1. CHAPTER I
MY father had a small estate in Nottinghamshire, and
I was the third of four sons. He sent me to Cambridge
at fourteen years old, and after studying there three
years I was bound apprentice to Mr. Bates, a famous
surgeon in London. There, as my father now and then
sent me small sums of money, I spent them in learning
navigation, and other arts useful to those who travel, as
I always believed it would be some time or other my
fortune to do.
Three years after my leaving him my good master,
Mr. Bates, recommended me as ship's surgeon to the
“Swallow,” on which I voyaged three years. When I
came back I settled in London, and, having taken part
of a small house, I married Miss Mary Burton, daughter
of Mr. Edmund Burton, hosier.
But my good master Bates died two years after; and
as I had few friends my business began to fail, and I
determined to go again to sea. After several voyages, I
accepted an offer from Captain W. Pritchard, master of
the “Antelope,” who was making a voyage to the South
Sea. We set sail from Bristol, May 4, 1699; and our
voyage at first was very prosperous.
But in our passage to the East Indies we were driven
by a violent storm to the north-west of Van Diemen's
Land. Twelve of our crew died from hard labor and bad
food, and the rest were in a very weak condition. On the
5th of November, the weather being very hazy, the seamen
spied a rock within 120 yards of the ship; but the
wind was so strong that we were driven straight upon it,
and immediately split. Six of the crew, of whom I was
one, letting down the boat, got clear of the ship, and we
rowed about three leagues, till we could work no longer.
We therefore trusted ourselves to the mercy of the waves;
and in about half an hour the boat was upset by a sudden
squall. What became of my companions in the boat, or
those who escaped on the rock or were left in the vessel,
I cannot tell; but I conclude they were all lost. For my
part, I swam as fortune directed me, and was pushed forward
by wind and tide; but when I was able to struggle
no longer I found myself within my depth. By this time
the storm was much abated. I reached the shore at last,
about eight o'clock in the evening, and advanced nearly
half a mile inland, but could not discover any sign of
inhabitants. I was extremely tired, and with the heat of
the weather I found myself much inclined to sleep. I
lay down on the grass, which was very short and soft, and
slept sounder than ever I did in my life for about nine
hours. When I woke, it was just daylight. I attempted
to rise, but could not; for as I happened to be lying on my
back, I found my arms and legs were fastened on each
side to the ground; and my hair, which was long and
thick, tied down in the same manner. I could only look
upward. The sun began to grow hot, and the light hurt
my eyes. I heard a confused noise about me, but could
see nothing except the sky. In a little time I felt
something alive and moving on my left leg, which, advancing
gently over my breast, came almost up to my chin, when,
bending my eyes downward, 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 meantime I felt
at least forty more 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 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, lifted up
his hands in admiration. I lay all this while in great
uneasiness; but at length, struggling to get loose, I succeeded
in breaking the strings that fastened my left arm to the
ground; and at the same time, with a violent pull that
gave me extreme pain, I a little loosened the strings that
tied down my hair, 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, and in an instant I felt above a hundred
arrows discharged on my left hand, which pricked me like
so many needles. Moreover, they shot another flight into
the air, of which some fell on my face, which I immediately
covered with my left hand. When this shower of arrows
was over I groaned with grief and pain, and then, striving
again to get loose, they discharged another flight of
arrows larger than the first, and some of them tried to
stab me with their spears; but by good luck I had on a
leather jacket, which they could not pierce. By this time
I thought it most prudent to lie still till night, when, my
left hand being already loose, I could easily free myself;
and as for the inhabitants, I thought I might be a match
for the greatest army they could bring against me if they
were all of the same size as him I saw. When the people
observed that I was quiet they discharged no more arrows,
but by the noise I heard I knew that their number was
increased; and about four yards from me, for more than
an hour, there was a knocking, like people at work. Then,
turning my head that way as well as the pegs and strings
would let me, I saw a stage set up, about a foot and a half
from the ground, with two or three ladders to mount it.
From this, one of them, who seemed to be a person of
quality, made me a long speech, of which I could not
understand a word, though I could tell from his manner
that he sometimes threatened me, and sometimes spoke
with pity and kindness. I answered in few words, but
in the most submissive manner; and, being almost famished
with hunger, I could not help showing my impatience
by putting my finger frequently to my mouth, to signify
that I wanted food. He understood me very well, and,
descending from the stage, commanded that several
ladders should be set against my sides, on which more
than a hundred of the inhabitants mounted, and walked
toward my mouth with baskets full of food, which had
been sent by the King's orders when he first received
tidings of me. There were legs and shoulders like mutton
but smaller than the wings of a lark. I ate them two or
three at a mouthful, and took three loaves at a time.
They supplied me as fast as they could, with a thousand
marks of wonder at my appetite. I then made a sign that
I wanted something to drink. They guessed that a small
quantity would not suffice me, and, being a most ingenious
people, they slung up one of their largest hogsheads,
then rolled it toward 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. They brought me a second hogshead,
which I drank, and made signs for more; but they
had none to give me. However, I could not wonder
enough at the daring of these tiny mortals, who ventured
to mount and walk upon my body, while one of my hands
was free, without trembling at the very sight of so huge
a creature as I must have seemed to them. After some
time there appeared before me a person of high rank from
his Imperial Majesty. His Excellency, having mounted
my right leg, advanced to my face, with about a dozen
of his retinue, and spoke about ten minutes, often pointing
forward, which, as I afterward found, was toward the
capital city, about half a mile distant, whither it was
commanded by his Majesty that I should be conveyed.
I 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), to show that I desired my
liberty. He seemed to understand me well enough, for he
shook his head, though he made other signs to let me
know that I should have meat and drink enough, and
very good treatment. Then I once more thought of
attempting to escape; but when I felt the smart of their
arrows on my face and hands, which were all in blisters
and observed likewise that the number of my enemies
increased, I gave tokens to let them know that they might
do with me what they pleased. Then they daubed my
face and hands with a sweet-smelling ointment, which in
a few minutes removed all the smarts of the arrows. The
relief from pain and hunger made me drowsy, and presently
I fell asleep. I slept about eight hours, as I was told
afterward; and it was no wonder, for the physicians, by
the Emperor's orders, had mingled a sleeping draught in
the hogsheads of wine.
It seems that, when I was discovered sleeping on the
ground after my landing, the Emperor had early notice
of it, and determined 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 me,
and a machine prepared to carry me to the capital city.
Five hundred carpenters and engineers were immediately
set to work to prepare the engine. It was a frame of wood,
raised three inches from the ground, about seven feet long
and four wide, moving upon twenty-two wheels. But the
difficulty was to place me on it. Eighty poles were erected
for this purpose, and very strong cords fastened to
bandages which the workmen had tied round my neck, hands,
body, and legs. Nine hundred of the strongest men were
employed to draw up these cords by pulleys fastened on
the poles, and in less than three hours I was raised and
slung into the engine, and there tied fast. Fifteen hundred
of the Emperor's largest horses, each about four
inches and a half high, were then employed to draw me
toward the capital. But while all this was done I still lay
in a deep sleep, and I did not wake till four hours after we
began our journey.
The Emperor and all his Court came out to meet us
when we reached the capital; but his great officials would
not suffer his Majesty to risk his person by mounting on
my body. Where the carriage stopped there stood an
ancient temple, supposed to be the largest in the whole
kingdom, and here it was determined that I should lodge.
Near the great gate, through which I could easily creep,
they fixed ninety-one chains, like those which hang to a
lady's watch, which were locked to my left leg with
thirty-six padlocks; and when the workmen found it was
impossible for me to break loose, they cut all the strings
that bound me. Then I rose up, feeling as melancholy as
ever I did in my life. But the noise and astonishment of
the people on seeing me rise and walk were inexpressible.
The chains that held my left leg were about two yards
long, and gave me not only freedom to walk backward and
forward in a semicircle, but to creep in and lie at full
length inside the temple. The Emperor, advancing
toward me from among his courtiers, all most magnificently
clad, surveyed me with great admiration, but kept beyond
the length of my chain. He was taller by about the
breadth of my nail than any of his Court, which alone
was enough to strike awe into the beholders, and graceful
and majestic. The better to behold him, I lay down on
my side, so that my face was level with his, and he stood
three yards off. However, I have had him since many
times in my hand, and therefore cannot be deceived. His
dress was very simple; but he wore a light helmet of gold,
adorned with jewels and a plume. He held his sword
drawn in his hand, to defend himself if I should break
loose; it was almost three inches long, and the hilt was of
gold, enriched with diamonds. His voice was shrill, but
very clear. His Imperial Majesty spoke often to me, and
I answered; but neither of us could understand a word.