The author gives some account of himself and family. His first
inducements to travel. He is shipwrecked, and swims for his life.
Gets safe on shore in the country of Lilliput; is made a prisoner,
and carried up the country.
My father had a small estate in Nottinghamshire: I was the third
of five sons. He sent me to Emanuel College in Cambridge at
fourteen years old, where I resided three years, and applied myself
close to my studies; but the charge of maintaining me, although I
had a very scanty allowance, being too great for a narrow fortune,
I was bound apprentice to Mr. James Bates, an eminent surgeon in
London, with whom I continued four years. My father now and then
sending me small sums of money, I laid them out in learning
navigation, and other parts of the mathematics, useful to those who
intend to travel, as I always believed it would be, some time or
other, my fortune to do. When I left Mr. Bates, I went down to my
father: where, by the assistance of him and my uncle John, and some
other relations, I got forty pounds, and a promise of thirty pounds
a year to maintain me at Leyden: there I studied physic two years
and seven months, knowing it would be useful in long voyages.
Soon after my return from Leyden, I was recommended by my good
master, Mr. Bates, to be surgeon to the Swallow, Captain Abraham
Pannel, commander; with whom I continued three years and a half,
making a voyage or two into the Levant, and some other parts. When
I came back I resolved to settle in London; to which Mr. Bates, my
master, encouraged me, and by him I was recommended to several
patients. I took part of a small house in the Old Jewry; and being
advised to alter my condition, I married Mrs. Mary Burton, second
daughter to Mr. Edmund Burton, hosier, in Newgate-street, with whom
I received four hundred pounds for a portion.
But my good master Bates dying in two years after, and I having
few friends, my business began to fail; for my conscience would not
suffer me to imitate the bad practice of too many among my
brethren. Having therefore consulted with my wife, and some of my
acquaintance, I determined to go again to sea. I was surgeon
successively in two ships, and made several voyages, for six years,
to the East and West Indies, by which I got some addition to my
fortune. My hours of leisure I spent in reading the best authors,
ancient and modern, being always provided with a good number of
books; and when I was ashore, in observing the manners and
dispositions of the people, as well as learning their language;
wherein I had a great facility, by the strength of my memory.
The last of these voyages not proving very fortunate, I grew
weary of the sea, and intended to stay at home with my wife and
family. I removed from the Old Jewry to Fetter Lane, and from
thence to Wapping, hoping to get business among the sailors; but it
would not turn to account. After three years expectation that
things would mend, I accepted an advantageous offer from Captain
William Prichard, master of the Antelope, who was making a voyage
to the South Sea. We set sail from Bristol, May 4, 1699, and our
voyage was at first very prosperous.
It would not be proper, for some reasons, to trouble the reader
with the particulars of our adventures in those seas; let it
suffice to inform him, that in our passage from thence to the East
Indies, we were driven by a violent storm to the north-west of Van
Diemen's Land. By an observation, we found ourselves in the
latitude of 30 degrees 2 minutes south. Twelve of our crew were
dead by immoderate labour and ill food; the rest were in a very
weak condition. On the 5th of November, which was the beginning of
summer in those parts, the weather being very hazy, the seamen
spied a rock within half a cable's length of the ship; but the wind
was so strong, that we were driven directly upon it, and
immediately split. Six of the crew, of whom I was one, having let
down the boat into the sea, made a shift to get clear of the ship
and the rock. We rowed, by my computation, about three leagues,
till we were able to work no longer, being already spent with
labour while we were in the ship. We therefore trusted ourselves to
the mercy of the waves, and in about half an hour the boat was
overset by a sudden flurry from the north. What became of my
companions in the boat, as well as of those who escaped on the
rock, or were left in the vessel, I cannot tell; but conclude they
were all lost. For my own part, I swam as fortune directed me, and
was pushed forward by wind and tide. I often let my legs drop, and
could feel no bottom; but when I was almost gone, and able to
struggle no longer, I found myself within my depth; and by this
time the storm was much abated. The declivity was so small, that I
walked near a mile before I got to the shore, which I conjectured
was about eight o'clock in the evening. I then advanced forward
near half a mile, but could not discover any sign of houses or
inhabitants; at least I was in so weak a condition, that I did not
observe them. I was extremely tired, and with that, and the heat of
the weather, and about half a pint of brandy that I drank as I left
the ship, I found myself much inclined to sleep. I lay down on the
grass, which was very short and soft, where I slept sounder than
ever I remembered to have done in my life, and, as I reckoned,
about nine hours; for when I awaked, it was just day-light. I
attempted to rise, but was not able to stir: for, as I happened to
lie on my back, I found my arms and legs were strongly fastened on
each side to the ground; and my hair, which was long and thick,
tied down in the same manner. I likewise felt several slender
ligatures across my body, from my arm-pits to my thighs. I could
only look upwards; the sun began to grow hot, and the light
offended my eyes. I heard a confused noise about me; but in the
posture I lay, could see nothing except the sky. In a little time I
felt something alive moving on my left leg, which advancing gently
forward over my breast, came almost up to my chin; when, bending my
eyes downwards as much as I could, I perceived it to be a human
creature not six inches high, with a bow and arrow in his hands,
and a quiver at his back. In the mean time, I felt at least forty
more of the same kind (as I conjectured) following the first. I was
in the utmost astonishment, and roared so loud, that they all ran
back in a fright; and some of them, as I was afterwards told, were
hurt with the falls they got by leaping from my sides upon the
ground. However, they soon returned, and one of them, who ventured
so far as to get a full sight of my face, lifting up his hands and
eyes by way of admiration, cried out in a shrill but distinct
voice, Hekinah degul: the others repeated the same words several
times, but then I knew not what they meant. I lay all this while,
as the reader may believe, in great uneasiness. At length,
struggling to get loose, I had the fortune to break the strings,
and wrench out the pegs that fastened my left arm to the ground;
for, by lifting it up to my face, I discovered the methods they had
taken to bind me, and at the same time with a violent pull, which
gave me excessive pain, I a little loosened the strings that tied
down my hair on the left side, so that I was just able to turn my
head about two inches. But the creatures ran off a second time,
before I could seize them; whereupon there was a great shout in a
very shrill accent, and after it ceased I heard one of them cry
aloud Tolgo phonac; when in an instant I felt above a hundred
arrows discharged on my left hand, which, pricked me like so many
needles; and besides, they shot another flight into the air, as we
do bombs in Europe, whereof many, I suppose, fell on my body,
(though I felt them not), and some on my face, which I immediately
covered with my left hand. When this shower of arrows was over, I
fell a groaning with grief and pain; and then striving again to get
loose, they discharged another volley larger than the first, and
some of them attempted with spears to stick me in the sides; but by
good luck I had on a buff jerkin, which they could not pierce. I
thought it the most prudent method to lie still, and my design was
to continue so till night, when, my left hand being already loose,
I could easily free myself: and as for the inhabitants, I had
reason to believe I might be a match for the greatest army they
could bring against me, if they were all of the same size with him
that I saw. But fortune disposed otherwise of me. When the people
observed I was quiet, they discharged no more arrows; but, by the
noise I heard, I knew their numbers increased; and about four yards
from me, over against my right ear, I heard a knocking for above an
hour, like that of people at work; when turning my head that way,
as well as the pegs and strings would permit me, I saw a stage
erected about a foot and a half from the ground, capable of holding
four of the inhabitants, with two or three ladders to mount it:
from whence one of them, who seemed to be a person of quality, made
me a long speech, whereof I understood not one syllable. But I
should have mentioned, that before the principal person began his
oration, he cried out three times, Langro dehul san (these words
and the former were afterwards repeated and explained to me);
whereupon, immediately, about fifty of the inhabitants came and cut
the strings that fastened the left side of my head, which gave me
the liberty of turning it to the right, and of observing the person
and gesture of him that was to speak.
He appeared to be of a middle age, and taller than any of the
other three who attended him, whereof one was a page that held up
his train, and seemed to be somewhat longer than my middle finger;
the other two stood one on each side to support him. He acted every
part of an orator, and I could observe many periods of
threatenings, and others of promises, pity, and kindness. I
answered in a few words, but in the most submissive manner, lifting
up my left hand, and both my eyes to the sun, as calling him for a
witness; and being almost famished with hunger, having not eaten a
morsel for some hours before I left the ship, I found the demands
of nature so strong upon me, that I could not forbear showing my
impatience (perhaps against the strict rules of decency) by putting
my finger frequently to my mouth, to signify that I wanted food.
The hurgo (for so they call a great lord, as I afterwards learnt)
understood me very well. He descended from the stage, and commanded
that several ladders should be applied to my sides, on which above
a hundred of the inhabitants mounted and walked towards my mouth,
laden with baskets full of meat, which had been provided and sent
thither by the king's orders, upon the first intelligence he
received of me. I observed there was the flesh of several animals,
but could not distinguish them by the taste. There were shoulders,
legs, and loins, shaped like those of mutton, and very well
dressed, but smaller than the wings of a lark. I ate them by two or
three at a mouthful, and took three loaves at a time, about the
bigness of musket bullets.
They supplied me as fast as they could, showing a thousand marks
of wonder and astonishment at my bulk and appetite. I then made
another sign, that I wanted drink. They found by my eating that a
small quantity would not suffice me; and being a most ingenious
people, they slung up, with great dexterity, one of their largest
hogsheads, then rolled it towards my hand, and beat out the top; I
drank it off at a draught, which I might well do, for it did not
hold half a pint, and tasted like a small wine of Burgundy, but
much more delicious. They brought me a second hogshead, which I
drank in the same manner, and made signs for more; but they had
none to give me. When I had performed these wonders, they shouted
for joy, and danced upon my breast, repeating several times as they
did at first, Hekinah degul. They made me a sign that I should
throw down the two hogsheads, but first warning the people below to
stand out of the way, crying aloud, Borach mevolah; and when they
saw the vessels in the air, there was a universal shout of Hekinah
degul. I confess I was often tempted, while they were passing
backwards and forwards on my body, to seize forty or fifty of the
first that came in my reach, and dash them against the ground. But
the remembrance of what I had felt, which probably might not be the
worst they could do, and the promise of honour I made them—for so I
interpreted my submissive behaviour—soon drove out these
imaginations. Besides, I now considered myself as bound by the laws
of hospitality, to a people who had treated me with so much expense
and magnificence. However, in my thoughts I could not sufficiently
wonder at the intrepidity of these diminutive mortals, who durst
venture to mount and walk upon my body, while one of my hands was
at liberty, without trembling at the very sight of so prodigious a
creature as I must appear to them. After some time, when they
observed that I made no more demands for meat, there appeared
before me a person of high rank from his imperial majesty. His
excellency, having mounted on the small of my right leg, advanced
forwards up to my face, with about a dozen of his retinue; and
producing his credentials under the signet royal, which he applied
close to my eyes, spoke about ten minutes without any signs of
anger, but with a kind of determinate resolution, often pointing
forwards, which, as I afterwards found, was towards the capital
city, about half a mile distant; whither it was agreed by his
majesty in council that I must be conveyed. I answered in few
words, but to no purpose, and made a sign with my hand that was
loose, putting it to the other (but over his excellency's head for
fear of hurting him or his train) and then to my own head and body,
to signify that I desired my liberty. It appeared that he
understood me well enough, for he shook his head by way of
disapprobation, and held his hand in a posture to show that I must
be carried as a prisoner. However, he made other signs to let me
understand that I should have meat and drink enough, and very good
treatment. Whereupon I once more thought of attempting to break my
bonds; but again, when I felt the smart of their arrows upon my
face and hands, which were all in blisters, and many of the darts
still sticking in them, and observing likewise that the number of
my enemies increased, I gave tokens to let them know that they
might do with me what they pleased. Upon this, the hurgo and his
train withdrew, with much civility and cheerful countenances. Soon
after I heard a general shout, with frequent repetitions of the
words Peplom selan; and I felt great numbers of people on my left
side relaxing the cords to such a degree, that I was able to turn
upon my right, and to ease myself with making water; which I very
plentifully did, to the great astonishment of the people; who,
conjecturing by my motion what I was going to do, immediately
opened to the right and left on that side, to avoid the torrent,
which fell with such noise and violence from me. But before this,
they had daubed my face and both my hands with a sort of ointment,
very pleasant to the smell, which, in a few minutes, removed all
the smart of their arrows. These circumstances, added to the
refreshment I had received by their victuals and drink, which were
very nourishing, disposed me to sleep. I slept about eight hours,
as I was afterwards assured; and it was no wonder, for the
physicians, by the emperor's order, had mingled a sleepy potion in
the hogsheads of wine.
It seems, that upon the first moment I was discovered sleeping
on the ground, after my landing, the emperor had early notice of it
by an express; and determined in council, that I should be tied in
the manner I have related, (which was done in the night while I
slept;) that plenty of meat and drink should be sent to me, and a
machine prepared to carry me to the capital city.
This resolution perhaps may appear very bold and dangerous, and
I am confident would not be imitated by any prince in Europe on the
like occasion. However, in my opinion, it was extremely prudent, as
well as generous: for, supposing these people had endeavoured to
kill me with their spears and arrows, while I was asleep, I should
certainly have awaked with the first sense of smart, which might so
far have roused my rage and strength, as to have enabled me to
break the strings wherewith I was tied; after which, as they were
not able to make resistance, so they could expect no mercy.
These people are most excellent mathematicians, and arrived to a
great perfection in mechanics, by the countenance and encouragement
of the emperor, who is a renowned patron of learning. This prince
has several machines fixed on wheels, for the carriage of trees and
other great weights. He often builds his largest men of war,
whereof some are nine feet long, in the woods where the timber
grows, and has them carried on these engines three or four hundred
yards to the sea. Five hundred carpenters and engineers were
immediately set at work to prepare the greatest engine they had. It
was a frame of wood raised three inches from the ground, about
seven feet long, and four wide, moving upon twenty-two wheels. The
shout I heard was upon the arrival of this engine, which, it seems,
set out in four hours after my landing. It was brought parallel to
me, as I lay. But the principal difficulty was to raise and place
me in this vehicle. Eighty poles, each of one foot high, were
erected for this purpose, and very strong cords, of the bigness of
packthread, were fastened by hooks to many bandages, which the
workmen had girt round my neck, my hands, my body, and my legs.
Nine hundred of the strongest men were employed to draw up these
cords, by many pulleys fastened on the poles; and thus, in less
than three hours, I was raised and slung into the engine, and there
tied fast. All this I was told; for, while the operation was
performing, I lay in a profound sleep, by the force of that
soporiferous medicine infused into my liquor. Fifteen hundred of
the emperor's largest horses, each about four inches and a half
high, were employed to draw me towards the metropolis, which, as I
said, was half a mile distant.
About four hours after we began our journey, I awaked by a very
ridiculous accident; for the carriage being stopped a while, to
adjust something that was out of order, two or three of the young
natives had the curiosity to see how I looked when I was asleep;
they climbed up into the engine, and advancing very softly to my
face, one of them, an officer in the guards, put the sharp end of
his half-pike a good way up into my left nostril, which tickled my
nose like a straw, and made me sneeze violently; whereupon they
stole off unperceived, and it was three weeks before I knew the
cause of my waking so suddenly. We made a long march the remaining
part of the day, and, rested at night with five hundred guards on
each side of me, half with torches, and half with bows and arrows,
ready to shoot me if I should offer to stir. The next morning at
sun-rise we continued our march, and arrived within two hundred
yards of the city gates about noon. The emperor, and all his court,
came out to meet us; but his great officers would by no means
suffer his majesty to endanger his person by mounting on my
body.
At the place where the carriage stopped there stood an ancient
temple, esteemed to be the largest in the whole kingdom; which,
having been polluted some years before by an unnatural murder, was,
according to the zeal of those people, looked upon as profane, and
therefore had been applied to common use, and all the ornaments and
furniture carried away. In this edifice it was determined I should
lodge. The great gate fronting to the north was about four feet
high, and almost two feet wide, through which I could easily creep.
On each side of the gate was a small window, not above six inches
from the ground: into that on the left side, the king's smith
conveyed fourscore and eleven chains, like those that hang to a
lady's watch in Europe, and almost as large, which were locked to
my left leg with six-and-thirty padlocks. Over against this temple,
on the other side of the great highway, at twenty feet distance,
there was a turret at least five feet high. Here the emperor
ascended, with many principal lords of his court, to have an
opportunity of viewing me, as I was told, for I could not see them.
It was reckoned that above a hundred thousand inhabitants came out
of the town upon the same errand; and, in spite of my guards, I
believe there could not be fewer than ten thousand at several
times, who mounted my body by the help of ladders. But a
proclamation was soon issued, to forbid it upon pain of death. When
the workmen found it was impossible for me to break loose, they cut
all the strings that bound me; whereupon I rose up, with as
melancholy a disposition as ever I had in my life. But the noise
and astonishment of the people, at seeing me rise and walk, are not
to be expressed. The chains that held my left leg were about two
yards long, and gave me not only the liberty of walking backwards
and forwards in a semicircle, but, being fixed within four inches
of the gate, allowed me to creep in, and lie at my full length in
the temple.