CHAP. IX.

Sails to

The Author's Return to MALDONADA. the Kingdom of LUGGNAGG. The Author confined. He is fent for to Court. The Manner of bis Admittance. The King's great Lenity to bis Subjects.

HE Day of our Departure being come, I took Leave of his Highnefs the Governor of Glubbdubdribb, and returned with my two Companions to Maldonada, where, after a Fortnight's waiting, a Ship was ready to fail for Luggnagg. The two Gentlemen, and fome others, were fo generous and kind, as to furnish me with Provifions, and fee me on Board. I was a Month in this Voyage. We had one violent Storm, and were under a Neceffity of fteering Weftward to get into the Trade-Wind, which holds for above fixty Leagues. On the 21st of April, 1708, we failed in the River of Clumegnig, which is a Sea-Port Town, at the South-Eaft Point of Luggnagg. We caft Anchor within a League of the Town, and made a Signal for a Pilot. Two of them came on Board in less than half an Hour, by whom we were

guided between certain Shoals and Rocks, which are very dangerous in the Paffage, to a large Bafin, where a Fleet may ride in Safety within a Cable's Length of the Town Wall.

SOME of our Sailors, whether out of Treachery, or Inadvertence, had informed the Pilots that I was a Stranger, and a great Traveller, whereof thefe gave Notice to a Custom-House Officer, by whom I was examined very ftrictly upon my landing. This Officer spoke to me in the Language of Balnibarbi, which by the Force of much Commerce is generally understood in that Town, especially by Seamen, and those. employed in the Cuftoms. I gave him a fhort Account of fome Particulars, and made my Story as plaufible and confiftent as I could; but I thought it neceffary to disguise my Country, and call my felf an Hollander; becaufe my Intentions were for Japan, and I knew the Dutch were the only Europeans permitted to enter into that Kingdom. I therefore told the Officer, that having been Shipwrecked on the Coast of Balnibarbi, and caft on a Rock, I was received up into Laputa, or the flying Island (of which he had often heard) and was now endeavouring to get to Japan, from whence I might find a Convenience of returning to my own Country. The Officer faid, I must be confined until he could receive Orders from Court, for which he would write immediately, and hoped to receive an Answer in a Fortnight. I was carried to a convenient Lodging, with a Čentry placed at the Door; however, I had the Liberty of a large Garden, and was treated with Humanity enough, being maintained all the Time at the King's Charge. I was invited by feveral Perfons, chiefly out of Curiosity, because it was reported I

came

came from Countries very remote, of which they had never heard.

I HIRED a young Man who came in the fame Ship to be an Interpreter; he was a Native of Luggnagg, but had lived fome Years at Maldonada, and was a perfect Mafter of both Languages. By his Affiftance, I was able to hold a Converfation with those that came to vifit me; but this confifted only of their Questions and my Anfwers.

THE Difpatch came from Court about the Time we expected. It contained a Warrant for conducting me and my Retinue to Traldragdubb or Trildrogdrib, (for it is pronounced both Ways as near as I can remember) by a Party of ten Horse. All my Retinue was that poor Lad for an Interpreter, whom I perfuaded into my Service. At my humble Request, we had each of us a Mule to ride on. A Meffenger was dispatched half a Day's Journey before us, to give the King Notice of my Approach, and to defire that his Majesty would please to appoint a Day and Hour, when it would be his gracious Pleasure that I might have the Honour to lick the Duft before his Footstool. This is the Court Style, and I found it to be more than Matter of Form: For, upon my Admittance two Days after my Arrival, I was commanded to crawl upon my Belly, and lick the Floor as I advanced; but on Account of my being a Stranger, Care was taken to have it fo clean, that the Duft was not offenfive. However, this was a peculiar Grace, not allowed to any, but Persons of the highest Rank, when they defire an Admittance: Nay, fometimes the Floor is ftrewed with Duft on Purpofe, when the Perfon to be admitted happens to have powerful Enemies at Court: And I have seen a great Lord with his Mouth fo crammed, that when he had

crept

crept to the proper Distance from the Throne, he was not able to speak a Word. Neither is there any Remedy, because it is Capital for those who receive an Audience, to fpit or wipe their Mouths in his Majefty's Prefence. There is indeed another Cuftom, which I cannot altogether approve of. When the King hath a Mind to put any of his Nobles to Death in a gentle indulgent Manner; he commands to have the Floor ftrowed with a certain brown Powder, of a deadly Compofition, which being licked up, infallibly kills him in twenty-four Hours. But in Juftice to this Prince's great Clemency, and the Care he hath of his Subjects Lives, (wherein it were much to be wifhed that the Monarchs of Europe would imitate him) it must be mentioned for his Honour, that ftrict Orders are given to have the infected Parts of the Floor well washed after every fuch Execution; which, if his Domesticks neglect, they are in Danger of incurring his Royal Difpleasure. I my self heard him give Directions, that one of his Pages fhould be whipt, whofe Turn it was to give Notice about wafhing the Floor after an Execution, but malicioufly had omitted it; by which Neglect, a young Lord, of great Hopes, coming to an Audience, was unfortunately poifoned, although the King, at that Time, had no Defign against his Life. But this good Prince was fo gracious, as to forgive the Page his Whipping, upon Promife that he would do fo no more, without Special Orders.

To return from this Digreffion; when I had crept within four Yards of the Throne, I raised my felf gently upon my Knees, and then ftriking my Forehead feven Times against the Ground, I pronounced the following Words, as they had been taught me the Night before, Ickpling Gloffthrobb Squutferumm

Squutferum blbiop Mlafonalt Zwin_tnodbalkguff b Sibiopbad Gurdlubb Afht. This is the Compliment established by the Laws of the Land for all Perfons admitted to the King's Prefence. It may be rendered into English thus: May your cæleftial Majefty out-live the Sun, eleven Moons and an balf. To this the King returned fome Anfwer, which although I could not understand, yet I replied as I had been directed; Fluft drin Yalerick Dwuldum praftrad mirplush, which properly fignifies, My Tongue is in the Mouth of my Friend; and by this Expreffion was meant, that I defired Leave to bring my Interpreter; whereupon the young Man already mentioned, was accordingly introduced; by whofe Intervention I answered as many Questions as his Majefty could put in above an Hour. I spoke in the Balnibarbian Tongue, and my Interpreter delivered my Meaning in that of Luggnagg.

THE King was much delighted with my Company, and ordered his Bliffmarklub, or High Chamberlain, to appoint a Lodging in the Court for me, and my Interpreter, with a daily Allowance for my Table, and a large Purfe of Gold for my common Expences.

I STAYED three Months in this Country out of perfect Obedience to his Majefty, who was pleased highly to favour me, and made me very honourable Offers. But I thought it more confiftent with Prudence and Juftice to pass the Remainder of my Days with my Wife and Family.

CHAP.