Chương Chương 1 · The author gives some account of himself and family. His first

. The author gives some account of himself and family. His first

inducements to travel. He is shipwrecked, and swims for his life, gets

safe on shore in the country of Lilliput; is made a prisoner, and

carried up the country.

My father had a small estate in Nottinghamshire; I was the third of

five sons. He sent me to Emanuel College in Cambridge at fourteen years

old, where I resided three years, and applied myself close to my

studies; but the charge of maintaining me, although I had a very scanty

allowance, being too great for a narrow fortune, I was bound apprentice

to Mr. James Bates, an eminent surgeon in London, with whom I continued

four years. My father now and then sending me small sums of money, I

laid them out in learning navigation, and other parts of the

mathematics, useful to those who intend to travel, as I always believed

it would be, some time or other, my fortune to do. When I left Mr.

Bates, I went down to my father: where, by the assistance of him and my

uncle John, and some other relations, I got forty pounds, and a promise

of thirty pounds a year to maintain me at Leyden: there I studied

physic two years and seven months, knowing it would be useful in long

voyages.

Soon after my return from Leyden, I was recommended by my good master,

Mr. Bates, to be surgeon to the Swallow, Captain Abraham Pannel,

commander; with whom I continued three years and a half, making a

voyage or two into the Levant, and some other parts. When I came back I

resolved to settle in London; to which Mr. Bates, my master, encouraged

me, and by him I was recommended to several patients. I took part of a

small house in the Old Jewry; and being advised to alter my condition,

I married Mrs. Mary Burton, second daughter to Mr. Edmund Burton,

hosier, in Newgate-street, with whom I received four hundred pounds for

a portion.

But my good master Bates dying in two years after, and I having few

friends, my business began to fail; for my conscience would not suffer

me to imitate the bad practice of too many among my brethren. Having

therefore consulted with my wife, and some of my acquaintance, I

determined to go again to sea. I was surgeon successively in two ships,

and made several voyages, for six years, to the East and West Indies,

by which I got some addition to my fortune. My hours of leisure I spent

in reading the best authors, ancient and modern, being always provided

with a good number of books; and when I was ashore, in observing the

manners and dispositions of the people, as well as learning their

language; wherein I had a great facility, by the strength of my memory.

The last of these voyages not proving very fortunate, I grew weary of

the sea, and intended to stay at home with my wife and family. I

removed from the Old Jewry to Fetter Lane, and from thence to Wapping,

hoping to get business among the sailors; but it would not turn to

account. After three years expectation that things would mend, I

accepted an advantageous offer from Captain William Prichard, master of

the Antelope, who was making a voyage to the South Sea. We set sail

from Bristol, May 4, 1699, and our voyage was at first very prosperous.

It would not be proper, for some reasons, to trouble the reader with

the particulars of our adventures in those seas; let it suffice to

inform him, that in our passage from thence to the East Indies, we were

driven by a violent storm to the north-west of Van Diemen’s Land. By an

observation, we found ourselves in the latitude of 30 degrees 2 minutes

south. Twelve of our crew were dead by immoderate labour and ill food;

the rest were in a very weak condition. On the 5th of November, which

was the beginning of summer in those parts, the weather being very

hazy, the seamen spied a rock within half a cable’s length of the ship;

but the wind was so strong, that we were driven directly upon it, and

immediately split. Six of the crew, of whom I was one, having let down

the boat into the sea, made a shift to get clear of the ship and the

rock. We rowed, by my computation, about three leagues, till we were

able to work no longer, being already spent with labour while we were

in the ship. We therefore trusted ourselves to the mercy of the waves,

and in about half an hour the boat was overset by a sudden flurry from

the north. What became of my companions in the boat, as well as of

those who escaped on the rock, or were left in the vessel, I cannot

tell; but conclude they were all lost. For my own part, I swam as

fortune directed me, and was pushed forward by wind and tide. I often

let my legs drop, and could feel no bottom; but when I was almost gone,

and able to struggle no longer, I found myself within my depth; and by

this time the storm was much abated. The declivity was so small, that I

walked near a mile before I got to the shore, which I conjectured was

about eight o’clock in the evening. I then advanced forward near half a

mile, but could not discover any sign of houses or inhabitants; at

least I was in so weak a condition, that I did not observe them. I was

extremely tired, and with that, and the heat of the weather, and about

half a pint of brandy that I drank as I left the ship, I found myself

much inclined to sleep. I lay down on the grass, which was very short

and soft, where I slept sounder than ever I remembered to have done in

my life, and, as I reckoned, about nine hours; for when I awaked, it

was just day-light. I attempted to rise, but was not able to stir: for,

as I happened to lie on my back, I found my arms and legs were strongly

fastened on each side to the ground; and my hair, which was long and

thick, tied down in the same manner. I likewise felt several slender

ligatures across my body, from my arm-pits to my thighs. I could only

look upwards; the sun began to grow hot, and the light offended my

eyes. I heard a confused noise about me; but in the posture I lay,

could see nothing except the sky. In a little time I felt something

alive moving on my left leg, which advancing gently forward over my

breast, came almost up to my chin; when, bending my eyes downwards as

much as I could, 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 mean time, I felt at least forty more of the same kind (as I

conjectured) 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,

as I was afterwards told, 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, lifting up

his hands and eyes by way of admiration, cried out in a shrill but

distinct voice, _Hekinah degul_: the others repeated the same words

several times, but then I knew not what they meant. I lay all this

while, as the reader may believe, in great uneasiness. At length,

struggling to get loose, I had the fortune to break the strings, and

wrench out the pegs that fastened my left arm to the ground; for, by

lifting it up to my face, I discovered the methods they had taken to

bind me, and at the same time with a violent pull, which gave me

excessive pain, I a little loosened the strings that tied down my hair

on the left side, 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 in a very shrill accent, and

after it ceased I heard one of them cry aloud _Tolgo phonac_; when in

an instant I felt above a hundred arrows discharged on my left hand,

which, pricked me like so many needles; and besides, they shot another

flight into the air, as we do bombs in Europe, whereof many, I suppose,

fell on my body, (though I felt them not), and some on my face, which I

immediately covered with my left hand. When this shower of arrows was

over, I fell a groaning with grief and pain; and then striving again to

get loose, they discharged another volley larger than the first, and

some of them attempted with spears to stick me in the sides; but by

good luck I had on a buff jerkin, which they could not pierce. I

thought it the most prudent method to lie still, and my design was to

continue so till night, when, my left hand being already loose, I could

easily free myself: and as for the inhabitants, I had reason to believe

I might be a match for the greatest army they could bring against me,

if they were all of the same size with him that I saw. But fortune

disposed otherwise of me. When the people observed I was quiet, they

discharged no more arrows; but, by the noise I heard, I knew their

numbers increased; and about four yards from me, over against my right

ear, I heard a knocking for above an hour, like that of people at work;

when turning my head that way, as well as the pegs and strings would

permit me, I saw a stage erected about a foot and a half from the

ground, capable of holding four of the inhabitants, with two or three

ladders to mount it: from whence one of them, who seemed to be a person

of quality, made me a long speech, whereof I understood not one

syllable. But I should have mentioned, that before the principal person

began his oration, he cried out three times, _Langro dehul san_ (these

words and the former were afterwards repeated and explained to me);

whereupon, immediately, about fifty of the inhabitants came and cut the

strings that fastened the left side of my head, which gave me the

liberty of turning it to the right, and of observing the person and

gesture of him that was to speak. He appeared to be of a middle age,

and taller than any of the other three who attended him, whereof one

was a page that held up his train, and seemed to be somewhat longer

than my middle finger; the other two stood one on each side to support

him. He acted every part of an orator, and I could observe many periods

of threatenings, and others of promises, pity, and kindness. I answered

in a few words, but in the most submissive manner, lifting up my left

hand, and both my eyes to the sun, as calling him for a witness; and

being almost famished with hunger, having not eaten a morsel for some

hours before I left the ship, I found the demands of nature so strong

upon me, that I could not forbear showing my impatience (perhaps

against the strict rules of decency) by putting my finger frequently to

my mouth, to signify that I wanted food. The _hurgo_ (for so they call

a great lord, as I afterwards learnt) understood me very well. He

descended from the stage, and commanded that several ladders should be

applied to my sides, on which above a hundred of the inhabitants

mounted and walked towards my mouth, laden with baskets full of meat,

which had been provided and sent thither by the king’s orders, upon the

first intelligence he received of me. I observed there was the flesh of

several animals, but could not distinguish them by the taste. There

were shoulders, legs, and loins, shaped like those of mutton, and very

well dressed, but smaller than the wings of a lark. I ate them by two

or three at a mouthful, and took three loaves at a time, about the

bigness of musket bullets. They supplied me as fast as they could,

showing a thousand marks of wonder and astonishment at my bulk and

appetite. I then made another sign, that I wanted drink. They found by

my eating that a small quantity would not suffice me; and being a most

ingenious people, they slung up, with great dexterity, one of their

largest hogsheads, then rolled it towards my hand, and beat out the

top; I drank it off at a draught, which I might well do, for it did not

hold half a pint, and tasted like a small wine of Burgundy, but much

more delicious. They brought me a second hogshead, which I drank in the

same manner, and made signs for more; but they had none to give me.

When I had performed these wonders, they shouted for joy, and danced

upon my breast, repeating several times as they did at first, _Hekinah

degul_. They made me a sign that I should throw down the two hogsheads,

but first warning the people below to stand out of the way, crying

aloud, _Borach mevolah_; and when they saw the vessels in the air,

there was a universal shout of _Hekinah degul_. I confess I was often

tempted, while they were passing backwards and forwards on my body, to

seize forty or fifty of the first that came in my reach, and dash them

against the ground. But the remembrance of what I had felt, which

probably might not be the worst they could do, and the promise of

honour I made them—for so I interpreted my submissive behaviour—soon

drove out these imaginations. Besides, I now considered myself as bound

by the laws of hospitality, to a people who had treated me with so much

expense and magnificence. However, in my thoughts I could not

sufficiently wonder at the intrepidity of these diminutive mortals, who

durst venture to mount and walk upon my body, while one of my hands was

at liberty, without trembling at the very sight of so prodigious a

creature as I must appear to them. After some time, when they observed

that I made no more demands for meat, there appeared before me a person

of high rank from his imperial majesty. His excellency, having mounted

on the small of my right leg, advanced forwards up to my face, with

about a dozen of his retinue; and producing his credentials under the

signet royal, which he applied close to my eyes, spoke about ten

minutes without any signs of anger, but with a kind of determinate

resolution, often pointing forwards, which, as I afterwards found, was

towards the capital city, about half a mile distant; whither it was

agreed by his majesty in council that I must be conveyed. I answered in

few words, but to no purpose, and made a 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) and then to my own head and body, to

signify that I desired my liberty. It appeared that he understood me

well enough, for he shook his head by way of disapprobation, and held

his hand in a posture to show that I must be carried as a prisoner.

However, he made other signs to let me understand that I should have

meat and drink enough, and very good treatment. Whereupon I once more

thought of attempting to break my bonds; but again, when I felt the

smart of their arrows upon my face and hands, which were all in

blisters, and many of the darts still sticking in them, and observing

likewise that the number of my enemies increased, I gave tokens to let

them know that they might do with me what they pleased. Upon this, the

_hurgo_ and his train withdrew, with much civility and cheerful

countenances. Soon after I heard a general shout, with frequent

repetitions of the words _Peplom selan_; and I felt great numbers of

people on my left side relaxing the cords to such a degree, that I was

able to turn upon my right, and to ease myself with making water; which

I very plentifully did, to the great astonishment of the people; who,

conjecturing by my motion what I was going to do, immediately opened to

the right and left on that side, to avoid the torrent, which fell with

such noise and violence from me. But before this, they had daubed my

face and both my hands with a sort of ointment, very pleasant to the

smell, which, in a few minutes, removed all the smart of their arrows.

These circumstances, added to the refreshment I had received by their

victuals and drink, which were very nourishing, disposed me to sleep. I

slept about eight hours, as I was afterwards assured; and it was no

wonder, for the physicians, by the emperor’s order, had mingled a

sleepy potion in the hogsheads of wine.

It seems, that upon the first moment I was discovered sleeping on the

ground, after my landing, the emperor had early notice of it by an

express; and determined in council, 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 to me, and a machine prepared

to carry me to the capital city.

This resolution perhaps may appear very bold and dangerous, and I am

confident would not be imitated by any prince in Europe on the like

occasion. However, in my opinion, it was extremely prudent, as well as

generous: for, supposing these people had endeavoured to kill me with

their spears and arrows, while I was asleep, I should certainly have

awaked with the first sense of smart, which might so far have roused my

rage and strength, as to have enabled me to break the strings wherewith

I was tied; after which, as they were not able to make resistance, so

they could expect no mercy.

These people are most excellent mathematicians, and arrived to a great

perfection in mechanics, by the countenance and encouragement of the

emperor, who is a renowned patron of learning. This prince has several

machines fixed on wheels, for the carriage of trees and other great

weights. He often builds his largest men of war, whereof some are nine

feet long, in the woods where the timber grows, and has them carried on

these engines three or four hundred yards to the sea. Five hundred

carpenters and engineers were immediately set at work to prepare the

greatest engine they had. It was a frame of wood raised three inches

from the ground, about seven feet long, and four wide, moving upon

twenty-two wheels. The shout I heard was upon the arrival of this

engine, which, it seems, set out in four hours after my landing. It was

brought parallel to me, as I lay. But the principal difficulty was to

raise and place me in this vehicle. Eighty poles, each of one foot

high, were erected for this purpose, and very strong cords, of the

bigness of packthread, were fastened by hooks to many bandages, which

the workmen had girt round my neck, my hands, my body, and my legs.

Nine hundred of the strongest men were employed to draw up these cords,

by many pulleys fastened on the poles; and thus, in less than three

hours, I was raised and slung into the engine, and there tied fast. All

this I was told; for, while the operation was performing, I lay in a

profound sleep, by the force of that soporiferous medicine infused into

my liquor. Fifteen hundred of the emperor’s largest horses, each about

four inches and a half high, were employed to draw me towards the

metropolis, which, as I said, was half a mile distant.

About four hours after we began our journey, I awaked by a very

ridiculous accident; for the carriage being stopped a while, to adjust

something that was out of order, two or three of the young natives had

the curiosity to see how I looked when I was asleep; they climbed up

into the engine, and advancing very softly to my face, one of them, an

officer in the guards, put the sharp end of his half-pike a good way up

into my left nostril, which tickled my nose like a straw, and made me

sneeze violently; whereupon they stole off unperceived, and it was

three weeks before I knew the cause of my waking so suddenly. We made a

long march the remaining part of the day, and, rested at night with

five hundred guards on each side of me, half with torches, and half

with bows and arrows, ready to shoot me if I should offer to stir. The

next morning at sunrise we continued our march, and arrived within two

hundred yards of the city gates about noon. The emperor, and all his

court, came out to meet us; but his great officers would by no means

suffer his majesty to endanger his person by mounting on my body.

At the place where the carriage stopped there stood an ancient temple,

esteemed to be the largest in the whole kingdom; which, having been

polluted some years before by an unnatural murder, was, according to

the zeal of those people, looked upon as profane, and therefore had

been applied to common use, and all the ornaments and furniture carried

away. In this edifice it was determined I should lodge. The great gate

fronting to the north was about four feet high, and almost two feet

wide, through which I could easily creep. On each side of the gate was

a small window, not above six inches from the ground: into that on the

left side, the king’s smith conveyed fourscore and eleven chains, like

those that hang to a lady’s watch in Europe, and almost as large, which

were locked to my left leg with six-and-thirty padlocks. Over against

this temple, on the other side of the great highway, at twenty feet

distance, there was a turret at least five feet high. Here the emperor

ascended, with many principal lords of his court, to have an

opportunity of viewing me, as I was told, for I could not see them. It

was reckoned that above a hundred thousand inhabitants came out of the

town upon the same errand; and, in spite of my guards, I believe there

could not be fewer than ten thousand at several times, who mounted my

body by the help of ladders. But a proclamation was soon issued, to

forbid it upon pain of death. When the workmen found it was impossible

for me to break loose, they cut all the strings that bound me;

whereupon I rose up, with as melancholy a disposition as ever I had in

my life. But the noise and astonishment of the people, at seeing me

rise and walk, are not to be expressed. The chains that held my left

leg were about two yards long, and gave me not only the liberty of

walking backwards and forwards in a semicircle, but, being fixed within

four inches of the gate, allowed me to creep in, and lie at my full

length in the temple.