join this party myself with the launch, and being apprehensive that -if I left the Explorer in West Point harbour, with but a few men on -board, some Patriot pirate might look into that much frequented place, -and, tempted by the value of my vessel and her defenceless situation, -deem it patriotic to take her away to aid the cause of liberty, and -leave me to explore my way home in my boats, I proceeded with her to -the deep and intricate inlet of the sea, called States harbour. This -spacious, convenient, and secure harbour, second to none on the face of -the globe, is one of the indications that Providence formed this group -of Islands for the abode of an enlightened and maritime people. From a -spacious and deep bay, in which the whole navy of Britain might moor -in safety, a cove jets into the land on the left; and on one side of -the cove there is an opening through the land like a dock-gate, with -perpendicular sides of solid rock, against which a ship of the line -might lie with safety, as against a pier. Passing through this opening, -a harbour is found, extending at right angles with the passage nearly -two miles in length, and about one-eighth of a mile in width. At one -end of this interior basin, a large stream of fresh water empties into -it; at the mouth of which fine fish in great quantities are easily -taken in the spring, and on its banks, as also on those of numerous -smaller streams, celery of an excellent kind grows spontaneously. The -shores of this basin rise with a very gentle ascent. They are not -exposed to the winds of the open ocean, and are not much encumbered -with tussoc. There is no high land near. Thousands of acres, well -watered and covered with grass fit for hay, exhibit the prospect of -a succession of well-cultivated meadows. There are plenty of hogs on -the island which forms this harbour. Geese, as good as our wild geese, -are very abundant. We caught them with ease, and in great plenty. - -What a delightful situation these islands offer, for a virtuous, -enlightened, and industrious community! Nearly four hundred islands, -one of which is some hundred of miles in extent, situated in the most -temperate climate of the globe, where the air is always salubrious, -heat never oppressive, cold never severe, the ground never frozen, -and the heaviest snow of no more than two or three days duration -on the ground; with a soil capable of affording, by cultivation, -all the useful products of the temperate zone; a location convenient -for the prosecution of the whale, seal, and other fisheries; with -innumerable harbours for the accommodation of shipping; with every -thing calculated to make them the most desirable residence for man, -these islands remain uninhabited, and lonely deserts. - -The fine health which those who stop here for a season invariably -enjoy, the appetite they acquire, the activity with which they exert -themselves, these are the evidences of an invigorating and salubrious -climate. Here are no debilitating heats to enervate, nor frosts to -benumb the faculties, and make it half the business of life to keep -the body comfortable. A people born and educated in such a country -might be expected to partake its characteristics; to have minds solid -and profound, like the granite frame of their mountains, and clear -as the ocean which surrounds them; vigorous, yet temperate like the -climate; sufficient in all things, and without extremes. - -Having seen my vessel safely moored, I left her in charge of -Mr. Albicore, the second mate, with strict orders not to permit either -fire or candle to be used on board in my absence. I caused a cook -house to be erected on shore, and left five men with Mr. Albicore, -to fill up the water-casks, catch and cure fish, make the necessary -repairs to the rigging, and put the vessel in perfect order against my -return. With the remainder of the officers and men, in the launch and -one whale boat, I made a harbour at West Point Island early the first -day, and at the close of the second joined the party under Mr. Boneto, -on the Grand Jason. I found that Boneto had made good use of his time, -having cleared this island and all the neighbouring keys and shores -to which he could prudently go with open whale boats, of the few seal -which could be found. There was but here and there a seal to be seen, -excepting on some points of land, which on account of the surf were -nearly inaccessible. The frequent visits of sealers from the United -States had either destroyed or frightened most of them away. This -gave me no uneasiness, for I expected it when I planned my voyage. I -concurred in the opinion published by Capt. Symmes, that seals, whales, -and mackerel, come from the internal world through the openings at -the poles; and was aware of the fact, that the nearer we approach -those openings, the more abundant do we find seals and whales, I -felt perfectly satisfied that I had only to find an opening in the -"icy hoop," through which I could dash with my vessel, to discover a -region where seals could be taken as fast as they could be stripped -and cured. I therefore employed myself chiefly in procuring comforts -for my people, and in studying the habits and propensities of those -amphibious animals which might be supposed to have communication with -the internal world, whither I was ambitious to find my way. - -A colony of Gentoo Penguins, on the borders of the south-east cove -of Grand Jason, first attracted my attention. Their city stands on -a beautiful level spot, a short distance from the water. Every pair -of Penguins has a separate establishment built of earth, stones, and -sticks, of about two feet elevation, and eighteen inches diameter; -on the top of which is their nest. There are some thousands of these -stands arranged in regular order, with an open square in the centre, -regular streets between the ranges of nests, and a broad avenue leading -from the square towards the places of landing and diving. This avenue, -a short distance from the settlement, divides into two broad paths; -one leading to the diving place, which is a perpendicular rock in -deep water, and the other to the landing place, which is a sloping -rock of easy access from the sea. - -It being the egg season, which soon passes away, I determined to -make it hold out, if practicable, until the time of our departure, -that we might have a stock of fresh eggs to take with us. Remembering -that our barn-yard fowls continue to deposit eggs as long as but one -is daily left in the nest, I adopted that plan with the Penguins, -and stationed Jack Whiffle, boatswains-mate, with three assistants, -to remove the eggs daily, and stack them; keeping an account of -the several stacks, that we might take our supply from those last -gathered. This was no trifling job. The nests were so numerous that it -was a hard morning's work for four men to visit them all, and take an -egg from each in defiance of the lawful proprietor, who always defended -his property to the best of his ability, and never forsook the stand, -through fear, but maintained possession until pushed off. The plan -answered my expectations: the Penguins continued to supply eggs in -place of those that were removed, until our departure, when we took -with us barrels of them packed in salt. - -These Gentoo Penguins are amphibious birds, nearly two feet high when -standing erect Their bodies are somewhat larger than those of geese, -and well proportioned throughout; their necks being just long enough -to look well. In place of wings they have fins for swimming, and their -feet are equally well adapted to the land and water. Their covering -is very short feathers, closely and firmly set in a thick skin. Their -backs, fins, feet, and legs, are black; the rest of their bodies pure -white; they walk bolt upright, with a firm step like a grenadier, -and have the appearance, when formed in squadrons, of soldiers, in -a uniform of black coats, white underdress, and black gaiters. From -the attentive observations of Jack Whiffle, I obtained the following -particulars of their habits and polity: - -At the time of full sea, one half of the Penguins assemble in the -centre-square, where they parade in regular order. They then march -off, two abreast, and in close order, preceded by a leader, to the -diving-place. They dive into the sea in succession, as they arrive, -and swim off to feed on kelp, rock-weed, small fish, and other marine -productions. During their absence, the other half remain stationary -upon their stands, keeping watch; occasional short visits by some few -of them to their nearest neighbours, being the only deviation from -strict duty in this particular, that is allowed. If any one strays -far from his station, or shows a disposition to go out to feed, he -is pecked and driven back by the others. At the turn of the tide, -those that are out collect about the landing-place; some sporting in -the water, leaping and diving with great dexterity; others lounging -upon the shore, apparently admiring themselves and each other, like -our fashionable belles and dandies in Broadway. When the leader lands, -they form in regular order, march to the square, in the same manner as -they left it, divide into squadrons, and file off to their respective -stations to relieve guard. As soon as those returned from feeding -mount the stands, the others leap off and repair to the square. When -collected, they form, and march off to the diving place in the manner -before described, to take their tide of feeding and recreation. Thus -they occupy the day; each having the benefit of a full tide, and each -doing his share of domestic duties. - -At night all are assembled in the city, and each stand is crowned -with two of these exemplary birds. - -The contemplation of these orderly, discreet, and beautiful -amphibia, afforded me much pleasure, and gave rise to many delightful -anticipations. It appeared certain to me that they, in common with -seals, whales, and mackerel, were visiters from the internal world -through the southern opening, which they were admirably formed to pass -and repass; for they moved with great facility, in the water, and could -exist under it as well as fish. On land they walked with as much ease -as men, and in the same erect posture. It occurred to me that a world, -in which the brute creation were so neatly formed, so polished in their -manners, so social in their habits, and so quiet and well behaved, -must, if men existed in it, be the abode of a race perfect in their -kind. I had no apprehension of the air being unhealthy in the internal -world as suggested by Capt. Symmes, because the climate in which these -visiters are found in the greatest numbers is the healthiest of the -external world, which indicates that they are accustomed to good air, -or they would not affect this salubrious region. - -Again, I had observed all these amphibia to be of a remarkably -gentle and harmless disposition. The sea-lion, sea-elephant, and -common seal, together with the king-penguin, the Gentoo, macaroni, -and jackass-penguin, all of different habits, yet obviously of the -same origin, accommodated themselves on the same island, fed in the -same sea, and on the same food, without interfering with and without -ever being observed to offer violence to each other; from which I -inferred that the inhabitants of the internal world, influenced by the -same causes, must be of a remarkably pacific, and gentle disposition. - -October had arrived, and I grew impatient of further delay. The sun -was already pouring its rays of light and heat a constant stream -upon the south pole. The season for active research in that region -was come, and would soon be past. I directed Mr. Boneto to collect -the skins which had been taken, at a convenient place on Grand Jason, -and returned to the Explorer. I found every thing at States harbour -as it should be. Mr. Albicore was an excellent officer. He took care -to understand my orders, and to obey them implicitly. The launch was -immediately hoisted in, and at dawn of day the following morning we -sailed from that port, took in Boneto's party, with near two thousand -seal skins, and bore up for South Georgia. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER III. - - The author passes South Georgia, and proceeds in search of Sandwich - land--States to his officers and men his reasons for believing in - the existence of great bodies of land within the antarctic circle, - and for the opinion that the polar region is subject to great - heat in summer.--Crew mutiny at the instigation of Mr. Slim, - third mate--Happy discovery of a southern continent, which, at - the unanimous and earnest solicitation of his officers and men, - he names Seaborn's land. - - -On the 10th of October we approached the principal harbour of South -Georgia, which I had no intention to enter unless there was an -appearance of an unusual abundance of seal on the coast. When near -the harbour we discovered two ships lying there with their topmasts -struck. This was evidence that there was no chance for us in that -quarter. I now told my officers and people that I thought it useless -to contend with those already in possession of the island for the -few seal it could afford, and thought it most advisable to proceed in -search of Sandwich land; where, no doubt, we could speedily obtain a -full cargo of skins, if we could find it, of which I expressed great -confidence. I strengthened their hopes by assuring them that there -was no doubt in my mind of the existence of extensive bodies of land -within the antarctic circle, which quarter had scarcely been looked -into by Christian navigators, and that my opinion was founded upon the -fact that Cook, and other navigators, had seen large bodies of ice in -latitude 70° to 71° south. This fact, I said, indicated the existence -of land, because ice could not form in a deep salt sea uninterrupted -by land, and agitated by the violent winds and currents of the polar -region. I urged that we had but to persevere in our researches in high -southern latitudes, to make sure of finding land, which would yield -us ample fortunes, for all southern islands, when first discovered, -were found to abound in seal. Mr. Slim, the third mate, expressed -some apprehension, that great danger might be encountered in high -southern latitudes; that if we found land, the ice might close upon -us and prevent our return to our country, as it once served a colony -in Greenland. I was not much pleased with this. I have no patience -with an officer who suggests doubts and difficulties when I have a -grand project in view. I marked him, but at the same time pretended to -listen to his observations, as objections of great weight, and then -proceeded to remove them from the minds of the officers and people, -by advancing the following reasons for my belief that the supposition -of extreme cold at the pole was altogether gratuitous. - -1st. We know that the rays of the sun, uninfluenced by the atmosphere, -would rest upon the pole for six successive months. - -2d. That a dense medium refracts, or bends the rays of the sun. - -3d. That the amount of that refraction depends upon the extent of -the dense medium through which it has to pass. - -4th. That at the pole, the rays of the sun coming to it in a very -oblique direction, must necessarily pass through our atmosphere a -greater distance than on any other part of this globe, and consequently -must there be refracted in a greater degree than elsewhere. Hence I -inferred, that in consequence of this refraction, and of its increase -in proportion to the obliquity of the direction of the rays, the -sun when in the plane of the equator, must appear to an observer -at the poles to be some degrees above the horizon, and that the sun -must recede to the north of the equator at least five or six degrees -of declination, before it would become invisible at the south pole: -therefore, as it takes fifteen days to increase the sun's declination -five degrees, it must be visible at the poles one month longer, on -account of the refraction, than it would be without it. This conclusion -is corroborated by the testimony of Barentz, a Dutchman, who wintered -in Nova Zembla. He found the sun to rise, in latitude 76°, fifteen -days sooner than was expected by astronomical calculations. This will -give the polar region seven months constant sunshine; think of that, -my shipmates, said I, seven months constant day, with a continual -stream of light and heat pouring upon the same spot, without any -interval of night to cool the earth and air. I think if we can but -find our way to the polar region, we shall be in much more danger of -being roasted alive, than of being frozen to death. But, my lads, what -Yankee sailor would hesitate to expose himself to be roasted or frozen -alive to accomplish that which the British tars have endeavoured in -vain to do? Three hearty cheers put an end to the debate. We bore up -for Sandwich land, not that I had any belief in the existence of any -such land, for I had always been of opinion, that the English placed -this supposed land on their charts as an English discovery, stretching -it along from the polar seas to latitude 57° south, that they might, -whenever any land should be discovered in that unexplored quarter, -have a pretence for laying claim to it as a British discovery. - -We had a fine gale from the S. W., and made rapid progress to the -S. E. under canvass. Although the most perfect satisfaction with the -course I had determined on appeared to prevail throughout the ship's -company, Mr. Slim came to me in my cabin, when relieved from his watch -on deck, and told me, that, however satisfactory my account of the -matter might have been to the other officers and the crew, it was -not satisfactory to his mind; and he should be glad to be informed -how I accounted for the vast bodies of ice which had invariably -stopped the progress of navigators in high latitudes, if my notions -of great heat at the poles were correct? "Take a chair, Mr. Slim, -and we will talk about it. In the first place, we have no account of -any navigator having sailed to a higher southern latitude than 71°, -and 82° appears, from the most authentic accounts, to be the highest -northern latitude that has been visited. Navigators to these high -latitudes have always found ice between the parallels of 70° and 80°, -which space that profound philosopher, John Cleve Symmes, denominates -the 'icy hoop.' It is true he has not taken the trouble to explain to -the world, in a satisfactory manner, why and wherefore this narrow -strip of ice should exist in that region; which omission, I judge, -must have arisen from the circumstance of its being obvious to his -capacious mind, that such a 'hoop' must necessarily exist, 'according -to the laws of matter and motion.' The causes of it appearing to him -perfectly simple, he could not suppose it necessary to state them to -'the most enlightened people on the face of the globe.' Now, sir, I -will explain the matter to you. At the pole, that is, ninety degrees -from the equator, there is seven months summer, without any interval -of night, as I stated on deck; and when the sun has twenty-three and -a half degrees of south declination, its rays must strike the pole, -allowing but three degrees for the effect of refraction, on an angle -of 26-1/2° with the plane of the horizon, and must appear nearly -as high as in Scotland in the months of March and September. It is -true it does not continue at this extreme declination for any great -length of time. On the other hand, it does not recede so far as -to withdraw its rays from the pole for a single hour during seven -months of the year. This we know; and you can imagine, from the -effect of a March sun, which in your country, Mr. Slim, loosens the -icy fetters of winter, although withdrawn one half of the time, what -must be its effect when exerting its influence for months without any -interruption? Now in latitude 70°, with the exception of a few days, -there is an interval of night the year round. In the winter months -the climate cannot differ much from that of the pole. The cold is -then no doubt severe, and forms ice in both those positions. In the -early part of summer, that is, September, October, and November, -there is at the pole a steady blaze of heat and light, which must -melt the ice accumulated in winter, by causing a constant thaw. This -sunshine continues at the pole till the 1st of April, and prevents the -forming of ice until that time. But at 70°, there is, through most of -these months, a short period of night, sufficient for the atmosphere -to cool. This will be more obvious, if we consider the powerful -influence of the ice, during this absence of the sun's rays, and -remember the great change of temperature which occurs in our climate -immediately after sunset at the close of a sunny day in February or -March. This interval of night in latitude 70°, counteracts most of -the effects of the sun's heat in the day time. Nearly as much ice -forms in the night as is thawed during the day. This accounts for the -'icy hoop.' There is not summer enough to dissipate the ice of winter; -while at the pole there is summer enough to dissolve a globe of ice." - -"But, sir," rejoined Mr. Slim, "if this 'icy hoop' exists, how do -you expect to pass it? or, if it is impassable, what use is there -in encountering the risk of navigating unknown and dangerous seas, -in a high and boisterous latitude?" - -"I mean, sir, to ascertain whether it be passable or not. I think -it probable that the influence of the summer heat may so far weaken -it as to admit of broad openings being formed by the pressure of -wind or currents, and if I can find an opening of but a mile wide, -I shall dash through it, at all hazards." - -"And a pretty condition we shall be in, Capt. Seaborn, if the -ice closes the passage after we have dashed through it!" replied -Mr. Slim. "We shipped with you, sir, for a sealing voyage; not for -a voyage of discovery." - -"You will please to remember, Mr. Slim, that I am expressly authorized -by the articles, to cruize and seek for seals wheresoever I may judge -expedient and proper, and that any opposition to my authority will -involve the forfeiture of your share--recollect that, Mr. Slim." - -"I do recollect that, sir; but at the same time I know, Capt. Seaborn, -that you have no right to hazard all our lives, by running into -dangers, greater than were ever encountered by human beings, to gratify -your mad passion for discovery, instead of pursuing the interest of -all concerned, by endeavouring to find seals in the usual manner. How -will you justify yourself to the world, to our families, or to your -own conscience, if we should, after effecting a passage through this -'icy hoop' you speak of, find it closed against our return, and be -thus forever lost to our wives, our children, and society? We must -in such a case all perish, and our blood would be upon your head." A -plague upon your lean carcass, thought I, how am I to answer so many -impertinent questions. I could not tell him of my belief of open -poles, affording a practicable passage to the internal world, and -of my confident expectations of finding comfortable winter quarters -inside; for he would take that as evidence of my being insane, and -by means of it persuade the crew to dispossess me of my command, and -confine me to my cabin for the remainder of the voyage. After knitting -my brows a short time, I replied, "Mr. Slim, you are a sufficiently -capable officer, and can get through with your duty well enough when -you choose to do it, but you don't know every thing; your mind is too -dense to admit the rays of intelligence. I would have you to know, -Sir, that I command this ship, and am not to be thwarted or dictated -to by any man. I have noticed your rebellious spirit; now mark me, -Sir, so sure as I have any more of your opposition to my will, or -bear any more of your murmuring; the moment I detect you in uttering -one discouraging word in the hearing of any of my officers or men,--I -will confine you, and carry you home in irons, to take your trial for -conspiring to make a revolt in the ship, which is death by the law; -remember that, and go to your duty, Sir." - -Slim had some prudence, and was a great lover of pelf; he did not -relish the idea of forfeiting his share; he kept his tongue between his -teeth; but his lank, expressive features spoke horrible things. This -comes of taking more officers than there is duty for, thought I, as he -left the cabin; that fellow will give me trouble enough before I get -rid of him; there is nothing like constant hard work to keep men out of -mischief. But I had not much time for reflection, for Will Mackerel, -my fourth mate, whose birth adjoined my cabin, had overheard all that -passed in my interview with Slim, and as soon as he was out of the -way bolted into my cabin, without much ceremony. Will was a hearty, -frank, thorough bred sailor; doffing his hat to his commander was -the only point of etiquette he was acquainted with, and he thought -it degrading to perform that ceremony to any other person. Will -reverenced his commander when he found him to be a good sailor, a -skilful navigator, and a kind hearted man. He commenced with, "Captain -Seaborn, that fellow's insolence is unsufferable; he has spoken more -mutiny to your face, in your own cabin, in ten minutes, than all the -rest of the ship's company would dare to think of, in the forecastle, -the whole voyage. I would not give a rope yarn for a sailor who would -not go wherever the captain had courage to lead the way. I would not -put up with it; there is but one Slim in the ship, and we'll heave -him overboard, if you say the word; at least, I'd clap the ruffles -[1] on him, and keep him out of harm's way the rest of the voyage." - -Whether it was honest indignation that prompted Will's advice, or -whether some little desire for Slim's birth, to which he would be -promoted of course if Slim were cashiered, had its influence, I did -not stop to ascertain. I told Will, to be quiet, to say nothing of -what had passed between me and Mr. Slim, but to observe him closely, -and let toe know if he detected him in endeavours to corrupt the crew. - -We made rapid progress, and were soon in the latitude of Sandwich land, -as laid down in the charts, where we met with nothing but clear blue -ocean. I hauled up S. S. E., true course, and stood on as far as 68° -South, making the best use of my time by daylight, and drifting back -upon my track during the short interval of night. On the 2d Nov. in -lat. 68-1/2, we met with ice in detached fields; and had strong gales -from S. W. with raw, drizzly weather. I edged away to the eastward, -intending to keep near the ice, and hauled to the southward, when a -clear sea would permit. The first day, we kept the 'blink of the ice' -[2] in sight, and found it to trend nearly East and West. Made no -southing this day. The second, we were enabled to haul up S. E. and by -E. and continued this course without nearing the ice. The following -day, hauled up S. E., set the engine in motion, and made rapid way; -we observed this day at noon, in 75° 22' S. I was elated with the -prospect of reaching a much higher southern latitude than any former -navigator had been able to gain, and pushed on as fast as canvas and -steam could drive my vessel. - -We had no interval of night in this high latitude, the sun's -declination being 15° S. After running on this course 24 hours, we lost -sight of the ice entirely, and thinking it most prudent to keep close -under the lee of the ice to windward, that in case of a hard gale we -might have smooth water, I steered due South. We observed this day, -5th Nov. in 78° 10', with cold, raw, disagreeable weather. - -I had observed Slim moving about the ship, like an uneasy spirit -compelled to revisit this troubled world, often whispering to the men, -and frequently visiting the forecastle. When I came on deck after -dinner, the whole ship's company came aft, with Slim at their head, -who in their behalf told me, that the crew had determined to go no -further with me into this region of ice. Will Mackerel, who was on the -quarter deck, spoke up with great passion, and asked Slim if he meant -to head a mutiny? adding, that if such was the case, he would let him -see that he was a man to stand by his commander. He then called upon -those who were of his mettle, to come over to the starboard side; which -some few did, while some took their stand amidships, that they might -go either way, as circumstances should dictate. The greater number, -however, remained with Slim. There was a sad uproar for a short time, -every one having something to say, and to enforce with an oath. Even -the man on the lookout at the mast head came down from his station -to take a part in the affair. - -While this war of words was going on, Mr. Boneto, who was below, -hearing high words on deck, came up with his hanger and pistols; -and the steward brought me mine, but I ordered him to put them up -again, saying, if the men will not listen to reason, we will give up -the voyage. The truth was, I felt sensible that had I been possessed -of my pistols at the outset, I should certainly have shot Mr. Slim; -but at this time the irritation of the first impulse had subsided a -little. I had had time to cool. Mr. Albicore was standing by my side, -as mute as a fish, waiting for orders. The boatswain, Jack Whiffle -his mate, and a number of the best men, had joined Will Mackerel's -party; while those who adhered to Slim were the poorest seamen, -and most timid men in the ship, though at the same time the most noisy. - -How the matter would have terminated but for a lucky occurrence is -doubtful. The vessel was running on her course during this contest, -with no one on the look out: a splash in the water, close aboard -to windward, drew my attention that way; it was a seal. At the same -moment I observed the water to be discoloured, and instantly ordered -the engine to be stopped, and a cast of the lead to be made. Some -of the faithful hastened to execute this order under the direction -of Albicore and Will Mackerel: but Slim and his malcontents kept up -their vociferation, Slim telling them that it was only a manoeuvre -of mine to divert them from their purpose. - -While this was going on, I swept the horizon with my spy glass, -and soon discovered in the S. W. directly to wind-ward, a low range -of broken land. The moment I fixed my glass upon it, every eye was -turned in that direction: some sprang into the rigging, some ran to -the mast head, and the joyful cry of land ho! land! dispelled the -mutinous disposition of the crew. - -Sixty-five fathoms, soft ooze, was the report of soundings; -a delightful indication of an extensive body of land, with large -rivers depositing their sediment on the bottom of the deep. We soon -approached, and observed the coast to range about S. E. and N. W. as -far as the eye could reach from the mast head. I called the attention -of my officers to this circumstance, and observed to them that the -broad opening which we had found in the 'icy hoop' could now be easily -accounted for. We had noticed that the prevailing wind was from the -S. W. with strong gales, the influence of which was continually forcing -the ice to the eastward; but this body of land, ranging from the -S. E. to the N. W. stopped the ice to the westward of it, while that -to the eastward was driven away, leaving a clear passage to leeward -of the land. From the westerly winds prevailing all the year round, -this must always be the case, unless the 'immutable laws of matter and -motion,' and the relation between 'cause and effect' should be changed. - -Mr. Slim, who had been leaning over the rail with his back towards me -during my discourse, now turned upon me, with "well said, captain, -that is the best reasoning I have heard from you yet,--I understand -that." The truth was, we were now well in with the land, and the -appearance of vast numbers of seal in the water and upon the shore, -gave a prospect of a splendid voyage, and excited Slim's cupidity, -and his apprehension for the safety of his share, which he was aware -he had jeopardized by his conduct. - -I was in excellent good humour, and told Slim I would overlook what -had passed; I could do no less, at a moment when a kind providence -was favouring my enterprise beyond my hopes, notwithstanding my -numerous transgressions, without evincing an ungrateful and malicious -spirit. The utmost joy prevailed throughout the ship's company; even -Slim's livid countenance was distorted with an unusual grin. Slim -was not without shrewdness, and occasionally he pretended to be -very religious; but he had a double allowance of native selfishness, -and worshipped with heartfelt devotion no other god but gold. With -his misconduct forgiven, and a prospect of gain which surpassed his -most sanguine expectations, he felt emotions as much like those of -happiness, as such a compound of evil passions could be supposed -to feel. - -When near the land, I observed it to be in general very low; there -was scarcely any appearance of elevated spots, and no high hills or -mountains could be seen. From the rugged appearance of the coast, -I judged that there were deep indentations, affording numerous and -convenient harbours, but in this I was mistaken. What we had taken -for the coast, proved to be a succession of islands, with a broad -sound between them and the main land, which latter had a straight, -unbroken shore. Deep water, and a very rapid current or tide, -rendered it unsafe to anchor amongst the islands; we therefore -continued to coast along the main shore in search of a harbour for -several hours. The shore in this place was not elevated more than 30 -to 40 feet above the level of the sea. It was skirted with tussoc, -which, from the very gradual rise of the land, hid all the interior -from our view, except a few moderate elevations far distant. - -At 6 P. M. the appearance of a wide bay induced me to send off the boat -to examine for anchorage. At 10 they returned, with the information -that the bay afforded good shelter with soft ground, but was rather -objectionable as a harbour, in so high a latitude, on account of its -being full four miles wide, and very deep. I determined to run in and -anchor, until a more secure port could be found; and having despatched -two boats ahead to report the soundings by signal, stood into the bay, -and at 12 o'clock P. M. anchored in 10 fathoms, soft mud, the two capes -of the bay in one S. S. E. about one league, the western shore one -mile distant. Although it was midnight according to our reckoning, we -had a bright sunshine, the sun appearing ten degrees above the horizon. - -This land having been first seen by myself, my officers and men united -in calling it after my name, and expressed their wish that I would -permit it to be so denominated; it was accordingly recorded in the -ship's log book by the name of Seaborn's Land. - -I had much need of rest, having been almost constantly on deck for -five days; and after ordering the deck watch to get the boats out, -and prepare every thing for an excursion, I retired to my cabin, -and was soon fast asleep. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - - The Author in great peril, from the vast rise and fall of the tide - in the polar sea--Brief account of his observations at Seaborn's - Land--He takes formal possession of the country, in the manner - usual in such cases, in the name and on behalf of the United - States--Leaves a sealing party on one of the islands near the - coast, and proceeds to the south, to extend his discoveries. - - -I had slept some hours, when I was awakened by Mr. Boneto's order, and -informed that the land appeared to rise very much. I went immediately -on deck, and was astonished to see the land appear more than three -times as high as when we came to anchor. I at first attempted to -account for it by supposing some change in the atmosphere which -caused the land to loom; but was soon undeceived. One of the seamen -called out that there was a shoal even with the water close by. The -lead was immediately cast to see if the ship was driving, and but -two fathoms water were found alongside. In half an hour more we were -high and dry. Such was the astonishing rise and fall of the tide in -this high latitude! The bay, which had twenty fathoms water in the -centre at full sea, and ten fathoms a mile from the shore, was almost -entirely emptied; a small channel in the middle, not more than half -a mile wide, being all that was not left quite bare. There was no -immediate inconvenience to be apprehended from this circumstance; -but I was aware, that a tide that fell 70 or 80 feet perpendicular, -must return in a bore with prodigious violence, and was under more -apprehension of the consequences, than at any other period of my -voyage. I however concealed my fears from my officers and people, who -were much amused with the circumstance, and my apparent vexation at -finding my vessel high and dry on a mud bank, near the south pole. My -greatest fear was, that the tide might come in in a bore thirty or -forty feet high, and, striking the vessel as she lay aground, tumble -her over and dash her to pieces, no frame of timber being sufficient -to withstand such a shock. Happily, the stream of the ebb tide had -left us exactly stern to the flood. I ordered the boats to be hoisted -in and secured, and the anchors to be taken up, fastened in the dead -lights, put every thing below that was moveable, directed the men to -provide themselves with strong lashings, and ordered the engineer to -raise a head of steam, and have the engine in readiness for instant -motion. Thus prepared, I awaited the return of the tide. It came -in due time; and now my officers and men, who had been so merry at -my expense, evinced great consternation. The muscles of Slim's face -were actually convulsed with terror at the sight of a wall of water, -stretching quite across the bay, apparently 30 or 40 feet high, -rolling towards us like a tremendous breaker, and with a roaring noise -like thunder. To all appearance, it would break over our mast head, -and consign us to one common grave. In mercy to the trembling Slim, -I desired him to step below and bring me my pea jacket, well knowing -he would not come up again until the danger was over. I then ordered -the companion-way and the hatches to be secured, directed my people -to lash themselves fast, and quietly wait the result. Here, I must -confess, I put up a silent prayer to Heaven, after a sailor's fashion, -for preservation from the impending danger. - -I have always found the fears and anticipation of danger to exceed the -reality. When the bore approached us, the bottom came rather faster -than the top, and its face was not quite perpendicular. The vessel -was fairly afloat on the foot of the wave, before the main body of -it struck her; and taking it square astern, she split and rose over -it in the most beautiful manner, without sustaining the slightest -injury. By backing with the paddles, we kept clear of the shore, on -which the impetus of the wave would have driven us, and soon after -anchored again in the middle of the bay in twenty fathoms water. - -And here I would recommend to all navigators of the polar seas, -to avoid anchoring in less than twenty fathoms, until they have -accurately ascertained the rise and fall of the tides, at the full -and change of the moon. - -When the companion-way was unbarred, Slim came up with my pea jacket, -and coolly observed, he was glad there was no damage done, adding, -"I was really afraid it might break our paddles." In consequence of -this occurrence, I named this bay Take-in harbour. - -We were occupied until noon, in returning things to their places, -getting the boats out, and preparing for an excursion on shore. At -noon I observed the altitude of the sun, and, after making accurate -allowance for the refraction, found Take-in harbour to be in latitude -83° 3' south. This was much further south than the distance run by -log would make us, which I attributed to a strong current setting -us rapidly in that direction; but this I soon found to be an error, -and that the difference between the latitude by observation and dead -reckoning, arose from the form of the globe at the poles, lessening -the degrees of latitude. - -After dinner, I landed with a strong party, leaving the vessel in -charge of Mr. Boneto. I took the horses and mules on shore, with -provisions for a week, intending to march to the highest land we could -find, to gain at once an extensive view of the coast and country. We -landed on the south side of the bay, and shaped our course for a -moderately elevated spot, which appeared to be the highest land, -due south about ten miles distant. We found the shore much like -that of the Falkland Islands, the only difference being that this -was much more level, and had greater extent of tussoc. After passing -through a border of tussoc about three miles wide, we reached an open -prairie country, with grass about four inches high. We were three -hours in gaining the elevated spot, from which we were enabled to -see the coast for a great distance on our left, and the sea along its -border, studded with islands. On the right, we could see nothing but -boundless prairie, with here and there a ridge like the one we were -upon. To the south, in the horizon, appeared something like a hill, -and to that I determined to go. Having taken some refreshments, we -took up the line of march. Slim, who was with me, as I did not think -it prudent to leave him on board, had been very docile until now: on -finding me determined to push into the interior so great a distance, -he became evidently uneasy. He dared not express his fears to me, -but took care that I should overhear him say to one of the men, "I -hope the captain won't waste so much time in exploring this desert, -that we shall be obliged to go away without a full cargo of skins, -or run the risk of being obliged to winter here, so near the pole, -where we should certainly all freeze to death, in spite of every -thing we could do." As this was a reasonable apprehension in the mind -of an ignorant man, I endeavoured to remove his fears by calling his -attention to the tussoc grass and other plants, and asked him how they -survived the winter, if the cold was so intense as he supposed? and -advanced the opinion that wherever plants can sustain the cold of -winter, and retain their vitality, man can exist, with the aid of -good clothing and artificial heat. - -A fatiguing march of 15 miles brought us to the hill, which we found -to be the highest part of a ridge of moderate elevation running -from the coast in a S. S. W. direction into the interior. We were -amply compensated for our trouble in wading through the grass, as -this eminence afforded an extensive view of the country in every -direction. The S. E. side of this ridge broke off very abruptly, in -some places perpendicularly; and at its foot was a large and beautiful -river, full a mile in width, flowing from the S. S. W. Beyond it was -a prairie country, gently waving and rising into sloping hills in -the distant horizon. Far up the river I could descry with my glass -a few trees, towards which I felt a strong inclination to proceed; -but being excessively fatigued, thought best to devote a few hours to -refreshment. After a comfortable meal, and a sound nap of four hours, -I descended the precipice to ascertain whether the river was an arm of -the sea, or a fresh water stream. It proved to be pure potable water, -and the existence of a continent near the south pole, was thus fully -established. - -I had not been long on the bank of this river, before I found cause -to doubt the prudence of venturing thus far by land into an unknown -country, in the appearance of fresh tracks of some huge land animal, -which were larger than the bottom of a water bucket. Whether they -were those of a white polar bear as big as an elephant, of a mammoth, -or of some other enormous nondescript animal, I could not guess. I -re-ascended the hill with all practicable expedition, collected my men, -and hastened towards the ship as fast as possible. - -We reached the ship after six hours constant marching, all completely -tired out, our horses and mules being too feeble to travel, from long -confinement on ship-board. - -The discoveries I had already made were so far from satisfying my -ambition, that my desire to push on and explore the internal world -was more intense than ever. I was now convinced of the correctness of -Capt. Symmes's theory, and of the practicability of sailing into the -globe at the south pole, and of returning home by way of the north -pole, if no land intervened to obstruct the passage. My first thought -was to enter the river I had seen, and ascend to its source, which -must necessarily be in the internal world; for if the poles were open, -there was not room enough for a sufficient body of land to the south of -84 degrees, to maintain so mighty a river. But I abandoned this idea, -on reflecting that by confining myself to this river, I should at best -enter the internal world but a few hundred miles, while by entering on -the open ocean, I should be able to visit every accessible part of it. - -My first business was to make such arrangements as would satisfy my -crew, and to ascertain the condition of the country in the immediate -vicinity. I therefore landed a sealing party of thirty men, under -Mr. Boneto, assisted by Mr. Slim, on one of the islands, and proceeded -with the Explorer to the mouth of the great river. We found the access -to the river easy and safe; the chain of islands off the mouth of it -broke the swell of the sea. Having ascertained its mouth to be in 83° -47' south latitude, by observation, I proceeded up with two boats -ahead, taking care to move only with the flood tide, and to anchor -in deep water. - -The banks for the first 30 miles were fringed with tussoc. Above that -some trees appeared; and at the distance of 40 miles, the banks were -skirted with a strip of dense forest, of moderately sized trees. We -proceeded 10 miles further up, when the country appeared to be -chiefly covered with large trees, wide apart, with no undergrowth -between them, excepting on some low spots near the river, with here -and there a spot of open prairie. - -Having anchored the Explorer in a safe situation, I landed with a -boat's crew at one of the open spaces, to examine the productions of -the land, and see if I could discover any indications of inhabitants, -I found the timber to be mostly different from that which I was -acquainted with, excepting a species of fir resembling our spruce. I -was much pleased to see wood of this description, and immediately -ordered the launch on shore, with the axes and all our disposable -force. We were busily engaged for three days in filling the Explorer -with wood for fuel, and, after stowing her quite full, piled as much -on deck as I thought she would bear, including timber for constructing -winter quarters for the sealing party. - -All fears of the consequences of wintering in this region were now -done away. Where trees could live, I could live. I determined to -erect a secure establishment for my sealing party, and pursue my -discoveries as far as practicable. While the wood-cutting was going -on, I did not venture far from the river--I had not forgotten the big -tracks. I was always on shore with the party, to be ready for events, -taking the people all on board with me when I wanted a four hours' nap. - -I employed myself in searching for curiosities, collecting geological, -mineralogical, and ornithological specimens, sea fowl and land birds -being very numerous in this country, and in gathering plants to enrich -my hortus siccus, for the benefit of the learned when I should return -home. My researches were rewarded by the discovery of some enormous -bones, possibly of a whale, which being, according to very high -authority, no fish, might at some former period have got on shore in -this high latitude, after the fashion of the other visitants from the -internal world. As they were very large, I called them mammoth bones -of course, had them all carefully taken on board, and packed in boxes, -as an invaluable acquisition to the scientific world. - -On the third day a cry of terror called my attention. I saw the men all -running for the boats, and thought it best to follow their example. We -had all got into the boats, and shoved off into deep water, before -I could ascertain the cause of the alarm, when the appearance of an -enormous animal on the ground we had left answered my inquiries. The -huge beast walked to the edge of the water at a moderate pace, and -stopped to survey us new comers with great composure. I ordered Jack -Whiffle, who was an excellent marksman, to give him a shot from a -three-pounder, mounted in the bow of the launch, and at the same time -gave him a volley of musketry. Whether the shot took effect or not, -could not be discovered. He returned to the woods without haste or -fright, and thus deprived me of the pleasure of securing his skin -and skeleton, for the examination of the learned, and the benefit of -Scudder's Museum. - -There was nothing to be gained by a longer continuance in this river, -and I felt no disposition to penetrate into forests, frequented by -animals large enough to be called mammoth, a name which appears to -be applicable to all big things. At this place, fifty miles from its -mouth, the river was full a mile in width, and twenty fathoms deep at -low tide. Taking into consideration its unusual magnitude and depth, -and the large animal seen upon its bank, I named it Mammoth River. - -We arrived at Take-in harbour next day. Mr. Boneto's party had been -actively employed, and had already secured seven thousand seal skins. I -collected all my officers on board, and acquainted them with such of my -plans as I thought it prudent to disclose. The first was to land thirty -of the crew at a group of islands which formed a snug harbour near -the mouth of Mammoth River; to erect on one of the islands sufficient -buildings to protect them from the severity of the winter, in case -it should become necessary to remain there until another season, -and large enough to contain a fair share of all the stores on board, -in proportion to their numbers, so that they might fare as well as -those who remained in the ship. I told them that I should proceed to -the S. E. along the coast, to ascertain where was the best sealing -ground to remove to when these Islands should be cleared of seals, -and to discover whether the land extended a sufficient distance on -the other side of the pole to open a passage for us to sail over the -pole, and thus proceed to Canton by steering due north, which would -save a great deal of time. This was all according to their notions -of things; but I was well aware that when they would suppose we were -sailing northward on the other side of the globe, we should in fact -be sailing directly into it through the opening. No objections were -made to this plan, as it all seemed feasible enough. But I was at a -loss as to the officers I should leave with this party. In exploring -the internal regions, I should want all my best officers; and although -Slim was an excellent sealer, it would not do to leave him with the -command of the party, for I should be sure to find the men all ripe -for mutiny on my return. I at last determined to give Mr. Boneto the -charge of the establishment, with the boatswain to assist him; to -keep Albicore, Slim, and Mackerel in the ship, and give Jack Whiffle -the birth of acting boatswain. - -We were a week briskly engaged in carrying these arrangements into -effect. Extensive buildings were erected of stone and wood, having -a centre room, to which no external air could gain access, without -passing through the flue of a stove. The store rooms were detached -from the dwelling, that the stores might be saved in case of fire. A -covered way quite around all the buildings, as well as from one to -the other, was constructed, and the whole covered four feet thick -on the sides and roof with the bog of the tussoc, timber and stone -being placed on it to keep it from being forced off by high winds. - -Having thus prepared for the safety and comfort of my people, I gave -Mr. Boneto written instructions how to proceed in all imaginable -cases, but especially cautioned him against going on to the main land, -lest he should be destroyed by the mammoth animal. - -Aware that there was a possibility that I might miscarry, and never get -back to this place. I devoted a day to the performance of a necessary -duty to my country, namely, taking possession of the country I had -discovered, in the name and on behalf of the people of the United -States of America. I first drew up a manifesto, setting forth, that I, -Adam Seaborn, mariner, a citizen of the United States of America, did, -on the 5th day of November, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and -seventeen, first see and discover this southern continent, a part of -which was between 78° and 84° south latitude, and stretching to the -N. W., S. E., and S. W., beyond my knowledge; which land having never -before been seen by any civilized people, and having been occupied for -the full term of eighteen days by citizens of the said United States, -whether it should prove to be in possession of any other people or not, -provided they were not Christians, was and of right ought to be the -sole property of the said people of the United States, by right of -discovery and occupancy, according to the usages of Christian nations. - -Having completed this important paper, which I composed with great -care, knowing that many wars had been waged for a less cause than -a right to so valuable a continent, I had it engraved on a plate -of sheathing copper, with a spread eagle at the top, and at the -bottom a bank, with 100 dollar bills tumbling out of the doors -and windows, to denote the amazing quantity and solidity of the -wealth of my country. When it was completed by the blacksmith, -who was something of a proficient in the fine arts, I went on shore -with all the officers and men that could be spared from the ship, -taking my music, two pieces of cannon, some wine for my officers, -and plenty of grog for the men. We marched up the shore with great -pomp, the music playing and colours flying, to a convenient spot, -where I buried the copper plate, and rolled upon it as large a stone -as the whole ship's company could move, and ordered the blacksmith to -engrave upon it, in large deep letters, "Seaborn's Land, A. D. 1817." - -A liberty pole was then erected on the spot, and the standard of the -United States displayed upon it; all of which being accomplished, -I ordered a salute to be fired of one gun for every State. "How many -will that be, sir?" asked Mr. Boneto, adding, that they came so fast -he could not keep the run of them. Slim said it was twenty-one. I -objected to that number, as being the royal salute of Great-Britain, -and settled the matter by telling them to fire away till they were -tired of it, and finish off with a few squibs for the half-made -States. We completed the ceremony with a plenty of grog, and reiterated -huzzas, as usual, and thus established the title of the United States -to this newly discovered country, in the most incontestible manner, -and strictly according to rule. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER V - - The Author discovers the south extremity of Seaborn's Land, - which he names Cape Worldsend.--The compass becomes useless.--He - states the manner in which he obviated the difficulty occasioned - thereby.--He enters the internal world: describes the phenomena - which occur.--Discovers Token Island.--Occurrences at that Island. - - -I proceeded along the coast to the S. S. E. November 21st, 1817, the -sun's altitude corrected for refraction placed us in a more northern -latitude than we had left, which my officers considered as evidence of -our having passed the pole and made some progress northward, and they -accordingly congratulated me on the occasion. I knew better, and was -perfectly aware that if the poles were open, of which I had no doubt, -we must necessarily change our apparent latitude by observation very -fast; and on turning the edge of the opening have a vertical sun, an -equal division of day and night, and all the phenomena of the equator. - -To be prepared for this untried region, I calculated all the changes -of the apparent altitude of the sun in all degrees of declination, -as they must necessarily occur, assuming the form of the earth to -be at the openings as stated by Capt Symmes in his sublime theory; -and formed tables that I might be able at any time to ascertain the -ship's place without difficulty or delay. - -We had thus far found the land to trend S. S. E. and S. Soon after -noon this day we reached a cape, from which the land turned short -round to the W. N. W. and continued in that direction as far as could -be seen from the mast head. This being apparently the most extreme -southern land of the external world, I named it Worldsend Cape. I -felt no disposition to follow the coast to the N. W. although it -might be found to turn again to the south. The most prudent Course -appeared to be to keep sight of the land, that we might certainly find -our way back again to Mr. Boneto's station. But a round about way to -the internal world was not in accordance with my impatient feelings; -and yet the indulgence of my desire required that I should manage -with great circumspection. - -The compass was now of no manner of use; the card turned round and -round on the slightest agitation of the box, and the needle pointed -sometimes one way and sometimes another, changing its position every -five minutes. I had frequently heard Slim muttering is apprehensions, -and even Albicore said to me, 'I hope we shall not have any bad -weather, or lose sight of the land.' My best seamen appeared confounded -at the loss of the compass, and a degree of alarm pervaded the whole -ship's company. I had foreseen the difficulty that might take place -when I proposed to leave the land, and to avoid it had placed Slim -on the larboard watch with Albicore, by which arrangement the charge -of my watch (the starboard) when I was off deck, devolved on Will -Mackerel, assisted by Jack Whiffle. This was mortifying to Slim, -but he was aware that he deserved it. - -I kept near Cape Worldsend, taking its bearings in a variety of -positions, for the ostensible purpose of ascertaining its exact -position, until four o'clock, when the larboard watch went below. I -saw that both Albicore and Slim turned in to get some sleep, -and immediately ordered Mackerel to keep the vessel on a course -corresponding to south, and to press with both steam and canvass to the -utmost. The wind was about N. W., fresh and very steady, which served -as a guide, the helmsman being directed to keep the wind four points -on the quarter. We ran at the rate of 16 knots. I gave strict orders -that Albicore and Slim should not be disturbed at the usual hour of -calling the dog watch; and when they came on deck at 10 P. M. there -was no land in sight. The sun to their astonishment was just setting -in the bosom of the ocean: they stared at one another, and looked at -me, but said nothing. They were perfectly bewildered; they knew not -which way was north, south, east or west. Had they now undertaken to -direct the course of the vessel, they would have been more likely to -run from the land than towards it. Mackerel was delighted to see the -sun set once more; it seemed like old times; and the weather had been -for some days so hot that a little night was very desirable. - -I told them all to be perfectly at ease, for that I knew what I was -about; that I could calculate every point of the compass as well as if -that instrument performed its office; that we would heave to for the -night, the occurrence of which was no more than I had calculated on; -and finally, to give them confidence in my skill, told them, that if -we did not find the sun directly over head at noon, within two days, -provided no land impeded our progress, I would give up the command -to Albicore, and show him the way back to Seaborn's Land. - -Albicore and Slim both earnestly entreated that I would instruct -them how to calculate the points of the compass, if I possessed that -important knowledge, so that they might be enabled to find their -way back again in case any accident should befal me. I begged to be -excused, choosing to keep the staff in my own hands. - -The truth was, having three excellent chronometers, one set to the -time at Washington, one to that of Greenwich, and the other to that -of Rio de Janeiro, and also an excellent watch daily regulated, -which gave me the ship's diurnal time accurately, I could easily -calculate my longitude, and the point on which the sun ought to -bear every hour in the 24. With these calculations before me, I had -but to look at my watch and the sun to determine my course. Thus in -the longitude of Greenwich, when the chronometer set to Greenwich -time stood at 12 o'clock noon, wherever the sun was, was north; -and when that chronometer stood at midnight, wherever the sun was, -was south--on the external southern hemisphere, south of the degree -of the sun's declination. - -The re-appearance of the stars, and the refreshing coolness of the -night air delighted my people. At daylight we made sail, and set the -paddles in motion. At noon we had the sun nearly overhead, and the -declination being 20° 5Ž S. Slim was positive that we were in latitude -28° S. and wondered why the compass would not traverse. The next day -we had a vertical sun, as I had predicted, and the weather as warm as -I had ever known it at sea, with a fine breeze. No one knew which way -we were steering but myself; and Slim's opinion confidently expressed -that we were near the equator, and must soon make the continent of -Asia, Africa, America, or the Asiatic islands, served to quiet the -apprehensions of the men for their own safety, and at the same time -to awaken their solicitude for the situation of Mr. Boneto's party, -whom they said I had barbarously left to perish by the frosts of a -polar winter, on Seaborn's Land. - -The next day we observed the sun to the south of us, and nearly over -head, and the compass began to traverse imperfectly. We had a regular -recurrence of day and night, though the latter was very short, which -I knew was occasioned by the rays of the sun being obstructed by the -rim of the earth, when the external side of the part we were on turned -towards the sun. The nights were not dark, when no clouds intervened -to obstruct the rays of the sun, reflected from the opposite rim, -and from a large luminous body northward, in the internal heavens, -which reflected the sun as our moon does, and which I judged to be -the second concentric sphere, according to Capt. Symmes. This gave -us very pleasant nights, but not quite clear enough to render sailing -through untried seas entirely safe. - -We continued running due north, internal, three day, when the -compass became pretty regular; but instead of the N. and S. points -corresponding to the N. and S. points on the external world, as -Capt. Symmes supposed it would do, the needle turned fairly end for -end; the south end pointing directly into the globe towards the north -pole, with some variation from the true north. But of this matter, -I shall say very little, for sundry important reasons, and especially -because I intend to publish my theory of longitude in due season, -and give the courses and bearings, corrected to true north and south, -as understood by the externals. - -On the 28th of November, 1817, we discovered land, just at sunset, -and immediately hove to, to keep a good offing until day-light. I -walked the deck all night, and was very impatient for the morning -of that day which was to disclose to me the wonders of the internal -world, and probably to decide the question whether it was or was not -inhabited by rational beings. - -Happily, day soon appeared, and we ran in with the land, keeping a -good look-out, and the leads constantly going. On nearing the coast, -we found the shore to be low and sandy. The body of the land, however, -was high, with one towering peak far inland. Near the sea it appeared -to be extremely barren, but some miles back, scattered clumps of -trees, and some appearances of verdure, afforded a more cheering -prospect. We explored the coast of this island, for such it proved -to be, for two days, before we found anchorage, or a safe landing -place. A very heavy surf rolled on shore, and broke high on the shoals, -which were frequent, and in some places three miles off the coast, -so as to make it dangerous to approach. At length we found a safe -road, sheltered by a sand bank above water, about two miles long, -lying parallel with the shore, half a league from it. There was a -fair passage, with 15 fathoms water, and good holding ground. Here we -moored to the great joy of all on board, who, seeing firm land with -living things of some kind moving about upon it, felt satisfied that -they were still in the sublunary world, and complained of nothing -but the excessive heat. It was near night when we came to anchor; -all further research was therefore deferred until the next day. - -On the 1st December, I landed for the first time on terra firma of the -internal world, but was greatly disappointed, I must confess, to find -no indications of any other inhabitants than turtles, terrapins of a -monstrous size, some few seals, penguins, and numerous sea fowl. The -great number of turtles was satisfactory evidence to my mind, that -there were no human beings on the island; and, after a short walk on -the burning sand, I returned on board, quite dejected. - -The day was passed in fishing, and in collecting turtles and terrapins, -for sea stock. In the evening, Mr. Slim, who was wide awake to his -interest, suggested to me that we might obtain a good quantity of -tortoise shell from this island, as the turtles brought on board were -of the hawksbill kind, the shell of which sells for a high price. I -gave him permission to land the following day, with ten men, and see -what he could do in that way. - -The next morning I was quite sick, in consequence of the heat, -and of my disappointment in not finding an inhabited country, after -encountering so many hazards, and exerting so much enterprise and -perseverance. Being thus compelled to remain on board, I permitted -Albicore to land with four men, to ramble along shore, and see if -he could make any discoveries. In the evening Slim reported that -he had not been able to effect much, owing to the excessive heat, -which compelled him, with his party, to take refuge under an awning, -formed with the boats' sails, for full half the day. Albicore stated -that he had been eight or ten miles along the shore, but had seen -nothing strange. - -The following morning, when I had given orders to prepare for getting -under weigh, having determined to remain no longer in a place where -there was great danger of the yellow fever making its appearance -amongst my people, without intercourse with vessels from the West -Indies, Albicore mentioned incidentally as we sat at breakfast, and -as a matter of no sort of moment, that he had seen, during his walk -on the beach, about five miles from where we lay, something which -looked like part of a wreck of some outlandish vessel. The worthy -man, who considered nothing that did not pertain to the strict line -of his duty as deserving a thought, was astonished to see me spring -up from my seat at table, order the boats manned, and make ready for -an immediate expedition. It never occurred to his mind that if there -were ships in those seas, there must also be men to build and sail -them. To me the information he had given was both food and medicine: -it revived my hopes, and fired my curiosity. I felt no desire to -complete my repast. I was restored to health and good spirits, and -was soon marching over the sand, with Albicore for my guide. - -After two hours we reached the place which Mr. Albicore had spoken of, -where I found part of the frame of a vessel of some sort, of about one -hundred tons burthen, the form of which satisfied me that it was no -drift from the external world. The stem raked inwards, instead of out, -as we construct them, giving the forward part of the vessel the form -of a double ploughshare; while the broad bulging sides were admirably -adapted to make the vessel sit firm on the water, and prevent her -oversetting. But the most singular part was a piece of planking, -which remained attached to the frame, and which was actually sewed -on with a white elastic wire, resembling in appearance platina, more -than any metal known to us. I extracted some small pieces of this -singular metal, and with it fired the imagination of my people, by -representing to them the enormous wealth we should acquire, could we -obtain a cargo of it to carry to our country, where it would be more -valuable than silver; and that the use to which it was applied was -sufficient evidence of its being abundant where this vessel was built. - -I named this island, which was in 81° 20' internal south latitude, -Token Island, considering its discovery as a token or premonition of -some great things to come. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - - The Author departs from Token Island, in search of an internal - continent.--Wind, weather, and other phenomena of the internal - seas.--Great alarm of the crew.--Discovery of an inhabited country. - - -We were soon under weigh again, and steered due north, as well to seek -for a new region of land, as to get into a more temperate climate; it -being obvious that the internal equator must correspond in phenomena to -the external pole, and consequently the more we approached the former, -and receded from the latter, the cooler we should find the weather. - -Soon after leaving the island, the weather became exceedingly -unpleasant; the atmosphere was loaded with dense black clouds, and we -were annoyed with torrents of rain, together with very vivid lightning -and heavy thunder. We lay to the greater part of three days, thinking -it imprudent to run into unexplored seas in dark weather. The fourth -day it brightened up a little, when we pushed on to the northward. - -After two days of unsettled weather, we were favoured with a fine -westerly wind, blowing steady and pleasant like a trade wind, which -continued during the remainder of this passage. For three days more -we continued steering to the northward, when we found the weather -delightfully pleasant. We had the direct rays of the sun nearly one -fourth part of the time, and its reflected light the remainder. This -last was the most pleasant, being something between sunshine and -bright moonlight, without the glare of the one or the indistinctness -of the other. Satisfied with the climate, I determined to keep in -it, and run before the wind due east, until I discovered land, or -circumnavigated this part of the globe. - -I found the latitude this day, carefully computed from the -sun's altitude, with due allowance for refraction, to be 65° 17' -south internal. We ran on very pleasantly for seven days, but saw -nothing. It was now the 17th December. The sun had nearly attained -its most southern declination, and would soon be receding to the north. - -The curious fact, that we could see the sun directly but for a short -part of the day, at this season of the year, in a high southern -latitude, astonished and alarmed my officers and people. It was a -matter of continual debate amongst them on the forecastle, where Slim -and even Albicore sometimes took a part in those grave and learned -disquisitions. In one of their conferences, Slim advanced the opinion, -that, as the sun was now near its extreme southern declination, -and we could see it but a small part of the time, we must be in some -great hole in the earth; and that when the sun returned to the north, -which would soon take place, we should for a certainty be involved -in total darkness, and never be able to find our way out again. This -idea struck the whole ship's company with horror. Even Albicore was -infected with the panic. Will Mackerel and Jack Whiffle were the only -ones among them who expressed a ready determination to stand by their -commander, wheresoever he might lead them. Numerous propositions were -advanced and rejected by this council on the forecastle; but it was -finally concluded that they would go aft in a body, and insist upon -my immediately returning to Seaborn's Land, or they would heave me -overboard, without further delay. - -I was accordingly called from my cabin to hear this wise determination -of my people. After hearing what they had to say, I asked them -very coolly, how they intended to proceed when they had thrown me -overboard? There was no one of them who could determine the ship's -place, who had a sufficient knowledge of astronomy and natural -philosophy, to account for the extraordinary phenomena that constantly -occurred, or who had skill enough to ascertain any one point of -the compass. How then were they to find their way home without my -aid? Perceiving that this made a deep impression on their minds, -I proceeded to dispel their fears, by assuring them that I felt no -more disposition to perish in a sea of utter darkness than they did, -but that so far from my having any apprehension of such an event, -it appeared to me that we should find the winter in that region much -more pleasant than at Seaborn's Land, if we could but discover land -and a harbour, where we could moor in safety; that I had never been -in a climate so perfectly agreeable to my feelings; that the air was -so soft, so elastic, and temperate, it was a luxury to sit still and -inhale the sweet breath of heaven; that so far from being in haste to -get out of so salubrious a climate, I should be glad to pass my days -in it; and, at all events, the sun would be no further north after the -expiration of a month, than at the time of our departure from Boneto's -station. Finally, I told them that, should I not make any discovery -by the 1st of January, I would then return to Seaborn's Land, where, -in the quarters erected for Mr. Boneto's party, we could all winter -very comfortably; but, on the other hand, should they persist in -their mutinous course, I would break my instruments, throw my books -overboard, and leave them to help themselves as they could. - -They all knew my determined and inflexible disposition, and that -their best way was not to provoke it. The men went forward without -reply. Albicore was the only one who opened his lips, and that was -only to express his astonishment that he could have permitted himself -to be led away from his duty for a moment, by any circumstance. It -was all owing, he said, to that evil spirit, Slim, whose suggestion -of total and perpetual darkness had frightened him. - -We ran on for five days more, when "a sail ho!" rang through the -ship. The stranger vessel was standing obliquely athwart our course, -and we were soon near enough to see her distinctly from the deck. She -had five masts, with narrow sails attached to each. When we were -within three miles of the stranger, she tacked and stood from us to -the southward, wind S. W. Feeling confident that the speed of my vessel -was superior to that of any thing on the face of the globe, inside or -out, I gave chase, in expectation of bringing her to, in a short time. - -But here I experienced a mortifying instance of the vanity of -human pretensions, however well they may appear to be founded. The -stranger, although she did not appear to have half as much sail in -proportion to her hull as the Explorer, went within four points of -the wind so rapidly, that in two hours she could not be seen from -the mast head. I was now at a loss how to proceed. The strange sail -was standing about N. W. when first seen, but she might be outward -bound, and in that case, by steering that course we should miss the -desired land; on the other hand, the course we had been steering -might carry us to the northward of our object, and pursuing the -vessel in the direction in which she was last seen might lead to an -equally unfortunate result. Will Mackerel was of opinion, that the -Internals, on seeing so strange a looking vessel as ours, would run -for the nearest land, and that we ought to follow her. I resolved at -last to steer S. E. for two days, and if not successful, to return -to the same place, and steer two days to the N. W. There proved to -be no occasion for so much trouble; for at the moment I had decided -what to do, the lookout at the mast head called out 'land ho!' - -The sun was now just setting, which immediately brought on the darkest -period of the night; and some heavy black clouds occasioned by the -vicinity of the land, threatened stormy weather. We therefore stood -back upon our track, to wait the return of bright light, that I might -approach the inhabited country of the Internal World for the first -time under favour of the brightest smile of heaven. - -After a few hours the clouds dispersed, and the reflected light became -sufficiently strong to enable us to see dangers several miles, but -not to admit of a clear distant view. We therefore drew slowly in -with the land, to be ready to run in to the nearest harbour during -the next interval of sunshine. When near the shore, we again hove to -with the ship's head off shore. With my night glass I could discern -buildings and moving objects on the land, which assured me that the -country was inhabited. - -I walked the deck with impatient yet pleasing anxiety. I was about to -reach the goal of all my wishes; to open an intercourse with a new -world and with an unknown people; to unfold to the vain mortals of -the external world new causes for admiration at the infinite diversity -and excellence of the works of an inscrutable Deity; to give to them -fresh motives for adoration, and hopes of continued advancement in -discovering the infinite works of God. - -My imagination became fired with enthusiasm, and my heart elated with -pride. I was about to secure to my name a conspicuous and imperishable -place on the tablets of History, and a niche of the first order -in the temple of Fame. I moved like one who trod on air; for whose -achievements had equalled mine? The voyage of Columbus was but an -excursion on a fish pond, and his discoveries, compared with mine, -were but trifles; a summer sea and a strip of land, where common sense -must have convinced any man of ordinary capacity that there must be -land, unless Providence were in that one instance more wasteful of -its works than in all its other doings. His was the discovery of a -continent, mine of a new World! - -My mind flew on the wings of thought to my native country; I compared -my doings and my sensations with those of that swarm of sordid beings -who waste their lives in Wall-street, or in the purlieus of the -courts intent on gain, and scrambling for the wrecks of the property -of their unfortunate fellow beings, or hiring out the efforts of -their minds to perform such loathsome work as their employers would -pay them for;--men who feel themselves ennobled by their wealth, or -by their technical knowledge; who think themselves superior to the -useful classes of society; from whom I had often heard the scornful -observation, 'he is nothing but a shipmaster;' as if those men who -live and thrive but by the infirmities and vices of society were -ennobled by their profession, and the hardy and adventurous mariner, -whose occupation leads him to every climate and through every sea, to -gather like the bee the useful and the delicious for the comfort and -gratification of the native hive, should be degraded by his calling. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - - Description of the first view of the coast.--The Author names - the discovered country Symzonia.--Enters the harbour.--His first - interview with the Symzonians.--Sketch of their appearance.--He - commences the study of the Symzonian language.--Wonderful powers - of mind displayed by the natives.--Account of an ærial vessel. - - -The mild oblique rays of the morning sun gilded to our view - -"A scene surpassing Fancy's vision." - -Gently rolling hills within an easy sloping shore, covered with -verdure, chequered with groves of trees and shrubbery, studded with -numerous white buildings, and animated with groups of men and cattle, -all standing in relief near the foot of a lofty mountain, which in -the distance reared its majestic head above the clouds, offered to -mariners long confined to a wide waste of water the highest reward -for their enterprise and perseverance;--the heartfelt satisfaction, -that it was to their courage and skill that their fellow citizens -would be indebted for the contemplation of so much loveliness. Here -there was nothing wanting to a perfect landscape. Plain, hill, and -dell sometimes rising with an easy slope, at others, broken, abrupt, -or craggy; with an ocean in front, and a mountain in the rear, it -was complete. - -When the bright light of the sun first presented distant objects -distinctly to our view, there were great numbers of vessels and boats -in sight, mostly near the shore. We had repeatedly seen them during the -night flitting past us like the shades of departed mortals. Immediately -on observing our extraordinary appearance, they all retired towards -an opening in the land to the northward, whither we followed them, and -soon found that the apparent opening in the shore was occasioned by an -island a short distance from the coast, having a roadstead within it, -in which were several vessels at anchor. After hoisting out our boats, -and seeing our guns in order, I stood in to the roadstead, with my -boats ahead. As we approached the anchorage, the vessels all retired -into the mouth of a river which they ascended until quite out of sight. - -At noon, on the 24th of December, we anchored in 14 fathoms water, -on a fine sandy bottom. This land, out of gratitude to Capt. Symmes -for his sublime theory, I immediately named Symzonia. The coast lay -about S. S. W. and N. N. E. In the roadstead we were sheltered from -all winds except those which blew directly along shore. These were -not much to be feared, for we had found the prevailing W. S. W. winds -to blow as steady as a trade wind for several days without any gales -or stormy weather. - -I passed an hour in surveying the enchanting scene by which I was -surrounded, and in making preparations for a visit to the inhabitants -of this internal world. I shaved my beard as smooth as I could, -put on my best go-ashore clothes, and swung my hanger by my side, -to make my appearance as imposing as possible. Here a difficulty -occurred. I wanted an officer to leave in charge of the boat, on whose -firmness and discretion I could rely in case of difficulty with the -natives. I could not take Albicore, without leaving Slim in command -of the Explorer, which was not to be thought of. I would not take -Slim with me, for he would be more likely to contrive some way to get -my throat cut out of sheer malice, than to use prudent measures for -my safety. Will Mackerel was so hasty, that he would probably shoot -the natives like pigeons, should he fancy them to be offering any -offence or insult to his commander. I therefore determined to take -Jack Whiffle, ostensibly to act as cockswain, with six of my best men, -furnished with a musket, a pair of pistols, and a sabre each. - -Thus equipped, and with the stripes and stars waving over the stern of -the boat, I proceeded to the shore, having first instructed Albicore -to offer no offence to any people who might approach the ship in -my absence, unless it became necessary in actual self defence, or -to prevent them from taking possession of the vessel; and to inform -me by signal should any superior force appear in the offing, or any -danger be apprehended. - -There were a number of buildings on the island, one of which from -its magnitude and superior appearance to the others, I judged to be -a public edifice of some sort. This structure was two stories high, -while all the others were but one. In the front, a large open portico -with an extensive platform, appeared to be a place of business, -great numbers of people being collected upon it. In front of this -building, a jettee into the water afforded convenient landing, and -I directed the boat to be placed alongside of it As I approached, -all the people retired, and no sooner had I stepped upon the jettee -than those in front of the large building moved into it. - -Being determined to open an immediate communication with this people, -who from the comforts with which they were surrounded could not be -savages, I took off my sword, and gave it to Whiffle, and ordered -him to lay off with the boat a half pistol shot from the shore, -and not to fire a shot, nor to show his arms, unless he saw me run, -or heard me fire a pistol; in which cases he must pull into the most -convenient place to take me off, and to defend me. - -I then walked slowly up the jettee. When I reached the head of it, -I took off my hat and made a low bow towards the building, to show -the Internals that I had some sense of politeness. No one appeared. I -walked slowly up the sloping lawn, stopped, looked about me, and -bowed, but still no one appeared to return my civilities. I walked -on, and had arrived within one hundred yards of the portico, when -I recollected, that when Captain Ross was impeded in his progress -northward by the northern 'icy hoop,' he met with some men on the -ice who told him they came from the north, where there was land and -an open sea. These men were swarthy, which Capt. Symmes attributes to -their being inhabitants of the hot regions within the internal polar -circle; in which opinion he was no doubt correct. I had frequently -reflected on this circumstance, and had settled the matter in my mind -that they were stragglers from the extreme north part of the internal -regions; and could not but consider Capt. Ross as a very unfit person -for an exploring expedition, or he would not have returned without -ascertaining where those men came from, or how a great sea could -exist to the northward of the 'icy hoop,' through fear of wintering -in a climate where he saw men in existence who had passed all their -lives there. - -I remembered that these men so seen by Capt. Ross, saluted him -by pulling their noses; and surely it is not surprising that men, -inhabiting such different positions on this earth as the inside and -outside of it, should differ so much as to consider that a compliment -in the one place, which is deemed an insult in the other. Indeed it -seemed to me a small thing, when I considered how widely the most -enlightened of the externals differ in opinion upon the most simple -propositions of religion, politics, and political economy. - -I was full in the faith that those men of Ross had been internals, -and that their mode of salutation was much more likely to be in -accordance with the manners of the Symzonians, than the rude fashion -of us externals. I therefore pulled my nose very gracefully, without -uncovering my head. - -This was a happy thought. It arose from my having read much, seen a -great deal of the world, and observed with tolerable accuracy, for a -shipmaster, the important ceremonies and sublime rules of etiquette, -by which the distinguished and the noble, the enlightened and the -great, are implicitly governed; they being considered matters of more -consequence than religious forms, or mere regulations of convenience. - -I remembered that, on being honoured with an audience of a sublime -sovereign of the Mussulman empire, it was particularly enjoined upon -me by the vizier, not to take my hat off, nor to sit cross-legged, -the etiquette of the court forbidding any one to do so in the presence -of the sovereign; and showing the top of the head or bottom of the -feet being considered an insult to that exalted personage. Happily I -recalled to my mind all those weighty matters; and now, that I might -not be guilty of insult to this new found people, I stood bolt upright, -kept my hat on, and pulled my nose stoutly. - -This had the desired effect. Several persons from within the building -assembled on the platform of the portico. They stared much at me, -which convinced me they were people of high fashion; conversed eagerly -with one another, and seemed undetermined how to act. More than one -hundred men collected, before any one showed any disposition to advance -even to the front of the portico; and on the other hand, I dared not -advance towards them, lest I should again put them all to flight, -being already sensible that it was my dark and hideous appearance that -created so much distrust amongst these beautiful natives, I therefore -kept my position, occasionally pulling my nose out of politeness. - -Full twenty minutes passed in this suspense; when one of the group, -a man near five feet high, came to the threshold of the platform, and, -raising his hand to his forehead, he brought it down to the point -of his nose, and waved it gracefully in salutation, with a slight -inclination of the body, but without actually pulling the nose as I -had done. At the same time he spoke to me, in a soft, shrill, musical -voice. His language was as unintelligible to me as the notes of a -singing bird; but his mode of salutation was not. I caught it with -the aptness of a monkey, returned his courtesy after his own fashion, -and answered him in English, with as soft a whine as I could affect, -that my rude voice might not offend his ears. - -Seeing him still in doubt whether it was a mortal or a goblin that -stood before him, I bethought me to show him that I had some sense -of a Supreme Being. I therefore fell on my knees, with my hands -and eyes upraised to heaven, in the attitude of prayer. This was -distinctly understood. It produced a shout of joy which was followed -by the immediate prostration of the whole party, who seemed absorbed -in devotion for a few minutes. They then rose, and the one who had -first advanced came towards me. I stood still to receive him, and as -he walked close up to me, I extended my hand to ascertain if a thing -so fair were tangible. He put out his hand, and seized mine with a grip -that made me start; but instantly let it go again, and gazed upon me. - -We spoke to each other in vain: he walked round, and surveyed my person -with eager curiosity. I did the like by him, and had abundant cause; -for the sootiest African does not differ more from us in darkness of -skin and grossness of features, than this man did from me in fairness -of complexion and delicacy of form. His arms were bare; his body was -covered with a white garment, fitted to his shape, and hanging down -to his knees. Upon his head he wore a tuft of feathers, curiously -woven with his hair, which afforded shade to his forehead and was a -guard for his head against the rain. There was no appearance of any -weapon about either him or any of the others. - -Having both satisfied our eyes, I again endeavoured to make myself -intelligible to him; and, by the aid of signs, succeeded so far as to -convince him that I came in peace, and meant no harm to any one. He -pointed to the building, which I took as an invitation to go in, -and walked towards the portico, with the Internal by my side. - -The fair skinned people by whom I was now surrounded, kept at a -respectful distance from me. They formed a circle, and sat down -upon their feet, with their bodies perfectly upright, and invited -me to do the same. I admired the firmness of knee and strength of -muscle which enabled them to make such a posture easy and pleasant, -but took my seat on the floor cross-legged, like a Turk. Several of -the principal men of the party seated themselves near me, and moved -nearer and further off, as occasion required, with great facility, -and without changing their sitting posture. - -An amusing scene now occurred, while we endeavoured to communicate our -thoughts and wishes to one another. I shoved up the sleeve of my coat, -to show them, by the inside of my arm, (which was always excluded from -the sun,) that I was a white man. I am considered fair for an American, -and my skin was always in my own country thought to be one of the -finest and whitest. But when one of the internals placed his arm, -always exposed to the weather, by the side of mine, the difference -was truly mortifying. I was not a white man, compared with him. - -I gave them to understand that I wanted food and drink, and immediately -some delicious fruits, and a large bowl of excellent milk, were placed -before me, which I ate with much satisfaction and an eager appetite, -to the great amusement of the spectators, who seemed astonished at -the enormous quantity I took. I afterwards learnt, that what they -set before me was sufficient for ten of these temperate beings. - -The result of this interview was an understanding between us, that -learning each others languages would be the first essential step -towards an intercourse between us; and for that purpose two persons -were promptly singled out from the crowd, who took their seats by -my side, with a writing apparatus, composed of some very delicate -white leaves, more like sheets of very white ivory than like paper, -and pencils which made a deep green mark. - -We had scarcely entered on this important preliminary, when it was -disagreeably and painfully interrupted by the firing of a gun on -board the Explorer. The roar of a twelve-pounder, which jarred the -building, struck a panic through the whole circle, and the volume of -smoke which floated on the water alarmed them much. - -With my pocket spyglass I observed that the signal for a fleet in the -offing was flying, and it was to call my attention to this signal -that Albicore had fired the gun. It was no easy matter to pacify -the internals, and make them understand that the terrific noise, -fire and smoke, were quite harmless. After many useless efforts, -I made them comprehend that it was but the voice of the vessel, -telling me it was time to return on board. - -My spyglass attracted their notice. I gave it to one of the internals, -and directed it to the ship, showing him how to find the focus. An -exclamation of surprise showed me that this discovery in optics was -unknown to them. This little incident was of great service to me. It -showed the internals that some useful knowledge might be obtained -from the hideous strangers, and excited their curiosity to know more -about us. - -I now made signs to the two persons appointed to instruct me in the -language, to accompany me on board, which after a few minutes they -did, together with two others, ordered for the same purpose, and to -make observations on our vessel and manners. I was the more willing to -render this interview a short one, because I saw that no progress could -be made until we had arranged some mode of communicating our ideas. - -Soon after our arrival on board, a boat came off from the shore with -a large supply of fruits and milk, which were most joyfully received; -and in return, I sent a spyglass, a looking-glass, and several articles -of glass ware. - -The vessels which had been signalled by Albicore, entered the bay and -passed into the river, without coming any nearer to us than the land -compelled them to.--After having shown my visiters about my ship, -every part of which they examined with scrutinizing attention, -I conducted them to my cabin, and sat down to the study of their -language. Two devoted themselves to this object; the other two wrote -an account of all they had observed, and sent it by the boat which -brought the fruits and milk. - -I had not been long at my study of language, when Mr. Albicore sent -me word that a bird as big as the ship was coming towards us. I went -on deck, and immediately saw that Albicore's bird was no other than -an ærial vessel, with a number of men on board. It came directly over -the ship, and descended so low that the people in it spoke with the -internals who were with me; but I was not yet qualified to understand -a word of what passed. I observed its appearance to be that of a -ship's barge, with an inflated windsail, in the form of a cylinder, -suspended longitudinally over it, leaving a space in which were the -people. It had a rudder like a fishes tail, and fins or oars, which -appeared to be moved by the people within. On the whole, it was not -a matter of great surprise to me. I only inferred from it, that the -internals understood ærostatics much better than the externals. - -I afterwards learned, that the air vessel over the boat was charged -with an elastic gas, which was readily made by putting a small quantity -of a very dense substance into some fluid, which disengaged a vast -quantity of this light gas. By this means, the specific gravity of -the vessel was diminished, in the same manner as that of a fish is -by its sound. I also learned that this vessel had been despatched by -the government of the country to make observations upon the stranger -who had entered their waters. - -The following day I made preparations for another visit on shore, -when I was made to understand by my instructors that I must not land -again until I could speak the language of the country. I was not much -pleased with this, not liking a confinement of two or three months, -which, even with my faculty of learning languages, was the least -term within which I could expect to qualify myself to speak one so -new and difficult. My instructors, however, appeared very earnest on -this point, and I thought it best to comply, and gave my undivided -attention to the necessary study. - -At the end of the first week, I was astonished and delighted to -find my instructors addressing me in very good English. I could -not help arguing, from their wonderful quickness of intellect, -and faithfulness of memory, that I should find them intelligent and -refined, beyond the conception of external mortals. In this I was -not disappointed. My greatest misfortune was a want of capacity to -comprehend intelligence so far beyond my powers of mind. They never -forgot any thing, and it was only necessary to name a thing once to fix -it on their memories. The alphabet once read, and sounds pronounced, -they had it perfectly, and expressed the greatest astonishment that -I should require them to repeat the same names of things over five -or six times, to fix them in my mind. - -Having qualified themselves to act as interpreters, they acquainted me -that permission had been given for me to visit the place of assembly, -where the Best Man and the council of worthies were in session; but -that my vessel must remain where she was, and none of the people be -permitted to go out of her. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - - The Author leaves the ship to visit the seat of - government--Description of the country.--Account of the polity - of the Symzonians, as stated by his conductor.--Comparison of - the industry, its objects and ends in the two worlds, and of the - necessities and habits of the internals and externals.--Expulsion - of the unworthy from Symzonia, to a place of exile near the - north pole.--External world supposed to have been peopled by - the outcasts. - - -It was the 2d of January, 1818, that I set out on this delightful -visit. A native boat came alongside to convey me, into which I stepped -with no more sense of fear than might be excited on going among the -spirits of the blessed; so perfectly did the appearance, manners, -conduct, and expression of countenance of this people accord with my -ideas of purity and goodness. - -On the way to the place of assembly, which was about one hundred -miles by water from the harbour where the ship lay, much occurred -to gratify my senses, instruct my mind, and delight my heart. We -ascended the river, the banks of which, and all the country near them, -appeared like one beautiful and highly cultivated garden, with neat -low buildings scattered throughout the scene. No crowded cities, -the haunts of vice and misery, hung like wens upon the lovely face -of nature. An appearance of equality in the condition and enjoyments -of the people pervaded the country. The buildings were all of them -large enough for comfort and convenience, but none of them so large, -or so charged with ornament, as to appear to have been erected as -monuments of the pride and folly of the proprietor. - -Great numbers of small cattle and other domestic animals enriched -the view, and a profusion of flowers, tastefully arranged in the -vicinity of every house, filled the air with perfume, and charmed -the eye with their variegated beauties. No fogs or vapours obscured -the charming prospect, nor formed in wainrows [3] to ornament the -scene, the mild influence of the sun not being sufficient to produce -rapid exhalations, nor the nights cold enough to condense them into -vapour. Nature's fairest landscape requires no mantle to obscure its -beauties, or to heighten their effect. - -The active inhabitants all seemed engaged in something useful. Some -were tending their cattle; some cultivating vegetables, fruits, -and flowers, while others practised the mechanic arts. - -As we passed on through this enchanting country, Surui, the eldest of -my conductors, instructed me in the civil polity, customs, manners, -and habits of this people. From him I learned, that in Symzonia all -power emanated from the people; that the affairs of the nation were -directed by - -1. A chief, who was honoured with the title of Best Man, and who held -his situation for life, unless impeached of crime; but whose issue -was considered ineligible to the same office for one generation after -his decease. - -2. An ordinary council of one hundred worthies, who assembled twice -in each year, and oftener when circumstances made it necessary, -to give advice to the Best Man. - -3. A grand council of worthies, who assembled once in four years, -to admit members to their body, collect the sense of the nation -on all public affairs, and aid the Best Man with their judgment in -the appointment of Efficients to discharge the executive duties of -the state. - -The Best Man could only be elected by an unanimous vote of the grand -council. - -The Worthies are of three orders--the Good, the Wise, and the Useful. - -The first, who have the title of Good, are such as have, by active -benevolence, exemplary conduct, and constant efforts to promote the -happiness of their fellow beings, obtained an expression of the public -voice, that they are superior to the generality of men. When any such -spontaneous testimony is given in favour of a man, it becomes the -duty of the worthies of the district to which he belongs, to make -the fact known to the grand council. The council examine minutely -into the grounds of the popular opinion, and if they find it well -founded, and that the man is truly good, benevolent, and virtuous, -they admit him a member by the title of Good. - -The second class of worthies, are such as have in like manner been -ascertained to have promoted the interests of society by improvements -in science, and the advancement of useful knowledge. Such men, if free -from vice, although not distinguished by benevolence, or the highest -class of virtues, are admitted to the order of worthies by the title -of Wise. This class corresponds to that of the philosophers of the -external world. - -The third, are all such as have manifested superior skill and diligence -in their respective callings, with evident and constant good will -towards their fellow men; such as have introduced useful inventions -and improvements in the arts, set good examples to their neighbours, -and are free from vicious propensities: these, on being found justly -entitled to such characters, are admitted to the order of worthies -by the title of Useful. - -The executive department is managed by Efficients, who are appointed -by the Best Man assisted by the Grand Council; and, in the interval -of their session, if vacancies occur, by the ordinary council of -One Hundred. - -It is the duty of the worthies to notice the conduct of the people -in their respective districts, to aid the feeble and distressed; -if any such be found, to encourage the wavering, and reward the -meritorious. Whenever any one of them discovers a man of retired but -useful life, active but unobtrusive benevolence, extensive usefulness, -with that modest shunning of the public exhibition of his doings which -is necessary to possess the public in his favour, it becomes the duty -of the Worthy to name him to the Grand Council, as a man of modest -and exemplary merit; and if his character is, on, investigation, found -to be agreeable to the representation, he is admitted accordingly. - -Amongst the standing rules of this body, Surui mentioned the fallowing: - -1st. Any man setting forth pretensions to superior merit, with a view -to obtain a place among the worthies, is to be recorded as a vain man, -and to be forever debarred the privilege of membership. - -2d. Any man convicted of taking measures to gain a false reputation -for merit, or of secretly influencing any person or persons to exert -themselves to forward his nomination to the Grand Council, is to be -recorded as a deceitful man, and to be thereby forever disqualified. - -3d. Any man known to have been guilty of unjust or oppressive conduct -towards any of those within his sphere of influence, or to have -persecuted any who have been placed within the control of his power, -to be recorded as a tyrannical man, and considered as wholly unfit -to have any agency in the government of his fellow beings. - -4th. Any man known to have affected a servile devotion to men of -influence and power, or to have courted popularity by flattering the -prejudices or passions of the people, to be recorded as a hypocritical -man, and to be considered for ever unworthy of admission to the -distinguished orders. - -5th. All persons guilty of crimes, all who infringe the rules of virtue -and morality, all who lead irregular lives, or who set a bad example -in society, are for ever excluded from a place among the worthies. The -last clause of this rule is understood to include old bachelors. - -All the Efficients are appointed from the order of Worthies; no man -being considered eligible to a place of trust who has not by his -exemplary conduct, usefulness, and undeviating rectitude, acquired -the notice and confidence of the public. - -The Grand Council being very numerous, transacts business by a -committee of three members from each district, to whom the other -members communicate such information and advice as they may deem -necessary. The recommendations to office are made by this body, -to whom the cause of each nomination, and the qualifications of -the persons nominated, are set forth in writing. The names of three -individuals are always sent up to the Best Man, with a description of -their qualifications and merits, for each office, of whom he select -and appoints the one who is, in his opinion, most deserving of it. - -The exercise of intrigue and backstair influence being a bar to -office, the offices of government are filled with the most intelligent, -upright, and valuable men in the country, selected with the sole view -of promoting the best interests of the nation. - -I could not refrain from expressing my admiration of a system so -wisely calculated to give the state the benefit of all the talents, -information, and tried integrity of the nation. Surui asked me with -apparent surprise, if we the Externals did not select men to fill -the places of honour, power, and trust, with the same scrupulous -attention to their character, purity of life, usefulness in society, -and goodness of heart. I was ashamed to acknowledge the truth, -and gave him a specimen of the veracity of an External by replying, -"yes, much the same, at least in the State of New-York, where I am -best acquainted." - -I inquired whether the order of Worthies was a numerous body, and was -informed that it embraced a majority of the men of mature age; all of -whom were called in turn according to the order of their admission, -to fill a place in the ordinary council of the Best Man. This council -consists of one hundred; fifty-five of whom must be of the Good, -forty of the Useful, and five of the Wise. Such persons, however, as -had failed to maintain the character which obtained their admission to -the order, might be excluded from a participation in the government; -and the Best Man had the power to pass their names when summoning -his ordinary council, provided he did not at any time pass more than -one-tenth of the names on the list: for that proportion was deemed -the utmost that could possibly deviate from the paths of rectitude. - -It appeared to me to be a very troublesome form of government, which -required the assemblage once in four years of more than half the men of -the nation. But I found this to be a great mistake. Surui assumed me, -that the labour necessary to procure all the essential comforts and -rational embellishments of life, in this fruitful country, and with the -temperate habits of the people, required but a small proportion of the -labour which could be performed; that there was abundant leisure for -an annual assemblage of all the people, without any detriment to the -business of society; and that every member of it enjoyed an abundance -of the comforts of life, without excessive or constant labour. So far -was the quadrennial assembly of the worthies from being regarded as -an evil, that the arrival of the time of its occurrence was hailed -as a season of great enjoyment, instruction, and usefulness. - -The numerous inlets of the sea, which intersected this beautiful -country in every direction, rendered travelling very easy and -expeditious; so that not only the Worthies, but also such of their -families as were of sufficient age to mingle with society, repaired -to the district of the assembly, in which none but the Good, the Wise, -and the Useful, were permitted to reside.--In the vessels in which they -are conveyed, they take a sufficient quantity of substantial provisions -for their own consumption, or to exchange for such as they may prefer -during their visit. They also carry tents, in which such as cannot be -accommodated in the houses of their friends reside, during their stay. - -None but Worthies are permitted to enter the district of the assembly -during the sitting. The first month, of the assembly is passed in -devotional exercises, and the interchange of visits and civilities, -all vieing with one another in endeavours to advance the happiness of -those about them, and in conversing on matters important or useful to -the commonweal. After comparing ideas with one another for a month, -they appoint a committee from their number to sit in grand council -one month, and no longer. All but the committee then return home, -unless business, or a desire to offer their advice on some subject -to the particular notice of the committee, induces them to remain. - -Surui described the enjoyments of the season of the grand assemblage -with the most enthusiastic expressions of delight.--None but the -Good, the Wise, the Useful, none but the virtuous and benevolent, are -then within the circuit of the district. The rarest gratifications -of which the human mind is susceptible in intellectual intercourse, -were then enjoyed without a sense of evil. - -To me, who had been accustomed to see a great proportion of mankind -constantly devoted to hard labour, or incessantly applying to business, -to obtain a precarious subsistence; to see them, not content with -the efforts which might be made by day, wearing out their health and -lives in toil by the midnight lamp, and scarcely obtaining what are -considered the necessaries of life,--it was difficult to comprehend -how a great proportion of this people could leave their business -and their homes, to pass months in a non-productive state, without -oppressing the remainder of the people with intolerable burdens. But -I was told that the Worthies received nothing for their services, and -were able to provide without difficulty for themselves: all the revenue -of the country was devoted to the maintenance of the Efficients, -(who were paid for the time actually devoted to public affairs,) -and to works of public utility. - -This state of things appeared to me at first to be beyond the limits -of possibility in the external world. My mind was for some time -occupied by reflecting upon the extraordinary difference in the -natural condition of the internals and externals; and I commenced a -comparison of the varieties and objects of industry in the two worlds, -and of those necessities and habits which demanded the products of -labour. This brought me to a clear view of the matter. I perceived -that the greater part of the labour of the externals was devoted -to the production of things useless or pernicious; and that of the -things produced or acquired, the distribution, through defects in -our social organization, was so unequal, that some few destroyed, -without any increase of happiness to themselves, the products of the -toil of multitudes. Instead of devoting our time to useful purposes, -and living temperately on the wholesome gifts of Providence, like -the blest internals, so as to preserve our health and strengthen our -minds, thousands of us are employed in producing inebriating liquors, -by the destruction of wholesome articles of food, to poison the -bodies, enervate the minds, and corrupt the hearts, of our fellow -beings. Other thousands waste their strength to procure stimulating -weeds and narcotic substances from the extreme parts of the earth, -for the purpose of exciting diseased appetites, whereby, in the -case of those who possess good things, the ability to enjoy them is -destroyed. Still greater numbers give their industry and their lives -to the acquisition of mere matters of ornament, for the gratification -of pride, an insatiable passion, which is only stimulated to increase -its demands by every new indulgence. I saw that the internals owed -their happiness to their rationality, to a conformity with the laws -of nature and religion; and that the externals were miserable, from -the indulgence of inordinate passions, and subjection to vicious -propensities. - -I inquired of Surui how I should know the distinguished orders? what -badge or outward sign was worn by them? To which he replied, "They -are known by their undeviating rectitude of conduct: the good by -their benevolence, the wise by their knowledge, the useful by their -works." In answer to my inquiries as to the condition of those who were -not of the order of Worthies, I was informed that it was very various, -according to their conduct. Most of the people, seeing the happy -condition of the Worthies, and being extremely desirous to partake -of the refined enjoyments of the grand assemblage, strove earnestly -to become deserving of a place among them; but some, giving way to -their carnal appetites and passions, fell into intemperate indulgences, -whereby they produced disease to their bodies, and a necessity for much -labour to supply their unreasonable consumption, and at the same time -an aversion to the performance of the labour which is necessary to the -preservation of health; that the constant exhortations and efforts of -the Worthy were found insufficient to restrain some of the youth from -forming such pernicious habits, so that before they were sufficiently -taught by experience and the examples before them, that to be good -is to be happy, they degenerated into vice. This too often led to -crime. To support their wastefulness, they infringed the rights of -others. When such men became, in the opinions of the select worthies, -incorrigible and dangerous to society, they were transported to a -land far distant to the north, the extreme limit of the world, where -a part of the year the heat is intense. There they continue in their -vicious course, pursuing the gratification of their sensual appetites, -and are punished with diseases of body which enervate their faculties, -inordinate passions which torture their minds, and fierce desires -which are incapable of being satisfied.--The influence of their gross -appetites and of the climate, causes them to lose their fairness of -complexion and beauty of form and feature. They become dark coloured, -ill favoured, and mis-shapen men, not much superior to the brute -creation. They retain, indeed, said Surui, some of the customs and -manners of Symzonia; and the ceremony of pulling the nose in salutation -by those who had strayed to the "icy hoop," and were seen by Captain -Ross, of whom I had spoken, was no doubt a corruption of the graceful -mode of salutation practised where I then was. On my first appearance, -they had apprehended that I was of that outcast race; for it had been -observed by those who had conveyed delinquents to the place of exile, -that the descendants of the outcasts were enlarged in stature and -size, owing to the grossness of their habits, and at the same time -that they had lost their strength and activity. One of the pure race, -it was believed, was able to lift three times as much as any one of -the degenerates, or to leap three times as high. Their suspicions -of my being of the outcast tribe, were allayed by the testimony of -reverence to the Supreme Being which I had given, by falling on my -knees, and imploring the aid of heaven in my embarrassed situation; -whereby they knew that I could not be unworthy of their regard. - -I felt not a little humbled by this account of the origin of the -northern internal people, and cautiously avoided any observation -that might discover, to my intelligent conductor, the suspicion which -darted through my mind, that we the externals were indeed descendants -of this exiled race; some of whom, penetrating the "icy hoop" near -the continent of Asia or America, might have peopled the external -world. The gross sensuality, intemperate passions, and beastly habits -of the externals, all testified against us. - -I inquired of Surui where this place of exile was situated. He said -it was at the extreme northern part of the earth, as near the fountain -of light and heat as mortals could go, without danger of perishing by -fire: that they could only visit it in the temperate season, because -during the rest of the year, the sun was seen directly over head, when -the heat was so great as to render existence extremely painful. By this -account I knew that the place of exile must be situated somewhere on -the verge of the rim of the north polar opening, as there and there -only, could the sun be seen directly over head, without going to the -external tropic. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - - The Author arrives at the seat of government.--Description of the - Auditory.--Symzonian manner of assembling for devotion and public - business.--Etiquette of the Symzonian Court.--He is admitted to - an audience by the Best Man.--Account of the interview, and of - his unfortunate efforts to exalt the character of the externals, - by describing some of their splendid follies. - - -We were three days in passing from the ship to the place of -assembly. Surui uniformly ordered a halt, when the light was so faint -as not to permit me to have a distinct view of the country. Wherever -we stopped, we were visited by great numbers of people, many of whom, -to my extreme mortification, looked upon me with evident pity, if not -with disgust. Yet they were very kind, and brought a profusion of the -choicest fruits, vegetables, milk, and honey, and great quantities -of beautiful flowers.--The face of the country became more and more -beautiful as we approached the place of assemblage, which is in -the most perfect part of this delightful region. The most elegant -specimens of ornamental gardening on the external world, give but a -faint idea of the appearance of this whole district. - -The principal object that attracted my notice on arriving at the seat -of government, was the Auditory, which towered above all surrounding -objects, and struck me with awe and admiration. I could not conceive -how so stupendous an edifice could have been reared by such a people. I -had indeed observed, that notwithstanding their inferiority in size, -they were much stronger, and more active than the Externals. The -tallest men were about five feet high, but they leaped twenty or -thirty feet at a bound without much apparent exertion, and easily -lifted burthens which three of our men would find it difficult to -move; still the vast fabric before me appeared out of all proportion -to the ability even of mortals as highly gifted as these. It was a -single dome of one arch, supported by a peristyle of huge columns, -and covering at least eight acres of ground. The extreme elevation of -the centre was seven hundred and fifty feet. The whole was formed of -stone, in massy blocks, cemented with a paste of the same material, -so as to appear to be all of one solid piece. - -Surui said that when the people determined to erect a temple, in -which they might assemble for devotional exercises and expressions -of gratitude to the Divine Being, they regarded the object as one -towards which the whole nation ought to be allowed to contribute. They -determined to construct a building in which the greatest multitude -ever collected in that district might worship God; and which would -also serve for the deliberations of the Grand Council, that they might -always be considered to be in the presence of the Supreme Ruler, and -discharge their high trust with a due sense of their responsibility -to Him who seeth the heart. They had therefore built this Auditory -by the surplus labour of the nation: each man having devoted so much -of his time to the work as his private affairs would permit, and for -no other reward than that of his own feelings and the good opinion -of his fellow men. - -The dome, which appeared so immense and so impracticable, was formed -on a high conical hill, by which the site was originally occupied. In -the sides of this hill shafts were sunk to the intended level of the -foundation, in which the columns were reared. The top of the hill was -then shaped for the reception of the stone of the arch, which was thus -easily constructed upon the solid earth. When the whole was completed, -the earth both within and without the structure was removed, leaving -the edifice as it now appeared upon the plain. Within the columns, -the earth was formed into a concavity, with graduated steps to the -centre, so that an individual in any part of the immense area could -see every person within the circumference of the dome. - -In the centre, on a large convex platform, the Best Man has a seat, -fixed upon a pivot, which permits him to turn with ease to every part -of the Auditory. Over this platform an orchestra supported on pillars -accommodates five hundred musicians, whose melody, reverberated by -the vaulted roof, fills this tremendous and unbroken space. - -In this edifice all the Worthies assemble once a day, for -religious services, during the preparation month. The exercises -are always commenced with music, to dispose the soul to heavenly -contemplation. After the music, they all kneel and pray in -silence. Speakers designated by the Best Man then ascend the platform -by turns and deliver their sentiments on subjects worthy the attention -of so enlightened and devout an assembly. The whole is closed with -music, that all may depart in harmony of thought and feeling. - -Three hours are thus devoted every day for a month, that the hearts and -minds of the members may be improved, and that they may be prepared -to deliberate upon the affairs of state in perfect fellowship and -good will. - -When the committee of the Grand Council, or the ordinary council -of the Best Man, meet for the despatch of business, they take their -seats in compact order upon one side of the platform, leaving the area -below for spectators; and as the most important matters are fully -discussed in conversation during the preparation month, and as all -the Worthies have good sense enough to know that their own happiness -will be most certainly promoted by a faithful and pure devotion to -the true interests of their fellow-men, the Best Man is not subjected -to the inconvenience of listening for six hours together to a speech, -calculated only to render a clear subject obscure and doubtful; nor is -he who offers the fruits of his experience, or of his studies, insulted -by the spectacle of an audience writing letters, reading newspapers, -or sealing packets, to mark their contempt for his opinions. - -I found a convenient and delightful lodge prepared for my reception. It -was small, but sufficient for comfort. There were no servants attached -to it, nor was there need of any. All necessary food, vegetables, -fruits, milk, honey, &c. were sent daily, and placed where I could -conveniently help myself. I soon learned that these supplies were -voluntary contributions, and that the people took their turns in the -privilege of administering to the wants of the stranger in their land. - -Surui was accommodated in a similar manner, close by my dwelling. He -passed a great part of the time with me, acting as linguist, and -continuing to teach me the language of the country, in which I was -still very imperfect. - -The day after my arrival, I was honoured with an audience by the Best -Man of this admirable people. I inquired of Surui as to the etiquette -to be observed on going to court--whether I must uncover my head as in -Europe, or my feet after the manner of the Asiatics? whether I must -bow my head to the ground, making a right angle of my body, and walk -backwards on retiring, as in the court of Great Britain, or flounder -in flat on my belly, after the fashion of the Siamese? whether I was -to stand or sit? if to sit, whether on the ground, or cross-legged, -or on my haunches like a monkey? - -Surui could not, or would not, understand me, and I concluded he -wished the Best Man to see what the manners of an external would be, -untaught in the customs of the country. I therefore determined to -give them a specimen of the deportment of a republican freeman, and -conduct myself with the easy respectful politeness of a gentleman -and citizen of the world. - -On approaching the dwelling of the Best Man, I was charmed to find that -it differed in no respect from the ordinary dwellings of the people, -except that it was of greater extent, owing to his numerous family, -and a superior neatness and regularity was apparent in the grounds, -which were stocked with a variety of the most beautiful and fragrant -flowers and shrubbery. The house was literally in a bower of sweets. - -The Best Man put me entirely at my ease in point of etiquette, -by meeting me in the open air, in the garden, and without either -the stiffness of affected pomp, or the austere visage of assumed -sanctity. He received me with that frank, affectionate manner, which -constitutes true politeness, the offspring of benevolence. - -By the aid of Surui, we entered immediately into conversation. The -first inquiries of the Best Man were, as to whence I came, and -my motives for leaving my country. By means of a globe, which I -had brought from the ship, and which I now caused to be produced, -I explained to him the situation of my country, and the phenomena -attending the external region, of which, till now, he had no -conception, except from some supposed ravings of a Wise man, who -was thought to be mad. The frightful glare of the sun, and the great -extremes of heat, as his imagination pictured them in such an external -region, were horrible to his apprehension. - -My motive I stated to be, a desire to gain a more extended knowledge -of the works of nature; adding, that I had undertaken this perilous -voyage only to ascertain whether the body of this huge globe were an -useless waste of sand and stones, contrary to the economy usually -displayed in the works of Providence, or, according to the sublime -conceptions of one of our Wise men, a series of concentric spheres, -like a nest of boxes, inhabitable within and without, on every side, so -as to accommodate the greatest possible number of intelligent beings. - -I was already too well acquainted with the sentiments of this people, -not to know that it would be extremely imprudent to suffer any -expression to escape me which should discover that a desire of wealth, -or of the means of sensual gratification, was among the motives -which actuate the externals; such a disclosure being calculated: -only to excite their aversion, and contempt. - -The Best Man indulged me with a long interview; and it was a happy -circumstance that I had with me a globe, charts, maps, books, and -drawings, to illustrate and corroborate my statements; for otherwise -I might have caused him to suspect that I was a most desperate -liar, so strange and absurd did many of my representations appear -to him. Happily, Surui was already able to read English books; and -when I observed an appearance of doubt on the part of the Best Man, I -sought out some passage in a printed work to corroborate my statement, -which Surui translated into the language of the country. - -I spoke of the danger I had encountered from ice. This was -incomprehensible to him. He assured me that water never congealed in -the internal world; that the innate warmth of the earth was sufficient -to prevent it, and he could not understand how so great a degree of -cold could exist in the external world, so much more exposed to the -direct influence of the fountain of light and heat. I endeavoured -to account for this by explaining to him the generation of cold by -evaporation and absorption, and promised to send to the ship for -my air pump, to show him ice artificially produced by absorption in -an exhausted receiver. I then proceeded to account for the equable -heat in the internal world, and the extreme cold at the icy hoop, -upon principles which appeared to me to be very obvious. - -In the first place, the sun's direct influence is exerted, on an -equal portion of the globe at all times; which influence is felt, -on the external surface, only where it is directly exerted. In such -places it is felt intensely, but from the free action of the external -atmosphere, so soon as that influence is withdrawn the heat escapes and -flies off rapidly, generating cold in its passage, or by evaporation -as we express it. Those parts of the external world from which the -influence of the sun is withdrawn for the greatest length of time -thus become intensely cold, excepting in the immediate vicinity of -the polar openings, where the issue of warm air, from the internal -cavity, tempers the atmosphere: but at a short distance from the verge -of the opening the very influence of this warm air generates cold, -by parting rapidly with its latent heat and condensing into snow -and hail, which causes the circle of ice between the 70th and 80th -degrees of latitude, called the "icy hoop." This escape of heat from -the warm air which issues from the internal world, is so great as to -irradiate the atmosphere near the polar openings; and in the extreme -cold of winter, during the absence of the sun, this irradiation is -so vivid as to be visible fifty degrees towards the equator, where -the inhabitants, being fond of simple names, call it Aurora Borealis. - -On the other hand, as an equal portion of the globe is at all times -acted upon directly by the sun's rays, the internal contents of that -globe must be always subject to the same degree of heat, excepting -such variations as may be occasionally produced by the direct rays -of the sun admitted through the polar openings. Of this fact we -had evidence on the external world, where, in the most intense cold -weather, we had but to penetrate a short distance into the earth to -escape its influence. The temperature of mines, dug a short distance -into the earth, was always above the freezing point; and the degree -of heat at a given distance below the general surface of the earth, -was found to be nearly the same in all latitudes, and at all seasons. - -Hence what he called the innate warmth of the earth, was nothing -more than the collected heat of the sun absorbed and retained by -the globe from the continued action of that luminary upon an equal -proportion of it, at all times, in the same manner as a glass globe -full of water, when set before a fire, will absorb and diffuse heat -throughout the contents of the vessel equally, although but one side -is exposed to the direct influence of the fire, while that part of -the external surface of the vessel which is not exposed to the fire, -but is subject to the influence of the cold air of the room, will -obtain no other heat than may be communicated by the fluid within. - -My printed books were subjects of great interest. The art of printing -was unknown, although that of engraving was practised. I explained -the process of making and using types, and promised the Best Man to -instruct such persons as he might be pleased to direct, in the art, -in return for the hospitality and civilities I had received. - -He expressed a desire to be made acquainted with the form of -government, the religion, habits, sentiments and practices of the -people of the external world, particularly as to our acquirements in -useful knowledge: on all which subjects I was extremely disinclined -to converse, being aware that if I spoke the truth I should fill -him with disgust, and if I endeavoured to disguise the truth, and to -reply to his inquiries from my own imagination, I might be detected -in falsehood, and deservedly turned with contempt out of the country. - -To his inquiries respecting government, I replied by describing briefly -the principles of the American constitution, taking care to say nothing -about the qualifications for office, nor of the means resorted to to -obtain preferment. He thought the scheme well calculated for a very -virtuous and enlightened people, but liable to many abuses. through -the want of a probationary course of qualification for places of -trust and power. - -On the subject of religion, I frankly confessed that every man -was permitted to worship God according to the dictates of his -own conscience, and that our government did not recognize one -form of worship in preference to another. With this he appeared -to be satisfied, but when I inadvertently added, that one of our -wise men, who had filled the chair of "Best Man" of the nation, had -expressed the opinion that it was of no importance whether the people -worshipped one God or twenty, he started with horror, and expressed -the greatest astonishment that an enlightened people should permit -wise men to obtain controlling influence in a country; for, however -useful and valuable they might be found to be within their proper -sphere of action, like all powerful agents they were dangerous to -the happiness of mankind if not restrained by powerful checks and -controlling influences, to prevent their running into impracticable -measures:--wherefore, not more than five wise men were permitted to -sit in his council of one hundred. - -On the subject of our habits, I was as brief as he would permit me -to be, and took especial care to speak only of the habits of the most -virtuous, enlightened and truly refined people of our external world; -but in spite of my caution, he extracted much from me which filled -him with disgust and pity. That the most pure of our people should -be afflicted with disease, was evidence to his mind that we were -a contaminated race, descendants of a degenerated people. Having -discovered from my remarks, that we ate the flesh of warm blooded -animals, prepared in many forms with condiments and sauces to give -it a higher relish, and, instead of confining ourselves to the pure -fluid provided by nature to quench our thirst, that we indulged in -fermented and distilled liquors even to inebriation, he was not at a -loss for the cause of disease and misery, and was only surprised that -such things were permitted, or, being permitted, that the race did -not become extinct. Great inequality in the condition of our people, -he inferred as a necessary consequence upon the indulgence in vice; -because, while a virtuous man will perform so much of useful labour, -or business of equal utility to society, as a matter of duty, as shall -amount to his full share of consumption of the common stock of value, -and if his labours be blessed with abundance, will not expend the -surplus above his wants in things useless and pernicious or in the -gratification of his passions, but bestow it upon the meritorious -needy, to support the unfortunate, or in useful public works, the -vicious man is rendered averse to the performance of his duty, and -becomes wasteful of the products of the industry of others, without -regarding the means, whether just or unjust, by which he may possess -himself of them. Therefore, men feeding upon animal food and costly -drinks, and given to the indulgence of inordinate passions, must of -necessity become very unequal in their condition, depraved in their -appetites, and miserable in proportion to their aberrations from the -strictest temperance, virtue, and piety. - -Finding that the longer we conversed on the habits, manners, -and sentiments of the externals, the lower they would sink in the -estimation of this truly enlightened man, I endeavoured to turn the -discourse to our acquisitions in useful knowledge, in full confidence -that on this subject I should have a decided advantage, and be able -to raise the people of the external world to a high place in his -consideration. I spoke of the perfection to which we had arrived -in the manufacture of apparel; of muslins wrought so fine as not -to obstruct the sight, and worth per square yard, the value of two -months labour of an able-bodied man; of the shawls of Cashmere, so -exquisitely made, as to be valued at two years labour of an industrious -farmer or mechanic; of laces to ornament the dresses of our wives and -daughters, one pound weight of which would amount to a sum sufficient -to purchase the labour of four men for life; of splendid cut glass, -and ornamental wares, dazzling to the eye of the beholder; of works -of silver and of gold, so beautifully wrought, and so much valued, -as to be objects of adoration to many of our people. The Best Man -could hear me no further on this subject; he pronounced these things -to be useless baubles, the creation of vanity, pernicious in their -influence upon the foolish, who might be so weak as to place their -affections on them, and the production of them a most preposterous -perversion of the faculties bestowed upon us by a beneficent Creator -for useful purposes. What possible use could there be for a garment, -which would neither retain warmth to the body, nor protect it from -external evils, or from the observation of others? And what apology -could be found for wasting the labour of four men for life, which, -properly directed, would supply the wants of twenty human beings, to -provide ornaments for those who, if not arrayed in the white robes -of purity and virtue, must be odious, although bedizened with all -the finery which human ingenuity can devise. - -I spoke of our skill in arms, in hopes to excite his admiration; of -the invention of gunpowder; of fleets of ships for the transportation -of armies to invade the countries of our enemies, and contend in naval -fight for the right of navigating the ocean. This was the most unhappy -subject I had yet touched upon. Instead of exciting his admiration, -I found it difficult to convince him that my account was true, for he -could not conceive it possible that beings in outward form so much -like himself, could be so entirely under the influence of base and -diabolical passions, as to make a science of worrying and destroying -each other, like the most detestable reptiles. - -I felt a strong desire to draw directly from the fountain head of -knowledge in this country, immediate information on a variety of -subjects relating to the condition, sentiments, and knowledge of this -remarkable people, but did not think it decorous to question so exalted -a character in this my first interview. I therefore limited myself to -a demand to be permitted to moor my vessel in a secure place in the -river, and remain until the return of the next summer's sun should -render my return to the external world perfectly practicable. - -I had but to explain the danger to which we should all be exposed, -of perishing by cold on the passage, if I attempted to make it so -late in the season, to obtain from the benevolent Best Man the desired -permission to winter there; and orders were accordingly given to admit -the Explorer into a river, and moor her in a place assigned for that -purpose, but under an express stipulation that no person should land, -or have any communication with the people, unless officially authorized -by the Best Man's orders, under the strict inspection of confidential -Efficients. Enough had been already discovered of our sentiments and -habits, to convince the Best Man that a free communication with my -people would endanger the morals and happiness of his. - -To save myself the mortification of further conversation on the useful -knowledge of the Externals, I promised to put all my books into the -hands of Surui, to be translated into the language of the country; -and having heard the Best Man's orders that every attention should be -paid to my wants and those of my people, and that information on all -subjects interesting to me, except the construction of their engine -of defence, should be freely communicated to me, and the records of -the assembly opened to my examination, I took my leave. The Best Man -kindly ordered Surui to bring me often to his house, to converse on -matters relating to the External World, and to the promotion of the -happiness of our fellow beings. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER X. - - Containing some account of the strange rationality of the - Symzonians.--Their simplicity of dress.--Manner of making - cloth.--Circulating medium.--Taxes. - - -The friendly reception which had been given to me by the Best Man, -and his commands that information should be freely communicated to -the stranger, were a sufficient introduction for me to the notice -and kind offices of this benevolent people. They required no other -evidence that my rank was sufficiently elevated to render me a fit -associate for them, than the fact that the Best Man had found my -conversation so interesting as to induce him to pass several hours -in my company. I was visited by all classes of the community, and -gave scope to my eager desire to possess myself of all the useful -knowledge and science possessed by the most intelligent of the people. - -I gave my attention in the first instance almost exclusively to the -Wise, in expectation of finding their conversation most instructive; -but I soon found that like our philosophers they were more given to -abstract theories than to practical knowledge, and would contend for -hours to establish some fanciful hypothesis, to the neglect of plain -and practical subjects of inquiry. I therefore turned my attention -to the Good and the Useful, who never spoke on subjects they did not -understand, and whose information, though not so abstruse as that of -the Wise, extended to all matters of established utility. Moreover they -could be implicitly relied on; for having no favourite hypotheses to -maintain, and no selfish ends to answer, they explained every thing -to me frankly and in an intelligible manner. - -In this way, and by frequent interviews with the Best Man, as also -by actual observation, I ascertained the following, among numberless -other interesting facts: - -That the fatal sin cupidity, which drove our first parents out of -Paradise, is almost wholly unknown to the pure and uncontaminated -Internals. They view the gifts of a bountiful Providence as -an abundant supply of good things for the benefit of all, and -sufficient to gratify all the rational wants of all the creatures -for whom they are provided. They admire and adore the beneficence -which could find pleasure in creating intelligent beings, and in -providing for all their wants; and are emulous to approximate towards -the spirit of love and goodness to which they are indebted for all -their blessings. They are continually striving to improve themselves -in this respect, by unceasing efforts to render one another, and all -creatures within the sphere of their influence, happier and better; -instead of exerting all their faculties, like the Externals, to gain -advantages over their fellow men, to acquire the means of gratifying -the worst passions of their nature, or to advance their own pleasures -by rendering others miserable. - -All the real wants of men in society are provided for in the most -simple and natural manner. Usefulness is the test of value. That -artificial wealth which exists amongst the Externals, and depends -for its support upon their capricious passions, has no place with -the Symzonians; our whole list of fancy articles, all our ornaments, -every description of things which are only calculated to gratify pride -or vanity, are considered by them as worse than useless. They wear -garments because they defend the body, and are necessary to decency; -but it never occurred to their simple minds, that the fairest work -of an Infinite Being could be improved by trinkets and fripperies of -man's device. Their judgments are not so much perverted, nor their -tastes so much depraved. Therefore, having ascertained a mode of -providing necessary raiment in the most convenient manner, they one -and all adopted it, and, by dressing alike, they maintain a perfect -equality in their wants in that respect - -Their cloth is a beautiful substance, manufactured in a peculiar -manner, by a process resembling that employed by the natives of the -South Sea Islands, and not unlike our mode of making paper. - -The material is found in caves and amongst the rocks of the mountains, -where a species of insects, larger than our spider, produce it in -great abundance. They form webs somewhat like those of spiders, -but of a firmer texture, and more compactly woven. These webs have -the properties of asbestos, owing probably to the insects subsisting -upon that or some similar substance. The inhabitants collect them -with great care, and lay them in a mould of the dimensions of the -piece of cloth to be made, placing so many of them one upon another -as the intended thickness of the cloth requires. This done, a fluid -preparation which hardens by the influence of fire, without losing -its elasticity, is poured over it. It is then pressed firmly together, -and passed over a heated cylinder, which completes the operation. - -This cloth is extremely convenient. Being incombustible, like asbestos, -it is only necessary to pass a garment through the fire to purify -it perfectly. It is also very durable; and being exquisitely white, -it corresponds admirably with the delicate complexions of the people, -and the mild light of the region they inhabit. - -All the divisions of labour necessary to the convenience and welfare of -society, are here perfectly understood. The community is not bewildered -by a voluminous and complex system of political economy, consisting -of abstract principles, buried in abstract and unintelligible words, -and rendered too intricate to be understood by those who have common -sense, or too inapplicable to civilized society to be adopted by those -who have any sort of sense--invented by the Wise men of one country -to mislead the politicians of another, and to depress the Good and -the Useful. - -Their circulating medium consists of tokens for every variety of -things, and every description of services. These tokens are originally -issued by the government, for services performed and articles supplied -for the national benefit. One description represents one day's labour; -a second, a standard measure of grain; a third, a small measure of -pulse; a fourth, a given quantity of a particular fruit; a fifth, -a measure of cloth, and so forth. There being a sufficient variety -to represent all the articles which are in common use, they have all -the advantages of exchange, without the trouble of delivery when the -things are not wanted for actual consumption. - -When, by any circumstances, the supply of any particular article in -any district falls short of the demand to such a degree, that the -tokens will not command what they represent, it is the business of -the government to draw from the more fruitful districts a sufficiency -to equalize the value, either by direct purchase, or by requiring -the contributions of the fruitful districts in kind, and sending the -articles to the place of scarcity, or by receiving the contributions -of the district in which scarcity prevails in tokens, and thus raising -their value, or by both these operations in extreme cases. - -Commerce is practised only for the common convenience of society. The -accumulation of wealth, and indulgence in luxury, being disreputable, -and a bar to admission to the distinguished orders, an overreaching -and avaricious spirit is not generated by traffic, as in the external -world, but every operation of trade and transfer is performed on the -most reasonable terms, which will enable him who performs it to live -upon an equality with his fellow-men. - -All contributions are required directly from the people, that every -one may know the full extent of his proportion of the expense of -government. Every man under the age of one hundred years, is rated at -the same amount, unless he have young children; in which case the tax -is reduced in proportion to the number of such children, according to -a graduated scale. This tax is so light that nothing but a criminal -want of industry or frugality can hinder any one from paying it. - -The whole revenue of government requires no more than one or two -days labour of each man per annum; and as the government exists for -the sole purpose of preserving the freedom of the citizens, in the -pursuit of happiness, and in the enjoyment of all those privileges -and immunities which are compatible with the well-being of society, -all are equally indebted for its benefits. Property being altogether a -matter of secondary consideration, is not considered a proper object -of taxation. In case of an accumulation of good things in the hands of -an individual, beyond his wants, the surplus is in general voluntarily -devoted by him to the use and benefit of his fellow-beings, in some -shape or other, for the promotion of his own happiness. Doing good -is here considered as the highest of earthly gratifications. When a -man is more than one hundred years of age, he is considered to have -performed his full share of public service, and to be entitled to -exemption for the remainder of his days. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - - Containing some account of the Symzonian engine of defence.--Story - of a very ancient war with an internal nation called Belzubians, - which caused the invention of this engine.--Opposition of the - Good men to its being used.--Fultria the inventor's speech in - defence of it.--Deliberations of the Council.--Termination of - the war.--Sentiments of the people on the subject. - - -The prohibition by the Best Man of any information being given to -me of their engines of defence, excited my curiosity. I was anxious -to discover what those engines were, and why a people so good, so -benevolent, and so harmless, could have any occasion for them. I -dared not ask for any direct account of their nature, as I knew -that an attempt to induce any one to break through the Best Man's -injunctions, would be considered as the greatest of offences, and -cause my immediate expulsion from the favoured district. - -All my efforts to obtain the desired information indirectly, fell short -of my object. I however gathered from casual observation, and from some -manuscripts which fell into my hands, that in times long past, the -people of Symzonia maintained a commercial intercourse with a nation -on the opposite side of the internal world, beyond the equator, called -in their ancient manuscripts Belzubians. This intercourse was kept up -for many years; for the Wise men contended that it was beneficial, -by enabling the people of Symzonia to obtain many things cheaper -than they could themselves produce them. But in process of time, -the Good men discovered that the people became poorer, more addicted -to idleness, and given to the indulgence of many inordinate desires -and extravagant vanities. At length the unworthy became so numerous, -as to endanger the morality and virtue of the whole community, and it -was necessary to banish them to a place of exile, in the hot regions -near the extreme limit of the world at the north. - -This was the origin of the system of casting out the corrupted members -of society. At the time of its adoption, the government endeavoured -to remove the cause of the evil by prohibiting, as they had a clear -right to do, all further intercourse, for purposes of trade, with -the Belzubians: but the latter had become so depraved and sordid, by -their addiction to traffic, and were so puffed up with the idea that -they were the most powerful nation of the two, that they resolved to -maintain a commerce with the Symzonians by force, in defiance of the -regulations of the government. - -The Good men were thus placed in a most painful dilemma. They could -not prevent this forced intercourse entirely, Without shedding the -blood of their fellow beings, to which they felt an insurmountable -aversion. For a time they contented themselves with endeavours to -reclaim the people. They exhorted them to abstain from the use of the -things brought by the Belzubians; and finally succeeded so far as to -diminish the advantages which their enemies had before derived from -the trade, so as to make it no longer worth pursuing. The Belzubians -then sent armed men in their ships to take possession of Symzonia, -and compel the Good men and the people to submit to the contaminating -intercourse demanded by their cupidity. - -The most frightful distress now pervaded the land. The enemy having to -do with a people who had no arms, and who were in the highest degree -averse to the shedding of blood, easily conquered a large portion of -the country. Those who had been corrupted by intercourse with them, -joined the standard of the Belzubians, and forwarded their views. - -The total subjection of the country, and the destruction of its -virtues and happiness, would have ensued, but for the timely appearance -amongst them of a man of singular ingenuity. This man, named Fultria, -invented the air vessels, one of which I have before spoken of. He -also invented the engine of defence, the description of which was -prohibited. The knowledge of its construction, and the manner of using -it, was confined to a few select Good men, who were bound to secrecy -by the most solemn obligations. I could obtain no other idea of it, -than that it was a vast machine moved upon wheels, and rendered of -but little specific gravity, by means of the apparatus employed in -their air vessels, by the help of which it could, on an emergency, be -raised into the air for a short time, to cross rivers or broken ground. - -It was propelled by means of a great number of tubes, projecting -very obliquely through the bottom near the ground, through which air -was forced with such prodigious violence, that the resistance of the -earth and atmosphere impelled the machine forwards: in this way it -was moved with astonishing velocity. From all sides of this engine -a great number of double tubes projected, through which two kinds -of gas were caused to issue. These gases uniting at the extremities, -produced a flame of intense heat, like that of our compound blow-pipe -on a large scale, which flame, according to tradition, was ejected -with such force, as to consume every thing for half a mile in every -direction. The interior of the machine was sufficiently capacious -to admit men enough to direct its motions and prepare the gases, -and also the materials and apparatus necessary to their production. - -When this terrific engine was completed, Fultria proposed to -exterminate the enemy at once; whereupon all the Good and many of the -Wise men objected to so barbarous a proceeding. They contended that -it would be contrary to the practice of civilized nations, and taking -an unjustifiable advantage of the enemy, by using means of warfare -not resorted to by civilized men, and not much better than poisoning -them secretly. They could not consent to such unheard of barbarity; -at best it was justifying the means by the end, and doing evil that -good might come; but it was better to suffer wrong than to do wrong. - -Fultria, on hearing these objections to the use of the means of -emancipation which he had provided with so much labour and ingenuity, -ascended the platform, and addressed the Best Man in Council in -defence of his engine and his views. I found his speech on record, -it having been carefully preserved, notwithstanding the lapse of many -centuries. I translated it with the aid of Surui, but our language is -not sufficiently nervous to convey the sentiments of this enlightened -man with the energy and conciseness of the original language. I -endeavoured to put down the substance of it in English, but it cannot -be expected that a sailor should do such justice to a fine specimen of -Symzonian eloquence as might be done by some of our professed belles -lettres scholars, who pass their lives in studying the arrangement of -words and in admiring the elegance and dignity of their compositions. - - -FULTRIA'S SPEECH. - -"Best Man of our race! you have been told that it would be barbarous -in us to exterminate the corrupt and contaminating invaders--should -we not be more barbarous to submit to depravement and degradation? - -"You have been told that by using the engine I have invented, you -would take an unjustifiable advantage of our foes--do they not take -unjustifiable advantage by employing their superior skill in the -diabolical arts of physical warfare and moral turpitude, to prostrate -the strength and destroy the virtue of our people? - -"You have heard it urged, that the practices of civilized men do not -justify the use of such means of warfare, and that the adoption of them -would be the extreme of inhumanity. What then shall we do? Shall we -permit the wicked to gratify their cupidity by plundering the feeble -and devastating the defenceless, with little danger of hardship to -themselves, and many allurements of advantage from success, and thus -perpetuate war by rendering the pursuit of it safe and attractive? - ---"No, Sir; it is most humane to cut off the instigators and performers -of inhuman deeds. - -"I would show my abhorrence of war by rendering it too horrible to -be encountered. - -I would abolish war by ensuring inevitable destruction to all who -engaged in it - -I would utterly destroy the invaders that none may hereafter dare to -draw the sword for invasion. - -Let all who take the sword perish by the sword, and war will be known -no more." - -The Council deliberated upon the measures recommended by Fultria, -and upon the miserable situation of the country. They had no -support but their confidence in the Sovereign Ruler of the world, -and no hope of relief but from the favour of his Providence. They -feared that a majority of the people had now become so degenerate in -their minds, and so exasperated by their circumstances, that they -would be eager to second the views of Fultria, and engage in the -work of destruction. But, for themselves, with a few exceptions, -they remained steadfast in their virtuous principles and feelings, -and could by no means consent to do what every dictate of reason and -religion forbade. They were accountable for their own acts, not for -the acts of others, or their consequences. They knew that to do right, -and that alone, was safe. If they acted, that must be their rule. The -end could not justify the means. - -At last it was thought that the exhibition of this terrible machine, -with all its engines in operation, in sight of the Belzubians and -their adherents, would impress them with such dread and horror, as to -drive them immediately from the country, and effectually deter them -from ever returning. This expedient was therefore tried, and it was -completely successful. The enemy fled with as much precipitancy and -haste as did the Midianites at the sight of the lamps and the noise of -the broken pitchers of Gideon. The land was presently cleared of the -Belzubians and their apostate followers; all intercourse with their -country was prohibited; and since that time war had not been known. - -Three or four thousand years had now passed away, and doubts were -entertained whether this were matter of genuine history, or an -ingenious allegory, intended to present to the people a glowing picture -of the evils which might follow a gross departure from purity of life -and rectitude of principle. There were very few who could conceive it -possible that human nature had ever sank to such extreme depravity, -and that so great a proportion of mankind had been enslaved by evil -passions, as to render the wicked the most numerous. In general, -therefore, it was supposed that Fultria, willing to exhibit a -magnificent specimen of his genius, and being somewhat under the -influence of vanity, as Wise men often are, fancied it possible for -such a deplorable state of corruption and violence to happen in a -long course of ages, and stated an imaginary case, as an excuse for -constructing his tremendous engine. - -I did not express my opinions on this subject, for I thought it -most discreet to conceal the fact, that such a state of things -actually existed in the external world.--My silence, however, did not -avail; for, having put my books, among which were Ree's Cyclopediæ, -Shakspeare's works, Milton's Paradise Lost, and many volumes of modern -history, poetry, and novels, into the hands of Surui, I was soon -called upon for explanations as to what was true, and what fictitious. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - - Wonderful faculties of the Symzonians.--Translation of my books - into their language.--Proposition of a Wise man to make slaves - of the Author and his people.--The Author's remonstrance.--The - Wise man disgraced. - - -The extraordinary strength and vigour of the faculties of this people -enabled them to effect, in a short time, what would occupy the most -intelligent of the externals for years. I can convey an idea of them -only, by calling to the recollection of the reader the talent at -computation manifested by Zera Colburn, who, at the age of 10 years, -calculated the sum of any given number of figures in the twinkling -of an eye, as though he arrived at the result by intuition. - -The faculties of the Symzonians all seemed to be nearly perfect. They -are obviously as much superior to ours, as Colburn's powers, of -calculation were greater than those of other untaught boys; which, no -doubt, results from their strict conformity to the law of their nature. - -With such powers of mind, it need not be matter of surprise that all -my books were very soon translated into their language, and numerous -copies of them printed, and distributed amongst the most learned -and discreet, with instructions to report as to their fitness for -general circulation. - -This examination and report brought me into serious difficulty. A -certain Wise man presented a memorial to the Best Man, in council, -in which he attempted to prove, from the books which I had put into -his hands, my large size, dingy complexion, carnivorous appetite, -and my own account of the sensual habits and propensities of my race, -that we were actually the offspring of the wicked who had been expelled -from Symzonia for their vices, and that we ought to be subjected to -the penalty denounced by their laws in such cases. - -On inquiry, I found the penalty alluded to in the Wise man's memorial, -was nothing less than the delivering of such persons to the most -severe of the Useful class, to be kept at hard work, poorly fed, -and debarred from intercourse with the pure--in the hope that in -process of time, their gross appetites might be scourged out of them. - -All the horrors of a rice swamp, with but a peck of corn a week for -subsistence, sprang up in my affrighted imagination. I immediately set -about an elaborate petition to the Best Man, in which I endeavoured -to refute the arguments advanced by the Wise man, and to show that my -dingy complexion was owing to my seafaring life on the external world, -whereby I was much sunburnt; and that the Wise man had been led into -error by mistaking a work of imagination, for real history. - -I admitted that there was a race on the external world, inhabitants of -some islands far to the north, who, from their vicinity to the place -of exile, might be the descendants of the outcasts, but who, in my -opinion, were more probably the descendants of the Belzubians, being a -restless, turbulent people, much given to depredations upon the rights -and property of others, of insatiable ambition, inordinate avarice, -and excessive vanity; who made war their chief occupation, maintaining -vast fleets and armies; who plundered the feeble, enslaved the unwary, -and levied contributions by force or fraud upon the whole human race: - -That these islanders were a distinct people, who were regardless -of the rights of others, being governed by cupidity, whereby they -had become detestable to all the rest of the externals, and to my -nation in particular, to so great a degree, that our Wise men (who -have the control in the government, the Good and Useful being held in -but little estimation by the wise and the useless in my country) had -repeatedly ordained a non-intercourse, in the vain hope of bringing -these supposed descendants of the Belzubians to a sense of justice; -and that we were at this time only secure from their attacks, by an -invention for blowing them into the air, if they ventured to assail -our shores; that the book which had misled the Wise man was written -by one of this people, and had no reference to my country. - -Before I had completed my work to my satisfaction, I received the -agreeable intelligence, that the Best Man, supported by all the Good -and most of the Useful of his council, had ordered the name of the Wise -man who made the proposition, to be erased from the list of Worthies, -as a cruel monster, for seriously proposing the infliction, upon -strangers who had voluntarily thrown themselves upon the hospitality -of the country, of penalties enacted only to render the consequences -of the return of the outcasts too frightful to be encountered by them. - -This was the only unpleasant occurrence during my stay. The days flew -on with astonishing rapidity, so agreeably were they passed. The -Symzonians slept but about three hours in the four-and-twenty, and -considered me a very gross and sluggish being because I could not do -without six hours sleep. With the exception of this short interval, -every moment was occupied in conversation, study, observation, -or amusement. Statistics, geography, botany, ærology, geology, -mineralogy, zoology, ornithology, ichthiology, conchology, and -entomology, in turn demanded and received my attention. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - - Recreations of the Symzonians.--Wonderful provision of nature - for supplying the internal world with light.--Character and - employments of the women of Symzonia. - - -I visited the place of recreation, a neat plain rotunda, in the centre -of an extensive flower garden, where the young people, the middle aged, -and the old occasionally convened, to extend their knowledge of one -another, interchange their thoughts by conversation, listen to the -most exquisite music, and practise a variety of graceful and elegant -exercises. Being all very fond of music, they all join in that, by -turns, as in other performances. Sometimes an hundred instruments, -and many hundreds of the most exquisite voices, filled the whole -place with the most enchanting sounds. - -The exquisite beauty of the women, the graceful dignity of the men, -the chaste decorum and sincere politeness of all, charmed the mind, -and delighted the heart. Here there were no temptations to vice by -offers of seducing cordials, wines, agreeable decoctions, or other -intoxicating drinks, as in our places of resort for recreation. The -enjoyments of this refined people were intellectual and pure--not -the debasing gratifications of animal passions and sensual appetites. - -The soft reflected light of the sun, which was now no longer -directly visible, gave a pleasing mellowness to the scene, that -was inexpressibly agreeable, being about midway between a bright -moonlight and clear sunshine. I had great cause to admire the -wonderful provision of nature, by which the internal world enjoyed -almost perpetual light, without being subject at any time to the -scorching heats which oppress the bodies and irritate the passions -of the inhabitants of the external surface. - -When the sun has great southern declination, it is seen directly -through the opening at the south pole, a little above the horizon--this -gives an interval of bright light; and as the rays of heat are more -refrangible than those of light [4], a sufficient degree of heat is -experienced to ripen the most delicate fruits. - -At this season, during night, the rays of the sun are reflected from -the opposite rim of the polar opening, and afford so much light as -to render the stars invisible. The full moon is never seen at this -period; for while the sun is in south declination, the moon fulls to -the north of the equator, to give light to the north polar region, -and the northern internal hemisphere. - -March and September are the darkest months. Both the sun and full -moon are then in the equator, and shine very obliquely by refraction, -into both polar openings. Yet, by reflection from side to side, they -afford a faint light quite to the internal equator, where two reflected -suns and moons are dimly seen at the same time. This circumstance had -led the internals to suppose that there were actually duplicates of -those luminaries. Their situation, it should be considered, did not -admit of such observations of the celestial bodies, as were necessary -to correct that error. - -During this season, the planets and stars of the southern hemisphere -are visible, some directly, and others by reflection. This occasions -great mistakes in their astronomical calculations, which they ascribe -to the aberrations of the heavenly bodies. It never occurred to them -that their field of vision was a limited internal concave sphere, -and a great part of their firmament nothing but a reflection of the -external heavens. - -When the sun is in north declination, it is not seen at all to -the south; but as it then shines into the north polar opening, its -influence is felt at Symzonia by a repeated reflection, and being -aided both by the powerful light of the moon, (which always fulls -in high south declination, when the sun is near the northern tropic, -and shines directly into the southern opening,) and by the direct and -reflected light of the planets and stars of the southern hemisphere, -gives light enough for all necessary purposes. - -The women of Symzonia are not regarded as inferior in intellectual -capacity, or moral worth, to the other sex. The female character is -there respected, for the qualities of the female mind are developed and -employed. Their personal beauty exceeds my powers of description. I -can liken their complexion to nothing but alabaster slightly tinged -with rose. Compared with them the fairest of our fair are dingy. This -may not be readily credited by some of our beauties; but they have -only to place themselves near the alabaster ornaments in their drawing -rooms to realize the fact. - -The domestic duties of the Symzonian women are very simple, -pleasing, and easily performed. To prepare the frugal family meal -requires no roasting heat, nor black array of pots, kettles, spits, -and gridirons. The little culinary preparation which vegetables and -fruits require, is neatly and conveniently done in silver vessels; -for silver is abundant, and well adapted for utensils for household -use. To arrange their basins of milk and honey, and set out their -baskets of fruit for a family united in esteem and love, is a -pleasurable exercise. - -The preparation of clothing for a people of such simple habits -requires comparatively little labour. The garden occupies a portion -of their time, but the greater part is devoted to the instruction -of their children, the improvement of their own minds, religion, -and social intercourse. - -Their parterres are not designed for the idle gratification of the -eye, but to support innumerable swarms of honey making insects; the -Symzonians being as fond of the sweet which nature has provided as the -Externals are of that which is wrung from the bloody sweat of slavery. - -Symmetry in form, and elegance in arrangement, are much attended to -by this people; they do not attempt to surpass nature in the creation -of beauties, but endeavour to heighten the enjoyment of what is placed -before them, and make a right use of whatever they possess. - -Vessels of gold for domestic purposes are sometimes used by those who -cannot easily procure silver. Gold is abundant in the beds of rivers -near the mountains, but it is not esteemed, because of its softness and -great weight. It is chiefly employed in the fastening of their vessels, -in place of iron, which is very rare, and much valued for its strength, -and fitness for all the purposes of agriculture and mechanics. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - - The Author examines the records of the Assembly.--Grounds of - proposal for admittance to the order of Worthies.--Shell fish of - Symzonia.--Great quantities of Pearls, and the use to which they - are applied. - - -I was allowed free access to the records of the Assembly: and, having -made such proficiency in the Symzonian language as to read it with -facility, I derived much amusement and instruction from the various -recommendations for admittance to the distinguished orders which had -been stated to the Grand Council and placed on record during a long -course of ages. These records were much too voluminous to admit of -my reading them in course. I therefore contented myself with opening -them at hazard, and reading whatever chanced to present itself. - -One man was proposed to be admitted to the order of Worthies by the -title "Wise," because he had given evidence of superior imagination -and ingenuity; he having fancied that he had discovered by studying -the laws of matter and motion, that the Internals were inhabitants -of the concave side of a hollow sphere; and, reasoning from analogy, -that the convex or outer side of that sphere must be inhabited by a -people enjoying a wider range of action, and more extended views of -objects floating in unlimited space: that the suns, moons and stars, -which they saw imperfectly by refraction and reflection, were only -visible through a dense atmosphere in their world, but must of -necessity be directly visible to the inhabitants of the External -World in all their effulgence. He had written a book to explain his -ingenious theory of an External World, in which he had endeavoured -to show by various calculations, that his extravagant hypothesis was -not absolutely beyond the limit of possibility. - -This man was not proposed as one designated by the popular voice, but -was named by a certain Wise man as one of retired habits and uncommon -genius. The council unanimously rejected the application, and passed a -vote of censure on him for troubling them with the dreams of a maniac -or an enthusiast. The members of the council were generally of opinion -that to suppose the outside of such a world to be inhabited was as -absurd as to suppose men to dwell on the outside of their houses. - -Another man was proposed as Wise, for devising a scheme to relieve -the government from the trouble of superintending the distribution -of things useful, in order to preserve equality in the comforts of -the people throughout the land; and from constant attention to the -emission and withdrawal of tokens, to maintain their regular value, -and insure their proper effect. His plan was to substitute in place -of the tokens a system of promissory obligations, to be issued by -an association of individuals who should be always bound to redeem -them. This plan, he contended, would greatly facilitate exchanges, -and contribute to the convenience of government. - -His scheme was promptly condemned, as a device to cheat the people, by -causing perpetual fluctuations in the nominal price of things; and he -was recorded as a designing man, unfit to be of the order of Worthies. - -Another was proposed for admission as Wise, for composing a code of -written laws, and writing a book to prove that the adoption of his -project of numerous and particular laws in writing would conduce to -the welfare of society, by enabling every one to know, with technical -precision, what he might and what he might not do. - -This man's scheme, and the proposition founded upon it were both -rejected. The council said, that as to all the matters embraced in -this proposed system, public opinion, the established principles and -habits of the people, the prevalent sense of rectitude and benevolence, -had been and still was sufficient. Laws, if in accordance with these -principles, could add nothing to their efficacy; and if inconsistent -with them, they could not be enforced. The whole subject was at present -plain; technical phrases would but darken and perplex it. Language -was imperfect; words had different meanings; those who violated the -spirit of these laws would contrive to evade the letter; the people -would disagree in their judgments; the influence of public opinion -would be destroyed; bad passions would be generated; more laws would -be required; contest, disorder, and innumerable evils would be the -consequence. The education and discipline to which the people were -accustomed, the examples of the Good, the dictates of enlightened -consciences, the sense of accountability to God, the simplicity, -temperance, and practical piety of the people,--these formed the basis -of good conduct, and upon these dependance might be safely placed. - -The most frequent grounds of recommendation for the distinguished -orders were regular and useful industry, temperate and exemplary lives, -and constant endeavours to improve themselves and others. - -Many were admitted for discoveries in botany, whereby the people -were enabled to derive increased enjoyment from the vegetable world; -many also became Worthies by advancing the knowledge of entomology, -and finding how to guard against the ravages of insects, and how to -turn the efforts of the myriads of almost invisible beings to harmless -or useful ends. - -I observed nothing of the nature of animals in use amongst this people -as food, except oysters and other testaceous creatures, which have -so little visible animation as to be considered by the Symzonians -on an equality with vegetables, and to be provided like them for -the nourishment of a higher order of life. They were probably led to -this conclusion, by the vast profusion of shell-fish which abound in -their waters. They are caught in astonishing quantities. The shells -are employed in building, and to promote vegetation. - -The pearls, which they afford in great abundance, and of large size, -are used to glaze the walls of their apartments, being dissolved in -a liquid, and laid on like paint. This process gives a smooth and -elegant surface, like the inside of the pearl oyster-shell, which is -inexpressibly delicate and agreeable in the soft light of this country, -and at the same time renders the walls more durable. - -I visited a maker of this pearl wash. My cupidity, I must confess, -was greatly excited by the sight of large heaps of pearls, which -would be of incalculable value in the external world. Even in the -atmosphere of this pure region, I could not prevent my imagination -from figuring the splendid palace, dashing equipage, and choice wines -I should enjoy, and the unbounded respect and obsequious attention -which would be paid to me by the great men of Gotham, on my return -there with the enormous wealth which a cargo of these pearls would -produce. I asked the workman for a specimen of the pearls, and he gave -me a handful that were as large as peas, which I put in my pocket, -intending to show them to the Best Man, as a sample of the article -with which I should be glad to load my ship. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - - The Author is ordered to depart from Symzonia.--The Best Man's - reasons for sending him away.--His ineffectual efforts to obtain - a place of rendezvous for purposes of trade. - - -It was on my return from this visit to the pearl wash maker, -that I received notice to wait upon the Best Man. I immediately -repaired to his dwelling, with a light heart, in expectation of my -usual intellectual feast from his conversation, little suspecting -that this interview was to be the last. He received me with a mild -solemnity of manner, which warned me that the interview was for -some purpose of importance. He did not keep me in suspense, but in -a kind and benevolent manner informed me that the Wise men, to whom -the copies of my books had been given, had all made their reports, -which, together with the accounts of those who had observed the habits -of myself and people, and been in the most favourable situation to -ascertain my sentiments, had been submitted to him in council; that -he had taken full time to reflect on the subject, before he determined -on the painful measure which his duty to his people imposed upon him: - -That, from the evidence before him, it appeared that we were of -a race who had either wholly fallen from virtue, or were at least -very much under the influence of the worst passions of our nature; -that a great proportion of the race were governed by an inveterate -selfishness, that canker of the soul, which is wholly incompatible with -ingenuous and affectionate good-will towards our fellow-beings; that -we were given to the practice of injustice, violence, and oppression, -even to such a degree as to maintain bodies of armed men, trained to -destroy their fellow-creatures; that we were guilty of enslaving our -fellow-men for the purpose of procuring the means of gratifying our -sensual appetites; that we were inordinately addicted to traffic, -and sent out our people to the extreme parts of the external world -to procure, by exchange, or fraud, or force, things pernicious to the -health and morals of those who receive them, and that this practice was -carried so far as to be supported with armed ships, a thing unheard of, -except from some very ancient manuscript accounts of the Belzubians, -which had been considered by the Good men of Symzonia, for ages, -as nothing more than fables. - -After stating these and many other charges against the externals, -he added, that many of his council seriously apprehended that it -was only our inordinate thirst for gain, that had induced me and -my people to hazard our lives in an unknown region, and that it had -not escaped their notice, that my vessel was provided with terrific -engines of destruction, no doubt to enforce our will where our -purposes required it: Wherefore he, the Best Man, in council, had -come to a resolution, that the safety and happiness of his people -would be endangered by permitting any further intercourse with so -corrupt and depraved a race. He therefore required that I should -repair forthwith to my vessel, and there remain until the season of -bright light was sufficiently advanced to enable me to return to my -country in safety; and ordered that all necessary supplies of food, -and whatever was wanted to refit my vessel, should be furnished at -the expense of the state; but that I should not be permitted to take -away any of the products of the country which I esteemed valuable for -traffic, lest the cupidity of my countrymen should lead them to send -an armed force to obtain such things. - -They were fully aware, he said, of the articles which were most -coveted by the externals; for my books had described them, and the -purposes to which they were applied; and Efficients would therefore -be appointed to examine my vessel, and see that I took away none of -those articles. He felt confident that they had additional security -for a strict compliance with this prohibitory order, in my integrity, -of which he had formed a favourable estimate, notwithstanding the -corruption of my nature, and did not apprehend that I would break -through his injunctions, after partaking so largely of the hospitality -of the country. - -I was petrified with confusion and shame, on hearing my race -thus described as pestiferous beings, spreading moral disease and -contamination by their intercourse, and by thus seeing all my hopes -of unbounded wealth at once laid prostrate; and I did not recover -from the despondency which overwhelmed me, till I recollected that -Mr. Boneto would no doubt have a full cargo of seal skins ready against -my return to Seaborn's Land, which would ensure me a handsome fortune. - -Any attempt to dissuade the Best Man from his purpose, or to obtain a -revocation of the decree, I knew would be altogether vain. I therefore -endeavoured to soften the judgment he had formed of the externals, -by representing the books, from which the Wise men and himself had -drawn their opinions, to be the works of the islanders whom I had -described to him as the supposed descendants of the Belzubians, and -that they were only re-printed in my country as they had been in his; -that we professed to be much more enlightened than those islanders, -and styled ourselves emphatically the most enlightened people on the -face of the earth, by which we meant no disrespect to the Symzonians, -the face of the earth being the outside of it only, and we were not -sufficiently enlightened, when the declaration was made, to know -that there existed any such people; and that there were many people -amongst us who would eagerly emulate the purity and goodness of the -Symzonians, could they but have the benefit of their example, and -behold the happiness which attended their course of life. I specified -one numerous class in particular, who were remarkable for simplicity -of habits, active benevolence, and good will towards mankind. - -I admitted that the permission of a free intercourse with the -externals, might be productive of great mischief to his people, by -introducing vice and disease, which had been observed to spring up -amongst the South Sea islanders, and other unsophisticated nations, -soon after their discovery by Europeans and Americans; but urged that -a limited intercourse, under strict regulations, might be productive -of much good; and that the Symzonians would, in that case, enjoy the -sweet reflection, that they had contributed to the reformation of -many of the externals, by the beauty and loveliness of their example, -and at the same time have the benefit of more expanded views of the -works of a beneficent Creator, through the information which they -might derive from the externals. - -To effect this very desirable end, I proposed, that Token Island -should be established as a place of meeting and intercourse, where -the externals might erect places of abode, and remain through the -winter, and have communication with such of the Symzonians as the -Best Man, in council, might be pleased to license for that purpose; -and that the useful metal iron, which was not to be found in Symzonia -in sufficient quantities to supply the wants of the people, was very -abundant in the external world, and would be brought and exchanged -for articles which the Symzonians considered useless, or nearly so. - -The Best Man objected to this scheme. He had not forgotten the evils -related to have followed the ancient commerce with the Belzubians. He -also urged, that Token Island was situated in the worst region of -the earth, where the extreme heat and great humidity of the air would -generate violent diseases amongst those who should have the temerity -to remain there in the presence of the sun. - -Unhappily, in my eagerness to carry my point, I assured him that this -would be no objection to the externals; that in the pursuit of gain, -they defied plague, pestilence, and famine; that the rich merchants -who sent out adventurers, never took the climate of a country into -consideration, viewing it as of no concern to them how many of the -lives of shipmasters and mariners might be sacrificed, nor how many -widows and orphans were thus created, provided they could make money -by their business; that the externals would come to Token Island so -long as there was any thing to be gained by it, even if one half of -their number should perish annually; and that the Symzonians could -visit them in the temperate season, when they would be quite safe. - -The Best Man heard me out, and then told me I had said enough. It -would be much less dangerous to his people, he believed, to visit -Token Island in the hottest season, than to hold intercourse with such -a depraved, covetous, and sordid people at any time of the year. The -plan was inadmissible--I must prepare for my departure--The decree -would be rigidly enforced. - -I expressed my reluctant acquiescence, and begged to be fully informed -of his will and pleasure, that I might not in any respect deviate -from the course I was desired to pursue. I closed by expressing -a hope, that the numerous manuscripts which the Wise and the Good -had bestowed upon me, might not be taken away, but that I might be -permitted to carry them to my country, to instruct the externals in -the wisdom they contained. After a moment's hesitation he replied, -that good books could not do harm in any world, and I might retain -them. This was joyful to my ears. I felt sure of instructive and -profitable employment for life in translating these productions for -the benefit of my fellow externals, and took my leave of the Best Man, -with the comfortable reflection that I had not discovered a new world -wholly in vain. - -On my return to my lodge, I found it deserted of the usual visiters, -Surui and other Efficients, appointed to provide for my wants, being -the only persons who approached or held conversation with me.--All -other persons from this time until my departure from Symzonia, avoided -me in a manner as little calculated to hurt my feelings as possible. - -My books were all returned to me; but, to mark my acquiescence in the -justice and propriety of the measures adopted by the Best Man, I sent -to him by Surui my best telescope, a solar microscope, an excellent -sextant, a pair of globes, and a set of charts and maps of the external -world. The instruments being superior to any thing possessed by the -Symzonians, and all these articles being calculated to extend their -views of creation, I knew they would be highly esteemed. All these -articles were cordially received as a tribute of gratitude on my part; -and I was even given to understand, that the Best Man derived more -satisfaction from this indication of my heart, than from the possession -of the very useful and desirable things I had presented to him. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - - The Author returns to the Explorer--Holds a council of - officers--Determines to return to Seaborn's Land--Takes leave of - Surui--Sails from Symzonia--Touches at Token Island--Arrives at - Boneto's station. - - -I returned to my ship, with sensations very different from those which -delighted my heart on my passage from it. I felt like a culprit exiled -to Botany Bay for his crimes: so strong was the contrast between the -peaceful, intelligent, and virtuous people, from amongst whom I was -driven, and the turbulent, rude, and corrupt externals, with whom I -was doomed to pass the remainder of my days. My chief consolation was -derived from that contemptible passion, vanity, a certain evidence that -I was a true external. I could not avoid being elated, and indulging -some pleasant emotions, when I thought of the great curiosity my -arrival from the internal world would excite amongst the externals, -the celebrity I should acquire, the prodigious importance which would -be ascribed to my discoveries, and the unbounded encomiums which would -be lavished on me for my wonderful capacity of mind, displayed in -the contrivance of my voyage, and the incomparable bravery, skill, -and perseverance displayed in the execution of it. All this, with -the anticipation of the many public dinners which would be eaten in -honour of the discoverer, the flattering toasts which would be drank -all over the United States, and perhaps in Europe, together with -the pleasure I should enjoy in relating my apparently tough stories, -helped to keep up my spirits. - -We were but ten hours in travelling to the ship; and it being the -season of faint light, I could not make any new observations on the -country. Surui and his companions were very reserved on the way. The -little conversation which took place, turned wholly on the beauty of -holiness and purity of life, and the evidences of a blessed hereafter -to all who are truly good. - -I reached the ship on the 28th of July, 1818, and found my people all -very comfortable. Their chief complaint was, that they had nothing -fresh but oysters, which, in their opinion, were meagre food for -civilized men, but which Mr. Albicore, to save our salt provisions, -had given them very often. They found much fault also, that they were -not permitted to go on shore. A profusion of the best of vegetables -and fruits, with a full supply of the delicacies of the country, -and with but little work to do, made them, as the like circumstances -always make sailors, discontented and restless. - -Surui having furnished me with a good chart of the internal seas, -as far as Token Island, I determined to put to sea immediately, and -proceed to that island, where I could employ my people in collecting -tortoise-shell, until the sun should attain sufficient south -declination to light our way back to Seaborn's Land. I accordingly -called a council of officers, and laid before them the state of -affairs, as far as I saw fit to disclose them, and the alternatives -which were open to our selection. - -In the first place, we might be able to find Belzubia, if we went in -search of it, and if the people of that country retained their ancient -habits, there would be no difficulty in opening a trade with them. On -the other hand, if they continued to be a warlike and unjust people, -they might have power and inclination to take our vessel, and subject -us all to slavery. - -In the second place, Mr. Boneto's party would undoubtedly have a -full cargo of seal skins ready for us against our return to Seaborn's -Land, which would give us all money enough to make us comfortable at -home; and it must not be forgotten that if we should go in search of -Belzubia and be lost, Boneto and all his party must perish, and be -lost to their country. - -On the whole, I was willing to consider the discoveries I had made -sufficient for one voyage, and to leave Belzubia for a subsequent -expedition. - -Slim's eyes glistened when I described the heaps of pearls I had -seen, and he immediately proposed that we should possess ourselves of -them by force, having no doubt that, with our fire arms, we should -be able to contend with any number of these delicate little beings, -and thinking it of no manner of importance how many of them we might -destroy, provided we got the pearls. But when I described to him -their engines of defence, before which an army would disappear like -a nest of caterpillars subjected to the flames of burning straw, -his eyeballs swelled with fright, and he was anxious to put to sea -with all practicable haste. - -Albicore endeavoured to account for the circumstance of the oysters -sent on board having all been opened, and the soft part taken off by -the Symzonians, by supposing that they did it to preserve the pearls -for their own use; but it appeared to me to have been done because -the impure part is not considered by them fit for food. - -On the 13th of August, we put to sea. Surui accompanied us until we -were quite out of sight of land, with a vessel in company to take -him back. On parting with this excellent Symzonian, I presented him -with a handsome gold watch, and a number of instruments and useful -articles. He exhorted me to improve the instruction I had received -while in his country, and to endeavour to imitate the morals and habits -of the internals, as the only course by which I could advance my own -happiness, and render myself better, and more capable of promoting -the real welfare of my fellow-mortals. He also earnestly entreated -me to warn my countrymen not to approach the coasts of Symzonia in -expectation of being allowed any intercourse or traffic, whilst they -remained besotted in vice and iniquity, the Best Man in council having -decided, out of regard to the purity of the nation, that the engines -of defence should be used to prevent such contamination. - -We found no difficulty in making our passage to Token Island in -twenty-one days, Surui having given me a particular account of the -prevailing winds and currents, and the course to take to reach that -island with the greatest expedition. - -Here it may be well to explain the cause of the astonishing velocity of -the Symzonian vessels, which enabled the one we had seen on approaching -the coast to avoid us so easily. It appears that the Symzonians, -in ancient times, apprehensive that the Belzubians might send armed -ships to the coast to capture their vessels and carry away their -people, devised a plan for accelerating their motion, by means of a -number of tubes which perforated the after part of the vessel under -water, through which air was forced with extreme violence by the -agency of a curious engine, of which I could not obtain a particular -description. This rush of air against the water forces the vessel -forward with amazing rapidity. Every vessel going far from the coast -must be furnished with one of these engines, but they are used only -on emergencies. - -The wreck of the vessel I had seen on Token Island was not of Symzonian -construction, and the metal with which it was fastened was unknown in -that country. It was the opinion of the Wise men that it must have -been of Belzubian origin, for that people sometimes extended their -voyages to Token Island to obtain turtles, which they eat. - -On the passage to Token Island I had very interesting employment -in examining my Symzonian literary treasures, and in extracting and -translating some of the most remarkable articles. The volumes which -I had been permitted to bring away comprised a full account of all -the science and useful knowledge of Symzonia; and in consequence of -having this copious fountain to draw from, at pleasure, I had less -occasion to depend on my written memoranda of the many curious and -interesting facts and circumstances which fell under my observation -whilst on shore. - -These manuscripts were the only articles that I brought away from -Symzonia, except the handful of pearls given to me by the pearl-wash -maker, which, being concealed in my breeches pocket, and the fact -of my possessing them being known only to the workman, I thought I -might venture to smuggle, notwithstanding the Best Man's confidential -reliance on my integrity. This deviation from what was expected of me, -will, I trust, be excused by my external friends, when they remember -that I have been much addicted to commerce, and consider the force -of habit, and the security with which the operation could be performed. - -Soon after our arrival at Token Island, the sun was visible for a short -interval at noon, nearly over head. The remainder of the twenty-four -hours we had a very bright light from the reflection of the sun -and moon from the rim of the polar opening. Both those luminaries -being now in the equator, their rays fell perpendicularly upon the -rim of the opening, and being bent in by refraction, were visible at -Token Island at noon. This direct and constant influence of the sun, -the reflected rays being very powerful, rendered it very hot, early -as it was in the season. Therefore, as I was eager and impatient -to rejoin Mr. Boneto and his party, and to ascertain what success -he had had in sealing, as well as to have several months of light, -that my whole crew might, if necessary, be employed to complete a -lading for the ship, we stayed but twenty days at Token Island. In -this time we procured a considerable quantity of tortoise shell, -and then proceeded direct for Seaborn's Land. - -It was so early in the season that the temperature of the air changed -rapidly, as we issued from the internal cavity, and approached -the polar region of the external world. On the first of October, we -experienced cold disagreeable weather, with slight falls of sleet and -snow; but the sun was constantly above the horizon, and we pursued -our course without delay. October 2d, we saw World's-end Cape, to -the great joy of all on board, and especially of Mr. Slim, who could -scarcely express his ecstacies. The following day we anchored in the -harbour off Mr. Boneto's station, which, out of compliment to him, -I named Boneto's Harbour. - -We found the buildings, stores, and a large quantity of seal-skins -carefully stacked, all in good condition, but no person on the -island. I was immediately denominated a murderer, my men being certain -that the whole party had been frozen to death, or that the mammoth -animals had crossed on the ice during winter, and destroyed them all, -so ready are seamen to put the worst construction on every thing, -and to censure their commander. Slim was "nothing loth" to forward -this idea, a sight of the great quantity of valuable furs in which -he was to share in no degree softening his malignity. - -As there were no dead bodies, bones, or boats, to be seen, I was not -alarmed for the safety of the men, and had no doubt but they were -absent on a sealing excursion. The appearance of the boats under sail -soon confirmed my opinion. We were presently joined by Mr. Boneto, -who, with his party, had passed the winter very comfortably. - -They had taken eighty thousand seal-skins during our absence, most of -which were preserved in salt, for the winter did not admit of their -being cured by drying. We had, therefore, abundant work before us -to dry those skins, and to take a sufficient number in addition to -complete our lading. - -The joy of my officers and people, at this re-union, was without -bounds. Sailors, on long voyages, become very much attached to one -another, and consider every shipmate as a brother. I devoted three days -to recreation, in consideration of the many perils we had encountered, -and the great success which had thus far attended my enterprise. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - - The Author loads the Explorer with seal skins, and sails from - Seaborn's Land--Discovers Albicore's Islands.--Transactions at - those islands.--He determines to conceal his discoveries from - the world.--His reasons for this determination, and measures to - effect it.--Sails for Canton. - - -We continued on the coast of Seaborn's Land until February 18th, -when, having taken on board one hundred thousand seal skins, which -were as many as we could stow without taking down our machinery, and -that I did not think it prudent to do on that side of the icy hoop, -we took our departure from Boneto's station, leaving all the animals -that remained alive on one of the largest islands, to stock it for -the benefit of future adventurers. We steered due north, and soon -lost sight of the coast. - -On the second day we fell in with extensive fields of ice, which -compelled us to haul up, first N. W., then W. N. W., and at one time -due west. This was somewhat alarming; but ultimately we realized the -correctness of my supposition, that the range of land must keep an -open passage to leeward of it; and on the 1st of March, 1819, I had -the satisfaction to observe in latitude 69° 15' south, with a clear -open sea. - -I now hauled up due east, to run down my longitude with the greater -despatch in this high latitude, where the degrees of longitude -are small. This was fortunate: for by running on this parallel we -discovered on the third day a group of small islands, forming a fine -harbour, and well stocked with seal. Here we anchored. The islands -were high broken rocks of granite and whinstone, apparently dislocated -from their primitive bed, and thrown up by some volcanic eruption, or -by the efforts of elastic gases generated in the 'mid-plane cavity,' -to escape through this outer crust of the earth. - -Some scanty tussoc, and a few mountain plants and mosses in the most -favoured spots, formed the only evidence of vegetation observable in -these dreary islands. I named them Albicore's Islands, they having -been first discovered by that vigilant officer; and determined to -avail myself of the discovery to extend the profits of my voyage, by -adding as many seal skins to my cargo as could be stowed in the space -occupied by the steam engine and boiler, which I took to pieces, and -placed in the bottom of the ship for ballast and dunnage. By caulking -in the paddle ports I also gained the place between the double sides, -and rendered the ship to outward observation like an ordinary vessel, -ketch rigged. - -We remained at Albicore's Islands six weeks, in which time we obtained -seventeen thousand skins. Having taken these on board, and performed -the important ceremony of taking possession of the islands for the -United States, by hoisting the stripes and stars upon them in the -usual manner, I was ready to depart for Canton. - -Being now about to visit a place where I should meet many of my -countrymen and persons full of curiosity from every part of the world, -who would be very inquisitive as to the discoveries I had made, I was -led to reflect maturely on the consequences which might result from -a disclosure of them; and the advantages which might be derived to -myself, my friends, and my officers and people, by withholding all -knowledge of them from the world. - -At length, having made up my own mind on the subject, I called my -officers and people together, and stated to them that if we should on -our return to the United States, or at Canton, declare the discoveries -we had made, we should in the first place expose ourselves to the -charge of being impostors and outrageous falsifiers; in the second -place, our countrymen, and even the Europeans, who would give us -no credit for our bravery and enterprise, would avail themselves of -all the information we might communicate, to fit out expeditions to -Seaborn's Land, and possibly to Belzubia, and thus reap the harvest -of our planting; but, worse than all, after thus appropriating to -themselves the benefits of our skill and perseverance, they would -assert that they had made all those discoveries, call all those places -by new names, and affirm that we had never been there at all. - -On the other hand, by concealing the knowledge of these discoveries -in our own breasts, we could derive extensive benefits therefrom -during the remainder of our lives. To effect this, they had only to -bind themselves to me by oath, to keep this matter a profound secret, -and when they had been a sufficient time on shore, or had spent most -of their money, I would fit out the Explorer, or another and better -vessel, under the command of Mr. Boneto or Mr. Albicore, in which all -should share according to their present standing on my books, and for -which I should have money enough out of my profits from the present -voyage. This would give us all a certain resource for the good things -of this life; whereas if we made our adventures public, the business -would be overdone in a year or two, and we should then have to look -to the moon or some of the planets for room for further discoveries. - -All assented to my proposal except Mr. Slim, who objected that -an extra-judicial oath would not be binding, that it would be -a dereliction of duty on my part to withhold from mankind the -knowledge of the most valuable part of the world, and finally, -that he was principled against taking oaths. Slim was not open to -persuasion. There was no moving him. He had gloated his imagination -with the figure he should cut when, in consequence of having been -an officer with me on this voyage, he should get command of a ship -for a voyage to the sea of wealth, have the merchants crowding round -him to obtain the benefit of the valuable information he possessed, -and hear the delightful sound of 'Captain Slim.' - -All my other officers and men took the prescribed obligation, whereby -they bound themselves not to disclose by word, deed, writing, -or sign, any of the discoveries or occurrences of this voyage, -after our departure from off South Georgia, without my consent and -approbation first obtained in writing. Slim's conduct was thought -by all to be very unreasonable, and many of the men would willingly -have thrown him overboard: but, with some difficulty, I pacified them, -and persuaded them that Slim would think better of the matter before -we reached Canton, if not, I would, while there, confine him to his -state-room, and prevent his doing mischief, in the hope that he would -become more rational on the homeward passage. This important matter -settled, we bore up for Canton. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - - The Author arrives at Canton.--Transactions in China.--Sails - for the United States.--Loss of manuscripts.--Difficulties with - Mr. Slim. - - -We had a pleasant run to Macao Roads, with all the usual varieties of -wind and weather. Having a full cargo of furs from the South Seas, -a chop to proceed to Whampoa, the place where foreign ships unlade -and lade their cargoes, was readily obtained. The Chinese regulations -provide for the prompt admission of vessels actually laden with -useful merchandise, but exclude all such as have no cargoes, which -compels vessels that have nothing but ballast and specie to report -their stores as cargo. - -I received abundant civilities on my arrival at Canton. A shipmaster, -with a cargo of three or four hundred thousand dollars at his disposal, -is exposed to the most assiduous attentions. Upon this occasion my -thanks were particularly merited by Mr. W. and Mr. C., both of whom -very kindly proffered me all the services in their power for a moderate -commission: but in this, as in other instances, I preferred dealing -directly with the natives, from the belief that they were quite as well -versed in the business of their country as any foreigners could be. - -Chien-loo, a native, obtained handsome offers for my cargo very -promptly, and I soon sold the whole of my skins, large and small -together, at two dollars and three quarters each. These, with the -tortoise shell, produced the handsome sum of three hundred and thirty -thousand dollars, clear of charges. I lost no time in selecting a -cargo of teas, nankeens, and silks, and as much china ware as was -necessary for dunnage. - -Of the three hundred and thirty thousand dollars, one-third belonged to -my officers and people, payable on their arrival in the United States, -and two-thirds to myself as owner and master. Being rich, I now spent -money freely, and advanced my officers and men as much as they wished -to lay out; and after defraying port charges and other expenses, found -I had a cargo of only three hundred and ten thousand dollars invoice; -but, as the profits on this cargo were all to be my own, I reasonably -calculated that on receiving them, I should be able to pay the balance -due to the crew, and have a clear three hundred thousand dollars. - -To make room for this cargo, I stowed the boxes containing the large -bones, and my botanical, geological, mineralogical, zoological, -ornithological, icthyological, conchological, and entomological -specimens, which were very extensive and valuable, in one of the -paddle spaces between the double sides, and, to save a little room -which remained, stowed a cable on top of them. - -We touched at Angier Point, in the Island of Java, to fill up -our water, and regale ourselves with the delicious mangusteens, -which are there to be had in great perfection and abundance. That -fruit is considered the most delicate and best flavoured of any on -the external world. Formerly it had given me great satisfaction; -but now, after having enjoyed the exquisite fruits of Symzonia, -it seemed quite insipid. - -The day after leaving Angier Point, we were in the open ocean, with -a stiff gale from S. E. driving us rapidly towards our homes, our -wives and children. It is a delightful sensation which the mariner -experiences on clearing port for his homeward passage, after a long -and toilsome voyage. His home, his family, his little prattlers, and -all the delightful associations of a happy fireside, crowd upon his -imagination, which is cleared by long absence of all the asperities -and disagreeables of real life. He flatters himself that he shall -soon fold to his heart the wife of his bosom and the children of his -love, improved in beauty, virtue, and affection; fancies a thousand -enjoyments which the gains of his voyage will enable him to procure, -and forgets the numberless vexations attendant upon business, and -upon the duties of man in civilized society, encumbered with useless -ceremonies and pernicious customs. - -Mr Slim had been confined to his state-room whilst we lay at Whampoa; -and no more intercourse was allowed between our people and their -countrymen, than was necessary to keep up appearances. Our men were -particularly cautioned not to drink grog whilst out of the ship, lest -it should make them too talkative. They kept this injunction tolerably -well for sailors; but one of them had nearly betrayed the whole secret, -after drinking a second can of grog on board a Boston ship, where the -Yankees seemed determined to get it all out of him. Happily one of -his shipmates forced him away, but not until enough had escaped him -to produce an hundred absurd stories amongst the shipping in the river. - -Being now at sea, Mr. Slim was permitted to go at large as usual. But -alas! I had melancholy cause to regret this lenity. Having one day -spread my Symzonian manuscripts on the after lockers, to dry away -the mould which, from the humid atmosphere of the external world, -had accumulated on them, I took a walk on the quarter-deck. On -my return to my cabin, I was overwhelmed with consternation and -alarm at the disappearance of my books and papers, which were all -gone except my journal and volumes of extracts and translations. I -immediately summoned the steward, but he could give no account of -them. He had not been in my cabin during my absence. The cabin and -state-room were searched in vain. The manuscripts were gone! A man -who had been working aloft, declared that he saw them going astern -soon after I came on deck; and Will Mackerel, who was asleep in his -birth, was positive that he saw the shadow of Slim passing from the -direction of my cabin towards his state-room. There was great cause -to suspect that Slim had been into my cabin, and thrown them all out -of the windows to gratify his inveterate malice: but there was no -help for it--there was no proof. A monkey, which, out of a foolish -partiality to Jack Whiffle, I had permitted him to bring on board, -and which visited every part of the ship, and was very mischievous, -might have done it. They were irrevocably lost; and though I deplored -them more than I should the loss of the mainmast, I was not without -consolation. I had read most of them attentively, and being favoured -with a very retentive memory, I had treasured up their contents. - -After this, I excluded Slim from my cabin, and kept a sharp eye -upon him. Various modes were suggested by my officers and men, to -obviate the difficulty which his refusal to accede to my measures -threatened to produce. That which appeared most feasible, was, to -confine him in irons, carry him home as a madman, and trust to the -effect of his stories about the internal world, for a corroboration -of his insanity. I however did not altogether like to trust to this -manoeuvre, lest some of my people should prove treacherous, and, -by joining their testimony to that of Slim, defeat all my projects. - -My mind was suddenly diverted from this subject, which had long weighed -heavily upon it, by the occurrence of real and immediate danger. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - - Hurricane off the Isle of France.--Its consequences.--Death of - Mr. Slim. - - -We were now to windward off the Isles of France and Bourbon, and -nearly up with the land. This tract of ocean is the scene of the -most violent hurricanes which are experienced on the external world, -and it was our lot to encounter one of the most terrific. - -A sudden change of the wind from S. E. to N. W. warned me of the coming -storm. The ship was promptly secured for a gale; as much of the water -which had been stowed on deck, was secured below, as the consumption -of provisions had made room for; the top gallant yards and masts -were struck; booms sent down from the yards, dead-lights secured, -and every precaution taken to weather out the gale without damage. I -never experienced a more awful tempest. The wind blew for some time -with such violence as to make the face of the sea quite level, the -pressure of the atmosphere, combined with its rapid motion, being -so great as to prevent the swell from rising. The ship, under bare -poles, drove broadside to the wind, nearly on her beam ends. When -the violence of the first onset abated, the sea rose with a swell of -full twenty feet perpendicular elevation. Having a strong vessel, -although she was very deeply laden, I did not mind this much; but -when the wind chopped round to the S. W., a heavy gale, bringing with -it a large sea across the swell which the Northwester had produced, -our situation was not devoid of danger. The tops of the waves, blown -off by the wind, flew like the spray of a waterfall, and filled the -air with water as high as the mast head; while the waves, curled and -lashed into foam by the whistling blast, gave the whole face of the -ocean the appearance of one immense cataract. The vessel, assailed -by the crossing sea from two points at once, laboured excessively, -and was fairly drowned with water. She frequently plunged the bowsprit -quite out of sight beneath the wave, and had it not been of unusually -firm construction, it must have gone to pieces. - -Night set in without any abatement of the hurricane, and served but -to heighten the terror of its effects. The water in this part of the -world, being charged with animalculæ or phosphoric matter, assumed -in the darkness of the night, the appearance of a sea of liquid fire, -boiling and whirling with ceaseless agitation. A poet would not need -a better type from which to describe the infernal lake provided for -the wicked. - -Happily we rode out the storm until nearly day-light, when the gale -having abated, and there being every indication of more moderate -weather, I went to my cabin to put on dry clothes, and left the deck -in charge of Mr. Boneto, to whose watch Mr. Slim was now attached. I -had not been long below when a violent shock, like that of a ship -striking her side against a floating wreck, induced me to hasten -back. I found my people in the greatest alarm, and the repeated blows, -which made every timber in the ship tremble, were indeed sufficient -cause of apprehension. I soon discovered the difficulty. The lashings -of the starboard paddle port had given way; the port was open, and -the shutter was swinging at liberty. - -The gale had left a prodigious sea, which rolled the ship so much -that at times she appeared to be going quite over. This caused the -heavy port shutter, which was thirty feet long by three feet wide, -to fly quite open, and then return against the side with frightful -violence. It appeared that the lashings had been chafed in consequence -of the boxes being badly stowed; and that the weight of the boxes in -which were the large bones and all my scientific collections, together -with the weight of the cable stowed upon the top of them, had burst -open the port, through which the big bones, all my curiosities and -ological treasures, as well as the cable, had launched into the sea! - -To secure the port, which struck the ship with such force as to -threaten to start the plank or fastenings, was an object of deep -solicitude to every one. Mr. Slim, for once, was very active and -forward. He was evidently filled with apprehension of losing his -life, or, what was not less dear to him, his share of the cargo; -for, instead of looking deliberately about him to see what remedy was -practicable, he seized a rope, and sprang into the space between the -doable sides, probably with the intention of fastening the shutter -to the ring bolt, when it should swing to; but, losing his footing -on the wet and slippery floor of the inner side, he launched half way -out of the port, and as the ship rolled to windward, the slam of the -shutter instantly killed him. - -There was a sense of grief expressed in every countenance, on this -melancholy occasion. Seamen invariably exhibit feeling for the -sufferings and misfortunes of their comrades, however vicious and -disagreeable they may have been. - -The paddle port was, with great difficulty, secured; but without any -other essential damage. Fine weather soon returned, and we pursued -our course pleasantly towards home. - -The remainder of the voyage was marked by no uncommon -circumstance. When we approached the coast of America, I called my -officers and men together, and endeavoured to impress their minds -with a strong sense of the importance of profound secrecy in relation -to the subject of our voyage, and particularly enjoined upon them -the necessity of refraining from liquor, which always makes sailors -thoughtless and loquacious. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - - The Author arrives in the United States--Consigns his cargo - to Mr. Slippery--Is reduced to poverty by the failure of - Mr. Slippery.--His great distress.--Inducement to publish this - brief account of his discoveries.--Conclusion. - - -On my arrival in port, I felt the importance which an ample fortune -gives a man in this external world. The arrival of a South Sea ship -from Canton, with a valuable China cargo, was no unusual occurrence, -and excited no extraordinary interest; but it was speedily rumoured -that the Explorer had made a splendid voyage, and that Capt. Seaborn -was as rich as a nabob. Abundant civilities were proffered to me, -and numberless invitations to dinner were politely given. - -I had now to select some merchant to assist in disposing of my cargo, -my long absence, and consequent ignorance of dealers, rendering -it imprudent for me to transact my own business; besides which, -I found that, notwithstanding the whole of my merchandise was as -much the product of American industry, as though I and my people had -dug it out of the soil, (for instead of obtaining it with specie, we -had procured it by our own manual labour,) I was required to pay or -secure the enormous sum of one hundred and ninety thousand dollars -duties to government. A strange thing surely, that the same tax -should be levied on the privilege of bringing the fruits of our own -industry into the country, as on cargoes bought with silver dollars, -the carrying away of which impoverishes the nation. This did not seem -altogether right either for individuals or the country; but there -was no use in reasoning about it--it was required by law. - -My own bonds for these duties could not be received, because I was -not a permanent resident In this exigency my friend, Mr. Worthy, -occurred to my mind as a very fit man to act as my factor. He was -an old acquaintance, a well informed merchant, and a man of strict -integrity; but, unhappily, at this time, rather low in credit, in -consequence of having lost a great part of his capital by endorsing -for his friends. It was doubtful whether his bonds would be thought -sufficient at the Custom-house, and I was assured that he could -not raise cash enough to answer the heavy demands which would be -immediately made upon me by my crew, and my own expenses. Moreover, -as I was now very rich, and had daughters nearly grown up, it was -proper that I should gain a place in genteel society, whereas my -friend Worthy, being a plain frugal citizen, did not mix with the -haut ton, and could give me no assistance in that particular. All -my friends (and they were now very numerous) protested against so -foolish a step as that of putting all my affairs into his hands, -for the sake of giving an honest man a commission of ten or twelve -thousand dollars, when there were so many great merchants who would -readily manage my concerns for a moderate per centage, and introduce -me to stylish society into the bargain. - -I confess that the Symzonian doctrines had left so much impression on -my mind, as to cause me some compunction at the thought of neglecting -an opportunity to render my friend Worthy's family comfortable, by -giving him my business, instead of bestowing the advantages of it upon -a merchant rolling in wealth, who, after being roundly paid, would -consider me under obligations for his services. My external habits -and sentiments, however, got the better of my sympathies for my old -friend, and, by the advice of my new friends, I addressed myself to -Mr. Slippery. - -Mr. Slippery was undoubtedly a great merchant. He lived in a spacious -house in Broadway, rode in a splendid coach, walked like a man of -consequence in Wall-street, was a bank director, and had the handsomest -carpeted compting room in the city, and I know not how many clerks -writing in the next room. I knew him by sight, and did not altogether -like to apply to him, because of his haughty manners. I remembered -that when, some years before, I called at his compting room to offer -myself as a master for one of his ships, he kept me standing half an -hour, with my hat in my hand, before he condescended to notice me, -and was no ways pleased that I took the liberty to draw a chair to -seat myself until he might be at leisure. But he was certainly a -great merchant, and to him I went. - -I was delighted on entering his room, to observe a visible improvement -in his deportment and manners. Instead of the distant, haughty -reserve I had expected, he met me halfway, with both hands extended, -and gave me a hearty welcome to my country after so long an absence; -inquired after my wife and children in the most touching manner; -was rejoiced to hear that I had made a great voyage, and should be -extremely happy to render me any service in his power. He finished -his preliminary address with, "I am a great admirer, Captain Seaborn, -of you men of enterprise, who draw riches from the great deep to the -benefit of the revenue, the extension of trade, and all that sort of -thing: you understand me, Sir?" - -A hearty invitation to dinner, and a request to be permitted to -introduce me to his friends, followed in a breath. I was charmed with -him, poor fool that I was, little dreaming that it was the prospect -of handling the half million of dollars, which my cargo would produce, -that excited his cupidity. - -There was no difficulty in settling terms. Mr. Slippery agreed to take -charge of my business for half a commission, a simple two and an half -per centum. He was aware, he said, that after a long voyage, I must be -disposed to devote my time to my family and my friends, and he would -take all the trouble of business off my hands. I had only to endorse -over my bills of lading, and direct Mr. Boneto to deliver the cargo -to his order; and, as for money, I might draw for what sums I pleased, -taking care, when I should draw for large amounts, to make my bills at -four or six months, as the goods must be sold on credit, and it would -be a long time before he should be in funds from the actual proceeds. - -A few months flew on delightfully;--I had no cares, no -perplexities. Mr. Slippery recommended that the goods should be -sold at auction, to make sure of the best of endorsed paper, and I -consented. He paid my officers and men their shares, as I desired; -and although the auction sales did not produce for the goods, clear of -charges, auction expenses, and Mr. Slippery's commission and guarantee, -the actual cost in Canton, I flattered myself that I should still be -rich enough, and at all events, I could send the Explorer on another -voyage, whenever I should want more wealth. I purchased a handsome -house for thirty thousand dollars, paid fifteen thousand dollars -cash, and gave a mortgage for fifteen thousand; relieved the wants -of all my poor relations; assisted many old acquaintances, who had -been unfortunate; and still felt myself perfectly secure of all the -good things of this world for the remainder of my days. - -But, alas! we are short-sighted creatures. I was soon called to lament -the loss of my vessel, the partner of my adventures. Mr. Boneto not -being satisfied with a life of idleness on shore, and having a wish -to visit Europe, I permitted him to take the Explorer, without her -machinery, for a voyage to New-Orleans, and thence to Europe. He took -his money with him to purchase a cargo. On his way, he knocked that -charming vessel to pieces on the Bahama Banks, for want of Blunt's -chart, improved by recent surveys, to warn him of all the dangers. - -This misfortune grieved me not only for my own loss, but for -Boneto's, who was plundered by the Providence wreckers of every -dollar. Yet it was but the beginning of affliction. A few days after, -I was thunderstruck by a rumour that my friend the great merchant, -Mr. Slippery, had stopped payment. But there was some comfort--I was -assured that it was no failure, nothing but a suspension. For some -time I was kept at bay by promises and plausible statements. The whole -truth, however, burst upon me at the appearance of Mr. Slippery's name -in the Gazette, as an applicant for the benefit of the insolvent act. - -My situation could no longer be concealed even from myself. I was -utterly ruined. Many of my drafts on Mr. Slippery remained unpaid, -and came back upon me. I was sued, and called a rascal for not paying -my debts. No one would believe that the Nabob was actually poor. I -pressed Mr. Slippery for assistance, but got no other comfort than -a cool recommendation to take the benefit of the act, as the most -judicious course I could pursue. - -I went to my family in a state bordering upon distraction. The -troubles, mortifications, and miseries which followed, I forbear to -dwell on. I endeavoured to sell my house, but was told that property -had depreciated so much, it was worth no more than the mortgage, -for which the holder kindly took it off my hands. At length I was -constrained to take Mr. Slippery's advice, and apply for the benefit -of the act abolishing imprisonment for debt. - -I was now reduced to great straits, being confined to the Liberties, -as they are called--for the enjoyment of which restrained liberty I -found great difficulty in obtaining sufficient bail, my friends having -entirely disappeared. Fortunately I met with an old school-fellow, -who, on hearing of my distress, proffered his bail, notwithstanding -that the forfeiture of it would utterly ruin him. - -At this period, when I frequently rose in the morning, without knowing -how I should provide food for my children through the day, I found -it difficult to feel and believe that it was all for the best. With -neither the means of subsistence for my family, nor liberty to go in -pursuit of them, my misfortunes and privations often weighed down -my spirits, and became almost insupportable. When I thought of my -situation, I felt no longer like a man. But the remembrance of the -pious resignation, the humility, the contentment, the peacefulness -and happiness of the Symzonians, recalled me to a conviction of the -truth, that with a temper of calm and cordial submission to the will -of Providence, a man may be happy under any circumstances, but without -it must be wretched. - -At this period of pecuniary distress, Will Mackerel accidentally heard -of the misfortunes of his old commander, and hastened to see me. He -could not comprehend why my being possessed of the Liberties should -prevent me from going to sea, to acquire the means of subsistence for -my family. The worthy fellow was wholly incompetent to understand the -policy of depriving a man of liberty, preventing him from supplying -the wants of those dependant on him, and compelling him to cast them -as paupers upon the community, because he had, through misfortune, -lost all his property. - -Will had spent most of the money obtained by his voyage with me; but -after hearing my story, and an account of the embarrassments under -which I laboured, he threw every dollar that remained to him upon -the table, and declared he would never touch a shilling of it whilst -his old commander was in distress, but would go to sea to render me -further aid. I accepted this generous bounty with the frankness with -which it was offered, and recorded Will in my heart as a true-hearted -sailor. It was but little that he had left to bestow upon me, but it -preserved me from the extremity of want for some time. - -I was cheering myself with the prospect of obtaining my real liberty, -and of persuading some man of capital to equip a suitable vessel -for a second voyage to Seaborn's land, on terms which would give -me a fair share of the advantages of the undertaking, when I was -informed that Mr. Slippery had neither paid nor provided for the -duties on the Explorer's cargo; that the bonds which he had given, -owing to the long credits on China goods, were not yet due; and that, -as I was the importer, I was responsible for the whole amount, and -should be required to pay the uttermost farthing, or lie in jail -during the pleasure of government, no insolvent act being considered -of sufficient force to impair that prerogative of government, by which -citizens were deprived of their liberty when misfortune had deprived -them of every thing else. - -I had now no chance of freedom left, unless an opportunity should -offer to fly the country before the bonds became due, for even -should government relinquish the duties, the costs of suit, which -amount in most cases to a large proportion of the debt, would not -be relinquished till doomsday. To avail myself, however, of this -only expedient, seemed impracticable. Even the shawls and trinkets -which I had bestowed upon my wife in the days of our prosperity, were -already sold, and the proceeds expended for bread. I was a fortnight -in arrears to my landlady, and had not a friend on earth from whom -I could obtain a dollar. How then could I get away with nothing to -pay my expenses, or those of my wife and children in my absence? - -At this moment of difficulty I heard that Captain Riley had obtained -some pecuniary relief, by publishing a book of Travels, containing -accounts not much more marvellous than those which I could relate -of Symzonia. I therefore determined to make a brief extract from -my journal for publication, to raise the wind, reserving most of -the details of minute circumstances for my personal narrative, and -my scientific researches in statistics, geography, botany, ærology, -geology, mineralogy, zoology, ornithology, ichthyology, conchology, -entomology, horticulture, agriculture, &c. &c. &c. to be digested -hereafter under appropriate titles. The authenticity and genuineness of -these researches, since all the autographs and specimens collected to -corroborate them were lost by the bursting open of the ship's paddle -port, must rest upon the authority of my extracts, translations, -journal, and memory. Should they even be questioned and disputed about -by the Scavans of the external world, the generality of readers will -probably trouble their heads very little on that score. - -And now, kind reader, having transcribed thus much of my journal, -in a manner which, I hope, will not be thought derogatory to the -importance and dignity of the subject, I submit it to your inspection, -with an intimation, that I am ready to undertake a second voyage -to Seaborn's land, or a voyage to Belzubia and the place of exile, -by the northern route, or another visit to Symzonia, and an ærial -excursion thence to the inner spheres, as soon as I am furnished -with the funds necessary to my escape from my present uncomfortable -situation on the Liberties, in the garret of a lofty house, where, -it being about the middle of dog-days, the sun exerts its utmost -power upon the roof, within eighteen inches of my head. - - - FINIS. - - - - - - - -NOTES - - -[1] Handcuffs. - -[2] 'Blink of the ice.'--This is an arch formed upon the clouds by -the reflection of light from the packed ice. - -[3] Wainrows, rows formed for the convenience of loading wains; -not winrows, as the learned Professor Silliman has it. - -[4] See Dr. Herschel's Experiments on the refrangibility of the rays -of light and heat. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Symzonia, by Adam Seaborn - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SYMZONIA *** - -***** This file should be named 54485-8.txt or 54485-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/4/4/8/54485/ - -Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project -Gutenberg (This book was produced from scanned images of -public domain material from the Google Books project.) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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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