ARTES
1837
SCIENTIA
LIBRARY
VERITAS
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN |
PLURIOUS OND
TUEROR
SI QUERIS-PENINSULAM AMOENAM”
CIRCUMSPICE
GIFT OF
REGENT LLHUBBARD
་༽
Hubbard
Imag. Voy.
PR
33/8 >
232
MS
1765
THE
ADVENTURES
O F
SIG. GAUDEN TIO DI LUCCA.
BEING THE
SUBSTANCE OF HIS EXAMINATION
BEFORE THE
FATHERS OF THE INQUISITION
AT BOLOGNA IN ITALY:
Giving an Account of an
UNKNOWN COUNTRY in the Midſt of the
Deferts of AFRICA, the Origin and Antiquity of
the People, their Religion, Cuſtoms, and Laws.
Copied from the
Original Manufcript in St. MARK's Library at Venice;
with critical Notes of the Learned Signor RHIDI.
To which is prefixed,
A Letter of the Secretary of the Inquifition, hewing the Reaſons
of Sig. GAUDENTI O's being apprehended, and the Manner of it.
Tranflated from the ITALIAN.
GLASGO w:
Printed by JAMES KNOX, and fold at his Shop, near
the Head of the Salt-mercat.
M.DCC.LXV.
THE
PUBLISHER
IT
TO THE
READER.
'T is very natural to think the reader would wil-
lingly be apprised of two things relating to
thefe Memoirs: Firſt, how this curious manufcript
came to light, confidering the dark and deep fecre-
cy with which all things are tranſacted in the in-
quifition. Secondly, how it came into the tranf-
lator's hands. To fatisfy fuch a commendable cu-
rioſity, he is to be informed, That the manufcript
was fent by the fecretary of the inquifition at Bo-
logna to the learned Signor Rhedi, keeper of the
library of S. Mark at Venice, his intimate friend
and correfpondent, with the whole account how the
author was taken up, and ſecured in the inquifi-
tion, as the letter of the ſecretary to the fame Signor
Rhedi will fhew: which letter, as it contains a great
many curious particulars in the examination of the
criminal, (for he was taken up as fuch, though no-
thing very material was proved againſt him; for
which reaſon, he received a more favourable treat-
ment than is generally believed to be cuſtomary in
that dreadful tribunal;) fo it difcovers no indirect
practices of the inquifition, but, on the contrary,
Thews they proceed with a great deal of circumfpec-
tion within their walls, though all things are invol
ved in impenetrable darkneſs to thofe without,
Befide, the fucceffion of new popes, and, generally
ſpeaking, the change of other officers attending it,
A 2
might
iv
PREFACE.
might make them be lefs upon their guard, as the
fecretary feems to hint in his letter. Neither is
there any thing that might do him any harm, in
cafe he were difcovered; efpecially writing to a.
friend of his own communion, and a prieſt, as Sig-
nor Rhedi was; which is likewife feen by the letter.
As to the ſecond quære, the manufcript came
into the publisher's hands, by the means of the
fame Signor Rhedi, who is an honour to his church,
profeffion, and country, and one of the moſt learn-
ed and polite men in the world. He is not fo bi-
gotted to his religion or profeffion, as to fhun the
company of the heretical tramontani, a title the Ita-
lians generally give us; but loves and efteems a
learned man, though of a different perfuafion.
One reaſon for this may be, that he breathes a freer
air at Venice, than they do in the other parts of
Italy. The inquifition has nothing to do in the
Venetian territories. Though they are Roman
Catholics, the ftate admits of no tribunal indepen-
dent of itſelf. Befides as they are a trading people,
their commerce obliges them to be civil to perfons
of all perfuafions, efpecially ftrangers. But of all
others they ſeem to have the greateſt reſpect for the
English; whether it be on account of their power
at fea, or their frankneſs in ſpending their money,
fo many of the English nobility and gentry travel-
ling that way; or from the candour and fincerity
of our nature, fo oppofite to the Italians, and there-
fore the more valued by them: be that as it will, the
publiſher, who had feveral times made the tour of
Italy, was not only intimately acquainted, but had
contracted a particular friendſhip with Signor Rhe-
di, as well on account of their mutual inclinations
for learning and antiquity, as for feveral reciprocal
obligations paffing between them. The last time
he was at Venice, which was in company of a per-
fon
PREFACE.
;
fon of the firſt rank, who liked the place as well as
he did, he ſtaid there upwards of fifteen months;
during which time he had the opportunity of en-
joying the converfation of his learned friend, with
as much liberty, as if he had been of the fame
perfuafion. But the prefent of a gold repeat-
ing watch, with fome other of our English curio-
fities, fo won his heart, that one day being toge
ther in the great library, he unlocks a little grate
where he kept his rarities, and turning to me with
a fmile, Signor Inglefe, fays he, holding a manufcript
in his hand, here is fuch a curiofity, as I am fure,
you never ſaw, and perhaps never heard of: it is
the life of a perſon who is now in the inquifition at
Bologna, taken from his own confeffion before the
inquifitors; with the account of a country in the
heart of the vast deferts of Africa, whofe inhabi-
tants have lived unknown to all the world upwards
of 3000 years, and inacceffible to all the world, but
by the way he was carried thither. The inquifi-
tors are fo far perfuaded of the truth of it, that
they have promiſed him his liberty, if he will un-
dertake to conduct ſome miffionaries the fame way,
to preach the goſpel to a numerous people, who by
his account have the greateft knowledge of natural
religion and polity of any Heathen nation yet known,
even beyond the Chineſe. For my own part, I could
fcarce have believed it, had not the fecretary of the
fame inquifition, who, you may be fure, by his poſt,
is not a man to be impoſed upon, afſured me of the
truth of it: nay, that he himself was prefent at his
feizure and examination, and fent me a copy of his
life, which he was ordered to give in by the inqui-
fitors; with the whole account of the occafion and
manner of his feizure. It feems he had lived fome
time in Bologna in quality of a phyſician, under the
name of Signer Gaudentio di Lucca, which he fays
A 3
بدلة
is
vi
PREFACE.
is his true name, and confirms it by the place of his
birth, the names of his parents, time of his captivi-
ty, &c. He had dropped fome words of feveral
ſtrange ſecrets he was mafter of, with mutterings of
an unknown nation, religion, and cuftoms, quite
new to the Italian cars; for which reaſon the inqui-
fition thought fit to feize him, and, by ways and
means made uſe of in that tribunal, obliged him to
give an account of his whole life, which is the moſt
furpriſing I ever read. Here is the fecretary's letter,
giving a fuccinct account of the whole affair. I
have added, continued he, fome critical remarks in
proper places, to fhew that this account is not fo in-
credible as it may appear at firſt ſight, and that it
agrees with fome hints left us in the remains of an-
cient hiſtory. Beſides, the man ftands to the truth
of it with a ſtedfaſtneſs that is ſurpriſing. He is a
perfon of a very handſome prefence, well read, good
fenfe, and, as it appears to the inquifitors, (who are
nice judges,) of ſeemingly good morals. He pro-
feffes himſelf a zealous Roman Catholic, and that
he always was fo; for which reaſon, the inquifitors
are more civil to him than ordinary. He gives fuch
a rational and circumftantial account of his adven-
tures, that I am of the fecretary's opinion, as to the
truth of it. But, added he, I wont foreftal the fa-
tisfaction you will find in the perufal: fo delivered
the manufcript and the fecretary's letter into the
publiſher's hands, who running his eyes over it for
fome time, was fo ftruck with the novelty of the
thing, that he asked Signor Rhedi, whether he
might not take a copy of it. He was anfwered, he
could not permit the manufcript to be taken out of
the library; nor could he, with fafety to himſelf,
allow a ſtranger, and of a different religion too, the
liberty of staying fo long in the library by himſelf,
as the tranfcribing would take up. The publiſher
faid,
PREFACE.
vii
faid, he might put what guard upon him he pleaſed,
provided he might but tranfcribe it. No, fays he, that
is inconvenient too; but I will order one of my un
der librarians I can confide in, to write you out an
exact copy, with the fecretary's letter, and my own
remarks, if you think them worth your notice;
which he did moſt faithfully; generoufly command-
ing the tranſcriber, at the fame time, not to take a-
ny thing of me for his pains. Thus this curious
manuſcript came to hand, to the infinite fatisfaction
of the publiſher, and he hopes it will prove no leſs
to the readers in the perufal of it. The character
of Signor Gaudentio cannot be called in queſtion;
nor is the publiſher a perfon fo little verfed in the
nature and ways of the Italians, as to be impofed
upon. The tranſlation from the Italian is as exact
as poffible. This is the previous account the pu-
bliſher thought proper to give of this affair.
N. B. Great part of the matters treated of in
theſe Memoirs, being tranfacted in a Roman-catho-
lic country, and among Roman Catholics, the read-
er muſt not wonder, if they ſpeak of their religion,
as if it were the only true one in the world.
It will not be improper to admoniſh the reader,
not to diſcredit immediately fome of the relations
contained in thefe Memoirs; but to fufpend his judg-
ment, till he has read Signor Rhedi's remarks;
particularly, when he comes to the origin and anti-
quity of the people the author fpeaks of. The
learned will find in them fuch a vaſt knowledge in
hiſtory, and the moſt intricate remains of antiquity,
as will render them very well worth their notice.
The fame Signor Rhedi told the publiſher, he had
inquired into what happened at Venice; particular-
ly what the author mentions of Monfieur Godart,
one of the moſt improbable parts of his adventures,
and found the whole to be just as he relates it.
The
viii
PREFAC E...
The publiſher is fatisfied the reader will be ex-
tremely forry, as well as himſelf, for the lofs of fome
fheets belonging to the middle part of this hiſtory.
How they came to be loft, he cannot tell; but he
fuppofes, by the incivility of the cuſtomhouſe-offi-
cers at Marſeilles; for they tumbled over his effects
at a very rude rate, and while he had an eye on other
matters, they either took fome of the loofe fheets,
or they dropped out in the tumbling; he was very
much troubled, when he came to miſs them in the
courſe of the tranſlation.
}
INTRO
WAR
INTRODUCTION.
Giving an account of the cauſes and manner of the
feizure of Signor GAUDENTIO Di Lucca, and
the first part of his examination.
In a letter from the fecretary of the INQUISITION
to Signor RHEDI.
T
SIR,
HE prefent turn of † affairs which fills the
+
heads of other people with intrigues of ſtate,
gives me an opportunity of returning my beſt
thanks for the rich prefent you were pleaſed to fend
to a perſon who was yours before by the ſtricteft
ties of gratitude.-The cabinet, with the other cu-
riofities, came fafe to hand, and fhews, that who-
ever is ſo happy, as to oblige Signor Rhedi, ſows a
feed which returns a hundredfold.-The poverty
of our profeffion hinders me from being capable
of making a fuitable return for your magnificent
prefent; but nothing ought to take from me the
defire of expreffing my acknowledgments. In tef
timony of it, and to fhew that poverty itfelf may
be grateful, I fend you, by the bearer, the ac-
count of a man, whofe life has filled our inqui-
fitors with wonder and aſtoniſhment. He has been
in the inquifition at this place about two years:
we have employed all our engines to find out
the truth of what he is, and can find nothing
material againſt him, unleſs it be the unheard-of
account he gives of himfelf. Our firft inquifitor
has
* The Italian titles of Illuftriffimo, &c. are left out,
as not uſed in our language.
t. He either means the death of fome pope, or fome
extraordinary crifis in the Romish oeconomy.
The ſecretary was a Dominican friar; the Domini-
cans being maſters of the inquifition.
to
INTRODUCTION.
has obliged him to write his own life, with all
the particulars, as fuccinctly as poffible, adding
threats withal, that, if we find him in a falfe ftory,
it ſhall be worſe with him. He tells us ftrange fto-
ries of one of the moſt beautiful countries in the
world, in the very heart of the vaſt deſerts of A
frica, inacceffible to all the world but by one way;
which feems as extraordinary as the country it leads
to. As you are a perfon of univerfal knowledge in
antiquity, and an admirer of curiofities of this na-
ture, I fent you a copy of the manufcript to have
your opinion of it; and to give you as clear a no-
tion of the man as I can, you muſt know, that a-
bout three years before he was taken up by the
inquifition, he took a neat houfe at Bologna in
quality of a phyfician, paffing through fome flight
examination for form's fake, and paying his fees as
is cuſtomary with ftrangers. His name, as he fays,
is Gaudentio di Lucca, originally of Lucca*, but
born in Ragufat; he is a tall, handfome, clean-built
man, as you ſhall fee in a thouſand, of a very polite
addrefs, and fomething fo very engaging in his a
ſpect, as befpeaks your favour at firſt fight. He
feems to be near fifty; he is a man of good ſenſe
and fine diſcourſe, though his accent is not pure I-
talian, from his living, as he ſays, fo long in foreign
countries. He ſpeaks almoſt all the oriental lan
guages, and has a very competent ſhare of other
parts of learning, as well as that of his profeffion.
We fent to Ragufa and Lucca to inquire about him,
but could not get the leaſt information of his being
known in thoſe places. The reafon of which he
has given in his life, as you will fee; only at Ragu-
fa, fome people remembered there had been a mer-
* A little republic in Italy.
chant
† A republic in Dalmatia, and tributary to the Turks,
INTRODUCTION.
chant of that name, about five and twenty or thir-
ty years ago, who was either loft, or taken by pi-
rates, and never heard of more.
The inquifition, as you know, Sir, has eyes eve-
ry where, efpecially on ftrangers; we kept an eye
upon him from his firft fettling at Bologna: but as
we proceed with juftice as well as caution, we
could not diſcover any fufficient reafon to take him
up. His life was as regular as that of others of
his profeffion, which he did not follow very clofely,
but only for form's fake, being chiefly confulted at
his own houſe, on account of fome extraordinary ſe-
crets he pretended to be mafter of, without making
any viſits but to ladies, with whom he grew in pro-
digious requeſt. They ſaid he had a ſweetneſs and
cafe in converfation, that was almoſt bewitching.
This unaccountable fondneſs of the ladies gave us
the firſt fufpicion, left he fhould inftill fome ill no-
tions into that fex, fo credulous where they are fond,
and fo incredulous where they diſlike. He profeffed
himſelf a Roman Catholic; feemed to have a com-
petent knowledge, and even veneration, confidering
he was a phyſician, for our holy myfteries: fo we
had nothing againſt him on that account. We could
not find that he wanted for money, though he liv-
ed rather genteelly than magnificently: we found
on feveral occafions, that money, the idol of other
people, was the leaſt of his care; and that he had
fome fecret fprings we could not fathom. His houfe
was but decently, though completely, furniſhed for
one of his rank; he kept two fervants in livery and
a valet de chambre; who, being of this town, knew
no more of him than we did. There was an elder-
ly lady we thought had been his wife, but it proved
fhe was not; a foreigner, for whom he feemed to
have a great refpect, and her maid a foreigner alfe;
and an elder maid-ſervant of the town. We have
them
12
INTRODUCTION.
moment.
them all fecured in the inquifition, though he does
not know it. The lady has the remains of a won-
derful fine face, and an air of quality; fhe fpeaks a
broken Italian, ſo that we can get very little out of
her, but what agrees with his account. I am con-
fident you will rather be pleaſed with theſe parti-
culars than think them tedious. There is ſome-
thing ſo extraordinary in the man, I ought not to o-
mit the leaſt circumſtance. We had feveral conful,
tations about him in our inquiſition, as well as our
Leiger intelligencies, but could diſcover nothing of
We examined what intercourſe he had
in other parts, by ordering the poſtmaſter to fend
us all his letters, which we could eafily open, and
feal up again with the greateſt nicety. But we found
he had only two correfpondents, one poffeffed of a
moderate income of about four thouſand crowns in
the bank of Genoa; the other a lady of your city
of Venice, whom we diſcovered to be a celebrated
courtezan, who fubfcribes herſelf Favilla. We find
by her laſt letter, that he had given her very good
advice, and perfuaded her to become a penitent: you
will oblige us if you will inquire what he is. A-
morous intrigues not falling under our cognifance,
we let him alone for fome time, having a perfon un-
der our examination on fufpicion of being a Jew in
maſquerade, and a fpy from the Grand Signor, who
kept us employed for fome time. Beſides, the good
advice he gave the courtezan, and he being paſt his
prime, made us lefs fufpicious of the ladies; we fup-
pofed they had recourſe to him on account of fome
female infirmities. Though the young ladies were
moft fond of him, his behaviour to them was morę
an endearing ſweetneſs and courteſy, than love, with
very little figns, at leaſt he had the addreſs to con-
ceal them, of more kindneſs for one than another.
La fine, perſons of the beſt rank, of both ſexes, be-
gan
INTRODUCTION,
13
gan to have a prodigious liking for his company;
he ſtole upon them infenfibly. As he increafed in
this good opinion, he opened himſelf with greater
freedom; he made no fhew at all at firſt more than
a fine prefence and a polite addrefs: but, after fur-
ther aquaintance, they difcovered he was mafter of
moft fciences, and fhewed a fuperior genius in any
thing they could difcourfe of. We employed pro-
per perfons to infinuate themſelves into his good
liking, and confult him as a friend on ſeveral nice
points; but he had ſuch a preſence of mind, yet ap-
peared fo unconſtrained in his difcourfe, that they
owned themſelves novices in comparifon to him.
If they talked of politics, he faid very judiciously, it
was not for men of his rank, to meddle with affairs of
ftate, or examine what perfons did in the cabinet. If of
religion, he ſeemed to underſtand it very well for one
of his profeffion; fo that nothing came from him
but what was confonant to the Catholic faith; ex-
preffing on all occafions a great deference for the
authority of the church. But ftill the more fagaci-
ous were perfuaded, fomething more than ordinary
lay hid under that fpecious cover. At length, talk-
ing one day with ſome of our ſpies, about the cu-
ftoms of foreign countries, he faid, he had met with
a nation in one of the remoteft parts of the world,
who, though they were Heathens, had more know-
ledge of the law of nature, and common morality,
than the moſt civilized Chriſtians. This was im-
mediately carried to us, and explained as a reflec-
tion on the Chriftian religion. Another time, as
he had a great knowledge in philofophy, he dropt
fome words as if he had fome ſkill in judiciary a-
ftrology; which you know, Sir, is a capital crime
with us.
We were as good as refolved to ſeize
him, when we were determined to it by the fol-
lowing accident. Two of the moſt beautiful wo-
B
men
14
INTRODUCTION.
men in all Bologna had fallen in love with him, ei-
ther on account of the handſomeneſs of his perfon,
or, by a whimſicalnefs peculiar to fome women,
becauſe he was a ſtranger, or thinking he might
keep their fecrets better under the cloak of being a
a phyſician; or, in fine, drawn in by fome love-po-
tion or other, we cannot tell; but the matter grew
to fuch a height, that on his fhewing more diftin-
guifhing favour to one of them, as it is natural for
our women to be violent in their jealoufy, as well
as love, the other, to be revenged, faid he had be-
witched her; which fhe was fure of, for that, fince
the very firſt time the faw him, fhe thought there
was fomething more in him, than ever fhe faw in a-
ny man in her life. Befides, fhe faid, fhe had often
found him drawing circles and figures on paper,
which to her looked like conjuration, Her friends
immediately informed our fathers of it; fo we re-
folved to feize him, if it were but to find out his
fecrets, and fee what the man was. There was a-
nother reafon induced us to it, which the world will
harldly believe, though it is matter of fact: that
is, we were afraid, the man would be affaffinated
by fome fecret means or other, for being fo great
with our ladies; fo, to fave his life, and not lofe
the diſcoveries we expect from him, it was deter-
mined he fhou'd be feized immediately. Accord-
ingly, I was deputed, with three under-officers, to
do the buſineſs, but with all the caution and fecre-
cy uſual in ſuch caſes. It was done about midnight,
when we had watched one of the two ladies he fa-
voured moſt into his houſe. We went in a cloſe
coach, and myſelf and one of the officers ftopping
at the door, as foon as the fervant opened it, ftep-
ped in, telling him what we were, and charging him,
at his peril, not to make the leaſt noife. The fer-
vants being Italians, and knowing the confequence
1
!
of
INTRODUCTION.
15
of the leaſt reſiſtance, ſtood as mute as fiſhes. We
immediately went into the inner parlour, and, con-
trary to our expectation, found our gentleman, the
young lady with her governante, and the elder la-
dy that belonged to him, fitting very decently at an
elegant collation of fruits and fweetmeats, brought,
as we fuppofed, by the fair lady as a prefent. At
our first appearance, he ſeemed more furpriſed than
terrified; as we make no ceremonies in thoſe cafes,
we told him our errand, and commanded him to
come along with us without the leaſt reſiſtance, or
elſe it ſhould be worfe for him. Then we turned
to the young lady, whofe friends-and perfon we
knew, and told her we wondered to find her in fuch
company at fuch unfeaſonable hours; but, on ac-
count of her friends, would not meddle with her,
but bid her for her own fake, as fhe tendered her life
and honour, never to take the leaft notice of the af-
fair. She trembling, and ready to faint away, after
fome heſitation, was able to ſay, that he was come
to confult about her health; that he brought her
governante along with her to take off all fufpicion,
and as ſhe was miſtreſs of herſelf and fortune, it was
not unufual for perfons of her rank to be out at
that time, conſidering the heat of the ſeaſon. She
had ſcarce pronounced theſe words, when ſhe fell di-
rectly into a fwoon. Her governante having things,
proper for fuch occafions, revived and comfort-
ed her as well as fhe could. But when we were
going to take the gentleman along with us, the el-
derly lady to whom we fuppofe he had told his mif-
fortune, inſtead of falling into fits, flew at us like
a tygrefs, with a fury I never faw in any human
creature in my life; tearing at us with her nails
and teeth, as if fhe had been in the moft raging
madneſs. We, not accuſtomed to refiftance, confi-
dering our character and cloth, and ſhe a woman,
B 2
were
16
INTRODUCTION.
were almoſt motionlefs, when the fervants at the
noife came up. We commanded them, in the name
of the inquifition, to feize her: the gentleman in-
terpoſed in our favour, ſaying ſome words to her in
an unknown language, which he affured us, were
to beg her to be pacified, as fhe tendered his life as
well as her own; then the violence of her paffion
turned another way, and threw her into the ftrong-
eft convulfions I ever faw. By this time the other
two officers were come up, wondering at our delay,
and to find reſiſtance againſt the officers of the in-
quifition. The gentleman, with a becoming fub-
miffion, rather than fear, yielded himſelf a prifoner,
and begged us to pardon the fudden tranfports of a
perfon unacquainted with our cuftoms, whofe life
in fome manner depended on his. That ſhe was a
Perfian lady of quality, brought into this country
by great misfortunes, who had once faved his life,
as he had been afterwards inftrumental in faving
hers. That ſhe was difpofed to turn Chriſtian, with
intention after fome time to end her days in a con-
vent. That for his own part, relying on his inno-
cence, he readily fubmitted to our authority, and of-
fered himſelf to be carried wherc-ever we pleafed ;
he uttered all this with an air of conftancy that was
furprising. We immediately took him into the
coach, leaving two of the officers with the elderly
lady, and commanding them and the gentleman's
fervants not to ftir out of the room till further or
ders. As foon as we arrived at the inquifition, we
lodged him in a handſome ſtrong room; not fo much
like a criminal, as like a perfon for whom we had
ſome reſpect. There we left him to his own
thoughts, and returned to his houſe to ſeize the el-
derly lady and his papers, having diſmiſſed the young
lady and her governante before. I forgot to tell
you, that Signor Gaudentio, by our permiffion, had
fpoke
INTRODUCTION.
17
fpoke to the elderly lady coming out of her fits in
Italian, (for we would not let him ſpeak to her in
the unknown language, for fear of a combination,)
and with much pains made her underſtand, that he
begged her, by all that was dear, to fubmit to what-
ever we ſhould injoin her; affuring her by that
means all would be well for her fafety and his own:
which laſt words feemed to give fome calm to her
tempeftuous fpirits. You may believe, Sir, we were
much furpriſed at the novelty of the thing, and the
account he gave of her quality. But as we often
meet with falfe ftories in our employment, that did
not hinder us from doing our duty. So I took her
by the hand with a great deal of refpect, and put her
into the coach between myfelf and my companion;
not without apprehenfions of fome extravagant fol-
lies, confidering the violence of her temper. But
fhe continued pretty fedate, only feemed to be
overwhelmed with grief; we brought her to the
-inquifition, and lodged her in a very handſome a-
partment ſeparate from the convent, on account of
her fex; with two waiting women to attend her
with all respect, till we were better appriſed of the
truth of her quality. This obliged me to take a-
nother journey to Signor Gaudentio's houfe, to fe-
cure his papers, with whatever elfe might contribute
to further our difcovery. I found all things in the
fame order I left them; but being extremely fa-
tigued, I fat down to the elegant collation that was
left, and, after a fmall repaft, went to bed in his
houfe, to have the morning before us for fecuring
his effects. I fealed up all the papers I could find,
to examine them at more leifure, took an inventory
of all the moveables, that they might be reftored to
him in cafe he were found innocent; and fent for
a proper officer to remain in the houfe, who was
to be reſponſible for every thing. There were two
B 3
Lele
18
INTRODUCTION.
little cabinets of curious workmanship; one of
them, as it appeared, belonging to him, the other
to the ftrange lady; but being full of intricate
drawers or tills, we took them both along with
us. Theſe and the papers we delivered to the
head inquifitors, not being willing to proceed in
either of their examinations, till we had got all the
light we could, to find out the truth, for that was
all our aim; then we could tell what courſe to take
with them. We placed two cunning lay brothers,
in the nature of fervants, for Signor Gaudentio,
who were to infinuate themſelves into his favour by
their kind offices, compaffionating his misfortunes,
and advifing him to diſcover the whole truth, in
the account of his life, quality, profeffion, opinions,
and, in fine, whatever articles he was to be interro-
gated on, to confefs ingeniouſly what he knew:
that that was the only way to find favour at the
hands of the inquifitors; that they pardoned almoſt
ail faults on a fincere confeffion, and an affurance
of amendment. I visited him myſelf ſeveral times
before his examination, and gave him the fame
advice and affurance; he promiſed me faithfully he
would, and ſeemed fo fleady and confirmed in his
own innocence, with fuch an agreeable, yet fincere
way in his diſcourſe, as really ſurpriſed me, and cau-
fed me already to be prejudiced in his favour; ad-
ding with a fmile, that the hiftory of his life would
adminifter more caufe of wonder than indignation.
Not to be too particular, the chief of the inqui-
fition, with myſelf along with them, fet to the fcru-
tiny of his papers. We examined them with all
the care imaginable, but could find nothing to
ground any material accufation, except fome im
perfect memoirs of the cuſtoms of a country and
people unheard of to us, and I believe to all the
world befide, with ſome odd characters, or words,
which
INTRODUCTION.
19
which had no affinity with any language or charac-
ters we ever faw. We diſcovered he had a great
knowledge in natural philoſophy, with fome re-
marks that were very curious There was a rough
draught of a map of a country, with towns, rivers,
lakes, &c. but no climate marked down. In ſhort,
all his papers contained nothing but fome finall
ſketches of philofophy and phyfic, with fome pieces
of poetry of an uncommon tafte. Neither could
we find any footſteps of judiciary aſtrology, or cal-
culations of nativities, of which we had the great-
eſt ſuſpicion; only a pair of globes, a ſet of mathe-
matical inftruments, charts of navigation, forms of
unknown trees and plants, and fuch like things, as
all gentlemen who delight in travelling are curious.
to have. There were indeed fome lines, circles, feg-
ments of circles, which we fuppofed the informing
lady meant; but looked like an attempt to find out
the longitude, rather than any magical fchemes.
-His books were of the fame nature; nothing of
herefy that we could fee, but fuch as belonged to a
man of learning. There were feveral common books
of devotion, fuch as are approved by our church,
and feemed pretty well ufed; by which we judged
him to be really a Catholic, and a perfon of no bad.
morals. But as nothing looks fo like an honeft man
as a knave, this did not take away all our fufpicion.
-When we came to open the cabinets, in the firſt
of them, which belonged to him, we found in one
of the drawers about four hundred and fifty Roman
crowns, with other ſmall money, and fome foreign
coin along with it, as Turkiſh ſequins, and fome we
knew nothing of. The fum not being very extra-
ordinary, we could conclude nothing from thence.
In another drawer we found feveral precious ftones,
fome fet, fome unfet, of a very great value, fo far
from being counterfeit, that we never faw any fo
bril-
20
INTRODUCTION.
brilliant. Befides feveral pieces of native gold, of
fuch fineness, as nothing with us can come up to it.
In a third, we found a ſmall heap of medals, moſt
of gold, but of an unknown ſtamp and antiquity.
There were outlandish ftones of odd figures enough,
which to others might look like taliſmmans, but we
took them for fome out-of-the-way curiofities. In
a private drawer in the centre of the cabinet, there
was fomething wrapt up in a piece of green filk of
wonderful finenefs, all embroidered with hearts and
hands joined together, wrought in gold with prodi-
gious art, and intermixed with different flowers, un-
known in our part of the world; in the midſt of it
was an azure ſtone, as large as the palm of one's
hand, fet round with rubies of very great value, on
which was moſt artfully painted in miniature,
a woman at length, holding a little boy in her left
hand, the moſt beautiful creature that ever eyes be
held; clad likewife in green filk ſpangled with gol-
den funs: their complexion was fomething darker
than that of our Italian ladies; but the features, ef-
pecially the woman's, fo uncommonly beautiful as if
ſhe had been of another fpecies. Underneath was
ingraved with a diamond in a modern hand, Questo
folo. You may be fure, Sir, this raifed our ideas
of the man; at fift, we thought he had the fecret
of the philofopher's ftone: but in all his inventory
we could find no implements of that art. Then
we thought he must have been fome famous pirate;
or one who had robbed the cabinet of fome great
prince, and was come to live at Bologna in that pri-
vate manner, under the difguife of a phyfician. But
having been three years in the town, if it had been
any European prince, the world would have had an
account of it before now: fo we concluded that either
what he ſaid of that unknown country was true, or
that he had robbed fome of the eaftern princes, and got
off
INTRODUCTION.
21
off clear with hisprize. But the picture of the woman
made us incline to think, he had married fome out-
landish queen, and on her death had retired with
his effects. The rest of the drawers were full of
natural curiofities of foreign plants, roots, bones of
animals, birds, infects, &c. from whence very like-
ly he took his phyfical fecrets. The other cabinet,
which belonged to the elderly lady, was very rich,
but nothing equal to the firft; there were a great
many ſmall jewels, and fome very fine pearls, with
bracelets, pendants, and other curious ornaments be-
longing to women; and a little picture of a very
handfome man about thirty, nothing like of our gen-
tleman, in a warlike drefs, with a Turkiſh fcymitar by
his fide, who by his mien feemed to be a man of note.
But we could find nothing that could give us any
knowledge what they were: fo that we were at a
lofs with all our fagacity what to think of the mat-
ter, or to find any juſt cauſe to keep them in the
inquifition for though we don't diſcover our mo-
tives to other people, we never proceed againſt any
one but on very ſtrong fufpicions. On which account
we were refolved to make his confinement as eafy
as poffible, till we could fee further into the affair.
We had thoughts of examining the woman firſt, to
get what we could from her for to interrogate him
upon; but ſhe not underſtanding Italian enough, we
fent to Venice with our accuftomed privacy, for
fome of our people, that trade to the Levant, to be
our interpreters.
:
In the mean time we refolved to try what we could
get out of him by his own confeffion; fo we fent
for him before us. He came into the room with a mo-
deft unconcernednefs, that rather argued wonder than
fear we had the cabinet and jewels all before us,
fhewed them to him all together, with the inventory
of his goods, affuring him they should be forthcom-
ing,
22
INTRODUCTION.
ing, in cafe we were appriſed of his innocence; but
withal adviſing him, as well as commanding him to
confefs the truth, and then not a hair of his head
ſhould be touched. But if ever we caught him in
a falſe ſtory, all ſhould be confifcated, and he never
fee fun or moon more. He affured us with great re-
fpect, he would own the truth to every thing we
fhould interrogate him about, in an accent that would
have perfuaded any one of his fincerity, humbly de-
firing to know what accufations we had againſt him.
We anfwered, that was not the method of the in-
quifition but that he ſhould anfwer directly to our
interrogatories. As the holy office chiefly concerns
itfelf about religion, we afked him firft, what religi-
gion he was of. The reafon of this was, becauſe,
though he profeſſed himſelf a Catholic, we were to
keep up the forms: neither did we know but that
he might be fome Jew or Turkifh fpy in mafque-
rade: then his name; place of his birth; where he
was educated; how he came by thofe jewels; what
was the occafion of his fettling at Bologna; who
that elderly lady was; in fine, every thing in gene-
ral and particular we could think of at firit, the bet-
ter to compare his anfwers afterwards. He told us,
he was a Catholic bred and born; always profeffed
himſelf fuch; and in that faith would live and die,
let what would happen to him. He explained him-
felf on the chief heads, to fhew that he was well in-
ftructed in his religion: he appealed to all the in-
quiries we could make, whether he had not behaved
as a Catholic on all occafions; naming a Capuchin
in the town, who was his father confeffor; to whom,
he faid, he gave leave to declare all he knew on that
head. As to his name, he faid, his true name was Gau-
dentio di Lucca, though born at Ragufa. That his
father was a merchant trading to the Levant; which
employment he defigned to follow himself; but in
his
INTRODUCTION.
23
A
his firft voyage was taken by an Algerine pirate, who
carried him a ſlave to Grand Cairo, and fold him to
a merchant, of what country nobody knew; which
merchant took him along with him, through the
vaſt deſerts of Africa, by a way he would defcribe
to us if we required it, till he came to a country,
perhaps the moſt civilized and polite in the whole
univerfe. In that country he lived near five and
twenty years, till on the death of his wife, and his ou-
ly furviving fon, whoſe pictures were in that cabinet,
the melancholy difafter made him induce his father-
in-law, who was the merchant that had firſt bought
him, to take another journey to Grand Cairo, from
whence he might be able to return to his native
country, This the merchant (for he paſſed for ſuch,
though he was a great ruler in his own country)
complied with: but happening to come thither
when the plague raged in the city, his father-in-law
and feveral of his attendants died of it; leaving him
heir to moſt of his effects, and part of the jewels we
faw before us That being now entirely at liberty,
he returned in a French fhip trading from Marſeilles
to the Levant, the maſter's name François Xavier
Godart, who by agreement was to land him at Ve-
nice; but touching at Candy, they accidentally
faved the life of that elderly lady, and brought her
off along with them, for which they were purfued
by two Turkish veffels, and carried prifoners to
Conftantinople, but releaſed by the order of the Sul-
tanefs' mother. That Monfieur Godart was well
known at Venice; particularly by Signor Corridani,
an eminent merchant there, who could affure us of
the truth of what he faid. That, in fine, having
ftaid fome time at Venice, to fee the curiofities and
the carnival, an affair relating to the young lady we
faw with him, when he was feized, and the love he
had for learning, Bologna being a famous univer-
fity,
24
INTRODUCTION.
fity, induced him to fettle there, where he prefumed
we had been very well informed of his behaviour
ever fince. This, faid he, is the moſt ſuccinct ac-
count I can give to your Reverences, on the interrc-
gatories you have propoſed to me; though my life
has been chequered with fuch a variety of incidents,
as would take a great deal of time to defcend to par-
ticulars. We looked at one another with fome fur-
priſe at this ſtrange account, which he delivered
with fuch an air of ſteadineſs, as fcarce left any room
to doubt of the truth of it. However, our fuperior
turning to him, faid, Signor Gaudentio, we neither
believe nor difbelieve what you tell us; as we con-
demn no man without a full conviction of his crime,
fo we are not to be impofed upon by the accounts
people may give of themſelves. What is here before
us, fhews there is fomething extraordinary in the
cafe. If we find you to be an impoftor, you ſhall
fuffer as fuch; in the mean time, till we can be bet-
ter informed, we injoin you to give in your whole
life, with all occurrences, except your private fins,
if you have any, in writing; which you fhall read
to us, and be cross-examined, as we think proper.
It will concern you therefore to be very exact, for
nothing will pafs here but innocence, or a fincere
repentance.
This, Sir, is the manufcript I ſend you, given in
by himſelf as ordered; with the inquifitors interro-
gatories as we examined it, article by article. Which
interrogatories I have inferted as they were propofed,
with a further account at the cnd, for the better
clearing of the whole. We beg you to inform your-
felf of the facts, which his memoirs fay happened to
him at Venice, particularly about Monfieur Godart.
Beſides, Sir, you that can trace all the branches of
ancient history to the fountain-head, are able to
form a better judgment of the probability of his re-
lation.
INTRODUCTION.
25
lation. He is ſtill in the inquifition, and offers him-
felf to conduct fome of our miffionaries, to preach
the goſpel to thofe unknown people. The length
of this only gives me leave to affure you, that I am,
with the greateſt eſteem imaginable,
SIR, &c.
Bologna,
July 29th, 1721.
F. ALISIO DE ST. IVORIO.
C
THE
THE
ADVENTURES
O F
SIG. GAUDEN TIO DI LUCCA.
I
Should be infenfible, Reverend Fathers, if I were
not highly concerned to find myſelf under any
accufation before this holy tribunal, which I revere
with all the powers of my foul: but efpecially if
your Reverences fhould harbour any finifter opinion
of my religion; for I was born and bred up in the
bofom of the moſt holy catholic church, as well as
my parents before me; in the defence of which my
anceſtors ſpent part of their blood, againſt the infi-
dels, and enemies of our faith; and for which faith
I am ready to lay down my life. But I am as yet a
ftranger to your Reverences, and on feveral accounts
may be liable to fufpicion. Wherefore I blame not
the juftice of your proceeding, but rather extol your
goodneſs in allowing me the liberty to clear myſelf,
by a true and fincere declaration of my whole life,
wherein, I own, have happened ſeveral aſtoniſhing
and almoſt incredible occurrences; all which I fhall
lay before your Reverences, according to the com-
mands impofed on me, with the utmoſt candour and
fincerity.
My name is Gaudentio di Lucca: I fo was called,
becauſe my anceſtors were faid to be originally of
that place; though they had been fettled for fome
time at Ragufa, where I was born: both which pla-
ces are not ſo far off, but they may be very well
known to your Reverences. My father's name was
Gafparino di Lucca, heretofore a merchant of fome
note
THE ADVENTURES, ETC. 27
note in thoſe parts; my mother was a Corfican lady,
reported to be defcended from thoſe who had been
the chief perfonages in that ifland. My grandfather
was likewiſe a merchant: but my great-grandfather,
Bernandino di Lucca, was a foldier, and captain of
the great Venerio's own galley*, who was general
for the Venetians in the famous battle of Lepanto
againſt the Turks. We had a tradition in our fa-
mily, that he was Venerio's fon by a Grecian lady
of great quality, ſome ſay deſcended from the Paleo-
logi, who had been emperors of Conftantinople. But
ſhe dying in childbed, and they having been only
privately married, Venerio bred him up as the fon
of a friend of his who was killed in the wars. That
famous battle, in which the Chriſtians and Venerio
got fo great renown againſt the Turks, inftead of
raifing my great-grandfather's fortune, was the oc-
cafion of his retiring from the wars, and turning mer-
chant. The reafon was this: Venerio the Venetian
admiral had caufed a Spanish captain to be hung up
at the yard-arm for mutiny t; which fevere difcipline
fo
* This part of the account is certainly true; there
was ſuch a captain in the lift of the officers in that fa-
mous battle.
† It is likewife true, that there was ſuch a quarrel be-
tween Don John of Auftria, the generaliffimo, and Ver
nerio admiral of the Venetian galley; which had like to
have put the whole Chriſtian fleet at variance together,
before the battle, and ruined the hopes of all Chriſten-
dom. The occafion was as he relates it: Don John,
as generaliffimo, viewing the whole fleet before the fight,
and finding the Venetian galleys too thinly manned, or-
dered four thousand Spaniards to be put on board the fuid
galleys. But one Mutio Tortona, a Spaniſh captain, prov-
ing mutinous, after a great many injurious words, came
to blows with the captain of the Venetian galley where he
C 2
was;
28
THE ADVENTURES OF
ſo diſpleaſed Don John of Auftria, generaliffimo of
the whole fleet, that, after the battle, the Venetians,
to appeafe Don John, and not to be deprived of the
fuccours of the Spaniards against the Turks, were
forced to facrifice Venerio's honour to the refent-
ment of the Spaniards, and put him out of commif-
fion*. After this difgrace, Venerio retired; and my
great-
was; upon which the whole fleet fell to it. Venerio,
hearing the uproar, fent his own captain to ſee what was
the matter; but the proud Spaniards treated him no bet-
ter than they did the reft; fo that Venerio himſelf was for
ced to come to appeafe them; but feeing the Spanish captain
perfift in his mutinous temper, and the affront he had put
upon his captain, who was reported to be his fon, order-
ed Tortona and his enfign to be hung at the yard-arm.
At this all the Spaniards in the fleet were up in arms, and
threatened to cut the Venetians to pieces; but, by the
interpofition of the other generals, the matter was made
up till after the fight; when Venerio, who had behaved
with incomparable valour, and, according to Don John's
own confeffion, was the chief occafion of the victory, to
appeaſe the haughty Spaniard, had his commiffion taken
from him, and was recalled by the ſenate.
* It was Fuſcarini, who was made general of the Ve-
netians in Venerio's ftead.
Every one who is the leaft acquainted with hiftory,
knows that the battle of Lepanto was the greateſt ſea-
fight that ever was fought between the Chriſtians and
Turks; and the victory on the Chriſtians fide the moſt
fignal. The Spanifh galleys were commanded by Don
John of Auftria, generaliffimo: the Pope's galleys, by
the famous Colonna: the Genoefe by old Dorio, who
had gained fo much renown against the Turks and French,
under Charles V. the Venetians by the great Venerio,
one of the braveſt foldiers of his time. Haly the Turk,
great baffa of the fea, was flain, and almoſt all the Tur-
kifh commanding officers killed or taken. Among the
pri-
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
29
great-grandfather, whofe fortune depended on his,
having been bred up to the fea, turned merchant, or
rather privateer againk the Moors; and, with the
knights of Malta, not only did great ſervice againſt
them, but made a confiderable fortune in the world.
But to return to myfelf: My father, having a
plentiful fortune, took particular care of the educa-
of his children: he had only two fons, of whom I
was the youngeſt, and a daughter, who died young.
Finding I had a great inclination to learning, he pro-
moted it, by providing me with the beſt maſters,
till I was fit to go to the univerfity. The knowledge
of languages being of great uſe as well as ornament
to young gentlemen, he himfelf, by way of recrea-
tion, taught me that mixed language call Lingua
Franca, fo neceffary in eaſtern countries. It is made
up of Italian, Turkiſh, Perſian, and Arabian, or ra-
ther a jargon of all languages together. He fcarce
ever ſpoke to us but in that language, faying, we
might learn Latin from our mafters, and our mo-
ther-tongue from our playfellows. The fame rea-
fon induced him to fend me to the famous univer-
fity of Paris, to learn French at the fame time with
my other ſtudies. I lived in the college des Quatre
Nations, and maintained my thefes of univerfal philo-
fophy under the celebrated Monfieur Du Hamel,
who was one of the firſt of the univerſity, who de-
cried Ariſtotle's philofophy, and leaned towards
the opinions of Deſcartes.
C 3
[Secre
prifoners, were Haly's two fons, nephews to the Grand
Signor. Of the common foldiers of the Turks, were flain
two and thirty thoufand: a hundred and forty-one of the
enemy's galleys were taken, forty funk or burnt; of gal-
liots and other fmall veffels were taken about fixty. Vide
the Turkiſh hiſtory, and other accounts of this famous
battle, and the whole affair as is there related. The battle
was fought on the 7th of October, 1571.
30
THE ADVENTURES OF
[Secretary. Here the inquifitors muttered a lit
tle, fearing he was inclined to the Copernican
fyftem, which has been condemned at Rome.
But, fince it regarded philofophical matters
only, they paffed it over.]
I was entering into my nineteenth year, and had
fome thoughts of taking to the church, when my
brother wrote me the melancholy account of my
father and mother's death, and the unfortunate oc-
cafion of it; which in fhort was, that having loft
his richeſt ſhip, with all his effects, by pirates, and
and his chief factor at Smyrna being gone off, his
other correfpondents came upon him thick; and
and not being in a condition to answer their calls,
it threw him and my mother into a deep melancho-
ly, which ſhortened their days, both dying in three
weeks of one another. My brother told me he was
not able to maintain me longer at the univerſity, as
before; but acquainted me, he had made a fhift to
fit out a ſmall veffel, wherein he had put his all;
and invited me to join the ſmall portion that fell to
my ſhare along with him, with which, he faid, we
could make a pretty good bottom; and fo retrieve
the fhattered fortune of our family. Not to be too
prolix, I followed his advice: he fold his houſe and
gardens to pay his father's creditors, and put what
was left, together with my little ſtock, into that un-
fortunate bottom. We fet fail from Ragufa the 3d
of March, anno Dom. 1688, very inaufpiciouſly for
my dear brother, as will appear by the fequel. We
touched at Smyrna, to fee if we could hear any
thing of my father's factor; and were told, that he
was turned Turk, and gone off, very magnificently
dreſſed up in borrowed feathers, to fettle at Con-
. ftantinople; however we picked up fomething of
fome honeft Chriftian merchants, with whom he
had lodged a part of his effects. This encouraged
US
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
31
as to proceed to Cyprus and Alexandria; but, as
we were purſuing our voyage one morning, in a
prodigious fog, as if the fea was fatal to our family,
we fpied on a fudden two Algerine rovers bear-
ing down upon us, one on each fide. We had ſcarce
time to clear our little veſſel, when they fired upon
us, and called to us to ftrike, or we were dead men.
My brother and I, confidering that our all was at
ftake, and that we had better die honourably than
be made flaves by thofe unbelieving mifcreants, cal-
led up our men, who were but twenty-three in all,
of whom five were young gentleman who had en-
gaged to try their fortune along with us. We were
armed only with fwords, and piſtols under our gir-
dles. After a ſhort confultation, it was agreed to
fight it out to the laſt man; and we turned back
to back to make head againſt both fides, my bro-
ther in the middle of one rank, and myſelf in the
other. The enemy boarded us in great numbers,
looking on us as madmen to pretend to make any
reſiſtance; but they were foon made to leap back,
at leaſt all that were able; for being cloſe up with
them, and they crouded together, we fired our pi-
ſtols fo luckily, that ſcarce one miffed doing execu-
tion. Seeing them in this confufion we made a
push at them on each fide, ftill keeping our ranks,
and drove the remainder headlong off the deck.
This we did twice before any of our men dropt.
We were grappled fo cloſe, they had no ufe of their
cannon or muſkets, and fcarce thought of firing
their piſtols at us, expecting we ſhould yield im-
mediately, or to have borne us down with their
weight. I am more particularly in defcribing this
petty fight, fince there are but few examples, where
a handful of men made fuch a long refiftance. The
arch-pirate, who was a ſtout, well-built young man,
raged like a lion, calling his men a thouſand cow-
ards.
1
32
THE ADVENTURES OF
*
ards, fo loud that his voice was heard above all the
cries of the foldiers. The edge of their fury was
a little abated after the dropping of fo many men;
and they began to fire at fome diftance; which did
us more harm than there moſt furious attacks. My
brother feeing his men begin to drop in their turn,
ordered me to face the one ſhip, while he with his rank
leaped in amongst the enemies in the other. He did
it with fuch a noble intrepidity, that he made a gap
among the thickeft of them immediately. But
their numbers clofing together, their very weight
drove him back in ſpite of all he could do, and he
loft ſeveral of his men before he could recover his
poſt. The enemy would neither board us, nor leave
us; but firing at us continually, ftill killed fome
of our men. There were now only eleven of us
left; and no hopes of victory, or of quarter after
ſuch obftinate refiftance. They durft not come to
a cloſe engagement with us for all this; when my
brother, to die as honourably as he could, once more
leaped into the pirate's fhip, and feeing their cap-
tain in the midft of them, made at him with all his
might, calling on the few he had left to fecond him.
He foon cut his way through; but juft as he was
coming up to him, a cowardly Turk clapt a piftol
juft below his two fhoulder-blades, and, I believe,
fhot him quite through the heart, for he dropped
down dead on the fpot. The Turk that ſhot him
was run through the body by one of our men, and
he himſelf with the others that were left, being
quite overpowered, were all cut in pieces. I had
yet four men left on my fide againſt the leffer fhip,
and had till then kept off the enemy from boarding;
but the pirates giving a great ſhout at my brother's
fall, the captain of the fhip I was engaged with, who
was the arch-pirate's brother, cried out to his crew,
that it was a shame to ftand all day firing at five
men;
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
33
men; and leaping on my déck, made at me like
a man of honour, with his piftol fteadily poifed in
his hand: I met him with equal reſolution. He
came boldly np within fword's length, and fired
his piftol directly at my face; he aimed his fhot
fo well, that one of the balls went through my hair,
and the other grafed the fide of my neck. But be-
fore he could fecond his fhot, I gave him fuch a
ftroke with my broad fword, between the temple
and the left ear, that it cut through part of his
fcull, his cheek-bone, and going crofs his mouth,
almoſt fevered the lower part of his face from the
upper. I had juſt the fatisfaction to fee him fall,
when a muſket-ball went through the brawny part
of my right arm, and, at the fame time, a Turk hit
me juft in the nape of the neck with the butt
end of his muſket, that I fell down flat on my face,
on the body of my flain enemy. My companions,
all but one, who died of his wounds foon after, fell
honourably by my fide. The Turks poured in
from both fhips like wolves upon their prey. Af-
ter their barbarous fhouts and yelling for the vic-
tory, they fell to ftripping the dead bodies, and
threw them into the fea without any further cere-
mony. All our crew, befide myſelf, were flain, or
gafping, with threefcore and fifteen of the enemy.
The reaſon why we fought fo defperately was, that
we knew very well, having killed fo many at the
firſt attacks, we were to expect no quarter; fo we
were refolved to fell our lives as dear as we could.
When they came to ftrip me like the reft, I was
just come to myſelf, being only ftunned by the
ftroke of the mufket. They found by my cloaths,
that I was one of the moft confiderable perſons of
the crew. I was got upon my knees, endeavouring
to rife, and reaching for my fword to defend my-
felf to the laſt gaſp; I found I could not hold it in
my
34
THE ADVENTURES OF
my hand, by reafon of the wound in my arm, tho
if I could, it had been needlefs; for three of them
fell down upon me: and preffed me to the deck,
while others brought cords and tied my hands, to
carry me to the captain. He was dreffing a flight
wound he had in his leg with a piftol-fhot; and
four women in Perfian habits were ſtanding by;
three of whom feemed to be attendants to the
fourth, who was a perfon of the largeſt fize, about
five or fix and twenty, a moſt exquiſite beauty, ex-
cept that he had an Amazonian kind of fierceness
in her looks. When I was brought thus bound to
the captain, they affured him I was the man that
had flain his brother, and done the moſt harm of
any. Upon which, ftarting up in the greateſt fury a
barbarian was capable of, and calling for a new fcy-
mitar he had in his cabin, he faid, "Let me cleave,
"if I can, the head of this Chriſtian dog, as he did
my poor brother's; and then do you chop him
"into a thoufand pieces." With that he drew the
fcymitar, and was going to ftrike, when, to the a-
ſtoniſhment of the very barbarians, the ftrange la-
dy cried out, "O fave the brave young man !”
and immediately falling down on her knees by me,
catched me in her arms, and clafping me cloſe to
her bofom, covered my body with hers, and cried
out, "Strike, cruel man, but ftrike through me,
"for otherwiſe a hair of his head fhall not be
hurt." The barbarians that flood round us were
ftruck dumb with amazement; and the pirate him-
felf lifting up his eyes towards heaven, faid, with a
groan enough to break his heart, "How, cruel wo-
man! fhall this ftranger in a moment obtain
more than I can with all my fighs and tears! Is
"this your paramour that robs me of what I have
fought for with the danger of life? No, this
"Chriſtian dog ſhall be no longer my curfed ri
"val;"
cr
1
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
35
" val;" and lifting up his hand, was again going
to ftrike, when covering me more cloſely with her
delicate body, fhe cried out again, "Hold, Hamet!
"this is no rival; I never faw his face before, nor
"ever will again, if you will but ſpare his life:
grant me this, and you ſhall obtain more from
me, than all your fervices could ever do." Here
he began to pauſe a little. For my part, I was as
much in amaze as he was. After a little pauſe,
"Cruel woman," faid he, "what is the meaning
"of this?" Says fhe, "There is fomething in this
"6
young man (for I was but turned of nineteen)
"that he muſt not die. But, if you will engage
"and fwear by the moſt holy Alcoran, that you
"will do him no harm, I not only promife to be
"your wife, but, to take off all umbrage of jea-
"loufy, I give you leave to fell him to fome honour.
"able perſon for a ſlave; and will never fee him
"more." Nor would fhe part from me, till he had
fworn in that folemn manner, never to do me any
hurt directly or indirectly; and, for greater fecurity,
fhe ordered one of her own fervents to attend me
conftantly. So I was unbound; and the lady,
without fo much as looking at me, or ſtaying to re-
ceive my thanks, retired with her women into the
cabin. The pirate, who had fomething very noble
in his looks for a Turk, confirmed again to me in
the hearing of her officer, that I ſhould receive no
harm; and then ordered me to be carried under
deck to the other end of the fhip; commanding his
men to ſteer back for Alexandria, in order, as I fup-
pofed, to diſpoſe of me the firſt opportunity, that
he might be rid, as he thought, of fo formidable a
rival*.
[Secre-
* This is an odd adventure enough; but the cir-
cumſtances are pretty well connected together. There
happen
36
THE ADVENTURES OF
[Secretary. Here the fuperior of the inquifition
receiving a meffage on fome other buſineſs, we
told him we would confider further of the ac-
count he had given us, which, we faid, might
be true, though the adventure was extraordi-
nary; and that we would hear the remaining
narrative of his life another time. He affured
us with the moſt natural air, that the whole, let
it ſeem never fo extraordinary, was real fact,
Whether it were true or falſe, it did not much
concern the holy office, only fo far as we might
catch him tripping in his ftory: however,
fome of the inquifitors afked him the follow-
ing queſtions.
ft Inquifitor. Why did you not yield at firſt,
confidering the prodigious inequality of your
ftrength and numbers, when you might have
been ranfomed afterwards; and not, like mad-
men, expoſe yourſelves to be cut in pieces, as
they all really were, except yourſelf?
Gaudentio. I told your Reverences, we had put
our all in that bottom; which once loft, we
had nothing to ranſom ourſelves with, but in
all likelihood muſt have remained in miferable
flavery all our life, We were moſt of us raſh
young men, of more courage than prudence;
we did not doubt but we could keep them off
from boarding us, as we did; and thought,
by their warm reception, they would have been
forced to fheer off; befides, fighting againſt
Turks and infidels, though for our lives and
for-
happen very ſtrange accidents among thofe lawleſs eaft-
ern people, and the wild Arabs, who obferve no rules
but what the lions and tigers, could they ſpeak, would
make for their own preſervation. I fear there are ſome
who profefs themſelves Chriftians would do the fame.
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
זי
37
fortunes, we judged meritorious at the ſame
time, and that it might be looked upon as lay-
ing down our lives for our holy religion.
2d Inquifitor. You faid that the ftrange lady
cried out, "There is fomething in that young
man, that tells me he must not die :" I hope
you do not pretend to the fcience of phyfiog-
nomy; which is one of the branches of divi-
nation; or that an infidel or heathen woman
could have the ſpirit of prophecy?
Gaudentio. I cannot tell what was her motive
for faying fo; I only relate matter of fact. As
for phyfiognomy, I do not think there can be
any certainty in it. Not but that a perſon of
penetration, who has obſerved the humours
and paffions of men, and confidering the little
care the generality of the world take to con-
ceal them; I fay, fuch a perfon may give a
great gueſs, a pofteriori, how they are inclined;
though reafon and virtue may indeed overcome
the moſt violent. But I entirely fubmit my
opinion to your better judgments.
Secretary. I cannot fay, we were difatisfied
with theſe anſwers: we faw he has a very
noble preſence; and muſt have been extreme-
ly handfome in his youth: therefore no won-
der a Barbarian woman fhould fall in love with
him, and make uſe of that turn to fave his life.
However, for the prefent, we remanded him
back to his apartment. Some days after he
was called again to profecute his ſtory.]
While I was under deck in confinement with the
pirates, feveral of them were tolerably civil to me;
knowing the afcendant the lady had over their cap-
tain, and being witneffes, how fhe had faved my
life. But yet ſhe would not confent to marry him,
till fhe was affured I was ſafe out of his hands. The
D
arch-
38
THE ADVENTURES OF
arch-pirate never came to fee me himſelf, not being
willing to truft his paffion; or elſe to watch all fa-
vourable opportunities of waiting on his miſtreſs.
One day, being indifpofed for want of air, I begged
to be carried upon deck to breathe a little; when I
came up, I faw the lady, with her women, ftanding
at the other end of the fhip on the fame account. I
made her a very reſpectful bow at a diſtance; but
as foon as ever fhe caft her eye on me, fhe went
down into the cabin, I fuppofe, to keep her promife
with the captain, and not to adminifter any caufe
of jealoufy. I defired to be carried down again, not
to hinder my benefactreſs from taking her diverfion.
I cannot fay I found in myſelf the leaſt inclination
or emotion of love, only a ſenſe of gratitude for fo
great a benefit; not without fome admiration of the
oddneſs of the adventure. When I was below, I aſk-
ed the moſt fenfible and civilized of the pirates, who
their captain was, and who was my fair deliverer.
How long, and by what means ſhe came to be a-
mong them; becauſe ſhe ſeemed to be a perſon of
much higher rank. He told me his captain's name
was Hamet, fon to the Dey of Algiers; who had
forfaken his father's houfe on account of his young
mother-in-law's falling in love with him. For which
reafon his father had contrived to have him affaffi-
nated, believing him to be in the fault. But his
younger brother by the fame mother, difcovered
the defign. So gathering together a band of ſtout
young men like themſelves, they ſeized two of their
father's beſt ſhips, and refolved to follow the profef-
fion they were now off, till they heard of their fa-
ther's death. That as for the lady who had faved
his life, ſhe was the late wife of a petty prince of
the Curdi*, tributary to the king of Perfia, whofe
hufband
*The Curdi, or people of Curdistan, are a warlike
nation
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
39
huſband had been lately killed by treachery, or in
an ambuſcade of the wild Arabs. That, as far as he
had been informed, the prince her hufband had been
ſent by the king his maſter to Alexandria, who,
apprehending an infurrection among his fubjects‡,
had ordered him to treat for fome troops of Ara-
bian horfe§. That he went there with a very hand-
fome equipage, and took his beautiful wife along
with him. Our captain, continued he, happened to
be there at the fame time to fell his prizes, and had
not only fold feveral things of great value to the
Curdiſh lord and lady, but had contracted a parti-
D 2
cular
nation, paying a ſmall tribute to the Perfians, and fome-
times to the Turks; their very women are martial, and
handle the fword and pike. The country runs from the
Aliduli, a mountainous people, made tributary to the
Turks by Selim I. father of Soliman the Magnificent,
and reaches as far as Armenia.
† Alexandria is a fea-port, at the further end of the
Mediterranean, belonging to the Turks, but much frè-
quented by Arabian merchants, both by land and fea.
One point of Curdistan is not far from this port.
This infurrection he ſpeaks of, might be the feeds,
or the firſt plotting of the grand rebellion of Merowits,
which began about the date of this account, and cauſed
ſuch a terrible revolution in the Perfian empire; which
no one who underſtands any thing can be ignorant of.
§ The Arabian horfes are the best in the world,
though not very large. The horſemen are very dexterous
in the eaſtern way of fighting. On which account, one
cannot wonder, if the king of Perfia, and his rebellious
fubjects, made it their intereſt to procure as many auxi-
Fiaries, as they could. It is very likely the little parties
would always be on watch, to ſurpriſe one another when
they could find an opportunity. And this petty Curdian
prince being zealous for the fervice of his king, might be
taken off by the rebels that way.
40
THE ADVENTURES OF
cular friendſhip with him, though, as we found
fince, it was more on account of his fair wife than
any thing elſe. Nothing in the world could be more
obfequious than our captain. He attended them,
and offered his fervice on all occafions: you fee, he
is a very handſome man, and daring by his profef-
gon. We could not imagine of a long while, why he
made fuch a ſtay at that town, contrary to his cu-
ftom; living at a very high rate, as men of our cal-
ling generally do. At length the Curdiſh lord hav-
ing executed his commiffion, was upon the return,
when we perceived our captain to grow extremely
penſive and melancholy, but could not tell what was
the cauſe of it. He called his brother, who loſt his
life by your hand, and me to him, and told us in
private, he had obferved fome of the Arabian ftran-
gers muttering together, as if they were hatching
fome plot or other, whether againſt himſelf, or the
Curd, he could not tell; but bid us be fure to at-
tend him well armed where-ever he went.
The e-
vent proved he had reafon for his fufpicions; for
one evening, as the Curd and his wife were taking
the air, with our captain, who was always of the
party, paffing through a little grove about a league
out of town, fix Arabian horfemen, exceeding well
mounted, came full gallop up to us; and without
faying a word, two of them fired their piftols di-
rectly at the Curdifh lord, who was the foremost,
but by good fortune miffed us all.. The Curd, as
all that nation are naturally brave, drew his fcymi-
tar, and rushing in among them, cut off the foremoft
man's head, as clean as if it had been a poppy; but
advancing too far unarmed as he was, one of them
turned fhort, and fhot him in the flank, that he
dropped down dead immediately. Our captain fee-
ing him fall, rufhed in like lightning, his brother
and myſelf falling on them at the fame time: but
the
1
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
4r
the affaffins, as if they wanted nothing but the
death of the Curd, or faw by our countenance their
ſtaying would coft them dear, immediately turned
their horfes, and fled fo fwiftly on their jennets,
that they were out of fight in an inftant. We con-
ducted the poor diſconfolate lady and her dead huf-
band back to the town, where thoſe people made
no more of it (being accuſtomed to fuch things) than
if it had been a common accident. When her grief
was a little abated, our captain told the lady, that
it was not ſafe for her to return home the fame way
fhe came; that, in all probability, thofe who kil
led her husband were in confederacy with the dif-
affected party, and waylay her, either for his pa-
pers, or her goods. That he had two ſhips well-
manned at her fervice, and would conduct her fafe
by fea to fome part of the Perfian empire, from
whence the might get into her own country. She
confented at laft, having feen how gallantly my ma-
fter had behaved in her defence. So fhe came a-
board with her attendants and effects, in order to
be tranfported into her own country. Our captain,
you may be fure, was in no hafte to carry her home,
being fallen moft defperately in love with her: ſo
that inſtead of carrying her to any of the Perfian
dominions, he directed his courſe for Algiers, hear-
ing his father was dead; but meeting with you, it
has made him alter his meaſures for the prefent.
He has tried all ways to gain her love, but ſhe would
not give him the leaſt encouragement, till this late
accident, by which the faved your life.-When he
had ended his relation, I reflected on it a good while,
and confidering the nature of thofe pirates, I thought
Į faw a piece of treachery in the affair, much more
black than what he deſcribed, and could not forbear
compaffionating the poor lady, both for her difa-
fter, and the company fhe was fallen into. How-
D 3
ever,
42
THE ADVENTURES OF
ever, I kept my thoughts to myſelf. Not long af
ter we arrived at Alexandria, where the pirate fold
all our effects, that is, the merchandiſe he had ta-
ken aboard our fhip, except fome particular things
that belonged to my brother and myfelf, as books,
papers, maps and fea-charts, pictures, and the like.
He determined to carry me to Grand Cairo *, the
first opportunity, to fell me, or even give me away
to a ſtrange merchant he had an acquaintance with,
where I fhould never be heard of more.
Nothing remarkable happened during our ſtay
at Alexandria; they told me the captain had been
in an extraordinary good humour, ever fince the
lady's promife to marry him. But ſhe, to be fure
he fhould not deceive her by doing me any injury
when I was out of the fhip, ordered her officer to
attend me where-ever I was carried, till I was put
in fafe hands, and entirely out of the pirate's power.
When we were arrived at Grand Cairo, I was carried
to the place where the merchants meet to exchange
their commodities; there were perfons of almoſt all
the Eaſtern and Indian nations. The lady's officer, ac-
cording to his miſtreſs's order, never ſtirred an inch
from me to witnefs the performance of the articles.
At length, the pirate and a ſtrange merchant fpied
one another almoſt at the inſtant, and advancing the
fame way, faluted each other in the Turkish lan-
guage,, which I underſtood tolerably well. After
fome mutual compliments, the pirate told him he
had met with fuch a perfon he had promifed to
procure for him two years before, meaning myſelf;
only I was not an eunuch, but that it was in his
power to make me fo, if he pleaſed. Your Reve-
rences
* Grand Cairo is the place of refidence of the great
Buffa of Fgypt : higher up the country, on the river Nile.
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
43
rences cannot doubt but I was a little ftartled at
fuch a ſpeech, and was going to reply, that I would
lofe my life a thousand times, before I would fuffer
fuch an injury. But the lady's officer turned to
the pirate, and faid, he had engaged to his lady I
ſhould receive no harm; and that he muſt never
expect to obtain her for his wife, if ſhe had the
Icaft fufpicion of fuch a thing. But the merchant
foon put us out of doubt, by aſſuring us, that it
was againſt their laws to do fuch an injury to any
one of their own fpecies; but if it were done be-
fore, they could not help it. Then turning to me,
he faid in very good Lingua Franca, "Young man,
if I buy you, I fhall foon convince you, you need
not apprehend any fuch ufage from me." He eyed
me from top to toe, with the moſt penetrating look
I ever faw in my life; yet feemed pleaſed at the
fame time. He was very richly clad, attended with
two young men in the fame kind of drefs, though
not rich, who feemed rather fons than fervants.
His age did not appear to me to be above forty, yet
he had the moſt ferene and almoft venerable look i-
maginable. His complexion was rather browner
than that of the Egyptians, but it ſeemed to be more
the effect of travelling, than natural. In fhort, he
had an air ſo uncommon, that I was amazed, and
began to have as great an opinion of him, as he
feemed to have of me. He afked the pirate, what
he muſt give for me; he told him, I had coſt him
very dear, and with that recounted to him all the
circumſtances of the fight wherein I was taken;
and, to give him his due, reprefented it nowife to
my diſadvantage. However, theſe were not the
qualifications the merchant defired; what he wanted
was a perſon who was a ſcholar, and could give him
an account of the arts and fciences, laws, cuftoms,
&c. of the Chriftians. This the pirate affured
✔
him
44
THE ADVENTURES OF
him I could do; that I was an European Chriftian,
and a ſcholar, as he gueffed by my books and writ-
ings; that I underſtood navigation, geography, a-
ftronomy, and feveral other ſciences. I was out of
countenance to hear him talk fo; for though I had
as much knowledge of thofe fciences, as could be ex
pected from one of my years, yet my age would not
permit me to be maſter of them, but only to have
the firſt principles, by which I might improve my-
felf afterwards.
[Secretary. The inquifitors demurred a little at
this, fearing he might be addicted to judicial
aftrology; but confidering he had gone thro'
a courfe of philofophy, and was deſigned for
the fea, they knew he was obliged to have
fome knowledge in thofe fciences.]
The pirate told him, I had ſome ſkill in mufic
and painting, having feen fome inſtruments and
books of thofe arts among my effects, and aſked me
if it were not fo. I told him all young gentlemen
of liberal education in my country learned thefe
arts, and that I had a competent knowledge and
genius that way. This determined the merchant
to purchaſe me. When they came to the price, the
pirate demanded forty ounces of native gold, and
three of thofe filk carpets he faw there with him,
to make a prefent to the Grand Signior. The mer-
chant agreed with him at the firft word; only de-
manded all the books, globes, mathematical inftru-
ments, and, in fine, whatever remained of my ef-
fects, into the bargain. The pirate agreed to this,
as eaſily as the other did to the price; fo, upon
performance of articles on both fides, I was delive
red to him. As foon as I was put into his power,
he embraced me with a great deal of tendernefs,
faying, I fhould not repent my change of life. His
attendants came up to me, and embraced me in the
fame
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
45
1 was
fame manner, calling me brother, and expreffing a
great deal of joy for having me of their company.
The merchant bid them take me down to the ca-
ravanfera or inn, that I might refreſh myſelf, and
change my habit to the fame as they wore.
very much furpriſed at fuch unexpected civilities
from ſtrangers. But, before I went, I turned to
the pirate, and faid to him with an air that made
the merchant put on a very thoughtful look, that I
thanked him for keeping his promiſe in faving my
life; but added, that though the fortune of war
had put it in his power to fell me like a beaſt in the
market, that it might be in mine fome time or o-
ther to render the like kindneſs. Then turning to
the lady's officer, who had been my guardian fo
faithfully, and embracing him with all imaginable
tenderneſs, I begged him to pay my best refpects
to my fair deliverer; and affure her, that I fhould
efteem it the greateſt happineſs to be one day able
to make a return for fo unparalleled a favour, tho'
it were at the expence of that life ſhe had fo gene-
rouffy faved. So we parted, the pirate grumbling
a little with himſelf; and I in an amazing fufpenfe,
to know what was likely to become of me.
they were conducting me to the caravanſera where
they lodged, I was full of the forrowful reflection,
that I was ſtill a ſlave, though I had changed my
mafter: but my companions, who were fome of the
handſomeſt young men I ever faw in life, comfort-
ed me with the moſt endearing words, telling me
that I need fear nothing; that I fhould eſteem my.
ſelf one of the happieſt men in the world, when
they were arrived fafe in their own country, which
they hoped would be before long; that I fhould
then be as free as they were, and follow what em-
ployment of life my inclinations led me to, without
any reſtraint whatſoever. In fine, their diſcourſe
filled
As
•
46
THE ADVENTURES OF
filled me with freſh amazement, and gave me at the
ſave time an eager longing to fee the event.
I per-
ceived they did not keep any ftrict guard on me;
that verily believed I could eafily have given them
the flip; and might have gotten fome Armenian
Chriſtian to conceal me, till I fhould find an op-
portunity of returning into my own country. But,
having loft all my effects, I thought I could ſcarce
be in a worſe condition, and was refolved to run all
hazards. When I came to the houſe, I was ftruck
with wonder at the magnificence of it, eſpecially at
the richneſs of the furniture. It was one of the
beſt in all Grand Cairo, though built low accord-
ing to the cuſtom of the country.
It feems they always ſtaid a year before they re-
turned into their own country, and ſpared no coſt
to make their baniſhment, as they called it, as eaſy
as they could. I was entertained with all the rari-
ties of Egypt; the most delicious fruits, and the
richeſt Greek and Afiatic wines that could be tafted ;
by which I faw they were not Mahometans. Not
knowing what to make of them, I afked them who
they were; of what country, what fect and profef-
fion, and the like. They fimiled at my queſtions,
and told me they were children of the Sun, and were
called Mezoranians; which was as unintelligible to
me as all the reft. But their country, they told me,
I fhould fee in a few months, and bid me aſk no fur-
ther queſtions. Prefently my mafter came in, and
embracing me, once more bid me welcome, with fuch
an engaging affability, as removed almoſt all my fears.
But what followed, filled me with the utmoſt fur
prife. "Young man," faid he, "by the laws of
this country you are mine; I have bought you at
a very high price, and would give twice as much
for you, if it were to be done again: but (continued
he, with a more ferious air) I know no juſt laws in
X
the
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
47
the univerſe, that can make a free-born man be-
come a ſlave to one of his own fpecies. If you will
voluntarily go along with us, you fhall enjoy as
much freedom as I do myſelf: you ſhall be exempt
from all the barbarous laws of theſe inhumane coun-
tries, whoſe brutal cuſtoms are a reproach to the
dignity of a rational creature, and with whom we
have no commerce, but to inquire after arts and
fciences, which may contribute to the common be
nefit of our people. We are bleffed with the moſt
opulent country in the world; we leave it to your
choice to go along with us, or not; if the latter, I here
give you your liberty, and reſtore to you all that re-
mains of your effects, with what affiſtance you want
to carry you back again into your own country.
Only, this I muſt tell you, if you go with us, it is
likely you will never come back again, or perhaps
defire it." Here he stopped, and obferved my coun-
tenance with a great deal of attention. I was ftruck
with fuch admiration of his generofity, together
with the fentiments of joy for my unexpected li-
berty, and gratitude to my benefactor, coming in-
to my mind all at once, that I had as much diffi-
culty to believe what I heard, as your Reverences
may now have at the relation of it, till the fequel
informs you of the reafons for fuch unheard-of
proceedings. On the one hand, the natural defire
of liberty prompted me to accept my freedom; on
the other, I confidered my ſhattered fortune; that
I was left in a ſtrange country ſo far from home, a-
mong Turks and infidels; the ardour of youth ex-
cited me to puſh my fortune. The account of fo
glorious, though unknown country ftirred up my
curiofity; I faw gold was the leaft part of the rich-
es of theſe people, who appeared to me the moſt ci-
vilized I ever faw in my life; but, above all, the
fenfe of what I owed to fo noble a benefactor, who
I faw
48
THE ADVENTURES OF
I faw defired it, and had me as much in his power
now, as he could have afterwards. Theſe confidera-
tions almoſt determined me to go along with him,
I had continued longer thus irrefolate, and fluctuating
between fo many different thoughts, if he had not
brought me to myfelf, by faying, What fay you, young
man, to my propofal? I ſtarted out of my reveries,
as if I had awaked from a real dream; and making
a moft profound reverence, My Lord, faid I, or ra-
ther my father and deliverer, I am yours by all the
ties of gratitude a human heart is capable of; I re-
fign myſelf to your conduct; and will follow you
to the end of the world. This I faid with fuch e-
motion of fpirit, that I believe he faw into my very
foul; for embracing me once more with a moſt
inexpreffible tendernefs, I adopt you, faid he for
my fon; and thefe are your brothers, pointing to
his two young companions; all I require of you is,
that you live as fuch.--Here, Reverend Fathers,
I must confeſs one of the greateſt faults I ever did
in my life: I never confidered whether thefe men
were Chriftians or Heathens: I engaged myſelf with
a people, where I could never have the exerciſe of
my religion, although I always preferved it in my
heart. But what could be expected from a daring
young man, juft in the heat of his youth, who had
Íoft all his fortune, and had fuch a glorious profpect
offered him for retrieving it? ---Soon after this, he gave
orders to his attendants to withdraw, as if he in-
tended to fay fomething to me in private; they
obeyed immediately with a filial refpect, as if they
had indeed been his fons, but they were not; I on-
ly mention it to fhew the nature of the people I was
engaged with: then taking me by the hand, he made
me fit down by him, and aſked me if it were really
true, as the pirate informed him, that I was an Eu-
ropean Chriſtian? though, added he, be what you
f
will,
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
49
So
will, I do not repent my buying of you. I told him
I was, and in that belief would live and die.
you may, faid he, (ſeeming pleaſed at my anſwer.)
But I have not yet met with any of that part of the
world, who ſeemed to have the diſpoſitions of mind
I think I fee in you, looking at the lineaments of
my face with a great deal of earneſtneſs. I have
been informed, continued he, that your laws are not
like barbarous Turks, whofe government is made
up of tyranny and brutality, governing all by fear
and force, and making flaves of all who fall under
their power. Whereas the European Chriſtians,
as I am told, are governed by a divine law, that
teaches them to do good to all, injury to none; par-
ticularly, not to kill and deſtroy their own ſpecies;
nor to ſteal, cheat, over-reach, or defraud any one
of their juft due; but to do in all things juft as they
would be done by; looking on all men as common
brothers of the fame ftock, and behaving with ´ju-
ftice and equity in all their actions public and pri
vate, as if they were to give an account to the uni-
verfal Lord and Father of all. I told him our law
did really teach and command us to do fo; but that
very few lived up to this law; that we were obliged
to have recourſe to coercive laws and penalties, to
enforce what we acknowledged otherwife to be a
duty that if it were not for the fear of fuch pu-
niſhments, the greateſt part of them would be worfe
than the very Turks he mentioned. He feemed
ftrangely furpriſed at this. What, fays he, can any
one do in private, what his own reaſon and folemn
profèffion condemns? Then addreffing himſelf to me
in a more particular manner: Do you profefs this juft
and holy law you mentioned? I told him, I did:
then, fays he, do but live up to your own law, and
we require no more of you*. Here he made a little
noife
E
*If it appear incredible to any one, that Heathens; as
theſe
50
THE ADVENTURES OF
noife with his ſtaff, at which two of his attendants
came in: he aſked them if my effects were come
from the pirate. Being anfwered they were; he
ordered them to be brought in, and examined them
very nicely. There were among them fome pic-
tures of my own drawing, a repeating watch, two
compaſs boxes, one of them very curiouſly wrought
in ivory and gold, which had been my great grand-
fathers's, given him by Venerio; a fet of mathema-
tical inſtruments, draughts of ſtatuary and architec
ture by the beſt maſters; with all which he feem-
ed extremely pleafed. After he had examined
them with a great deal of admiration, he ordered
one of his attendants to reach him a cabinet full of
gold; he opened it to me, and faid, Young man, I
not only reſtore all your effects here prefent, hav,
ing no right to any thing that belongs to another
•
man,
theſe people were, ſhould have ſuch ſtrict ideas of mora-
lity and juſtice, when they fee fuch horrid injuftice, frauds,
and oppreffions among Chriſtians, let them conſider, firſt,
That the law and light of nature will never be entirely
extinguiſhed in any who do not ſhut their eyes againſt it ;
but that they would eſteem the injuries they do to others,
without any ſcruple, to be very great hardſhips if done to
themſelves: they have therefore the ideas of juſtice and
equity imprinted in their minds, however obfcured by
their wicked lives.-2dly, Let them read the celerated
Biſhop of Maux's univerſal hiſtory, part iii. of the morals
and equity of the ancient Egyptians under their great
king Sefoftris, or about that time.-3dly, Not only the
lives and maxims of the first Heathen philofophers, af-
ford us very juſt rules of morality, but there are alfo
fragments of ancient hiftory, from the earlieſt times, of
whole Heathen nations, whofe lives would make Chri-
ftians bluſh at their own immoralities, if they were not
hardened in them. The people of Colchos, whom the
great Bohart, in his Phaleg. proves to have been a colony
of
$16. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
51
man, but once more offer you your liberty, and as
much of this gold, as you think ſufficient to carry
you home, and make you live eafy all your life. I
was a little out of countenance, imagining what I
faid of the ill morals of the Chriftians, had made
him afraid to take me along with him. I told him, I
valued nothing now fo much as his company, and
begged him not only to let me go along with him,
but that he would be pleaſed to accept whatever he
faw of mine there before him; adding, that I e-
fteemed it the greateſt happineſs, to be able to make
ſome ſmall recompence for the obligations I owed
him. I do accept of it, fays he, and take you folemn-
ly into my care: go along with theſe young men,
and enjoy your liberty in effect, which I have hi-
therto only given you in words. Here fome of his
elder companions coming in, as if they were to con-
fult about buſineſs; the young
E 2
men and myſelf
went
of ancient Egyptians, as will be feen in the fequel of theſe
memoirs, or the ancient inhabitants of Pontus, who come
from them, were, according to Homer, the moſt juſt of
men.
Γαλακτοφάνων δικαιοτάτων ανθρώπων.
Milk-eaters the moſt juſt of men. Hom. II. K.
Chaerilus in Xerxis Diabafi apud Bohart, ſpeaking of
the Scythians on the Euxine fea, fays, Noμádwv Houv
ἄποικοι ανθρώπων νομίμων, they were a colony of the No
mades, a juft people.
Strabo fays, that Anacharſis and Abaris, both Scythi-
ans, eſteemed by the ancient Greeks, for their peculiar
and national affability, probity, and juftice: örs exóv TS-
τα χαρακτήρα ἐπεφαινον εὐκολίας, καὶ τελειότητος, και δικαιοσύνης. And
Nicholaus Damafcenus, of the Galactophagi, visì dè à di-
Raiolało, they are the moſt juſt of men. Vide Bochart,
lib. iii. c. 9.
52
THE ADVENTURES OF
went to walk the town for our diverfion. Your
Reverences may be fure, I obferved all the actions
of thefe new people, with the greateſt attention my
age was capable of. They feemed not only to have
a horror of the barbarous manners and vices of the
Turks, but even a contempt of all the pleafures and
and diverſions of the country. Their whole bufi-
neſs was to inform themſelves of what they thought
might be an improvement in their own country,
particularly in arts and trades, and whatever cu-
riofities where brought from foreign parts; fet-
ting down their obfervations of every thing of
moment. They had maſters of the country at ſet
hours to teach them the Turkish and Perfian lan-
guages, in which I endeavoured to perfect myſelf
along with them. Though they feemed to be the
moſt moral men in the world, I could obferve no
figns of religion in them, till a certain occafion that
happened to us in our voyage, of which I ſhall ſpeak
to your Reverences in its proper place. This was
the only point they were fhy in; they gave me the
reafons for it afterwards; but their behaviour was
the moſt candid and fincere in other matters that
can be imagined. We lived thus in the moſt perfect
union all the time we ftaid at Grand Cairo; and I
enjoyed the fame liberty that I could have had in
Italy. All I remarked in them was an uneafinefs
they expreſſed to be fo long out of their own coun-
try; but they comforted themfelves with the thought
it would not be long. I cannot omit one obfervation
I made of theſe young mens conduct while we ſtaid
in Egypt. They were all about my own age, ſtrong
and vigorous, and the handfomeft race of people,
perhaps the world ever produced: we were in the
moſt voluptuous and lewd town in the whole eaſtern
empire; the young women feemed ready to devour
us as we went along the ſtreets. Yet I never could
perg
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
53
perceive in the young men the leaſt propenſity to
lewḍnefs. I imputed it at firſt to the apprehenfion
of my being in their company, and a ſtranger; but
I foon found they acted by principle. As young
men are apt to encourage, or rather corrupt one a-
nother, I own I could not forbear expreffing my
wonder at it. They feemed furpriſed at the thought;
but the reaſons they gave were as much out of our
common way of thinking, as their behaviour. They
told me for the firſt reaſon, that all the women
they faw were either married or particular mens
daughters; or common. As to married women,
they ſaid, it was ſuch a heinous piece of injuſtice to
violate the marriage bed, that every man living
would look upon it as the greateft injury done to
himſelf: how could they therefore in reafon do it
to another? If they were daughters of particular
men, bred up with fo much care and folicitude of
their parents, what a terrible affliction muſt it be to
them, or to ourſelves, to fee our daughters or fi-
fters violated and corrupted, after all our care to the
contrary; and this too, perhaps by thofe we had
cheriſhed in our own bofoms? If common ſtrumpets,
what rational man could look on them otherwiſe
than brute beaſts, to proſtitute themſelves to eve-
ry ſtranger for hire? Befides, their abandoned lewd-
nefs generally defeats the great defign of nature to
propagate the fpecies; or, by their impure embra-
ces, fuch diforders may be contracted, as to make
us hereafter, at beſt, but fathers of a weak and fick-
ly offspring. And if we ſhould have children by
them, what would become of our fathers grandchil
dren? But what man who had the leaft fenſe of the
dignity of his own birth, would ſtain his race, and
give birth to fuch a wretched breed, and then leave
them expofed to want and infamy? This they faid
chiefly with reference to the vaft ideas they had of
E 3
their
54
THE ADVENTURES OF
their own nation, valuing themſelves above all o-
ther people; though the confideration holds good
with all men. I own, I was mute at theſe reaſons,
and could not fay but they were very juft, though
the warmth of my youth had hindered me from re-
flecting on them before. Theſe reflections appear-
ed fo extraordinary in young men, and even Hea-
thens, that I shall never forget them.-Sometime
after, I found by their diligence in fettling their af-
fairs, and the chearfulness of their countenan-
ces, that they expected to leave Egypt very foon;
they feemed to wait for nothing but orders from
their governor. In the mean time there happened
an accident to me, ſcarce fit indeed for your Reve-
rences to hear; nor fhould I ever have thought of re-
lating it, had you not laid your commands on me to
give an exact account of my whole life. Befides,
that it is interwoven with ſome of the chief occur-
rences of my life in the latter part of it. Our go-
vernor whom they called Pophar, which in their
language fignifies father of his people, and by which
name I fhall always call him hereafter, looking at
his ephemeris, which he did very frequently, found
by computation, that he had ftill fome time left to
ſtay in the country, and refolved to go down once
more to Alexandria, to fee if he could meet with a-
ny more European curiofities, brought by the mer-
chant-fhips that are perpetually coming at that fea
fon into the port. He took only two of the young
men and me along with him, to fhew me, as he ſaid,
that I was entirely at my liberty, fince I might eafi-
ly find ſome ſhip or other to carry me into my own
country; and I, on the other hand, to convince
him of the fincerity of my intentions, generally kept
in his company. The affair I am going to fpeak of,
foon gave him full proof of my fincerity.
While we were walking in the public places to
view
SIG. GAUDENTIÓ DI LUCCA.
55
E
view the feveral goods and curiofities, that were
brought from different parts of the world, it hap-
pened that the Baſſa of Grand Cairo, with all his fa-
mily, was come to Alexandria on the fame account,
as well as to buy fome young female flaves. His
wife and daughter were then both with him: the
wife was one of the grand Signior's fifters, feeming-
ly about thirty, and a wonderful fine woman. The
daughter was about fixteen, of fuch exquifite beau-
ty, and lovely features, as were fufficient to charm
the greateſt prince in the world. When he per-
ceived them, the Pophar, who naturally abhorred
the Turks, kept off, as if he were treating private-
ly with fome merchants. But I, being young and
inconfiderate, ſtood gazing, though at a reſpectful
diſtance, at the Baffa's beautiful daughter, from no
other motive but mere curiofity. She had her
eyes fixed on my companions and me at the fame
time, and, as I fuppofed, on the fame account. Her
drefs was fo magnificent, and her perfon fo charm-
ing, that I thought her the moſt beautiful crea-
ture I had ever ſeen in my life. If I could have
foreſeen the troubles which that fhort interview
was to coft both the Pophar and myſelf, I fhould
have choſen rather to have looked on the moſt
hideous monſter. I obferved, that the young la
dy, with a particular fort of emotion, whiſper-
ed fomething to an elderly woman that attended
her, and that this laſt did the fame to a page,
who immediately went to two natives of the
place,
* N. B. The Baffa of Grand Cairo is one of the
greateſt officers in the Turkiſh empire, and the moſt in-
dependent of any fubject in Turky; it is cuftomary for
the fultans to give their daughters in marriage to fuch
perfons; but they are often difliked by their husbands,
en account of their imperious behaviour,
56
THE ADVENTURES OF
place, whom the Pophar uſed to hire to carry his
things: this was to inquire of them who we were.
They, as appeared by the event, told them, that I
was a young flave lately bought by the Pophar. Af-
ter a while, the Bafla with his train went away, and
I, for my part, thought no more of the matter.
The next day, as the Pophar and we were walking
in one of the public gardens, a little elderly man,
like an eunuch, with a beautiful youth along with
him, having dogged us to a private part of the walks,
came up to us, and addreſſing themſelves to the Po-
phar, aſked him what he would take for his young
flave, pointing at me, becauſe the Baffa defired to
buy him. The Pophar feemed to be more furpriſed
at this unexpected queſtion, than I ever obſerved
him at any thing before, which confirmed me more
and more in the opinion of the kindneſs he had for
me. But foon coming to himſelf, as he was a man
of great preſence of mind, he faid very calmly, that
I was no flave; nor a perfon to be fold for any
price, fince I was as free as he was. Taking this
for a pretext to enhance the price, they produced
fome oriental pearls with other jewels of immenfe
value; and bid him name what he would have,
and it ſhould be paid immediately: adding, that I
was to be the companion of the Baffa's fon, where
I might make my fortune for ever, if I would go a-
long with them. The Pophar perſiſted in his firſt
anfwer, and ſaid he had no power over me: they al-
ledged, I had been bought as a flave, but a little be-
fore, in the Grand Signior's dominions, and they
would have me, Here I interpofed, and anfwered
brifkly, that though I had been taken priſoner by
the chance of war, I was no flave, nor would I part
with my liberty but at the price of my life. The
Baffa's fon, for fo he now declared himſelf to be,
inſtead of being angry at my refolute anſwer, repli-
F
ed
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
57
ed with a moſt agreeable ſmile, that I ſhould be as
free as he was; making at the fame time the moſt
folemn proteftations by his holy Alcoran, that our
lives and deaths fhould be infeparable. Though
there was fomething in his words the moſt perfua-
five I ever felt; yet confidering the obligations I
had to the Pophar, I was refolved not to go; but
anfwered with a moft refpectful bow, that though
I was free by nature, I had indifpenfable obliga-
tions not to go with him, and hoped he would
take it for a determinate anfwer. I pronounced
this with fuch a refolate air, as made him fee there
was no hopes. Whether his defire was more inflamed
by my denial, or whether they took us for perfons
of greater note than we appeared to be, I cannot
tell; but I obferved he put on a very languiſhing
air, with tears ftealing down his cheeks, which
moved me to a degree I cannot exprefs. I was
ſcarce capable of fpeaking, but caft down my eyes,
and ſtood as immoveable as a ftatue. This feemed
to revive his hopes; and recovering himſelf a lit-
tle, with a trembling voice he replied; Suppoſe it
be the Baffa's daughter, you ſaw yeſterday, that
defires to have you for her attendant, what will
you fay then? I ſtarted at this, and cafting my
eyes on him more attentively, I faw him fwimming
in tears, with a tenderneſs enough to pierce the
hardeſt heart. I looked at the Pophar, who I faw
was trembling for me; and feared it was the
daughter herſelf that aſked me the queſtion. I was
foon put out of doubt; for ſhe, finding the had
gone too far to go back, diſcovered herſelf, and ſaid,
I muſt go along with her, or one of us muft die*.
-I hope
* Love-adventures are not the defign of thefe me-
moirs, as will appear by the reft of his life: otherwife,
this
58
THE ADVENTURES OF
-I hope your Reverences will excufe this account
I give of myſelf, which nothing ſhould have drawn
from me, though it is literally true, but your exprefs
commands to tell the whole hiftory of my life.The
perplexity I was in cannot be immagined. I con-
fidered ſhe was a Turk, and I a Chriftian; that
my death muft certainly be the confequence of fuch
a raſh
this account of the Baffa's daughter had like to have
made me lay down my pen, without troubling myſelf to
write any further remark. But, when I confidered,
the man is no fool, let him be what he will, nor could
defign to embellifh his hiftory by this extraordinary ad-
venture, fo like the former, and juft upon the back of it,
I am inclined to believe he wrote the matter of fact
juſt as it happened. More unaccountable accidents than
this have happened to fome men.
The amorous temper of the Turkiſh ladies, eſpecially
at Grand Cairo, where the women are the moſt voluptu-
ous in the world, and the ſurpriſing beauty of this
young man, who, the fecretary fays, has the nobleft
prefence he ever faw, even at that age, might eaſily
charm a wanton giddy girl at the firſt fight. Befides,
fhe was informed he was a flave, and might think the
could have purchafed him for her private gallant; or
might be encouraged in it by the luftful elderly woman
that attended her. Such things have been done before
now; but when ſhe came nearer to the tempting obje&,
and found him to be fomething more noble than the ex-
pected, her paffion might thereby grow to the higheſt pitch.
Extraordinary beauty, in either fex, is oftentimes
a great misfortune; fince it frequently leads them into
very great follies, and even difafters. What will not
heedlefs youth do, when fired with flattery or charms?
It is no new thing for women to fall in love at firſt fight,
as well as men, and on as unequal terms; in ſpite of
all reaſons and confiderations to the contrary. I believe
there may be men in the world, as charming in the eyes
of
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
59
a raſh affair, were I to engage in it; that whether
the concealed me in her father's court, or attempted
to go off with me, it was ten thouſand to one, we
fhould both be facrificed: neither could the vio-
lence of fuch a fudden paffion ever be concealed
from the Baffa's fpies. In a word, I was refolved
not to go; but how to get off, was the difficulty.
I faw the moſt beautiful creature in the world all
in tears before me, after a declaration of love, that
exceeded the moſt romantic tales; youth, love and
beau-
of women, as ever the fair Helen appeared to the men.
The almoſt incredible cataſtrophes caufed by her beauty,
are ſo far from being fabulous, that, beſides the account
Homer gives of her, there is extant an oration of the
famous Ifocrates De laudibus Helenae, before Alexan
der the Great's time, which gives a more amazing account
of the effects of her beauty, than Homer does. He
fays, fhe was raviſhed for her beauty by the great and
wife Thefeus, when he was but a girl. She was after-
wards courted by all the Grecian princes; and, after
her marriage, was carried from Europe into Afia by the
beautiful Paris; which kindled the first war that is re-
corded in hiſtory to have been made in thofe parts of the
world. Yet, notwithſtanding that falfe and fatal ſtep, her
beauty reconciled her to her huſband. The fight of
ſome men have as violent effects on women.
It is poffible the young lady would have been very an-
gry with any one who fhould have perfuaded. Signor
Gaudentio to do as he did; yet in effect it was the
greateſt kindneſs: for this very lady, fome time after,
became miſtreſs of the whole Ottoman empire. Where-
as if ſhe had run away with him, as the violence of her
paſſion fuggeſted, they had both of them been inevi-
tably miferable. Notwithſtanding all theſe reaſons, I ſhould
not have believed this ſtory, if I had not examined fome
other facts, which, he faid, happened to him at Venice,
as incredible as this, and found them to be really true.
60
THE ADVENTURES OF
-
beauty, and even an inclination on my ſide, plead-
ed her cauſe. But at length the confideration of
the endleſs miferies I was likely to draw on the
young lady, fhould I comply with what the defired,
prevailed, above all other. I was refolved to refuſe,"
for her fake more than my own, and was juſt ge-
ing to tell her fo on my knees, with all the argu-
ments my reafon could fuggeft to appeafe her;
when an attendant came running in hafte to the o-
ther perfon, who was alſo a woman, and told her
the Baſſa was coming that way. She was rouſed
out of her lethargy at this. The other woman
immediately fnatched her away, as the Pophar did
me: and ſhe had only time to call out with a threat,
Think better on it, or die. I was no fooner out
of her fight, but I found a thouſand reaſons for
what I did, more than I could think of before, while
the inchanting object was before my eyes. I faw
the madneſs of that paffion which forced the moſt
charming perfon of the Ottoman empire, capable
by her beauty to conquer the Grand Signior himſelf,
to make a declaration of love, fo contrary to the na-
ture and modeſty of her fex, as well as her quality
and dignity, and ready to facrifice her reputation,
the duty the owed her parents, her liberty, perhaps
her life, for an unknown perfon, who had been a
flave but fome time before. I faw on the other hand,
that had I complied with the fair charmer's propo-
fal, I must have run the risk of lofing my religion
or life, or rather both, with a dreadful chain of
hidden misfortunes, likely to accompany ſuch a raſh
adventure. While I was taken up with theſe
thoughts, the wife Pophar, after reflecting a little
upon what had happened, told me, this unfortunate
affair would not end fo, but that it might coft us
both our lives, and fomething elſe that was more
dear to him. He feared fo violent a paffion would
draw
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA. 61
draw on other extremes; efpecially confidering the
wickedness of the people, and the brutal tyranny
of their government: however, he was refolved not
to give me up but with his life, if I would but ftand
to it myself: adding, that we muſt make off as faſt
as we could, and, having fo many fpies upon us,
ufe policy as well as expedition. Accordingly he
went down directly to the port, and hired a ſhip
in the moſt public manner to go for Cyprus, paid
the whole freight on the ſpot, and told them they
muft neceffarily fail that evening. We fhould ac-
tually have done fo, had not our companions and
effects obliged us to return to Grand Cairo; but
inftead of embarking for Cyprus, he called afide the
maſter of the veffel, who was of his acquaintance,
and for a good round fum, privately agreed with
him to fail out of the port, as if we were really on
board, while the Pophar hired a boat for us at the
other end of the town, in which we went that night
directly for Grand Cairo. As foon as we were ar-
rived there, we inquired how long it would be be-
fore the Baſſa returned to that city. They told us
it would be about a fortnight at fooneft; this gave
the Pophar time to pay off his houfe, pack up his
effects, and get all things ready for his great voyage;
but he ſtill had greater apprehenfions in his looks
than ever I remarked in him, However, he told us,
he hoped the affair would end well. In five days time.
´all things were in readineſs for our departure. We
fet out a little before funfet, as is cuſtomary in thofe
countries, and marched but a flow pace whilſt we
were near the town, to avoid any fufpicion of flight.
After we had travelled thus about a league up by
the fide of the river Nile, the Pophar leading the van,
and the reſt following in a pretty long ſtring after
him, we met five or fix men coming down the ri-
yer-fide on horfeback, whofe fine turbans and ha-
F
bits
62
THE ADVENTURES OF
+
bits Thewed they were pages, or attendants of ſome
great perfon, The Pophar turned off from the ri
ver, as if it were to give them way: and they paſſed
on very civilly without feeming to take any further
notice of us. I was the hindmoſt but one of our
train, having ftaid to give our dromedaries fome wa-
ter. Soon after thefe, came two ladies riding on
little Arabian jennets, with prodigious rich furniture,
by which I gueffed them to be perfons of quality,
and the others gone before to be their attendants.
They were not quite over-againſt where I was,
when the jennet of the younger of the two ladies
began to fnort and ſtart at our dromedaries, and be-
came fo unruly, that I apprehended ſhe could
fcarce fit him. At that inftant, one of the led dro-
medaries coming pretty near, that and the rustling
of its loading fo frighted the jennet, that he gave a
bound all on a fudden, and being on the infide of
us towards the river, he ran full ſpeed towards the
`edge of the bank, where not being able to ſtop his
career, he directly off the precipice into the river,
with the lady ftill fitting him; but the violence
of the leap threw her off two or three yards into
the water. It happened very luckily that there was
a little inland juft by where the fell, and her cloaths
"keeping her up for fome minutes, the ftream car-
ried her againſt ſome ſtakes that ſtood juſt above
the water, which catched hold of her cloaths,
and held her there. The fhrieks of the other lady
brought the nigheſt attendants up to us; but
thoſe fearful wretches durft not venture into the ri-
ver to her aſſiſtance. I jumped off my dromedary
with indignation, and throwing off my loofe gar-
ment and fandals, fwam to her, and with much
difficulty getting hold of her hand, and loofing her
garments from the ſtakes, I made a fhift to draw
her acroſs the ſtream, till I brought her to land. She
was
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
63
was quite fenfelefs for fome time; I held down her
head, which I had not yet looked at, to make her
difgorge the water fhe had fwallowed; but I was
foon ſtruck with a double ſurpriſe, when I looked
at her face, to find it was the Baffa's daughter, and
to ſee her in that place, whom I thought I had left at
Alexandria. After fome time, the came to herſelf,
and looking fixed on me a good while, her fenfes
not being entirely recovered, at laft fhe cried out,
"O Mahomet, must I owe my life to this man!”
and fainted away. The other lady, who was her
confident, with a great deal of pains brought her to
herſelf again; we raiſed her up, and endeavoured
to comfort her as well as we could: No, fays fhe,
throw me into the river once more; let me not be
obliged to a barbarian for whom I have done too
much already. I told her in the moſt reſpectful
terms I could think of, that Providence had order-
ed it fo, that I might make fome recompenfe for the
undeſerved obligations fhe had laid on me; that I
had too great value for her merit, ever to make her
miferable, by loving a flave, fuch as I was, a ftran-
ger, a Chriftian, and one who had indifpenfable q-
bligations to act as I did. She ſtartled a little at
what I faid; but, after a fhort recollection, anfwer-
ed, Whether you are a flave, an infidel, or what-
ever you pleaſe, you are one of the moſt generous
men in the world. I fuppoſe your obligations are
on account of fome more happy woman than my-
felf; but fince I owe my life to you, I am refolved
not to make you unhappy, any more than you do
me. I not only pardon you, but am convinced my
pretenfions are both unjuft, and against my own
honour. She faid this with an air becoming her qua-
lity: fhe was much more at eaſe, when I affured her
I was engaged to no woman in the world; but that
her
F 2
64
THE ADVENTURES OF
her memory ſhould be ever dear to me, and imprint-
ed in my heart till my laſt breath. Here ten or a do-
zen armed Turks came upon us full ſpeed from the
town, and ſeeing the Pophar and his companions,
they cried out, Stop villains, we arreſt you in the
name of the Baffa. At this we ſtarted up to fee
what was the matter, when the lady, who knew
them, bid me not be afraid; that fhe had ordered
theſe men to purſue me, when fhe left Alexandria.
That hearing we were fled off by fea, fhe pretend-
ed fickneſs, and aſked leave of her father to return
to Cairo, there to bemoan her misfortune with her
confident; and was in thofe melancholy fentiments,
when the late accident happened to her. That ſhe
fuppofed theſe men had diſcovered the trick we had
played them in not going by fea, and on better in-
formation had purfued us this way. So fhe difmif
fed them immediately. I was all this while in one of
the greateſt agonies that can be expreſſed, both for
fear of my own refolutions and hers: fo I begged
her to retire, left her wet cloaths fhould endanger
her health. I ſhould not have been able to pronounce
theſe words, if the Pophar had not caft a look at me,
which pierced me through, and made me fee the
danger I was in by my delay. Her refolutions now
feemed to be ſtronger than mine. She pulled off this
jewel your Reverences fee on my finger, and juft
faid, with tears trickling down her beautiful cheeks,
Take this, and adieu! She then pulled her compa-
nion away, and never looked at me more. I ftood
amazed, almoſt without life or motion in me; and
cannot tell how long I might have continued fo, if
the Pophar had not come and congratulated me for
my deliverance. I told him, I did not know what
he meant by deliverance, for I did not know whether
I was alive or dead, and that I was afraid he would
re-
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
LUCCA.
65
repent his buying of me, if I procured him any
more of theſe adventures. If we meet with no worfe
than thefe, fays he, we are well enough; no vic-
tory can be gained without ſome lofs. So he awa-
kened me out of my lethargy, and commanded us
to make the beſt of our way.
Though the Pophar was uneafy to be out of the
reach of the fair lady and her faithlefs Turks, yet
he was not in any great hafte in the main, the proper
time for his great voyage not being yet come. There
appeared a gaiety in his countenance, that feemed to
promife us a profperous journey. For my own part,
though I was glad I had eſcaped my dangerous in-
chantrefs, there was a heavinefs lay on my fpirits,
which I could give no account of; but the thoughts
of fuch an unknown voyage, and variety of places,
diffipated it by degrees. We were eleven in num-
ber, five elderly men, and five young ones, myſelf
being a fupernumerary perfon. We were all mount-
ed upon dromedaries, which were very fine for that
fort of creature: they are fomething like camels,
but lefs, and much fwifter; they live a great while
without water, as the camels do, which was the rea-
fon they made ufe of them, for the barren fands they
were to pass over; though they have the fineſt hor-
fes that can be ſeen in their own country. They had
five fpare ones to carry provifions, or to change, in
cafe any one of their own fhould tire by the way.
It was upon one of theſe five that I rode. We went
up the Nile, leaving it on our left hand all the way,
fteering our courfe directly for the Upper Egypt. I
prefume your Reverences know, that the river Nile
divides Egypt into two parts lengthwife, defcending
from Abyffinia with fuch an immenſe courfe, that
the Ethiopians faid it had no head, and running
through the hither Ethiopia, pours down upon E-
gypt, as the Rhine does through the Spanish Ne-
F 3
ther-
66 THE ADVENTURES OF
therlands, making it one of the richeſt countries in
the univerſe. We vifited all the towns on that fa-
mous river upwards, under pretence of merchandi-
fing; but the true reafon of our delay was, becauſe
the Pophar's critical time for his great voyage was
not yet come. He looked at his ephemeris and
notes almoſt every hour, the reſt of them attending
his nod in the moſt minute circumftances. As we
approached the upper parts of Egypt, as nigh as I
could gueſs, overagainſt the deſerts of Barca, they
began to buy provifions proper for their purpoſe;
but particularly rice, dried fruits, and a fort of dried
paſte that ferved us for bread. They bought their
provifions at different places, to avoid fufpicion; and
I obferved they laid up a confiderable quantity, both
for their dromedaries and themſelves: by which I
found we had a long journey to make. When
we came overagainſt the middle coaft of the vaft de-
fert of Barca, we met with a delicate clear rivulet,
breaking out of a riſing part of the fands, and mak
ing towards the Nile. Here we alighted, drank our-
felves, and gave our dromedaries to drink as much as
they would; then we filled all our veſſels, made on
purpoſe for carriage, and took in a much greater pro-
portion of water than we had done provifions.--
I forgot to tell your Reverences, that at feveral places
we paffed, they difmounted, and kiſſed the ground
with a very fuperftitious devotion, and fcraped
fome of the duft, which they put into golden urns,
which they had brought with them on purpoſe, let-
ting me do what I pleaſed all the while. This fort
of devotion I then only gueſſed, but found to be true
afterwards, was the chief occafion of their coming
into thoſe parts, though carried on under the pre-
tence of merchandifing. They did the fame in this
place; and when all were ready, the Pophar look-
ing on his papers and needle, cried Gaulo benim,
which
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
67
which, I was informed, was as much as to fay, Now
children for our lives: immediately, as he had fteered
fouth all along before, he turned ſhort on his right
hand due weft, cross the vaft defert of Barca, as faft
as his dromedary could well go. We had nothing
but fands and ſky before us, and in a few hours were
almoſt out of danger of any one's attempting to fol-
low us.
Being thus embarked, if I may fay fo, on this
vaft ocean of fand, a thouſand perplexing thoughts
came into my mind, which I did not reflect on be-
fore. Behold me in the midſt of the inhospitable
deferts of Africa, where whole armies * had often pe-
riſhed. The further we advanced, the more our
danger increaſed. I was with men, who were not
not only ftrangers to myfelf, but to all the world
befide ten againſt one; but this was not all;
I was perfuaded now they were Heathens and ido-
laters: for, befide their fuperftitious kiffing the
earth in feveral places, I obferved they looked
up
:
to-
* Ancient hiſtories give us feveral inſtances of a great
number of perfons, and even whole armies, who have
been loft in the fands of Africa. Herodotus in Thalia,
fays that Cambyfes the ſon of Cyrus the Great, in his ex-
pedition against the Ethiopians, was brought to fuch
ftraits in thofe vaſt deſerts, that they were forced to
eat every tenth man before they could get back again.
The other army, which he fent to deftroy the temple
of Jupiter Hammon, was entirely overwhelmed and loft
in the fands. Herodot. Thalia. The idolaters imputed
it as a puniſhment for his impiety against Jupiter, but it
was for want of knowing the danger.--I fuppofe very
few are ignorant of the contrivance of Marius the Ro-
man general, to get over the fands to Cafpa, to ſeize
Jugurtha's treafure, which he thought fecure. Salluft de
hello Jugurthin
69
THE ADVENTURES OF
towards the fun, and feemed to addrefs their orai-
fons to that planet, glorious indeed, but a planet
and a creature nevertheleſs: then I reflected on
what the Pophar faid when he bought me, that I
was not likely to return. It is poffible, thought I,
I am deftined for a human facrifice to fome heathen
god in the midſt of this vaſt deſert. But not ſeeing
any arms they had, either offenſive or defenfive, ex-
cept their fhort goads to prick on their dromeda-
ries, I was a little eafy: I had privately provided
myſelf with two pocket-piſtols, and was refolved to
defend myſelf till the laft gafp. But when I confi-
dered that unparalleled juftice and humanity I had
experienced in their treatment of me, I was a little
comforted. As for the difficulty of paffing the de-
ferts, I reflected that their own lives were as much
in danger as mine; that they must have fome un-
known ways of paffing them over, otherwife they
would never expoſe themselves to fuch evident
danger.
I ſhould have told your Reverences, that we fet
out a little before fun-fet to avoid the heats, June
9th, 1688; the moon was about the firſt quarter,
and carried on the light till nigh dawn of day; the
glittering of the fands, or rather pebbly gravel, in
which there were abundance of fhining ftones like
jewels or cryftal, increaſed the light, that we could
fee to fteer our courfe by the needle very well. We
went on at a vaſt rate, the dromedaries being very
fwift creatures; their pace is more running than
gallopping, much like that of a mule; that I verily -
believe, from fix o'clock in the evening till about ten
the next day, we ran almoſt a hundred and twenty
Italian miles: we had neither ftop nor let, but fteer-
ed our courſe in a direct line, like a fhip under fail.
The heats were not nigh ſo infufferable as I expect-
ed; for tho' we faw nothing we could call a moun-
tain
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA. 69
1
:
tain in thoſe immenfe Bares, yet the fands, or at
leaſt the way we fteered, was very high ground:
that as foon as we were out of the breath of the ha-
bitable countries, we had a perpetual breeze blow-
ing full in our faces; yet fo uniform, that it ſcarce
raiſed any duft; partly becaufe, where we paffed,
the fands were not of that ſmall duſty kind, as in
fome parts of Africa, which fly in clouds with the
wind overwhelming all before it, but of a more gra-
velly kind; and partly from an imperceptible dew,
which, though not fo thick as a fog, moiftened the
furface of the ground pretty much. A little after
nine next morning we came to fome clumps of
fhrubby trees, with a little mofs on the ground in-
ftead of grafs here the wind fell, and the heats
became very violent. The Pophar ordered us to a-
light, and pitch our tents, to ſhelter both ourſelves
and dromedaries from the heats. Their tents were
made of the fineſt fort of oiled cloth I ever faw, pro-
digious light and portable, yet capable of keeping
out both rain and fun. Here we refreſhed ourſelves
and beaſts till a little after fix; when we fet out a-
gain, fteering ftill directly weft as nigh as I could
guefs. We went on thus for three days and nights
without any confiderable accident; only I obferved
the ground ſeemed to riſe inſenſibly higher, and the
breezes not only ftronger, but the air itſelf much
cooler. About ten, the third day, we faw fome
more clumps of trees on our right hand, which
looked greener and thicker than the former, as if
they were the beginning of ſome habitable vale, as
in effect they were. The Pophar ordered us to
turn that way, which was the only turning out of
our way we had yet made. By the chearfulneſs of
their countenances, I thought this might be the be-
ginning of their country; but I was very much mi-
taken; we had a far longer and more dangerons
way
70
THE ADVENTURES OF
way to go, than what we had paffed hitherto. How-
ever, this was a very remarkable ſtation of our voy-
age, as your Reverences will find by the fequel.
A's we advanced, we found it to open and defcend
gradually; till at length we faw a' moſt beautiful
vale, full of palms, dates, oranges, and other fruit-
trees, entirely unknown in thefe parts, with ſuch a
refreſhing ſmell from the odoriferous fhrubs, as fil-
led the whole air with perfumes*. We rode into the
thickeſt of it as faſt as we could, to enjoy the invi-
ting ſhade. We eafed our dromedaries, and took
the firſt care of them; for on them all our fafeties
depended. After we had refreshed ourſelves, the
Pophar ordered every one to go to fleep as ſoon as he
could, fince we were like to have but little the three
following days. I fhould have told your Reveren-
ces, that as foon as they alighted, they fell down
flat on their faces, and kiffed the earth, with a great
deal of feeming joy and ardour, which I took to be
a congratulation for their happy arrival at fo hofpi-
table a place, but it was on a quite different account.
I was the first who awoke after our refrefhment;
my thoughts and fears, though much calmer than
they had been, would not fuffer me to be fo fedate
as the reft. Finding the hour for departing was not
yet come, I got up, and walked in that delicious
grove, which was fo much the more delightful, as
the deferts we had paffed were dreadful and horrid.
I paffed on, deſcending towards the centre of the
vale,
* The prodigious fertility of Africa, in the vales be-
tween the deferts and the fkirts of it, for a great breadth
towards the two feas, is recorded by the beft hiftorians;
though the ridge of it, over which our author was con-
ducted, and other particular tracts, are all covered with
fands.
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
71
vale, not doubting, but, by the greennefs and fra-
grancy of the place, I fhould find a ſpring of water.
I had not gone far, before I ſaw a moft delicate rill,
bubbling out from under a rock, forming a little na-
tural bafon, from whence it ran gliding down the
centre of the vale, increaſing as it went, till, in all
appearance, it might form a confiderable rivulet,
unleſs it were fwallowed up again in the fands. At
that place the vale ran upon a pretty deep deſcent,
fo that I could fee over the trees and ſhrubs below
me, almoſt as far as my eyes could reach; increafing
or decreaſing in breadth as the hills of fands, for
now they appeared to be hills, would give it leave.
Here I had the moſt delightful profpect that the
moſt lively imagination can form to itfelf; the fun-
burnt hills of fand on each fide, made the greens
look ſtill more charming; but the ſinging of innu-
merable unknown birds, with the different fruits
and perfumes exhaling from the aromatic fhrubs,
rendered the place delicious beyond expreffion. Af-
ter I had drank my fill, and delighted myſelf with
thoſe native rarities, I faw a large lion come out of
the grove, about two hundred paces below me, go-
ing very quietly to the ſpring to lap. When he had
drank, he whiſked his tail two or three times, and
began to tumble on the green grafs. I took the op-
portunity to flip away back to my companions, very
glad I had eſcaped fo: they were all awake when I
came up, and had been in great concern for my ab-
fence. The Pophar feemed more difpleafed that I
had left them, than ever I faw him; he mildly
chid me for expofing myſelf to be devoured by wild
beafts: but when I told them of the water and the
lion, they were in a greater furpriſe, looking at one
another with a fort of fear in their looks, which I
interpreted to be for the danger. I had escaped; but
it was on another account. After fome words in
their
72
THE ADVENTURES OF
their own language, the Pophar fpoke aloud in lin-
gua Franca, I think, fays he, we may let this young
man ſee all our ceremonies, eſpecially fince he will
foon be out of danger of diſcovering them, if he
fhould have a mind to do it. At this they pulled
out of their ſtores, fome of the choiceft fruits, a
cruife of rich wine, fome bread, a burning-glafs,
a thurible*, perfumes, and other inftruments com-
monly uſed in the Heathen facrifices. I looked a-
ghaft at this ſtrange fight; which was fuch as I had
never obferved in them before, and began to ap-
prehend that I was now really deſigned for a hu-
man facrifice † to fome infernal god or other; but
when I compared the Pophar's late words with what
I faw, I fcarce doubted of it, and was contriving
with myſelf to fell my life as dear as I could. The
Pophar ordered us to bring the dromedaries, and e-
every thing along with us, for fear, as he faid, they
fhould be devoured by wild beafts. We defcended
towards the centre of the vale, where I ſaw the
fountain. They went on a great way lower into the
vale, till it began to be very ſteep; but we found
a narrow way made by art, and not ſeeming to have
been
* An inftrument to hold incenfe.
+ Our author's fears were not vain, confidering the
preparatives he faw, and other circumftances. Befides,
it is well known, the ancient Africans, particularly the
Getulians and Libyans, and even the Carthaginians,
made uſe of human facrifices to appease their deities.
Bochart, in the fecond part of his Geographia Sacra,
proves beyond question, that the Carthaginians were
part of the people of Canaan driven out by Joshua, who
fed to facrifice their children to Moloch, &c. Even
in Hannibal's time, when they were grown more polite,
they feat privately children to Tyre for a facrifice to
Hercules.
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
73
been very long unfrequented, which was more fur-
prifing, becauſe I took the place to be uninhabited,
and even inacceffible to all but thefe people. We
were forced to deſcend one by one, leading our dro-
medaries in our hands: I took particular care to be
the hindmoft, keeping at a little diſtance from the
reſt, for fear of a furprife. They marched down in
a mournful kind of proceffion, obferving a moſt pro-
found filence all the while. At length we came
into the fineſt natural amphitheatre that is poſſible
to deſcribe. There was nothing but odoriferous
greens and fky to be ſeen; except downwards right
before us, where we had a moſt delicious profpect
over that glorious vale, winding a little to the right,
till it was intercepted by the collateral hills. At the
upper part of the amphitheatre, where the break of
the hill made that agreeable efplanade, there ftood an
ancient pyramid, juft after the manner of thofe in
Egypt, but nothing near fo big as the leaſt of them.
In the front of it that faced the vale, the fteps
were cut out in the form of an altar, on which was
erected a ſtatue of a venerable old man, done to the
life, of the fineſt poliſhed marble, or rather fome un-
known ſtone of infinite more value. Here, I had not
the leaſt doubt, but that I was to be facrificed to
this idol. The Pophar feeing me at a diſtance, cal-
led to me to come and fee their ceremonies. Then
I thought it was time to ſpeak or never: Father,
faid I, fince you give me leave to call you fo, I am
willing to perform all your commands, where the
honour of the fupreme God is not called in queſtion;
but I am ready to die a thouſand deaths, rather than
give his honour to another. I am a Chriftian, and
believe one only God, the fupreme Being of all be-
ings, and Lord of the univerfe; for which reafon
I cannot join with you in your idolatrous worſhip.
If you are refolved to put me to death on that ac-
G
count,
74.
THE ADVENTURES OF
1
count, I here offer my life freely! if I am to be
made a part of your infernal facrifice, I will defend
myſelf to the laſt drop of my blood, before I will
fubmit to it. He anſwered me with a fmile, rather
than with any indignation, and told me, when I
came to be better acquainted with them, I ſhould
find they were not fo inhumane as to put people to
death, becauſe they were of a different opinion from
their own. That this was only a religious ceremony
they performed to their deceaſed anceſtors*, and if
I had not a mind to aſſiſt at it, I might fit down at
what diſtance I pleaſed.
[Secretary. The inquifitors were extremely
pleaſed with the firft part of his difcourfe,
wherein he ſhewed fuch courage in defence of
his religion, and refolution to die rather than
join in their idolatrous worship; but all had
like to have been daſhed again by the fecond
part, which made one of the inquifitors inter-
rupt his narration, and afk him the following
queſtion.
Inquifitor. I hope you do not think it unlawful
to perfecute, or even to put to death obſtinate
heretics, who would deftroy the religion of our
fore-
* The earlieſt accounts of Egypt, from whence theſe
people come, tell us that they had a great veneration
for their deceaſed anceſtors. See the third part of the
Biſhop of Meaux Univerfal hiſtory, quoted above.
Diodorus Siculus, who lived in the beginning of Augu-
ftus's reign, fays of the Egyptians, rò repì tás tapas µáxise
udal, they were particularly diligent about their fe-
pulchres, or in the worship of their dead. The fame fu-
perftition reigns ſtill among the Chineſe, whom I fhall
Thew afterwards to have been a colony of Egyptians, not-
withstanding that China and Egypt are fo far diftant
from each other,
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
75
forefathers, and lead others into the fame dam-
nation with themfelves. If treafon againſt
one's prince may be puniſhed with death, why
may not treafon against the King of heaven be
puniſhed with the like penalty? Have a care
you do not caft reflections on the holy inquifi-
tion.
Gaudentio. Reverend Fathers! I only relate
bare matter of fact, as it was ſpoke by the
mouth of a Heathen, ignorant of our holy
myſteries. I have all the reafon in the world,
to extol the juftice of the holy inquifition:
nor do I think, but, in fuch cafes mentioned
by your Reverences, it may be lawful to ufe
the utmoſt ſeverities to prevent greater evils.
But it argued a wonderful moderation in the
Pophar, which I found to be his real fenti-
ments, not unbecoming a Chriftian in fuch
circumſtances, where it did not tend to the
deftruction of the whole.-But in this, as in
all other matters, I fubmit to your deciſions.
Secretary. I interpofed in his favour, and put
the inquifitors in mind, that there was no-
thing but what was juft in his anfwers: and
we ourſelves only uſed thofe rigours in the
laft extremity, to prevent greater miſchiefs.
So they bid him read on.]
When the Pophar had faid this, he and the reſt
of them fell down on their faces, and kiffed the
earth: then with the burning-glafs they kindled
fome odoriferous woods; put the coals in the thu-
tible with the incenfe, and incenfed the idol
or ſtatue: that done, they poured the wine on
the altar; fet bread on the one fide, and fruits
on the other and having lighted two little pyra-
mids of most delicious perfumes at each end of the
great pyramid, they fat them down round the foun-
G 2
tain
76
THE ADVENTURES OF
tain, which I fuppofe was conveyed by art under
the pyramid*, and iffued out in the middle of the
amphitheatre. There they refreshed themſelves,
and gathered the fruits which hung round us in
the grove, eating of them very heartily, and invit
ing me to do the like. I made fome difficulty at
firſt, fearing it might be part of the facrifice; but
they affuring me all was but a civil ceremony, I
joined them, and did as they did. The Pophar
turned to me, and faid, My fon, we worship one.
moſt high God, as you do: what we did juſt now
was not that we believe any deity in that ftatue, or
adored it as a god; but only reſpect it as a memo-
rial, and in remembrance of our great anceſtor, who
heretofore conducted our forefathers to this place,
and was buried in this pyramid†. The reſt of our
forefathers, who died before they were forced to
leave this valley, are buried all around us.
is the reaſon we kiffed the ground, not thinking it
lawful to flir the bones of the dead. We did the
fame in Egypt, becauſe we were originally of that
land our particular anceſtors lived in that part,
That
which
*The ancient Egyptians had a ſtrange fondneſs for
building pyramids; whether they were for the fame end
as the tower of Babel, that is, to make themſelves a name,
or for other ends, we cannot tell.—
-The great pyra-
mid is more ancient than all the reft, infomuch that the
beſt authors do not know when to fix its date, fome
faying it was built by Moeris their first king, others by
Cecrops Lector. But if the account the Pophar gives of
their origin, at the next ſtation, be true, it was built be-
fore there was any king in Egypt. The river Nile was
conveyed by art under the great pyramid.
One of the ends of building the pyramids, was cer
tainly for burying-places for fome great men.
1
77
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
which was afterwards called Thebes *. The time
will not permit me to acquaint you at prefent, how
we were driven out of our native country to this
place, and afterwards from this place to the land
we are now going to, but you ſhall know all hereaf-
ter. The bread, fruits, and wine we laid on the altart,
as they are the chief ſupport of our being; fo we
leave them there as a teſtimony, that the venerable
old man, whoſe ſtatue you ſee, was, under God,
the author and father of our nation. This faid,
he told us it was time to make the beſt of our way;
fo they all got up, and having kiffed the ground
once more, the five elderly men fcraped a little of
the earth, and put it in fine golden veffels, with a
great deal of care and refpect. After refreſhing
ourfelves again, we made our provifion of fruits
and water, and leading our dromedaries up the
way we came down, mounted, and fet out for the
remainder of our journey.
+
We were now paſt the tropic of Cancer‡, as I
found
G 3
*Thebes once the moſt famous city of Egypt, ha-
ving a hundred gates, &c. was the No-Amon, or Dia-
fpofis of the ancients, Bochart. Phaleg. lib. 4. Tacitus
fays, that, in the time of Germanicus, there was remain-
ing an infcription in the Egyptian language, fignifying,
Habitaffe quondam (Thebis) feptingenta millia homi-
num aetate militari: that there were once feven hun-
dred thouſand inhabitants in Thebes fit to bear arms.
Tacit. Annal, lib. 2.
+ This is certainly rank idolatry, notwithſtanding the
Pophar calls it but a civil ceremony. Thus the worſhip
the Chineſe pay to their dead, and allowed by the Je-
fuits, was faid by them to be but a pious civil ceremony,
though it was like this, or rather more fuperftitious.,
See the condemnation of it by Pope Clement XI.
‡ When perfons are beyond that tropic, at mid-day.
the
78
THE ADVENTURES OF
found by our ſhadows going fouthward; and went
on thus a little, bending towards the weft again,
almoft parallel to the tropic, the breezes increafing
rather ſtronger than before, fo that about midnight
it was really cold. We gave our dromedaries wa-
ter about fun-rifing, and refreſhed ourſelves a lit-
tle: then fet out with new vigour at a prodigious
rate: ftill the breezes fell between nine and ten;
however we made ſhift to go on, becauſe they came
again about noon: between three and four was the
hotteſt time of all. Befides, going now parallel to
the tropic, we travelled on the hot fands, a very little
defcending; whereas, when we pointed fouthwards
towards the line, we found the ground to be infen-
fibly rifing upon us *; but as we went on thefe al-
moſt flats, if it had not been that we were almoſt
on the ridge of Africa, which made it cooler than
one
the fhadows of things are towards the fouth, becauſe the
fun is then north of us;
Miranturque umbras tranfire finiftras.
They might have paffed the tropic before, fince it runs
over part of the defert of Barca, not much fouthward of
Egypt; but it feems they ſteered weftward for ſome time.
*His obfervations are juft, fince all the new philofo-
phers allow the earth to be fpherodical and gibbous to-
wards the equator. Whoever therefore goes by land,
either from the north or fouth towards the equator, muſt
afcend. This ſeems to be a very natural reaſon, why
thoſe immenfe Bares are not ſo exceffive hot. The higheſt
mountains are confiderably nigher the fun than the low
lands, yet exceffive cold in the hotteft climates; in the
vales the rays of the ſun are cooped in, and doubled and
trebled by refraction and reflection, &c. The fame air
put in a turbulent motion will be hot, and in a direct one
cold.
!
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
79
one can well believe, it had been impoffible to bear
the heats. When we refted, we not only pitched
our tents for ourſelves and dromedaries, but the
fands were fo hot, that we were forced to lay things
under our feet to preferve them from burning.
Thus we travelled through thoſe diſmal deſerts for
four days, without fight of any living creature but
ourſelves. Sands and fky were all that prefented
itſelf to our view. The fatigue was the greateſt I
ever underwent in my life. The fourth day about
eight in the morning, by good fortune for us, or
alfe by the prudent forecaſt of the Pophar, who
knew all his ftations, we faw another vale towards
the right hand, with fome ftraggling trees here
and there, but not feeming nigh ſo pleaſant as the
firft: we made to it with all our ſpeed, and had
much ado to bear the heats till we came to it. We
alighted immediately, and led our dromedaries down
the gentle deſcent, till we could find a thicker part
of it. The firſt trees were thin and old, as if they
had juſt moiſture enough to keep them alive: the
ground was but juſt covered over with a little fun-
burnt mofs, without any fign of water, but our ſtock
was not yet gone. At length, as we defcended, the
grove increaſed every way, the trees were large,
with fome dates here and there, but not ſo good
as in the other. We refted a little, and then con-
tinued to defcend for fome time, till we came into
a very cool and thick ſhade. Here the Pophar told
us, we muſt ſtay two or three days, perhaps long-
er, till he faw his ufual figns for proceeding on
his journey; and bid us be fparing of our water,
for fear of accidents. We fettled our dromedaries
as before: for ourſelves, we could fcarce take any
thing, we were fo fatigued, wanting reft more than
meat and drink. The Pophar, ordering us fome
cordial wines they had along with them for that
pur
80
THE ADVENTURES OF
1
purpoſe, told us, we might fleep as long as we
would; only bid us be ſure to cover ourſelves well;
for the nights were long, and even cold about mid-
night. We were all foon afleep, and did not wake
till four the next morning. The Pophar, folici-
tous for all our fafeties as well as his own, (for this
was the critical time of our journey,) was awake
the first of us. When we were up, and had re-
freſhed ourſelves, which we did with a very good
appetite, he told us we muſt go up on the fands a-
gain to obferve the figns. We took our drome-
daries along with us, for fear of wild beaſts, tho'
we faw none, walking gently up the fands, till we
came to a very high ground. We had but a drea-
ry profpect, as far as our eyes could carry us, of fun-
burnt plains, without grafs, ſtick, or fhrub, except
when we turned our backs to look at the vale
where we had lain all night, which we faw fpread
and extended itſelf a vaſt way. He affured us, the
notes left for rules by his anceſtors, mentioned a
fpring in that vale below us, which running lower
became a rivulet; but that, either by an earthquake,
or fome flood of fand, it was quite choaked up,
running under ground, without any one's knowing
whether it broke out again, or was entirely fwal-
lowed up*. He faid alfo, that, by the most ancient
accounts of his forefathers, the fands were not in
their times fo dangerous to pafs as they are now, or
of ſuch vaft extent †, but had fruitful vales much
nearer
* Geographers agree, that rivers, and even great
lakes in Africa fink under ground, and are quite loſt with-
out any visible outlets. The valt depth of the ſtrata of
fand feems more proper to fwallow them up there, than
in other parts of the world.
†There feems to be a natural reafon for what he ſays;
for thofe vaft fands, or hills of gravel, were undoubted-
SIG, GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
81
nearer one another than at prefent. He added, that
he wiſhed earneſtly to fee the figns he wanted for
proceeding on our way; fince there was no ſtirring
till they appeared: and that according to his e-
phemeris and notes, they fhould appear about this
time, unleſs fomething very extraordinary happened.
This was about eight in the morning, the 9th day
after we ſet out for the deferts. He was every now
and then looking fouthward, or ſouth-weſt, with
great folicitude in his looks, as if he wondered he
faw nothing. At length he cried out with great
emotions of joy, It is coming! Look yonder, fays
he, towards the ſouth-weſt, as far as your eyes can
carry you, and ſee what you can difcover. We told
him, we faw nothing but fome clouds of fand, car-
ried round here and there like whirlwinds. That
is the fign I want, continued he; but mark well
which way it drives. We faid it drove directly
eaſtward, as nigh as we could guefs. It does, fays
he; then turning his face weftwards, with a little
point of the fouth, All thofe vaft deferts, fays he,
are now in fuch a commotion of ſtorms and whirl-
winds, that man and beaſt will foon be overwhelm-
ed in the rolling wave of fands. He had fcarce
faid this, but we ſaw, at a vaft diftance, ten thou-
fand little whirlſpouts of fand, rifing and falling
with prodigious tumult and velocity* eaftward,
with
ly left by the general deluge, as probably all the leffer
ftrata or beds of gravel were. Yet great part of them
muſt have been covered with flime or mud for feveral
years after the deluge, ſome thinner, fome thicker, and
confequently more moiſt and productive accordingly. Ne-
vertheleſs, the violent rays of the fun ftill render them
more dry and barren, and, in all probability, thefe de-
ferts will increaſe more and more, where the country is
not cultivated.
* Though in the vaſt ocean between the tropics, where
promos-
1
82
THE ADVENTURES OF
with vaft thick clouds of fand and duft following
them. Come, fays he, let us return to our refting-
place; for there we muſt ſtay, till we fee further
how matters go. As this appeared newer to me
than any of the reft, and being poffeffed with a
great idea of the knowledge of the man, I made
bold to ask him what was the caufe of this fudden
phænomenon: he told me, That, about that full
moon, there always fell prodigious rains*, coming
from the weſtern part of Africa, on this fide the e-
quator, and driving a little fouth-weft for fome time
at firft, but afterwards turning almoft fouth, and
croffing the line till they came to the fource of the
Nile; in which parts they fell for three weeks or a
month together; which was the occaſion of the o-
verflowing of that river f: but that, on this fide
the
promontories do not intervene, the winds are generally
eafterly, yet there is a perpetual weft wind blows into
Guinea.- -There are vaft rains at the folftices between
the tropics, as the accounts of thoſe parts declare ;
though at that time of the year, more beyond the line
than on this fide of it. It is not to be queftioned, but
in fuch violent changes, particularly before thofe rains,
there muſt be furious hurricanes of wind and fand, enough
to overwhelm whole armies and countries.-The moſt
incredible part of this narration, is, how they could tra-
vel at all under the tropic, in the fummer folftice, only,
as he fays, the ground being very high and open, it muſt
draw air.
be-
* Naturalifts agree, that beyond the line there are
great rains at that feafon. It is poffible, they may
gin on this fide, being driven by the perpetual weft winds
into Guinea, and then, by natural cauſes, turn towards
the line and fouthern tropic.
The cauſes of the overflowing of the river Nile,
unknown to moſt of the ancients, are now allowed to be
the
ト
​SrG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
83
the equator, it only rained about fifteen days, pre-
ceded by thoſe whirlwinds and clouds of fand,
which rendered all that tract impaffable, till the
rains had laid them again.--By this time we
were come down to our refting-place, and though
we did not want fleep or refreſhment, yet we took
both; to have the cool of the evening to recreate
ourſelves after fo much fatigue, not being likely to
move till the next evening at fooneft.
At five in the evening, the Pophar called us up
to go with him once more to the higheſt part of
the defert, faying he wanted one fign yet, which he
hoped to have that evening, or elſe it would go
hard with us for want of water, our proviſion of it
being almoſt ſpent; and there were no fprings in the
deferts that we were to paſs over, till we came with-
in a long day's journey of the end of our voyage.
However, he ſcarce doubted but we fhould fee the
certain fign he wanted this evening: on which ac-
count, there did not appear fuch a folicitude in his
countenance as before: for though he was our go-
vernor, or captain, and had the reſpectful deference
paid to him; yet he governed us in all refpects, as
if we were his children, with all the tenderneſs of a.
father, as his name imported; though none of the
com-
the great rains falling in June and July about the line,
and the fouthern tropic, and the melting of the fnow on
the mountains of the moon lying in that tract. None
can wonder there ſhould be fnow in thofe hot climates,
who have heard of the Andes or Cordilleras bordering
on Peru. Our Italy is very hot, yet the Alps and A-
pennines are three parts of the year covered with fnow.
The Nile overflows in Auguft, which feems to be
a proper diſtance of time for the waters to come down
to Egypt, fuch a vaſt way off from the cauſe of it. There
is a river in Cochinchina, and elſewhere, that overflows
in the fame manner.
84
THE ADVENTURES OF
company were his real children. If there were any
figns of partiality, it was in my favour, always ex-
preffing the moſt endearing tendernefs for me, which
the other young men, inſtead of taking any diflike
at, were really pleafed with. No brothers in the
world could be more loving to one another than we
were. The elderly men took delight in ſeeing our
youthful gambols with one another: it is true their
nature is, of the two, a little more inclined to gravi-
ty than that of the Italians, who are no light nation;
yet their gravity is accompanied with all the ferenity
and chearfulneſs imaginable, and I then thought at
our firſt acquaintance, that I had never feen fuch an
air of a free-born people in my life; as if they knew
no other fubjection but what was merely filial.
When we came to the high ground, we could fee
the hurricanes play ftill; but, what was more won-
derful, very few effects of that aerial tumult came
our way, but drove on almoſt parallel to the equa-
tor: the air looked like a brown dirty fog, towards
the east and fouth-eaft; all the whirlwinds tending
towards thofe parts: it began after fome time to look
a little more lightfome towards the weft; but fo, as
if it were occaſioned by a more ſtrong and ſettled
wind. At length we perceived, at the furtheft ho-
rizon, the edge of a prodigious black cloud, extend-
ing itſelf to the fouth-weft and weltern points, rifing
with a difcernable motion, though not very faſt.
We faw plain enough, by the blacknefs and thick-
nefs of it, that it prognoſticated a great deal of rains
Here they all fell proftrate on the earth: then
raifing up their hands and eyes towards the fun,
they ſeemed to pay their adorations to that great
luminary. The Pophar, with an audible voice, pro-
nounced fome unknown words, as if he were re-
turning thanks to that planet for what he faw. At
this I ſtepped back, and kept myſelf at a diſtance;
not
B
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
85
:
not fo much for fear of my life, as before, as not to
join with them in their idolatrous worſhip. For I
could not be ignorant now, that they had a wrong
notion of God, and if they acknowledged any, it
was the fun which in effect is the leaſt irrational
idolatry people can be guilty of *. When they had
done their oraifons, the Pophar turned to me, and
faid, I ſee you won't join with us in any of our re-
ligious ceremonies; but I must tell you, continued
he, that cloud is the faving of all our lives: and as
that great fun, pointing to the luminary, is the in-
ftrument that draws it up, as indeed he is the pre-
ferver
H
* All idolatry being a worfhip of creatures instead of
the one fupreme God, muſt be irrational. But it is cer-
tain, and well atteſted by ancient hiſtory, that the eaſtern
nations worshipped the fun: probably it was the firſt
idolatrous worſhip that was in the world. The great
benefits all nature receives from his influence; the glo-
rious brightneſs of his rays; the variety, yet conſtant te-
nour of his motions, might induce ignorant people to be-
lieve him to be of a fuperior nature to other creatures,
though it is evidently certain, he is limited in bis perfec-
tions, and confequently no God. It is true, the ancient
Egyptians, from whom theſe people ſprung, as will be
feen afterwards, worshipped the fun in the moſt early
times. There was a priest of the fun in the patriarch Jo-
feph's time. And the Egyptians were fome of the firſt
aftronomers in the world, contending for antiquity with
the Chaldeans. Though both the Chaldeans and Egyp-
tians had their knowledge from the deſcendents of Sem,
or his father Noah, who, by the admirable ftructure of the
ark, appears to have been maſter of very great ſciences.
I fay, the Egyptians being ſo much addicted to aſtronomy,
it is probable that glorious luminary was the chief object
of their worship. They did not worſhip idols and beaſts
till long afterwards. See the learned Bochart's Phaleg.
in Mifraim.
E
86
THE ADVENTURES OF
ferver of all our beings, we think ourſelves obliged
to return our thanks to him. Here he ftopped, as
if he had a mind to hear what I could fay for myſelf,
I was not willing to enter into difputes, well know-
ing that religious quarrels are the moſt provoking
of any; yet I thought myfelf obliged to make profef-
fion of my belief in the fupreme God, now I was cal-
led upon to the profeffed worſhip of a falfe deity.
I anfwered with the moft modeft refpect I was cap-
able of, that that glorious planet was one of the phy-
fical cauſes of the prefervation of our beings, and of
the production of all things; but that he was pro-
duced himſelf by the moſt high God, the firſt caufe
and author of all things in heaven and earth; the
fun only moving by his order, as an inanimate be-
ing, incapable of hearing our prayers, and only ope-
rating by his direction. However, I offered to join
with him, in returning my beft thanks to the moſt
high God, for creating the fun, capable by his heat
to raiſe that cloud for the faving of our lives.
Thus I adapted my anfwer as nigh to his difcourfe
as I could, yet not fo as to deny my faith. For I
could not entirely tell what to make of them as yet:
fince I obferved, they were more myſterious in their
religious ceremonies, than in an any thing elfe *; or
rather, this was the only thing they were reſerved
in.
* This agrees with all ancient accounts of the firſt
people of Egypt; witness their emblems, hieroglyphics,
&c. Moſt of the ancient fables, under which fo many my-
fteries were couched, did not firſt fpring from the Greeks,
though improved by them; but from the Egyptians and
Chaldeans, who at first held a communication of ſciences
with one another, but grew to emulofity afterwards.
The wonderful things the Egyptian Magi did, in imita-
tion of the miracles wrought by: Mofes, fhew they were
great artiſts.
T
}
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
87
量
​in. He pondered a good while on what I faid, but
at length he added; You are not much out of the
way: you and I will talk this matter over another
time; fo turned off the diſcourſe? I fuppofed it to
be becauſe of the young men ftanding by us, who
he had not a mind ſhould receive any other notions
of religion, but what they had been taught. It was
funfet by the time we came down to the grove.
We had fome fmall flights of fand, caufed by an
odd. commotion in. the air, attended with little
whirlwinds, which put us in fome apprehenfions of
a fand-ſhower; but he bid us take courage, fince
he could not find in all his accounts, that the hur-
ricanes or rains ever came, in any great quantity, as
far as we were, the nature of them being to drive
more parallel to the equator: but he was ſure we
fhould have fome ; and ardered us to pitch our
tents as firm as we could, and draw out all our wa-
ter-vellels, to catch the rain againſt all accidents,
When this was done, and we had eat our fuppers,
we recreated ourſelves in the grove, wandering a-
bout here and there, and difcourfing of the nature
of theſe phenomena. We did not care to go to reſt
fo foon, having repofed ourſelves fa well that day,
and having all the following night and the next
day to stay in that place. The grove grew much
pleafanter as we advanced into it; there were a
great many dates and other fruits, the natural pro-
dace of Africa; but not quite fo rich as in the firſt
grove. I made bold to ask the Pophar, how far
that grove extended, or whether there were any in-
habitants. He told me, he could not tell any thing
of either. That it was poffible the grove might
enlarge itſelf different ways, among the winding
hills: fince his accounts told him, there had been
a-rivulet of water, though now fwallowed up; but
he believed there were no inhabitants, fince there
-
H 2
was
88
THE ADVENTURES OF
was no mention made of them in his papers. Nor
did he believe any other people in the world befide
themſelves, knew the way, or would venture fo far
into thofe horrid inhofpitable deferts. Having a
mind to learn whether he had any certain knowledge
of the longitude, which creates fuch difficulties to
the Europeans, I asked how he was fure that was
the place; or by what rule he could know how far
he was come, or where he was to turn to right or
left. He ſtopped a little at my queſtions; then,
without any apparent heſitation, Why, faid he, we
know by the needle, how far we vary from the north
or fouth point, at leaſt till we come to the tropic*;
if not, we can take the meridian and height of the
fun, and knowing the time of the year, we can tell
how near we approach to, or are off the equator.
Yes, faid I but as there are different meridians e-
very ſtep you take, how can you tell how far you
go eaft or weft, when you run either way in paral-
lel lines to the tropics, or the equator? Here he
Atopped
:
* Experimental philofophy tells us, that the needle is
of little uſe in navigation, when under the line; but lies
fluctuating without turning to any point of itſelf; be-
caufe, as fome fuppofe, the current of the magnetic efflu-
via, flying from pole to pole, has there its longeft axis,
as the diameter of the equator is longer than the axis of
the world. But whether this has the fame effect on the
needle by land, which is the caſe, as it has by ſea, we
muſt have more certain experiments to know, though it
is probable it may.
+ Where ever we ſtand, we are on the fummit of the
globe with respect to us. Whoever therefore thinks to
go due weſt, parallel to the equator or eaſt, will not do
fo, but will cut the line at longrun, becauſe he makes
a greater circle. Theſe men therefore, when they thought
they went due weft, were approaching to the line, more
than
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
89
ftopped again, and either could not make any certain
difcovery, or had not a mind to let me into the fe-
cret. The firft was moſt likely; however, he an
ſwered readily enough, and faid, You pleafe me with
your curious questions, fince I find you are fenfible
of the difficulty. Why, continued he, all the me-
thod we have, is, to obferve exactly how far our
dromedaries go in an hour, or any other ſpace of
time: you fee we go much about the fame pace :
we have no ftops in our way, but what we know of,
to refrefa ourfelves or fo, for which we generally
allow fo much time*. When we fet out from E-
gypt, we went due weft; our beaſts gain fo
many
miles an hour; we know by that, how far we are
more weft than we weret. If we decline to the
north or the fouth, we know likewife, how many
miles we have advanced in fo many hours, and com-
pate how much the declination takes off from our
going due welt. And though we cannot tell to a
demonftrative exactnefs. we can tell pretty nigh.
This was all I could get out of him at that time,
which
H 3
than they were aware of, and fuppofing the structure of
the earth to be ſpheroidical, went up hill all the way,
bating fome fmall inequalities.
*This mult be understood according to the foregoing
remark.
† At first fight, it feems to be eaſier to find out the
longitude by land than by ſea, becauſe we may be more
certain how far we advance. At fea there are currents,
and tides, and fettings in of the fea, which make the ſhip
to go aflant more or leſs inſenſibly. As yet there has been
no certain rule found to tell us, how far we advance due
caft or due weſt. The elevation of the pole, or the
height of the fun, fhews us, how far we decline to the
north or fouth; but we have no certain rule for the salt
or well.
*
90
THE ADVENTURES OF
which did not fatisfy the difficulty, I afterwards ask-
ed him, how they came to find out this way, or to
venture to ſeek out a habitation unknown to all the
world befide. He antwered, "For liberty, and
the preſervation of our laws." I was afraid of ask-
ing any farther, feeing he gave fuch general an-
fwers. By this time it was prodigious dark, though
full moon*. We had fome fudden gufts of wind
that ftartled us a little; and it lightened at fuch a
rate, as I never faw in my life. And although it
was towards the horizon, and drove fidewife of us,
yet it was really terrible to fee; the flaſhes were fo
thick, that the fky was almoſt in a light fire. We
made up to our tents as faſt as we could; and though
we had only the fkirts of the clouds over us, it rain-
ed fo very hard, that we had our veffels foon fup-
plied with water, and got fafe into our fhelter.
The thunder was at a vaſt diſtance, but juſt audible,
and, for our comfort, drove ftill to the eastward..
I do not know in what difpofitions the elderly men.
might be, being accuftomed to the nature of it; but
I am fure I was in fome apprehenfion, fully perfuad-
ed, if it had come directly over us, nothing could
withſtand its impetuofity. I had very little incli-
nation to reft, whatever my companions had; but
pondering with myfelf, both the nature of the thing,
and the prodigious ſkill theſe men muſt have in the
laws of the univerfe, I ftaid with impatience waiting
the event.
I was mufing with myſelf on what I had heard
and feen, not being able yet to guefs with any fatis-
faction
* The full moon about the fummer-folftice generally
brings rain, and the overflowing of the Nile is now known
to be caufed by the vaſt rains in the regions near the
gator.
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
91
faction what theſe people were, when an unexpect-
ed accident was the caufe of a diſcovery, which
made me fee they were not greater ſtrangers to me
than I was to myſelf. The weather was ftifling
hot, ſo that we had thrown off our garments to our
fhirts, and bared our breaſts for coolness fake;
when there came a prodigious flaſh, or rather blaze
of lightning, which ſtruct full againſt the breaſt of
one of the young men oppofite to me, and difco-
vered a bright gold medal hanging down from his
neck, with the figure of the fun engraved on it,
furrounded with unknown characters; the very
fame in all appearance I had feen my deceaſed mo-
ther always wear about her neck, and fince her
death I carried with me for her fake. I aſked the
meaning of that medal, fince I had one about me, as
it appeared, of the very fame make. If the Pophar
had been ftruck with lightning, he could not have
been in a greater furpriſe than he was at theſe words:
You one of thefe medals! faid he; how, in the name
of wonder, did you come by it? I told him my
mother wore it about her neck, from a little child;
and with that pulled it out of my pocket. He
fnatched it out of my hands with a prodigious ea-
gernefs, and held it againſt the lightning perpetu-
ally flaſhing in upon us. As foon as he faw it was
the fame with the other, he cried out, Great fun,
what can this mean? Then aſked me again, where
I had it? how my mother came by it? who my
mother was? what age ſhe was of when ſhe died?
As foon as the violence of his ecftacy would give me
leave, I told him my mother had it ever fince fhe
was a little child: that fhe was the adopted daugh-
ter of a noble merchant in Corfica, who had given
her all his effects when my father married her: that
ſhe was married at thirteen; and I being nineteen,
and the fecond fon, I gueſſed ſhe was towards for-
ty
92
THE ADVENTURES OF
ty when he died. It must be Ifphena, cried he,
with the utmoſt ecstacy, it must be the. Then he
caught me in his arms, and faid, You are now
really one of us, being the fon of my father's daugh-
ter, my dear fifter Ifphena. The remembrance of
whom made the tears run down the old man's cheeks
very plentifully.She was loft at Grand Cairo a-
bout the time you mention, together with a twin-
fifter who I fear is never to be heard of. Then I
reflected I had heard my mother fay, fhe had been
informed, the gentleman who adopted her for his
daughter, had bought her when he was a little
girl of a Turkish woman of that place; that be-
ing charmed with the early figns of beauty in her,
and having no children, he adopted her for his own.
Yes, faid the Pophar, it muſt be fhe; but what is
become of the other filter? For, faid he, my dear
Lifter brought two at one unfortunate birth, which
coft her her life. I told him I never heard any
thing of the other. Then he acquainted me that
his fifter's huſband was the perfon who conduct-
ed the reſt to vifit the tombs of their anceſters, as
he did now: that the laft voyage, he took his wife
with him, who out of her great fondneſs had teaf-
ed him and importuned him fo much to go along
with him, that, though it was contrary to their laws,
he contrived to carry her diſguiſed in man's cloaths,
like one of the young men he chofe to accompany
him in the expedition: that ftaying at Grand Cairo
till the next feafon for his return, the proved with
child of twins; and, to his unfpeakable grief, died
in childbed. That when they carried her up to
Thebes to be interred with her anceſtors, of which
I ſhould have a more exact information by and by,
they were obliged to leave the children with a nurſe
of the country, with fome Egyptian fervants to take
care of the houſe and effects; but before they came
back,
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
93
back, the nurſe with her accomplices ran away
with the children, and, as was fuppofed, murdered
them, rifled the houfe of all the jewels and other
valuable things, and were never heard of after-
wards. But it ſeems they thought it more for their
advantage to fell the children, as we find they did,
by your mother; but what part of the world
the other fifter is in, or whether the be at all, is
known only to the great author of our being. How-
ever, continued he, we rejoice in finding theſe hope-
ful remains of your dear mother, whofe refemblance
you carry along with you. It was that gave me
fuch a kindneſs for your perfon the firſt time I faw
you, methought, perceiving fomething I had never
obſerved in any other race of people. But, faid he,
I deprive my companions and children here of the
happineſs of embracing their own flesh and blood,
fince we all ſprung from one common father, the
author of our nation, with whom you are going to
be incorporated once more. Here we embraced
one another with a joy that is inexpreffible. Now
all my former fears were entirely vanifhed; though
I had loft the country where I was born, I had
found another, of which I could nowife be ashamed,
where the people were the moſt humane and civi-
lized I ever faw, and the foil the fineſt as I had rea-
fon, to hope, in the world. The only check of
my happineſs was, that they were Infidels. How-
ever, I was refolved not to let any confideration blot
out of my mind that I was a Chriftian. On
which account, when the Pophar would have tied
the medal about my neck, as a badge of my race, I
had fome difficulty in that point, for fear it ſhould
be an emblem of idolatry, feeing them to be ex-
tremely fuperftitious. So I asked him, what was
the meaning of the figure of the fun, with thofe un-
known characters round about it? He told me the
cha-
.
94
THE ADVENTURES OF
characters were to be pronounced Omabim, i. e. The
fun is the author of our being, or more literally, The
fun is our father. Om or On fignifies the fun [This
will be explained in another place.] Ab fignifies Fa-
ther, Im or Mim, Us. This made me remember,
they had told me in Egypt that they were children
of the fun; and gave me fome uneafinefs at their i
dolatrous notions. I therefore told him, I would
keep it as a cognifance of my country; but could
not acknowledge any but God to be the fupreme
author of my being. As to the fupreme author,
faid he, your opinion is little different from ours*.
But let us leave theſe religious matters till ano-
time: we'll cloſe this happy day with thankſgiv-
ing to the fupreme Being for this difcovery: to-
morrow morning, fince you are now really one of
us, I will acquaint you with your origin, and how
we came to hide ourſelves in theſe inhofpitable
deferts.-
•
The reader is defired not to cenfure or difbelieve
the following account of the origin and tranf-
migration of thefe people, till he has peruſed the
learned remarks of Signor Rhedi.]
The next morning the Pophar calling me to him,
Son, faid he, to fulfil my promife which I made
you last night, and that you may not be like the reft
of the ignorant world, who know not who their
forefathers and ancestors were t; whether they
Sprung
*Thefe people are fomething like the Chinefe, who
Worthip the material heaven or ſky, which fome miffio-
naries could think compatible with Chriftianity.
It would certainly be á great fatisfaction to moft
nations to know from what race of people, country, or
family, they fprung originally. This ignorance is ow
ing
SIG, GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
95
:
fprang from brutes or barbarians, is all alike to
them, provided they can but grovel on the earth,
as they do you muſt know therefore, as I fuppofe
you remember what I told you at our firſt ſtation,
- that we came originally from Egypt. When you aſked
me, how we came to venture through theſe inho-
fpitable deſerts, I told you it was for liberty, and the
prefervation of our laws; but as you are now
found to be one of us, I defign to give you a more
particular account of your origin. Our anceſtors
did originally come from Egypt, once the happieſt
place in the world; though the name of Egypt and
Egyptians, has been given to that country, long
fince we came out of it: the original name of it was
Mezzoraim*, from the firft man that peopled it,
the
ing chiefly to the Barbari Tramontani*, and other nor-
thern nations, who haye from time to time over-run the
face of Europe, leaving a mixture of their pawn in all
parts of it; fo that no one knows, whether he came ori-
ginally from Scythia pr Afia, from a civilized nation, or
from the greatest brutes; and though wars, and invafions
have deſtroyed, or interchanged the inhabitants of moft
Countries; yet this man's obfervation is a juft cenfure of
the neglect of moft people, with, refpect to their gença-
logy and knowledge of their ancestors, where they have
been fettled in a country for feveral ages. But there are
matters of greater moment in this man's relation, true or
falfe, which lead us into fome curious remains of ancient
history.
7
* The original name of Egypt was Mifraim; from
Mifraim, Meforaim, or, Metforaim, as the learned Bo-
chart explains it, lib. 4. of Geograph. Sacra in Mifra-
}
jan,
Signor Rhedi being, an Italian, one cannot wonder he ſpeaks
fo contempsibly of the northern people; the Italians call them all
Barbari,
1
96
THE ADVENTURES OF
the father of our nation; and we call ourſelves
Mezzoranians from him. We have a tradition de
livered down to us from our firſt anceſtors, that
when the earth firſt roſe out of the water*, fix
perfons, three men and three women, roſe along
with it either fent by the fupreme deity to inha-
bit it, or produced by the funt. That Mezzoraim
our firſt founder was one of thoſe fix; who in-
creafing in number, made choice of the country
now
im, M. Du Pin's hiftory of the Old Teſt. c. 6. and o-
thers. All ancient authors agree, that it was once the
richeſt and happieſt country in the world; flouriſhing
with plenty, and even learning, before the patriarch A-
braham's time. There is a very remarkable fragment of
Eupolemus an ancient Heathen writer, taken from the
Babylonian monuments, preferved by Eufebius, lib. 9.
Praeparat. Evan. The words are, Babuaavius déysia
πρῶτον γενέςθαι Βήλον, ὧν εἶναι Χρόνον ἀδελφὸν τῷ Μεσραὶμ πατρος
Alyuriav. The whole fragment, in our mother tongue,
fignifies, that, according to the Babylonians, the firſt was
Belus, the fame with Kronos or Saturn; from him came
Ham or Cham, the father of Canaan, brother to Mef-
raim, father of the Egyptians.
I.
* This is an obfcure Notion of Noah's flood, known
to all nations, at leaſt the eaſtern, as appears by the
oldeſt remains; of which fee Bochart on that article,
lib. 1. "The earth rofe out of the water," or the wa-
ters funk from the earth. Theſe people might miſtaķe
fomething of that undoubted and ancient tradition. But
Mifraim could not be ignorant of the flood, his father
Ham having been in the ark, whether ignorance or other
motives made his pofterity vary in the account; but it is
evident the ancients had a notion of the general deluge,
as may eaſily be proved by the remains of Heathen au-
thors bearing teftimony to the fcripture-account of it.
†The ancient Egyptians thought men, as well as in-
fects, were produced out of the flime of the Nile, by
the
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA:
97
now called Egypt*, for the place of his habitation,
where he fettled with fixty of his children and
grandchildren, all of whom he brought along with
him, governing them as a real father, and inftruct-
ing them to live with one another, as brothers of
one and the fame family t. He was a peaceable
man, abhorring the fhedding of blood ‡, which he
ſaid would be puniſhed by the fupreme ruler of the
world; extremely given to the fearch of fciences
I
and
the heat of the fun, and called themſelves Aborigines,
as feveral other nations did. Though this wife man is
inclined to think they were created by God; as it is e-
vident and certain they were; for fince we fee one fingle
infect cannot be produced without a caufe, it is nonfenfe,
as well as impoffible, to imagine an infinite ſeries of men
and animals could be produced without a ſeparate caufe:
on which account Atheiſm is one of the moſt foolish and
abfurd notions in the world.
* Herodotus tells us, the Egyptians pretended to be
the firſt inhabitants of the earth; though the Ethiopians
contended with them for antiquity. I muſt quote the
words in Latin, out of Laurenzo Valla's tranflation, be-
cauſe I have him not in Greek, Omnium hominum prio-
res fe extitiffe arbitrabantur. They esteemed them-
felves, fays he, to have been the first of all men. He-
rodot. lib. 2. Euterpe.
+ It is certain from Bochart, and other learned au-
thors, that the Egyptian government, as well as that of
moſt nations, was at firſt patriarchal: till Nimrod found-
ed the first kingdom or empire in the world; whofe ex-
ample others followed, according to their power. How-
ever, the patriarchal government was foon broke in upon
in Egypt, fince they had kings in Abraham and Ifaac's
time, as we learn from the Old Teftament. See Bochart's
Geographia Sacra.
+ The celebrated Biſhop of Meaux, in part 3. of his
Univ. Hift. gives us a wonderful defcription of the ju-
nice
98
THE ADVENTURES OF
and contemplation of the heavens. It was he who
was the first inventor of all our arts, and whatever
is uſeful for the government of life, fprung from
'him
ftice and piety of the firft Egyptians, who had fuch a
horror of ſhedding man's blood, that they puniſhed their
criminals after they were dead; which was as much in
terrorem, confidering their fuperftitious reverence for
their deceaſed friends and parents, as if they had been
puniſhed when alive. The reaſon why the ancient mo-
ral Heathens abhorred the ſhedding of blood, might be,
that Noah's fons having lived before the deluge, koew
that the wickedneſs of the world was the cauſe of that
dreadful judgment; and fhedding of blood being the first
crime puniſhed by God, they might take warning by
fuch terrible examples, though the impiety of fome na-
tions foon obſcured this innate light of nature, particu-
larly the defcendents of Ham; all but this Mifraim;
who with his family, by all accounts, first peopled E-
gypt; and they were noted for juftice and knowledge,
It will be made evident in the ſubſequent remarks, that
thefe Hickfoes were the defcendents of wicked Canaan,
or Cuſh, who deftroyed the peaceable ſtate of the first
Egyptians, and introduced idolatry among them; which
made great numbers of them fly into other parts of the
world to fave themfelves.
* The fame learned Biſhop of Meaux, and other hi-
ftorians, affure us, as it is a thing well known to all the
learned, that arts and Sciences were brought to very
great perfection in the earliest times in Egypt. Mo-
fes was inftructed in the fciences of the Egyptians. Trip-
tolemus, the founder of agriculture, came out of E.
gypt. Bacchus, the inventor of wine, according to the
ancients, came out of Egypt, or Libya, which borders
upon it; though it was first learned from Noah. Py-
thagoras, and other learned men, went into Egypt to be
inftructed by the prieſts, &c. Herodotus fays the fame
of himſelf.
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
686
him. Though his grandfon Thaoth* rather ex-
celled him, particularly in the more fublime fci-
ences. Thus our anceſtors lived four hundred
years, increaſing and ſpreading over all the land of
Egypt, and abounding with the bleffings of peace
and knowledge; without guile or deceit, neither
doing or fearing harm from any; till the wicked
defcendents of the other men, called Hickfoes †, en-
I 2
vying
*This Tha-oth the famous philofopher of the E-
gyptians, was before Mercury or Trifmegiftus; though
fome take him to be the fame. All allow him to be ex-
tremely ancient, but cannot fix the time when he lived.
Hiftorians murder his name at a strange rate. Bochart
allahim Ta-utus, lib. 2. cap. 12. Clemens Alex. lib. 6.
Strom. lay, he wrote forty-two books of aftrology,
geography, phyfic, pon, heology, religion, and go-
vernment. Jofeph Ben-Gorion, shane Gentium.
calls him Tutis; fome call him Theut, others, tut,
Taut, Thoth, &c. But, according to this man, his
name was Tha-oth. It is certain, however, that he was
the great maſter of the Egyptians; but derived his learn-
ing from Noah, who might have the knowledge of arts
and ſciences from the antediluvian world, or from the
columns of Seth, which, Jofephus fays, contain the prin-
ciples of aftrology, and were erected before the food
by the nephews of Seth: one of which columns, as he
fays, remained in Syria in his time. Jofeph. Ant. lib. 2.
C. 2.
+ The fame Jofephus, lib. 2. contra Appion, fays,
that Hyckfoes, or Hyckloes, an old Egyptian word, figni-
fies laciniis mopivas, king ſhepherds, or kings of beaſts,
given them by the native Egyptians, as a name of dif-
grace and contempt. It is out of all controverſy that
there was a great revolution in Egypt, about four hun-
dred years after the flood, or a little before Abraham's
time. Monfieur Du Pin makes the time from the flood
to Abraham's birth three hundred and fifty years; and
about
100
THE ADVENTURES OF
vying their happineſs, and the richneſs of their
country, broke in upon them like a torrent, de-
ſtroying all before them, and taking poffeffion of
that happy place our anceſtors had rendered fo
flouriſhing. The poor innocent Mezzoranians ab-
horring, as I faid, the fhedding of blood, and igno-
rant of all violence,, were ſlaughtered like ſheep all
over the country; and their wives and daughters
violated before their eyes. Thoſe whom their
mercileſs enemy fpared, were made flaves to work
and till the earth for their new lords.
Secre-
about four hundred to his being called by God. It is
certain alfo, there were kings in Egypt in Abraham's
time. It is probable theſe kings were the Hyckfood, UT
king ſhepherds, who altered the governocut of the an
cient Egyptians, and conca about five kings reigns.
For when the portarch Jofeph called his father and bre-
thren into Egypt, he bid them aſk the land of Goſhen to
inhabit, becauſe, ſaid he, all ſhepherds are an abomina-
tion to the Egyptians. By which it appears the fhep-
herds were lately driven out. In all likelihood thefe
were the kings who introduced idolatry and the adoration
of brute-beafts among the Egyptians, for which reaſon
they called them in derifion king fhepherds, or king-
beaſts. -The great Bochart, in his Phaleg. looks
upon this revolution in Egypt to have been before Abra-
ham's time, and ſo far from being a fiction, that he ſays
in express words, Caflucos et Capthoracos (whom he
proves to be the people of Colchos, for all it is fo far from
Egypt) ex Aegypto migraffe certum eft ante Abrahami
tempora. "It is certain," fays he, " that the Cafluci and
the Caphthoraei went out of Egypt before Abraham's
time." Bochart Phaleg. lib. 4. c. 31. Herodotus in
Euterpe fays, that the people of Colchos were original-
ly Egyptians; though fome fay they went back fome a-
ges after, and fettled in Paleſtine, and were called after
that Philistines,
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA. ΙΟΙ
Secretary. Here the inquifitors interrupted him,
and aſked him, whether he thought it unlaw.
ful in all cafes to reſiſt force by force, or whe-
ther the law of nature did not allow the Mez-
zoranians to refift thoſe cruel invaders even to
the shedding of blood? as alfo to puniſh public
malefactors with death for the preſervation of
the whole? Their intent was, as they are cau-
tious of any new opinions, to know whether
he might not be a dogmatizer, and advance
fome erroneous notions, either by holding
that to be lawful, which was not fo; or de-
nying things to be lawful, which really may
be allowable by the light of nature.
Gaudentio. Doubtlefs they might lawfully have
reſiſted even to the fhedding of blood in that
cafe, as public criminals may be put to death.
I only acquaint your Reverences with the no-
tions peculiar to theſe people; as for the pu-
niſhment of their criminals, your Reverences
will fee, when I come to their laws and cu-
ftoms, that they have other ways and means
of puniſhing crimes as effectual as putting to
death; though living entirely within them-
felves, free from all mixture and commerce
with other people, they have preferved their
primitive innocence in that refpect to a very
great degree. Inquifitor. Go on.
The Pophor continuing his relation, added:
But what was moſt intolerable was, that theſe im-
pious Hickfoes forced them to adore men and beaſts,
and even infects, for gods; nay, and fome to fee
their children offered in facrifice to thoſe inhuman
deities*. This dreadful inundation fell at firft on-
I 3
ly
* Thefe Hickfoes being in all appearance the defcen-
dents of wicked Canaan or Cuth, were fo abominably
im-
102 THE ADVENTURES OF
ly on the lower parts of Egypt, which was then
the moſt flouriſhing. As many of the diſtreſſed in-
habitants as could efcape their cruel hands, fled to
the upper parts of the country, in hopes to find
there fome little refpite from their misfortunes,
But alas! what could they do? they knew no uſe
of arms: neither would their laws fuffer them to
deſtroy their own fpecies; fo that they expected
every hour to be devoured by their cruel enemies.
The heads of the families in fuch diſtrefs were
divided in their counfels, or rather they had no
counfel to follow: fome of them fled into the neigh-
bouring deferts, which you have feen are very dif
mal, on both fides the upper part of that kingdom;
they were difperfed like a flock of fheep fcattered
by the ravenous wolves. The confternation was
fo great, they were refolved to fly to the fartheſt
parts of the earth, rather than fall into the hands of
thofe inhumane monsters. The greateſt part of
them agreed to build fhips, and try their fortune
by fea. Our great father Mezzoraim had taught
them the art of making boats*, to cross the branch-
es
impious, as to facrifice human victims and children to
their falfe gods; and even were the firſt authors of all
impiety and idolatry.
* It his highly probable the Egyptians had the know-
ledge of fhipping long before the Greeks, whofe fießt
fhip was Argo, built by Jafon to fetch the golden fleece
from Colchos. The first notion of ſhipping was undoubt
edly taken from the ark; the Egyptians were neceffitated
to make uſe of boats, by reafon of the annual overflowing
of the river Nile, and to paſs the different branches into
which that famous river divides itſelf in the Lower Egypt.
The Sidonians, whom Bochart proves to be the deſcend-
ents of Canaan, had the uſe of fhipping, as he alfo
proves, before the children of Ifrael departed out of E-
gypt.
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
103
es of the great river [Nile ;] which fome, faid he,
had learned by being preferved in fuch a thing
from a terrible flood that overflowed all the land*.
Which inftrument of their prefervation they fo im-
proved afterwards, that they could cross the leffer
feat without any difficulty. This being refolved
on, they could not agree where to go: fome being
refolved to go by one fea, fome by the other.
However they fet all hands to work; fo that in a
year's time they had built a vaft number of veffels;
trying them backwards and forwards along the
coafts, mending what was deficient and improving
what they imagined might be for their greater fe-
curity. They thought now, or at leaſt their ea-
gerness to avoid their enemies made them think,
they could go with fafety all over the main fea
As our anceſtors had chiefly given themſelves to the
ſtudy of arts and ſciences, and the knowledge of
nature, they were the moſt capable of fuch enter-
prifes of any people in the world. But the appre-
henfion of all that was miferble being juſt freſh be-
fore their eyes, quickened their induſtry to fuch a
degree, as none but men in the like circumftan-
ces can have a juſt idea of. Moſt of theſe men
were thoſe who had fled in crouds from Lower E-
The natural inhabitants of the upper parts,
gypt.
though they were in a very great confternation, and
built ſhips as fast as they could, yet their fears were
not ſo immediate, eſpecially feeing the Hickfoes re-
mained yet quiet in their new poffeffions. But
news
* In all appearance this muſt have been Noah's flood,
which it is much Signor Rhedi paffes over in his remarks.
+ Egypt is bounded on the one fide by the end of the
Mediterranean; on the other fide by the Red fea, di-
viding it from Arabia: this he calls the leffer feay as be-
ing much narrower than the Mediterranean.
104
THE ADVENTURES OF
news being brought them, that the Hickfoes began
to ftir again, more fwarms of their cruel brood
ftill flocking into that rich country, they refolved
now to delay the time no longer, but to commit
themſelves, wives, and children, with all that was
moſt dear and precious, to the mercy of that incon-
ftant element, rather than truſt to the barbarity of
their own ſpecies. They who came out of the
Lower Egypt, were refolved to croſs the great ſea *
and
+
*This great fea, as diftinguished from the lefs,
muſt be the Mediterranean. Thoſe who fled by that fea
Colchos: they could not
muſt be thoſe who went to
go by land over the ifthmus, becauſe the Hick foes pour-
ed in upon them that way: we must not ſuppoſe they
went all the way by fea to Colchos, quite round by
the ftreights of the Hellefpont. They muit crofs the end
of the Mediterranean, and go by land the fhorteſt way
they could till they came to the borders of the Euxine
fea. It is almoſt incredib'e men fhould go fo far to feek
an habitation. But Bochart fays, it is certain the people
of Colchos came out of Egypt; they must therefore
have been driven out by fome terrible enemies. You
will fay, Why may not this first revolution in Egypt,
which Bochart fpeaks of, have been made by the great
Semiramis, wife to Ninus, the fon of Nimrod? It is an-
fwered in the first place, becaufe Jofephus calls the firft
invaders of Egypt, Bars μivas, king thepherds,
which cannot agree with the great heroine Semiramis.
2dly, Becauſe it is nct credible, notwithſtanding the
contrary opinion of moſt hiſtorians, that Ninus, the buf-
band of Semiramis, could be fo early as they make him
to be, i. e. the fon of Nimrod, but fome other Ninus
long after him for though Semiramis conquered Egypt,
and afterwards loft her army againſt the Ethiopians, this
could not be fo foon after the flood; becaufe hiſtorians
defcribe that army to confit of three hundred thouſand
men inſtructed in difcipline after a military manner, arm-
ed
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
105
and with immenfe labour were forced to carry their
materials partly by land, till they came to the ut-
termoſt branch of the Nile fince their enemies com-
ing over the isthmus, though they hindered them
from going out of their country by land, unlefs by
the deferts, yet had not taken poffeffion of that part
of the country. It is needlefs to recount their cries
and lamentations at their leaving their dear coun-
try. I fhall only tell you, that they ventured into
the great fea, which they croſſed, and never ſtopped
till' they came to another fea*, on the fides of which
they fixed their habitation, that they might go off
again in cafe they were purfued. This we learned
from the account of our anceſtors who met with
fome of them that came to viſit the tombs of their
deceaſed parents, as we do; but it is an immenfe
time fince, and we never heard any more of them.
-The other part, who were much the greater
number, went down the leffer feat, having built
their
ed with warlike chariots, &c. as were the Ethiopians
againſt her, and even ſuperior to her. I fay, it is not
credible fuch great armies could be raiſed fo foon after
the flood, if ſhe was daughter-in-law to Nimrod the great
hunter, who was the fon of Cufh, and great-grandfon to
Noah.
*i. e. the Euxine ſea.
ti. e. the Red fea. There were feveral other re-
volutions in Egypt, as by the Ethiopians, after Semira-
mis was conquered; who were expelled again, either by
the great Sefoftris, of whom Herodotus relates fuch fa-
mous exploits; or a little before by his predeceſſor.
The Canaanites alfo, who were driven out of Paleſtine
by Joſhua, conquered part of it, as we ſhall fee after-
wards. Long after that, it was fubdued by Nabuchodo-
nofor, who deſtroyed the renowned city of Thebes,
with her hundred gates. Bochart in Nineve. Then the
Per
196
THE ADVENTURES OF
their ſhips on that fea; they never stopped or
touched on either fide, till they came to a narrow part
of it*, which led them into the vaſt occan; there
they turned off to the left into the eaſtern feat.
But
Perſians under Cambyfes the fon of Cyrus the Great. In
fine, the Romans made a province of it in Auguftus's
time. Strabo ſays of that famous city of Thebes, vuvì đè
κωμηδόν συνοικείται. At prefent, fays he, it is but a poor
village.
Atque vetus Thebe centum jacet obruta portis.
Juven. fat 1.
* This muſt be the ftreights of Babelmandel, which
let them into the vaſt eaſtern ocean.
It is likely that colony was carried to China; for
let what will come of this man's relations, there are ve◄
ry ſtrong reaſons to believe, that the Chinefe, not with
ftanding the vaſt diſtance from Egypt, came originally
from that country, about the time of the invafion of the
king-fhepherds, which was before Jacob and his fons
went into the land of Egypt. For whoever compares the
account given by the learned Biſhop of Meaux, in the
third part of his Univerfal hiftory, of the lives and man-
ners of the firſt Egyptians, with thofe of the Chineſe,
will find them to agree in a great many points. As ift,.
their boaſted antiquity; 2dly, their fo early knowledge
of arts and ſcience: 3dly, their veneration for learned
men, who have the preference before others: 4thly,
their policy 5thly, their unaccountable fuperftition for
their deceaſed parents: 6thly, their annual viſiting the
family of their anceſtors: 7thly, their peaceable difpofi-
tions: 8thly, their religious worship. As for this laft,
it is well known the firft Egyptians worfhipped the fun,
Long before the gods Apis, and Ifis, and Anubis, were
introduced among them by their idolatrous invaders.
And the Chineſe to this day worship the material hea-
ven, as is feen in the condemnation of the Jefuits by
Clem. XI. Laftly, the ufe of pyramids in Egypt, which
were
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
107
But whether they were fwallowed up in the mer-
cilefs abyss, or carried into fome unknown regions,
we cannot tell, for they were never heard of more.
Only of late years, we have heard talk at Grand
Cairo, of a very numerous and civilized nation in
the aftern parts of the world, whofe laws and cu-
ftoms have ſome reſemblance to ours; but who,
and what they are, we cannot tell, fince we have
never met with any of them,
The father of our nation, fince we feparated
ourfelves from the reft of the world, who was
prieſt of the iun at No-om *, (called afterwards by
thofe
were like ancient idols among the Chineſe. See the ac-
count of them in Moreri. The only difficulty is to
know how they got from Egypt to China, which is not
ſo infupportable as people may imagine. It is certain,
the Egyptians, as has been remarked, had a very early
knowledge of navigation. It is certain alſo, that, in thoſe
barbarous invaſions, the invaders of kingdoms almoſt de-
ftroyed all before them. Since we find therefore in the
moſt ancient hiftories, that there was a most terrible re-
volution in Egypt about that time made by the people,
whoſe cuſtoms the Egyptians had in abomination, the
Chineſe might feek their fortune by fea, and might be
carried beyond the Perfian gulf, till they came to Co-
chin China, from whence they might get into the main
continent, and fo people that valt empire; preferving
their ancient laws and cuſtoms inviolable. So that,
whatever becomes of this man's relation, it is extremely
probable, the Chineſe came firft from Egypt.
* No-om, or No-on, fignifies, in the old Mezzorani-
an, or old Egyptian language, the houfe of the fun.
Their words are made up of monyfyllables put together
like the Chineſe, which is another reaſon why the Chineſe
ought to be looked upon as a colony of the Egyptians.
Vide the remarks of the foregoing part of this relation.
The patriarch Jofeph married the daughter of the prieft
of
108
THE ADVENTURES OF
thoſe miscreants No-Ammon*, becauſe of the tem,
ple of Hammon,) was not aſleep in this general con-
fternation; but did not as yet think they would
come up fo high into the land. However, he
thought proper to look out for a place to fecure
himſelf and family in cafe of need. He was the
defcendent, in a direct line, from the great Tha-oth;
and was perfectly verfed in all the learned fciences
of his anceſtors. He gueffed there muſt certainly
be ſome habitable country, beyond thoſe dreadful
fands
of On: which, ſeveral learned men fay, is the fame with
Heliopolis, or city of the fun. from No comes the E-
gyptian nomes, or divifions of the country, which the
great Bochart in his Phaleg, fays is an Egyptian, not a
Greek word, though dynafty is Greek, Bochart, lib. 4.
Hence very likely came the Nomades, and Nu-
midae, from their wandering and frequently changing
their habitation, or names; the firſt and moſt ancient of
all nations lived thus.
C. 24.
* That is, the houfe or temple of Ham, or Hammon ;
or Charnoon, or Chum, as Bochart varies it. This Ham
was the Tyrian Jupiter, and in this place was afterwards
fituated the great city of Thebes, as has been obferved be-
fore, called by the Greeks Diofpolis, or the city of Jupiter
Cadmus, who was of Thebes in Paleſtine, being driven
out from thence by Joshua, built it; but was driven out
from it, and forced to retire to Tyre, from whence
he conducted a colony of Tyrians, or baniſhed Canaan-
ites into Boeotia, where he built Thebes alfo, or rather
the citadel of Thebes, called Cadmeia. Vide Bochart,
in Cadmus and Hermione. Which laft the fame au-
thor ſays, came originally from mount Hermon in Pale-
ftine; and as that word in the Canaanean languages fig-
nifies a ferpent, from hence aroſe the fable of the fer-
pent's teeth turning into men. The temple of Jupiter
Ammon, or Hammon, in Africa, was built by the Chi-
pani, who ſpread themſelves from Egypt into Libya.
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
109
fands that furrounded him, if he could but find a
way to it, where he might fecure himſelf and fa-
mily; at leaſt, till thoſe troubles were over: for he
did not at that time think of leaving his native
country for good and all. But, like a true father
of his people, which the name of Pophar implies,
he was refolved to venture his own life, rather
than expofe his whole family to be loſt in thoſe dif-
mal deferts. He had five fons, and five daughters
married to as many fons and daughters of his de-
ceaſed brother*. His two eldeſt fons had even grand-
children, but his two youngeſt fons as then had no
dren. He left the government and care of all to
his eldeſt ſon, in cafe he himſelf ſhould miſcarry;
and took his two youngeſt fons, who might beſt be
fpared along with him. Having provided them-
felves with water for ten days, with bread and dried
fruits, juft enough to fubfift on, he was refolved to
try five days journey endwife through thefe fands;
and if he faw no hopes of making a diſcovery that
time, to return again before his provifions were
ſpent, and then try the fame method towards ano-
ther quarter. In short, he fet out with all fecrecy,
and pointing his courfe directly weftward, the better
to guide himſelf, he came to the firſt grove that we
arrived at, in a little more time than we took up in
coming
K
*It is certain that the ancients, particularly the eaſt-
eṛn nations, married their nigh relations, as well as the
Jews, to keep up their names or tribes; but we do not
find in hiſtory that they married their own fifters, till the
Perſian kings, who were condemned for it by the Greeks.
The Egyptians under the Ptolemies followed that barba-
rous cuftom, though they begun with Ptolemy Lagus,
one of the captains of Alexander; the Incas in America
did the fame, not to profane their blocd, as they aid,
with other mixtures.
FIO
THE ADVENTURES OF
J
coming thither. Having now time enough before
him, and ſeeing there was water and fruits in abun-
dance, he examined the extent of that delicious
vale: he found it was large enough to fubfift a
great many thoufands, in cafe they fhould increaſe,
and be forced to ſtay there ſome generations, as in
effect they did. After this they laid in proviſions
as before, with dates and fruits of the natural pro-
duce of the earth, finer than ever were ſeen in E-
gypt, to encourage them in their tranfmigration,
and fo fet out again for his native country. The
time prefixed for his return was elapſed by his ſtay
in viewing the country; fo that his people had en-
tirely given him up for loft. But the joy for his
unexpected return, with the promifing hopes of
fuch a fafe and happy retreat, made them unani-
moufly refolve to follow him. Wherefore, on the
firſt news of the Hickfoes being in motion again,
they packed up all their effects and provifions as-
privately as they could; but particularly all the
monuments of arts and fciences left by their ance-
ftors, with notes and obfervations of every part of
their dear country, which they were going to leave,
but hoped to fee again when the ſtorm was over.
They arrived without any confiderable difafter,
and refolved only to live in tents till they could re-
turn to their native homes. As they increaſed in
number, they defcended further into the vale,
which there began to fpread itſelf different ways,
and fupplied them with all the neceffaries and con-
veniencies of life; fo that they lived in the happi-
eſt baniſhment they could wifh; never ſtirring out
of the vale for feveral years, for fear of being difco-`
vered. The Pophar finding himſelf grow old, (hav-
ing attained almoft two hundred years of age*,)
though
* The regular lives of the firft Egyptians, and of thefe
people
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
III
•
•
though he was hale and ſtrong for his years, refol-
ved to vifit his native country once more before he
died, and get what intelligence he could for the
common intereft. Accordingly, he and two more
diſguiſed themſelves, and repaffed the deferts again.
They juſt ventured at firſt into the borders of the
country: but, alas! when he came there, he found
it all over-run by the barbarous Hickfoes. All the
poor remains of the Mezzoranians were made flaves;
and thoſe barbarians had begun to build habitations,
and eſtabliſh themſelves, as if they deſigned never
more to depart the country. They had made No-
om one of their chief towns*, where they erected
a temple to their ram-godt, calling it No-Ham-
K 2
7
mon
people defcended from them, together with the climate,
their diet of fruits and liquors, their exemption from vio
lent paffions, without being corrupted by the fpurious
fpawn of other nations, and the like, might contribute
very much to the length of their lives, and ſtrength pro-
portionably. The Macrobii, or long livers, a people of
Ethiopia, and a colony of the ancient Egyptians, lived to
a vaſt age, and were called Macrobii from their long lives.
See Herodotus of the Ethiopians; and what he fays of
their strength in the bow, which they fent to Cambyfes,
when he had denounced war againft them; faying, that
when he could bend that bow, he might make war a-
gainſt them; which bow only Smerdis, Cambyfes's bro-
ther, could bend, and for that reaſon was afterwards put
to death by his brother out of envy.
4
* I ſeems Thebes, though afterwards ſuch a prodi❤
gious city, was then but the head of the name of that
man's family.
↑ Jupiter Hammen, whom Bechart proves to have
buen Ham or Cham, the ſon of Noah, was repreſented
with a ram's tread, which was held in fuch abomination
by the firſt Egyptians, from whence they called thoſe firſt
invaders Hickfoes.
112
THE ADVENTURES OF
mon*, with fuch inhumane laws and cruelties, as
drew a flood of tears from his aged eyes. Howe-
ver, being a man of great prudence and forefight,
he eafily imagined, by their tyrannical way of liv-
ing, they could not continue long in that ſtate with-
out fome new revolution. After making what ob-
fervations he could, and viſiting the tombs of his
forefathers, he returned to the vale, and died in that
place where you faw the pyramid built to his memo-
1y. Not many generations after, according as he had
forefeen, the natives, made defperate by the tyran-
nical oppreffions of the Hickfoes, were forced to
break in upon their primitive laws, which forbade
them to fhed blood; made a general infurrection,
and, calling in their neighbours around them, fell
upon the Hickfoes when they leaft expected it, and
drove them out of the country. They were head-
ed by a brave man of a mixed race, his mother be-
ing a beautiful Mezzoranian, and his father a Sa-
bæant. After this young conqueror had driven out
the Hickfoes, he eſtabliſhed a new form of govern-
ment, making himſelf king over his brethren, (but
not after the tyrannical manner of the Hickfoes,)
and
* No Hammon, the houfe of the ram-god.
+ It is likely he means Bufiridis aras, ſo infamous in
antiquity; or the cruel Bufiris, who facrificed his gueſts.
Though hiſtorians do not agree about the time when
Bufiris lived, which fhews he was very ancient; yet all
agree, he was a monſter of cruelty, and became a pro-
verb on that account. This was a very natural reafon
for the Egyptians to difperfe themſelves into ſo many co-
lonies as they did, to avoid fuch cruelties.
Theſe Sabaeans were the defcendents of fome of the
fons of Chuſh, or Chufs, a very tall race of men, great
negotiators, and more polite than the other Arabians.
Bochart. in Seba filio Chus, where he quotes a paffage
out
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
113
and grew very powerful. Our anceſtors fent per-
fons from time to time to inform themſelves how
matters went. They found the kingdom in a flou-
rifhing condition, indeed, under the conquering
Sofs *, for fo he was called. He and his fucceffors
made it one of the moſt powerful kingdoms of the
earth; but the laws were different from what they
had been in the time of our anceſtors, or even from
thoſe the great Sofs had eſtabliſhed. Some of his
fucceffors began to be very tyrannical; they made
flaves of their brothers, and invented a new religi-
on; fome adoring the fun, fome the gods of the
Hickfoes; ſo that our anceſtors, as they could not
think of altering their laws, though they might
have returned again, chofe rather to continue fÑtill
unknown in that vale, under their patriarchal go-
vernment. Nevertheleſs, in procefs of time, they
increaſed ſo much, that the country was not capa-
ble of maintaining them; fo that they had been o-
bliged to return, had not another revolution in E-
K 3
gypt
out of Agatharcides of the handfemenefs of the Sabae-
ans,
Τὰ σώματὰ ἔτι τῶν κατοικώντων ἀξιολογώτερα.
The bodies of the inhabitants [the Sabaeans] are more
majeſtic than other men.
* This muſt be the great Sefoftris or Sefofis, of whom
the learned Bishop of Meaux, as alfo Herodotus, fays
fuch glorious things. Though authors do not ſay pre-
ciſely when he lived, all acknowledge him to have flou-
riſhed in the earlieſt times. He extended his conqueſts
over the greatest part of the eaſt, and almoſt over the
known world, as fome fay. Where his enemies were
cowards, and made no refiftance, he fet up ftatues of
them reſembling women, Herodot, lib. 2. Euterpe. Monf.
de Meaux, par. 3. Hift. Univ. This great conqueror's
name is very much varied by authors.
114
THE ADVENTURES OF
gypt forced them to ſeek out a new habitation.
This change was made by a race of people called
Cnanim*, as wicked and barbarous in effect, but
more politic, than the Hickfoes; though fome faid
they were originally the fame people, who being
driven out of their own country by others more
powerful than themſelves, came pouring in, not on-
ly over all the land of Mezoraim, but all along the
coafts of both feas, deſtroying all before them, with
greater abominations than the Hickfoes had ever
been guilty of; in fhort, a faithleſs and moſt per-
fidious race of men, that corrupted the innocent
manners of the whole earth. Our forefathers
were
*Theſe in all appearance were the wicked Canaaneans,
who being to be deftroyed, and being driven out of Ca-
naan by Joſhua, diſperſed themſelves, and invaded the
greateſt part of the countries round about them. Bechart
in Canaan proves almoſt demonſtrably, that they di-
ſperſed themſelves over all the iſlands and fea ports of
Europe, Asia, and Africa. In his preface he quotes a
moft curious paffage out of Procopius de bello Vandelice,
of a pillar t t was found in Africa, with a Phenician or
Canaanean fcription, which fignifies in Greek,
ΗΜΕΙΣ ΕΣΜΕΝ ΟΙ ΦΕΥΓΟΝΤΕΣ ΑΠΟ ΠΡΩΣΟΠΟΥ ΙΗΣΟΥ
TOY AHETOT TIOT NATH.
We are those who fled from the face of Jefus, or Joshua
the robber, the fon of Nave. Eufebius, in Chronico,
has much the fame; and St. Auſtin, in his City of God,
ſays, that the ancient country-people about Hippo in A-
frica, who were the remains of the ancient Carthagini-
ans, if you aſked them who they were, would anſwer,
We are originally Canaani, or Canaaneans.
+ The celebrated Bochart, fo often quoted, proves
that the Phoenicians or Carthaginians, whom he alſo proves
to have been Canaaneans, were the perfons who ſpread ido
latry,
SIG, GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA. 115
were in the moſt dreadful conſternation imaginable.
There was now no proſpect of ever returning into
their ancient country. They were furrounded with
deferts on all fides. The place they were in began
to be too narrow for fo many thouſands as they
were increaſed to: nay, they did not know but the
wicked Cnanim, who were at the fame time the
boldeſt and moſt interpriſing nation under the fun*,
might find them out fome time or other. Being
in this diſtreſs, they refolved to feek out a new ha-
bitation; and, to that end, compared all the notes
and obfervations on the heavens, the courfe of the
fun, the ſeaſons, and nature of the climate, and
whatever elſe might direct them what courfe to
fteer. They did not doubt but that there might
be fome habitable countries in the midſt of thoſe
vaſt deſerts, perhaps as delicious as the vale they
lived
latry, with all the tribe of the Heathen gods, and their
abominable rites, over the whole world. Bochart in
Canaan. The fame author fays, the Phoenicians or Ca-
naani, invaded Egypt about that very time. This he
proves directly and that they had their caftra about
Memphis; as alſo that Cadmus and Phoenix, whom he
makes contemporaries with Joſhua, having fied before
him, came out of Egypt afterwards, and built Thebes in
Boeotia. See alſo Herodotus in Euterpe.
* Herodotus fays that they failed (even in thoſe ear-
ly days) from the Red fea, round Africa, and came back
to Egypt through the ftreights, and up the Mediterra-
nean. Herodot, Melpomene, and Bochart. That Han-
no the elder, by order of the ſenate of Carthage, failed
round the greateſt part of the world, and after his return
delivered to them an account of his voyage, which is cal-
led the Periplus of Hanno. He affected to be honoured
as a god for it, and lived before Solomon's time. Bockart
in Ganaan, lib. 1. c. 37.
116
THE ADVENTURES OF
lived in, if they could but come at them. Several
perfons were fent out to make diſcoveries, but with-
out fuccefs, The fands were too vaft, to travel o-
ver without water, and they could find no fprings
nor rivers. At laft the moſt fagacious of them began
to reflect, that the annual overflowing of the great
river Nile, whofe head could never be found out,
muft proceed from fome prodigious rains which felt
fomewhere fouthward of them about that time of
the year; which rains, if they could but luckily
time and meet with, might not only fupply them
with water, but alſo render the country fertile
where they fell. Accordingly the chief Pophar, af
fifted by fome of the wifeft men, generously refol-
ved to run all rifks to fave his people. They com.
puted the precife time when the Nile overflowed,
and allowed for the time the waters must take in
defcending fo far as Egypt. They thought there-
fore, if they could but carry water enough to fup-
ply them till they met with thefe rains, they would
help them to go on further. At length, five of
them fet out, with ten dromedaries, carrying as
much water and provifions as might ferve them for
fifteen days, to bring them back again in caſe there
was no hopes. They fteered their courfe as we
did, though not quite do exact the first time, till
they came to the place, where we are now. Find-
ing here, as their notes tell us*, a little rivulet,
which is fince fwallowed up by the fands, they filled
their veffels, and went up to take an obſervation;
as we did but feeing the figns of the great hurri-
:
canes,
Thoſe wife ancients kept records of every thing that
was memorable and uſeful for their people. If this had
been the practice of the Europeans, we ſhould not have
loſt ſo many fecrets of nature as we have,
*
SÍG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA. 117
1
canes, which was our greateſt encouragement, it
had like to have driven them into defpair; for the
Pophar knowing the danger of being overwhelmed
in the fands, thought of nothing but flying back as
faſt as he could, fearing to be fwallowed up in thofe
ftifling whirlpools. This apprehenſion made him
lay aſide all thoughts of going towards that climate;
and now his chief care was how to get back again
with fafety for himſelf and his people. But find-
ing all continue tolerable ferene where they were,
they made a halt in order to make ſome farther ob-
ſervations. In the mean time, they reflected that
thoſe hurricanes muſt be forerunners of tempeſts
and rain. Then they recollected, that no rain, or
what was very inconfiderable, ever fel lin Egypt*,
or for a great way fouth of it, till they came with-
in the tropics; and thence concluded, that the rains
muft run parallel with the equator, both under it,
and for fome breadth on both fides, till they met
the rife of the river Nile, and there caufed thoſe vaſt
inundations fo hard to be accounted for by other
people. That, în fine, thoſe rains muſt laſt a con-
fiderable while, and probably, though beginning
with tempeft, might continue in fettled rain, cap-
able
*This is well known by all the deſcriptions of that
country, the inundation of the Nile fupplying the want of
it, and making it one of the moft fertile kingdoms in the
world; every one knows it was once the granary of the
Roman empire. However, fome ſmall rain falls fome.
times: nor is there any more higher up in the country.
The overflowing of the Nile is known to be caufed by
vaft rains falling under the line, or about that climate;
and fince thoſe don't take Egypt and the adjoining part
of Africa in their way, they muſt by confequence run pa-
rallel with the line; which was a very natural and philo-
fophical obfervation of thefe wife men.
118
THE ADVENTURES OF
turn.
T
able of being paffed through. Then he at firſt reſol
ved to venture back again to the firſt vale: but be.
ing a man of great prudence, he preſently confi-
dered, that as he could not proceed on his way
without rains, fo he could not come back again but
by the fame help, which coming only at one fea.
ſon, muſt take up a whole year before he could re-
However, he was reſolved to venture on,
not doubting but if he could find a habitable coun-
try, he ſhould alſo find fruits enough to fubfift on,
till the next feafon. Therefore he ordered two of
his companions to return the fame way they came,
to tell his people not to expect him till the next
year, if Providence 'fhould bring him back at all;
but if he did not return by the time of the over-
flowing of the Nile, or thereabouts, they might give
him over for loft, and muſt never attempt that way
any more. They took their leaves of one another
as if it were the laſt adieu, and ſet but at the fame
time'; 'two of them, for their homes in the firſt vale,
and the other three for thofe unknown regions;
being deftitute of all other helps but thofe of a cou
rageous mind. The three came back to 'this place,
where it thundered and lightened as it does now
but the Pophar obferved it ſtill tended fidewife, and
gueffed, when the firſt violence was over, the rains
might be more fettled. The next day it fell out
as he forefaw; whereupon, recommending himfeff
to the great author of our being, he lanched boldly
out into that vaft ocean of fands and rain, fteering
his courſe fouth-weft, rather inclining towards the
fouth. They went as far as the heavy fands and
rains would let them, till their dromedaries could
hardly go any further. Then they pitched their
tents and refreshed themſelves juſt enough to un-
dergo new labour, well knowing all their lives de
pended on their expedition. They obferved the
fands
Sie. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
119
fands to be of a different kind from what they had
ſeen hitherto, fo fine, that any gust of wind muſt
overwhelm man and beaft, only the rains had clog-
ged and laid them.
*
4
Not to prolong your expectation too much: they
went on thus for ten days, till the rains began to a-
bate; then they faw their lives or deaths would
foon be determined. The 11th day the ground began:
to grow harder in patches, with here and there a
little mofs on the furface, and now and then a ſmall
withered fhrub. This revived their hopes, that
they ſhould find good land in a fhort time, and in
effect, the foil changed for the better every ſtep
they took; and now they began to fee the little
hills covered with grafs, and the valleys fink down
as if there might be brooks and rivers. The twelfth
and thirteenth day cleared all their doubts, and
brought them into a country, which, though not
very fertile, had both water and fruits, with a hope-
ful proſpect further on of hills and dales, all habi-
table and flourishing. Here they fell proftrate on
the earth, adoring the Creator of all things, who
had conducted them ſafe through ſo many dangers,.
and kiffing the ground, which was to be the com-
mon nurfe for them, and, as they hopped, for all
their poſterity: when they had repoſed themſelves
for fome days, they proceeded further into the coun-
try, which they found to mend upon them the
more they advanced into it. Not intending to re-
turn till next year, they fought the propereſt place
for their habitation; and fetting up marks at every:
moderate diſtance not to loſe their way back again
they made for the higheſt hills they could fee, from
whence they perceived an immenfe and delicious.
country every way; but, to their greater fatisfac-
tion, no inhabitants. They wandered thus at plea
fure through thoſe natural gardens where there was,
a per-
120
THE ADVENTURES OF
a perpetual ſpring in fome kinds of the produce of
the earth, and the ripeneſs of autumn with the
moft exquifite fruits in others. They kept the
moſt exact obfervations poffible. Which ever way
they went, there were not only fprings and fountains
in abundance, but, as they gueſſed, (for they kept
the higher ground,) the heads of great rivers and
lakes, fome of which they could perceive; fo that
they were fatisfied there was room enough for
whole nations, without any danger, as they could
find, of being difturbed. By their obfervation of
the fun, they were nigher the equator than they
had imagined*, fo that they there paffed the
middle fpace between the tropic and the line, Be-
ing come back to their firſt ſtation, they there
waited the proper ſeaſon for their return. The
rains came fomething fooner than the year before,
becauſe they were further weftward. The hurri-
canes were nothing like what they were in the vaſt
fands. As foon as they began to fix in ſettled rains,
they fet out again as before, and in twenty days time
from their laſt fetting out, happily arrived at the
place where they left their dear friends and relations,
whofe joy for their fafe and happy arrival was
greater than I can pretend to defcribe, Thus this
immor-
* Though we may imagine a leffer circle parallel to
the tropics and the equator, which is called maximus
parallelorum; yet whoever travels either by land or ſea,
parallel, as he thinks, to the equator, does not fo, but
will approach to it; nay and croſs it at laſt, (unleſs he
goes fpirally,) and make indentures as he goes along : the
reafon is, becaufe where-ever we are, we are on the fum-
mit of the globe with refpect to us, and our feet make a
perpendicular to the centre; fo that if we go round the
globe, we fhall make a great circle, and by confequence
cut the equator.
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA,
121
immortal hero accomplished his great undertaking,
fo much more glorious than all the victories of the
greateſt conquerors, as it was projected, formed,
and executed by his own wiſdom and courage; not
by expofing and facrificing the lives of thouſands of
his fubjects, perhaps greater men than himſelf, but
by his expofing his own life for the ſafety of thoſe
that depended on him.
It were too tedious to recount to you all the dif-
ficulties and troubles they had, both in refolving to
undertake fuch a hazardous tranfmigration, as well
as thoſe of tranfporting fuch a multitude, with
their wives and children, and all their moſt preci-
ous effects, over thoſe merciless fands, which they
could only paſs at one ſeaſon of the year. But the
voyage being at length refolved on, and the good
Pophar wifely confidering the difficulties, and ne-
ceffity, the mother of invention, urging him, at the
fame time, to gain as much time as he could, fince
the vale where they were at preſent was fufficient
to maintain them till the rains came; got all his
people hither in the mean time, to be ready for the
ſeaſon. The new-born children were left with
their mothers, and people to take care of them, till
they were able to bear the fatigue. Thus, in feven
years time, going backwards and forwards every
ſeaſon, they all arrived fafe, where we ourſelves
hope to be in ten or twelve days time. This great
hero, we deſervedly honour, as another Mefraim,
the fecond founder of our nation, from whofe loins
you yourſelf fprung by the furer fide, and are
going to be incorporated again with the offspring of
your firſt anceſtors,
Here he ended his relation, and your Reverences
may eaſily believe, I was in the greateſt admiration
at this unheard-of account. As it raiſed the ideas
I had of the people, ſo I could not be forry to find
L
myſelf,
122
THE ADVENTURES OF
myſelf, young and forlorn as I was before, incorpo-
rated with, and allied to fuch a flourishing and ci-
vilized nation. My expectation was not difpropor-
tionable to my ideas: I was perfuaded I was going
into a very fine country; but the thoughts of their
being Pagans left fome little damp on my fpirits,
and was a drawback to my expected happineſs.
However, I was refolved to preſerve my religion,
at the expence of all that was dear to me, and even
of life itſelf.
It was
By this time, the Pophar ordered us to refreſh
ourfelves, and prepare all things for our departure,
though the ſtorm of thunder and lightning did not
ceafe till towards morning. At length, all things
being ready for our moving, we marched on flowly
till we came into the courfe of the rains.
the moft fettled and downright rain (as the faying
is) that ever I faw; every thing feemed to be as
calm, as the tempeft was violent before. Being ac-
cuſtomed to it, they had provided open veffels on
each fide of the dromedaries, to catch enough for
their uſe as it fell, and they covered themſelves and
their beaſts with that fine oiled cloth I mentioned be-
fore. All the fands were laid, and even beaten hard
by the rains, though heavy and cloggy at the fame
time. We made as much way as poffible, for five
days, juſt reſting and refreſhing ourſelves when ab-
folutely neceſſary. I muft own, nothing could be
more difmal than thofe dreary folitary deferts, where
we could neither fee fun nor moon, but had only
a gloomy, malignant light, juſt ſufficient to look at
the needle, and take our obfervations. On the fixth
day we thought we faw fomething move fidewife
of us, on our right hand, but feemingly paffing by
us; when one of the young men cried, There they
are, and immediately croffed down to them. Then
we perceived them to be perfons travelling like our-
felves,
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
123
felves, croffing in the fame manner up towards us.
I was extremely furpriſed to find, that thofe deferts
were known to any but ourſelves. But the Pophar
foon put me out of pain, by telling me, they were
fome of their own people, taking the fame feafon
to go for Egypt, and on the fame account. By this
time we were come up to one another. The lead-
er of the other caravan, with all his company, im-
mediately got off their dromedaries, and fell pro-
ſtrate on the earth before our Pophar; at which
he ftept back; and cried, Alas! is our father dead?
They told him, Yes; and that he being the firſt of
the fecond line, was to be regent of the kingdom,
till the young Pophar, who was born when his fa-
ther was an old man, fhould come to the age of fifty.
Then our people got off, and proftrated themſelves
before him*, all but myſelf. They took no notice
of my neglect, feeing me a fupernumerary perfon,
and by confequence a ſtranger; but as foon as the
ceremonies were over, came and embraced me, and
welcomed me into their brotherhood with the moſt
fincere cordiality, as if I had been one of their na-
tion. The Pophar foon told them what I was,
which made them repeat their careffes with new
ecſtaſies of joy peculiar to theſe people. After re-
iterated inquiries concerning their friends, and af-
furances that all was well, except what they had juſt
told him, the Pophar aſked them, how they came
to direct their courfe fo much on the left hand, ex-
pecting to have met them the day before; and
they ſeeming to point as if they were going out of
their way. They told us, they were now fenfible
of it, and were making up for the true road as faſt
as they could but that the day before, they had
L 2
* The eaſtern manner of fhewing reſpect.
like
124
THE ADVENTURES OF
like to have loft themſelves by the darkneſs of the
weather, and their too great fecurity; for, bearing
too much on the left hand, one of their dromedaries
floundered, as if he were got into a quickfand*.
The rider thinking it had been nothing but fome
loofer part of the fand, thought to go on, but fell
deeper the further he went, till the commander or-
dered him to get off immediately, which he did
with ſo much hafte, that not minding his drome-
dary, the poor beaſt going on further into the quick-
fands, was loft. Then the Pophar told them,
there was fuch a place marked down in their anci-
ent charts, which, being fo well acquainted with
the roads, they had never minded of late years:
that he ſuppoſed thofe quickfands to be either the
rains, which had funk through the fands, and meet-
ing with fome ftrata of clay, ſtagnated, and were
forming a lake; or more probably, it was the courſe
of ſome diſtant river, rifing perhaps out of a ha-
bitable country, at an unknown diſtance, but
had loft itſelf in thofe immenfe fands. However,
he
* Perfons may wonder to hear of quickfands in the
midſt of the fun-burnt deſerts of Africa. But the thing
will not feem fo improbable, when we come to examine
the reaſons of it. Without doubt, our author does not
mean fuch quickfands as are cauſed by the coming in of
the tide under the fands; a man of fenfe would be inca-
pable of fuch a blunder. But that there ſhould be fome
ftagnating waters in the low fwamps of the fands, is ſo
far from being incredible, that it can be hardly thought
to be otherwiſe. It is very well known, there are vaſt
lakes in fome parts of Africa, which have no vifible out-
lets. There are rivers alſo that loſe themſelves in the
fands, where finking under for fome time, they may
form fandy marshes, or quickfands, as the author calls
them.
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
125
he congratulated them on their efcape, and, like
a tender father, gently chid them for their too
great fecurity in that boundleſs ocean. Our time
not permitting us to ſtay long, each caravan fet
out again for their deſtined courſe, having but
five or fix days journey to make, that is, as far
as we could travel in fo many days and fo many
nights; for we never ſtopped but to refreſh our-
felves. The rains had fo tempered the air, that
it was rather cold than hot, efpecially the nights,
which grew longer, as we approached the line.
Here we fteered our courſe more to the weſt a-
gain, but not fo as to leave the ridge of the world.
I obſerved, the more we kept to the weſt, the more
moderate the rains were, as indeed they flackened
in proportion as we came nigher our journey's end;
becaufe coming from the weft, or at leaſt with a
little point of the fouth, they began fooner than
where we fet out. The tenth day of our journey,
I mean from the laft grove or refting-place, one
of our dromedaries failed. We had changed them
feveral times before, to make their labour more e-
qual. They would not let it die, for the good it
had done; but two of the company having water
enough, and knowing where they were, ftaid be-
hind, to bring it along with them. We now found
the nature of the fands and foil to begin to change,
as the Pophar had informed me: the ground be-
gan to be covered with a little mofs, tending to-
wards a green fward, more like barren downs than
fands; and I unexpectedly perceived in fome pla-
ces, inſtead of thofe barren gravelly fands, large fpa-
ces of tolerable good foil*. At length, to our in-
L 3
ex-
* It was obſerved in fome of the former remarks, that
not only the deferts of Africa, but all the ftrata, or
great beds of gravel, which are found in all parts of the.
world,
126 THE ADVENTURES OF
expreffible joy and comfort, at leaſt for myſelf, who
could not but be in fome fufpenfe in fuch an un-
known world, we came to patches of trees, and
grafs, with flanting falls and heads of vales, which
feemed
world, probably were cauſed by the univerfal deluge.
Nor can they be well accounted for otherwife. The
deeper the beds of gravel are, the more they fhew, by
the heterogeneous ſtuff lodged with them, that they
were bought thither, not produced there ab origine.
The vaſt falls and gullets which are ſeen on the ſkirts of
all the mountains in the world, evidently fhew they
were cauſed by ſome violent agitation, which carried the
loofer earth and ſmall ſtones along with it: for which
nothing can be more natural, than the fuppofition of a
flood, or agitated fluid, which, by its violence and fha-
kings, carried all that was moveable before it for fome
time. This gravel was incorporated with the loofe earth
before the flood, and was carried to and fro, while the
waters were in their greateſt agitation, waſhing and melt-
ing the looſe earth from the gravel and ſtones. But
when the waters came to their higheſt pitch, and began
to fubfide, the ſtones and gravel would fink ſooner than
lighter things, and ſo be left almoſt in a body in thoſe
ſtrata they appear in. This might be illuſtrated much
further, if there were occafion. The vast numbers of
petrified fhells and ſcallops. which are found in all
parts
of the world, on the higher grounds, could never be a
mere lufus nature, as fome too curious philofophers
imagine, but muſt be accounted for by ſuch a flood; and
theſe appearing in all parts of the univerfe, the flood
muſt have been univerfal. The ſudden change of foils
in every region, with the exceeding richness of fome
more than others, aad that too fometimes all at once,
is to be accounted for from the fame caufe: for the fame
violence of waters waſhing the earth from the ſtones,
muft naturally make an unequal accumulation of both.
As for Africa, all the ancients ſpeak of the incredible
fertility of it in fome places, and the extreme barrennefs
of the deſerts in others.
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA. 127
feemed to enlarge themſelves beyond our view *.
The rains were come to their period; only it look-
ed a little foggy at a great diſtance before us, which
was partly from the exhalations of the country af-
ter the rains; partly from the trees and hills ſtop-
ping the clouds, by which we found that the wea-
ther did not clear up in the habitable countries fo
foon as in the barren deferts. The Pophar told
me, that, if it were not for the hazineſs of the air,
he would fhew me the moſt beautiful profpect that
ever my eyes beheld. I was fenfibly convinced of
it by the perfumes of the fpicy fhrubs and flowers,
which ſtruck our fenfes with fuch a reviving fra-
grancy, as made us almoſt forget out paft fatigue,
eſpecially me, who had not felt the like even in the
firft vale: neither do I believe all the odours of
the Happy Arabia could ever come up to it. I was
juſt as if I had rifen out of the moſt delicious re-
pofe. Here the Pophar ordered us to stop for re-
freshment, and added, that we muſt ſtay there till
next day. We pitched our tents on the laſt de-
fcent of thoſe immenfe Bares, by the fide of a lit-
tle rill that iſſued out of the ſmall break of the
downs, expecting further orders.
The cauſe of our ſtay here, where we were out
of danger, was not only for our companions we had
left behind us, but on a ceremonious account, as
your Reverences will fee by and by: they were
alfo
*The prodigious height of the fands in Africa, in
thoſe parts which lie between the tropics, may not only
be the cauſe of the fands or gravel finking in greater
quantities at the decreaſe of the flood; but the most ex-
tenſive vales may have their riſe from very ſmall gullets
at first.
+ It is very natural to think, that thoſe barren fun-
burnt deferts fend up but few exhalations.
128
THE ADVENTURES OF
alfo to change their habits, that they might appear
in the colours of their reſpective tribe or name,
which were five, according to the number of the
fons of the firft Pophar, who brought them out of
Egypt, whofe ftatue we faw at the pyramid. By
their laws all the tribes are to be diſtinguiſhed by
their colours; that where-ever they go, they may
be known what name they belong to; with parti
cular marks of their pofts and dignities; as I fhall
defcribe to your Reverences afterwards. The grand
Pophar's colour, who was deſcended from the el-
deft fon of the ancient Pophar, was a flame colour,
or approaching nigh the rays of the fun, becauſe he
was chief prieſt of the fun. Our new regent's co-
lour was green, fpangled with funs of gold, as your
Reverences faw in the picture; the green reprefent-
ing the fpring, which is the chief feafon with them.
The third colour is a fiery red, for the fummer.
The fourth is yellow, for autum; and the fifth
pur-
ple, reprefenting the gloominefs of winter; for
thefe people, acknowledging the fun for the imme-
diate governor of the univerfe, mimic the nature of
his influence as nigh as they can. The women ob-
ſerve the colours of their refpective tribes, but have
moons of filver intermixed with the funs, to fhew
that they are influenced in a great meaſure by that
variable planet. The young virgins have the new
moon; in the ſtrength of their age the full moon;
as they grow old, the moon is in the decreaſe pro-
portionably. The widows have the moon expref-
fed juſt as it is in the change; the defcendants of
the daughters of the firſt Pophar were incorporated
with the reft. Thofe of the eldest daughter took
the eldeſt fon's colour, with a mark of diſtinction,
to fhew they were never to fucceed to the pophar-
ſhip, or regency, till there ſhould be no male iſſue
of the others at age to govern. This right of el-
der-
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
129
derſhip, as theſe people underſtand it, is a little in-
tricate; but I ſhall explain it to your Reverences
more at large, when I come to fpeak more particu-
larly of their government. When they are ſent out
into foreign countries, they take what habit or co-
lour they pleaſe, and generally go all alike, to be
known to each other: but they must not appear
in their own country but in their proper colours,
it being criminal to do otherwife. They carry
marks alſo of their families, that in caſe any miſde-
meanor ſhould be committed, they may know where
to trace it out; for which reaſon, now they drew
near their own country, they were to appear in the
colours of their respective Nomes; all but myſelf,
who had the fame garment I wore at Grand Cairo,
to fhew I was a ſtranger, though I wore the Po-
phar's colour afterwards, as being his relation, and
incorporated in his family. When they were all
arrayed in their filken colours, fpangled with funs
of gold, with white fillets round their temples,
ſtudded with precious ftones, they made a very de-
lightful fhew, being the handſomeſt race of people
this day in the univerſe, and all reſembling each o-
ther, as having no mixture of other nations in their
blood.
The fun had now broke through the clouds,
and diſcovered to us the profpect of the country,
but fuch a one as I am not able to deſcribe; it
looked rather like an immenfe garden than a coun-
try: at that diſtance I could fee nothing but trees
and groves; whether I looked towards the hills or
vales, all feemed to be one continued wood, though
with fome feemingly regular intervals of fquares
and plains, with the glittering of golden globes or
funs through the tops of the trees, that it looked
like a green mantle ſpangled with gold. I aſked
the Pophar, if they lived all in woods, or whether
the
130
THE ADVENTURES OF
the country was only one continued immenſe foreſt.
He ſmiled and faid, When we come thither, you
fhall fee fomething elfe befides woods; and then bid
me look back, and compare the dreary fands we
had lately paffed with that glorious profpect we
faw before us: I did fo, and found the difinal bar-
rennefs of the one enhanced the beautiful delight of
the other. The reafon, fays he, why it looks like
a wood, is, that, befides innumerable kinds of fruits,
all our towns, fquares, and ſtreets, as well as fields
and gardens, are planted with trees, both for delight
and conveniency, though you will find fpare
ground enough for the produce of all things fuf-
ficient to make the life of man eaſy and happy.
The glittering of gold through the tops of the
trees, are golden funs on the tops of the temples
and buildings: we build our houſes flat and low
on account of hurricanes, with gardens of perfumed
ever-greens on the top of them; which is the rea-
fon you fee nothing but groves.
We defcended gradually from off the defert
through the ſcattered fhrubs, and were faluted e-
very now and then with a gale of perfumes quite
different from what are brought to the Europeans
from foreign parts. The fresh air of the morning,
together with their being exhaled from the living
ſtocks, gave them fuch a fragrancy as cannot be ex-
preffed. At length we came to a ſpacious plain a
little ſhelving, and covered with a greenish coat be-
tween moſs and grafs, which was the utmoſt bor-
der of the defert; and beyond it a fmall river col-
lected from the hills, as if it were weeping out of
the fands in different places; which river was the
boundary of the kingdom that way. Halting here,
we diſcovered a fmall company of ten perfons, the
the fame number, excluding me, with ours, advan
cing gravely towards us: they were in the proper
CO-
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
$31
31
colours of the Nomes, with ſpangled funs of gold,
as my companions wore, only the tops of their
heads were ſprinkled with duſt, in token of mour-
ning. As foon as they came at a due diſtance,
they fell flat on their faces before the Pophar, with-
out ſaying a word, and received the golden urns
with the earth which we brought along with us.
Then they turned, and marched directly before us,
holding the urns in their hands as high as they
could, but all in a deep and mournful filence.
Theſe were deputies of the five Nomes fent to
meet the urns. We advanced in this filent man-
ner without ſaying one word, till we came to the
river, over which was a ſtately bridge with a tri-
umphal arch on the top of it, beautified with funs
of gold, moſt magnificent to behold. Beyond the
bridge, we immediately paffed through a kind of
circular grove, which led us into a moft delightful
plain, like an amphitheatre, with five avenues or
ſtreets leading to it: at the entrance of each ave-
nue ftood an innumerable multitude of people repre-
fenting the five Nomes, or governments of thoſe
immenfe kingdoms, all in their different colours,
fpangled with funs of gold, which made the moſt
glorious fhow in the world. As foon as we enter-
ed the amphitheatre, our filence was broke with
fhouts of joy that rended the very ſkies; then the
whole multitude falling flat on their faces, adoring
the urns, and thrice repeating their fhouts and ado-
rations, there advanced ten triumphant chariots, ac-
cording to the colours of the Nomes with funs as
before; nine of the chariots were drawn with fix
horſes each, and the tenth with eight for the Po-
phar regent. The five deputies, who were the
chief of each Nome, with the urns and companions,
mounted five of the chariots, the other five were
for us, two in a chariot; only being a fupernume-
rary,
132
THE ADVENTURES OF
rary, I was placed backwards in the Pophar's
chariot, which he told me was the only mark of
humliation and inequality I would receive. We were
conducted with five fquadrons of horſe, of fifty
men each, in their proper colours, with ſtreamer's
of the fame, having the fun in the centre, through
the oppofite avenue, till we came into another
amphitheatre of a vaſt extent, where we faw an in-
nite number of tents of filk of the colour of the
Nomes, all of them fpangled with golden funs:
here we were to reſt and refresh ourſelves.
Pophar's tent was in the centre of his own colour,
which was green, the fecond Nome in dignity, in
whofe dominions and government we now were.
The
I have been longer in this deſcription, be-
cauſe it was more a religious ceremony than
any thing elſe, thefe people being extremely my-
ſterious in all they do. I fhall explain the mean-
ing to your Reverences as briefly as I can. The
stopping before we came to the bridge on the
bor-
*The ancient Egyptians were fo myſterious, particu
larly in their religious ceremonies, and arcana of go-
vernment, that, in all probability, the ancient fables,
which very few yet underſtand rightly, had their rife
from them; though the learned Bochart, in his Phaleg.
derives them chiefly from the Canaanites, who difper,
fing themſelves all over the world, when they fled from
Joshua, impofed upon the credulous Greeks by the diffe-
rent fignifications of the fame words in their language.
It is obfervable by the by, that the moſt ancient lan-
guages, as the Hebrew, with its different dialects, of
which the Canaanean or Phoenician language was one,
the Chineſe language, &c. had a great many fignifica-
tions for the fame word, either from the plain ſimplicity
or poverty of the ancient languages, or more probably
from an affected myſteriouſneſs in all they did.
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
133
borders of thoſe inhofpitable deferts, and walking
in that mournful filent manner, not only expreſſed
their mourning for their deceaſed anceſtors, but al-
fo fignified the various calamities and labours inci-
dent to man in this life, where he is not only looked
upon to be, but really is, in a ſtate of baniſhment
and mourning; wandering in funburnt deferts, and
toffed with ftorms of innumerable lawleſs defires.
ftill fighing after a better country. The paffage
over the bridge, they would have to betoken man's
entrance into reſt by death. Their ſhouts of joy,
when the facred urns arrived in that glorious coun-
try, not only fignified the happineſs of the next
life, (for theſe people univerfally believe the im-
mortality of the foul, and think none but brutes
can be ignorant of it,) but alſo that their anceſtors,
whoſe burial-duft they brought along with them,
were now in a place of everlaſting reſt.
[Inquifitor. I hope you don't believe fo of Hea-
thens, let them be ever fo moral men, fince
we have no aſſurance of happineſs in the next
life mentioned in the holy fcripture, without
faith in Chriſt.
Gaudentio. No, Reverend Fathers; I only men-
tion the fenfe in which theſe men underſtand
the myſteries of their religion. As I believe
in Chrift, I know there is no other name un-
der heaven by which men can be faved.
Inquifitor. Go on.]
Every ceremony of theſe people has fome my-
ſtery or other included in it; but their appeared no
harm in any of them, except their falling proftrate
before the duft, which looked like rank idolatry:
but they ſaid ſtill, they meant no more than what
M
was
$34 THE ADVENTURES OF
was merely civil, to fignify their refpect for their
deceaſed parents*.
I fhall not as yet detain your Reverences with
the deſcription of the beauties of the country
through which we paffed, having fo much to fay
of the more fubftantial part; that is, of their form
of government, laws, and cuſtoms, both religious
and civil; nor defcribe their prodigious magnifi-
cence, though joined with a great deal of natural
fimplicity, in their towns, temples, ſchools, colle-
ges, &c. Becauſe, being built moftly alike, except
for particular uſes, manufactures, and the like; I
fhall deſcribe them all in one, when I come to the
great city of Phor, otherwife called, in their facred
language, No-omt: for if I should ftay to deferibe
the immenſe riches, fertility, and beauties of the
country, this relation, which is defigned as a real
account of a place wherein I lived fo many years,
would rather look like a romance than a true rela-
tion. I fhall only tell your Reverences at prefent,
that after taking a moft magnificent repaft, confifting
of all the heart of man can conceive delicious, both
of fruits and wines, while we ſtaid in thoſe refreſh-
ing
* See the remarks before on that head, and the ac-
counts of the worſhip of the Chineſe, who were original-
ly Egyptians, in the difputes between the Dominicans
and Jefuits, where the latter maintained the idolatrous
ceremonies and offerings made to their deceaſed ance-
flors, to imply nothing but a natural and civil refpect.
The Dominicans, on the contrary, very justly held
them to be idolatry, as they were judged to be, and con-
demned as fuch by Clement XI.
† Jofephus againſt Appion diſtinguiſhes two languages
of the ancient Egyptians, the one facred, the other com-
mon. Their facred language was full of myſteries, per-
haps like the Cabala of the Jews.
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
135
ing tabernacles, we paffed on by an eafy evening's
journey to one of their towns, always conducted
and lodged in the fame triumphant manner, till we
came to the head of that Nome, which I told your
Reverences was the green Nome, belonging to the
Pophar regent, fecond in dignity of the whole em-
pire. Here the urn of duft belonging to that Nome
was repofited in a kind of golden tabernacle ſet
with precious ſtones of immenfe value, in the cen-
tre of a fpacious temple, which I fhall defcribe af
terwards. After a week's feafting and rejoicing,
both for the reception of the duft, and the fafe re-
turn of the Pophar and his companions, together
with his exaltation to the regency, we fet out in
the fame manner for the other Nomes, to repoſit
all the urns in their reſpective temples. Theſe are
five, as I informed your Reverences before. The
country is fomething mountainous, particularly un-
der the line, and not very uniform, though every
thing elſe is; containing valleys, or rather whole
regions running out between the deferts; befides
vaft ridges of mountains in the heart of the coun-
try, which inclofe immenfe riches in their bowels.
The chief town is fituated as nigh as poffible in the
middle of the Nomes, and about the centre of the
country, bating thofe irregularities I mentioned.
The four inferior Nomes were like the four corners,
with the flame-coloured Nome, where the grand
Pophar, or regent pro tempore refided, in the centre of
the fquare. Their method was to go to the four infe-
rior Nomes firſt, and repofit the urns, and then to
complete all at the chief town of the firſt Nome.
Theſe Nomes were each about eight days very eaſy
journey over. Thus we went the round of all,
which I think, as I then remarked, was a kind of
political viſitation at the fame time. At length we
came to the great city of Phor, or No-om, there to re-
M 2
pofit
136
THE ADVENTURES OF
pofit the laſt urn, and for all the people to pay their
reſpects to the grand Pophar, if in being, or elſe to
the regent, By that time, what with thoſe who
accompanied the proceffion of the urns, and the in-
habitants of that immenfe town, more people were
gathered together, than one would have almoſt
thought had been in the whole world; but in fuck
order and decency, diſtinguiſhed in their ranks,
tribes, and colours, as is not eafy to be comprehend-
ed. The glittering tents fpread themfelves over
the face of the earth.
I ſhall here give your Reverences a defcription
of the town, becauſe all other great towns or heads
of the Nomes are built after that model, as indeed
the leffer towns come as nigh it as they can, except,
as I faid, places for arts or trades, which are gene-
rally built on rivers or brooks, for conveniency;
fuch is the nature of the people, that they affect an
exact uniformity and equality in all they do, as be-
ing brothers of the fame ftock.
The town of Phor, that is, the Glory or No-om,
which fignifies the houſe of the fun, is built circu-
lar, in imitation of the fun and its rays. It is fitu-
ated in the largeſt plain of all the kingdom, and
upon the largeſt river, which is about as big as our
Po, riſing from a ridge of mountains under the line,
and running towards the north, where it forms a
great lake, almoſt like a ſea, whoſe waters are ex-
haled by the heat of the fun, having no outlet, or
fink under ground in the fands of the vaft deferts
encompaſſing it. This river is cut into a moſt
magnificent canal, running directly through the
middle of the town. Before it enters the town,
to prevent inundations, and for other conveniencies,
there are prodigious bafons, and locks, and fluices,
with collateral canals, to divert and let out the wa-
ter, if need be. The middle ftream forms the
grand
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA. 137
grand canal, which runs through the town, till it
comes to the grand place; then there is another
lock and fluice which dividing it into two ſemicir
cles or wings, and carrying it round the grand
place, forms an island with the temple of the fun
in the centre, and meeting again oppofite to where
it divided, fo goes on in a canal again. There are
twelve bridges with one great arch over each, ten
over the circular canals, and two where they divide
and meet again. There are alſo bridges over the
ſtrait canals, at proper diſtances. Before the river
enters the town, it is divided by the firſt great lock
into two prodigious femicircles encompaffing the
whole town. All the canals are planted with dou-
ble-rows of cedars, and walks the moſt delightful
that can be imagined. The grand place is in the
centre of the town, a prodigious round, or immenfe
theatre, encompaſſed with the branches of the ca-
nal, and, in the centre of that, the temple of the fun.
This temple confifts of three hundred and fixty-five
double marble pillars, according to the number of
the days of the year*, repeated with three ftories
one above another, and on the top a cupola open
to the ſky for the fun to be feen through. The
pillars are all of the Corinthian ordert, of a marble
M 3
as
*Our author feems to be a little out in this place;
for it is certain, the ancient Egyptians did not make their
year to confiſt of ſo many days, unleſs you will fay, that
thefe people, being very great aftronomers, were more
exact in their obfervations.
+ It is generally fuppofed, that the different orders of
pillars, as the Doric, the Ionic, Corinthian, &c. came
firft from the Greeks, as their appellations, being Greek,
would make us believe; but the famous and ancient pa-
lace of Perfepolis, notwithſtanding its Greek name, where
there were hieroglyphics and infcriptions in characters
none
138
THE ADVENTURES OF
as white as fnow, and fluted. The edges of the
flutes, with the capitals cornifhed, are all gilt. The
inner roofs of the vaft galleries on thefe pillars, are
painted with the fun, moon, and ftars, expreffing
their different motions; with hieroglyphics known
only to fome few of the chief elders or rulers. The
outfides of all are doubly gilt, as is the dome or
grand concave on the top, open in the middle to
the sky. In the middle of this concave is a golden
fun, hanging in the void, and fupported by golden
lines or rods from the edges of the dome. The
artificial fun looks down, as if it were fhining on a
globe of earth, erected on a pedeſtal altar-wife, op-
pofite to the fun, according to the fituation of
their climate to that glorious planet; in which
globe or earth are inclofed the urns of their de-
ceafed anceſtors. On the infide of the pillars, are
the feats of the grandees or elders, to hold their
councils, which are all public. Oppofite to the
twelve great ſtreets, are fo many entrances into
the temple, with as many magnificent ſtait-cafes
between the entrances, to go into the galleries,
or places where they keep the regiſters of their
laws, &c. with gilt balustrades looking down into
the temple. On the pedeſtals of all the pillars were
ingraven hieroglyphics and characters known to
none but the five chief Pophars, and communicated
un-
none could underſtand, befides other reafons, fhew that
the invention came from Egypt, or from the ancient Chal-
deans, or rather from Seth, Noah, and the ancient He-
brews. It is likewiſe very obfervable, that the invention of
arts and ſciences came from the eaſt, and can be traced
no higher than Noah's flood; unleſs you will allow the
fables of Seth, alledged by the learned Jofephus in his
antiquities, quoted above. All which is a very natural
confirmation of the account given by Moſes, againſt our
modern sceptics.
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
139
under the greateft fecrecy to the fucceffor of any
one of them, in cafe of death, lofs of fenfes, and
and the like. I prefume, the grand ſecrets, and
arcana of ſtate, and, it may be, of their religion,
arts and ſciences, are contained therein. The moſt
improper decorations of the temple, in my opinion,
are the flutings of the pillars, which rather look
too finicial for the auguft and majeſtic fimplicity
affected by theſe people in other refpects.
The fronts of the houfes round the grand place
are all concave, or fegments of circles, except
where the great ſtreets meet, which are twelve in
number, according to the twelve figns of the zodi-
ac, pointing to the temple in ftrait lines like rays to
the centre. This vaft round is fet with double
rows and circles of ftately cedars before the houſes,
at an exact diſtance; as are all the ſtreets on each
fide, like fo many beautiful avenues, which produce
a moſt delightful effect to the eye, as well as con-
veniency of ſhade. The crofs ftreets are ſo many
parallel circles round the grand place and temple,
as the centre, making greater circles as the town en-
larges itſelf. They build always circular-wife till
the circle is complete; then another, and ſo on.
All the ſtreets, as I faid, both ftraight and circular,
are planted with double rows of cedars. The
middle of the areas between the cuttings of the
ſtreets are left for gardens and other conveniencies,
enlarging themſelves as they proceed from the cen-
tre or grand place. At every cutting of the
ftreets, is a leffer circular ſpace fet round with trees,
adorned with fountains, or ftatues of famous men ;
that, in effect, the whole town is like a prodigious
garden, diſtinguiſhed with temples, pavilions, ave-
nues, and circles of greens; fo that it is difficult to
give your Reverences a juft idea of the beauty of
it. I forgot to tell your Reverences, that the
twelve
140 THE ADVENTURES OF
twelve great ſtreets open themſelves as they length-
en, like the radii of a wheel, that at the firſt com-
ing into the town, you have the profpect of the
temple and grand place directly before you; and
from the temple a direct view of one of the fineſt
avenues and countries in the world. Their prin-
cipal towns are all built after this form. After
they have taken a plan of the place, they firſt build
a temple; then leave the great area, or circular
market-place, round which they build a circle of
houſes, and add others as they increaſe, according
to the foregoing deſcription; ridiculing and con-
temning other countries, whofe towns are generally
built in a confuſed number of houſes and ſtreets,
without any regular figure. In all the fpaces or
cuttings of the ſtreets, there are either public foun-
tains brought by pipes from a mountain at a confi-
derable diſtance from the town; or, as I faid before,
ftatues of great men holding fomething in their
hands to declare their merit; which, having no
wars, is taken, either from the invention of arts
and ſciences, or fome memorable action done by
them for the improvement and good of their coun-
try. Theſe they look upon as more laudable mo-
tives, and greater fpurs to glory, than all the tro-
phies erected by other nations, to the deſtroyers of
their own fpecies. Their houfes are built all alike,
and low, as I obferved before, on account of ſtorms
and hurricanes, to which the country is fubject;
they are all exactly of a height, flat-roofed, with
artificial gardens on the top of each*, full of flow-
ers
* The ancient Babylonians had artificial gardens, or
horti penfiler, on the tops of their houſes, as early as the
great Semiramis; though Herodotus derives their inven-
tion from a later Babylonian queen, who being a Mede
by
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA. 141
ers and aromatic fhrubs; fo that when you look
from any eminence down into the ſtreets, you fee
all the circles and avenues like another world under
you; and if on the level, along the tops of the
houſes, you are charmed with the proſpect of ten
thouſand different gardens meeting your fight
where-ever you turn; infomuch, that I believe
the whole world befides cannot afford ſuch a prof-
pect. There are a great many other beauties and
conveniencies according to the genius of the peo-
ple; which, were I to mention, would make up a
whole volume. I only fay, that the riches of the
country are immenſe, which in ſome meaſure are all
in common, as I fhall fhew when I come to the na-
ture of their government; the people are the moſt
ingenious and induftrious in the world; the gover-
nors aiming at nothing but the grandeur and good
of the public, having all the affluence the heart of
man can defire, in a place where there has been no
war for near three thouſand years; there being in-
deed no enemies but the inhofpitable fands around
them, and they all confider themfelves as brothers.
of the fame ſtock, living under one common father;
fo that it is not fo much to be wondered at, if they are
arrived to fuch grandeur and magnificence, as per-
fons in our world can ſcarce believe or conceive.
When the ceremonies for the reception of the
urns were over, religious ceremonies with thefe peo-
ple always taking place of the civil*, they proceeded
to
by nation, and loving words, and not being permitted
to go out of the palace, had thoſe artificial gardens made
to divert her.
* The moſt polite nations of antiquity, even among
the Heathens, gave the preference to religion, before all
other confiderations. As for the Chriſtian religion, though
of
142
THE ADVENTURES OF
to the inauguration of the Pophar regent; which
was performed with no other ceremony, for reafons
I fhall tell your Reverences afterwards, but pla-
cing him in a chair of ſtate with his face towards
the eaſt, on the top of the higheft hill in the Nome,
to fhew that he was to infpect, or overlook all,
looking towards the temple of the fun, which ſtood
directly eaſtward of him, to put him in mind that
he was to take care of the religion of his anceſtors
in the firſt place. When he was thus placed,
three hundred fixty-five of the chief of the Nome,
as reprefentatives of all the reft, came up to him,
and making a refpectful bow, ſaid, Eli Pophar,
which is as much as to fay, Hail father of our na-
tion; and he embracing them as a father does his
children, anfwered them with Cali Benim, that is,
My dear children. As many of the women did the
fame. This was all the homage they paid him,
which was eſteemed ſo ſacred as never to be vio-
lated. All the diflinction of his habit was one
great fun on his breaſt, much bigger than that of
any of the reft. The precious ftones alſo, which
were fet in the white fillet binding his forehead, were
larger than ordinary, as were thofe of the crofs cir-
cles over his head, terminated on the fummit with
a large tuft of gold, and a thin plate of gold in the
fhape
of late perfons of fome wit, little judgment, and no mo-
rals, call it in queſtion, it is well known, men become
more men as they become Chriſtians The light of faith
brought in learning, politeness, humanity, juftice, and
equity, inſtead of that ignorance, and a brutal barbarity,
that overspread the face of the earth; and the want of
it will lead us in time into the fame enormities which re-
ligion has taught us to forſake; on which account it is
the part of all wife governments to countenance and pre-
ferve religion.
J
1
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA. 143
hape of the fun, faftened to the top of it horizon-
tally; all of them, both men and women, wore
thoſe fillet-crowns with a toft of gold, but no fun
on the top, except the Pophar.
As foon as the ceremonies and rejoicings were
over, which were performed in tents at the public
expenſe, he was conducted with the chearful accla-
mations of the people, and the found of mufical
inftruments, to a magnificent tent in the front of
the whole camp, facing the eaft, which is looked
upon as the most honourable, as firft feeing the
rifing fun; and ſo on, by eaſy journeys, till he
came to the chief town of that Nome. The rea-
fon why thefe ceremonies were performed in the
different Nomes, was to fhew that they all depend-
ed on him, and becauſe the empire was fo very po-
pulous, it was impoffible they could meet at one
place. I cannot exprefs the careffes I received from
them, eſpecially when they found I was deſcended
from the fame race by the mother's fide, and fo
nearly related to the Pophar. When I came firſt
into their company, they all embraced me, men
and women, with the moſt endearing tenderneſs:
the young beautiful women did the fame, calling
me brother, and catching me in their arms with
fuch an innocent affurance, as if I had been their
real brother loft and found again. I cannot fay
but fome of them expreſſed a fondneſs for me that
feemed to be of another fort, and which afterwards
gave me a great deal of trouble; but I imputed
it to the nature of the fex, who are unaccountably
more fond of ſtrangers, whom they know nothing
of, than of perſons of much greater merit, who
converſe with them every day. Whether it pro-
ceeds from the want of a fufficient folidity in their
judgment, or from a levity and fickleness in their
nature, or from the fpirit of contradiction, which
makes
144
THE ADVENTURES OF
makes them fond of what they moſtly ſhould avoid;
or thinking that ftrangers are not acquainted with
their defects, or, in fine, are more likely to keep
their counſel; be that as it will, their mutual jea-
loufies gave me much uneafinefs afterwards. But
to ſay a word or two more of the nature of the peo-
ple before I proceed in my relation; as I told your
Reverences, they are the handfomeſt race of peo-
ple I believe nature ever produced, with this only
difference, which fome may think a defect, that
they are all too much like one another: but if it be
a defect, it proceeds from a very laudable caufe;
that is, from their ſpringing from one family, with-
out any mixtúre of different nations in their blood *
they have neither wars, nor traffic with other peo-
ple, to adulterate their race, for which reafon they
know nothing of the vices fuch a commerce often
brings along with it. Their eyes are fomething
too finall, but not fo little as thofe of the Chineſe;
their hair is generally black, and inclined to be a
little
*Tacitus fays much the fame of the Germans, Ipfe
corum opinionibus accedo, qui Germania populus nullis
aliarum nationum connubiis infectos, propriam et fince-
ram et tanquam fui fimilem gentem extitiffe arbitran-
tur *. I agree, ſays he, with their opinion, who think
the people of Germany fo peculiarly like one another,
becauſe they have not been corrupted by marriages with
other nations. They were noted in Auguftus's time to
have blue eyes, as most of the native Germans have to
this day. I remember I faw a review of a German re-
giment in the city of Milan, where almoſt every one of
the common foldiers had blue eyes. No wonder there-
fore, if theſe Africans, our author fpeaks of, fhould be
fo like one another.
• Tacitus de moribus Germanorum.
1
**
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
145
little cropped or frizzled*, and their complexion
brown, but their features are the moſt exact and
regular imaginable; and in the mountainous parts
towards the line, where the air is cooler, they are
rather fairer than our Italians; the men are uni-
verfally well ſhaped, tall and flender, except through
fome accidental deformity, which is very rare; but
the women, who keep themſelves much within
doors, are the moſt beautiful creatures, and the fi-
neſt ſhaped in the world, except, as I ſaid being too
much alike. There is fuch an innocent ſweetneſs
in their beauty, and fuch a native modefty in their
countenance, as cannot be deſcribed. A bold for-
wardneſs in a woman is what they diflike; and to
give them their due, even the women are the moſt
chafte I ever knew, which is partly owing to the
early and provident care of their governors. But
as I deſign to make a feparate article of the educa-
tion of their young people, I ſhall ſay no more at
prefent on that head.
The vifitations which we made to carry the urns,
gave me an opportunity of feeing the greateſt part
of their country as foon as I came there; though
the Pophar, with a lefs retinue, and with whom I
always was, vifited them more particularly after-
wards. The country is generally more hilly than
plain, and in fome parts even mountainous; there
are, as I ſaid, vaſt ridges of mountains, which run
fe-
N
*The ancient Egyptians, according to Herodotus and
Bochart, were fo.
+ Though our Italians are fomething more fwarthy
than the northern Tramontani; yet our ladies keeping
much in the houſe from their childhood, have very fine
ſkins, and excel all others for delicacy of features *.
* I fancy Signor Rhedi never faw our English beat Gies.
146
THE ADVENTURES OF
feveral hundred miles, either under or parallel to
the equator. Theſe are very cold, and contribute
very much to render the climate more temperate
than might otherwiſe be expected, both by refri-
gerating the air with cooling breezes, which are
wafted from thence over the reſt of the country,
and by ſupplying the plains with innumerable rivers
running both north and fouth, but chiefly towards
the north*. Theſe hills, and the great woods they
are generally covered with, are the occafion of the
country's being fubject to rains +; there are vaſt
foreſts and places, which they cut down and deſtroy
as they want room, leaving leffer groves for beauty
and variety, as well as ufe and conveniency. The
rains and hillineſs of the country make travelling a
little incommodious, but then they afford number-
lefs fprings and rivulets, with fuch delicious vales,
that, adding this to the honefty and innocence of
the inhabitants, one would think it a perpetual pa-
radiſe. The foil is fo prodigious fertile, not only
in different forts of grain and rice, with a fort of
wheat much larger and richer in flower than any
Indian wheat I ever faw; but particularly in an
inexhaustible variety of fruits, legumes and eatable
herbs of fuch nourishing juice, and delicious taſte,
that
*It is remarkable that moſt ſprings rife from the
north fide of the hills, and more rivers run northward
than fouthward, at leaſt on this fide of the line, though
the obfervation does not always hold; the reafon may
be, for that there are more miſts and dews hanging on
the north fide, becauſe the fun dries up the moisture on
the fouth fide of the mountains, more than on the north:
though perhaps all ſprings don't rife from rain and mifts,
&c. yet moſt do.
+ It is well known to the naturalifts, that great woods
and hills collect clouds and vapours, and confequently
cauſe it to rain more there than in other places.
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
147
that to provide fruit for fuch numbers of people is
the leaſt of their care. One would think the curfe
of Adam had ſcarce reached that part of the world;
or that Providence had proportioned the fertility of
the country to the innocence of the inhabitants;
not but the induſtry and ingenuity of the people,
joined with their perpetual peace and reft from ex-
ternal and almoſt internal broils, contribute very
much to their riches and fertility. Their villages
being moſt of them built on the rivulets for manu-
factures and trades, are not to be numbered. Their
hills are full of metallic mines of all forts, with ma-
terials fufficient to work them; filver is the ſcarceſt,
and none more plentiful than gold; it comes out
oftentimes in great lumps from the mineral rocks,
as if it wept out from between the joints, and was
thrown off by the natural heat of the earth, or o-
ther unknown cauſes: this gold is more ductile,
eaſier to work, and better for all ufes, than that
which is drawn from the ore. Their inventions not
only for common conveniencies, but even the mag-
nificence of life, are aftoniſhing. When I fpoke
of their fruits, I fhould have mentioned a fmall
fort of grape that grows there naturally, of which
they make a wine, ſharp at firft, but which will
keep a great many years, mellowing and improving
as it is kept; but the choiceft grapes, which are
chiefly for drying, are cultivated among them, and
a very little pains does it. Their wines are more cor-
dial than inebriating; but a ſmaller fort diluted with
water, makes their conſtant drink. I don't remember I
ever faw any horned beaſts in the country, except
goats of a very large fize, which ferve them for milk,
though it is rather too rich: deer there are innume-
rable, of more different kinds than are in Europe.
There is a little beaft feemingly of a fpecies between
a roe and a ſheep, whofe fleſh is the moſt nouriſh-
N 2
ing
148
THE ADVENTURES OF
ing and delicious that can be taſted; theſe make a
dish in all their feaſts, and are chiefly referved for
that end. Their fowl, wild and tame, make the
greatest part of their food, as to fleſh-meat, of
which they don't eat much, it being, as they think,
too grofs a food. The rivers and lakes are ſtored
with vast quantities of moft exquifite fifh, particu-
larly a golden trout, whofe belly is of a bright ſcar-
let colour, as delectable to the palate as to the eye.
They fuppofe fish to be more nourishing and eaſier
of digeſtion than fleſh, for which reafon they eat
much more of it; but having no rivers that rug
into the fea, they want all of that kind.
Their horſes, as I obferved before, are but ſmall,
but full of mettle and life, and extremely ſwift;
they have a wild afs longer than the horſe, of all
the colours of the rainbow, very ftrong and profi-
table for burden and drudgery; but their great
carriages are drawn by elks; the dromedaries are
for travelling over the fands. The rivers, at leaſt
in the plain and low countries, are cut into canals,
by which they carry moſt of their provifion and ef-
fects all over the country. This is only a fmall
fketch of the nature of the country, becaufe I know
thefe matters don't fall under the cognifance of
your Reverences, fo much as the account of their
religon, morals, cuftoms, laws, and government.
Yet I muſt ſay that for riches, plenty of all delica-
cies of life, manufactories, inventions of arts, and
every thing that conduces to make this mortal ſtate
as happy as is poffible, no country in the known
world can parallel it; though there are fome incon-
veniencies, as your Reverences will obferve as I go
on with my relation.
Before I come to the remaining occurrences of
my own life, in which nothing very extraordinary
happened till I came away, unfefs I reckon the ex-
traor-
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
149
traordinary happineſs I was placed in, as to all
things of this life, in one of the moſt delicious re-
gions of the univerfe, married to the regent's daugh-
ter, whofe picture is there before you, and the de-
plorable lots of her, with my only remaining fon,
[Here he could not refrain from weeping for fome
time,] as well as the prefent ſtate to which I am
reduced; though I muſt own I have received more
favourable treatment than could well be expected: I
fhall give your Reverences a fuccinct account of
their religion, laws, and cuſtoms, which are almoſt
as far out of the common way of thinking of the
reft of the world, as their country.
Of their Religion.
The religion of thefe people is really idolatry in
the main; though as fimple and natural as poffible
for Heathens. They indeed will not acknowledge
themſelves to be Heathens, in the fenſe we take the
word; that is, worshippers of falfe gods*, for they
have an abhorrence of idolatry in words as well
as the Chineſe, but are idolaters in effect, worship-
ping the material fun, and paying thofe fuperfti-
tious rites to their deceafed anceſtors; of which
part of their religion your Reverences have had a
full account already. Theſe people, however, ac-
knowledge one fupreme God, maker of all things,
whom
N 3
* This opinion was very ancient, and came originally
from Egypt, where Pythagoras learned it; though per-
haps not liking this way of employing it, he altered it
quite from what theſe men held, which is the leſs irra-
tional of the two. Though, with Signor Gaudentio's
leave, I can never believe, theſe wife men really held
that opinion, but only underſtood it allegorically; I muſt
own, at the fame time, fome of the ancients did hold the
other metempſychoſis.
150
THE ADVENTURES OF
whom they call El*, or the moſt high of all. This
they fay natural reaſon teaches them from an argu-
ment, though good in itfelf, yet formed after a dif-
ferent way of arguing from other people: they
fay all their own wiſdom, or that of all the wifeſt
men in the world put together, could never form
this glorious world in all its cauſes and effects, fo
juſtly adapted to its refpective ends, as it is with re-
pect to every individual fpecies. Therefore the
author of it muſt be a being infinitely wifer than all
intellectual beings. As for the notion of any thing
producing itſelf without a prior caufe, they laugh
at it, and ask why we don't fee fuch effects pro-
duced without a caufe? hence they hold one only
independent caufe, and that there must be one, or
nothing could ever be produced. Though they
nake a god of the fun, they don't fay he is inde-
pendent as to his own being: but that he received
it from this El. Some of the wiſer fort, when I
argued with them, feemed to acknowledge the fun
to be a material being created by God; but others
think him to be a fort of vicegerent, by whom the El
performs every thing, as the chief inftrumental
caufe of all productions. This is the reafon that
they addrefs all their prayers to the fun, though
they allow all power is to be referred originally to
the El. The men look upon the moon to be a ma-
terial being, dependent on the fun; but the women
feem to make a goddefs of her, by reafon of the in-
fluence he has over that fex; and foolishly think
The brings forth every month when the is at the
full,
* The old Arabians by Al or perhaps El, mean
fomething very grand or high, as Al-Cair, for Grand
Cair, Alchymy for the higheſt chymiſtry, &c. I won◄
der Signor Rhedi took no notice of this in his remarks.
StG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
151
full, and that the ſtars are hers and the fun's chil
dren. They all of them, both men and women,
reft fatisfied in their belief, without any difputes or
ſtudied notions about a being fo infinitely above
them, thinking it much better to adore him in the
infcrutability of his effence, in an humble filence,
than to be diſputing about what they cannot com-
prehend; all their fearch is employed in fecond
caufes, and the knowledge of nature as far as it
may be uſeful to men.
[Inquifitor. I hope you don't deny but that
fome men have wrong notions of the Deity,
in which they ought to be fet right by wifer
and more learned men than themſelves; by
confequence all fearches and diſputes about
the being and nature of God are not to be
condemned.
Gaudentio. No, may it pleaſe your Reverences,
for I prefume you only underſtand me now
as repreſenting other people's opinions, not
my own, which is entirely conformable to
what the Catholic church teaches. 1 often
told the Pophar, to whom I could speak my
mind with all the freedom in the world, that
as no mortal man could pretend to tell what
belonged to the incomprehenfibility of God's
effence, yet our reafon obliging us to believe
his being; it was neceffary, by the fame rea-
fon, that we ſhould be inftructed by himself,
or fome lawgiver immediately commiffioned by
him, left we ſhould err in ſo material a point.
This lawgiver we Chriftians believe he did
fend, by giving us his only Son, who was capable
of inftructing us in what belonged to the e-
ternal Godhead; that he did not only give us
the jufteft notions we could poffibly have, but
confirmed the truth of what he faid, by fuch
figas
152
THE ADVENTURES OF
figns and wonders as none but one fent from
God could perform.
Inquifitor. Go on.]
-
When I faid, they addrefs all their prayers,
and moſt of the external actions of their worſhip
to the fun, it is on account of their believing him
to be the phyſical cauſe of the production of all
things by his natural influence; which, though the
wifer fort of them, when you come to reafon more
cloſely, will grant to be derived from the El, and
fome of them will own him to be a mere material
being, moved by a prior caufe, yet the generality
of them don't reflect on this; but are really guilty
of idolatry in worshipping a mere creature. Never-
theleſs, as to the moral effects of the univerſe, or
the free actions of men with reſpect to equity, ju-
ſtice, goodneſs, uprightnefs, and the like, which
they allow to be properly the duty of rational crea-
tures, and of much greater confequence than the
phyfical part of the world: this, I fay, they all re-
fer to the fupreme Being, whofe will it is they
ſhould be merciful, good, juft and equitable to all,
agreeable to the juſt notions of the all-wife author
of their exiſtence, whofe fupreme reafon being in-
capable of any irregular bias, ought to be the rule of
his creatures that depend on him, and are in fome
meaſure partakers of his perfections. They con-
firm this notion by a very proper comparifon; as for
example, to act contrary to the laws of nature in
phyfical productions, is to produce monftrous births,
&c. fo to act contrary to the ideas of the fupreme
reaſon in moral cafes, muſt be a great deformity in
his fight.
I own I was charmed with this natural way of
reafoning, and asked them further, whether they
believed the fupreme Being troubled himſelf about
the moral part of the world, or the free actions of
men?
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
153
men? They ſeemed furpriſed at the queftion, and
afked me, whether I thought it was poffible he
ſhould leave the nobleft part out of his care, when
he took the pains (that was their expreffion) to cre-
ate the leaſt infect according to the moſt exact rules
of art and knowledge, beyond all that the art of
man can come up to? Iaſked them again, what were
the rules, which it was his will that free agents, fuch
as man for inftance, fhould follow in the direction
of their lives? They told me, reafon, juftice, and e-
quity, in imitation of the fupreme reafon in him;
for, faid they, can you think the fupreme Being can
approve of the enormous actions committed by men ;
or that any vile practices can be according to the juſt
ideas of his reafon; if not, they muſt be contrary
to the beſt light of reafon, not only in God, but
man, and therefore liable to be punished by the juſt
governor of all.
I ſubmit theſe notions to your Reverences bet-
ter judgment, but I thought them very extraor-
dinary for perfons who had nothing but the
light of nature to direct them; it is pity but they
had been as right in their more remote inferences as
they were in thefe principles. The fum therefore
of the theoretical part of their religion, is,
Firſt, that the El is the fupreme intellectual, ra-
tional, and moſt noble of all beings; that it is the
duty of all intellectual beings to imitate the juſt laws
of reaſon in him, otherwiſe they depart from the
fupreme rule of all their actions, fince what is con-
trary to the moſt perfect reafon in God, muſt be
contrary to our own, and by confequence of a de-
formity highly blameable in his fight; all their
prayers, and whatever they aſk of this fupreme Be-
ing, is, that they may be juſt and good as he
is.
Secondly, that the fun, is the chief, at leaft in-
ftrumen-
*
154
THE ADVENTURES OF
ftrumental caufe of thelr bodies, and all other phy-
fical effects. Your Reverences know better than I
can inform you, that this is wrong: to him they
address their prayers for the prefervation of their
lives, the fruits of the earth, &c.
Thirdly, that their parents are the more imme-
diate inſtrumental cauſe of their natural being, which
they derive partly from the El, and partly from the
fun, and they reverence them the more on this ac-
count, as being the vicegerents of both, and believe
them to be immortal, as to the fpiritual or intellectual
part, and conſequently able and ready to aſſiſt them
according to the refpect they fhew them by reve-
rencing their tombs, and honouring their memories.
Though, upon a nicer examination, I found that
the fuperftitious worship they pay to their deceaſed
anceſtors, was as much a politic as a religious infti-
tution, becauſe their government being patriarchal,
this inviolable refpect they fhew to their parents
makes them obey their elders or governors, not only
with the moſt dutiful obfervance, but even with a
filial love and alacrity.
There are fome other points of lefs confequence,
and reducible to theſe three heads, which your Re-
verences will obferve in the courſe of my relation.
As for the immortality of the foul, rewards and pu-
niſhments in another life, they believe both, though
they have an odd way of explaining them. They
ſuppoſe, without any heſitation, that the foul is a
being independent of matter, as to its effence, ha-
ving faculties of thinking, willing, and chufing,
which mere matter, let it be ſpun ever ſo fine, and
actuated by the quickeft and the moft fubtile motion,
can ever be capable of; but their notion of their pre-
exiſtence with the El, before they were fent into bo-
dies, is very confufed. The rewards and punish-
ments in the next life they believe will chiefly con-
fift
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
155
fift in this; that in proportion as their actions have
been conformable to the juft ideas of the fupreme
being in this life, partaking ſtill more and more of
his infinite wifdom, fo their fouls will approach
ftill nearer to the beautiful intelligence of their di-
vine model in the next. But if their actions in
this life have been inconfiftent with the fupreme
reafon in God, they fhall be permitted to go on for
ever in that inconfiftency and difagreement, till they
become ſo monftroufly wicked and enormous, as to
become abominable even to themſelves.
Of their opinion concerning the tranſmigration of
fouls, and the fcience of phyfiognomy.
I found the wifeft of them held the metempfy-
chofis, or the tranfmigration of fouls*, not as a pu.
niſhment in the next life, as fome of the ancient
Heathen philofophers did, but as a puniſhment in
this; the chief puniſhment in the next was explain-
ed above. This tranfimigration of fouls is quite
different from the received notion of the word.
Inftead of believing, as the ancients did, that the
fouls of wicked and voluptuous men, after their
deaths, tranfmigrated into beaſts according to the
fimilitude of their vitious inclinations, till, paffing
through one animal into another, they were per-
mitted to commence men again; I fay, theſe peo-
ple, inſtead of believing this, hold a metempſycho-
fis
* This notion of the tranfmigration of the fouls of
brutes into men and women in this life, particularly into
the latter, was not unknown to the ancients, though ex-
plained fomething after a different way: witness a re-
maining fragment of Simonides, a very ancient Greek
poet, to that effect.
156
THE ADVENTURES OF
i
fis of quite a different nature; not that the fouls
of men enter into brutes, but, that the fouls of brutes
enter into the bodies of men, even in this life.
They fay, for example, that the bodies of men
and women are fuch delicate habitations, that the
fouls of brutes are perpetually envying them, and
contriving to get into them; that, unleſs the divine
light of reafon be perpetually attended to, thefe
brutal fouls fteal in upon them, and chain up the
rational foul, fo that it ſhall not be able to govern
the body, unless it be to carry on the deſigns of the
brutal foul, or at beft only make fome faint efforts
to get out of its flavery. I took it at firſt, that
this fyftem was merely allegorical, to fhew the fi-
militude between the paffions of men when not di
rected by reaſon, and thofe of brutes. But, upon
examination, I found that it was their opinion,
that this tranfmiration did really happen; infomuch
that in my laſt journey with the Pophar into E-
gypt, when he faw the Turks, or other ſtrange na-
tions, nay feveral Armenian and European Chrifti-
ans, he would fay to me in his own language, There
goes a hog, there goes a lion, a wolf, a fox, a dog,
and the like; that is, they believe the body of a
voluptuous man is poffeffed by the ſoul of a hog,
of a luſtful man by that of a goat, a treacherous man
by that of a fox, a tyrannical man by that of a
wolf, and fo of the reft. This belief is inftilled
into them fo early, and with fo much care, that it
is of very great benefit to keep them within the
bounds of reafon. If a young man finds himſelf
inclined to any of theſe paffions, he addreffes him-
felf immediately to fome perfon whom he thinks of
fuperior wiſdom, who aſſures him that the foul of
fome certain brute is endeavouring to furprife and
captivate his rational foul, and take poffeffion of its
place. This makes them always watchful, and u-
pon
↑
SIG. GAUDENFIO DI LUCCA.
157
pon their guard againſt their own paffions, and not to
be furprifed by fuch a merciless enemy. Their
immediate remedy is, to look ftedfaftly at the di-
vine light that thines within them, and compare it
with its original, till by the force of its rays they
drive away thoſe brutal fouls, which, as foon as
fully diſcovered in their treacherous attacks, (for
they come on, fay they, by ſtealth, not daring to
attack that divine light directly,) are eaſily repulſed,
before they have obtained poffeffion, though it coſts
them a great deal of pains to diflodge them, when
once they are got in. The fear of being abandon-
ed to the flavery of theſe brutal fouls is fo deeply
imprinted in them from their infancy, that they
look upon the temperance and regularity of their
lives to be in a great meaſure owing to this doctrine.
The fame notions hold with their women; into
whom their mothers and governeffes inftil them, as
the wife men do to the men; only they believe the
brutal fouls that enter into women, are of a diffe-
rent fpecies from thoſe that enter into men. They
fay, for inſtance, that of a cameleon makes them
falſe and inconftant; that of a peacock, coquettish
and vain; that of a tygrefs, cruel and ill-natured;
and fo of the rest. They add another difference
between men and women, that when theſe brutal
fouls are entered into them, they are much harder
to be driven out from them than from the men;
befides that theſe brutal fouls will lurk undiſcover-
ed in women a great while, and are often ſcarce
difcernible, till the age of five and twenty or thirty;
whereas in moſt men they diſcover themſelves pre-
fently after their entrance,
It was on account of this doctrine, as I found by
repeated obfervations, that they were fo addicted to
the ſtudy of phyfiognomy, laying down rules to
know
t
158
THE ADVENTURES OF
know by the countenance, the lines of the face,
and unguarded looks of men, whether the brutal
foul has got poffeffion or not, in order to apply
proper remedies. This fcience, however uncertain
and doubtful among Chriftians, (who have greater
affiftance of grace and virtue to refift their paffions,
thofe treacherous invaders,) is brought to greater
perfection and certitude than one would imagine,
among fuch of theſe people, who, having no fuch
helps, take little care to cultivate and moderate their
vitious inclinations, unless they are appriſed and
forewarned of the danger. Therefore their wife
men, whenever they come in company of the
younger fort, confider attentively with themſelves
all the lineaments of the countenance, complexions,
motions, habit of body, conſtitution, tone of the
voice, make and turn of the face, noſe, ears, &c, but
particularly they obſerve the ſtructure and glances of
the eye, with innumerable figns proceeding from it,
by which they pretend to diſcover thoſe paffions,
I fay, they pretend to know by theſe what brutal
foul lays ſiege to the rational ſoul, or whether it
has already taken poffeffion of its poſt. If they are
ſtrangers, they prudently take care to avoid their
company, or at leaſt are on their guard not to have
any dealings with them in matters obnoxious to
the brutal foul they think them poffeffed by. But
if the perfon attacked by theſe brutal fouls be of
their own nation, they immediately forewarn fuch
to be on his guard, by which, and the dread they
have entertained from their youth of theſe brutal
enemies, they are kept in ſuch order, that, as I faid,
I never faw fuch moral people in my life, The
worft is, they are extremely inclined to be proud,
and have too great a value for themſelves, deſpiſing
in their hearts all other nations as if they were no-
thing
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
159
thing but brutes in human fhape*. However,
their wife men take as much care as poffible to
correct this fault, as far as the ignorance of the
law of grace will allow; by putting them often in
mind of the miferies and infirmities of human life,
which being real evils, muft be in puniſhment of
fome fault; that the most perfect are liable to
death, which makes no diftinction between them
and the rest of the world. Befides, humility and a
commiferation for the defects of others, is one of
the rays of the divine light that is to guide them.
From fuch documents and inſtructions of the wifer
fort, though they do not care to have any corre-
fpondence with other people, feeing them fo poffef-
fed with thoſe brutal fouls, yet they are a moſt
courteous and compaffionate people in all their be-
haviour.
Of their laws and cuftoms.
Over and above what has been faid already of
the nature and cuſtoms of theſe people, I fhall here
obferve that their laws are very few in number
but then they are prodigious exact in the obſer-
vance of them. I have often heard the Pophar,
contrary to his cuftom, make very fevere reflections
on the lawyers of other countries, who make laws
upon laws, and add precepts upon precepts, till the
endleſs number of them makes the fundamental
0 2
part
*The Chineſe, whom I have proved to be deſcended
from the first Egyptians, are fubject to the like pride and
contempt of other people; faying that all other nations
have but one eye, whereas nature has given them two :
fignifying thereby, how much wifer they think themſelves
than other mea.
160
THE ADVENTURES OF
part to be forgotten; leaving nothing but a confuſed
heap of explanations; which may caule ignorant
people to doubt, whether there is really any thing
meant by the laws or not. If I forbid my fon, fays
he, to do any wrong to any one, what need is there
of reckoning up all the particulars by which a per-
fon may be wronged? Shew but the fact on both
fides, any man of fenfe and equity can tell, if there
be any wrong done. For if you multiply an infi-
nity of circumſtances, it will be much more diffi-
cult to decide what is right or what is wrong, than
if you preciſely and abfolutely forbid all injury
whatſoever. It is almoft incredible, with what
nicety and equity, and how foon, their judges de-
termine the few difputes they have among them.
To weigh the merits of the caufe by the weight of
the purſe, would be counted by them one of the great-
eft enormities. There are no courts for diſputes of
this nature; all is done by laying the cafe before
their public affemblies, or before any one or two
prudent and juft men; and the affair is finally de-
cided at once. All the law for meum and tuum a-
mong them is, Thou shalt do no wrong to any one,
without entering into any further niceties. Such
explanatory fuppofitions, fay they, oftener fhew
people how they may ingeniouſly contrive to do an
injury, than how to avoid it.
Their laws therefore are nothing but the firſt
principles of natural juſtice, explained and applied
by the elders, in the public hearing of all who have
a mind to come in when the facts are brought into
difpute.
The worſhip of the Deity, and that exceffive
and even fuperftitious reverence they pay to their
parents, both alive and dead, is fo carefully incul-
cated to them from their infancy, that there is no
need of any written law to inforce it. They look
on
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
on a man to be poffeffed with fome brutal foul,
who ſhould pretend to call in queſtion or neglect
this duty.
There is a poſitive law among them, not to ſhed
human blood voluntarily *. They carry this fun-
damental law of nature to fuch a height, that they
never put any one to death, even for murder, which
very rarely happens; that is, once in feveral ages.
If it appears that a perfon has really murdered ano-
ther, a thing they think almoſt impoffible, the per-
fon convicted is fhut up from all commerce of men,
with provifions to keep him alive as long as nature
allows. After his death the fact is proclaimed, as
it was when they ſhut him up, over all the Nomes.
His name is blotted out of their genealogics; then
his dead body is mangled juft in the fame manner
as he killed the innocent, and afterwards burnt to
aſhes, which are carried up to the higheſt part of
the deferts, and then toffed up into the air, to be
0 3
carried
* Theſe people defcending from Mifraim, who might
know the patriarch Noah, and might have learned by tra-
dition the puniſhment of Cain for the murder of his bro-
ther Abel, carried that opinion to an excefs. Be theſe
people who they will, or not be at all, I cannot but ob-
ferve, how inexcufable the wickednefs of men was from
the beginning, without blaming God, as fome libertines
do, for leaving them in ignorance.
The wicked Ham or Cham, was in the ark with No-
ah, and lived many years before the deluge, (the truth
of which is atteſted by ancient hiftory as well as by facred
fcripture,) and faw the dreadful puniſhment inflicted on
the world for fin; could not he have learned godliness,
and the reward for it, of his father Noah? Could not
Ham have taught his own children, they theirs; and fo
on? But they corrupted their own ways, and thereby
thewed the neceffity of a revelation.
162 THE ADVENTURES OF
carried away by the winds blowing from their own
country: nor is he ever more to be reckoned as
one of their race, and there is a general mourning
obſerved throughout the kingdom for nine days.
There is alſo an exprefs law againſt adultery and
whoredom, which are likewife purifhed after death.
If perfons are caught in adultery, they are fhut up
apart till death; then they are expofed naked as
they were ſurpriſed, and the body of the woman
treated after the moſt ignominious manner for three
days. After which they are burnt, and their afhes
diſperſed as before*. Whoredom is only puniſh-
ed, in the man, by chaining him to a he-got, and
the woman to a falt bitch, and leading them thus
round the Nome. All in the reſpective Nome,
men and women, are to be prefent at the more fig-
nal puniſhments; and parents are obliged to ex-
plain to their children the wickedneſs and horror
of the crime, for a warning for the future. I for-
got to tell your Reverences, that if the woman
brings forth by adultery, the child is preferved, till
able to be carried with them when they go into E-
gypt, and there given to fome ftranger, with ample
provifion for its maintenance, but never to be heard
of more t.
There is alfo one particular I fhould have men-
tioned,
*See the learned Bishop of Meaux's univerfal hiſtory,
concerning the Egyptians, par. 3. and of their puniſh-
ments after death.
+ With our author's leave, this is not fuch a juſt and
compaffionate part, to turn innocent children out among
people whoſe cuſtoms they had ſuch a horror of only for
their parents faults. For though the maxim be good,
Beware a breed; yet the care they took of their youth,
and the moral inſtruction they gave them, might makė
them abhor the crimes of their parents.
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
163
tioned, relating to injuftice. If, for example, the
elders find there has been any confiderable injuftice
done, the criminal is obliged to reſtore nine times
the value. If any one be convicted to have im-
pofed upon the judges, he is to be fent out to the
fkirts of the country, to live by himſelf for a time
proportionable to his guilt, with a mark on his fore-
head, for all perfons to avoid him, left he ſhould
inftil his principles into others. All other matters
are regulated rather by cuſtom, than by laws,
which will be ſeen, when I come to the form of
their government, and other particular inftitu-
tions.
Of their form of Government.
Their form of government, as I had the honour
to acquaint your Reverences before, is patriarchal,
which they preferve inviolably, being the moft te-
nacious people in the world of their primitive in-
ftitutions. But the order of the fucceffion is ex-
tremely particular, in order to keep up the equality
of brotherhood and dignity as exact as they can.
Your Reverences, I prefume, remember that they
all ſprung from one family, (and lived as fuch when
they were driven out of Egypt,) the head of which
was prieft of the fun. This government they had
obferved ever fince Mifraim took poffeffion of that
land for his habitation. But when they were fecured
from all the world in the firſt vale, as was mentioned
before, they eſtabliſhed that form of government af-
ter a particular manner. The first Pophar fettling in
that vale with his five fons, and as many daughters
with their huſbands, governed them during life,
as father or patriarch of them all. Their prodigi-
ous veneration for their parents, and feparation
from
164
THE ADVENTURES OF
from all other people, render this form infinitely
more practicable than can be well imagined. As
they were children of one man, the intereft of the
whole was the intereft of every particular. All the
nation of the firft tranfmigration were children,
grandchildren, or great-grandchildren of the good
old man who conducted them thither. Having no
wars, or voyages at fea, nor commerce with the di-
ftempers as well as vices of other nations, who ge-
nerally differ in their way of living as well as their
climate; having nothing of this, I fay, to deſtroy
their people, they not only increaſed prodigiously,
without plurality of wives, but by that and their
almoſt primitive way of living, they preferved their
lives to a great old age, moſt of them living above
a hundred years, and fome above an hundred and
fifty. The firſt Pophar (fay their memoirs) lived
till an hundred and fifty-five, and his eldeſt ſon his
fucceffor, more rebuft ftill, to a hundred and fixty.
Preſently after his eſtabliſhment in the the firſt vale,
he divided his fmall dominions into five Nomes, or
governments, under his five fons, as was obferved
before. All were to be fubordinate to the eldeſt;
but it was only a patriarchal fubordination, relat-
ing to the whole. The other governors, and indeed
all fathers of families, were entire minifters of the laws
in their respective families; but theſe laſt were li-
able to the infpection of the more immediate fupe-
riors, and all to that of the Grand Pophar, affiſted
with fuch a number of counſellors as were eſtabliſh,
ed afterwards. To give your Reverences a more
diftinct idea of this wonderful government, it will
come much to the fame, whether we defcend from
the chief Pophar to every reſpective family, or from
theſe upwards. The particularities of the fuccef-
fion I fhall confider afterwards. However, it will
be
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA. 165
be eaſier feen if we take them when their numbers
were not ſo great, at the firſt beginning of their e-
ftabliſhment.
The Pophar, then, having diſtinguiſhed the
bounds of every Nome, I mean in their firſt tranfmi-
gration, each fon took poffeffion of it for himſelf
and pofterity. While each fon's children were un-
married, they continued under the government of
their father, who made uſe of as much land as was
fufficient for the conveniencies and pleafures, as well
as the neceffaries of life. But as foon as any fon
was married, or at leaſt when he could be called a
father of a family, the father, with confent of the
Pophar, allotted him likewife a fufficient quantity
for the fame end: fo they fpread and enlarged them-
felves as it were from the centre to a farther extent,
much in the fame manner as they build their towns,
till they had occupied the whole Nome. Here
you will fay, theſe people muſt in proceſs of time
increaſe ad infinitum, without lands fufficient to
maintain them. This was really the cafe in the
firſt plantation, which was fo entirely occupied by
them, that if the famous Pophar, who brought
them into the vaſt continent they now enjoy, had
not made that glorious diſcovery with the danger
of his life, they muſt have returned into Egypt, or
ate up one another; but where they are at prefent,
they have room enough, notwithſtanding their
numbers, for ſeveral ages. However, I often re-
preſented to the Pophar, that it must come to
that at laft: the thought made him uneafy at firſt,
and at length put him on a further diſcovery, as your
Reverences will fee in the fequel. But fuch vaſt
numbers of them betaking themſelves to arts and
manufactures, and the country being fo prodigi-
ouſly fertile, there does not appear any great dif-
ficulty in that refpect. Of all arts they look upon
1
agri-
166 THE ADVENTURES OF
agriculture as the firſt in dignity next to the liberal
fciences, fince that nouriſhes all the reft; but it comes
fo eafily, and the fruits and logumes are fo rich and
delicious, that they have little more trouble than to
gather them: beſides, having two fummers, and
two ſprings, each different feafon produces its pe-
culiar fruits. But to return to the idea of their
government, each father of a family governs all his
defcendents, married or unmarried, as long as he
lives. If his fons are fathers, they have a fubordi-
nate power under him: if he dies before he comes
to fuch an age, the eldeſt ſon, or the eldeſt uncle,
takes care of them, till they are fufficient to fet up
a family of themfelves. The father, on extraordi-
nary occafions, is liable to be infpected by five of
of the moſt prudent heads of that diſtrict; thefe by
five of the five adjacent diſtricts choſen by common
confent: theſe laft, by the heads of the five Nomes,
and all the Nomes by the Grand Pophar, affifted
with three hundred fixty-five elders or fenators,
chofen out of every Nome. What is moſt parti-
cular in this government is, that they are all abfo-
lute in fome manner, and independent, as looking
on themſelves as all equal in birth; yet in an entire
dependency of natural fubordination or elderſhip,
which runs through the whole economy, as your
Reverences will fee when I come to the fucceffion.
They are in the fame manner lords and proprie-
tors of their own poffeffions, yet the Pophar and go-
vernors can allot and difpofe of all for the public
emolument, becauſe they look on him to be as
much the father of all, as the immediate natural fa-
ther is of his proper children, and even in fome
fenſe their natural father by right of elderſhip, be-
cauſe they ſprung originally from one man, whom
the Grand Pophar reprefents. To this, that natural,
or politic, or even fuperftitious reſpect they fhew
te
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
167
to their parents, contributes ſo much, that they ne-
ver difpute, but, on the contrary, revere, the re-
gulations made by their fuperiors; being fatisfied
that they are not only juſt and good, but that it is
their own act, fince it is done by virtue of a ſubor-
dination to which they all belong,
The fucceffion of elderſhip has fomething very
particular, and even intricate in it. To exprefs at the
fame time the fuperiority of the elder fon, and the
equality of independence, I fhall endeavour to ex-
plain to your Reverences, as well as I can, the right
thereof. The eldeſt fon of the firſt Pophar is al-
ways Grand Pophar, when he is of age to govern,
which, as I faid, is at fifty at fooneſt; but if the di-
rect line fails, not the uncle's fon, nor any one in
that Nome, but the right heir of the next Nome ;
and fo of all the five Nomes. If they ſhould fail
in all the Nomes, the right heir of the fecond fon
of the firft Nome, and fo of all the reft. This,
they fay, has happened feveral times fince their firſt
eftabliſhment, which is not much to be wondered at,
if they are fo ancient as they pretend, Thus,
though the grand popharſhip be confined to the el-
deſt in ſome ſenſe, in effect it belongs to them all:
but if the next heir be a minor, as he is always jud-
ged to be till he is fifty years of age, the eldeſt of
that age of the fecond fon of the next Nome, is regent
till the heir be out of his minority, and ſo on; info-
much that, in order to divide the fuperiority among
them as equally as poffible, he who has the next
right to be Grand Pophar, is never to be regent.
All other puplic officers, teachers of arts and ſciences,
overfeers of all the public employments, &c. are
conſtituted by the Grand Pophar, and fanhedrim,
with affſociates of every Nome.
More
168
THE ADVENTURES OF
More particulars of their public œconomy.
Though, as I faid, the Pophar is in fome fenfe
the proprietor of the whole country, as head of the
government and chief patriarch; yet the paradox
of this government confifts in this, that they are
joint lords, acknowledging no inequality, but
merely eldership, and the refpect due to dignita-
ries, which they eſteem as their own, or redound-
ing to themſelves, becauſe they all give their con-
fent to their election for the public good. In a
word, the whole country is only one great family
governed by the laws of nature, with proper officers,
conftituted by the whole, for order and common
prefervation. Every individual looks on himfelf
as a part of that great family. The Grand Pophar
is the common father, eſteeming all the reft as chil-
dren and brothers, calling them univerfally by that
name, as they all call one another brothers, bartering
and exchanging commodities as one brother would
do with another; and not only fo, but they all join
in building their towns, public places, fchools, &c.
laying up all the ftores and provifions, over and a-
bove the preſent confumption, in public places, for
the uſe of the whole, with overfeers and infpec-
tors, conſtituted by common confent, who are to
take care chiefly, that no diforder be commit-
ted. Thus every one contributes to all public
expences, feaſts, and the like, which on fome oc-
caſions are extremely magnificent; affecting exter-
ternal grandeur in all refpects, Thus alfo every
man, where-ever he goes, enters into what houſe
he pleaſes, as if it were his own home; this they
are doing perpetually throughout the whole coun-
try, rather viſiting than merchandiſing; exchan-
ging the rarities of each reſpective place with thoſe
of other parts, juft like friends making prefents to
on:
SIG, GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
169
one another; ſo that all the roads are like ſtreets
of great towns, with people going backward and
forward perpetually. They do this the more fre-
quently to keep up a correfpondence between the
Nomes, left diftance of place fhould cauſe any for-
getfulneſs of their being of one family. The plenty
of the country affords them every thing that na-
ture can call delightful, and that with fuch caſe,
that infinite numbers are employed in trades and
arts, according to their genius, or inclinations;
which, by their continual peace and plenty, their
long eſtabliſhment in one country, and under one
form of government, the natural ingenuity of the
people, the fo early knowledge of arts, which they
brought with them out of Egypt, by the improve-
ments their wife men make in them from time to
time; and from what they learn when they pay
their vifits to their deceafed anceſtors, they have
brought to prodigious perfection. One may ſay
of them, that they are all mafters, and all fervants;
every one has his employment; generally ſpeaking,
the younger fort wait on the elders, changing their
offices as is thought proper by their fuperiors, as
in a well regulated community. All their chil-
dren univerfally are taught at the public expence,
as children of the government, without any di-
ftinction but that of perfonal merit. As the perfons
deputed for that end, judge of their genius, or a-
ny particular inclination, they are difpofed after-
wards to thofe arts and callings for which they
ſeem moſt proper; the moſt fublime fciences are
the moſt in refpect with them, and are chiefly the
employment of their great men and governors, con-
trary to the cuſtom of other countries; the reaſon
of which is, becauſe theſe being never choſen till
they are fifty years of age, they have had more
age,
time
170
THE ADVENTURES OF
•
time to improve themſelves, and generally are per-
fons of more extenfive capacities. They rightly
fuppofe, that perfons who excel others in the moſt
rational ſciences, are not only fitteſt to govern a
rational people, but alfo moft capable of making
themſelves maſters of what they undertake; not
but fuch men, knowing the governors are choſen
out of that rank, have an eye in their ſtudies to the
rules and arts of governing, which are communi-
cated at a diſtance by them, according to the talents
they remark in the fubjects. They do not do this
out of any ſpirit of ambition, employments being
rather an honorary trouble than an advantage, but
for the real good of the whole. Agriculture, as I
faid, has the next place in honour after liberal arts;
and next to that, thofe arts are moſt eſteemed
which are moſt neceffary; the laſt of all are thoſe
which are of leaft ufe, though perhaps the moſt de-
lightful.
Since every one is employed for the common
good more than for themſelves, perhaps perfons
may apprehend that this gives a check to induftry,
not having that fpur of private intereft, hoarding
up riches, or aggrandizing their families, as is to be
found in other nations. I was apprehenſive of this
myſelf, when I came to underſtand their govern-
ment; but fo far from it, that poffibly there is not
fuch an induſtrious race of people in the univerſe.
They place their great ambition in the grandeur of
the country, looking on thofe as narrow and mer-
cenary fpirits, who can prefer a part to the whole:
they pride themſelves over other nations on that
account; each man having a proportionable ſhare in
the public grandeur, the love of glory and praife
ſeems to be their greateſt paffion. Befides, their
wife governors have fuch ways of ftirring up their
emula-
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
171
emulation by public honours, harangues, and pane
gyrics in their aſſemblies, with a thouſand other ways
of fhew and pageantry, and this for the moſt minute
arts, that were it not for that fraternal love in-
grafted in them from their infancy, they would be
in danger of raiſing their emulation to too great a
height. Thoſe who give indications of greater
wildom and prudence in their conduct than others,
are marked out for governors, and gradually raiſed
according to their merit. Whoever invents a new
art has a ſtatue erected according to the ufefulness
of it, with his name and family inferted in public
records. Whoever diſtinguiſhes himſelf by any
particular excellency, has fuitable marks of diftinc-
tion paid him on public occafions, as garlands,
crowns, acclamations, fongs, or hymns in his praiſe,
&c. It is incredible how fuch rewards as theſe en-
courage induſtry and arts in minds fo affected with
glory as thefe people are: on the other hand, their
greateſt puniſhments, except for capital crimes,
which are puniſhed as above, are by public dif
graces.
But now I am ſpeaking of their youth; as they
look upon them as feeds of the commonwealth,
which if corrupted in the bud will never bring
forth fruit, fo their particular care is laid out in
their education, in which I believe they excelf all
nations. One cannot fay their is one in the whole
nation who may be called an idle perfon, though
they indulge their youth very much in proper re-
creations, endeavouring to keep them as gay as they
can, becauſe they are naturally inclined to gravity.
Beſides daily recreations, they have fet times and
feafons for public exercifes, as riding, vaulting,
running, but particularly hunting wild beaſts, and
fishing for crocodiles and alligators, in their great
lakes,
P 2
172
THE ADVENTURES OF
lakes, which I fhall defcribe to your Reverences
on another occaſion; yet they are never fuffered to
go alone, that is, a company of young men toge-
ther without grave men and perfons in authority
along with them, who are a guard to them in alf
their actions: nay, they are never fuffered to fleep
together, each lying in a fingle bed, though in a
public room with fome grave perfon in the fame
room with them. Their women are kept much in
the fame manner, to prevent inconveniencies, which
I fhall touch upon when I come to the education
of their women: and this fo univerfally, that as there
are no idle companions to lead them into extrava-
gancies, fo there are no idle and looſe women, to
be found to corrupt their minds. Their whole
time, both for men and women, is taken up in em-
ployments, or public recreations, which, with the
early care to inftruct them in the fundamental prin-
ciples of the morality of the country, prevents all
thoſe diſorders of youth we fee elſewhere. Hence
too comes that ſtrength of body and mind in there
men, and modeft blooming beauty in their women;
fo that among this people nature feems to have kept
up to its primitive and original perfection. Befides,
that univerfal likeness in them, proceeding from
their conjugal fidelity and exclufion of all foreign
mixture in their breed, (where all the lineaments of
their anceſtors, direct and collateral, meet at laſt in
their offspring,) gives the parents the comfort of
feeing their own bloom and youth renewed in their
'children; though in my opinion this univerfal like-
nefs is rather a defect; not but the treaſures of na-
ture are ſo inexhauſtible, that there are ſome diftin-
guishing beauties in every face. Their young men and
young women meet frequently, but then it is in their
public affemblies, with grave people mixed along
with
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
173
with them. At all public exerciſes the women are
placed in view to fee and be feen, in order to in-
fpire the young men with emulation in their per-
formances. They are permitted to be decently fa-
miliar on thoſe public occafions, and can chuſe their
lovers reſpectively, according to their liking, there
being no fuch thing as doweries, or intereft, but
mere perfonal merit in the cafe; but more of this
afterwards when I fhall fpeak more particularly of
the education of their women and marriages. This
is a ſhort ſketch of the government and economy
of a people, who are as much diftinguiſhed from
the cuſtoms of others, as they are feparated by their
habitation and country.
Inquifitor. You feem, Sir, to have a very high
idea of this partriarchal government, and look
upon it according to the law of nature; I
hope you don't deny but perfons may be o-
bliged by the law of nature to obey their forms
of government, as well as a patriarchal one?
Gaudentio. No, Reverend Fathers, by no means,
I don't enter into compariſons, but relate mat-
ter of fact. It is not to be doubted, but dif-
ferent forms of government may be proper
for different nations; and where once a form
of government is lawfully eſtabliſhed, perfons
are obliged to obey, to avoid anarchy and
confufion; as for example, whoever ſhould
endeavour to fubvert a monarchical govern-
ment once lawfully eſtabliſhed, muſt break in
upon the laws of right and juſtice, which are
obligations of the law of nature.
Inquifitor. Read on.
Second Inquifitor. Under favour, I muſt aſk
him a queſtion or two first. I think, Signor
Gaudentio, you make the Grand Pophar to be
both
P 3
174
THE ADVENTURES OF
both prince and prieft; that is, to be veſted
both with temporal and ſpiritual power. Is it
your opinion that the ſpiritual power is fub-
ject to the temporal?
Gaudentio. I fpeak of Heathens, Reverend Fa-
thers, and a Heathenish worſhip, where the
Grand Pophar was both prince of the people,
and chief prieſt of the fun by his place. I
acknowledge no head of the church but his
Holiness, as moft agreeable to the primitive in-
flitution of our religion.
Here he went on in his exalted notions of the fo-
vereign Pontiff, partly being a Roman Catho
lic, but chiefly, in all appearance, becauſe he
was before the Iuquifition; for which reaſon
the publiſher thought fit to leave it out.
Gaudentio. Is it your Reverences pleaſure that
I go on with my hiſtory?
Inquifitor. Ay, ay, read on.]
The education of their women, and marriages.
As for their women, the Pophar told me it was
what gave them the moſt trouble of any thing
in their whole government; that by their records
their anceſtors had held frequent confultations af-
ter what manner they were to be managed, there
being great difficulties to be feared either from al-
lowing them liberty, or keeping them under re-
ftraint. If you allow them liberty, you muſt de-
pend on their honour, or rather caprice, for your
own; if you keep them under confinement, they
will be fure to revenge themſelves the firſt oppor-
tunity; which they will find in ſpite of all you can
do. The rules, ſaid he, by which men are govern-
ed, will not hold with women; folid reafon, if you
can
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
175
can make them fenfible of it, will fome time or
other have an influence on moft men ; whereas
humour is what predominates in women. Hit
that, you have them; mifs it, you do nothing: and
yet they are ſo far from being an indifferent thing
in the commonwealth, that much more depends on
the right management of them than people imagine.
Licentioufnefs of youth draws innumerable misfor-
tunes on any government, and what greater incen-
tives for licentiouſneſs than lewd women, whether
common proſtitutes, wanton ladies, or adultereſſes ?
For all looſe women belong to one of theſe claffes.
Our women, continued he, are exrtremely beauti-
ful, as you fee; our men ſtrong and vigorous; con-
jugal fidelity therefore and chaſtity muſt be the
ſtrongeſt bonds to keep them in their duty. As for
our young men, we keep them in perpetual employ-
ment, and animate them to glory by every thing
that can move generous minds; with our women,
we endeavour the fame by ways adapted to their ge-
nius. But our greateſt care of all is, to make mar-
riage eſteemed by both parties the happieſt ſtate
that can be wiſhed for in this life. This we be-
lieve to depend on making the woman, rather than
the man, happy and fixed in her choice; becauſe,
if the perfon be impofed upon her, contrary to her
own inward inclination, diflike, or revenge, or per-
haps a more ſhameful paffion, will make her feek
for relief elſewhere; and where women are not vir-
tuous, men will be lewd. We therefore permit
the woman to chufe entirely for herſelf, and the
men to make their addreſſes where they pleaſe:
but the woman is to diſtinguiſh her choice by fome
fignal occafion or other, and that too not without
great difficulties on both fides, which being fur-
mounted, they. efteem themfelves arrived at the
happy
179
THE ADVENTURES OF
happy part of all their wishes. The moſt ardent
and tried love determines the choice: this endears
the man to her on the one hand, and the difficulty
of finding any woman who has not the fame in-
ducements to love her huſband, leaves him no en-
couragement for his lawleſs defires among married
women; and the fingle women are either fo early
engaged with their lovers, or fo poffeffed with the
notion that a married man cannot belong to her,
that his fuit would be entirely vain. In a word,
we do not allow the leaſt temporal intereſt to in-
terfere in the choice, but rather with our young
people ſhould be mutually attracted by eſteem
and affection. The whole buſineſs of courtship is
to prove their conftancy, and to make them fo:
when we are well affured of this, all obftacles
are removed. We found this method to have the
leaft inconveniencies of any, and the beſt means to
preſerve conjugal fidelity, on which the good of
families fo much depends.
When our nation, continued he, began to grow
very populous, and the country full of riches and
plenty; the promifcuous converfation of our young
men and women, with ſome neglect on the
part of
the governors, was the occafion that the bounds of
our innocent anceſtors were not fufficient to keep
them in their duty; ftrange diforders were crept in
among our youth of both fexes; our men grew e-
nervated and effeminate, our women wanton and
inflamed; unnatural abuſes wafted their conftitu-
tion; fo that we loſt thouſands of our young men
and women, without knowing what was the cauſe;
even in the married ſtate, the women began not to
be contented with one man: on which account our
anceſtors had almoſt refolved to keep all our wo-
men from the fight of men till they were married,
and
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA. 177
and then to deliver them up to their huſbands, who
fhould have a defpotic right over them, as I am
informed they have in other nations. They ima-
gined this to be a certain means to aſcertain the le-
gitimacy of their children, and to prevent jealoufy,
the firſt cauſe, however diſſembled, of the man's
diflike to his wife. Others objected against this
fevere diſcipline, and faid it was making the moft
beautiful part of the creation mere flaves, or at
leaft mere properties; that it was to give a fatal
check to the glory of a free people, to deprive the
huſband of the voluntary love of his moiety, and
take away the moſt endearing part of conjugal hap-
pineſs. To this the feverer fide answered, That
the women were come to fuch a paſs, that their a
bufes of liberty fhewed they were ſcarce capable of
making a proper ufe of it. However, a medium
betwixt both carried it for that time. The inju-
ries of the married ſtate, and the corruption of
youth, which was the occafion of it, were judged
to be of fuch confequence to the commonwealth,
that, refolved to put a stop to it at any rate, all
the wife men and governors confulted together, and
reſolved unanimouſly to put the laws I mentioned
againſt adultery and whoredom in execution, cau-
fing proclamations to be made for that intent
throughout the whole empire. All corruptors of
youth of both ſexes were ſhut up immediately, with
the regulations I related above, of having grave
perfons always in the company of young people,
whether men or women. They married off all that
were of age for it, as fast as they could; but quick-
ly found the number of inhabitants did not increaſe
as ufual, their native vigour being exhauſted or de-
- bilitated by their unnatural abuſes.
[Some paragraphs feem wanting in this part of
Gau-
178 THE ADVENTURES OF
Gaudentio's narrative which doubtless were ve-
ry curious.]
There is one peculiar method allowed by them,
in which they differ from all other nations; for
whereas theſe laſt endeavour to preferve their young
people from love, left they ſhould throw themfelves
away, or make difadvantageous matches; the for-
mer having no intereſted views in that refpect, en-
courge a generous and honourable love, and make
it their care to fix them in the ſtricteſt bonds they
can, as foon as they judge, by their age and confti-
tution, of their inclinations: this they do fome-
times by applauding their choice, but moſtly by
raiſing vaſt difficulties, contrived on purpoſe, both
to try and enhance their conftancy. They have
hiſtories and ſtories of heroic examples of fidelity
and conftancy in both fexes; but particularly for
the young women, by which they are taught ra-
ther to fuffer ten thouſand deaths, than violate their
plighted faith. One may fay they are a nation of
faithful lovers; the longer they live together, the
more their friendſhip increaſes, and infidelity in ei-
ther fex is looked upon as a capital crime. Add
to this, that being all of the fame rank and quality,
except the regard paid to elderſhip, and public em-
ployments; nothing but perfonal merit, and a liking
of each other, determines the choice; there muft
be fignal proofs produced, that the woman prefers
the man before all others, as his fervice muſt be
diſtinguiſhed in the fame manner. Where this is
approved of by the governors or elders, if the wo-
man infiſts on her demands, it is an inviolable law
that the man muſt be her huſband. Their hands
are firſt joined together in public, then they clafp
each other in the clofeft embrace, in which poſture
the elder of the place, to fhew that this union is
never
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
179
never to be diffolved, takes a circle of the fineſt
tempered ſteel, woven with flowers, and firſt lays
it over their necks, as they are thus clafping each
other, then round their waifts, and laft of all round
their breaſts, or hearts, to fignify that the ardency
of their love muft terminate in an indiffoluble
friendship; which is followed by infinite acclama-
tions and congratulations of the whole affembly.
I believe the world cannot furniſh ſuch examples of
conjugal chaſtity as are preſerved between them by
theſe means.
Widowers and widows never marry
fingle perfons, and but rarely at all, except left
young; when they are to gain each other as before.
By fuch prudent precautions infinite diforders and
misfortunes to the common wealth are prevented,
proceeding not only from diſproportionate and for-
ced marriages, but from the licentioufnefs of idle
perfons, who either marry for money, or live on the
fpoil of other people, till they can get an advanta-
geous match.
This is a ſhort ſketch of their go-
vernment and cuſtoms, which I thought would not
be unacceptable to your Reverences, though a great
many other cuſtoms of lefs moment will occur in
the fequel of my life, to which I now return.
The Pophar regent made choice of me for one of
his attending companions, with the other young
men who came home with us; he had a great ma-
ny other attendants and officers, deputed by com-
mon conſent to wait his orders as regent; thefe were
changed every five years, as were thoſe attending
the governors of the other Nomes, on account of
improvement; for, being all of equal quality, they
endeavour to give them as equal an education as is
poffible, changing their employments, and waiting
on one another in their turns, by the appointment
of
180
THE ADVENTURES OF
of their reſpective governors, except thoſe whofe
genius or choice determines them to arts and fcien-
ces, according to their œconomy defcribed before.
I muſt only add, that having fuch a high value for
their race, no one thinks it a diſgrace to perform
the meaneſt offices, being all to be attended in like
manner themſelves when it comes to their turns,
each looking on the honours done to every branch
of their government, as their own. Hence all their
public ranks and ceremonies are the moſt magnifi-
cent that can be imagined; there is fcarce any
thing done even in entertainments between the pri-
vate tribes, but there are proper officers deputed
for it, and all expences paid out of the com-
mon ſtock, with deputies and overfeers for every
thing. Their houſes are all open to one another
with a long gallery, which runs from the end of
one range of building to the other. The womens
apartments join together; with the men of each fa-
mily joining to their own women, that is, their
wives, fifters, and daughters, The women have
their fubaltern officers like the men. The firſt a-
partment of every break of a ſtreet belongs to the
men, then the womens belonging to them, then
the women of the next family joining to them, and
their men beyond them, and ſo on, with large pu-
blic halls at proper diſtances for public affemblies;
fo that every thing they do is a fort of paradox to
us, for they are the freeft and yet ſtricteft people
in the world; the whole nation, as I obferved be-
fore, being more like one univerfal regular college,
or community, than any thing elſe. The women
are perpetually employed as well as the men; it is
their buſineſs to work all the fine garments for
themſelves and the men, which being much the
fame except devices and flowers for their friends
dif-
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA. 181
and lovers, are made with lefs difficulty; the chief
difference is in the wearing them. But the chief
diſtinction of fexes is in the ornaments of their
necks, and hair. Crowns and fillets are worn by all,
juſt after the model of the little picture your Reve-
rences faw in the cabinet; all their tapeſtry, em-
broidery, and the like, with infinite other curiofi-
ties, are the works of their women, fo that the
chief qualification of their women or ladies, for
they are all fuch, is to excel at the loom, needle, or
diſtaff.
Since I came there, by the Pophar's defire, they
have added that of painting, in which I believe, the
vivacity of their genius will make them excel all
the reft of the world. Not teaching for hire, I
thought it no difgrace in me to inftruct fuch ami-
able ſcholars in an art no man ought to be aſhamed
of. It is a thing unknown with theſe people for
young ladies of any degree, or even young men,
to have nothing elſe to mind or think of but vifits
and drefs. When I gave them an account of the
lives of our quality and gentry, they cried out,
What barbarians! Can any thing become beauty
more than knowledge and ingenuity? They ſeemed
to have fuch a contempt, and even a horror for a
life of that nature, that the young ladies aſked me
with great concern, if our ladies had any lovers? as
if it were impoſſible to love a woman who had no-
thing to recommend her, but what nature gave her.
In fine, by the defcription I gave of the idle life of
our ladies, they judged them to be no more than
beautiful brutes. They afked me alfo, if I did not
think myſelf fortunate by my captivity, where I
met with ladies, who thought the ornaments of
the mind more defirable than thofe of the body,
and told me, they imputed what they faw in me,
e
to
182
THE ADVENTURES OF
to my good fortune of being born of their race
by the mother's fide; nay, could fcarce believe but
my
father had a mixture of their blood ſome way
or other. I affured them, I eſteemed myſelf very
happy to be in the midſt of ſo many charms of body
and mind; and added, that though they had the in-
eſtimable happineſs of being born all of one race,
without any mixture of foreign vices, yet, in effect,
all the world were originally brothers and ſiſters,
as fpringing from one pair, fince men and women
did not rife out of the ground like muſhrooms,
This I ſaid, to give them a little hint of natural
and revealed religion, which are infeparably linked
together. But to return to myfelf: The Pophar
being my neareſt relation, took me into his own fa-
mily, as his conftant companion and attendant,
when he was not on the public concerns; where I
likewiſe accompanied him fometimes, and received
moſt diſtinguiſhing marks of his favour. He would
often confer with me, and inftruct me in their ways
and cuſtoms, and the polity of their government,
inquiring frequently into the particularities of our
governments, both civil and religious. He never
endeavoured to perfuade me to conform to their re-
ligious ceremonies, and my own good ſenſe told me
it was prudence not to meddle with them. I ra-
ther thought he ſeemed inclined to have more fa-
vourable fentiments of our religion, as fuch, than
his own, though he was prodigiouſly bigotted to
their civil cuſtoms; faying, it was impoffible ever
to preſerve a commonwealth, when they did not
live up to their laws; which ſhould be as few, and
as fimple as poffible. For when once people come
to break in upon fundamentals, all fubfequent laws
would not have half the ſtrength as primary ones.
To theſe he added many other reflections, that
fhewed
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
183
fhewed him a man of confummate wifdom, and
worthy the high poft he bore. He had had two fons,
both dead, and two daughters living; the one was
about ten years old, when I arrived there, (it is ſhe
your Reverences faw in that picture,) the other born
the year before the Pophar fet out for Grand Cairo.
His lady, much younger than himſelf, fhewed fuch
freſh remains of beauty, as demonſtrated that no-
thing but what ſprung from herſelf, could equal
her; both the Pophar and his confort looked on
me as their own fon, nor could I expect greater fa-
vour had I really been fo. I took all the care i-
maginable not to render myſelf unworthy of it, and
both revered and loved them beyond what I am a-
ble to exprefs; though indeed, as I obferved, the
whole race of them was nothing but a kingdom of
brothers and friends; no man having the leaſt fu-
fpicion or fear of one another. They were fo ha-
bituated to the obfervance of their laws, by their
natural difpofitions, and the never ceafing vigi-
lancy of their governors, that they ſeemed to have
a greater horror for the breach of their laws, than
the puniſhments attending it; faying, that infi-
nite diforders might be committed by the malicious
inventions of men, if there was nothing but fear to
keep them in their duty. Such force has education
and the light of nature rightly cultivated; for my-
felf I was left to follow what liberal employment I
had a mind to. Philofophy, mufic, and painting
had been the chief part of my ſtudy and diverfion,
till my unhappy captivity and the lofs of my bro-
ther; but as I was fallen among a nation of philo-
fophers, that noble ſcience, the miſtreſs of all others,
made up the more ferious part of my employment;
though at fome times, by the Pophar regent's ear-
neft defire, I applied myſelf to the other two, par-
ticu-
ย
184 THE ADVENTURES OF
ticularly painting. They had a great many old-
faſhioned muſical inſtruments, and an infinite num-
ber of performers in their way, who attended their
feafts and public rejoicings; but their mufic, both
vocal and inftrumental, was not near fo perfect as
one might have expected of fo polite a people, and
did not come up to the elevated genius of our Ita-
lians. Their philofophy chiefly turned on the
more uſeful part of it, that is, the mathematics and
direction of nature: in the moral part of it they
have a ſyſtem, or rather notion, of which I forgot
to aquaint your Reverences before; it is a too high
and exalted notion of providence, if that expreffion
may be allowed, by which they imagine all things
to be fo governed in this world, that whatever in-
jury a man does to another, it will be returned up-
on him or his pofterity, even in this world, in the
fame manner, or even in a greater degree, than what
he did to others.
[Inquifitor. You'll be pleafed to explain your own
fentiments in this particular, fince we hope
you don't deny that fundamental law of nature
and religion, viz. That the divine providence
prefides over all things; and as for fublunary
things, we prefume you believe that provi-
dence does not only fhew itſelf in the wonder-
ful production and harmony confpicuous in all
natural caufes and effects beyond all the wit
and art of men; but alfo over the moral part,
that is, the free actions of men, by fuitable re-
wards and puniſhments in this world or the
next, to make an equal and juſt compenfation
for all the good and evil of this life, as God is
the juft and equal father of all. So pray ex-
plain yourſelf, that we may know your real fen-
timents on that head.
Gau
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
185
Gaudentio. I hope Reverend Fathers, I fhall
convince you, my fentiments are really ortho-
dox in this point; no man has more reaſon
to magnify Providence than myſelf; but Hea-
thenish people may carry a juft belief to fuper-
ftition. That there is a providence over the
phfiycal part of the world, no man who has
any juſt knowledge in nature can be ignorant,
fince he may be convinced by the leaft infect,
every thing being adapted to its peculiar ends,
with fuch art and knowledge in the author of
it, that all the art and knowledge of men can-
not do the like; and by confequence not be-
ing able to make itſelf, it muſt be produced
by a cauſe infinitely knowing and foreſeeing.
Then, as to the moral part of the world, the
fame reafon fhews, that fince the great Crea-
tor defcends fo low as to take care of the leaſt
infect, it is incredible to think that the nobleſt
part of the world, that is, the free actions of
men, ſhould be without his care. But as he
has given them the glorious endowments of
free will, the fame providence knows how to
adapt the direction of them by ways and
means fuitable to their beings; that is, by let-
ting them know his will, and propofing fuit-
able rewards and puniſhments, for their good
and bad actions; which rewards and puniſh-
ments, it is evident, are not always feen in this
life, fince the wicked often profper, and the
good fuffer, but by confequence muſt be re-
ferved for another ſtate.
But theſe people not having a juſt notion of the
next life, though they believe a future ſtate,
carry matters fo far, that they think every in-
jury done to another, will be fome way or o-
Q3
ther
186 THE ADVENTURES OF
*
ther retaliated upon the aggreffor, or his po
fterity, in this life; only they fay, the puniſh-
ment always falls the heavier the longer it is
deferred. In this manner do they account for
all the revolutions of the earth, that one wick-
ed action is puniſhed by another; that the de-
fcendents of the greateſt monarchs have been
loft in beggary for almoſt endleſs generations,
and the perfons that difpoffeffed them treated
after the fame manner by fome of the defcen-
dents of the former; and fo on: which no-
tion, in my opinion, is not juſt, fince a fincere
repentance may wipe off the moft grievous
offences. But as perfons, generally ſpeaking,
are more fenfibly touched with the puniſh-
ments of this life, it is not to be doubted but
there are often moft fignal marks of avenging
providence in this life, in order to deter the
wicked.
Inquifitor. Go on.]
Finding the Pophar had a prodigious fancy
for painting, by fome indifferent pieces he had pick-
ed up, I applied myſelf, with extraordinary dili-
gence, to that art, particularly fince he would have
me teach his daughter, whofe unparalleled charms,
though but in the bud, made me infenfible to all
others. By frequent drawing, I not only pleaſed
him and others, but almoſt myſelf; every one there,
men and women, were to follow fome art or ſci-
ence; the Pophar defired me to impart my art to
fome of the young people of both fexes, faying
there were very great encouragement for the inven-
tors of any new arts, which I might juſtly claim a
title to. I did fo, and before I left the place, I
had the pleaſure to fee fome of them equal, or e-
ven excelling their maſter.-
Thefe
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
187
Theſe were the chief employments of my lei-
fure-hours; though I was forced to leave them for
confiderable intervals, to attend the Regent in the
private vifitations of his charge, which he did fre-
quently from time to time, ſometimes to one Nome,
fometimes to another, having an eye over all, both
officers and people. Theſe viſitations were rather
prefervatives againſt, than remedies for, any difor-
ders. He uſed to ſay, that the commonwealth was
like a great machine with different movements,
which if frequently viſited by the artiſt, the leaſt
flaw being taken notice of in time, was not only
foon remedied, but was a means of preferving all
the reft in a conftant and regular motion; but if
neglected, would foon diforder the motions of the
other parts, and either coſt a great deal to repair,
or bring the whole machine to deſtruction. Un-
lefs on public folemnities, which were always very
magnificent, the Pophar (not to burden his people)
went about without any great train, accompanied
by only an aſſiſting elder or two, the young Pophar,
and myſelf. He had frequent converfations with
the fubalterns, and even with the meaneft artiſans,
calling them his children; and they having recourfe
to him as their common father. For the first five
years of his regency, the only difficulty we had of
any moment to determine was an affair of the moſt
delicate nature I ever heard: though it does not
concern myſelf, I ſhall relate it to your Reverences
for the peculiar circumftances of it, being a cafe en-
tirely new, as well as unprovided for by the laws
of their conftitution.
The cafe was this: Two twin brothers had fal-
len in love with the fame women, and fhe with
them. The men and the woman lived in different
parts of the fame Nome, and met accidentally at
one
188
THE ADVENTURES OF
one of their great folemnities; it was at the feaſt
of the fun, which is kept twice a-year, becaufe, as
I informed your Reverences, their kingdom lies be-
tween the tropics, but more on this fide the line
than the other. This fituation is the occafion
that they have two fprings and two fummers. At
the beginning of each ſpring there are great feaſts
in every Nome, in honour of the fun; they are
held in the open fields, in teſtimony of his being
the immediate caufe (in their opinion) of the pro-
duction of all things. All the facrifice they offer
to him are five little pyramids of incenfe, accord-
ing to the number of their Nomes, placed on the
altar in plates of gold till they take fire of them-
felves. Five young men and as many women are
deputed by the governors to perform the office of
placing the pyramids of incenfe on the altar: they
are all clad in their ſpangled robes of the colour of
the Nome, with crowns on their heads, marching
up two by two, a man and a woman between two
rows of young men and women, placed theatre-
wife one above another; and make the moſt beau-
tiful ſhow that eyes can behold. It happened that
one of the twin-brothers was deputed, with the
young lady I am fpeaking of, to make the firft cou-
ple for the placing the incenfe on the altar. They
marched up on different fides till they came to the
altar when they have placed the incenfe, they fa-
lute each other, and crofs down, the men by the
ranks of the women, and the women by the men,
which they do with a wonderful grace becoming
fuch an auguft affembly. The defign of this is to
encourage a decorum in the carriage of the young
people, and to give them a fight of each other in
their greateſt luftre. When the five couple have
performed their ceremony, the other ranks come
two
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
189
two by two to the altar, faluting each other, and
croffing as before; by which means the young peo-
ple have an opportunity of ſeeing every man and
woman of the whole company, though the placing
of them is done by lot. If they have not any en-
gagement before, they generally take the firſt liking
to one another at fuch interviews, and the woman's
love and choice being what determines the marri-
age, without any view of intereft, being, as I ſaid,
all equal in quality, the young gallants make it their
bufinefs to gain the affection of the perfon they like
by their future ſervices. To prevent inconveniencies
of rivalſhip at the beginning, if the man be the perfon
the woman likes, he prefents her with a flower juſt
in the bud, which ſhe takes and puts in her breaft.
If ſhe is engaged before, the ſhews him one, to fig-
nify her engagement; which if in the bud only,
fhews the courtship is gone no further than the
firſt propofal and liking; if half blown, or the like,
it is an emblem of further progrefs; if full blown,
it fignifies that her choice is determined, from
whence they can never recede; that is, fhe can
change the man that prefents it, but he cannot
challenge her till fhe has worn it publicly. If any
diflike ſhould happen after that, they are fhut up,
never to have any huſband. If ſhe has no engage-
ment, but does not approve of the perfon, ſhe makes
him a low courteſy, with her eyes fhut till he is
gone away. The women, it is true, for all this,
have fome little coquettish arts, diffembling their
affections now and then, but not often. If the
man be engaged, he wears ſome favour or other to
fhew it; if he likes not the woman, he prefents her
with nothing; if the woman fhould make fome ex-
traordinary advances, without any of his fide, fhe
has liberty to live a maid, or to be difpofed of a-
mong
190
THE ADVENTURES OF
"
mong the widows, being looked upon as fuch, who
by the by, marry none but widowers. But to re-
turn to the twins. It happened that the brother
who went with the lady to the altar, feeing fhe
had no bud upon her breaſt, fell in love with her,
and ſhe with him; the awe of the ceremony hin-
dered them from taking any further notice of one
another at that time. As fhe went down the ranks,
the other brother faw her, and fell in love with her
likewife, and contrives to meet her with a bud in
his hand, just as the ceremony ended; which fhe
accepts of, taking him to be the perſon who had
marched up with her to the altar; but being obli-
ged to go off with the other young ladies, whether
the concern ſhe had been in, in performing the ce-
remony before fuch an illuftrious affembly, or the
heat of the weather, or the joy fhe conceived in
finding her affection reciprocal, or all together, had
fuch an effect, that ſhe fell into a fainting-fit among
her companions; who opening her bofom in hafte,
not minding the flower, it fell down, and was trod
under foot. Juft as fhe was recovered, the brother
who performed the ceremony, came up and prefent-
ed his bud; ſhe thinking it had been that the had
loft, received it with a look that fhewed he had
made a greater progrefs in her affections than what
that flower expreffed. The laws not permitting
any further converſation at that juncture, they re-
tired to their refpective habitations. Some time
after, the brother who had the luck to prefent the
first flower, whom for diftinction I fhall call the
younger brother, as he really was, found a way to
make her a vifit by ftealth, at a grated window,
which, as I obferved, was publickly prohibited by
the wife governors, but privately connived at to
enhance their love. He came to her, and, after
fome
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
191
fome amorous converſation, makes bold to prefent
her the more advanced mark of his affection;
which ſhe accepted of, and gave him in return a
ſcarf worked with hearts feparated by little bram-
bles, to fhew there were fome difficulties for him
to overcome yet: however, they gave one another
mutual affurances of love, and he was permitted to
profefs himſelf her lover, without declaring her
name, for fome private reaſons ſhe had.
pro-
Not long after, the elder brother came, and
cured an apportunity of meeting her at the fame
window. The night was very dark, fo that he
could not fee the fecond flower which ſhe had in
her bofom; only fhe received him with greater
figns of joy and freedom than he expected; but re-
flecting on the figns he had remarked in her coun-
tenance, and after her illneſs by a fort of natural
vanity for his own merits, flattered himself that her
paffion was rather greater than his, excufed himſelf
for being fo long without feeing her, and added,
that if he were to be guided by the height of his
flame, he would ſee her every night. She reflect-
ing how lately ſhe had feen him, thought his dili-
gence was very extraordinary, but imputed to the
ardour of his paffion; in fine, fhe gave him fuch af-
fured figns of love, that he thought in himfelf he
might paſs the middle ceremony, and preſent her
with the full blown flower, to make fure of her.
She took it; but told him ſhe would not wear it
for fome time, till fhe had paffed fome forms, and
had further proof of his conftancy; but, for his
confirmation of her affection, fhe put out her hand
as far as the grate would permit, which he kiffed
with all the ardours of an inflamed lover, giving her
a thouſand aſſurances-of his fidelity, and fhe in re-
turn gave him a riband with two hearts interwoven
with
?
192
THE ADVENTURES OF
f
with her own hair, feparated only with a little hedge
of pomegranates almoft ripe, to fhew that the time
of gathering the fruit was nigh at hand. Thus
were the three lovers in the greateſt degree of hap-
pineſs imaginable; the brothers wore her favours
on all public occafions, congratulating each other
for the fuccefs in their amours; but, as lovers af-
fect a fecrecy in all they do, never telling one ano-
ther who were the objects of their affection. The
next great feaſt drew on, when the younger brother
thought it was time to prefent the laſt mark of his
affection in order to demand her in marriage, which
was uſually performed in thoſe public folemnities.
He told her he hoped it was now time to reward
his flame, by wearing the open flower, as a full fign
of her confent, and gave her a full blown artificial
carnation, with gold flames and little hearts on the
leaves, interwoven, with wonderful art and inge-
nuity. She thinking it had been a repetition of the
ardour of his affection, took it, and put it in her bo-
fom with all the marks of tenderneſs, by which the
fair fex in all countries know how to reward all
the pains of their lovers in a moment. Upon this
he reſolved to aſk her of her parents; which was
the only thing neceffary on his fide, the woman ha-
ving right to demand any man's fon in the king-
dom, if he had but prefented her with the laſt mark
of his affection. The elder brother having given
in his fome time before, thought the parents appro-
bation was the only thing wanting on his fide, and
refolves the fame day on the fame thing. They
were ſtrangely furpriſed to meet one another; but
feeing the different favours, they did not know
what to make of it. When the father came, they
declared the cauſe of their coming, in terms which
fully expreffed the agony of their minds: the father
was
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
193
was in as great concern as they were, aſſuring them
he had but one daughter, who, he was confident,
would never give fuch encouragement to two lovers
at the fame time, contrary to their laws; but feeing
their extreme likeneſs, he gueffed there muſt be
fome miſtake. Upon this the daughter was fent
for; who, being informed it was to declare her con-
fent in the choice of her lover, came down with
four flowers in her bofom, not thinking but the
two full blown had belonged to the fame perfon,
fince ſhe had received two before ſhe had worn the
firſt. The deſcription the poets give of the god-
defs Venus rising out of the fea, could not be more
beautiful than the bloom that appeared in her cheeks
when ſhe came into the room. I happened to be
there prefent, being fent before by the Pophar, to
let the father know of the regent's intended vifit;
that being a confiderable officer, he might order his
concerns accordingly. As foon as the young lady
heard the cauſe of their coming, and faw them in-
diſtinguiſhably like each other, with the public
figns of her favours wrought with her own hand,
which they brought along with them, fhe fcreamed
out, "I am betrayed!" and immediately fell in a
fwoon, flat on the floor, almoſt between her two
lovers. The father, in a condition very little
better, fell down by his daughter, and bathing
her with his tears, called to her to open her eyes,
or he muſt die along with her. The young men
flood like ftatues, with rage and deſpair in their
looks at the fame time. I being the only indiffe-
rent perfon in the room, though extremely furpriſed
at the event, called her mother and women to come to
her affiſtance; who carried her into another room,
undreffed her, and, by proper remedies, brought
her at laſt to herſelf. The firſt word ſhe faid was.
•
R
"Oh!
1
194
THE ADVENTURES OF
"Oh! Berilla, what have you done?" All the reſt
was nothing but fobs and fighs, enough to melt
the hardeſt heart. When fhe was in a condition
to explain herſelf, fhe declared, fhe liked the per-
fon of the man who went up with her to the al-
tar; that fome time after the fame perfon, as ſhe
thought, had prefented her with the first marks of
his affection, which ſhe accepted of, and in fine had
given her confent by wearing the full blown flower;
but which of the two brothers it belonged to, ſhe
could not tell; adding, that fhe was willing to
fubmit to the decifion of the elders, or to undergo
what puniſhment they thought fit for her heedlefs
indifcretion; but proteſted, that ſhe never defigned
to entertain two perfons at the fame time, but took
them to be the fame perfon. The care of their
marriages being one of the fundamentals of their
government, and their being no provifion in the
law for this extraordinary cafe, the matter was re-
ferred to the Pophar regent, who was to be there
in a few days: guards in the mean time were fet o-
ver the brothers for fear of miſchief, till a full hear-
ing. The affair was difcuffed before the Pophar
regent, and the reſt of the elders of the place. The
three lovers appeared before them, each in ſuch a-
gony as cannot be expreffed. The brothers were
fo alike, it was hard to diſtinguiſh one from the o-
ther. The regent aſked them, which of the two
went up to the altar with the young lady; the el-
der faid it was he; which the younger did not deny.
The lady being interrogated, owned the defigned to
entertain the perfon that went up with her to the
'altar, but went no further than the firft liking.
Then they aſked which of the two brothers gave
the firſt flower: the younger faid, he preſumed he
did, fince he fell in love with her as fhe went down
the
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
195
the ranks, and contrived to give her the flower as
foon as the ceremony was over, not knowing of his
brother's affection, neither did fhe bear any mark
of engagement, but accepted of his fervice: the la-
dy likewife owning the receipt of fuch a flower,
but that ſhe loſt it, fainting away in the croud;
but when, as the thought, he reſtored it to her,
ſhe did not like him quite fo well, as when ſhe re-
ceived it the first time, fuppofing them to be the
fame perfon. Being aſked who gave her the fecond,
third and laſt mark of engagement, it appeared to
be the younger brother, whole flower ſhe wore pub-
licly in her bofom; but then he received the full
blown flower from the elder brother alfo. The
judges looked at one another for fome time, not
knowing well what to ſay of the matter. Then the
regent aſked her, when ſhe gave her conſent, if ſhe
did not underſtand the perfon to be him that went up
with her to the altar? She owned ſhe did; which
was the elder: but in fact had placed her affections
on the perſon who gave her the firft flower, which
was the younger. Then the two brothers were
placed before her, and fhe was afked, that, fuppo-
fing the were now at liberty, without any engage-
ment, which of the two brothers fhe would chufe
for her husband? fhe ſtopped, and bluſhed at the
queſtion, but at length faid, the younger had been
more affiduous in his courtship; and with that burſt
into tears, cafting a look at the younger brother,
which eaſily fhewed the fentiments of her heart.
Every one was in the laſt fufpence how the re-
gent would determine the cafe; and the young men
expreffed fuch a concern in their looks, as if the final
fentence of life and death, happineſs or mifery, was
to be pronounced to them. When the regent, with
a countenance partly fevere as well as grave, turning
R 2
to-
196 THE ADVENTURES OF
towards the young lady, Daughter, faid he, your ill
fortune, or indifcretion, has deprived you from having
either of them both you cannot have, and you have
given both an equal right, if either of them will give
up their right, you may marry the other, not elfe.
What do you fay, fons? fays he, will you contribute
to make one of you happy? They both perfifted
they would not give up their right till the laft gafp.
Then, fays the regent, turning to the lady, who
was almoft dead with fear and confufion, fince
neither of them will give up their right, I pro-
nounce fentence on you to be ſhut up from the com-
merce of men, till the death of one of your lovers;
then it fhall be left to your choice to marry
the furvivor. So giving orders to have her taken
away, the court was going to break up, when the
younger brother falling on his knees, cries out, I
yield my right, rather than the adorable Berilla
ſhould be miſerable on my account; let me be ſhut
up from the commerce of men, for being the oc-
cafion of fo divine a creature's misfortune. Bro-
ther, take her, and be happy; and you, divine Be-
rilla, only pardon the confufion my innocent love
has brought upon you; and then I ſhall leave the
world in peace. Here the whole court roſe up,
and the young man was going out, when the re-
gent ſtopped him; Hold, fon, fays he, there is a
greater happinefs preparing for you than you expect;
Berilla is yours, you alone deferve her, you prefer
her good to your own; and as I find her real love
is for you, here join your hands. as I find your
hearts are already, They were married immedi-
ately; the regent leaving behind him a vaft idea,
not only of his juftice, but wiſdom, in ſo intricate
a cafe. I drew an hiftorical piece of painting of
this remarkable trial, expreffing as nigh as I could
the
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
197
the poſtures and agonies of the three lovers, and
prefented it to the divine Ifyphena, the regent's
daughter, telling her, that if he were to accept of
flowers, as that young lady did, fhe would ruin all
the youths of Mezorania. She received it bluſhing,
and ſaid ſhe ſhould never receive any but from one
hand, nor even that, if ſhe thought fhe ſhould do
him any harm; adding, that ſhe thought her father
had given a juft judgment; then waved the difcourfe
with fuch innocence, yet knowledge of what the
faid, that I was furpriſed to the laft degree; not
being able to gueſs whether I had offended her or not.
Theſe viſitations in the company of the Pophar,
gave me an opportunity of feeing all the different
parts and chief curiofities of the whole empire.
Their great towns, eſpecially the heads of every
Nome, were built, as I faid, much after the fame
form, differing chiefly in the fituation, and are
principally deſigned for the winter-refidence, for
their courts and colleges, but particularly for in-
ſtructing and polishing their youth of both fexes
and fuch admirable care and oeconomy, to avoid all
diffoluteneſs and idleneſs, that, as I obſerved before,
there is no fuch thing known, as for perfons to have
no other bufinefs on their hands but vifits and
drefs; efteeming thofe no better than brutes and
barbarians, who are not conftantly employed in im
proving their natural talents in fome art or ſcience.
Their villas, or places of pleaſure, are ſcattered all
over the country, with moſt beautiful variety: the
villages and towns built for manufactures, trades,
conveniency of agriculture, &c. are innumerable;
their canals, and great lakes, fome of them like little
feas, are very frequent, according as the nature of
the country will allow; with "pleafure-houfes and
pavilions, built at due diftances round the borders,
R 3
inter-
198 THE ADVENTURES OF
interſperſed with iſlands and groves, fome natural,
fome artificial, where at proper ſeaſons you might
fee thouſands of boats ſkimming backwards and for-
wards, both for pleaſure and the profit of catching
fiſh, of which there is an inexhauftible ſtore. There
are are alſo vaſt foreſts of infinite variety and de-
light, diftinguiſhed here and there with theatrical
fpaces or lawns, either natural, or cut out by art,
for the conveniency of pitching their tents in the
hot ſeaſons, with fuch romantic fcenes of deep vales,
hanging woods, and precipices, natural falls, and.
cafcades, or rather cataracts of water over the rocks,
that all the decorations of art are nothing but foils
and fhadows to thoſe majeſtic beauties of nature;
befides glorious profpects of different kinds over
the edges of the mountains where we paſſed in our
vifitations, fometimes prefenting us with a bound-
lefs view over the moſt delicious plains in the world;
in other places, having our view terminated with
other winding hills, exhaling their reviving perfumes
from innumerable fpecies of natural fruits and odo-
riferous fhrubs. Travelling thus by eafy journeys,
ſtaying or advancing in our progreſs as we thought
fit, I had an opportunity of admiring with infinite
delight the effects of induſtry and liberty, in a coun-
try where nature and art feemed to vie with each
other in their different productions. There was a-
nother extraordinary fatisfaction I received in theſe
vifitations, which was the opportunity of ſeeing,
and partaking of their grand matches, or rather
companies, if I may uſe the expreffion, of hunting
and fiſhing. All the young people with their
go-
vernors, or all who are able or willing to go, at
particular feafons difperfe themſelves for theſe hunts
all over the kingdom: the country being fo prodi-
gious fertile, that it furniſhes them, almoft fponta-
neouſly,
SIG, GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
199
neouſly, with whatever is neceſſary, or even delec-
table for life, the people living in ſome meaſure in
common, and having no other intereſt but that of
a well-regulated community. They leave the
towns at certain ſeaſons, and go and live in tents
for the conveniency of hunting and fiſhing, accord-
ing as the country and feafons are proper for each
recreation; the flat part of the country (though it
is generally more hilly than champaign) is ſtocked
with prodigious quantities of fowl and game, as
pheaſants, patridges of different kinds, much larger
than our wild hens; turkeys, and peacocks, with o-
ther fpecies of game, which we have not in Italy;
hares almoft innumerable, but no coneys that ever
I faw; unleſs we call coneys a leffer fort of hare,
which feed and run along the cliffs and rocks, but
don't burrow as ours do. There is alſo a ſmall
fort of wild goat, much less than ours, not very
fleet, of a very high taſte, and prodigious fat. They
take vaft quantities of all forts, but ſtill leave fuffi-
cient ſtock to fupply next feafon, except hurtful
beaſts, which they kill whenever they can. But
their great hunts are in the mountains and wood-
land parts of the country, where the foreſts are full
of infinite quantities of mafts and fruits, and other
food for wild beafts of all kinds; but particularly
ſtags of four or five different ſpecies; fome of which,
almoſt as big as a horſe, keep in the wildeſt parts,
whoſe fleſh they dry and feafon with fpices, and is
the richeſt food I ever tafted. Their wild fwine
are of two kinds, fome vaftly large, others very lit-
tle, not much bigger than a lamb, but prodigious
fierce. This laſt is moſt delicate meat, feeding on
the mafts and wild fruits in the thickeſt part of the
groves; and multiplying exceedingly, where they
are not diſturbed, one fow bringing fixteen or eigh
teen
200
THE ADVENTURES OF
!
teen pigs; fo that I have feen thouſands of them
caught at one hunting-match, and fent in prefents
to the other parts of the kingdom, where they have
none; which is their way in all their recreations,
having perfons appointed to carry the rarities of
the country to one another, and to the governors,
parents, and friends left behind. When they go
out to their grand hunt, they chufe fome open vale,
or vaft lawn, as far in the wild forefts as they can;
where they pitch their tents, and make their rendez-
vous: then they fend out their moſt courageous
young men, in ſmall bodies, of ten in a company,
well-armed, each with his ſpear and his fufil Mung
on his back, which laſt of late years they find more
ſerviceable againſt the wild beaſts than ſpears, hav-
ing got famples of them from Perfia. Theſe go
quietly through the wildeft parts of the foreft at
proper diſtances, fo as to meet at fuch a place,
which is to view the ground, and find a place pro-
per to make their ftand, and pitch their toils.
They are often ſeveral days out about this; but are
to make no noiſe, nor kill any wild beaſt, unlefs at-
tacked, or they come upon him in his couch, at un-
awares, that they may not diſturb the reft. When
they have made their report, feveral thouſands of
them furround a confiderable part of the foreſt,
ſtanding cloſe together for their mutual affiftance,
making as great noife as they can, with dogs, drums,
and rattles, and other noify inftruments, to frighten
the game towards the centre, that none may eſcape
the circle. When this is done, all advance in a
breaſt, encouraging their dogs, founding their horns,
beating their drums and rattles, that the moſt cou-
rageous beaſts are all roufed, and run before them
towards the centre, till by this means they have
driven together feveral hundred of wild beafts, l
ons,
SİG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
201
ens, tygers, elks, wild boars, ftags, foxes, hares, and
in fine all forts of beafts that were within that cir-
cle. It is moft terrible to ſee ſuch a heap of cruel
beaſts gathered together, grinning and roaring at one
another, in a moſt frightful manner: but the wild
boar is the maſter of all. Whoever comes near
him in that rage, even the largeſt lion, he ſtrikes at
him with his tuſks, and makes him keep his di-
ftance. When they are brought within a proper
compafs, they pitch their toils round them, and in-
cloſe them in, every man joining cloſe to his neigh-
bour, holding out their fpears to keep them off. If
any beaſt ſhould endeavour to make his eſcape,
which fome will do now and then (particularly the
wild boars,) they run against the points of the
ſpears, and make very martial ſport. I was told,
that a prodigious wild fow once broke through
three files of fpears, overturned the men, and made
a gap, that fet all the reſt a running almoſt in a bo-
dy that way, fo that the people were forced to let
them take their career, and loſt all their labour.
But now they have men ready with their fufils to
drop any beaſt that ſhould offer to turn ahead.
When they are inclofed, there is moft terrible work,
the greateſt beaſts fighting and goring one another,
for rage and ſpite, and the more fearful running in-
to the toils for fhelter. Then our men with their
fufils drop the largeſt as faſt as they can. When
they intend to ſhoot the wild boars, three or four
aim at him at a time, to be fure to drop him or dif-
able him, otherwife he runs full at the laſt that
wounded him, with ſuch fury, that fometimes he
will break through the ſtrongeſt toils; but his
companions all join their fpears to keep him off.
When they have dropped all that are dangerous,
and as many as they have a mind, they open their
toils,
}
202
THE ADVENTURES OF
toils, and diſpatch all that are gaſping. I have known
above five hundred head of beafts of all forts killed
in one day. When all is over, they carry off their
ſpoil to the rendezvous, feafting and rejoicing, and
fending preſents as before.
There is oftentimes very great danger, when
they go through the woods to make diſcovery of
their haunts; becauſe, if, in ſmall companies, fome
stubborn beaft or other will attack them directly;
every man, therefore, as I faid, has a fufil flung at
his back, and his fpear in his hand for his defence.
Being once in one of their parties, we came upon a
prodigious wild boar, as he was lying in his haunt ;
fome of us were for paffing by him, but I thought
fuch a noble prey was not to be let go; ſo we fur-
rounded him, and drew up to him, with more cou-
rage and curiofity, than prudence; one of my com-
panions, who was my intimate friend, being one of
thoſe who conducted me over the deſerts, went up
nigher to him than the reſt, with his fpear in his
hands, ftretched out ready to receive him, in cafe
he ſhould come at him; at which the beaſt ſtarted
up
of a ſudden, with a noiſe that would have ter-
rified the ftouteſt hero, and made at him with fuch
a fury, that we gave him for loft. He ftood his
ground with ſo much courage, and held his fpear fo
firm and exact, that he run it directly up the mouth
of the beaſt, quite into the inner part of his throat;
the boar roared, and ſhook his head in a terrible
manner, endeavouring to get the fpear out, which
if he had done, all the world could not have faved
the young man. I, feeing the danger, ran in with
the fame precipitancy, and clapping the muzzle of
my gun
almoſt cloſe to his fide, a little behind his
fore-ſhoulder, ſhot him quite through the body; fo
be dropped down dead before us. Just as we thought.
$
the
Sig. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
203
the danger was over, the fow, hearing his cry, came
ruſhing on us, and that fo fuddenly, that before I
could turn myſelf with my fpear, ſhe ſtruck at me
behind with her fnout, and pufhing on, knocked
me down with her impetuofity; and the place be-
ing a little ſhelving, fhe came tumbling quite over
me, which was the occaſion of ſaving my life. A-
fhamed of the foil, but very well apprifed of the
danger, I was ſcarce got up on my feet, and on my
guard, when, making at me alone, though my com-
panions came in to my affiſtance, ſhe puſhed at me
a fecond time with equal fury. I held my fpear with
all my might, thinking to take her in the mouth;
but miffing my aim, I took her juſt in the throat,
where the head and neck join, and thruft my ſpear
with fuch force, her own career meeting me, that I
ftruck quite through her windpipe, the ſpear ſtick-
ing fo faft in her neck-bone, that when the dropt,
we could ſcarce get it out again. She toffed and
reeled her head a good while before ſhe fell; but
her windpipe being cut, and bleeding inwardly, fhe
was choaked. My companions had hit her with
their ſpears on the fides and back; but her hide
and briſtles were fo thick and hard, they did her
very little damage. They all applauded my cou-
rage and victory, as if I had killed both the fwine.
But I, as juſtice required, gave the greateſt part of
the glory, for the death of the boar, to the coura-
geous dexterity of the young man, who had expoſed
himſelf ſo generouſly, and hit him fo exact in the
throat. We left the carcafes there, not being able to
take them with us; but màrking the place, we came
afterwards with fome others to carry them off. I
had the honour to carry the boar's head on the point
of my ſpear; which I would have given to the
young man, but he refuſed it, faying, that I had not
only
204
THE ADVENTURES OF
only killed it, but faved his life into the bargain.
The honour being judged to me by every one, I
fent it as a prefent to the divine Ifyphena; a thing
allowed by their cuftoms, though as yet I never
durft make any declarations of love: fhe accepted
of it, but added, ſhe hoped I would make no more
fuch prefents; and explained herſelf no further.
Theſe people having no wars, nor fingle combats
with one another, which laft are not allowed for
fear of deſtroying their own fpecies, have no other
way of fhewing their courage, but againſt wild
beafts; where, without waiting for any exprefs or-
der of their fuperiors, they will expofe themſelves
to a great degree, and fometimes perform exploits
worth the greateſt heroes.
Their fiſhing is of two kinds; one for recrea-
tion and profit; the other to deſtroy the croco-
diles and alligators, which are only found in the
great lakes, and the rivers that run into them, and
that in the hotter and champaign parts of the coun-
try. In fome of the lakes, even the largeſt, they
cannot live; in others they breed prodigiouſly. As
they fiſh for them only to deſtroy them, they chufe
the propereſt time for this purpoſe, that is, when
the eggs are hatching; which is done in the hot
fands, by the fides of the rivers and lakes. The old
ones are not only very ravenous at that time, but
lie lurking in the water near their eggs, and are ſo
prodigious fierce, that there is no taking their eggs,
unlefs you firſt contrive to kill the old ones. Their
way to fish for them is this: they beat at a di-
ftance, by the fides of the rivers and lakes, where
they breed, which makes the old ones hide them-
felves in the water. Then twenty or thirty of the
young men row quietly backward and forward on
the water where they fuppofe the creatures are;
having
SıG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
205
having a great many ſtrong lines with hooks, made
after the manner of fiſh-hooks, well armed as far as
the throat of the animal reaches. Theſe hooks they
faften under the wings of ducks and water-fowls,
kept for the purpoſe, which they let drop out of the
boat, and fwim about the lake. Whenever the ducks
come over the places where the creatures are, theſe
laſt ſtrike at them, and ſwallow the poor ducks im-
mediately, and fo hook themfelves, with the vio-
lence and check of the boat. As foon as one is hook-
ed, they tow him, floundering and beating the wa-
ter, at a strange rate, till they have brought him in-
to the middle of the water at a diſtance from the
reſt of his companions, who all lie nigh the banks;
then the other boats furround him, and dart their
harping-fpcars at him, till they kill him. Theſe
harping-fpears are pointed with the fineſt tempered
fteel, extremely fharp, with beards to hinder them
from coming out of his body; there is a line faften-
ed to the fpear, to draw it back, and the creature a-
long with it; as alfo to hinder the fpear from fly-
ing too far, if they miss their aim. Some of them
are prodigious dexterous at this; but there is no
piercing the creature but in his belly, which they
muſt hit as he flounces and rolls himſelf in the wa-
ter. If a spear hits the ſcales of his back, it will fly
off as from a rock, not without fome danger to thoſe
who are very nigh, though they generally know the
length of the ftring. I was really apprehenfive of
thoſe ſtrange fierce creatures at firſt, and it was a
confiderable time before I could dart with any dex-
terity; but the defire of glory, and the applaufes
given to thofe that excel, who have the ſkins car-
ried like trophies before their miſftreffes, thefe, and
the charms of the regent's daughter, ſo inſpired me,
that I frequently carried the prize.
S
It
206
THE ADVENTURES OF
It is one of the fineſt recreations in the world;
you might fee ſeveral hundred boats at a time, ei-
ther employed, or as ſpectators, with fhouts and
cries, when the creature is hit in the right place,
that make the very banks tremble. When they have
killed all the old ones, they fend their people on the
fhore, to rake for the eggs, which they burn and
deſtroy on the fpot; not but fome will be hatched
before the reft, and creep into the water, to ferve
for fport the next year. They deſtroy theſe animals,
not only for their own fecurity in the uſe of the
lakes, but alſo to preſerve the wild fowl and fish,
which are devoured and deſtroyed by the croco-
diles.
But the fiſhing on the great lake Gilgol, or lake
of lakes, is without any danger; there being no al-
ligators in that water; and is only for recreation,
and the profit of the fiſh. The lake is above a hun-
dred Italian miles in circumference. At proper fea
fons, the whole lake is covered with boats; great
numbers of them full of ladies to ſee the ſport, be-
fide what are on the iſlands and fhores, with trum-
pets, hautboys, and other muſical inſtruments, play-
ing all the while. It is impoffible to deſcribe the
different kinds of fish the lake abounds with; ma-
ny of them we know nothing of in Europe; though
they have fome like ours, but much larger, as pikes,
or a fiſh like a pike, two or three yards long; a fiſh
like a bream, a yard and a half over; carps forty or
fifty pound weight; they catch incredible numbers
of them; fome kinds in one part of the lake, ſome
in another. They fiſh in this manner, and afterwards
feaſt on what they catch, for a fortnight or three
weeks, if the feafon proves kind, retiring at night
to their tents, either on the iſlands, or fhore, where
there are perfons employed in drying and curing
what
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
207
what are proper for ufe; fending prefents of them
into other parts of the country, in exchange for ve-
nifon, fowl, and the like. Though there are noble
lakes and ponds, even in the forefts, made by the in-
clofures of the hills and woods, that are ſtored with
excellent fiſh; yet they are entirely deftitute of the
beſt fort; that is, fea-fiſh, which we have in ſuch
quantities in Europe. When this fishing is over,
they retire to the towns, becauſe of the rainy fea-
fons, which begin preſently after.
I am now going to enter on a part of my life,
which I am in fome doubt, whether it is proper to
lay before your Reverences, or not: I mean the
hopes and fears, the joys and anxieties of a young
man in love; but in an honourable way, with no
Jefs a perſon than the daughter of the regent of this
vaſt empire. I fhall not however enter into the de-
tail of the many various circumftances attending
fuch a paffion; but ſhall juſt touch on fome parti-
cular paffages, which were very extraordinary, even
in a paſſion which generally of itſelf runs into ex-
tremes. Your Reverences will remember, that there
is no real diſtinction of quality in theſe people, nor
any regard either to intereft or dignity, but merely
to perſonal merit; their chief view being to render
that ſtate happy which makes up the better part of
human life. I had nothing therefore to do in this
affair, but to fix my choice, and endeavour to pleaſe
and be pleaſed. My choice was foon determined;
the firſt time I ſaw the incomparable Ifyphena, the
regent's daughter, though he was then but ten
years old, ten thouſand budding beauties appeared
in her, with fuch unutterable charms, that though
I as good as defpaired of arriving at my wished-
for happiness, I was refolved to fix there, or no
where,
S 2
I ob.
208 THE ADVENTURES OF
I obſerved, when I was firſt introduced into her
company by the regent her father, that she had
her
eye fixed on me, as a ftranger, as I fuppofed,
but yet with more than a girliſh curiofity. I was
informed afterwards, that he told her playfellows,
that that ſtranger ſhould be her huſband, or no one.
The wife Pophar her father had obferved it, and whe-
ther it was from his knowledge of the fex, and
their unaccountable fondneſs for ſtrangers, or whe-
ther he diſapproved of the thought, I cannot tell,
but he was refolved to try both our conftancies to
the utmoſt. I was obliged by the Pophar to teach her
and fome other young ladies, as well as fome young
men to paint; but it was always in the father or
mother's company. Not to detain your Reveren-
ces with matters quite foreign to, and perhaps un-
worthy your cognifance, it was five years before I
dniſt let her fee the leaſt glimmering of my affection.
She was now fifteen, which was the height of her
bloom. Her father feeing the carried no mark of
any engagement, aſked her in a familiar way, if her
eyes had made no conquefts: fhe bluſhed, and faid,
The hoped not. He told me alfo as a friend, that I was
older than their customs cared to allow young men
to live fingle; and with a ſmile aſked me, if the
charms of the Baffa's daughter of Grand Cairo had
extinguiſhed in me all thoughts of love. I told him
there were objects enough in Mezorania, to make
one forget any thing one had feen before, but that
being a ſtranger I was willing to be thoroughly ac-
quainted with the genius of the people, left I ſhould
make any one unhappy. I was juft come back
from one of our viſitations, when I was ftruck
with the moſt lively fenfe of grief I ever felt in my
life. I had always obferved before, that Ifyphena
never wore any fign of engagement, but then I
found
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
209
found the carried a bud in her bofom. I fell ill
immediately upon it; which ſhe perceiving, came
to ſee me without any bud, as ſhe uſed to go be-
fore, keeping her eyes upon me to ſee what effect
it would have. Seeing her continue without any
marks of engagement, I recovered, and made bold
to tell her one day, that I could not but pity the
miſerable perſon, whoever he was, who had loft
the place in her bofom he had before; fhe faid un-
concernedly, that both the wearing and taking a-
way the flower from her bofom, was done out of
kindneſs to the perfon. I was then fo taken up
with contrary thoughts, that I did not perceive fhe
meant to try whether he was the object of my
thoughts or not. However, finding fhe carried no
more marks of engagement, I was refolved to try
my fortune for life or death; when an opportuni-
ty offered beyond my wifh. Her mother brought
her to perfect a piece of painting fhe was drawing:
I obſerved a melancholy and trouble in her coun-
tenance I had never feen before; that moment the
mother was fent for to the regent, and I made uſe
of it to aſk her, what it was that affected her in fo
fenfible a manner? I pronounced theſe words with
fuch emotion and concern on my part, that ſhe
might eaſily fee I was in fome very great agony.
She expreſſed a great deal of confufion at the que-
ftion, infomuch, that, without anfwering a word,
fhe got up, and went out of the room, leaving me
leaning againſt the wall almoſt without life or mo-
tion. Other company coming in, I was roufed out
of my lethargy, and flunk away to my own apart-
ment, but agitated with fuch numberleſs fears, as
left me almoſt deſtitute of reafon. However,
was refolved to make a moſt juſt diſcovery, and to
be fully determined in my happiness or mifery.
$ 3
There
210 THE ADVENTURES OF
C
There was a grated window on the back-fide of
the palace, where I had feen Ifyphena walk fome-
times, but never dared to approach; I went thi-
ther in the evening, and feeing her by herself, I
ventured to it, and falling on my knees, afked her
for heaven's fake what was the matter, or if I had
offended her? She immediately burst into tears,
and juft faid, Afk no more," and withdrew;
though I cannot fay with any figns of indignation.
Some time after, I was fent for to inftruct her in
the finiſhing of her piece. I must tell your Reve-
rences, that I had privately drawn that picture of
her which you faw, and put the little boy in after-
wards. In a hurry I had left it behind me in my
clofet, and the Pophar finding it by accident, had
taken it away without my knowledge; and fhewn
it to the mother; and making as if he did not mind
1fyphena, who ſtood by, and faw it (as ſhe thought,
undifcerned,) feemed to talk in a threatening tone
to the mother about it. When I came in, I had
juſt courage enough to caſt one glance at Iſyphena,
when, methought, I faw her eyes meet mine, and
fhew a mixture of comfort and trouble at the fame
time. As this fubject cannot be very proper for
your Reverences ears, I fhall comprife in half an
hour what coft me whole years of fighs and folici-
tude, though happily crowned at laft with unfpeak-
able joys. This trouble in Ifyphena was, that hav-
ing made herſelf miftrefs of the pencil, fhe had pri-
vately drawn my picture in miniature, which the
kept fecretly in her bofom, and it having been dif-
covered by the mother, as that which I had drawn
was by the father, to try her conftancy he had ex-
preffed the utmoſt indignation at it: but Ifyphena's
greateſt trouble was, left I ſhould know and take it
for a diſcovery of her love, before I had made any
Overtures of mine.
In
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
211
In proceſs of time we came to an eclairciſſement ;
fhe received my two firſt flowers; but becauſe I
was half a ſtranger to their race, we were to give
fome more fignal proof of our love and conftancy
than ordinary: we had frequently common occafi-
ons offered us, fuch as might be looked upon as the
greateſt trials. She was the paragon not only of
the kingdom, but poffibly of the univerfe, for all
perfections that could be found in the fex. Her
ftature was about the middle fize, the juft propor-
tion of her ſhape made her really taller than fhe
ſeemed to be; her hair was black* indeed, but of a
much finer glofs than the reft of the fex, nor quite
fo much curled, hanging down in eafy treffes over
her ſhoulders, and ſhading ſome part of her beauti-
ful cheeks. Her eyes, though not fo large as our
Europeans, darted ſuch luftre, with a mixture of
ſweetneſs and vivacity, that it was impoffible not to
be charmed with their rays; her features were not
only the moſt exact, but inimitable and peculiar to
herſelf. In fine, her nofe, mouth, teeth, turn of the
face, all concurring together to form the moſt exqui-
fite fymmetry, and adorned with a bloom beyond all
the bluſhes of the new born aurora, rendered her
the moſt charming, and the moſt dangerous object
in nature. The nobleſt and gayeſt youths of all the
land paid their homages to her adorable perfections,
but all in vain: fhe avoided doing hurt where ſhe
could do no good; fhe did not fo much fcorn, as
ſhut her eyes to all their offers, though fuch a trea-
fure gave me ten thoufand anxieties before I knew
what ſhare I had in it; but when once the received
my addreſſes, the fecurity her conftant virtue gave
me was proportionable to the immenfe value of her
perfon.
*The author being an Italian, did not think black
hair fo beautiful.
212
THE ADVENTURES OF
perfon. For my part, I had fome trials on my fide.
I was furrounded with beauties, who found a great
many ways to fhew me they had no diſlike to me.
Whether being a ftranger, of different features and
make from their youth, gave them a more pleafing
curiofity, or the tallnefs of my ftature, fomething
exceeding any of theirs, or the gaity of my temper,
which gave me a freer air than is ufual with them,
being, as I obferved, naturally too grave, (be that
as it will,) Ifyphena's bright fenfe eafily faw I made
fome facrifices to her. But we had greater trials
than theſe to undergo, which I fhall briefly relate
to your Reverences, for the particularity of them.
When I thought I was almoſt arrived at the height
of my happiness, being affured of the heart of the
divine Ifyphena, the Pophar came to me one day
with the moſt ſeeming concern in his countenance
I ever remarked in him, even beyond that of the af-
fair with the great Baffa's daughter; after a little
paufe, he told me, he had obferved the love between
his daughter and myfelf; that, out of kindneſs to
my perfon, he had confulted their wife men about
it, who all concluded, that, on account of my be-
ing a ſtranger, and not of their race by the father's
fide, I could never marry his daughter; ſo that I
muft either folemnly renounce all pretenfions to her,
or be ſhut up for ever without any commerce with
his people, till death. But, fays he, to fhew that
we do juftice to your merit, you are to have a pub-
lic ftatue erected in your honour, becauſe you have
taught us the art of painting; which is to be crown-
ed' with a garland of flowers by the most beautiful
young woman in the kingdom; thus you will live
to glory, though you are dead to the world. But
if you will renounce all pretenfions to my daugh-
ter, we will furnish you with riches, fufficient, with
the
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
213
Co
the handſomeneſs of your perſon, to gain the great-
eft princeſs in the world, provided will you give a
folemn oath never to diſcover the way to this place.
I fell down on my knees before him, and cried out,
"Here take me, fhut me up, kill me, cut me in
a thouſand pieces, I will never renounce Iſyphe-
na."-He ſaid no more, but that their laws muſt
be obeyed. I obferved tears in his eyes, as he went
out, which made me fee he was in earnest. I had
ſcarce time to reflect on my miſerable ſtate, or rather
was incapable of any reflection at all, when four
perfons came in with a difmal heavinefs in their
looks, and bade me come along with them; they
were to conduct me to the place of my confinement.
In the mean time, the Pophar goes to his daughter,
and tells her the fame thing; only adding, that I
was to be fent back to my own country, loaded
with ſuch immenſe riches as might procure me the
love of any woman in the world: for, fays he, thofe
barbarians (meaning the Europeans) will marry
their daughters to any one who has but riches e-
nough to buy them; the men will do the fame with
refpect to the women; let the woman be whoſe
daughter ſhe will, if ſhe had but money enough to
purchaſe a kingdom, a king would marry her. Be-
fore he had pronounced all this, Ifyphena had not
ftrength to hear it out, but fell down in a fwoon at
his feet: when ſhe was come to herſelf, he endea-
voured to comfort her, and added, that ſhe was to
have the young Pophar's fon, a youth about her
age; for though he was not old enough to govern,
he was old enough to have children. He went on
and told her, I was to have a ſtatue erected in honour
of me, to be crowned by the faireſt woman in all
Mezorania, which, fays he, is judged to be yourſelf,
and, if you refuſe it, Amnophilla is to be the perfon.
This
}
214
THE ADVENTURES OF
This was the moſt beautiful woman next Ïfyphena,
and by fome thought equal to her, whofe figns of
approbation and liking to my perfon I had taken
no notice of, for the fake.of Ifyphena. She anfwer-
ed with a refolution that was furpriſing, even to
her father, That fhe would die before fhe would be
wanting to her duty, but that their laws allowed
her to chufe whom the pleafed for her huſband,
without being undutiful; that as for the crowning
of the ſtatue, ſhe accepted of it, not for the reafon
he gave, but to pay her laſt reſpects to my memory,
who, fhe was fure, would never marry any one elſe.
As for the young Pophar, fhe would give her an-
fwer when this ceremony was over. When all
things were ready for it, there was public procla
mation made in all parts of the Nome, that where-
as I had brought into the kingdom, and freely com-
municated to them the noble art of painting, I
was to have a public ſtatue erected in my honour,
to be crowned with a crown of flowers by the hand
of the fairest woman in all Mezorania. Accordingly,
a ftatue of full proportion, of the fineſt poliſhed
marble, was erected in one of their fpacious fquares,
with my name engraven on the pedeſtal in golden
characters, fetting forth the fervice I had done the
commonwealth, &c. The ftatue had the picture
of Ifyphena in one hand, and the emblems of the art
in the other. The laft kindness I was to receive,
was to be permitted to fee the ceremony with a per-
fpective glafs, from the top of a high tower belong-
ing to the place of my confinement, from whence I
could diſcern every minute circumſtance that paffed.
Immediately the croud opened to make way for Ify-
phena, who came in the regent's triumphant cha-
riot, drawn by eight white horſes, all capariſoned
with gold and precious ftones, herſelf more refplen-
dent
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
215
dent than the fun they adored. There was a feaf-
fold with a throne upon it juſt cloſe to the ſtatue,
with gilt ſteps for her to go up to put the crown on
the head of it. As foon as the appeared, a fhout
of joy ran through the whole croud, applauding the
choice of her beauty, and the work fhe was going
to perform; then proclamation was made again for
the fame intent, fetting forth the reaſons of the ce-
remony. When all was filent, fhe fteps from the
throne to the degrees with the crown in her hand,
holding it up to be feen by all, fupported by Am-
nophilla and Menifa, two of the most beautiful vir-
gins after herſelf. There appeared a ferenity in the
looks of Ifyphena beyond what could be expected,
expreffing a fixed refolution at the fame time. As
foon as ſhe had put the crown on the head of the
ftatue, which was applauded with repeated fhouts
and acclamations, ſhe ſtood ſtill for fome time, with
an air that ſhewed ſhe was determined for fome
great action; then turning to the officers, ordered
ahem to make proclamation, that every one ſhould
remark what he was going to do. A profound
filence enfuing through the whole affembly, fhe
went up the ſteps again, and taking out the moſt
confpicuous flower in the whole crown, firſt put it
in the right hand of the ftatue, and then clapped
it into her bofom, with the other two ſhe had re-
ceived from me before, as a ſign of her confent for
marriage, which could not be violated. This oc-
cafioned a fhout ten times louder than any before,
applauding fuch an heroic act of conftancy, as had
never been ſeen in Mezorania. The regent ran up
to her, and embracing her, with tears of joy trick-
ling down his cheeks, faid, the fhould have her
choice, fince ſhe had fulfilled the law, and fuppli-
ed all defects by that extraordinary act of fidelity:
and
216 THE ADVENTURES OF
and immediately gave orders to have that heroic
action regiſtered in the public records, for an ex-
ample and encouragement of conftancy to pofterity.
But the people cried out, Where is the man! where
is the man! let their conftancy be rewarded imme-
diately..
[Here the reader, as well as the publiſher, will la-
ment the irreparable loss of the sheets, which
were mislaid at his coming over.
He does not
pretend to charge his memory with what they
contained; juft having had time to run them o-
ver in the Italian, when Signor Rhedi got them
copied out for him. As far as the publiſher re-
members, the loft fbeets contained feveral dif
courfes between the Pophar and Gaudentio, con-
cerning religion, philoſophy, politics, and the
like; with the account of the lofs of his wife and
children, and fome other accidents that befel him
during his ftay in the country, which, as we
Jball fee, induced him to leave the place, with
feveral curious remarks of Signor Rhedi: all
which would doubtless have given a great deal
of fatisfaction to the reader. But no one can be
Jo much concerned for the lofs as the publiſher,
fince they cannot now be repaired, by reaſon of
the death of the fame Signor Rhedi, never to
be fufficiently regreted by the learned world.]
Thefe difcourfes* made very great impreffions
on the mind of a perfon of fo much penetration as
the regent was, infomuch that he ſeemed refolved,
when his regency was out, which wanted now but
a year, to go along with me into Europe, during
the ſtay he was to make at Grand Cairo, that he
might have an opportunity of examining matters.
at the fountain-head; wifely judging a confidera-
* Probably about the Chriftian religion.
tion
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
217
tion of fuch confequence, as that of religion, to be no
indifferent thing. For my own part, notwithſtand-
ing the beauty and riches of the country, I could
find no fatisfaction in a place where I had loft all
that was dear to me, though I had the comfort to
have my dear Ifyphena, and her three children, all
baptized by my own hand before they died; neither
could length of time allay my grief; but, on the
contrary, every thing I faw revived the memory of
my irreparable lofs. I confidered the inſtability of
the fleeting joys of this world, where I thought I
had built my happinefs, for a man of my fortune,
on the moſt ſolid foundation. But alas! all was
was gone as if it had been but a dream, and the a-
dorable Ifyphena was no more. The good old Po-
phar was in a very little better condition, having
loft his deareft daughter, and his little grandchil-
dren, particularly the eldeſt boy, who is in that
picture with his mother. This reflection on the
vanity of human felicity, made him more difpofed
to hear the truths of our divine religion, fo that he
was refolved to go and fearch further into the rea-
fons for it. There was another yet more forcible
reafon induced me to folicit the Pophar for my re-
turn to my native country, which was the care of
my future ftate. I had lived fo many years with-
out the exercife of thofe duties our church obliges
us to perform, and, though I had not been guilty
of any great crimes, I was not willing to die out of
her bofom: however, to do all the good I could to
a country where I had once enjoyed fo much hap-
piness, this being the laſt year we were to ſtay, I at
length perfuaded the regent, that there might be
fome danger of an invafion of his country from the
oppofite fide towards the fouthern tropic; at leaſt,
I did not know, but there might be fome habitable
T
climate
218 - THE ADVENTURES OF
climate not fo far over the fands, as towards Libya
and Egypt. I had often fignified my thoughts to
him in that reſpect. I told him, that though his
kingdom was fafe, and inacceffible to all but our-
felves on that fide, it was poffible, it might be nigh-
er the great ocean on the oppoſite one, or that the
fands might not be of fuch extent; or, in fine,
there might be ridges of mountains, and from
them rivers running into the ocean, by which, in
procefs of time, fome barbarous people might a-
fcend, and disturb their long uninterrupted reſt,
without any fence to guard againſt fuch an emer-
gency. This laft thought alarmed him; fo we
were refolved to make a new trial, without com-
municating the defign to any but the chief council
of five, where we were fure of inviolable fecrecy.
What confirmed me in my notion was, that, when
we were on the utmoſt point of our mountains
fouthward, looking over the deferts, I could per-
ceive fomething like clouds, or fogs, hanging al-
ways towards one part. I imagined them to be
fogs covering the tops of fome great mountains,
which muſt have habitable vales. Being refol-
ved to make a trial, we provided all things ac-
cordingly, and fet out from the furtheft part
of the kingdom fouthwards, taking only five per-
fons in our company, fteering our courfe directly
towards that point of the horizon, where, I obferved
the thick air always hanging towards one place.
We took provifions and water but for ten days,
leaving word that they ſhould not trouble them-
felves about us, unleſs we made a confiderable ſtay,
becauſe in cafe we found mountains, we fhould al-
ways find ſprings and fruits to fubfift on, by mak-
ing a further fearch into the country; otherwiſe,
if we faw no hopes at the five days end, we would
re-
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA. 210
return the other five, and take freſh meaſures. The
third day of our voyage, we found the deferts no-
thing fo barren as we expected, the ground grew
pretty hard; and the fourth day we difcovered
fome tufts of mofs and ſhrubs, by which we con-
jectured we ſhould foon come to firm land; the e-
vening of that day we difcovered the tops of hills,
but further off than we thought; fo that though
we travelled at a great rate all that night and moſt
of the next day, we could only arrive at the foot
of them the fifth day at night. After fome little
fearch we came to a fine fpring, and, to our com-
fort, no figns of inhabitants; if there had, we
fhould have returned immediately to take further
advice. The next morning we got up to the top
of the higheſt hill to diſcover the country; but
found it to be only the point of a vaſt mountainous
country, like the worst part of our Alps, tho' there
were fome fertile vales and woods, but no footsteps
of its ever having been inhabited, as we believed
fince the creation. Finding we could make good
provifion for our return, we were in no great pain
about time; but wandered from place to place,
viewing and obferving every way. After proceed-
ing along thoſe craggy hills and precipices in this
manner for five days, they began to leffen towards
our right, but feemed rather to increaſe the other
way: at length, in the moſt diſmal and horrid
part of the hill-brow, one of our young men thought
hè fpied fomething like the figure of a man, fit-
ting by a little ſpring under a craggy rock juſt be-
low us; we fent three of our people round ano
ther way to keep him from running into the wood,
while the Pophar and myſelf ſtole quietly over the
rock where he was. As foon as he faw us, he
whips up a broken chink in the rock, and diſappear-
T 2
ed
220
THE ADVENTURES OF
ed immediately: we were fure he could not get
from us; fo we clofed and fearched, till we found
a little cave in the windings of the rock, where was
his retiring place. His bed was made of mofs and
leaves, with little heaps of dried fruits, of different
forts for his fuftenance. When he faw us, he was
furpriſed, and rushed at us like a lion, thinking to
make his way through us, but being all five at the
mouth of the cave, he stood ready to defend himſelfa-
gainſt our attempts. Viewing him a little nigher,
we faw he had fome remains of an old tattered
coat, and a part of a pair of breeches, with a rag-
ged fafh, or girdle, round his waift, by which, to
our great furpriſe, we found he was a European.
The Pophar ſpoke to him in Lingua Franca, and
aſked him who, or what he was; he ſhook his head
as if he did not underſtand us. I spoke to him
in French, Italian, and Latin, but he was a ſtranger
to thoſe languages; at length he cried out Inglis,
Inglis. I had learned fomething of that language,
when I was a ſtudent at Paris: for knowing my fa-
ther had a mind I ſhould learn as many languages
as I could, I had made an acquaintance with feve-
ral Engliſh and Scotch ftudents in that univerfity,
particularly with one F. Johnſon, an Engliſh Be-
nedictine; and could ſpeak it pretty well for a fo-
reigner, but had almoſt forgot it for want of uſe,
I bid him take courage, and fear nothing, for we
would do him no harm. As foon as ever he heard
me fpeak Engliſh, he fell down on his knees, and
begged us to take pity on him, and carry him to
fome habitable country, where he might poffibly get
an opportunity of returning home again, or, at leaft,
of living like a human creature. Upon this he
came out to us, but looked more like a wild beaſt,
than a man; his hair, beard, and nails were grown
to
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
221
to a great length, and his mien was as haggard, as
if he had been a great while in that wild place;
though he was a ftout well built man, and ſhewed
fomething above the common rank. We went
down to the fountain together, where he made us
to underſtand, that his father was an Eaft-India
merchant, and his mother a Dutch woman of Ba-
tavia; that he had great part of his education in
London; but being very extravagant, his father,
whofe natural fon he was, had turned him off, and
fent him to Batavia, to his mother's friends; that,
by his courage and induſtry, he was in a way of
making his fortune, being advanced to be a lieute-
nant in the Dutch guards at Batavia; but was un-
happily caft away on the coaſt of Africa, where they
had been on a particular adventure: That he and
his companions, four in number, wandering up in
the country to feek provifions, were taken by fome
ftrange barbarians, who carried them a vaft un-
known way into the continent, defigning to eat
them, or facrifice them to their inhuman gods, as
they had done by his companions. But being hale
and fat at the time of his taking, they referved him
for fome particular feaft: That, as they were car
rying him through the woods, another party of
barbarians, enemies to the former, met them, and
fell a-fighting for their booty: which he perceiv
ing, knowing he was to be eaten if he ſtayed,
flunk away in the fcuffle into the thickeſt woods,
hiding himſelf by day, and marching all night he
did not know where, but, as he conjectured, ſtill
higher into the country. Thus he wandered from
hill to hill, and wood to wood, till he came to a de-
fert of fands, which he was refolved to try to pafs
over, not daring to return back, for fear of falling
into the hands of thofe merciless devourers. He
T 3
paf
222 THE ADVENTURES OF
paffed two days and two nights without water, liv-
ing on the fruits he carried with him, as many as
he could, till he came to this mountainous part of
the country, which he found uninhabited; taking
up his abode in that rock, where he never had any
hopes of ſeeing a human creature again: neither
did he know himſelf where he was, or which way
to go back. In fine, he told us he had lived in that
miferable place, now upwards of five years. After
we had comforted him, as well as we could, I aſk-
ed him, which way the main fea lay, as near as he
could guess, and how far he thought it was to it?
He pointed with his hand towards the fouth, a lit-
tle turning towards the eaſt, and faid, he believed
it might be thirty or forty days journey; but ad-
viſed us never to go that way, for we should cer-
tainly be devoured by the barbarians. I aſked him
whether the country was habitable from that place
down to the fea; he told me yes, except that de-
fert we had paſſed; but whether it was broader in o-
ther places, he could not tell.
All the time he was fpeaking, the Pophar eyed him
from top to toe; and calling me afide, What mon-
fter, fays he, have we got here? There is a whole
legion of wild beafts in that man. I fee the lion, the
goat, the wolf, and the fox, in that one perfon. I
could not forbear fmiling at the Pophar's ſkill in
phyfiognomy, and told him we ſhould take care he
fhould do no harm. Then I turned to the man,
and aſked him, whether he would conform himſelf
to the laws and rites of the country, if we carried
him among men again, where he ſhould want for
nothing, He embraced my knees, and faid, he
would conform to any laws or any religion, if I
would but let him fee a habitable country again. I
ftared at the man, and began to think there was
fome
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
223
.-
-
fome truth in the Pophar's fcience. However, I
told him, if he would but behave like a rational
creature, he ſhould go along with us: but he muſt
fuffer himſelf to be blindfolded, till he came to the
place. He ſtartled a little, and feemed to be prodi-
gious fufpicious, left we ſhould deceive him. But
on my aſſuring him on the faith of a man, that he
fhould come to no harm, he confented.
After we had refreſhed ourſelves, being both glad
and concerned for the information we had received
of the nature of the country, which was the intent
of our journey, in order to guard againſt all incon-
veniencies, we covered his eyes very clofe, and car-
ried him back with us, fometimes on foot, fometimes
on one of the ſpare dromedaries, till we arrived fafe
from where we fet out. Then we let him fee where
he was, and what a glorious country he was come
into. We clothed him like ourfelves, that is, in our
travelling-drefs, to fhew he was not an entire ftran-
ger to our race. He ſeemed loft in admiration of
what he faw, and embraced me with all the figus
of gratitude imaginable. He readily conformed to
all our cuſtoms, and made no fcruple of affifting at
all their idolatrous ceremonies, as if he had been as
good a Heathen as the beſt of them. Which I fee-
ing, without declaring myſelf to be a Chriſtian, told
him I had been informed, the people of the coun-
try where he was educated, were Chriftians; and
wondered to ſee him join in adoring the fun. Pugh !
fays he, fome bigoted people make a fcruple, but
moſt of our men of fenfe think one religion is as
good as another. By this I perceived our favage
was of a new ſet of people, which I had heard of
before I left Italy, called Politici *, who are a fort of
Atheiſts in maſquerade. The Pophar, out of his
great
Thefe Politici were forerunners of our modern free-
thinkers,
224
THE ADVENTURES OF
great ſkill in phyfiognomy, would have no conver
ſation with him, and commanded me to have a ſtrict
eye over him. However, the information he had
given us of the poffibility of invading the kingdom
the way he came, anfwered the intent of our voy-
age, and my former conjectures; about which there
was a grand council held, and orders given to fecure
the foot of our outermoft mountain fouthwards,
which ran a great way into the defert; ſo that it was
fufficient to guard againſt any of thoſe barbarous
invaders of the continent. But to return to our
European favage: for he may be justly called fo, be-
ing more dangerous in a commonwealth, than the
very Hyckfoes themſelves; though he was a perfon
who had had a tolerably civilized education, bating
the want of all fenfe of religion, which was owing
to his perpetual converſation with libertines: He
had a fmattering of moft kinds of polite learning,
but without a bottom in any reſpect. After he had
been with us fome time, his principles began to
fhew themſelves in his practice. Firſt, he began
to be rude with our women; married or fingle, it
was all alike to him; and, by an unaccountable fpi-
rit of novelty or contradiction, our women feemed
to be inclined to be very fond of him; fo that we
were at our wits end about him. Then he began
to find fault with our government, defpifing and
condemning all our ceremonies and regulations: but
his great aim was, to pervert our youth, enticing
them into all manner of liberties, and endeavouring
to make them believe, that there was no fuch thing
as moral evil in nature; that there was no harm in
the
thinkers, whofe principles tend to the deſtruction of all
human fociety, as our author fhews incomparably well
by and by.
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
225
the greateft crimes, if they could but evade the laws
and puniſhments attending them. As I had endeá-
voured to create a confidence in him, he came to me
one day, and faid, that fince I was an European as well
as himſelf, we might make ourſelves men for ever,
if I would join with him; You fee, fays he, theſe
men cannot fight; nay, will rather be killed them-
felves, than kill any one elfe: can't you ſhew me
the way out of this country, where we will get a
troop of ftout fellows well armed, and come and
plunder all the country? we fhall get immenfe rich-
es, and make ourſelves lords and maſters of all. I
heard him with a great deal of attention, and an-
fwered him, that I thought the project might eaſily
take, only for the horrid wickedness of the fact;
eſpecially for us two, who had received fuch favours
from the Pophar and his people; he, in his being
delivered from the greateſt miſery; and myſelf, in
having been freed from flavery, and made one of
the chief men of the kingdom: that the action
would deſerve to be branded with eternal infamy,
and the blackeſt ingratitude: befide the infinite vil-
lanies, injuftices, crimes, and deaths of innocent
perſons, who muft perifh in the attempt; which
would always ftare us in the face, and torment us
with never-ceafing ftings of confcience till our death.
Confcience! fays he, that is a jeft; a mere engine
of prieſt-craft: all right is founded in power: let
us once get that, and who will difpute our right?
As for the injuftice of it, that is a mere notion; di-
ſtinction of crimes, mere bigotry, and the effect
of education, uſhered in under the cloak of reli-
gion. Let us be but fucceſsful, and I will anfwer
for all your fcruples. I told him, it was a matter
not to be refolved on on a fudden; and that I would
confider on it. But I bid him be ſure to keep his
mat-
226
THE ADVENTURES OF
matters to himfelf. I went immediately to the Po
phar, and gave an account of what had paſſed. He
was ftruck with horror at the recital; not fo much
for the confequences, as that human nature could
be brought to fuch a monstrous deformity. If, fays
he, your Europeans are men of fuch principles, who
would not fly to the furtheft corner of the earth, to
avoid their fociety? Or rather, who can be fure of
his life among fuch people? Whoever thinks it nơ
greater crime in itſelf, to kill me, than to kill a fly,
will certainly do it, if I ftand in his way. If it were
lawful, continued he, by our conſtitutions to kill
this man, he deſerves a thouſand deaths, who makes
it lawful to deftroy all the world befides. I an-
fwered, that all the Europeans were not men of his
principles, nor even thofe of his nation, who were
generally the moſt compaffionate and beft-natured
men in the world. But that he was of a new ſet of
wretched people, who called themſelves Deiſts, and
interiorly laughed at all religion and morality, look-
ing upon them as mere engines of policy and prieſt-
craft. Interiorly! fays he; yes, and would cut any
man's throat exteriorly and actually, if it were not
for fear of the gallows. Shut him up, cried he,
from all commerce of men, left his breath fhould
infect the whole world; or rather, let us fend him
back to his cave, to live like a wild beaft; where if
he is devoured by the favages, they do him no in-
jury, on his own principles. I repreſented to him,
that we were juſt on our journey back to Grand
Cairo, where we might carry him blindfold, that
he fhould not know our way over the fands, and
there give him his liberty; but that we would fhut
him up till then. This being agreed on, I took a
fufficient number of men, to feize him; and to do
it without any mifchief, for he was as ftout as a li
渗
​on,
"
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
227
men.
on, we contrived to come upon him in his bed,
where we caught him with one of our young wo-
Three of our men fell upon him at once,
and kept him down, while the reft tied his hands
and legs, and carried him into a ſtrong-hold, whence
it was impoffible for him to eſcape. The woman
was ſhut up apart, according to our laws. When
he found himſelf taken, he called me by the molt
cruel names, he could think on, as the moſt wick-
ed and treacherous villain that ever was, thus to
betray him, and the truſt he had put in me. Yes,
fays I, it is a crime to diſcover your fecrets, and no
crime in you to fubvert the government, and fet
all mankind a cutting one another's throats, by your
monftrous principles: fo I left him for the preſent.
Some time after, I went to him, and told him, our
council had decreed he ſhould be carried back from
whence he came, and be delivered over to the ſava-
ges, either to be devoured by them, or to defend
himſelf by his principles, as well as he could. He
cried out, Sure we would not be guilty of fuch hor-
rid barbarity! Barbarity! faid I; that is a mere jeft;
they will do you no injury; if your fleſh is a rarity
to them, when they have you in their power, they
have full right to make ufe of it. He begged by all
that was dear, we would not fend him to the fava-
ges; but rather kill him on the spot. Why, fays I,
you are worſe than the greateſt cannibals; becauſe
they ſpare their friends, and only eat their enemies;
whereas your principles fpare no body, and acknow-
ledge no tie in nature. At length he owned himſelf
in a miſtake, and feemed to renounce his errors;
when I told him, if he would engage his moſt ſo-
lemn promiſe, to fuffer himſelf to be blindfolded,
and behave peacable, we would carry him to a place
where he might find an opportunity to return to
his
228 THE ADVENTURES OF
his own country. But, fays I, what fignify pro
miſes and engagements in a man who laughs at all
obligations, and thinks it as juft and lawful to break
them, as to make them? No, he curſed himſelf with
the moſt dreadful imprecations, if he were not trac-
table in all things we ſhould command him. But,
fays he again, won't you deliver me back to the fa-
vages? I answered in the fame tone, Should we do
you any wrong, if we did? At length to appeafe him,
I promiſed him faithfully we would put him in a
way to return to his own country: but bid him con-
fider, if there were no fuch thing as right and wrong,
what would become of the world, or what fecurity
could there be in human life?
In a few weeks, the time drew on for our great
journey to Grand Cairo, where I was in hopes of
feeing my native country once more. All things
were now as good as ready; the Pophar and myſelf
had other deſigns than ufual, and were in fome pain
to think of leaving that once fo happy country.
Though, as I faid, all things that could make me
happy, were buried with my dear Ifyphena. The
Pophar had ſome ſerious thoughts of turning Chri-
ftian; the evidences of our religion were foon per-
ceived by a perfon of his deep penetration; though
perfons of little learning, and great vices, pretend
they don't ſee them. But, like a wife man, he was
refolved to examine into it, in the places where it
was exerciſed in the greateſt ſplendour. We pro-
vided a good quantity of jewels, and as much gold
as we could well carry, for our prefent expences
at Grand Cairo, and elſewhere, in future exigencies.
I went to my Deiſt in his grotto, and threw him in
as much gold and jewels as were fufficient to glut
his avarice, and make him happy in his brutal way of
thinking. But I would not truft myſelf with him
alone,
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
229
alone, for all his promiſes, as he, on his fide, expref-
fed ftill a diffidence of truſting any body; I fuppofe
from the conſciouſneſs of his own vile principles.
Then I threw him a blinding-cap, which we had
made for him, that he ſhould not fee our way over
the deferts. This cap was made like a head-piece,
with breathing places for his mouth and nofe, as well
as to take in nourishment, opening at the back part,
and clafping with a fpring behind, that being once
locked, he could not open it himſelf. He put it on
his head two or three times, before he durft ven-
ture to cloſe it. At length he clafped it, and he was
as blind as a beetle. We went to him and tied his
hands, which he let us do quietly enough; but fill
begged us, that we would not betray him to the fa-
vages. I bid him think once more, that now his
own interior ſenſe told him, that to betray him
would be a crime; by confequence there was fuch
a thing as evil.
All things being in readineſs, we mounted our
dromedaries. The Pophar and all the reft kiffed the
ground as ufual; I did the fame, out of refpect to
the place which contained the remains of my never
too much lamented Ifyphena, the ashes of whoſe
heart are in the hollow of the ftone, whereon is her
picture. Not to mention the ceremonies of our tak-
ing leave, we were conducted in a mournful manner
over the bridge, and lanched once more into the o-
cean of fands and deferts, which were before us.
Our favage was on a dromedary which would fol-
low the reft, but led by a cord faſtened to one of
them, for fecurity. It ſtumbled with him twice or
thrice, and threw him off once, but without any
great hurt. But the fear of breaking his neck put
him into a great agony; and though he was as bold
as a lion on other occafions, he was prodigiouſly
U
tartled
230
THE ADVENTURES OF
ftartled at the thoughts of death. We arrived at
Grand Cairo at the ufual period of time, without
any particular difafter. As foon as we were fettled,
the Pophar ordered me to fend the Deift packing
as foon as we could. This brutal race, fays he, next
to the cannibals, are the fittest company for him. I
unlocked the blinding-helmet, and told him, we had
now fulfilled our promiſe; that he was at Grand
Cairo, where he might find fome way or other to
return into Europe; and, to convince him, carried
him to fome European merchants who affured him
of the fame. Delivering to him his gold and jew-
els, I begged him to reflect on his obligations to us,
and the grateful acknowledgments due to our me-
mory on that account: we had taken him from a
miferable folitude, where he lived more like a wild
beaſt than a man; and where he was in danger of
being found and devoured by the cannibals: we had
brought him into one of the happieſt countries in
the world, if he would but have conformed to its
laws; and now had given him his liberty to go
where he pleaſed, with riches fufficient to make him
eaſy, and benefits to make him grateful all his life.
I then took my leave of him. But to our forrow we
had not done with him yet. As foon as the Po-
phar and the reft had performed the ceremony of vi-
fiting the tombs of their anceſtors, or rather the pla-
ces where the tombs had been, the good old man and
myſelf began to think of meaſures for our journey
into Italy. He ordered his people to ſtay at Grand
Cairo till the next annual caravan; and in cafe he
did not return by that time, they were to go home,
and he would take the opportunity of the then next
following caravan, becauſe he was upon buſineſs that
nearly concerned him. We had agreed with a ma-
fter of a ſhip to carry us to Venice, which, as I had
the
ŠıG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
231
the honour to acquaint your Reverences before, was
a French fhip, commanded by Monfieur Godart.
We had fixed the day to go abroad, when, behold!
our favage, at the head of a band of Turks, came
and ſeized every one of us, in the name of the great
Baffa. By great good fortune, while I ſtaid at Grand
Cairo, I had the grateful curiofity to inform myſelf
what was become of the former Baffa's daughter,
we left there five and twenty years ago. The people
told me, the daughter was married to the Grand
Sultan, and was now Sultannels, mother to the
prefent Sultan, and regent of the empire; adding
that her brother was their prefent great Baffa. This
lucky information faved all our lives and liberties.
We were carried prifoners before the great Baffa,
the faithlefs favage accufing us of crimes againſt
the ſtate; that we were immenfely rich, (a crime of
itfelf fufficient to condemn us,) and could make a
diſcovery of a country of vaſt advantage to the Grand
Signior. To be ſhort, we had all been put to the
torture, had not I begged leave to fpeak a word or
two in private to the great Baffa. There I told him
who I was; that I was the perfon who had faved
his fifter's, the now Emprefs, life; and, to convince
him, told him all the circumftances except that of
her love, though he had heard fomething of that
too: I fhewed him the ring ſhe had given me for a
remembrance, (which he alfo remembered,) adding,
that we were innocent men, who lived honeftly ac-
cording to our own laws, coming there to traffic,
like other merchants, and had been traduced by one
of the greateſt villains upon earth. In a word, this
not only got us off, and procured us an ample paf-
fport from the great Baffa for our further voyage
but he alfo ordered the informing wretch to be feiz-
ed, and fent to the galleys for life. He offered to
U 2
tura
232
THE ADVENTURES OF
turn Turk, if they would fpare him. But being
appriſed of his principles, they faid he would be a
difgrace to their religion; and ordered him away
immediately. Upon which feeing there was no
mercy, being grown mad with rage and defpair, be-
fore they could feize his hands, he drew out a pi-
ftol, and fhot himſelf through the head; not being
able to find a worſe hand than his own. The Po-
phar, good man! bore theſe misfortunes with won-
derful patience, though he affured me his greateſt
grief was, to fee human nature fo far corrupted, as
it was in that impious wretch, who could think the
moft horrid crimes were not worth the notice of the
fupreme governor of the univerſe. But we fee, fays
he, that Providence can make the wicked themſelves
the inftruments of its juft vengeance: for can
any thing be fo great a blot upon human nature,
as to be its own deſtroyer, when the very brutes
will ftruggle for life till the laft gafp? However,
he was uneafy till he had left that hateful place.
Befides, there were fome figns of the plague break-
ing out; fo we went down to Alexandria as faſt as
we could. And to encourage Monfieur Godart, he
made him a prefent before-hand of a diamond of a
confiderable value. We fet fail for Candy, where
Monfieur Godart was to touch, the 16th day of Au-
guft 1712. But, alas! whether thefe troubles, or
not being uſed to the ſea, or fome infection of the
plague he had caught at Grand Cairo, or all toge-
ther, is uncertain; but that great good man fell fo
dangerouſly ill, that we thought we ſhould ſcarce
get him to Candy. He affured me, by the know-
ledge he had of himſelf and nature, that his time
was come. We put in at the firſt creek, where the
land-air a little refreſhed him; but it was a fallaci-
ous crifis; for, in a few days, all of us perceived his
*
end
Sid. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
233
end draw near. Then he told me he was refolved
to be baptized, and die in the Chriftian faith. I
I got him inftructed by a reverend prieft belonging
to Monfieur Godart; his name was Monfieur Le
Grelle, whom I had formerly known when he was a
ſtudent in the college for foreign miffions; and,
what was the only comfort I had now left, I faw
him baptized, and yield up the ghoft with a cou-
rage becoming the greateſt hero, and the beſt of
This was the greateſt affliction I ever had
in my whole life, after the death of his daughter.
He left me all his effects, which were fufficient to
make me happy in this life, if riches could procure
happineſs.
men.
We had fome days to ſtay, before Monfieur Go-
dart could make an end of his bufinefs. I was
walking in a melancholy poſture along the fea-
fhore: and reflecting on the adventures of my paſt
life, occafioned by thofe very waters whereon I was
looking, when I came, or rather my feet carried me,
to a hanging rock, on the fide of the island, juft on
the edge of the fea, and where there was fcarce
room enough for two or three perfons to ftand
privately under covert, very difficult to be difcern-
ed; where going to fit down, and indulge my
melancholy thoughts, I efpied a Turk and two
women, as if concealed under the rock. My own
troubles not allowing me the curiofity to pry
into other people's concerns, made me turn ſhort
back again but the elder of the two women,
who was miftrefs of the other, feeing by my drefs,
that I was a ſtranger and a Chriſtian, (being now
in that habit,) came running to me, and falling on
her knees, laid hold of mine, and begged me to
take pity on a diftreffed woman, who expected e-
very moment to be butchered by one of the moſt
inhu-
:
U 3
234.
THE ADVENTURES OF
inhuman villains living, from whofe violence they
had filed and hid themſelves in that place, in expec-
tation of finding a boat to convey them off. I lift-
ed her up, and thought I faw fomething in her
face I had ſeen before, though much altered by years
and troubles. She did the fame by me, and at
length cried out, O heavens! it cannot be the man
I hope! I remembered confuſedly fomething of the
voice, as well as the face; and, after a deal of a-
ſtoniſhment, found it was the Curdiſh lady, who
had faved my life from the pirate Hamet. Oh! fays
fhe, I have juſt time enough to tell ye, that we ex-
pect to be pursued by that inhumane wretch, un-
lefs you can find a boat to carry us off before he
finds us, otherwife we muſt fall a facrifice to his
cruelty. I never ftaid to confider confequences, but
anfwered precipitately, that I would do my beſt;
fo ran back to the ſhip as faft I could, and with the
help of the firſt man brought the boat to the rock.
I was juſt getting out to take hold of her hand,
when we heard fome men coming rufhing in behind
us, and one of them cried, Hold villain, that wick-
ed woman ſhan't efcape fo; and fires a piftol, which
miffing the lady, fhot the man attending her, into
the belly, fo that he fell down prefently, though not
quite dead. I had provided myſelf with a Turkiſh
fcymitar, and a cafe of piftols, under my faſh, for
my defence on ſhipboard; I faw there was no time
to deliberate, fo I fired directly at them, for they
were three, and had good luck to drop one of them.
But Hamet, as I found afterwards, minding nothing
but his revenge on the woman, fired again, and
miffing the lady a fecond time, fhot her maid
through the arm, and was drawing his fcymitar to
cleave her down, when I ftept in before the lady;
but ſhooting with too much precipitancy, the bul
lets
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
235
lets paſſed under his arm, and lodged in the body
of his fecond; he ſtarted back at the fire fo near
him, which gave me time to draw my fcymitar.
Being now upon equal terms, he retired two or
three paces, and cried, who art thou that ventureſt
thy life fo boldly for this wicked woman? I knew
his voice perfectly well, neither was he ſo much
altered as the lady. I am the man, faid I, whoſe
life thou wouldst have taken, but this lady faved it,
whoſe cauſe I ſhall now revenge as well as my own,
and my dear brother's. We made no more words,
but fell to it with our fcymitars, with all our
might; he was a brave ftout man, and let me fee I
ſhould have work enough to hew him down. Af-
ter ſeveral attacks, he gave me a confiderable
wound on my arm, and I cut him acroſs the cheek
a pretty large gaſh, but not to endanger his life;
at length the juſtice of my cauſe would have it, that
ftriking off his turban at one ſtroke, and with ano-
ther falling on his bare head, I cut him quite into
the brains, that fome of them fpurted on my fcy-
mitar. He fell down, as I thought, quite dead, but
after ſome time he gave a groan, and muttered theſe
words, Mahomet, thou art juft, I killed this wo-
man's huſband, and ſhe has been the occafion of
my death; with theſe words he gave up the ghoſt.
By this time the lady's attendant was dead; fo I
took the lady and her woman without ftaying, for
fear of further difficulties, and putting them in the
boat, conducted them to the fhip. Monfieur Go-
dart was extremely troubled at the accident, faying
we ſhould have all the iſland upon us, and made
great difficulty to receive the lady; but upon a juſt
repreſentation of the cafe, and an abundant recom-
penfe for his effects left behind, we got him to
take her in, and hoiſt fail for Venice as faſt as we
could.
236
THE ADVENTURES OF
could. The lady had now time to thank me for
her delivery, and I to congratulate my happy for-
tune in being able to make a return for her faving
my life. During our paffage, I begged her to
give us the hiſtory of her fortunes fince I left her,
which I prognofticated then could not be very hap-
py, confidering the hands fhe was fallen into.
Says fhe, You remember I made a promife to Ha-
met, that I would marry him on condition he would
fave your life. Yes, Madam, faid I, and am rea-
dy to venture my own once more in return for ſo
great a benefit. You have done enough, fays fhe;
and with that acquainted us, that when I was fold
off to the ſtrange merchants, Hamet carried her to
Algiers, and claimed her promife. I was entirely
ignorant, fays fhe, of his having a hand in the
death of my dear lord; but, on the contrary, the
villain had contrived his wickednefs fo cunningly,
that I thought he had generously ventured his own
life to fave his, and being, as you know, a very
handſome man, of no very inferior rank, and ex-
preffing the moſt ardent love for my perfon, and I
having no hopes of returning into my own country,
fulfilled my promife made on your account, and
married him. We lived contentedly enough toge
ther for fome years, bating that we had no children,
till his conftant companion, who was the man at-
tending me at the rock, and was killed by that vil-
lain, fell out about a fair ſlave, which Omar, ſo he
was called, had bought, or taken prifoner in fome
of their piracies. Hamet, as well as he, fell in
love with her, and would have taken her for his
concubine, but the other concealed her from him:
they had like to have fought about it; Hamet
vowed revenge. The other, who was the honefter
man of the two, was advifed to be upon his guard,
and
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
237
and to deliver the woman to him; which he never
would conſent to, but was refolved to run all riſks,
rather than the young lady fhould fuffer any dif
honour. In the mean time, her friends, who were
rich people of Circaffia, hearing where ſhe was, made
intereft to have her ranfomed, and taken from both
of them, by the authority of the Dey of Algiers,
who was otherwiſe no friend to Hamet. This laft
had been informed, that Omar, becauſe he could
not enjoy her himſelf, contrived to have her ran-
fomed from his rival, and I myſelf had a hand in
the affair, for which he threatened revenge on both
of us; and being alfo difgufted with the Dey, he
gave orders to have his fhips ready to remove, and
follow his trade of piracy. Then Omar informed
me how Hamet had murdered my first huſband, by
hiring the Arabians to do it, while he pretended to
defend him to avoid my fufpicions, with fuch cir-
cumſtances of the fact, that I faw the truth was too
clear. The horror and deteftation I was in, is not
to be expreffed, both againſt Hamet, and againſt
myſelf, for marrying ſuch a monſter. Omar added,
that he was certainly informed, that as foon as he
had us out at fea, he would make away with us
both; and told me, if I would truft myſelf with
him, he would under take to carry me off in a boat,
and conduct me into my own country. I was re-
folved to fly to the fartheft end of the earth to a-
void his loathed fight; fo refolved to pack up our
moſt precious things, and go along with him. He
procured a boat to meet us, at a little creek of the
iſland, by a perfon he thought he could confide in,
but who betrayed the whole affair to Hamet. Of
which alſo we had timely notice, and removing from
the ſtation where we expected the boat, and fled
along the coaft as privately as we could, and hid
our-
238 THE ADVENTURES OF
ourſelves under the rock where you found us, ex-
pecting either to find fome favourable occaſion to
be carried off, or to die by the hand of Hamet,
which we certainly had done, had not he met with
his juſt death by yours.
+
The lady had ſcarce given us this ſhort account of
her misfortunes, and we were not only congratu-
lating her for her deliverance, but admiring the ju-
ftice of providence, which reached this villain,
both to bring him to condign puniſhment for the
murder of the innocent Curd, and make him die by
my hand, five and twenty years after he had rob-
bed and killed my brother with all his crew, fold
me for a flave, and attempted to kill me alfo, had
not the ſtrange lady faved my life; I fay, we were
making fuch like reflections on this ſtrange accident,
when they told us from above, two veffels feemed
to come full fail upon us, as if they were purſuing
us with all their might. We made all the fail we
could, but our fhip being pretty heavily loaded, we
faw we muſt be overtaken. Some of us were re-
folved to fight it out to the laſt, in caſe they were
enemies. But Monfieur Godart would not confent
to it, faying the Baffa's paffport would ſecure us,
or by yielding peaceably, we might be ranfomed.
They came up to us in a fhort time, and ſaluted us
with a volley of fhot, to fhew what we were to
truſt to. We ſtruck our fails, and let them board
us without any refiftance. Monfieur Godart,
with too mean a ſpirit, as I thought, told them
with cap in hand, that he would give them any fa-
tisfaction, and affured them he would not willingly
fall out with the ſubjects of the Grand Signior.
They feized every man of us, and ſpying the lady
and me, There they are, faid they; the adulterefs
and her lover, with the fpoils of her murdered
huf-
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA. 239
huſband. Which words, fhewing they were Turks
in purſuit of us from Candy, quite confounded
Monfieur Godart at once, and made me imagine, I
fhould have much ado to find any quarter. They
haled us upon deck, making fhew, as if they were
going to cut off my head. I never thought myſelf ſo
nigh death before; but had the preſence of mind
to cry out in the hearing of the whole crew, that
we were ſervants of the Grand Sultanefs; and pro-
duced the paſſport of the great Bafla her brother,
charging them on their peril not to touch us. This
topt their fury a little: fome cried out, Hold,
have a care what you do; others cried, Kill them
all for robbers and murderers, the Sultanefs
will never protect fuch villains as theſe. When
the hurly-burly was fomething appeaſed, Mon-
fieur Godart reafoned the cafe with them, and told
them, if they murdered us, they could never
conceal it; fince all the crew of the three fhips
heard our appeal to the Sultanefs mother, the
paſſport ſetting forth among other things, that I
had faved the life of the Grand Sultanefs. This
brought them to a demur. The chief of them be-
gan to confult among themſelves what was beſt to
be done. When I, begging leave to ſpeak, told
them, if they would carry us to Conftantinople, we
would willingly fubmit our lives, and all that belong-
ed to us, in caſe the Sultanefs did not own the fact,
and take us into her protection: that, in cafe they
put us to death, fome one or other, in ſuch a num-
ber would certainly inform againſt them, the con-
fequences of which they knew very well. I
touched alfo but tenderly on the death of Hamet,
and our innocence. The firſt part of my fpeeeh
made them pafs over the other. They demurred
again, and at length refolved to carry us to Conftan-
tinople,
240
THE ADVENTURES OF
tinople, and proceed againſt us by way of juſtice,
not doubting to make good prize of us, on account
of our being Chriftians. Thus was our journey to
Venice interrupted for fome time by this accident.
When we came to the port, Monfieur Godart got
leave to fend our cafe to Monfieur Savigni, the
French refident; who found means to repreſent to
the Sultanefs mother, that there was a ſtranger in
chains, who pretended to be the perfon who had
faved her life, when ſhe was at Grand Cairo, and
would give her proofs of it, if he could be admitted
to her Highneſs's prefence. I would not ſend the
Fing the gave me, for fear of accidents. The Sul-
tanefs gave orders immediately, I fhould be brought
to her prefence; faying, ſhe could eaſily know the
perfon, for all it was fo long before. I put on the
fame kind of drefs I was in when the firft faw me,
which, if your Reverences remember, was the tra-
velling dress of the Mezoranians. When I was
brought into her prefence, I ſcarce knew her, being
advanced to a middle age, and in the attire of the
Grand Sultanefs. She looked at me with a great
deal of emotion, and bid me approach nigher. I
immediately fell on my knees, and holding the ring
in my hand which ſhe gave me at parting, as if I
were making a prefent of it, Madam, faid I, behold
a flave, who had the honour to fave your Highneſs's
life. and now begs his own, and that of his compa-
nions; and moſt humbly requeſts your Highneſs to
accept of this jewel, as a token of our laſt diftrefs.
Inſtead of anſwering me, which put me in great
pain, as doubting whether I was right or not, ſhe
turned to her nigheft attendants, and faid in a pretty
foft voice, It is he, I know him by his voice, as well
as drefs; and rifing off her feat, came and took the
ring. Then looking attentively at it, Yes, Sir, faid
ſhe,
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA. 24
fhe, I own the ring and bearer; and acknowledge
you to be the perfon who faved my life. For which
reaſon, I give you yours, and all that belongs to
you, forbidding all under pain of death, to give you
the leaſt trouble; and withal ordered a very rich
Turkiſh robe to be thrown over my fhoulders,
as a fign of her favour. Immediate orders were
fent to the port to fet Monfieur Godart, and all his
crew at liberty, and to feaft us as particular friends
of the grand Sultanefs. The company being dif
miſſed, ſhe made a fign for me to ſtay, having fur-
ther bufinefs with me. When all were gone, but
two of her chief favourite women, fhe came to me,
without any ceremony, and taking me in her arms,
as if I had been her brother, embraced me with a
great deal of tenderneſs; her joy to ſee me, making
her lay afide her grandeur, and yield to the tran-
fports of undiſguiſed nature. She led me by the
hand into a moft magnificent apartment; ſaying,
Come, Signor Gaudentio, for fo I think you are cal-
led; after you have refreſhed yourſelf, you ſhall
tell me your adventures. She made no fcruple to
fit down with me, being now not only miſtreſs of
herſelf, but of the whole Ottoman empire, as well
as fure of her attendants. We had a refreſhment
of all the rarities of the Eaſt, with the richeſt
wines for me, though the drank none herſelf. I
long to hear your adventures, continued fhe, of fo
many years abfence. So I told her in fhort, how
I was carried by that ftrange merchant into an un-
known country; without telling her the way we
went thither; where I had married the regent's
daughter. She blushed a little at that part, and
ſhewed the remains of all her former beauty. But
it put me in mind of my own indifcretion to touch
on fuch a nice point. She paſſed it off with a
X
great
242
THE ADVENTURES OF
great deal of goodneſs; and, recovering myself, I con-
tinued to acquaint her of the reaſons of my return,
as well as how I was taken by Hamet the firſt
time, which ſhe had not been acquainted with be-
fore; and laſtly, how I met with the fame Hamet
again, killed him, and by that means came into that
misfortune. I called it then a misfortune, faid I,
but look upon it now to be one of my greateſt hap-
pineffes; fince, by that occafion, I have the honour
of feeing your Highneſs in that dignity of which you
are the moſt worthy of any one in all the Ottoman
empire. She feemed to be in admiration at the courſe
of my life; and added, I think, Signor, you faid
you were married; is your ſpouſe with you? No
Madam, faid I: alas! fhe is dead, and all my chil-
dren, and I am going to retire, and lead a private
life in my native country. With thefe and other
diſcourſes we paffed the greateſt part of the day,
when the bid me go back to the fhip in public, at-
tended with all the marks of her high favours;
but ſhe ſaid ſhe would fend for me privately in the
evening; for, added fhe, I have a thouſand other
things to aſk you. Accordingly I was introduced
privately into the feraglio; which he, being Sul-
talneſs-regent, could eafily do. There the entirely
laid aſide her grandeur. We talked all former paf-
fages over again, with the freedom of friends and
old acquaintances. In our converfation, I found
ſhe was a woman of prodigious depth of judg-
ment, as indeed her wading through fo many diffi-
culties, attending the inconftancy of the Ottoman
court, particularly the regency, evidently fhewed.
I made bold to aſk her, how the arrived at that
dignity, though fhe was the only perfon in the
world that deſerved it; and took the liberty to fay
in a familiar way, that I believed her Highness was
now
SIC. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
243
now ſenſible of the ſervice I did her, in refuſing to
comply with her former demands, fince the fates
had reſerved her to be the greateſt Empreſs of the
world, not the confort of a wandering flave. Had
I not been entirely affured of her goodneſs, I ſhould
not have dared to have touched on that head. She
bluſhed with a little confufion at firft, but putting
it off with a grave air, Grandeur, fays fhe, does
not always make people happy. Ten thouſand
cares attend a crown; but the indifference I have
for all things, makes mine fit eafier than it might
have done otherwife. It is true, continued fhe,
that young people very ſeldom ſee their own good,
and oftentimes run into fuch errors, by the vio-
lence of their paffions, as not only deprive them of
greater bleffings, but render their misfortunes irre-
trievable. Some time after you were gone, my fa-
ther the Grand Baffa was accuſed by fome under-
hand enemies, of male-adminiſtration, a thing too
frequent in our court, and privately condemned to
be ſtrangled. But, having fome trufty friends at
the Porte, he had notice of it, before the orders
came: he immediately departed from Grand Cairo,
and took a round-about way towards Conſtanti-
nople, to prevent, as the way is, the execution of
them. He fent me before to prepare matters, and
to intercede with the young Sultan, my late de-
ceafed Lord, for his life, leaving word where I
might let him know of the fuccefs of my intercef
fion. I prefented myſelf before the Sultan with
that modeft affurance, which my innocence, my
youth, and grief for my father's danger, gave me.
I fell down on my knees, and, with a flood of tears,
begged my father's life. The Sultan looked at me
with ſome amazement, and, whatever it was he faw
in my face, not only granted my requeſt, and con
X 2
firmed
244
THE ADVENTURES OF
firmed my father in his former poft; but made a
profeffion of love to my perfon; and even conti-
nued it with more conftancy, than I thought a
Grand Sultan capable of, having fo many exquifite
beauties to divert him, as they generally have. I
confented, to fave my father's life; and whether
the indifferency I had for all men, made him more
eager, I cannot tell; but I found I was the chief in
his favour. He had fome other miſtreffes now and
then, of whom he was very fond. But never tea-
fing him, nor fretting myſelf about it, I eaſily
found I continued to have the folid part of his
friendship; and bringing him the first male child,
the prefent Emperor, I became the chief Sultanefs;
and by his death, and the minority of my fon, am
now regent; by which I am capable of rendering
you all the fervice the Ottoman empire can per-
form: which I eſteem one of the happieſt events
of my life. I returned her the moſt profound bow,
and humble thanks a heart full of the moſt lively
fenſe of gratitude could profefs. She offered me
the firſt poſt of the Ottoman empire, if I would but
become a muffulman, or only fo in appearance.
Or if, faid fhe, you had rather be nigh me, you ſhall
be the chief officer of my houfehold. I have had
affurance enough, added fhe, that neither your in-
clinations nor principles can be forced; neither will
I endeavour to do it, but leave you as much at
your liberty, as your generous mafter did, when
he bought you of Hamet. I expreffed all the
grateful acknowledgments poffible, for fo generous
an offer; but affured her with an air that even ex-
preſſed forrow for the refuſal, that I lay under re-
ligious obligations, which bound me indifpenfably
to return into my own country. She was become
new as much miſtreſs of her inclinations, as ſhe
-
-
had
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
245
had acquired prudence and experience by the long
command ſhe had over her huſband's heart, and
the whole Ottoman empire. So after a month's
ſtay ſhe let me go, with all the marks of honour
her dignity would fuffer her to expreſs. She would
have punished the perfons that took us, but I in-
terceded for them. Monfieur Godart, who was
well rewarded for the lofs of his time and confine-
ment, can testify the truth of this hiſtory. The
laft words ſhe ſaid to me, were, to bid me remem-
ber, that a Turk and a woman were capable of ge-
nerous gratitude and honour, as well as Chriftians.
So we fet fail for Venice.
[Secretary. Here one of the inquifitors came in
with a gold medal in his hand, and turning to
the examinant, faid, Signor Gaudentio, I be-
lieve you have found a relation in Italy, as well
as in Africa, and one of the fame nation with
your mother. It is the Perfian lady you brought
along with you, whom we fecured the fame
time we did you; but would not let you know
it, till we could procure intelligence from Ve-
nice, and a perſon who could ſpeak the Per-
fian language. We own we find her in the
fame ſtory with you, and nothing material a-
gainst you from Venice. Upon the examin-
ing her effects, we found this medal of the
fame make with yours, by which you knew
who your mother was. She fays it was about
her neck, when ſhe was fold to the Perfian
merchant. But fince we fhall give you both
your liberties in a fhort time, ſhe ſhall be
brought unto you, and we give you leave to'
fay what you will to her, with the interpretor
by. Upon this the lady was introduced, with
her maid and the interpretor. As foon as the
faw
X 3
246
THE ADVENTURES OF
faw our examinant in good health, and feem-
ingly at liberty, a joyful ferenity ſpread itſelf
over her countenance, fuch as we had not ſeen
before. Our examinant afked her, to be plea-
fed to give an account of her life, as far as the
thought proper, and how fhe came by that
medal.
Lady. All I know of myſelf, faid fhe, is, that
the noble Curd, who bought me of a Perfian
merchant for a companion for his only daugh-
ter, about my own age, whom he thought I
reſembled very much, often declared to me,
that the merchant bought me of a Turkiſh
woman, who left that medal about my neck,
fuppofing it to be fome charm or preſerva-
tive againſt diſtempers, or becauſe a ſiſter of
mine had the fame faſtened about her neck,
with a gold chain, which could not be taken
off without breaking; but who, or where the
fifter was, I never knew. The noble Cur-
diſh Lord, who bought me, grew prodigious
fond of me, and bred me up as another daugh-
ter; and not only fo, but having an only fon,
fomething older than myſelf, he connived at a
growing love he perceived between his fon
and myſelf; which after fome difficulties on
both fides at length came to a marriage;
though it coft my generous benefactor and
father-in-law his life. For another young
Lord of Curdiftan, falling in love with me,
often challenged Prince Cali (that was my
dear huſband's name) to decide their preten-
fions by the ſword, which I had always for-
bid him to do; ſaying, that man ſhould never
be my huſband who expofed my reputation
by a duel; fince the world would never be
lieve,
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
247
lieve, that any man would expofe his life for
a woman, unleſs there had been fome encou-
ragement given on both fides: whereas I ne-
ver gave the leaſt to any but Prince Cali.
However, the other met him one day, and at-
tacked him fo furiouſly, that Prince Cali was
forced to kill him in his own defence, making
a thouſand proteſtations, that he had almoſt
ſuffered himſelf to be killed, rather than to
diſobey my orders. But the father of the
prince who was flain, with a company of af-
faffins, laid an ambuſcade for Prince Cali and
his father, in which this latter was killed, and
moſt of his train. But by the valour of his
fon, and two of his companions, the chief af-
faffins were laid dead on the ſpot, and the reſt
put to flight. But Prince Cali, after the
death of his father, fearing further treachery
of that nature, prefently after we were mar-
ried, removed to another part of the kingdom;
from whence being fent on a commiffion by
his king, he was inhumanely murdered by the
barbarous Hamet. This is the fum of my un-
fortunate life, till I had the good fortune to
fave yours.
Secretary. We permitted the nephew and the
aunt (for fo they were found to be by the me-
dal) to embrace one another; Signor Gauden-
tio affuring her, that by all appearance he was
the ſon of her fifter and the mother's fifter
that was loft, and both of them preferved to
fave each other's life. The lady then declar-
ed fhe would turn Chriftian, fince her misfor-
tunes were come to that period; and that ſhe
was refolved to leave the world, and retire in-
to fome of our monafteries. We put her a-
mong
248
THE ADVENTURES OF
mong the nuns of our order, where ſhe pro-
mifes to be a ſignal example of virtue and pie-
ty. The inquifitors ordered the examinant
to give them the remaining part of his life,
which, in all appearance, if they found his ſto-
ry to agree with their informations, might
purchaſe him his liberty. Upon which Gau-
dentio proceeded as follows.]
I was telling your Reverences, that at length we
fet fail from the Porte, and ſteered our courſe di
rectly for Venice, where we happily arrived with-
out any confiderable accident, the 10th of Decem-
ber 1712.
I do not queſtion but your Reverences
are already informed, that fuch perfons did arrive
at Venice about that time, Monfieur Godart is
well known to ſeveral merchants, and ſome of the
fenators of that famous city, whom he informed of
what he ſaw with his own eyes. But there were
fome particular paffages, unknown to your Reve-
rences, wherein I had like to have made ſhipwreck
of my life after ſo many dangers; as I did here of
my liberty; though I do not complain, but only re-
prefent my hard fortune to your Reverences confi-
deration. It happened to be the carnival time dur-
ing our ſtay at Venice. Curiofity led me, as well as
a great many other ftrangers of the firft rank, to fee
the nature of it. I put on my Mezoranian habit,
fpangled with funs of gold, and the fillet-crown on
my head, adorned with feveral jewels of great value,
which I believe was the moſt remarkable and moſt
magnificent drefs of any there. I went unmasked, be-
ing affured my face and perfon were unknown to
all the world. Every one's eyes were upon me.
Several of the maſquerades came up to me, and
talked to me, particularly the ladies. They ſpoke
to me in feveral languages, as Latin, French, Italian,
Spaniſh,
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA. 249-
Spaniſh, High Dutch, &c. I answered them all in the
Mezoranian language, which feemed as ſtrange to
them, as my drefs. Some of them ſpoke to me in the
Turkiſh and Perfian language, in Lingua Franca,
and ſome in an Indian language I really did not un-
derſtand. I anfwered them in the Mezoranian, of
which nobody knew one word. Two ladies par-
ticularly, very richly dreffed, followed me where-
ever I went. The one, as it proved afterwards,
was Favilla, the celebrated courtefan, in the rich-
eft dreſs of all the company; the other was the
lady who was with me when I was taken up, and
who was the occafion of my fettling at Bologna; I
mean the true occafion, for I will conceal nothing
→ from your Reverences. Notwithſtanding their dili-
gence, I got away unknown at that time. The
next time I came, I appeared in the fame dreſs, but
with richer jewels; I had more eyes upon me now
than before. The courtefan purfued me again in
a different, but richer dress than the former. At
length ſhe got me by myſelf, and pulling off her
maſk, fhewed me a wonderful pretty face, only
there was too fierce an aſſurance in it. She cried
in Italian, O Signor, you are not ſo ignorant of our
language, as you would feem to be! you can ſpeak
Italian and French too: though we don't know
who you are, we have learned you are a man of ho-
nour. If you would not underſtand our words,
you may underſtand a face, which very great per-
fonages have been glad to look at; and with that
put on one of the moſt enſnairing airs I ever faw.
I don't doubt but your Reverences have heard of
that famous courtefan, and how the greateſt man
in Venice was once her flave. I was juſt going to
anſwer her, when the other lady came up, and pull-
ing off her maſk alſo, ſaid almoft the fame things,
but
250
THE ADVENTURES OF
•
but with a modeſty more graceful than her beauty,
which was moſt exquifite, and the likeft the incom-
parable Iſyphena I ever faw. I made them both a
moſt reſpectful bow, and told them, that it had
been much fafer for me, if I had kept myſelf ſtill
unknown, and never feen fuch dangerous charms.
I pronounced theſe words with an air, that ſhewed,
that I was more pleaſed with the modefty of the
laft lady than the commanding affurance of the
firft. The courtefan, though a little nettled at
the preference the thought I gave the other, put
on a more ſerious air, and faid he had been inform-
ed, there was fomething very extraordinary in my
character, and ſhould be glad to hear more of it
by herſelf; and that her name was Favilla, and
that the lived in ſuch a ſtreet, where I fhould find
her houſe remarkable enough. The Bolognian la-
dy, whom your Reverences knew very well, and
who was then at Venice, on account of the death
of her uncle, one of the fenators, who had left her
all his effects, faid modeftly, If where I favour her
with a viſit, as ſhe had been informed that I was
a learned man and a virtuofo, being inclined that
way herſelf, ſhe ſhould be glad of an hour's conver
fation with me on that fubject, telling me her name,
and where ſhe lived; adding, if I would inform
myſelf of her character, I need not be ashamed of
her acquaintance; nor, I hope, of mine, Madam,
fays the other, thinking the had been reflected on
by that word. It was Monfieur Godart, who,
with a levity peculiar to his nation, had made the
diſcovery who I was, though he knew nothing of
me but what paſſed ſince I came from Grand Cai-
ro. I was going to reply to the ladies, when com-
pany came up, and broke off the difcourfe. I was
refolved to fee neither of them, and would go no
more
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA.
251
more to the affembly, though almoſt unavoidably
I faw both afterwards. I inquired into Favilla's
character, though I fcarce doubted of it by what I
faw and heard, and was informed that fhe was an
imperious courtefan, who had enflaved feveral per-
fons of the first rank, of different nations, and en-
riched herſelf by their fpoils: this determined me
not to fee her. But, as Monfieur Godart and my-
felf were walking to fee the town, he brought me
either induſtriouſly, or accidentally, by her door;
ſhe was fitting at the window of one of the moſt
magnificent palaces in Venice, (fuch ſpoils had ſhe
reaped from her bewitched lovers.) As foon as
the efpied me, fhe fent a fervant to tell me, that
that lady would ſpeak with me; I made fome dif-
ficulty, but Monfieur Godart told me, a man of ho-
nour could not refuſe fuch a favour as that; fo I
went in, and Monfieur Godart with me. The lady
received me with a moft charming agreeable air,
much different from her former affurance, and con-
ducted me into a moſt magnificent apartment, leav-
ing Monfieur Godart entertaining a very pretty la-
dy, her companion. Not to detain your Reveren-
ces too long, when I would not underſtand what
fhe meant, fhe offered me marriage, with the in-
heritance of all her effects; I was put to the laſt
nonplus. I affured her with a moft profound bow,
that though I was not worthy of fuch a happineſs,
I had an indifpenfable obligation never to marry.
All the blood immediately came into her face: I
did not know what ſhe was going to do, but find-
ing her in that diforder, I made another bow, fay-
ing, I would confider further on her propofal; and
walked directly out of the houfe, defigning to
leave Venice as foon as my affairs would give me
leave. Some time after Monfieur Godart came to
me,
}
252
THE ADVENTURES OF
}
me, and told me, he was forced to do as I did
that the lady was in fuch an outrageous fury he
did not know what might be the confequence,
Three nights after, as Monfieur Godart and a
young kinfman of his, and myſelf, were going to-
wards the Rialto, in the dusk of the evening, four
ruffians attacked us unawares; two of them fet u-
pon me, the other two attacked Monfieur Godart
and his kinfman; the poor young gentleman was
run through the body the firſt pufh; I made fhift
to diſable one of my adverfaries, but in doing it,
the other run me through the ribs, but the fword
took only part of my body, and miffing my entrails,
the point went out on the fide of my back. Mon-
fieur Godart, who, to give him his due, behaved
with a great deal of courage and bravery, had kill-
ed one of his men, and wounded the other; and
the ruffians, ſeeing us now two to two, thought fit
to march off as well as they could. I was forced
to be led to my lodging, not doubting but the
wound was mortal, though it proved otherwife.
The affair made a great noife about town: we ve-
ry rationally fuppofed it was Favilla who had fet
the affaffins on; but we knew her to be fo power-
ful with the fenators, that there was no hopes of
juſtice. While I was recovering, I was told
there was a lady, with two waiting women, defir-
ed to fee me on very earneſt bufinefs, if it would
not be incommodious to me. (Monfieur Godart
would not ſtir from my bedfide, for fear of açci-
dents.) Who ſhould this be but Favilla, who came
all in mourning for my misfortune. I pretended to
be a dying man, and took the liberty of telling her
of her way of living, to what a difmal pafs her paf-
ffions had brought her; in fine, I faid fo much,
and begged her, by all that was dear to her, to
con-
SIG. GAUDENTIO DI LUCCA. ´ 253
confider her ſtate, that, bursting into à flood of
tears, fhe promiſed me, if I died, fhe would be-
come a penitent nun. I effected fo much by let-
ters afterwards, that, though I recovered, fhe
performed her promiſe.
The Bolognian lady had heard of my misfortune,
and, by a goodneſs peculiar to the tender fex, par-
ticularly with regard to ſtrangers, ſhe ſent often to
know how I did, with prefents of the richeft cor-
dials that could be got in Venice. Finding my ill-
nefs continued longer than was expected, ſhe ſent
me word, that, though it was not fo decent for her
to make the firſt vifit, fhe had heard fo much of
my adventures, as very much raiſed her curioſity to
hear them from my own mouth, when I was cap-
able of converfation, without doing me any preju-
dice. I had informed myfelf of her character from
very good hands; fo that I was very curious to con-
verfe with a perſon of thofe incomparable talents I
heard fhe was miftrefs of. She was the only wo-
man, next to Ifyphena, and the great Baffa's
daughter, I ever much liked in my life. To fum
up all in fhort, fhe came feveral times to fee me,
infomuch, that we contracted the moſt virtuous
friendſhip, by our mutual inclination to learning
and the fympathy of our tempers, that ever ſubſiſt-
ed between two perfons of different fexes. It was
on her account I refolved to fettle at Bologna; and
having fome knowledge in nature and phyfic, I
took on me that character, to be the oftener in her
company without fcandal. We were neither of us
inclined to marry. As fhe is one of the moſt vir-
tuous women living, and I am pretty much advan-
ced in years, being both entirely maſters of our-
felves, we thought our innocent friendſhip could be
offenfive to no one. What has paffed fince I came
Y
to
254
THE ADVENTURES, ETC.
to this town, I don't doubt but your Reverences are
appriſed of.
This is a true and full account of my life hitherto;
whatever is blameable in it I hope your Reverences
will pardon, as I fubmit it entirely to your judg-
ments.
Secretary. As I had the honour to inform you
before, we inquired into all thoſe facts which
he faid happened to him in the company of
Monfieur Godart; which finding to be true,
we judged the reft might be fo. We aſked
him, if he would conduct fome of our miffio-
naries to that ſtrange country he mentioned;
he told us he would: but not willing to trust
him entirely, as not knowing what he might
do with them when he had them in unknown
countries, we thought fit to give him his li-
berty firſt to go where he would, even out of
Italy, with affurances, if he came back of his
own accord, we would fend miffionaries along
with him. He went to Venice and Genoa a-
bout his concerns, and is now come back, and
with us; fo that we believe the man to be really
what he profeffes himſelf to be.]
THE END.
BOOKS Printed and Sold
7
F
by JAMES KNOX.
ISHER's Arithmetic.
Ramfay's Songs.
Hervey's Letters.
Gill Blafs, 4 vol.
Don Quixote, 4 vol.
Pariſh Girl.
Hariote Stewart, 2 vol.
Military Operations in America.
Croxal's Afop's Fables.
Foulcault's moral Maxims.
Gordon's Peter Czar of Muſcovy, 2 vol.
Spirit of Laws, 2 vol.
Shelton's Novels.
Guardian, 2 vol.
Hudibras.
Watts on Prayer.
Beveridge's Thoughts.
Pope's Works, 6 vol.
Fairy Tales, 2 vol.
John Van, 2 vol.
John Le Brun, 2 vol.
Ramfay's Poems.
Boyle's Voyages.
Charles XII.
Joe Millar's Jefts.
Tell Tale.
Oliver Cromwell.
Compleat Letter Writer.
Devil upon two Sticks.
Cyrus's Travels.
Mafon on Self-Knowledge.
Telemachus.
Spectator, 8 vol. fine and coarſe.
Hervey's
BOOKS Printed and Sold by JAMes Knox,
Hervey's Meditations.
Théron and Afpafio.
Wife's Young Man's Companion.
Milton's whole Works, 2 vol.
Sherlock on a Future State.
Perfian Letters.
Fountain's Tales.
Whole Duty of Man.
Sulley's Memoirs, 5 vol.
James Ramble, 2 vol.
John Van, 2 vol.
Rodger and Joe, 2 vol.
Hiſtory of my own Life, 2 vol.
Tom Fool, 2 vol.
Bufy Body, 2 vol.
Fortune Teller, 2 vol.
Salmon's Geographical Grammar.
Boyer's French Grammar.
Collection of Plays, 3 vol.
Collection of do. 4 vol.
Collection of Novels, 2 vol.
Pamelal, 4 vol.
Smollet's Hiſtory, 7 vol.
Rollin's ancient History, 10 vol.
Scot's Chriſtian Life, 5 vol.
George Edwards.
Platonist Lady, 3 vol.
New Atlantift, 4 vol.
Femela Cavalier, 3 vol.
Peter Wilkins, 2 vol.
Charlotte Seymour, 2 vol.
Marriage Act, 2 vol.
Charles Careleſs, 2 vol.
Virtuous Orphan, 4 vol.
Marrianne, 2 vol.
Fortunate Miſtreſs.
F
}
J
:
حیادار
K