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 fide to fupport him. He acted every part of an orator, and I could obferve many periods of threatnings, and others of promises, pity, and kindness. I answered in a few words, but in the moft fubmiffive manner, lifting up my left hand and both my eyes to the fun, as calling him for a witnefs; and being almost 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 ftrict rules of decency) by putting my finger frequently to my mouth, to fignify that I wanted food. The burgo (for fo they call a great lord, as I afterwards learnt) understood me very well. He defcended from the ftage, and commanded that feveral ladders fhould be applied to my fides, on which above an hundred of the inhabitants mounted, and walked towards my mouth, laden with bafkets full of meat, which had been provided and fent thither by the king's orders, upon the firft intelligence he received of me. I obferved there was the flesh of feveral animals, but could not diftinguish them by the taste. There were fhoulders, legs, and loins, fhaped like thofe of mutton, and very well dreffed, but smaller than the wings of a lark. I eat them by two or three at a mouthful, and took three loaves at a time, about the bigness of mufket bullets. 5 bullets. They fupplied me as fast as they could, fhewing a thousand marks of wonder and aftonishment at my bulk and appetite. I then made another fign, that I wanted drink. They found by my eating, that a small quantity would not fuffice me, and being a most 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 tafted like a small wine of Burgundy, but much more delicious. They brought me a fecond hogfhead, which I drank in the fame manner, and made figns for more; but they had none to give me. When I had performed these wonders, they shouted for joy, and danced upon my breaft, repeating feveral times as they did at firft, hekinah degul. They made me a fign that I fhould throw down the two hogtheads, but first warning the people below to stand out of the way, crying aloud, borach mevola, and when they faw the veffels in the air, there was an univerfal fhout of hekinah degul. I confefs, I 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 dafh 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 fo I interpreted my fubmiffive behaviour, foon drove out thefe imaginations. Befides, 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 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 fight of fo prodigious a creature, as I must appear to them. After some time, when they obferved that I made no more demands for meat, there appeared before me a perfon of high rank from his imperial majesty. His excellency, having mounted on the fmall of my right leg, advanced forwards up to my face, with about a dozen of his retinue. And producing his credentials under the fignet royal, which he applied close to my eyes, fpoke about ten minutes without any figns 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 diftant, 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 fign 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 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 must be be carried as a prifoner. However, he made other figns 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 fmart of their arrows upon my face and hands, which were all in blifters, and many of the darts ftill sticking in them, and obferving likewise that the number of my enemies increased, I gave tokens to let them know, that they might do with me what they pleafed. Upon this the burgo and his train withdrew with much civility and chearful countenances. Soon after I heard a general fhout, with frequent repetitions of the words, peplom felan, and I felt great numbers of people on my left fide relaxing the cords to fuch 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 aftonishment of the people, who conjecturing, by my motion, what I was going to do, immediately opened to the right and left on that fide, 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 fort of ointment very pleasant to the fmell, which in a few minutes removed all the smart of their arrows. Thefe circumftances, 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, wonder, for the phyficians, by the emperor's order, had mingled a fleepy potion in the hogfheads of wine. my It seems that, upon the firit moment I was discovered fleeping on the ground after 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 by any prince in Europe on the like occafion; however, in my opinion, it was extremely prudent, as well as generous: for fuppofing these people had endeavoured to kill me with their fpears and arrows while I was afleep, I should certainly have awaked with the first fense of smart, which might fo far have rouzed my rage and ftrength, as to have enabled me to break the ftrings, wherewith I was tied; after which, as they were not able to make refiftance, fo they could expect no mercy. pa Thefe people are most excellent mathematicians, and arrived to a great perfection in mechanicks by the countenance and encouragement of the emperor, who is a renowned tron 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 fome are nine feet |