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 obferving the Perfon and Gefture 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 feemed to be fomewhat longer than my middle Finger; the other two ftood one on each Side to fupport him. He acted every Part of an Orator, and I could obferve many Periods of Threatnings, and others of Promises, Pity, and Kindnefs. I answered in a few Words, but in the most fubmiffive Manner, lifting up my left Hand and both my Eyes to the Sun, as calling him for a Witnefs; and, being almoft famished with Hunger, having not eaten a Morfel for fome Hours before I left the Ship, I found the Demands of Nature fo ftrong upon me, that I could not forbear fhewing my Impatience (perhaps against the strict Rules of Decency) by putting my Finger frequently to my Mouth, to fignify that I wanted Food. Hurgo (for fo they call a great Lord, as I afterwards learnt) understood me very well. He defcended from the Stage, and commanded that several Ladders fhould be applied to my Sides, on which above an hundred of the Inhabitants mounted, and walked towards my Mouth, laden with Baskets full of Meat, which had been provided and fent thither by the King's Orders, upon the first Intelligence he received of me. I obferved there was the Flesh of feveral Animals, but could not distinguish them by the Tafte. There were Shoulders, Legs, and Loins, fhaped like thofe of Mutton, and very well dreffed, but fmaller than the Wings of a Lark. I

B 4

The

eat

eat them by two or three at a Mouthful, and took three Loaves at a Time, about the Bignefs of Musket Bullets. They fupplied me as they could, fhewing a thousand Marks of Wonder and Aftonishment at my Bulk and Appetite. I then made another Sign that I wanted Drink. They found by my Eating, that a fmall Quantity would not fuffice me, and being a moft ingenious People, they flung up with great Dexterity one of their largest Hogfheads, 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 fecond Hogshead, which I drank in the fame Manner, and made Signs for more; but they had none to give me. When I had performed these Wonders, they fhouted for Joy, and danced upon my Breaft, repeating several Times as they did at firft, Hekinah Degul. They made me a Sign that I fhould throw down the two Hogfheads, but first warning the People below to ftand out of the Way, crying aloud, Borach Mervola, and when they faw the Veffels in the Air, there was an univerfal Shout of Hekinah Degul. I confefs, 1 was often tempted, while they were paffing backwards and forwards on my Body, to feize 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 Worft they could do, and the Promife of Honour I made them, for fo I interpreted my fubmiffive Behaviour, foon drove out thefe Imaginations. Befides, I now confidered myself as bound by the Laws of Hofpitality to a People who had treated me with fo much Expence and Magnificence. However, in

my

my Thoughts, I could not fufficiently wonder at the Intrepidity of these diminutive Mortals, who durft venture to mount and walk upon my Body, while one of my Hands was at Liberty, without trembling at the very Sight of fo prodigious a Creature, as I muft appear to them. After fome Time, when they obferved that I made no more Demands for Meat, there appeared before me a Perfon of high Rank from his Imperial Majefty. 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, fpoke about ten Minutes, without any Signs of Anger, but with a Kind of determinate Refolution; often pointing forwards, which, as I afterwards found, was towards the Capital City, about half a Mile distant, whither, it was agreed by his Majefty 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 loofe, 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 fignify that I defired my Liberty. It appeared that he understood me well enough, for he fhook his Head by Way of Difapprobation, and held his Hand in a Pofture to fhew that I muft be carried as a Prifoner. However, he made other Signs to let me understand that I fhould 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 Blifters, and many of the Darts ftill fticking in them, and obferving likewife that the Number

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 chearful 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 fuch a Degree, that I was able to turn upon my Right, and to ease myfelf with making Water; which I very plentifully did, to the great Aftonishment 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 fuch Noife 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, difpofed me to fleep. I flept about eight Hours, as I was afterwards affured; and it was no Wonder, for the Phyficians, by the Emperor's Order, had mingled a fleepy Potion in the Hogsheads of Wine.

It seems that, upon the first Moment I was dif covered fleeping on the Ground after my Landing, the Emperor had early Notice of it by an Exprefs; and determined in Council that I fhould be tied in the Manner I have related, (which was done in the Night while I flept) that Plenty of Meat and Drink fhould be fent to me, and a Machine prepared to carry me to the Capital City.

This Refolution perhaps may appear very bold and dangerous, and I am confident would not be

imitated

imitated by any Prince in Europe on the like Oc-, cafion; however, in my Opinion, it was extremely prudent, as well as generous: For fuppofing thefe People had endeavoured to kill me with their Spears and Arrows while I was afleep, I fhould certainly have awaked with the first Senfe of Smart, which might fo far have rouzed 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 Refiftance, fo they could expect no Mercy.

Thefe People are most excellent Mathematicians, and arriv'd to a great Perfection in Mechanics, by the Countenance and Encouragement of the Emperor, who is a renowned Patron of Learning. This Prince hath feveral 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 thefe Engines three or four hundred Yards to the Sea. Five hundred Carpenters and Engineers were immediately fet at work to prepare the greatest Engine they had. It was a Frame of Wood raised three Inches from the Ground, about feven Feet long and four wide, moving upon twenty-two Wheels. The Shout Í heard was upon the Arrival of this Engine, which it feems fet 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 ftrong Cords of the Bignefs of Packthread were faftened by Hooks to many Bandages, which the Workmen had girt round my Neck, my Hands,

my