and cast anchor on the lee-side of the island, which seemed to be.
uninhabited. I then took some refreshment, and went to my rest. I
slept well, and as I conjectured at least six hours, for I found the
day broke in two hours after I awaked. It was a clear night. I ate
my breakfast before the sun was up; and heaving anchor, the wind
being favourable, I steered the same course that I had done the day
before, wherein I was directed by my pocket compass. My
intention was to reach, if possible, one of those islands. which I
had reason to believe lay to the north-east of Van Diemen's Land.
I discovered nothing all that day; but upon the next, about three in
the afternoon, when I had by my computation made twenty-four
leagues from Blefuscu, I descried a sail steering to the south-east;
my course was due east. I hailed her, but could get no answer; yet
I found I gained upon her, for the wind slackened. I made all the
sail I could, and in half an hour she spied me, then hung out her
ancient, and discharged a gun. It is not easy to express the joy I
was in, upon the unexpected hope of once more seeing my
beloved country, and the dear pledges I left in it. The ship
slackened her sails, and I came up with her between five and six in
the evening, September 26th; but my heart leaped within me to
see her English colours. I put my cows and sheep into my coat-pockets,
and got on board with all my little cargo of provisions.
The vessel was an English merchantman, returning from Japan by
the North and South seas; the captain, Mr. John Biddel, of
Deptford, a very civil man, and an excellent sailor.
We were now in the latitude of 30 degrees south; there were about
fifty men in the ship; and here I met an old comrade of mine, one
Peter Williams, who gave me a good character to the captain.
This gentleman treated me with kindness, and desired I would let.
him know what place I came from last, and whither I was bound;
which I did in a few words, but he thought I was raving, and that
the dangers I underwent had disturbed my head; whereupon I took
my black cattle and sheep out of my pocket, which, after great
astonishment, clearly convinced him of my veracity. I then
showed him the gold given me by the emperor of Blefuscu,
together with his majesty's picture at full length, and some other
rarities of that country. I gave him two purses of two hundreds
SPRUGS each, and promised, when we arrived in England, to
make him a present of a cow and a sheep big with young.
I shall not trouble the reader with a particular account of this
voyage, which was very prosperous for the most part. We arrived
in the Downs on the 13th of April, 1702. I had only one
misfortune, that the rats on board carried away one of my sheep; I
found her bones in a hole, picked clean from the flesh. The rest of
my cattle I got safe ashore, and set them a-grazing in a bowling-green
at Greenwich, where the fineness of the grass made them
feed very heartily, though I had always feared the contrary:
neither could I possibly have preserved them in so long a voyage,
if the captain had not allowed me some of his best biscuit, which,
rubbed to powder, and mingled with water, was their constant
food. The short time I continued in England, I made a
considerable profit by showing my cattle to many persons of
quality and others: and before I began my second voyage, I sold
them for six hundred pounds. Since my last return I find the breed.
is considerably increased, especially the sheep, which I hope will
prove much to the advantage of the woollen manufacture, by the
fineness of the fleeces.
I stayed but two months with my wife and family, for my
insatiable desire of seeing foreign countries, would suffer me to
continue no longer. I left fifteen hundred pounds with my wife,
and fixed her in a good house at Redriff. My remaining stock I
carried with me, part in money and part in goods, in hopes to
improve my fortunes. My eldest uncle John had left me an estate
in land, near Epping, of about thirty pounds a year; and I had a
long lease of the Black Bull in Fetter-Lane, which yielded me as
much more; so that I was not in any danger of leaving my family
upon the parish. My son Johnny, named so after his uncle, was at
the grammar-school, and a towardly child. My daughter Betty
(who is now well married, and has children) was then at her
needle-work. I took leave of my wife, and boy and girl, with tears
on both sides, and went on board the Adventure, a merchant ship
of three hundred tons, bound for Surat, captain John Nicholas, of
Liverpool, commander. But my account of this voyage must be
referred to the Second Part of my Travels..
[A great storm described; the long boat sent to fetch water; the
author goes with it to discover the country. He is left on shore, is
seized by one of the natives, and carried to a farmer's house. His
reception, with several accidents that happened there.
A description of the inhabitants.]
Having been condemned, by nature and fortune, to active and
restless life, in two months after my return, I again left my native
country, and took shipping in the Downs, on the 20th day of June,
1702, in the Adventure, Captain John Nicholas, a Cornish man,
commander, bound for Surat. We had a very prosperous gale, till
we arrived at the Cape of Good Hope, where we landed for fresh
water; but discovering a leak, we unshipped our goods and
wintered there; for the captain falling sick of an ague, we could
not leave the Cape till the end of March. We then set sail, and had
a good voyage till we passed the Straits of Madagascar; but
having got northward of that island, and to about five degrees
south latitude, the winds, which in those seas are observed to blow
a constant equal gale between the north and west, from the
beginning of December to the beginning of May, on the 19th of
April began to blow with much greater violence, and more
westerly than usual, continuing so for twenty days together:.
during which time, we were driven a little to the east of the
Molucca Islands, and about three degrees northward of the line, as
our captain found by an observation he took the 2nd of May, at
which time the wind ceased, and it was a perfect calm, whereat I
was not a little rejoiced. But he, being a man well experienced in
the navigation of those seas, bid us all prepare against a storm,
which accordingly happened the day following: for the southern
wind, called the southern monsoon, began to set in.
Finding it was likely to overblow, we took in our sprit-sail, and
stood by to hand the fore-sail; but making foul weather, we looked
the guns were all fast, and handed the mizen. The ship lay very
broad off, so we thought it better spooning before the sea, than
trying or hulling. We reefed the fore-sail and set him, and hauled
aft the fore-sheet; the helm was hard a-weather. The ship wore
bravely. We belayed the fore down-haul; but the sail was split, and
we hauled down the yard, and got the sail into the ship, and
unbound all the things clear of it. It was a very fierce storm; the
sea broke strange and dangerous. We hauled off upon the laniard
of the whip-staff, and helped the man at the helm. We would not
get down our topmast, but let all stand, because she scudded
before the sea very well, and we knew that the top-mast being
aloft, the ship was the wholesomer, and made better way through
the sea, seeing we had sea-room. When the storm was over, we set
fore-sail and main-sail, and brought the ship to. Then we set the
mizen, main-top-sail, and the fore-top-sail. Our course was east-north-
east, the wind was at south-west. We got the starboard tacks
aboard, we cast off our weather-braces and lifts; we set in the lee-.
braces, and hauled forward by the weather-bowlings, and hauled
them tight, and belayed them, and hauled over the mizen tack to
windward, and kept her full and by as near as she would lie.
During this storm, which was followed by a strong wind west-south-
west, we were carried, by my computation, about five
hundred leagues to the east, so that the oldest sailor on board
could not tell in what part of the world we were. Our provisions
held out well, our ship was staunch, and our crew all in good
health; but we lay in the utmost distress for water. We thought it
best to hold on the same course, rather than turn more northerly,
which might have brought us to the north-west part of Great
Tartary, and into the Frozen Sea.
On the 16th day of June, 1703, a boy on the top-mast discovered
land. On the 17th, we came in full view of a great island, or
continent (for we knew not whether;) on the south side whereof
was a small neck of land jutting out into the sea, and a creek too
shallow to hold a ship of above one hundred tons. We cast anchor
within a league of this creek, and our captain sent a dozen of his
men well armed in the long-boat, with vessels for water, if any
could be found. I desired his leave to go with them, that I might
see the country, and make what discoveries I could. When we
came to land we saw no river or spring, nor any sign of
inhabitants. Our men therefore wandered on the shore to find out
some fresh water near the sea, and I walked alone about a mile on
the other side, where I observed the country all barren and rocky. I
now began to be weary, and seeing nothing to entertain my
curiosity, I returned gently down towards the creek; and the sea.
being full in my view, I saw our men already got into the boat, and
rowing for life to the ship. I was going to halloo after them,
although it had been to little purpose, when I observed a huge
creature walking after them in the sea, as fast as he could: he
waded not much deeper than his knees, and took prodigious
strides: but our men had the start of him half a league, and, the sea
thereabouts being full of sharp-pointed rocks, the monster was not
able to overtake the boat. This I was afterwards told, for I durst
not stay to see the issue of the adventure; but ran as fast as I could
the way I first went, and then climbed up a steep hill, which gave
me some prospect of the country. I found it fully cultivated; but
that which first surprised me was the length of the grass, which, in
those grounds that seemed to be kept for hay, was about twenty
feet high.
I fell into a high road, for so I took it to be, though it served to the
inhabitants only as a foot-path through a field of barley. Here I
walked on for some time, but could see little on either side, it
being now near harvest, and the corn rising at least forty feet. I
was an hour walking to the end of this field, which was fenced in
with a hedge of at least one hundred and twenty feet high, and the
trees so lofty that I could make no computation of their altitude.
There was a stile to pass from this field into the next. It had four
steps, and a stone to cross over when you came to the uppermost.
It was impossible for me to climb this stile, because every step
was six-feet high, and the upper stone about twenty. I was
endeavouring to find some gap in the hedge, when I discovered
one of the inhabitants in the next field, advancing towards the
stile, of the same size with him whom I saw in the sea pursuing.
our boat. He appeared as tall as an ordinary spire steeple, and took
about ten yards at every stride, as near as I could guess. I was
struck with the utmost fear and astonishment, and ran to hide
myself in the corn, whence I saw him at the top of the stile looking
back into the next field on the right hand, and heard him call in a
voice many degrees louder than a speaking-trumpet: but the noise
was so high in the air, that at first I certainly thought it was
thunder. Whereupon seven monsters, like himself, came towards
him with reaping-hooks in their hands, each hook about the
largeness of six scythes. These people were not so well clad as the
first, whose servants or labourers they seemed to be; for, upon
some words he spoke, they went to reap the corn in the field
where I lay. I kept from them at as great a distance as I could, but
was forced to move with extreme difficulty, for the stalks of the
corn were sometimes not above a foot distant, so that I could
hardly squeeze my body betwixt them. However, I made a shift to
go forward, till I came to a part of the field where the corn had
been laid by the rain and wind. Here it was impossible for me to
advance a step; for the stalks were so interwoven, that I could not
creep through, and the beards of the fallen ears so strong and
pointed, that they pierced through my clothes into my flesh. At
the same time I heard the reapers not a hundred yards behind me.
Being quite dispirited with toil, and wholly overcome by grief and
dispair, I lay down between two ridges, and heartily wished I
might there end my days. I bemoaned my desolate widow and
fatherless children. I lamented my own folly and wilfulness, in
attempting a second voyage, against the advice of all my friends
and relations. In this terrible agitation of mind, I could not forbear
thinking of Lilliput, whose inhabitants looked upon me as the.
greatest prodigy that ever appeared in the world; where I was able
to draw an imperial fleet in my hand, and perform those other
actions, which will be recorded for ever in the chronicles of that
empire, while posterity shall hardly believe them, although
attested by millions. I reflected what a mortification it must prove
to me, to appear as inconsiderable in this nation, as one single
Lilliputian would be among us. But this I conceived was to be the
least of my misfortunes; for, as human creatures are observed to
be more savage and cruel in proportion to their bulk, what could I
expect but to be a morsel in the mouth of the first among these
enormous barbarians that should happen to seize me?
Undoubtedly philosophers are in the right, when they tell us that
nothing is great or little otherwise than by comparison. It might
have pleased fortune, to have let the Lilliputians find some nation,
where the people were as diminutive with respect to them, as they
were to me. And who knows but that even this prodigious race of
mortals might be equally overmatched in some distant part of the
world, whereof we have yet no discovery.
Scared and confounded as I was, I could not forbear going on with
these reflections, when one of the reapers, approaching within ten
yards of the ridge where I lay, made me apprehend that with the
next step I should be squashed to death under his foot, or cut in
two with his reaping-hook. And therefore, when he was again
about to move, I screamed as loud as fear could make me:
whereupon the huge creature trod short, and, looking round about
under him for some time, at last espied me as I lay on the ground.
He considered awhile, with the caution of one who endeavours to
lay hold on a small dangerous animal in such a manner that it shall.
not be able either to scratch or bite him, as I myself have
sometimes done with a weasel in England. At length he ventured
to take me behind, by the middle, between his fore-finger and
thumb, and brought me within three yards of his eyes, that he
might behold my shape more perfectly. I guessed his meaning,
and my good fortune gave me so much presence of mind, that I
resolved not to struggle in the least as he held me in the air above
sixty feet from the ground, although he grievously pinched my
sides, for fear I should slip through his fingers. All I ventured was
to raise mine eyes towards the sun, and place my hands together in
a supplicating posture, and to speak some words in a humble
melancholy tone, suitable to the condition I then was in: for I
apprehended every moment that he would dash me against the
ground, as we usually do any little hateful animal, which we have
a mind to destroy. But my good star would have it, that he
appeared pleased with my voice and gestures, and began to look
upon me as a curiosity, much wondering to hear me pronounce
articulate words, although he could not understand them. In the
mean time I was not able to forbear groaning and shedding tears,
and turning my head towards my sides; letting him know, as well
as I could, how cruelly I was hurt by the pressure of his thumb and
finger. He seemed to apprehend my meaning; for, lifting up the
lappet of his coat, he put me gently into it, and immediately ran
along with me to his master, who was a substantial farmer, and the
same person I had first seen in the field.
The farmer having (as I suppose by their talk) received such an
account of me as his servant could give him, took a piece of a
small straw, about the size of a walking-staff, and therewith lifted.
up the lappets of my coat; which it seems he thought to be some
kind of covering that nature had given me. He blew my hairs aside
to take a better view of my face. He called his hinds about him,
and asked them, as I afterwards learned, whether they had ever
seen in the fields any little creature that resembled me. He then
placed me softly on the ground upon all fours, but I got
immediately up, and walked slowly backward and forward, to let
those people see I had no intent to run away. They all sat down in
a circle about me, the better to observe my motions. I pulled off
my hat, and made a low bow towards the farmer. I fell on my
knees, and lifted up my hands and eyes, and spoke several words
as loud as I could: I took a purse of gold out of my pocket, and
humbly presented it to him. He received it on the palm of his
hand, then applied it close to his eye to see what it was, and
afterwards turned it several times with the point of a pin (which he
took out of his sleeve,) but could make nothing of it. Whereupon I
made a sign that he should place his hand on the ground. I then
took the purse, and, opening it, poured all the gold into his palm.
There were six Spanish pieces of four pistoles each, beside twenty
or thirty smaller coins. I saw him wet the tip of his little finger
upon his tongue, and take up one of my largest pieces, and then
another; but he seemed to be wholly ignorant what they were. He
made me a sign to put them again into my purse, and the purse
again into my pocket, which, after offering it to him several times,
I thought it best to do.
The farmer, by this time, was convinced I must be a rational
creature. He spoke often to me; but the sound of his voice pierced
my ears like that of a water-mill, yet his words were articulate.
enough. I answered as loud as I could in several languages, and he
often laid his ear within two yards of me: but all in vain, for we
were wholly unintelligible to each other. He then sent his servants
to their work, and taking his handkerchief out of his pocket, he
doubled and spread it on his left hand, which he placed flat on the
ground with the palm upward, making me a sign to step into it, as
I could easily do, for it was not above a foot in thickness. I
thought it my part to obey, and, for fear of falling, laid myself at
full length upon the handkerchief, with the remainder of which he
lapped me up to the head for further security, and in this manner
carried me home to his house. There he called his wife, and
showed me to her; but she screamed and ran back, as women in
England do at the sight of a toad or a spider. However, when she
had a while seen my behaviour, and how well I observed the signs
her husband made, she was soon reconciled, and by degrees grew
extremely tender of me.
It was about twelve at noon, and a servant brought in dinner. It
was only one substantial dish of meat (fit for the plain condition
of a husbandman,) in a dish of about four-and-twenty feet
diameter. The company were, the farmer and his wife, three
children, and an old grandmother. When they were sat down, the
farmer placed me at some distance from him on the table, which
was thirty feet high from the floor. I was in a terrible fright, and
kept as far as I could from the edge, for fear of falling. The wife
minced a bit of meat, then crumbled some bread on a trencher, and
placed it before me. I made her a low bow, took out my knife and
fork, and fell to eat, which gave them exceeding delight. The
mistress sent her maid for a small dram cup, which held about two.
gallons, and filled it with drink; I took up the vessel with much
difficulty in both hands, and in a most respectful manner drank to
her ladyship's health, expressing the words as loud as I could in
English, which made the company laugh so heartily, that I was
almost deafened with the noise. This liquor tasted like a small
cider, and was not unpleasant. Then the master made me a sign to
come to his trencher side; but as I walked on the table, being in
great surprise all the time, as the indulgent reader will easily
conceive and excuse, I happened to stumble against a crust, and
fell flat on my face, but received no hurt. I got up immediately,
and observing the good people to be in much concern, I took my
hat (which I held under my arm out of good manners,) and waving
it over my head, made three huzzas, to show I had got no mischief
by my fall. But advancing forward towards my master (as I shall
henceforth call him,) his youngest son, who sat next to him, an
arch boy of about ten years old, took me up by the legs, and held
me so high in the air, that I trembled every limb: but his father
snatched me from him, and at the same time gave him such a box
on the left ear, as would have felled an European troop of horse to
the earth, ordering him to be taken from the table. But being afraid
the boy might owe me a spite, and well remembering how
mischievous all children among us naturally are to sparrows,
rabbits, young kittens, and puppy dogs, I fell on my knees, and
pointing to the boy, made my master to understand, as well as I
could, that I desired his son might be pardoned. The father
complied, and the lad took his seat again, whereupon I went to
him, and kissed his hand, which my master took, and made him
stroke me gently with it..
In the midst of dinner, my mistress's favourite cat leaped into her
lap. I heard a noise behind me like that of a dozen stocking-weavers
at work; and turning my head, I found it proceeded from
the purring of that animal, who seemed to be three times larger
than an ox, as I computed by the view of her head, and one of her
paws, while her mistress was feeding and stroking her. The
fierceness of this creature's countenance altogether discomposed
me; though I stood at the farther end of the table, above fifty feet
off; and although my mistress held her fast, for fear she might
give a spring, and seize me in her talons. But it happened there
was no danger, for the cat took not the least notice of me when my
master placed me within three yards of her. And as I have been
always told, and found true by experience in my travels, that
flying or discovering fear before a fierce animal, is a certain way
to make it pursue or attack you, so I resolved, in this dangerous
juncture, to show no manner of concern. I walked with intrepidity
five or six times before the very head of the cat, and came within
half a yard of her; whereupon she drew herself back, as if she
were more afraid of me: I had less apprehension concerning the
dogs, whereof three or four came into the room, as it is usual in
farmers' houses; one of which was a mastiff, equal in bulk to four
elephants, and another a greyhound, somewhat taller than the
mastiff, but not so large.
When dinner was almost done, the nurse came in with a child of a
year old in her arms, who immediately spied me, and began a
squall that you might have heard from London-Bridge to Chelsea,
after the usual oratory of infants, to get me for a plaything. The
mother, out of pure indulgence, took me up, and put me towards.
the child, who presently seized me by the middle, and got my
head into his mouth, where I roared so loud that the urchin was
frighted, and let me drop, and I should infallibly have broke my
neck, if the mother had not held her apron under me. The nurse, to
quiet her babe, made use of a rattle which was a kind of hollow
vessel filled with great stones, and fastened by a cable to the
child's waist: but all in vain; so that she was forced to apply the
last remedy by giving it suck. I must confess no object ever
disgusted me so much as the sight of her monstrous breast, which
I cannot tell what to compare with, so as to give the curious reader
an idea of its bulk, shape, and colour. It stood prominent six feet,
and could not be less than sixteen in circumference. The nipple
was about half the bigness of my head, and the hue both of that
and the dug, so varied with spots, pimples, and freckles, that
nothing could appear more nauseous: for I had a near sight of her,
she sitting down, the more conveniently to give suck, and I
standing on the table. This made me reflect upon the fair skins of
our English ladies, who appear so beautiful to us, only because
they are of our own size, and their defects not to be seen but
through a magnifying glass; where we find by experiment that the
smoothest and whitest skins look rough, and coarse, and ill-coloured.
I remember when I was at Lilliput, the complexion of those
diminutive people appeared to me the fairest in the world; and
talking upon this subject with a person of learning there, who was
an intimate friend of mine, he said that my face appeared much
fairer and smoother when he looked on me from the ground, than
it did upon a nearer view, when I took him up in my hand, and.
brought him close, which he confessed was at first a very
shocking sight. He said, "he could discover great holes in my skin;
that the stumps of my beard were ten times stronger than the
bristles of a boar, and my complexion made up of several colours
altogether disagreeable:" although I must beg leave to say for
myself, that I am as fair as most of my sex and country, and very
little sunburnt by all my travels. On the other side, discoursing of
the ladies in that emperor's court, he used to tell me, "one had
freckles; another too wide a mouth; a third too large a nose;"
nothing of which I was able to distinguish. I confess this reflection
was obvious enough; which, however, I could not forbear, lest the
reader might think those vast creatures were actually deformed:
for I must do them the justice to say, they are a comely race of
people, and particularly the features of my master's countenance,
although he was but a farmer, when I beheld him from the height
of sixty feet, appeared very well proportioned.
When dinner was done, my master went out to his labourers, and,
as I could discover by his voice and gesture, gave his wife strict
charge to take care of me. I was very much tired, and disposed to
sleep, which my mistress perceiving, she put me on her own bed,
and covered me with a clean white handkerchief, but larger and
coarser than the mainsail of a man-of-war.
I slept about two hours, and dreamt I was at home with my wife
and children, which aggravated my sorrows when I awaked, and
found myself alone in a vast room, between two and three
hundred feet wide, and above two hundred high, lying in a bed
twenty yards wide. My mistress was gone about her household.
affairs, and had locked me in. The bed was eight yards from the
floor. Some natural necessities required me to get down; I durst
not presume to call; and if I had, it would have been in vain, with
such a voice as mine, at so great a distance from the room where I
lay to the kitchen where the family kept. While I was under these
circumstances, two rats crept up the curtains, and ran smelling
back-wards and forwards on the bed. One of them came up almost
to my face, whereupon I rose in a fright, and drew out my hanger
to defend myself. These horrible animals had the boldness to
attack me on both sides, and one of them held his fore-feet at my
collar; but I had the good fortune to rip up his belly before he
could do me any mischief. He fell down at my feet; and the other,
seeing the fate of his comrade, made his escape, but not without
one good wound on the back, which I gave him as he fled, and
made the blood run trickling from him. After this exploit, I
walked gently to and fro on the bed, to recover my breath and loss
of spirits. These creatures were of the size of a large mastiff, but
infinitely more nimble and fierce; so that if I had taken off my belt
before I went to sleep, I must have infallibly been torn to pieces
and devoured. I measured the tail of the dead rat, and found it to
be two yards long, wanting an inch; but it went against my
stomach to drag the carcass off the bed, where it lay still bleeding;
I observed it had yet some life, but with a strong slash across the
neck, I thoroughly despatched it.
Soon after my mistress came into the room, who seeing me all
bloody, ran and took me up in her hand. I pointed to the dead rat,
smiling, and making other signs to show I was not hurt; whereat
she was extremely rejoiced, calling the maid to take up the dead.
rat with a pair of tongs, and throw it out of the window. Then she
set me on a table, where I showed her my hanger all bloody, and
wiping it on the lappet of my coat, returned it to the scabbard. I
was pressed to do more than one thing which another could not do
for me, and therefore endeavoured to make my mistress
understand, that I desired to be set down on the floor; which after
she had done, my bashfulness would not suffer me to express
myself farther, than by pointing to the door, and bowing several
times. The good woman, with much difficulty, at last perceived
what I would be at, and taking me up again in her hand, walked
into the garden, where she set me down. I went on one side about
two hundred yards, and beckoning to her not to look or to follow
me, I hid myself between two leaves of sorrel, and there
discharged the necessities of nature.
I hope the gentle reader will excuse me for dwelling on these and
the like particulars, which, however insignificant they may appear
to groveling vulgar minds, yet will certainly help a philosopher to
enlarge his thoughts and imagination, and apply them to the
benefit of public as well as private life, which was my sole design
in presenting this and other accounts of my travels to the world;
wherein I have been chiefly studious of truth, without affecting
any ornaments of learning or of style. But the whole scene of this
voyage made so strong an impression on my mind, and is so
deeply fixed in my memory, that, in committing it to paper I did
not omit one material circumstance: however, upon a strict
review, I blotted out several passages. Of less moment which.
were in my first copy, for fear of being censured as tedious and
trifling, whereof travellers are often, perhaps not without justice,
accused..
[A description of the farmer's daughter. The author carried to a
market-town, and then to the metropolis. The particulars of his
journey.]
My mistress had a daughter of nine years old, a child of towardly
parts for her age, very dexterous at her needle, and skilful in
dressing her baby. Her mother and she contrived to fit up the
baby's cradle for me against night: the cradle was put into a small
drawer of a cabinet, and the drawer placed upon a hanging shelf
for fear of the rats. This was my bed all the time I staid with those
people, though made more convenient by degrees, as I began to
learn their language and make my wants known. This young girl
was so handy, that after I had once or twice pulled off my clothes
before her, she was able to dress and undress me, though I never
gave her that trouble when she would let me do either myself. She
made me seven shirts, and some other linen, of as fine cloth as
could be got, which indeed was coarser than sackcloth; and these
she constantly washed for me with her own hands. She was
likewise my school-mistress, to teach me the language: when I
pointed to any thing, she told me the name of it in her own tongue,
so that in a few days I was able to call for whatever I had a mind
to. She was very good-natured, and not above forty feet high,
being little for her age. She gave me the name of GRILDRIG,.
which the family took up, and afterwards the whole kingdom. The
word imports what the Latins call NANUNCULUS, the Italians
HOMUNCELETINO, and the English MANNIKIN. To her I
chiefly owe my preservation in that country: we never parted
while I was there; I called her my GLUMDALCLITCH, or little
nurse; and should be guilty of great ingratitude, if I omitted this
honourable mention of her care and affection towards me, which I
heartily wish it lay in my power to requite as she deserves, instead
of being the innocent, but unhappy instrument of her disgrace, as I
have too much reason to fear.
It now began to be known and talked of in the neighbourhood, that
my master had found a strange animal in the field, about the
bigness of a SPLACNUCK, but exactly shaped in every part like a
human creature; which it likewise imitated in all its actions;
seemed to speak in a little language of its own, had already
learned several words of theirs, went erect upon two legs, was
tame and gentle, would come when it was called, do whatever it
was bid, had the finest limbs in the world, and a complexion fairer
than a nobleman's daughter of three years old. Another farmer,
who lived hard by, and was a particular friend of my master, came
on a visit on purpose to inquire into the truth of this story. I was
immediately produced, and placed upon a table, where I walked
as I was commanded, drew my hanger, put it up again, made my
reverence to my master's guest, asked him in his own language
how he did, and told him HE WAS WELCOME, just as my little
nurse had instructed me. This man, who was old and dim-sighted,
put on his spectacles to behold me better; at which I could not
forbear laughing very heartily, for his eyes appeared like the full.
moon shining into a chamber at two windows. Our people, who
discovered the cause of my mirth, bore me company in laughing,
at which the old fellow was fool enough to be angry and out of
countenance. He had the character of a great miser; and, to my
misfortune, he well deserved it, by the cursed advice he gave my
master, to show me as a sight upon a market-day in the next town,
which was half an hour's riding, about two-and-twenty miles from
our house. I guessed there was some mischief when I observed my
master and his friend whispering together, sometimes pointing at
me; and my fears made me fancy that I overheard and understood
some of their words. But the next morning Glumdalclitch, my
little nurse, told me the whole matter, which she had cunningly
picked out from her mother. The poor girl laid me on her bosom,
and fell a weeping with shame and grief. She apprehended some
mischief would happen to me from rude vulgar folks, who might
squeeze me to death, or break one of my limbs by taking me in
their hands. She had also observed how modest I was in my
nature, how nicely I regarded my honour, and what an indignity I
should conceive it, to be exposed for money as a public spectacle,
to the meanest of the people. She said, her papa and mamma had
promised that Grildrig should be hers; but now she found they
meant to serve her as they did last year, when they pretended to
give her a lamb, and yet, as soon as it was fat, sold it to a butcher.
For my own part, I may truly affirm, that I was less concerned
than my nurse. I had a strong hope, which never left me, that I
should one day recover my liberty: and as to the ignominy of
being carried about for a monster, I considered myself to be a
perfect stranger in the country, and that such a misfortune could.
never be charged upon me as a reproach, if ever I should return to
England, since the king of Great Britain himself, in my condition,
must have undergone the same distress.
My master, pursuant to the advice of his friend, carried me in a
box the next market-day to the neighbouring town, and took along
with him his little daughter, my nurse, upon a pillion behind him.
The box was close on every side, with a little door for me to go in
and out, and a few gimlet holes to let in air. The girl had been so
careful as to put the quilt of her baby's bed into it, for me to lie
down on. However, I was terribly shaken and discomposed in this
journey, though it was but of half an hour: for the horse went
about forty feet at every step and trotted so high, that the agitation
was equal to the rising and falling of a ship in a great storm, but
much more frequent. Our journey was somewhat farther than
from London to St. Alban's. My master alighted at an inn which
he used to frequent; and after consulting awhile with the inn-keeper,
and making some necessary preparations, he hired the
GRULTRUD, or crier, to give notice through the town of a strange
creature to be seen at the sign of the Green Eagle, not so big as a
SPLACNUCK (an animal in that country very finely shaped,
about six feet long,) and in every part of the body resembling a
human creature, could speak several words, and perform a
hundred diverting tricks.
I was placed upon a table in the largest room of the inn, which
might be near three hundred feet square. My little nurse stood on a
low stool close to the table, to take care of me, and direct what I
should do. My master, to avoid a crowd, would suffer only thirty.
people at a time to see me. I walked about on the table as the girl
commanded; she asked me questions, as far as she knew my
understanding of the language reached, and I answered them as
loud as I could. I turned about several times to the company, paid
my humble respects, said THEY WERE WELCOME, and used
some other speeches I had been taught. I took up a thimble filled
with liquor, which Glumdalclitch had given me for a cup, and
drank their health, I drew out my hanger, and flourished with it
after the manner of fencers in England. My nurse gave me a part
of a straw, which I exercised as a pike, having learnt the art in my
youth. I was that day shown to twelve sets of company, and as
often forced to act over again the same fopperies, till I was half
dead with weariness and vexation; for those who had seen me
made such wonderful reports, that the people were ready to break
down the doors to come in. My master, for his own interest, would
not suffer any one to touch me except my nurse; and to prevent
danger, benches were set round the table at such a distance as to
put me out of every body's reach. However, an unlucky school-boy
aimed a hazel nut directly at my head, which very narrowly
missed me; otherwise it came with so much violence, that it would
have infallibly knocked out my brains, for it was almost as large
as a small pumpkin, but I had the satisfaction to see the young
rogue well beaten, and turned out of the room.
My master gave public notice that he would show me again the
next market-day; and in the meantime he prepared a convenient
vehicle for me, which he had reason enough to do; for I was so
tired with my first journey, and with entertaining company for
eight hours together, that I could hardly stand upon my legs, or.
speak a word. It was at least three days before I recovered my
strength; and that I might have no rest at home, all the
neighbouring gentlemen from a hundred miles round, hearing of
my fame, came to see me at my master's own house. There could
not be fewer than thirty persons with their wives and children (for
the country is very populous;) and my master demanded the rate
of a full room whenever he showed me at home, although it were
only to a single family; so that for some time I had but little ease
every day of the week (except Wednesday, which is their
Sabbath,) although I were not carried to the town.
My master, finding how profitable I was likely to be, resolved to
carry me to the most considerable cities of the kingdom. Having
therefore provided himself with all things necessary for a long
journey, and settled his affairs at home, he took leave of his wife,
and upon the 17th of August, 1703, about two months after my
arrival, we set out for the metropolis, situate near the middle of
that empire, and about three thousand miles distance from our
house. My master made his daughter Glumdalclitch ride behind
him. She carried me on her lap, in a box tied about her waist. The
girl had lined it on all sides with the softest cloth she could get,
well quilted underneath, furnished it with her baby's bed, provided
me with linen and other necessaries, and made everything as
convenient as she could. We had no other company but a boy of
the house, who rode after us with the luggage.
My master's design was to show me in all the towns by the way,
and to step out of the road for fifty or a hundred miles, to any
village, or person of quality's house, where he might expect.
custom. We made easy journeys, of not above seven or eight score
miles a-day; for Glumdalclitch, on purpose to spare me,
complained she was tired with the trotting of the horse. She often
took me out of my box, at my own desire, to give me air, and
show me the country, but always held me fast by a leading-string.
We passed over five or six rivers, many degrees broader and
deeper than the Nile or the Ganges: and there was hardly a rivulet
so small as the Thames at London-bridge. We were ten weeks in
our journey, and I was shown in eighteen large towns, besides
many villages, and private families.
On the 26th day of October we arrived at the metropolis, called in
their language LORBRULGRUD, or Pride of the Universe. My
master took a lodging in the principal street of the city, not far
from the royal palace, and put out bills in the usual form,
containing an exact description of my person and parts. He hired a
large room between three and four hundred feet wide. He
provided a table sixty feet in diameter, upon which I was to act my
part, and pallisadoed it round three feet from the edge, and as
many high, to prevent my falling over. I was shown ten times a-day,
to the wonder and satisfaction of all people. I could now
speak the language tolerably well, and perfectly understood every
word, that was spoken to me. Besides, I had learnt their alphabet,
and could make a shift to explain a sentence here and there; for
Glumdalclitch had been my instructor while we were at home, and
at leisure hours during our journey. She carried a little book in her
pocket, not much larger than a Sanson's Atlas; it was a common.
treatise for the use of young girls, giving a short account of their
religion: out of this she taught me my letters, and interpreted the
words..
[The author sent for to court. The queen buys him of his master
the farmer, and presents him to the king. He disputes with his
majesty's great scholars. An apartment at court provided for the
author. He is in high favour with the queen. He stands up for the
honour of his own country. His quarrels with the queen's dwarf.]
The frequent labours I underwent every day, made, in a few
weeks, a very considerable change in my health: the more my
master got by me, the more insatiable he grew. I had quite lost my
stomach, and was almost reduced to a skeleton. The farmer
observed it, and concluding I must soon die, resolved to make as
good a hand of me as he could. While he was thus reasoning and
resolving with himself, a SARDRAL, or gentleman-usher, came
from court, commanding my master to carry me immediately
thither for the diversion of the queen and her ladies. Some of the
latter had already been to see me, and reported strange things of
my beauty, behaviour, and good sense. Her majesty, and those
who attended her, were beyond measure delighted with my
demeanour. I fell on my knees, and begged the honour of kissing
her imperial foot; but this gracious princess held out her little
finger towards me, after I was set on the table, which I embraced
in both my arms, and put the tip of it with the utmost respect to
my lip. She made me some general questions about my country.
and my travels, which I answered as distinctly, and in as few
words as I could. She asked, "whether I could be content to live at
court?" I bowed down to the board of the table, and humbly
answered "that I was my master's slave: but, if I were at my own
disposal, I should be proud to devote my life to her majesty's
service." She then asked my master, "whether he was willing to
sell me at a good price?" He, who apprehended I could not live a
month, was ready enough to part with me, and demanded a
thousand pieces of gold, which were ordered him on the spot,
each piece being about the bigness of eight hundred moidores; but
allowing for the proportion of all things between that country and
Europe, and the high price of gold among them, was hardly so
great a sum as a thousand guineas would be in England. I then
said to the queen, "since I was now her majesty's most humble
creature and vassal, I must beg the favour, that Glumdalclitch,
who had always tended me with so much care and kindness, and
understood to do it so well, might be admitted into her service,
and continue to be my nurse and instructor."
Her majesty agreed to my petition, and easily got the farmer's
consent, who was glad enough to have his daughter preferred at
court, and the poor girl herself was not able to hide her joy. My
late master withdrew, bidding me farewell, and saying he had left
me in a good service; to which I replied not a word, only making
him a slight bow.
The queen observed my coldness; and, when the farmer was gone
out of the apartment, asked me the reason. I made bold to tell her
majesty, "that I owed no other obligation to my late master, than.
his not dashing out the brains of a poor harmless creature, found
by chance in his fields: which obligation was amply recompensed,
by the gain he had made in showing me through half the kingdom,
and the price he had now sold me for. That the life I had since led
was laborious enough to kill an animal of ten times my strength.
That my health was much impaired, by the continual drudgery of
uninhabited. I then took some refreshment, and went to my rest. I
slept well, and as I conjectured at least six hours, for I found the
day broke in two hours after I awaked. It was a clear night. I ate
my breakfast before the sun was up; and heaving anchor, the wind
being favourable, I steered the same course that I had done the day
before, wherein I was directed by my pocket compass. My
intention was to reach, if possible, one of those islands. which I
had reason to believe lay to the north-east of Van Diemen's Land.
I discovered nothing all that day; but upon the next, about three in
the afternoon, when I had by my computation made twenty-four
leagues from Blefuscu, I descried a sail steering to the south-east;
my course was due east. I hailed her, but could get no answer; yet
I found I gained upon her, for the wind slackened. I made all the
sail I could, and in half an hour she spied me, then hung out her
ancient, and discharged a gun. It is not easy to express the joy I
was in, upon the unexpected hope of once more seeing my
beloved country, and the dear pledges I left in it. The ship
slackened her sails, and I came up with her between five and six in
the evening, September 26th; but my heart leaped within me to
see her English colours. I put my cows and sheep into my coat-pockets,
and got on board with all my little cargo of provisions.
The vessel was an English merchantman, returning from Japan by
the North and South seas; the captain, Mr. John Biddel, of
Deptford, a very civil man, and an excellent sailor.
We were now in the latitude of 30 degrees south; there were about
fifty men in the ship; and here I met an old comrade of mine, one
Peter Williams, who gave me a good character to the captain.
This gentleman treated me with kindness, and desired I would let.
him know what place I came from last, and whither I was bound;
which I did in a few words, but he thought I was raving, and that
the dangers I underwent had disturbed my head; whereupon I took
my black cattle and sheep out of my pocket, which, after great
astonishment, clearly convinced him of my veracity. I then
showed him the gold given me by the emperor of Blefuscu,
together with his majesty's picture at full length, and some other
rarities of that country. I gave him two purses of two hundreds
SPRUGS each, and promised, when we arrived in England, to
make him a present of a cow and a sheep big with young.
I shall not trouble the reader with a particular account of this
voyage, which was very prosperous for the most part. We arrived
in the Downs on the 13th of April, 1702. I had only one
misfortune, that the rats on board carried away one of my sheep; I
found her bones in a hole, picked clean from the flesh. The rest of
my cattle I got safe ashore, and set them a-grazing in a bowling-green
at Greenwich, where the fineness of the grass made them
feed very heartily, though I had always feared the contrary:
neither could I possibly have preserved them in so long a voyage,
if the captain had not allowed me some of his best biscuit, which,
rubbed to powder, and mingled with water, was their constant
food. The short time I continued in England, I made a
considerable profit by showing my cattle to many persons of
quality and others: and before I began my second voyage, I sold
them for six hundred pounds. Since my last return I find the breed.
is considerably increased, especially the sheep, which I hope will
prove much to the advantage of the woollen manufacture, by the
fineness of the fleeces.
I stayed but two months with my wife and family, for my
insatiable desire of seeing foreign countries, would suffer me to
continue no longer. I left fifteen hundred pounds with my wife,
and fixed her in a good house at Redriff. My remaining stock I
carried with me, part in money and part in goods, in hopes to
improve my fortunes. My eldest uncle John had left me an estate
in land, near Epping, of about thirty pounds a year; and I had a
long lease of the Black Bull in Fetter-Lane, which yielded me as
much more; so that I was not in any danger of leaving my family
upon the parish. My son Johnny, named so after his uncle, was at
the grammar-school, and a towardly child. My daughter Betty
(who is now well married, and has children) was then at her
needle-work. I took leave of my wife, and boy and girl, with tears
on both sides, and went on board the Adventure, a merchant ship
of three hundred tons, bound for Surat, captain John Nicholas, of
Liverpool, commander. But my account of this voyage must be
referred to the Second Part of my Travels..
[A great storm described; the long boat sent to fetch water; the
author goes with it to discover the country. He is left on shore, is
seized by one of the natives, and carried to a farmer's house. His
reception, with several accidents that happened there.
A description of the inhabitants.]
Having been condemned, by nature and fortune, to active and
restless life, in two months after my return, I again left my native
country, and took shipping in the Downs, on the 20th day of June,
1702, in the Adventure, Captain John Nicholas, a Cornish man,
commander, bound for Surat. We had a very prosperous gale, till
we arrived at the Cape of Good Hope, where we landed for fresh
water; but discovering a leak, we unshipped our goods and
wintered there; for the captain falling sick of an ague, we could
not leave the Cape till the end of March. We then set sail, and had
a good voyage till we passed the Straits of Madagascar; but
having got northward of that island, and to about five degrees
south latitude, the winds, which in those seas are observed to blow
a constant equal gale between the north and west, from the
beginning of December to the beginning of May, on the 19th of
April began to blow with much greater violence, and more
westerly than usual, continuing so for twenty days together:.
during which time, we were driven a little to the east of the
Molucca Islands, and about three degrees northward of the line, as
our captain found by an observation he took the 2nd of May, at
which time the wind ceased, and it was a perfect calm, whereat I
was not a little rejoiced. But he, being a man well experienced in
the navigation of those seas, bid us all prepare against a storm,
which accordingly happened the day following: for the southern
wind, called the southern monsoon, began to set in.
Finding it was likely to overblow, we took in our sprit-sail, and
stood by to hand the fore-sail; but making foul weather, we looked
the guns were all fast, and handed the mizen. The ship lay very
broad off, so we thought it better spooning before the sea, than
trying or hulling. We reefed the fore-sail and set him, and hauled
aft the fore-sheet; the helm was hard a-weather. The ship wore
bravely. We belayed the fore down-haul; but the sail was split, and
we hauled down the yard, and got the sail into the ship, and
unbound all the things clear of it. It was a very fierce storm; the
sea broke strange and dangerous. We hauled off upon the laniard
of the whip-staff, and helped the man at the helm. We would not
get down our topmast, but let all stand, because she scudded
before the sea very well, and we knew that the top-mast being
aloft, the ship was the wholesomer, and made better way through
the sea, seeing we had sea-room. When the storm was over, we set
fore-sail and main-sail, and brought the ship to. Then we set the
mizen, main-top-sail, and the fore-top-sail. Our course was east-north-
east, the wind was at south-west. We got the starboard tacks
aboard, we cast off our weather-braces and lifts; we set in the lee-.
braces, and hauled forward by the weather-bowlings, and hauled
them tight, and belayed them, and hauled over the mizen tack to
windward, and kept her full and by as near as she would lie.
During this storm, which was followed by a strong wind west-south-
west, we were carried, by my computation, about five
hundred leagues to the east, so that the oldest sailor on board
could not tell in what part of the world we were. Our provisions
held out well, our ship was staunch, and our crew all in good
health; but we lay in the utmost distress for water. We thought it
best to hold on the same course, rather than turn more northerly,
which might have brought us to the north-west part of Great
Tartary, and into the Frozen Sea.
On the 16th day of June, 1703, a boy on the top-mast discovered
land. On the 17th, we came in full view of a great island, or
continent (for we knew not whether;) on the south side whereof
was a small neck of land jutting out into the sea, and a creek too
shallow to hold a ship of above one hundred tons. We cast anchor
within a league of this creek, and our captain sent a dozen of his
men well armed in the long-boat, with vessels for water, if any
could be found. I desired his leave to go with them, that I might
see the country, and make what discoveries I could. When we
came to land we saw no river or spring, nor any sign of
inhabitants. Our men therefore wandered on the shore to find out
some fresh water near the sea, and I walked alone about a mile on
the other side, where I observed the country all barren and rocky. I
now began to be weary, and seeing nothing to entertain my
curiosity, I returned gently down towards the creek; and the sea.
being full in my view, I saw our men already got into the boat, and
rowing for life to the ship. I was going to halloo after them,
although it had been to little purpose, when I observed a huge
creature walking after them in the sea, as fast as he could: he
waded not much deeper than his knees, and took prodigious
strides: but our men had the start of him half a league, and, the sea
thereabouts being full of sharp-pointed rocks, the monster was not
able to overtake the boat. This I was afterwards told, for I durst
not stay to see the issue of the adventure; but ran as fast as I could
the way I first went, and then climbed up a steep hill, which gave
me some prospect of the country. I found it fully cultivated; but
that which first surprised me was the length of the grass, which, in
those grounds that seemed to be kept for hay, was about twenty
feet high.
I fell into a high road, for so I took it to be, though it served to the
inhabitants only as a foot-path through a field of barley. Here I
walked on for some time, but could see little on either side, it
being now near harvest, and the corn rising at least forty feet. I
was an hour walking to the end of this field, which was fenced in
with a hedge of at least one hundred and twenty feet high, and the
trees so lofty that I could make no computation of their altitude.
There was a stile to pass from this field into the next. It had four
steps, and a stone to cross over when you came to the uppermost.
It was impossible for me to climb this stile, because every step
was six-feet high, and the upper stone about twenty. I was
endeavouring to find some gap in the hedge, when I discovered
one of the inhabitants in the next field, advancing towards the
stile, of the same size with him whom I saw in the sea pursuing.
our boat. He appeared as tall as an ordinary spire steeple, and took
about ten yards at every stride, as near as I could guess. I was
struck with the utmost fear and astonishment, and ran to hide
myself in the corn, whence I saw him at the top of the stile looking
back into the next field on the right hand, and heard him call in a
voice many degrees louder than a speaking-trumpet: but the noise
was so high in the air, that at first I certainly thought it was
thunder. Whereupon seven monsters, like himself, came towards
him with reaping-hooks in their hands, each hook about the
largeness of six scythes. These people were not so well clad as the
first, whose servants or labourers they seemed to be; for, upon
some words he spoke, they went to reap the corn in the field
where I lay. I kept from them at as great a distance as I could, but
was forced to move with extreme difficulty, for the stalks of the
corn were sometimes not above a foot distant, so that I could
hardly squeeze my body betwixt them. However, I made a shift to
go forward, till I came to a part of the field where the corn had
been laid by the rain and wind. Here it was impossible for me to
advance a step; for the stalks were so interwoven, that I could not
creep through, and the beards of the fallen ears so strong and
pointed, that they pierced through my clothes into my flesh. At
the same time I heard the reapers not a hundred yards behind me.
Being quite dispirited with toil, and wholly overcome by grief and
dispair, I lay down between two ridges, and heartily wished I
might there end my days. I bemoaned my desolate widow and
fatherless children. I lamented my own folly and wilfulness, in
attempting a second voyage, against the advice of all my friends
and relations. In this terrible agitation of mind, I could not forbear
thinking of Lilliput, whose inhabitants looked upon me as the.
greatest prodigy that ever appeared in the world; where I was able
to draw an imperial fleet in my hand, and perform those other
actions, which will be recorded for ever in the chronicles of that
empire, while posterity shall hardly believe them, although
attested by millions. I reflected what a mortification it must prove
to me, to appear as inconsiderable in this nation, as one single
Lilliputian would be among us. But this I conceived was to be the
least of my misfortunes; for, as human creatures are observed to
be more savage and cruel in proportion to their bulk, what could I
expect but to be a morsel in the mouth of the first among these
enormous barbarians that should happen to seize me?
Undoubtedly philosophers are in the right, when they tell us that
nothing is great or little otherwise than by comparison. It might
have pleased fortune, to have let the Lilliputians find some nation,
where the people were as diminutive with respect to them, as they
were to me. And who knows but that even this prodigious race of
mortals might be equally overmatched in some distant part of the
world, whereof we have yet no discovery.
Scared and confounded as I was, I could not forbear going on with
these reflections, when one of the reapers, approaching within ten
yards of the ridge where I lay, made me apprehend that with the
next step I should be squashed to death under his foot, or cut in
two with his reaping-hook. And therefore, when he was again
about to move, I screamed as loud as fear could make me:
whereupon the huge creature trod short, and, looking round about
under him for some time, at last espied me as I lay on the ground.
He considered awhile, with the caution of one who endeavours to
lay hold on a small dangerous animal in such a manner that it shall.
not be able either to scratch or bite him, as I myself have
sometimes done with a weasel in England. At length he ventured
to take me behind, by the middle, between his fore-finger and
thumb, and brought me within three yards of his eyes, that he
might behold my shape more perfectly. I guessed his meaning,
and my good fortune gave me so much presence of mind, that I
resolved not to struggle in the least as he held me in the air above
sixty feet from the ground, although he grievously pinched my
sides, for fear I should slip through his fingers. All I ventured was
to raise mine eyes towards the sun, and place my hands together in
a supplicating posture, and to speak some words in a humble
melancholy tone, suitable to the condition I then was in: for I
apprehended every moment that he would dash me against the
ground, as we usually do any little hateful animal, which we have
a mind to destroy. But my good star would have it, that he
appeared pleased with my voice and gestures, and began to look
upon me as a curiosity, much wondering to hear me pronounce
articulate words, although he could not understand them. In the
mean time I was not able to forbear groaning and shedding tears,
and turning my head towards my sides; letting him know, as well
as I could, how cruelly I was hurt by the pressure of his thumb and
finger. He seemed to apprehend my meaning; for, lifting up the
lappet of his coat, he put me gently into it, and immediately ran
along with me to his master, who was a substantial farmer, and the
same person I had first seen in the field.
The farmer having (as I suppose by their talk) received such an
account of me as his servant could give him, took a piece of a
small straw, about the size of a walking-staff, and therewith lifted.
up the lappets of my coat; which it seems he thought to be some
kind of covering that nature had given me. He blew my hairs aside
to take a better view of my face. He called his hinds about him,
and asked them, as I afterwards learned, whether they had ever
seen in the fields any little creature that resembled me. He then
placed me softly on the ground upon all fours, but I got
immediately up, and walked slowly backward and forward, to let
those people see I had no intent to run away. They all sat down in
a circle about me, the better to observe my motions. I pulled off
my hat, and made a low bow towards the farmer. I fell on my
knees, and lifted up my hands and eyes, and spoke several words
as loud as I could: I took a purse of gold out of my pocket, and
humbly presented it to him. He received it on the palm of his
hand, then applied it close to his eye to see what it was, and
afterwards turned it several times with the point of a pin (which he
took out of his sleeve,) but could make nothing of it. Whereupon I
made a sign that he should place his hand on the ground. I then
took the purse, and, opening it, poured all the gold into his palm.
There were six Spanish pieces of four pistoles each, beside twenty
or thirty smaller coins. I saw him wet the tip of his little finger
upon his tongue, and take up one of my largest pieces, and then
another; but he seemed to be wholly ignorant what they were. He
made me a sign to put them again into my purse, and the purse
again into my pocket, which, after offering it to him several times,
I thought it best to do.
The farmer, by this time, was convinced I must be a rational
creature. He spoke often to me; but the sound of his voice pierced
my ears like that of a water-mill, yet his words were articulate.
enough. I answered as loud as I could in several languages, and he
often laid his ear within two yards of me: but all in vain, for we
were wholly unintelligible to each other. He then sent his servants
to their work, and taking his handkerchief out of his pocket, he
doubled and spread it on his left hand, which he placed flat on the
ground with the palm upward, making me a sign to step into it, as
I could easily do, for it was not above a foot in thickness. I
thought it my part to obey, and, for fear of falling, laid myself at
full length upon the handkerchief, with the remainder of which he
lapped me up to the head for further security, and in this manner
carried me home to his house. There he called his wife, and
showed me to her; but she screamed and ran back, as women in
England do at the sight of a toad or a spider. However, when she
had a while seen my behaviour, and how well I observed the signs
her husband made, she was soon reconciled, and by degrees grew
extremely tender of me.
It was about twelve at noon, and a servant brought in dinner. It
was only one substantial dish of meat (fit for the plain condition
of a husbandman,) in a dish of about four-and-twenty feet
diameter. The company were, the farmer and his wife, three
children, and an old grandmother. When they were sat down, the
farmer placed me at some distance from him on the table, which
was thirty feet high from the floor. I was in a terrible fright, and
kept as far as I could from the edge, for fear of falling. The wife
minced a bit of meat, then crumbled some bread on a trencher, and
placed it before me. I made her a low bow, took out my knife and
fork, and fell to eat, which gave them exceeding delight. The
mistress sent her maid for a small dram cup, which held about two.
gallons, and filled it with drink; I took up the vessel with much
difficulty in both hands, and in a most respectful manner drank to
her ladyship's health, expressing the words as loud as I could in
English, which made the company laugh so heartily, that I was
almost deafened with the noise. This liquor tasted like a small
cider, and was not unpleasant. Then the master made me a sign to
come to his trencher side; but as I walked on the table, being in
great surprise all the time, as the indulgent reader will easily
conceive and excuse, I happened to stumble against a crust, and
fell flat on my face, but received no hurt. I got up immediately,
and observing the good people to be in much concern, I took my
hat (which I held under my arm out of good manners,) and waving
it over my head, made three huzzas, to show I had got no mischief
by my fall. But advancing forward towards my master (as I shall
henceforth call him,) his youngest son, who sat next to him, an
arch boy of about ten years old, took me up by the legs, and held
me so high in the air, that I trembled every limb: but his father
snatched me from him, and at the same time gave him such a box
on the left ear, as would have felled an European troop of horse to
the earth, ordering him to be taken from the table. But being afraid
the boy might owe me a spite, and well remembering how
mischievous all children among us naturally are to sparrows,
rabbits, young kittens, and puppy dogs, I fell on my knees, and
pointing to the boy, made my master to understand, as well as I
could, that I desired his son might be pardoned. The father
complied, and the lad took his seat again, whereupon I went to
him, and kissed his hand, which my master took, and made him
stroke me gently with it..
In the midst of dinner, my mistress's favourite cat leaped into her
lap. I heard a noise behind me like that of a dozen stocking-weavers
at work; and turning my head, I found it proceeded from
the purring of that animal, who seemed to be three times larger
than an ox, as I computed by the view of her head, and one of her
paws, while her mistress was feeding and stroking her. The
fierceness of this creature's countenance altogether discomposed
me; though I stood at the farther end of the table, above fifty feet
off; and although my mistress held her fast, for fear she might
give a spring, and seize me in her talons. But it happened there
was no danger, for the cat took not the least notice of me when my
master placed me within three yards of her. And as I have been
always told, and found true by experience in my travels, that
flying or discovering fear before a fierce animal, is a certain way
to make it pursue or attack you, so I resolved, in this dangerous
juncture, to show no manner of concern. I walked with intrepidity
five or six times before the very head of the cat, and came within
half a yard of her; whereupon she drew herself back, as if she
were more afraid of me: I had less apprehension concerning the
dogs, whereof three or four came into the room, as it is usual in
farmers' houses; one of which was a mastiff, equal in bulk to four
elephants, and another a greyhound, somewhat taller than the
mastiff, but not so large.
When dinner was almost done, the nurse came in with a child of a
year old in her arms, who immediately spied me, and began a
squall that you might have heard from London-Bridge to Chelsea,
after the usual oratory of infants, to get me for a plaything. The
mother, out of pure indulgence, took me up, and put me towards.
the child, who presently seized me by the middle, and got my
head into his mouth, where I roared so loud that the urchin was
frighted, and let me drop, and I should infallibly have broke my
neck, if the mother had not held her apron under me. The nurse, to
quiet her babe, made use of a rattle which was a kind of hollow
vessel filled with great stones, and fastened by a cable to the
child's waist: but all in vain; so that she was forced to apply the
last remedy by giving it suck. I must confess no object ever
disgusted me so much as the sight of her monstrous breast, which
I cannot tell what to compare with, so as to give the curious reader
an idea of its bulk, shape, and colour. It stood prominent six feet,
and could not be less than sixteen in circumference. The nipple
was about half the bigness of my head, and the hue both of that
and the dug, so varied with spots, pimples, and freckles, that
nothing could appear more nauseous: for I had a near sight of her,
she sitting down, the more conveniently to give suck, and I
standing on the table. This made me reflect upon the fair skins of
our English ladies, who appear so beautiful to us, only because
they are of our own size, and their defects not to be seen but
through a magnifying glass; where we find by experiment that the
smoothest and whitest skins look rough, and coarse, and ill-coloured.
I remember when I was at Lilliput, the complexion of those
diminutive people appeared to me the fairest in the world; and
talking upon this subject with a person of learning there, who was
an intimate friend of mine, he said that my face appeared much
fairer and smoother when he looked on me from the ground, than
it did upon a nearer view, when I took him up in my hand, and.
brought him close, which he confessed was at first a very
shocking sight. He said, "he could discover great holes in my skin;
that the stumps of my beard were ten times stronger than the
bristles of a boar, and my complexion made up of several colours
altogether disagreeable:" although I must beg leave to say for
myself, that I am as fair as most of my sex and country, and very
little sunburnt by all my travels. On the other side, discoursing of
the ladies in that emperor's court, he used to tell me, "one had
freckles; another too wide a mouth; a third too large a nose;"
nothing of which I was able to distinguish. I confess this reflection
was obvious enough; which, however, I could not forbear, lest the
reader might think those vast creatures were actually deformed:
for I must do them the justice to say, they are a comely race of
people, and particularly the features of my master's countenance,
although he was but a farmer, when I beheld him from the height
of sixty feet, appeared very well proportioned.
When dinner was done, my master went out to his labourers, and,
as I could discover by his voice and gesture, gave his wife strict
charge to take care of me. I was very much tired, and disposed to
sleep, which my mistress perceiving, she put me on her own bed,
and covered me with a clean white handkerchief, but larger and
coarser than the mainsail of a man-of-war.
I slept about two hours, and dreamt I was at home with my wife
and children, which aggravated my sorrows when I awaked, and
found myself alone in a vast room, between two and three
hundred feet wide, and above two hundred high, lying in a bed
twenty yards wide. My mistress was gone about her household.
affairs, and had locked me in. The bed was eight yards from the
floor. Some natural necessities required me to get down; I durst
not presume to call; and if I had, it would have been in vain, with
such a voice as mine, at so great a distance from the room where I
lay to the kitchen where the family kept. While I was under these
circumstances, two rats crept up the curtains, and ran smelling
back-wards and forwards on the bed. One of them came up almost
to my face, whereupon I rose in a fright, and drew out my hanger
to defend myself. These horrible animals had the boldness to
attack me on both sides, and one of them held his fore-feet at my
collar; but I had the good fortune to rip up his belly before he
could do me any mischief. He fell down at my feet; and the other,
seeing the fate of his comrade, made his escape, but not without
one good wound on the back, which I gave him as he fled, and
made the blood run trickling from him. After this exploit, I
walked gently to and fro on the bed, to recover my breath and loss
of spirits. These creatures were of the size of a large mastiff, but
infinitely more nimble and fierce; so that if I had taken off my belt
before I went to sleep, I must have infallibly been torn to pieces
and devoured. I measured the tail of the dead rat, and found it to
be two yards long, wanting an inch; but it went against my
stomach to drag the carcass off the bed, where it lay still bleeding;
I observed it had yet some life, but with a strong slash across the
neck, I thoroughly despatched it.
Soon after my mistress came into the room, who seeing me all
bloody, ran and took me up in her hand. I pointed to the dead rat,
smiling, and making other signs to show I was not hurt; whereat
she was extremely rejoiced, calling the maid to take up the dead.
rat with a pair of tongs, and throw it out of the window. Then she
set me on a table, where I showed her my hanger all bloody, and
wiping it on the lappet of my coat, returned it to the scabbard. I
was pressed to do more than one thing which another could not do
for me, and therefore endeavoured to make my mistress
understand, that I desired to be set down on the floor; which after
she had done, my bashfulness would not suffer me to express
myself farther, than by pointing to the door, and bowing several
times. The good woman, with much difficulty, at last perceived
what I would be at, and taking me up again in her hand, walked
into the garden, where she set me down. I went on one side about
two hundred yards, and beckoning to her not to look or to follow
me, I hid myself between two leaves of sorrel, and there
discharged the necessities of nature.
I hope the gentle reader will excuse me for dwelling on these and
the like particulars, which, however insignificant they may appear
to groveling vulgar minds, yet will certainly help a philosopher to
enlarge his thoughts and imagination, and apply them to the
benefit of public as well as private life, which was my sole design
in presenting this and other accounts of my travels to the world;
wherein I have been chiefly studious of truth, without affecting
any ornaments of learning or of style. But the whole scene of this
voyage made so strong an impression on my mind, and is so
deeply fixed in my memory, that, in committing it to paper I did
not omit one material circumstance: however, upon a strict
review, I blotted out several passages. Of less moment which.
were in my first copy, for fear of being censured as tedious and
trifling, whereof travellers are often, perhaps not without justice,
accused..
[A description of the farmer's daughter. The author carried to a
market-town, and then to the metropolis. The particulars of his
journey.]
My mistress had a daughter of nine years old, a child of towardly
parts for her age, very dexterous at her needle, and skilful in
dressing her baby. Her mother and she contrived to fit up the
baby's cradle for me against night: the cradle was put into a small
drawer of a cabinet, and the drawer placed upon a hanging shelf
for fear of the rats. This was my bed all the time I staid with those
people, though made more convenient by degrees, as I began to
learn their language and make my wants known. This young girl
was so handy, that after I had once or twice pulled off my clothes
before her, she was able to dress and undress me, though I never
gave her that trouble when she would let me do either myself. She
made me seven shirts, and some other linen, of as fine cloth as
could be got, which indeed was coarser than sackcloth; and these
she constantly washed for me with her own hands. She was
likewise my school-mistress, to teach me the language: when I
pointed to any thing, she told me the name of it in her own tongue,
so that in a few days I was able to call for whatever I had a mind
to. She was very good-natured, and not above forty feet high,
being little for her age. She gave me the name of GRILDRIG,.
which the family took up, and afterwards the whole kingdom. The
word imports what the Latins call NANUNCULUS, the Italians
HOMUNCELETINO, and the English MANNIKIN. To her I
chiefly owe my preservation in that country: we never parted
while I was there; I called her my GLUMDALCLITCH, or little
nurse; and should be guilty of great ingratitude, if I omitted this
honourable mention of her care and affection towards me, which I
heartily wish it lay in my power to requite as she deserves, instead
of being the innocent, but unhappy instrument of her disgrace, as I
have too much reason to fear.
It now began to be known and talked of in the neighbourhood, that
my master had found a strange animal in the field, about the
bigness of a SPLACNUCK, but exactly shaped in every part like a
human creature; which it likewise imitated in all its actions;
seemed to speak in a little language of its own, had already
learned several words of theirs, went erect upon two legs, was
tame and gentle, would come when it was called, do whatever it
was bid, had the finest limbs in the world, and a complexion fairer
than a nobleman's daughter of three years old. Another farmer,
who lived hard by, and was a particular friend of my master, came
on a visit on purpose to inquire into the truth of this story. I was
immediately produced, and placed upon a table, where I walked
as I was commanded, drew my hanger, put it up again, made my
reverence to my master's guest, asked him in his own language
how he did, and told him HE WAS WELCOME, just as my little
nurse had instructed me. This man, who was old and dim-sighted,
put on his spectacles to behold me better; at which I could not
forbear laughing very heartily, for his eyes appeared like the full.
moon shining into a chamber at two windows. Our people, who
discovered the cause of my mirth, bore me company in laughing,
at which the old fellow was fool enough to be angry and out of
countenance. He had the character of a great miser; and, to my
misfortune, he well deserved it, by the cursed advice he gave my
master, to show me as a sight upon a market-day in the next town,
which was half an hour's riding, about two-and-twenty miles from
our house. I guessed there was some mischief when I observed my
master and his friend whispering together, sometimes pointing at
me; and my fears made me fancy that I overheard and understood
some of their words. But the next morning Glumdalclitch, my
little nurse, told me the whole matter, which she had cunningly
picked out from her mother. The poor girl laid me on her bosom,
and fell a weeping with shame and grief. She apprehended some
mischief would happen to me from rude vulgar folks, who might
squeeze me to death, or break one of my limbs by taking me in
their hands. She had also observed how modest I was in my
nature, how nicely I regarded my honour, and what an indignity I
should conceive it, to be exposed for money as a public spectacle,
to the meanest of the people. She said, her papa and mamma had
promised that Grildrig should be hers; but now she found they
meant to serve her as they did last year, when they pretended to
give her a lamb, and yet, as soon as it was fat, sold it to a butcher.
For my own part, I may truly affirm, that I was less concerned
than my nurse. I had a strong hope, which never left me, that I
should one day recover my liberty: and as to the ignominy of
being carried about for a monster, I considered myself to be a
perfect stranger in the country, and that such a misfortune could.
never be charged upon me as a reproach, if ever I should return to
England, since the king of Great Britain himself, in my condition,
must have undergone the same distress.
My master, pursuant to the advice of his friend, carried me in a
box the next market-day to the neighbouring town, and took along
with him his little daughter, my nurse, upon a pillion behind him.
The box was close on every side, with a little door for me to go in
and out, and a few gimlet holes to let in air. The girl had been so
careful as to put the quilt of her baby's bed into it, for me to lie
down on. However, I was terribly shaken and discomposed in this
journey, though it was but of half an hour: for the horse went
about forty feet at every step and trotted so high, that the agitation
was equal to the rising and falling of a ship in a great storm, but
much more frequent. Our journey was somewhat farther than
from London to St. Alban's. My master alighted at an inn which
he used to frequent; and after consulting awhile with the inn-keeper,
and making some necessary preparations, he hired the
GRULTRUD, or crier, to give notice through the town of a strange
creature to be seen at the sign of the Green Eagle, not so big as a
SPLACNUCK (an animal in that country very finely shaped,
about six feet long,) and in every part of the body resembling a
human creature, could speak several words, and perform a
hundred diverting tricks.
I was placed upon a table in the largest room of the inn, which
might be near three hundred feet square. My little nurse stood on a
low stool close to the table, to take care of me, and direct what I
should do. My master, to avoid a crowd, would suffer only thirty.
people at a time to see me. I walked about on the table as the girl
commanded; she asked me questions, as far as she knew my
understanding of the language reached, and I answered them as
loud as I could. I turned about several times to the company, paid
my humble respects, said THEY WERE WELCOME, and used
some other speeches I had been taught. I took up a thimble filled
with liquor, which Glumdalclitch had given me for a cup, and
drank their health, I drew out my hanger, and flourished with it
after the manner of fencers in England. My nurse gave me a part
of a straw, which I exercised as a pike, having learnt the art in my
youth. I was that day shown to twelve sets of company, and as
often forced to act over again the same fopperies, till I was half
dead with weariness and vexation; for those who had seen me
made such wonderful reports, that the people were ready to break
down the doors to come in. My master, for his own interest, would
not suffer any one to touch me except my nurse; and to prevent
danger, benches were set round the table at such a distance as to
put me out of every body's reach. However, an unlucky school-boy
aimed a hazel nut directly at my head, which very narrowly
missed me; otherwise it came with so much violence, that it would
have infallibly knocked out my brains, for it was almost as large
as a small pumpkin, but I had the satisfaction to see the young
rogue well beaten, and turned out of the room.
My master gave public notice that he would show me again the
next market-day; and in the meantime he prepared a convenient
vehicle for me, which he had reason enough to do; for I was so
tired with my first journey, and with entertaining company for
eight hours together, that I could hardly stand upon my legs, or.
speak a word. It was at least three days before I recovered my
strength; and that I might have no rest at home, all the
neighbouring gentlemen from a hundred miles round, hearing of
my fame, came to see me at my master's own house. There could
not be fewer than thirty persons with their wives and children (for
the country is very populous;) and my master demanded the rate
of a full room whenever he showed me at home, although it were
only to a single family; so that for some time I had but little ease
every day of the week (except Wednesday, which is their
Sabbath,) although I were not carried to the town.
My master, finding how profitable I was likely to be, resolved to
carry me to the most considerable cities of the kingdom. Having
therefore provided himself with all things necessary for a long
journey, and settled his affairs at home, he took leave of his wife,
and upon the 17th of August, 1703, about two months after my
arrival, we set out for the metropolis, situate near the middle of
that empire, and about three thousand miles distance from our
house. My master made his daughter Glumdalclitch ride behind
him. She carried me on her lap, in a box tied about her waist. The
girl had lined it on all sides with the softest cloth she could get,
well quilted underneath, furnished it with her baby's bed, provided
me with linen and other necessaries, and made everything as
convenient as she could. We had no other company but a boy of
the house, who rode after us with the luggage.
My master's design was to show me in all the towns by the way,
and to step out of the road for fifty or a hundred miles, to any
village, or person of quality's house, where he might expect.
custom. We made easy journeys, of not above seven or eight score
miles a-day; for Glumdalclitch, on purpose to spare me,
complained she was tired with the trotting of the horse. She often
took me out of my box, at my own desire, to give me air, and
show me the country, but always held me fast by a leading-string.
We passed over five or six rivers, many degrees broader and
deeper than the Nile or the Ganges: and there was hardly a rivulet
so small as the Thames at London-bridge. We were ten weeks in
our journey, and I was shown in eighteen large towns, besides
many villages, and private families.
On the 26th day of October we arrived at the metropolis, called in
their language LORBRULGRUD, or Pride of the Universe. My
master took a lodging in the principal street of the city, not far
from the royal palace, and put out bills in the usual form,
containing an exact description of my person and parts. He hired a
large room between three and four hundred feet wide. He
provided a table sixty feet in diameter, upon which I was to act my
part, and pallisadoed it round three feet from the edge, and as
many high, to prevent my falling over. I was shown ten times a-day,
to the wonder and satisfaction of all people. I could now
speak the language tolerably well, and perfectly understood every
word, that was spoken to me. Besides, I had learnt their alphabet,
and could make a shift to explain a sentence here and there; for
Glumdalclitch had been my instructor while we were at home, and
at leisure hours during our journey. She carried a little book in her
pocket, not much larger than a Sanson's Atlas; it was a common.
treatise for the use of young girls, giving a short account of their
religion: out of this she taught me my letters, and interpreted the
words..
[The author sent for to court. The queen buys him of his master
the farmer, and presents him to the king. He disputes with his
majesty's great scholars. An apartment at court provided for the
author. He is in high favour with the queen. He stands up for the
honour of his own country. His quarrels with the queen's dwarf.]
The frequent labours I underwent every day, made, in a few
weeks, a very considerable change in my health: the more my
master got by me, the more insatiable he grew. I had quite lost my
stomach, and was almost reduced to a skeleton. The farmer
observed it, and concluding I must soon die, resolved to make as
good a hand of me as he could. While he was thus reasoning and
resolving with himself, a SARDRAL, or gentleman-usher, came
from court, commanding my master to carry me immediately
thither for the diversion of the queen and her ladies. Some of the
latter had already been to see me, and reported strange things of
my beauty, behaviour, and good sense. Her majesty, and those
who attended her, were beyond measure delighted with my
demeanour. I fell on my knees, and begged the honour of kissing
her imperial foot; but this gracious princess held out her little
finger towards me, after I was set on the table, which I embraced
in both my arms, and put the tip of it with the utmost respect to
my lip. She made me some general questions about my country.
and my travels, which I answered as distinctly, and in as few
words as I could. She asked, "whether I could be content to live at
court?" I bowed down to the board of the table, and humbly
answered "that I was my master's slave: but, if I were at my own
disposal, I should be proud to devote my life to her majesty's
service." She then asked my master, "whether he was willing to
sell me at a good price?" He, who apprehended I could not live a
month, was ready enough to part with me, and demanded a
thousand pieces of gold, which were ordered him on the spot,
each piece being about the bigness of eight hundred moidores; but
allowing for the proportion of all things between that country and
Europe, and the high price of gold among them, was hardly so
great a sum as a thousand guineas would be in England. I then
said to the queen, "since I was now her majesty's most humble
creature and vassal, I must beg the favour, that Glumdalclitch,
who had always tended me with so much care and kindness, and
understood to do it so well, might be admitted into her service,
and continue to be my nurse and instructor."
Her majesty agreed to my petition, and easily got the farmer's
consent, who was glad enough to have his daughter preferred at
court, and the poor girl herself was not able to hide her joy. My
late master withdrew, bidding me farewell, and saying he had left
me in a good service; to which I replied not a word, only making
him a slight bow.
The queen observed my coldness; and, when the farmer was gone
out of the apartment, asked me the reason. I made bold to tell her
majesty, "that I owed no other obligation to my late master, than.
his not dashing out the brains of a poor harmless creature, found
by chance in his fields: which obligation was amply recompensed,
by the gain he had made in showing me through half the kingdom,
and the price he had now sold me for. That the life I had since led
was laborious enough to kill an animal of ten times my strength.
That my health was much impaired, by the continual drudgery of