!
fart
h
ARTEST
1837)
SCIENTIA
VERITAS
LIBRARY
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
PLURIBUS
CHUM
TUEBOR
SI QUÆRIS PENINSULAM AMOINAM
CIRCUMSPICE
GIFT OF
REGENT LLHUBBARD
H. G. GADNEY,
Bookseller,
2 & 3. Turl St., Oxford.
Hubbard
Imag. Voy.
PT
8085
NSA
1746
M." Aunt A
Book
1
JOUR R NEY
TO THE
World Under-Ground.
BY NICHOLAS KLIMIUS.
Tranflated from the Original Latin.
CONTAINING,
CHAP. I. The Author's
Defcent to the fubterraneous
World, through a deep Cave
on the Top of a Mountain.
CHAP. II. His Defcent
upon the Planet NAZAR,
with the Reception he met
with among the Inhabitants.
CHAP. III. A Defcription
of the City KEBA, Cut-
toms of the People, and his
Manner of going to Court.
CHAP. IV. The Court of
the Potuan Empire, and the
Reception he met with from
the PRINCE.
CHAP. V. The Nature of
the Country, the Genius and
Manners of the People.
CHAP. VI. Of the Reli-
gion of the Potuan Nation.
CHAP. VII. Of their Po-
licy.
CHAP. VIII. Of the Aca--
demy, their Exercifes, Man-
ner of Promotion, Admi-
niftring Juſtice, Sc.
CAP. IX. The Author's
Journey round the Planet
NAZAR, and the marvel-
lous Things he met with on
his Way.
CHAP X. The Author's
Banishment to the Firma-
ment, and what befell him
there.
CHAP. XI. The Author's
Voyage to the Land of
Wonders.
CHAP. XII. The Author's
Ar 'val at QUA M A.
CHAP. XIII. The Riſe
of the fifth Monarchy.
CHAP. XIV. The Au-
thor is elevated to the Im-
perial Dignity.
CHAP. XV. The Cataf-
trophe.
CHAP. XVI. The Au-
thor's return into his own
Country, and his being taken
for the Wandering Jew, &c.
ABELINE's Appendix,
LONDON:
Printed for T. ASTLEY, in Pater Nofter Row;
Meflrs, RIVINGTON, in St. Paul's
Church-Yard; and B. COLLINS, Book-
feller, in SALISBURY.
M DCC XLVI.
Ex
Fies
Regent L. &. The Mando
Gym
6-24-1925
THE
CONTENTS.
HE Author's Defcent to
the fubterraneous World
CHAP. I.
ITH
Page 1
CHAP. II. His Defcent upon the Planet
Nazar
13
CHA P. III A Defcription of the City of
Keba
29
43
CHAP. IV. The Court of the Potuan
Empire
CHAP. V. Of the Nature of the Coun-
try, and the Manners of the
People
58
CHAP. VI. Of the Religion of the
Potuan Nation
64
CHAP. VII. Of their Policy
71
CHAP. VIII. Of the Academy
CHAP. IX. The Author's Journey round
the Planet Nazar
102
CHAP. X. The Author's Baniſhment to
91
the Firmament
171
СНАР,
CONTENTS.
CHAP. XI. The Author's Voyage to the
Land of Wonders
Page 206
CHAP. XII. The Author's Arrival at
Quama
235
CHAP. XIII. The Rife of the fifth
Monarchy
244
CHAP. XIV. The Author is elevated to
the Imperial Dignity
CHAP. XV. The Catastrophe
280
297
CHAP. XVI. The Author's Return into
his own Country
ABELINE's Appendix
309
323
A
JOURNEY
TO THE
World Under-Ground.
CHAP. I.
The Author's Defcent to the fubterra-
neous World.
N the Year 1664, after I had
paſs'd my ſeveral Examina-
tions in the University of
Copenhagen, and had defer-
vedly obtained the Charac-
ter, which is there call'd
Laudable, by the Votes of my Judges, as
well
B
2
A JOURNEY to the
well Philofophers as Divines, I prepar'd for
my Return into my native Country; and ac-
cordingly put myſelf aboard a Ship bound
for Bergen in Norway, dignify'd indeed with
various Marks of Honour from the Gentle-
men of the feveral Faculties, but in my
Fortunes quite impoverish'd. This was an
Evil that attended myfelf as well as feveral
of the Norway Students, who return'd from
the Study of the Arts and Sciences into their
own Country ftript of all they were worth.
As we had a pretty brifk Gale, after a
Voyage of fix Days we arrived at Bergen.
Harbour. Being thus reftor'd to my Coun-
try, fomething wifer. indeed, tho' by no
Means richer, I was fupported for a Time
at the Expence of my near Relations, and
led a precarious Sort of Life, yet not alto-
gether indolent and inactive. For in order to
clear up by Experience fome Points of natu-
ral Philofophy, the Study I had devoted
myſelf to, I rambled over every Corner of
the Province, with an infatiable Curiofity,
to explore the Nature of the Earth, and to
fearch into the very Bowels of our Moun-
tains. No Rock fo fteep but I climb'd it;
no Cavern ſo hideous and deep, but I made
a Deſcent into it, to try if haply I could
diſcover any Thing curious and worthy the
Inquiry of a Philofopher. For there are a
Multitude of Things in our Country of
Norway, hardly ever feen or heard of, which
if France, Italy, Germany, or any other
Country fo, fruitful of the Marvellous, could
boaft
World Under-Ground.
3
boast of, nothing wou'd be more talk'd of,
nothing more fifted and examin'd.
Among thoſe Things, which to me ap-
pear'd moft worthy of Obfervation, there
was a large and deep Cave upon the Top of
that Mountain which the Natives call Floïen.
And becauſe the Mouth of the Cave us'd to
fend forth a gentle murmuring Sound, and
that too by Intervals, as if by its frequent
Sighs its Jaws were now fhut, and now
open'd; hence the Literati of Bergen, and
particularly the celebrated Mafter Abeline,
and Maſter Edward, one of our firſt Ge-
niufes in Aftronomy and natural Philofophy,
imagin'd this Affair highly worthy of a phi-
lofophical Inquiry; and fince they them-
felves were too old for fuch an Enterprize,
they excited the younger Inhabitants to a
clofer Examination of the Nature of the
Cavern; eſpecially as at ftated Intervals, af-
ter the Manner of human Refpiration, the
Sound being fometime with-held iſſued out
with a certain proportional Force.
What with thefe Difcourfes, and what
with my own natural Inclination, I form'd
a Deſign of entring into this Cavern, and
communicated my Intention to fome of my
Friends. But they by no Means approv'd
of it, plainly declaring, that it was a wild
and frantick Undertaking. But all they
cou'd fay, fo far was it from extinguiſhing,
that it did not even damp the Ardour of my
Mind; and their Advices, inftead of weak-
ning, adminiftred Fuel to my Curiofity.
For
B 2
4
A JOURNEY to the
For that Eagerness with which I purſued
the Study of Nature infpir'd me to face
every Danger, and the Straightneſs of my
private Circumftances gave a Spur to my
natural Inclination. For my own Subſtance
was quite wafted, and it feem'd to me the
greateſt Hardſhip to live in a State of De-
pendance, in a Country where all Hopes of
Preferment were cut off, where I beheld
myfelf condemned to Poverty, and every
Avenue to Honour and Advantage entirely
ſtopp'd, unless I would make my Way by
fome flagrant Act of Dishonour or Immo-
rality.
Thus refolv'd, and having got together
what was requifite for fuch an Exploit, upon
a Thurſday Morning, when the Heavens
were all ferene and cloudlefs, I left the City
foon after Twilight, to the End that ha-
ving finifh'd my Obfervations, I might re-
turn again that fame Day; becauſe, being
ignorant of Futurity, it was not poffible I
fhou'd foreſee that I, like another Phaeton,
Volverer in præceps, longoque per aëra tractu,
fhould be flung upon another World, not to
revifit my native Soil, till after a ten Years
Peregrination.
This Expedition was undertaken in the
Year of our Lord 1665, John Munthe, and
Lawrence Severini being Confuls of Bergen,
and Christiern Bertholdi and Lawrence Scan-
dio being Senators. I went out attended
by four Fellows I had hir'd, who brought
with
World Under-Ground.
5
with them fuch Ropes and Iron Crooks as
would be neceffary to defcend by. We
went directly to Sanduic, the moſt commo-
dious Way to climb the Mountain. Ha-
ving with Difficulty reach'd the Top, we
came to the Place where was the fatal Cave,
and being tir'd with fo troublefome a Jour-
ney, we all fat down to Breakfaſt. 'Twas
then my Mind, foreboding as it were the
approaching Evil, firft began to be diſmay'd.
Therefore turning to my Companions,
"Will any one, fays I, undertake this
"Tafk?" But no Reply being made, my
Ardour, that had languiſh'd, kindled anew.
I order'd them to faften the Rope about me,
and thus equipp'd, I commended my Soul to
Almighty God. Being now just ready to
be let down, I gave my Companions to un-
derſtand what I would have done, viz. that
they ſhould continue letting down the Rope
till they heard me cry out, upo which Sig-
nal they ſhould ſtop, and if I perfifted to
cry out, that then they fhou'd immediately
draw me up again. In my right hand I
held my Harpoon, or Iron Hook, an In-
ftrument that might be of Ufe to me to re-
move whatever might obftruct my Paſſage,
and alſo to keep my Body fufpended equally
between the Sides of the Cavern.
fcarce had I defcended fo low as about ten
or twelve Cubits, when the Rope broke.
This Accident was diſcover'd to me by the
fudden Outcries of the Men I had hir'd.
But their Noiſe foon died away; for with an
B 3
amazing
But
6
A JOURNEY to the
amazing Velocity I was hurry'd down into
the Abyfs, and like a fecond Pluto, allowing
my Harpoon to be a Sceptre,
Labor,
icta viam tellus ad Tartara fecit.
For about the fourth Part of an Hour (as
near as I cou'd guefs, confidering the great
Confternation I must be in) I was in total
Darkness, and in the very Bofom of Night;
when at length a thin fmall Light, like
Twilight, broke in upon me, and I beheld
at laft a bright ferene Firmament. I igno-
rantly thought therefore, that either by the
Repercuffion or oppofite Action of the fub-
terraneous Air, or that by the Force of
fome contrary Wind, I had been thrown
back, and that the Cave had vomited me
up again. But neither the Sun which I
then furvey'd, nor the Heavens, or hea-
venly Bodies, were at all known to me,
fince they were confiderably lefs than thofe
of ours.
I concluded therefore, that either
all that whole Mafs of new Heavens exifted
folely in Imagination, excited by the Verti-
go my Head had undergone, or elſe that I
was arriv'd at the Manfions of the Bleſſed.
But this laft Opinion I foon rejected with
Scorn, fince I view'd myfelf arm'd with a
Harpoon, and dragging a mighty Length of
Rope after me, knowing full well, that a
Man just going to Paradife has no Occafion
for a Rope or a Harpoon, and that the co-
leftial Inhabitants cou'd not poffibly be
pleas'd with a Drefs, which look'd as if I
intended,
World Under-Ground.
7
intended, after the Example of the Titans,
to take Heaven by Violence, and to expel
them from their divine Abodes. At laft
after the matureft Confideration, I fell to
imagining, that I was funk into the fubter-
raneous World, and that the Conjectures of
thoſe Men are right who hold the Earth to
be concave, and that within the Shell or
outward Cruft there is another leffer Globe,
and another Firmament adorn'd with leffer
Sun, Stars, and Planets. And the Event
difcover'd that this Conjecture was right.
That Violence with which I was hurry'd
headlong, had now continued for fome
Time, when at length I perceived that it
languiſh'd gradually in Proportion to my
Approach towards a certain Planet, which
was the first Thing I met with. That fame
Planet increas'd fo fenfibly in Bulk or
Magnitude, that at laft, without much Dif-
ficulty, I cou'd plainly diftinguiſh Moun-
tains, Vallies, and Seas, through that thicker
Atmoſphere with which it was furrounded.
Sicut avis quæ circum littora, circum
Pifcofos fcopulos humilis volat æquora juxta,
Haud aliter terras inter coelumque volabam.
Then I perceiv'd that I did not only fwim
in a cœleſtial Matter or Æther, but that
my Motion which had hitherto been per-
pendicular, was now alter'd into a circular
one. At this my Hair ſtood an End; for
I was full of Apprehenfion left I fhould be
transform'd into a Planet, or into a Satellite.
B 4
of
8
A JOURNEY to the
of the neighbouring Planet, and fo be
whirl'd about in an everlafting Rotation.
But when I reflected, that by this Meta-
morphofis my Dignity would fuffer no great
Diminution, and that a heavenly Body, or
at leaſt an Attendant upon a heavenly Body,
would furely move with equal Solemnity
to a famifh'd Philofopher, I took Courage.
again, eſpecially when I found from the
Benefit of that pure coeleftial Ather, that I
was no longer preft by Hunger or Thirft.
Yet upon recollecting that I had in my
Pocket fome of that Sort of Bread which
the People of Bergen call Bolken, and which
is of an oval or oblong Figure, I reſolv'd
to take it out, and make an Experiment
whether in this Situation I had any Appe-
tite. But at the firſt Bite perceiving it was
quite naufeous, I threw it away as a Thing
to all Intents and Purpoſes uſeleſs. The
Bread thus caft away was not only fufpended
in Air, but (what was very marvellous to
behold) it defcrib'd a little circular Motion
round my own Body. And from thence I
learnt the true Laws of Motion, by which
it comes to país, that all Bodies plac'd in
Equilibrium naturally affect a circular Mo-
tion. Upon this, instead of deploring my
Wretchedness, as I had done, for being
thus the Sport of Fortune, I began to
plume a little, finding that I was not only
a fimple Planet, but fuch a Planet as wou'd
have a perpetual Attendant conforming it-
felf to my Motions, infomuch that I ſhould
have
World Under-Ground.
9
have the Houour to be reckon'd in the
Number of the greater heavenly Bodies or
Stars of the firft Magnitude. And to con-
fefs my Weaknefs, fo elated was I, that if
I had then met any of our Confuls or
Senators of Bergen, Í fhould have receiv'd
them with a fupercilious Air, fhould have
regarded them as Atoms, and accounted
them unworthy to be faluted or honoured
with a Touch of my Harpoon.
For almoſt three Days I remain'd in this
Condition. For as without any Intermif-
fion I was whirl'd about the Planet that was
next me, I could diftinguifh Day from
Night; and obferving the fubterraneous Sun
to rife, and fet, and retire gradually out of
my Sight, I could eaſily perceive when it
was Night, tho' it was not altogether fuch
as it is with us. For at Sun-fet the whole
Face of the Firmament appear'd of a bright
Purple, not unlike the Countenance of our
Moon fometimes. This I took to be occa-
fion'd by the inner Surface of our Earth,
which borrow'd that Light from the fubter-
raneous Sun, which Sun was plac'd in the
Center. This Hypothefis I fram'd to my-
felf, being not altogether a Stranger to the
Study of Aftronomy.
But while I was thus amus'd with the
Thoughts of being in the Neighbourhood of
the Gods, and was congratulating myſelf
as a new Conſtellation, together with my
Satellite that furrounded me, and hop'd in
a fhort Time to be inferted in the Catalogue
B 5
of
10
A JOURNEY to the
of Stars by the Aftronomers of the neigh-
bouring Planet, behold! an enormous wing-
ed Monſter hover'd near me, fometimes on
this Side, now on that Side, and by and by
over my Head. At first View I took it for
one of the twelve heavenly Signs in this
new World, and accordingly hop'd, that,
if the Conjecture was right, it would be
that of Virgo, fince out of the whole Num-
ber of the twelve Signs, that alone could
yield me, in my unhappy Solitude, fome
Delight and Comfort. But when the Fi-
gure approach'd nearer to me, it appear'd
to be a grim, huge Griffin. So great was
my Terror, that unmindful of my ſtarry
Dignity, to which I was newly advanc'd,
in that Diſorder of my Soul, I drew out my
Univerfity-Teftimonium, which I happen'd
to have in my Pocket, to fignify to this ter-
rible Adverſary that I had paſs'd my acade-
mical Examination, that I was a graduate
Student, and could plead the Privilege of
my Univerſity againſt any one that ſhould
attack me. But my Diſorder beginning to
cool, when I came to myfelf, I could not
but condemn my Folly. For it was yet a
Matter of Doubt to what Purpoſe this Grif-
fin fhould approach me, whether as an Ene-
my, or a Friend; or, what is more likely,
whether led by the fole Novelty of the Thing,
he had only a Mind to feaft his Curiofity.
For the Sight of a human Creature whirling
about in Air, bearing in his right Hand an
Harpoon, and drawing after him a great
Length.
World Under-Ground.
II
Length of Rope like a Tail, was really a
Phænomenon which might excite even a
brute Creature to behold the Spectacle. For
the unufual Figure I then exhibited, gave
to the Inhabitants of the Globe, round which
I revolv'd, an Occafion of divers Conjectures
and Converfations concerning me, as I af-
terwards learn'd; for the Philofophers and
Mathematicians would have me to be a Co-
met, being poſitive that my Rope was the
Tail; and fome there were, who from the
Appearance of fo rare a Meteor, prognofti-
cated fome impending Misfortune, a Plague,
a Famine, or ſome other fuch extraordinary
Cataſtrophe: Some alfo went further, and
delineated my Figure, fuch as it appear'd to
them at that Diftance, in very accurate
Drawings; fo that I was defcrib'd, defin'd,
painted and engrav'd before ever I touch'd
their Globe. All this I afterward heard
with no fmall Pleaſure, and even Laughter,
when I was convey'd to that Planet, and
had learn'd their Language.
It must be noted, that fometimes there
appear new Stars, which the Subterrane-
ans call Scifcifi, or blazing Stars, which
they deſcribe as fomething looking horrid
with fiery Hair, and, after the Manner of
our Comets, bufhy on the Top, ſo as that
it projects in Form of a long Beard; and
theſe, as in our World, fo in that, they are
reckon'd ominous.
But to refume my Hiftory. The Grif-
fin advanc'd fo near at laft, as to. incom-
mode
I 2
A JOURNEY to the
mode me by the Flapping of his Wings,
and even did not fcruple to attack my Leg
with his Teeth, fo that now it openly ap-
pear'd with what Difpofition he purfu'd me.
Upon this I began to attack this trouble-
fome Animal with Arms, and graſping my
Harpoon with both my Hands, I foon
curb'd the Infolence of my Foe, obliging
him to look about for a Way to eſcape;
and at laft, fince he perfifted to annoy me, I
darted my Harpoon with ſuch a Force into
the Back of the Animal between his Wings,
that I could not pull it out again. The
wounded Griffin, fetting up a horrible Cry,
fell headlong upon the Planet. As for my-
felf, quite weary of this ftarry Station, this
new Dignity, which I faw expos'd to infi-
nite Hazards and Evils,
Arbitrio volucris rapior, quoque impetus egit
Huc fine lege ruo, longoque per aera tract̃u
In terram feror, ut de cœlo ftella fereno,
Etfi non cecidit, potuit cecidiffe videri.
And now this circular Motion I had de-
fcrib'd alter'd once more into a perpendicu-
lar one. And being for ſome Time agita-
tated and toft with great Violence by the
oppofite Motions of a thicker Air, at length
by an eafy, gentle Defcent, I alighted upon
the aforefaid Planet, together with the Grif
fin, who ſoon after died of his Wound.
It was Night when I was convey'd to
that Planet. This I could gather from the
fole Abſence of the Sun, and not from the
Dark-
World Under-Ground.
13
Darkness; for there ftill remained fo much
Light, as that I could diftinctly read my
Univerſity-Teftimonium by it. 'That Light
by Night arifes from the inward Surface of
our Earth, whofe Surface reflects a Light
like that of the Moon among us.
And
hence, with refpect to Light alone, there
is little Difference between the Nights and
Days, only that the Sun is abfent, and his
Abfence makes the Nights a little colder.
CHA P. II.
His Defcent upon the Planet Nazar.
H
AVING thus finifh'd this airy Voyage,
and being fet down upon the Planet
without the leaft Hurt, I lay for a confide-
rable Time without Motion, waiting till
Day-break for the Event. 'Twas then I
found the ufual Infirmities of Nature re-
turn, and that I ftood in great Need of
Sleep as well as Food, infomuch that I re-
pented I had fo rafhly difcarded my Loaf of
Bread.
My Mind thus opprefs'd with various
Anxieties, at length I fell into a profound
Sleep, and had flept (as near as I could gueſs)
two Hours, when a horrible Bellowing in-
terrupting my Sleep, at length entirely dif
pell'd it. A ftrange Variety of Notions
had fill'd my Brain during this Sleep. I
thought
14 A JOURNEY to the
thought I was returned into Norway, and
holding forth among the Students according
to Cuſtom; and at one Time I imagin'd I
heard the Voice of the Deacon Nicolas An-
dreas chanting in the Church of Fanöen,
juft out of the City, and that it was the
Noife of his Voice, which according to
Cuſtom had fo cruelly wounded my Ears.
And agreeably to this, when I awoke, I
really thought it was his horrid Voice that
had diſturb'd me. But when I faw a Bull
standing near me, then, indeed, I conclu-
ded my Reft had been broke by his Bellow-
ing. Prefently throwing my Eyes around
me, the Sun now rifing, I beheld every
where green, fertile Plains and Fields; fome
Trees alfo appeared, but (what was moft ama-
zing) they moved; tho' fuch was the Silence
and Stillness of the Air at that Time, that
it would not have moved the lighteft Fea-
ther from its Place. Immediately the Bull
came roaring at me, and I in my Terror
and Confternation feeing a Tree juft by me,
attempted to climb it; but when I got up
into it, it uttered a fine fmall Voice, tho?
fomething fhrill, and not unlike an an-
gry Lady's; and prefently I receiv'd, as it
were from the ſwifteft Hand, fuch a Blow
as quite ftunn'd me, and laid me proftrate
on the Ground. I was almoft expiring with
this Thunderbolt of a Stroke, when I heard
certain confus'd Murmurings round me,
like thoſe in great Markets, or upon full
Change. Having opened my Eyes, I be-
held
World Under-Ground.
15
held all about me a whole Grove of Trees,
all in Motion, all animated, and the Plain
overſpread with Trees and Shrubs, tho' juſt
before there were not above fix or ſeven.
"Tis not to be exprefs'd what Diſorders this
produced in my Underftanding, and how
much my Mind was fhock'd with theſe De-
lufions: Sometimes I thought I muft cer-
tainly dream; fometimes I thought I was
haunted by Spectres and evil Spirits, and
twenty abfurder Things did I imagine; but
I had no Time to examine thefe Machines,
or to inquire into their Caufes; for prefent-
ly another Tree advancing to me, let down.
one of its Branches, which had at the Ex-
tremity of it fix large Buds in the Manner
of Fingers. With theſe the Tree took me
up from the Ground, and carried me off,
attended by a Multitude of other Trees of
various Kinds and different Sizes, all which
kept muttering certain Sounds, articulately
indeed, but in a Tone too foreign for my
Ears, fo that I could not poffibly retain any
Thing of them, except theſe two Words,
Pikel Emi, which I heard them very often
repeat. By thefe Words (as I afterward un-
derftood) was meant, A Monkey of an odd
Shape; becauſe from the Make of my Body,
and Manner of Drefs, they conjectur'd I
was a Monkey, tho' of a Species different
from the Monkeys of that Country. Others
took me for an Inhabitant of the Firma-
ment, and that fome great Bird had tranf-
ported me hither; a Thing that had onee
before
16
A JOURNEY to the
before happened, as the Hiftory or Anna's
of that Globe can testify. But all theſe
Things I underſtood not till after the Space
of fome Months, in which Time I became
acquainted with the fubterranean Language.
For in my prefent Circumftances, what
thro' Fear, and what through the Diſorder
of my Intellects, I was quite regardless of
myſelf, nor could conceive how there could
be any fuch Thing as living and ſpeaking
Trees, nor to what Purpoſe was this Pro-
ceffion, which was very flow and folemn.
But yet the Voices and Murmurs with which
all the Plains echoed feemed to indicate An-
ger and Indignation; and in good Truth it
was not without ample Reaſon that they
had conceived this Refentment againſt me;
for that very Tree, which I climb'd up in
my Flight from the Bull, was the Wife of
the Prætor, or principal Magiſtrate of the
next City; and fo the Quality of the Per-
fon injur'd aggravated the Crime; for it
look'd as if I had a Mind to violate not a
Female of mean and plebeian Birth, but a
Matron of prime Rank, which was a moſt
detefted Spectacle to a People of ſo venera-
ble a Modeſty as thefe were. At length we
arrived at the City to which I was led Cap-
tive. This City was equally remarkable for
its ftately Edifices, and for the elegant Or-
der and Proportion of the Streets and High-
ways; fo lofty were the Houſes, that they
reſembled fo many Towers; the Streets too
were full of walking Trees, which by let-
ting
World Under-Ground.
17
ting down their Branches faluted each other
as they met, and the greater Number of
Branches or Boughs they dropt, the greater
was the Compliment. Thus when an Oak
went out of one of the most eminent
Houſes, the rest of the Trees drew back at
his Approach, and let down every one of
their Branches; from whence it was eaſy
to infer, that that Oak was far above the
vulgar Sort; and, indeed, I foon underſtood
that it was the Prætor himself, and the very
Perfon whofe Wife I was faid to have fo
highly affronted. Forthwith they hurried
me to the Prætor's Houſe; upon my En-
trance into which, the Doors were imme-
diately lock'd and bolted upon me, ſo that
I look'd upon myſelf as one condemn'd to a
Goal. What greatly contributed to this
Fear was, that there were three Guards
plac'd without, like Centinels, each of
them arm'd with fix Axes, according to the
Number of their Branches; for as many
Branches as they had, fo many Arms they
had; and as many Buds at the Extremities,
fo many Fingers. I obferved, that on the
Top of the Trunks or Bodies of the Trees
their Heads were plac'd, not at all unlike
human Heads; and inftead of Roots, I faw
two Feet, and thofe very fhort, by Reaſon
of which the Pace they us'd was almoſt as
flow as that of a Tortoife; fo that had I
been at Liberty, it had been very eafy for
me to have efcap'd their Hands, fince my
Motion
78
A JOURNEY to the
Motion was perfect Flying compar'd to
theirs.
To be fhort, I now plainly perceived,
that the Inhabitants of this Globe were
Trees, and that they were endued with
Reafon; and I was loft in Wonder at that
Variety in which Nature wantons in the
Formation of her Creatures. Thefe Trees
do by no means equal ours in Height, fcarce
any of them exceeding the common and
ordinary Stature of a Man; ſome indeed
were lefs; thefe one would call Flowers or
Shrubs; and fuch I conjectur'd were Youths
and Infants.
Words cannot exprefs into what a Laby-
rinth of Thought thefe ftrange Appearances
threw me, how many Sighs they extorted
from me, and how paffionately I longed af-
ter the dear Place of my Nativity. For
altho' theſe Trees feemed to me to be focia-
ble Creatures, to enjoy the Benefit of Lan-
guage, and to be endued with a certain De-
gree or Portion of Reafon, infomuch that
they had a Right to be inferted in the Claſs
of rational Animals, yet I much doubted
whether they could be compar'd to Men; I
could not bring myfelf to think, that Juf-
tice, Mercy, and the other moral Virtues
had any Refidence among them. Rack'd
with theſe Thoughts, my Bowels yearned,
and Rivers of Tears flowed down my
Cheeks. But while I was thus indulging
my Grief, and pouring out my filent Com-
plaints in fuch unmanly Sorrows, the Guards
entered
World Under-Ground.
13
entered my Chamber, whom I looked upon as
fo many Roman Lictors, confidering the Axes
they bore. Thefe marching before me, I
was led thro' the City to a very lofty Dome
in the Center of the Forum, or great Mar-
ket-Place. I feemed to myſelf to be greater
than a Roman Conful, and to have obtain-
ed the Honour of a Dictator; for there
were but twelve Axes attended the Confuls,
whereas I was attended by eighteen. On
the folding Doors of the Dome, to
which I was led, a Figure of Juftice was
carved, holding a Pair of Scales with her
Branches or Arms: This Image had a Vir-
gin-Air, an earneſt Look, a piercing Sight,
with a certain venerable Dejection that
made her appear not too proud, nor yet too
humble. This Place I clearly perceived
was the Senate-Houfe. Being introduced
into Court, the Floor of which fhone with
Marble of teffellated or Mofaic Workman-
ſhip; I there beheld a Tree ſeated on a
Golden Tribunal, with twelve Affociates.
fitting on either Hand on fo many Benches
in the moſt exact and elegant Order. The
Preſident on the Tribunal was a Palm-Tree,
of a middling Stature, but eafily diftinguifh'd
from the rest of the Affiftants, by the great
Variety of her Leaves, which were of va-
rious Dyes: The inferior Officers, to the
Number of twenty-four, guarded each Side,
all armed with fix Axes apiece. A moft
tremendous Profpect! fince from fo much
Armour
20
A JOURNEY to the
Armour it was natural to infer they were a
People that delighted in Blood.
The Senators, at my Entrance, extended
their Branches toward the Skies; which Ce-
remony being ended, they fat down again;
and being all feated, I was brought to the
Bar between two Trees, whofe Trunks or
Bodies were covered with Sheep-Skins. I
fufpected they were Lawyers, and fuch in
good Truth they were. Before they began
to plead, the Prefident wrapt his Head in a
Garment of a dark Colour. One of theſe
Advocates made a very fhort Speech, which
he thrice repeated; to which the other Ad-
vocate replied with equal Brevity: Theſe
Pleadings were followed by a Silence of
Half an Hour: Then the Prefident, remo-
ving the Covering from her Head, rofe up,
and again extending her Branches toward
the Sky, pronounc'd certain Words, which
I fuppofed contained my Sentence; for at
the End of the Speech I was diſmiſs'd back
to my old Prifon, and confin'd there, as I
guefs'd, to be in Readineſs to be brought
forth to Puniſhment.
Being left alone, and revolving in my
Memory every Thing that had happened, I
could not forbear fmiling at the Stupidity of
this People; for they feemed rather to be
acting a Play than exercifing Juftice, and
every Thing I had feen, their Gefture,
their Drefs, and Method of Proceeding
feem'd to favour more of the Buffoonery of
the Stage, than the awful Tribunal of Juf-
tice.
World Under-Ground,
21
tice. Then I congratulated the Happineſs
of our World, and the Superiority of the
Europeans to all others. But tho' I arraign-
ed the Folly and Dulnefs of this fubterra-
neous Nation, yet I was forced to own that
they ought to be diftinguiſhed from the Brute
Creation; for the Elegance of the City, the
Symmetry of the Buildings, with feveral other
Particulars, loudly proclaimed that theſe
Trees were not devoid of Reaſon, nor alto-
gether ignorant of the Arts, efpecially Me-
chanicks; but then it was in this alone that
I thought all their Virtues, all their whole
Perfection confifted.
1
While I was holding this filent Confe-
rence with myſelf, a Tree enters holding a
Lancet in his Hand; who unbuttoning my
Boſom, and making bare my Arm, opened
the middle Vein quite like an Artiſt. When
he had drawn as much Blood as he thought
fufficient, he bound up my Arm with equal
Dexterity. This being performed, he in-
fpected the Blood with the deepeſt Atten-
tion; and being perfectly fatisfied, he walked
away in a Kind of filent Admiration: All
this confirmed me in the Opinion I had en-
tertained of the Stupidity of this Nation.
But as foon as I had thoroughly learnt the
fubterranean Language, and all thefe Things
had been explained to me, my Difdain was
turned into Admiration. The Proceedings
at Law, which I had fo rafhly condemned,
were thus explained. From the Make of
my Body, they inferred I was an Inhabi-
3
tant
22
A JOURNEY to the
tant of the Firmament. I appeared to have
attempted the Chaſtity of an honourable
Matron, and one of prime Quality. For
this Crime I was dragged to the Bar of
Juftice. One of the Advocates or Lawyers
aggravated the Crime, demanding the Pu-
niſhment due by Law; the other requeſted
not that the Puniſhment ſhould be remitted,
but only that it fhould be deferr'd, till it
could be diſcover'd what, and who I was,
and of what Country; whether a brute
Animal, or a rational one. Moreover I
learnt, that the Action of the Judges ex-
tending their Branches towards Heaven, was
the ordinary Ceremony of Religion before.
they proceeded to Trial. The Lawyers
were all covered with Sheep-Skins, as Em-
blems of Innocence and Impartiality in the
Management of their Caufes; and indeed
all the Lawyers here were Men of Probity;
which fhews that in a well-conftituted Go-
vernment it is not impoffible, but that there
may be honeſt Lawyers. So fevere were
the Laws againſt knaviſh Advocates, that
Fraud and foul Play could not escape De-
tection, Perfidioufnefs could find no Shelter,
Slander no Mercy, Impudence no Counte-
nance, and Deceit no Impunity. The
three-fold Repetition of Words was made
ufe of to affift the Slowness of their Percep-
tion, in which the Natives of this Globe
were diftinguifhed from all others; for very
few could comprehend what they had only
curforily read, or underſtand what they had
only
World Under-Ground.
23
only once heard. Thoſe whofe forward
Capacities took a Thing preſently, were
deem'd defective in Judgment, and there-
fore it was feldom that fuch were admitted
to any weighty Pofts or Offices; for they
had learnt by Experience, that the Govern-
ment had been endanger'd when in the
Hands of thoſe who were quick of Appre-
henfion, and who were commonly ftyl'd
great Geniuſes; but that thofe of flower
Capacities had reſtored to Order what the
others had thrown into Confufion. Theſe
Things were Paradoxes to me, yet upon a
more ſerious Recollection, they feemed not
altogether abfurd. But the Hiftory of the
Prefident fill'd me with the greateſt Aſto-
niſhment. She was a Virgin, and a Native
of that City, and by the then reigning So-
vereign was appointed Kaki, or fupreme
Judge in the City: For among theſe Peo-
ple there was no Difference of Sexes ob-
ferved in the Diſtribution of publick Poſts;
but an Election being made, the Affairs of
the Republick were committed to the wifeft
and moft worthy. And in order to form a
right Judgment of the Proficience, or of
the intellectual Endowments of every one,
there were proper Seminaries inftituted, the
chief Directors of which were ſtyl'd Ka-
ratti (a Word that ftrictly fignifies Inquifi-
tors.) It was their Office to infpect into
every one's Abilities, to inquire nicely into
the Genius of the Youth, and after fuch
Inquiry to tranfmit annually to their Prince
3
an
24
A JOURNEY to the
an Account or Lift of fuch as were to be ad-
mitted to all Duties and Pofts of Govern-
ment, and to point out at the fame Time,
in what Particular every one of them was
moſt likely to be of Service to the State.
The Prince upon the Receipt of fuch Cata-
logue ordered their Names to be inſerib'd in
a Book, that he might never be at a Lofs
what Sort of Perſons to prefer to the vacant
Pofts. The aforefaid Virgin four Years
before had obtained a moft honourable Tef-
timonial from the Karatti, and upon that
Account was by the Sovereign appointed.
Prefident of the City in which he was
born. This Rule they obferve conftantly
and inviolably, becauſe they believe that the
Welfare of any Place will be beft confulted
and pursued by thoſe who are Natives of
it. Palmka (that was the Name of the
Virgin) for the Space of three Years go-
vern'd this truly Spartan Commonwealth
with the higheſt Applaufe, and was eſteem'd
the wifeft Tree in all the City; for fo great
was her Dulnefs of Apprehenfion, that the
hardly ever conceiv'd a Thing without its
being thrice or four times repeated. But
what the once apprehended fhe thoroughly
underſtood, and with fuch Acumen folv'd
every Difficulty in it, that her Decrees were
deem'd fo many Oracles.
Novit enim juftum gemina fufpendere lance
Ancipitis libræ, rectum difcrevit, ubi inter
Curva fubit, vel cum fallit pede regula raro.
And
World Under-Ground.
25
And hence there were no judicial Decrees
of hers during her Adminiſtration of Jul-
tice, which were not confirmed and ap-
plauded by the High Court of Justice at
Potu, the Capital of the Empire: There-
fore the Inftitution in Favour of the weaker
Sex, which at firft View I had condemn'd,
had nothing abfurd in it upon a more
accurate Review. Blefs me thought I,
what if the Wife of our Mayor of Bergen
were to fit in Judgment inftead of her Huf-
band? What if the Daughter of Coun-
fellor Severini, that all-accompliſh'd young
Lady, were to plead at the Bar inſtead of
her ftupid Father? Our Laws would ne-
ver receive the leaft Difhonour from them,
nor would Juftice be ſo often violated.
Moreover, I was of Opinion, fince in the
European Courts of Law, Caufes were fo foon
determin'd, that fuch fudden and hafty De-
terminations, were they to undergo a ſtrict
Scrutiny, would by no Means pafs without
Cenfure. To proceed to explain fome other
Things. The Reafon of the Vena-fection or
Letting Blood, I understood to be this:
When any one was convicted of a Crime,
inftead of whipping, maiming, or capital
Puniſhments, he was condemned to the
Vene-fection, that is, to have a Vein open'd,
by which it ſhould appear, whether his
Crime proceeded from Malice, or from the
vitiated Blood, and whether by fuch an O-
peration he could be cur'd. So that theſe
Courts of Juftice regarded the Amendment,
C
rather
2:6
A JOURNEY to the
rather than the Punifhment of the Offender.
Yet the very Method of Amendment had a
Sort of Puniſhment in it, becauſe it was a
Mark of Ignominy to undergo this Opera-
tion by judicial Sentence. If any one fell
a fecond Time into the fame Crime, he was
deem'd an unworthy Member of the State,
and as fuch was to be banish'd to the Firma-
ment, where all were receiv'd without Di-
ftinction. But of this fort of Exile we ſhall
enlarge hereafter. Then as to the Reaſon
why upon the Opening of my Vein the Chi-
rurgeon was fo aftoniſh'd at the Sight of my
Blood, it was this, namely, that the Na-
tives of this Globe had a white fluid Juice
in their Veins. And the whiter this was, fo
much the greater Mark it bore of Inno-
cence and Probity.
All theſe Things, when I had perfectly
learn'd the fubterranean Tongue, I tho-
roughly understood, and thenceforward be-
gan to form a milder Judgment of a Peo-
ple I had too haftily cenfur'd. And tho
at firſt I was of Opinion that theſe Trees
were exceffively ftupid and brutifh, yet I foon
found Reaſon to think that they were not
altogether deſtitute of Humanity, and that
therefore I was in no Danger of my Life.
And what confirm'd me in this was, that
twice a Day I ſaw myFood duly brought me.
This Food confifted of Fruits, Herbs, and
Pulfe, and my Drink was a Liquor the moſt
delicious and grateful I ever tafted.
The
World Under-Ground.
27
The Magiftrate, in whofe Cuftody I was,
foon fent Advice to the Sovereign of the
Empire, who refided at Potu, (not far from
this City) that a certain rational Animal,
of a very unufual Make, had fallen into his
Hands. The Sovereign, excited by the
Novelty of the Thing, gave Orders that I
fhould be inftructed in their Language, and
then fent to Court. Hereupon I had a
Language Mafter appointed me, under whoſe
Care in the Space of fix Months I made fo
great a Proficiency, that I was enabled to
converfe pretty readily with the Natives.
After having pafs'd thro' this firſt Exercife,
a new Order arriv'd from Court, concern-
ing my farther Inftruction, by which I was
commanded to be enter'd into the Seminary,
that the natural Powers of my Underſtanding
might be enquir'd into by the Karatti, and
in what Kind of Learning I gave the moſt
hopeful Promiſes of Succefs. All this was
done with great Exactneſs. While I was
performing my Exercifes here, they were
as careful of my Body as they were of my
Mind, and particularly, they us'd their ut-
moſt Art to bring me into their own Shape,
and accordingly they skilfully fitted artificial
Branches to my Body.
During this, the Magiftrate, at whoſe
Houſe I lodg'd, every Evening as I return'd
from the Seminary, enter'd into various
Conferences with me. He heard me with
the utmoſt Pleaſure defcanting on thofe
Things that had occur'd to me in this fub-
C 2
terranean
£8
A JOURNEY to the
terranean Tour. But he was above Mea-
fure amaz'd at the Defcription I gave him
of our Earth, and of that immenfe Heaven
that ſurrounded it, ftudded with infinite
Stars. All this he heard with the utmoſt
Avidity. But it kindled his Bluſhes, when
I told him of the Trees of our Globe, which
were lifeless, immoveable, and faftened by
the Roots to the Ground; nay, he beheld
me with fome Refentment, when I attefted
that our Trees were cut down for Fuel to
heat our Furnaces and drefs our Provifions.
But confidering the Thing more gravely, his
Indignation fubfided, and extending his five
Branches to the Skies (for fo many he had)
he ador'd the Wiſdom of the great Creator,
whoſe Ways are paft finding out; and hence-
forward he heard me with ftill greater At-
tention. His Wife, who had hitherto a-
voided me, when ſhe learnt the true Reaſon
for which I was brought to Judgment,
and that I was deceiv'd in the Appearance
of a Tree, which in our Country 'twas a
cuſtomary Thing to climb, now laid afide
all Sufpicion, and was entirely reconciled.
But yet, that I might not at the Beginning
of our Reconciliation open an old Wound,
I declin'd all Converfation with her, unleſs
in the Prefence, and at the exprefs Command
of her Husband.
CHAP.
World Under-Ground.
29
CHA P. III.
A Defcription of the City of Keba.
IN
N the mean while, and during the
Courſe of this Difcipline under the Ka-
ratti, my Hoft walk'd me about the City to
fhew me whatever was curious and obferva-
ble. We walk'd up and down without any
Moleftation, and what was more to be ad-
mir'd, without any crowding or joſtling;
quite otherwife than it is with us, where
People flock in Heaps to any Thing that is
new and uncommon, that they may feaft
their Curiofity. For the Inhabitants of this
Planet have very little Tafte for Novelty,
and purſue only folid Things. The Name
of this City is Keba, and it is the fecont
in Dignity of the whole Potuan Empire.
The Inhabitants are fo fedate and grave, you
would fwear they were all Senators. Age
is particularly honourable here; nor is
there a profounder Deference and Venera-
tion any where paid
where paid it; for it carries Autho-
rity not only in its Sentiments, but in its
Looks and Nods. But I much wonder'd that
a Nation fo fober, fo modeft as this, fhould
be delighted with Comedies and certain lu-
dicrous Shews and Spectacles that were there
exhibited. This did not feem to fuit with
fo much Gravity. Which my Hoft per-
ceiving, Through all theſe Dominions, fays
he, the Subjects divide their Time between
Things
C 3
30
A JOURNEY to the
Things ſerious and Things of a gayer Turn,
Saturnumq; gravem noftro Jove frangimus una.
For, among other laudable Inftitutions of
this Empire, there is an Indulgence of inno-
cent Pleaſures, by which it is believ'd the SouR
is ftrengthen'd, and prepar'd to ſuſtain the
more arduous Duties, and by which thoſe
black Clouds of Melancholy are difpell'd,
which are thought to be the Sources of Riots,
Seditions, and pernicious Counfels. There-
fore they chequer the feverer Toils with.
Sports and Plays, fo happily tempering Se-
rioufnefs with Pleafantry, that the first
cannot degenerate into Sourneſs, nor the
latter into Impertinence. But it was not
without Indignation I obferv'd that School-
Difputations do there make a Part of the
Shews and Theatrical Performances. For
at fet Times of the Year, Wagers being
laid, and a Reward affign'd to the Conque-
rors, the Disputants engage like a Couple-
of Gladiators, and much upon the fame
Terms that fighting Cocks or any fuch bat-
tling Animals do among us.
Hence it was
a Cuſtom among the Great, to maintain a
Set of Difputants, as we do a Pack of
Hounds, and to give them a logical Educa-
tion, that they may be fit for Engagement
at the ſtated Times of the Year. Thus a
certain wealthy Citizen in three Years Time
had made prodigious Gains, even to the
Sum of 4000 Ricatu, from one Difputant,
whom he maintained for that Purpoſe. This
Dif-
World Under-Ground.
3r
Difputant, with an amazing Volubility of
Tongue,
Diruit, ædificat, mutat quadrata rotundis,
By enfnaring Syllogifms and every Artifice
of Logick, by Diftinctions, Refervations,
and Exceptions, eluded every Opponent,
and filenc'd whom he would. I was often
prefent at thefe Entertainments, and that
with no fmall Vexation. For it ſeem'd to
me a horrid and ſhameful Thing, that ſuch
noble Exercifes, which give Luftre to our
Schools, fhould here be proſtituted on the
Stage. And when I call'd to Mind, that I
myſelf with the higheſt Applaufe had dif
puted in Publick, and had obtained the
Laurel, I could fcarce withhold my Tears.
And not only the Dispute, but the Method
of diſputing incenfed me. For they hir'd
certain Stimulators, in their Language Ga-
balci, who when they obferv'd the Ardor of
the Difputants to flag, juft prick'd their Sides-
with Lancets to re-kindle it, and to rally
their declining Spirits. Other Things thro'
Shame I omit, which in fo poliſh'd a Na-
tion I could not but condemn. Befides
theſe Diſputants, call'd in their Tongue, by
way of Contempt, Masbaki, that is strictly,
Wranglers, there were other Trials of
Skill between Beafts, both of the wild and
tame Kind, and alfo between Birds of Prey,
which were exhibited to the Spectators at a
certain Price. I begg'd to know of my
Hoſt, how it was poffible that fo judicious
& 4.
2
32
A JOURNEY to the
•
a Nation could think of leaving to the
Theatre thofe noble Exercifes, whereby a
Faculty of Speaking is acquir'd, Truth is
diſcover'd, and the Underſtanding ſharpen'd?
He reply'd, that formerly thefe Exercifes
were in high Reputation among their bar-
barous Anceſtors; but fince they had been
convinc'd by Experience, That Truth was
rather stifled by Difputes, that their Youth
were render'd petulant and forward thereby,
that Disturbances arofe from them, and that
the more generous Studies were fo much
the more fetter'd, they turn'd over thefe
Exerciſes from the Univerfity to the Play-
houfe; and the Event has fhew'd us, that
by Reading, Silence, and Meditation, the
Students now make far greater Advances in
Learning. With this Reply, tho' very fpe-
cious, I was not however altogether fatif-
fy'd.
In this City there was an Academy or
School, where with the utmoft Decency and
Solidity the Liberal Arts were taught. My
Hoft introduc'd me into the Auditory of
this School on a particular Day, when a
Madic, or Doctor of Philofophy, was to be
created. The whole Ceremony was this:
The Candidate made a learned and elegant
Differtation upon a Problem in natural Phi-
lofophy, which being ended, the Governors
of the School inferted his Name in the Re-
gifter of Doctors, who from thence had
Authority to teach publickly. My Hoft
asking how I liked it? I anfwer'd that it ap-
pear'd
World Under-Ground.
33
pear'd to me a mighty dry Buſineſs in Com-
pariſon of our Promotions. Then I ex-
plain'd to him how Mafters and Doctors
were created among us, namely, by exhi-
biting certain Specimens of their Skill in
Difputation. At this, contracting his Brows,
he defir'd to know the Nature of our Dif-
putations, and in what they differ from the
fubterranean. I reply'd, that they were
ufually upon curious and learned Subjects,
particularly fuch as relate to the Manners,
Language, or Drefs of two ancient Nations
who formerly flouriſh'd in Europe, and that
I for my Part had wrote three Differtations
upon the Slippers of the Ancients. With
that he fet up fuch a Laugh, as made the
whole Houſe ring. His Wife, alarm'd with
the Noife, flies to know the Cauſe of it: But
I was fo much out of Humour, that I dif-
dained to answer her; for I thought it a
burning Shame, fo grave and folid a Matter
fhould be treated with that Ridicule and
Contempt. But underſtanding from her
Husband the Truth of the Cafe, the laugh'd
as violently. This Thing taking Air, gave
a Handle to endlefs Sneers; nay, the Wife
of a certain Senator, of herfelf exceedingly
prone to laugh, was fo delighted, that the
had like to have burft herſelf. And the foon
after dying accidentally of a Fever, it was
thought her Death was occafion'd by that
immoderate Laugh, which had inflam'd her
Lungs. They were not indeed quite certain
that fuch was the Cafe however, fo it was
whif-
C 5
34
A JOURNEY to the
whiſper'd. She was otherwife a Matron of a
fine Underſtanding, and a moſt uſeful Lady,.
for ſhe had ſeven Branches, which is fome-
thing rare in that Sex. All the better Sort
of Trees were much concern'd at her Death.
She was bury'd at Midnight without the
City Gates, and in the fame Garments fhe-
happen'd to have on when fhe dy'd. For
there is a Proviſion by Law, that no Body
can be bury'd in the City, becauſe they be-
lieve the Air may be corrupted by the Ef-
fluvia of the Carcafes. It is alfo by Law
provided, that the dead Bodies fhall be in-
terr'd without any Funeral Pomp, or rich,
Dreffes, inafmuch as all is fhortly to be the
Food of Worms. And thefe appear'd to
me to be very wife Inftitutions. Yet they had
Feafts in Honour of the Dead, and alfo Fu-
neral Orations, which fimply contain'd an
Exhortation to a virtuous Life, and which
plac'd before their Eyes an Image of Mor-
tality. At this the Cenfors were prefent, to
obferve whether the Orators rais'd or de-.
prefs'd the Character of the Deceas'd beyond
Juftice. And hence the fubterranean Ora--
tors were extremely fparing of their En-
comiums, fince to give immoderate Praiſes,
was punishable by Law. Not long after,
when I was going to one of theſe Funeral
Orations, I ask'd my Hoft what was the
State and Condition of the departed Hero?
He reply'd, he was an Husbandman who dy'd
fuddenly upon the Road to this City. Here-
upon, in my Turn, I burst into an exceffive.
Laughter,.
World Under-Ground.
35
Laughter, retorting thus their own Wea-
pons upon them. And pray, fays I, why
have not Bulls and Oxen, thofe Companions
of Husbandmen, the Honour of a Funeral
Oration? They can equally fupply Matter,
for they equally perform the fame Office. But
my Hoft defir'd me to fpare my Jefts; for
that in theſe Dominions Husbandmen were
held in the higheſt Eſteem, on account of
the great Excellence of the Duties they were
employ'd in; and that no Way of Life was
more honourable than that of Agriculture.
Thus every honeft and induſtrious Farmer
was regarded by the Citizens as their Feed-
er and Foſter-Father. And hence aroſe
the Cuſtom, that when the Farmers about
Autumn, or in the Month of Palm-Trees,
repair to the City with a Multitude of Car-
iages loaden with Corn, the Magiftrates
meet them without the Gates, and introduce
them into the City with Trumpets and o-
ther Inftruments in Concert, after the
Manner of a Triumph. At this ftrange
Account I was ftruck dumb, eſpecially re-
collecting the hard Fate of our Husbandinen,
groaning under the deepeſt Slavery, and
whofe Employments are look'd upon as low
and illiberal, in Compariſon of thofe which
are Pandars to our Pleaſures; fuch as Cooks,
Poulterers, Perfumers, and fuch like. And
this I fairly own'd to my Hoft, at the fame
Time enjoining him Silence, fearing left the
Subterraneans fhould pafs very unfavourable
Judgments upon Mankind. Having pro-
[
mifed
36
A JOURNEY to the
mifed Secrecy, he carry'd me to the Hail
where the Funeral Oration was to be made.
I own I never heard any Thing executed
more folidly, with greater Veracity, or with
fo little an Appearance of Flattery as this;
and I judg'd it a proper Pattern, to which
all Funeral Orations fhould conform. The
Orator firſt gave us a View of the Virtues
of the Deceas'd, and then enumerated his
Vices and Failings, with an Admonition to
his Audience to avoid 'em.
As we return'd from the Hall, we met an
Offender in Cuftody of three Keepers. The
fame by Decree in Court had lately under-
gone the Punishment of the Arm (fo they call
the letting Blood) and was now going to be
confign'd over to the publick Hoſpital or
Bedlam. Upon Enquiry into the Reaſon of
fuch Sentence, I was inform'd, that the
Criminal had difputed publickly about the
Qualities and Effence of the Supreme Being,
a Thing here prohibited, where all theſe
over curious Difquifitions are thought to be
fuch exquifite Folly and Rafhneſs, that a
Creature of a found Underſtanding could
not well fall into it. Therefore theſe fubtle
Difputants, after the Vene-fection, were, like
Madmen, condemned to Confinement, till
they got out of this Delirium. Ah! thought
I to myfelf, what would become of our
Divines, whom we every Day hear wran-
gling about the Quality and Attributes of
the Deity, about the Nature of fpiritual Be-
ings, and other Myfteries of that Kind?
What
World Under-Ground:
37
What alfo would become of our Meta-
phyſicians, who by their tranfcendental Jar-
gon, affect a Degree of Wiſdom far above
the Vulgar, and even above Human Na-
ture itfelf? Certainly, inftead of Hoods,
Caps, and other Academical Honours, which
in our World are fo liberally granted them,
they would in this be fhew'd the Way to the
publick Hofpital.
All this, and other Things full as paradoxi-
cal, I remark'd during the Time of my Pro-
bation in the Seminary. At length the
appointed Time arriv'd, when, by Order of
the Prince, I was to be conducted to Court
with a Teftimonial. I flatter'd myſelf, that
I ſhould have the most honourable Enco
miums and Approbations, depending partly
upon my own Accompliſhments, fince I
had learn'd the fubterranean Tongue fooner.
than could be expected, and partly upon
the Intereft of my Hoft, together with the
renown'd Integrity of my Judges. At laft
my Teſtimonial was deliver'd me, which I
open'd with the utmoft Tranfport, impa-
tient of reading my own Praifes, and of
concluding from thence what my Deftiny
was to be. But the Perufal of it threw me
into Fits of Rage and. Deſpair. The Tenor
of it was this:
"In Obedience to the Commands of
"your Serene Highnefs, the Animal lately
"arriv'd from another World, and calling
“ himſelf a Man, we herewith fend, most
་
" care-
38
A JOURNEY to the
"carefully inftructed in our Seminary.
"Upon the niceſt Inquiry into his Genius
"and Manners, we have found him to be
"of competent Docility, and extremely
"quick of Apprehenfion, but of fo weak and
uneven a Judgment, that he hardly merits
"to be confider'd as a rational Creature,
"much lefs to be admitted to any impor--
"tant Office in the Government. But
"fince he excels every one in Swiftneſs of
"Foot, we are humbly of Opinion that
"he is extremely qualify'd for the Poft of
"King's Meffenger. Given at our Semi-
"nary of Keba, in the Month of Brambles,
"by your Serene Highnefs's moſt humble
"Servants,
Nebec, Jochtan, Rapafi, Chilac.
Upon this I went to my Hoft in a Torrent
of Tears, and humbly implor'd that he
would interpofe his Authority to procure a
milder Teſtimonial from the Karatti, and
that he would fhew them my Univerfity-
Teftimonial, in which I was complimented
with Epithets of Ingenious and Honourable.
He reply'd, that that Teftimonial might
have its Weight in our World, where they
regarded perhaps the Shadow more than the
Subſtance, the outward Bark more than the
inward Texture; but that it would be of no
Value with them, where they penetrate into
the inmoft Nature of Things: And exhorted
me moreover to bear my Fate as temperately
as I could, eſpecially as the Teſtimonial
could.
World Under-Ground.
39:
could be neither revok'd or alter'd; for that
there was no greater Crime than to aſcribe ·
undeſerved Virtues to any one. But what
Comfort it was in the Power of Words to
give, he gave:
Verba facit, quibus hunc lenire dolorem
Poffit, & ingentem morbi partem removere.
Ne cures hæc, quæ ftulte miraris & optas.
Quos non præcipitat fubjecta potentia magnæ
Invidia ? mergit longa atq; infignis honorum
Pagina ; namq; homini, nimios qui captat hono-
res,
Et nimias venatur opes, numerofa parantur
Excelfe turris tabulata, unde altior illi
Cafus, & impulfæ præceps immane ruinæ.
As to the Teftimonial of the Karatti, he
added, that they were the moſt incorrupt
and upright Judges, who could be brib'd by
no Prefents, nor aw'd by no Threats, to
recede a Hair's Breadth from Truth; and:
that therefore there was no Room for Suf-
picion in this Cafe. He alfo candidly ac-
knowledged, that the Poverty of my Judg-
ment was a Thing not unobferv'd by him--
felf, and that he inferr'd from the Readi-
nefs of my Memory, and the Quickness of
my Apprehenfion, that I was not that Sort
of Wood ou: of which-Mercury was to he
made, and that I could not poffibly meet
with Preferment upon account of that re-
markable Defect in my Judgment: That
he had gather'd, from my Difcourfes and
Defcription of Europe, that I was
Stultorum in patria, pravoq; fub acre natum.
3
And
40
A JOURNEY to ine
And with theſe and a great many more Pro-
feffions of Friendfhip, he defir'd me with-
out Delay to prepare for my Journey. I fol-
low'd the Advice of this most fagacious
Perfon, eſpecially as Neceffity requir'd it,
and as it would have been Rafhneſs to have
oppos'd the Order of the Prince.
We now began our Journey in Company
with fome other young Trees, which were
difmifs'd from the Seminary at the fame
Time, and fent to Court for the fame
End. Our Leader was one of the Karatti,
who, upon account of his Age and a Weak-
nefs in his Feet, was carry'd by an Ox;
for it is an unuſual Thing here to have Ve-
hicles, thefe being indulg'd only to the De-
crepit and Difeas'd; tho' the Inhabitants of
this Planet are really more excufable for it
than thoſe of our World, by reafon of the
Slowness of their Gait. I remember, when
I gave a Defcription of our Vehicles, that is,
our Coaches with Horfes, into which we
were ſtuff'd like fo much Lumber, and
drawn thro' the City, the Subterraneans
fmil'd at my Account, eſpecially when they
heard that no Neighbour envy'd another,
unless he kept his Coach and was drawn in
it through the Streets by a Pair of mettle-
fome four-footed Beafts. What with the
Slowness of the Motion of theſe rational
Trees, we were three Days upon this Jour-
ney, tho' Keba is hardly four Miles diftant.
from the Capital. Had I been alone, a
Day would have been fufficient. 'Twas a
Pleafure
World Under-Ground.
47.
Pleaſure indeed that I excell'd theſe Subter-
raneans in that Advantage of Foot, but it
griev'd me to the Soul that for that very
Excellence I was condemn'd to a vile igno-
minious Office. Would to God! faid I.
that I labour'd under the fame Infirmity
with them, fince by this Defect alone I
might have efcap'd the low and ignoble
Drudgery I was deftin'd to. Our Leader,
:
over-hearing me, reply'd thus, If Nature
had not made you Amends for the Defects of
your Mind by fome one Excellence of Body,
all would behold you as an unprofitable
Load upon the Earth; for that very Quick-
nefs of Parts permits you only to fee the
Surface of Things, and not the Subſtance;
and fince you have but two Branches, you
are inferior to the Subterraneans in every
Thing that depends upon the Hands. Hear
ing this, I thank'd God who had given me
this Swiftneſs of Feet, fince without this
Virtue I had no Chance to be reckon'd
in the Number of rational Creatures.
During our Journey, I was furpriz'd to
fee all around me the Natives fo intent up-
on their Labours, that at the Approach of
Paſſengers nobody left off Work, or even
threw their Eyes round, tho' fomething ex-
traordinary fhould even pafs along. But at
the Clofe of Day, their Toils all ended,
then they indulg'd in every Amufement of
the Mind, the chief Magiftrate conniving
and tolerating thefe Diverfons, as Reliels
and Strengtheners of the Body and Mind
and
42
A JOURNEY to the
one as
and fomething full as neceffary as Meat and
Drink. This and other Things made the
Journey highly grateful. The whole Coun-
try is perfectly beautiful. Imagine it a ſpa-
cious Amphitheatre, and fuch an
Nature alone could make. Where Nature
was lefs profufe, all was ſupply'd by the In-
duſtry of the Inhabitants, who were animated
to thefe rural Toils, and to the cultivating
and improving their Land, by Rewards from
the Magiftrate; and whoever fuffer'd his
Grounds to run to Ruin, afterwards wrought
for Hire. We pafs'd by many fair Villages,
which from the Multitude of them look'd like
one continued City, and exhibited the fame
Appearance all along. Yet we were fome-
thing infefted by the Monkeys from the
Woods, which rambling up and down, and
from an Affinity in my Shape, imagining
I was of their Race, were continually teaz
ing me with their Approaches and Touches.
I could ſcarce fupprefs my Rage, when I
perceiv'd that this was a perfect Comedy to
fome of the Trees; for I was conducted to
Court (by exprefs Order of his Majefty)
in the fame Drefs, in which I alighted upon
the Planet, namely, with my Harpoon in my
right Hand, that his Majesty night behold
what the Dreſs of our World was, and par-
ticularly what was my own Appearance upon.
my Arrival. And very opportunely it was
that I had my Harpoon in my Hand, that L
might chace away thofe Swarms of Mon-
keys that gather'd apace at laft round me;
tho'
World Under-Ground.
43
tho' it was all in vain ; for in the room of thofe
that fed more came, fo that I was forced to
move every Step like a Man upon his Guard.
CHAP IV.
The Court of the Potuan Empire.
A
T length we came to the Royal City
of Potu, which for Beauty and Mag-
nificence might vie with any. The Build-
ings there are more numerous and extenfive-
than at Keba, and the Streets wider and more
commodious. The Forum, which was the
firſt Place we were brought to, was fill'd.
with Numbers of Merchants, and furround-
ed every Way with Shops of Artiſts and
Tradefmen. But I faw with fome Afto-
niſhment in the Middle of the Forum a cer-
tain Criminal with a Halter about his Neck,.
and a large Company of grave and elderly
Trees ftanding round him. Upon my afk-
ing what was the Matter, and for what
Crime he deferved Hanging, efpecially as I
thought no Crime here was Captital, it was
told me, that this Offender was a Projector,.
who had advis'd the Abolition of a certain
eld Cuſtom; that thofe who ftood round
him were the Senators and Lawyers, who
then and there examined the Projector's.
Scheme, fo that if it fhould appear that it
was a well digefted Thing, and falutary to
the Commonwealth, the Offender was not
only.
44
A JOURNEY to the
only abfolv'd, but rewarded; but if injurious
to the Publick, or if the Projector by the
Repeal of this Law appear'd to have glanc'd
at his own Advantage, he was prefently to
be hang'd as a Diſturber of the Realm. And
this is the Reaſon why few are found to run
this Rifque, or have Courage enough to ad-
vife the Abrogation of any Law, unleſs the
Thing be fo demonftrably evident and juft,
that the Succefs of it cannot be doubted of:
So perfuaded are the Subterraneans, that
the ancient Laws and Inftitutions of their
Anceſtors are to be maintain'd and rever'd.
For they believe the Government would be
in Danger, if for the Wantonnefs of every
Body, thofe Laws were to be chang'd or
difannul'd. What, alas! faid I to myself,
would become of the Projectors of our
World, who, under a Pretence of publick
Emolument, are daily hatching and invent-
ing new Laws, with an Eye only to their
private Gains, inftead of the common Be-
nefit?
At length we were introduced into a fpa-
cious Houfe, which was the ufual Place of
Reception for all who were fent from the
Seminaries throughout the Empire. In the
fame Place are brought up thoſe who are
to attend upon the Prince. Our Captain,
the Karatti, bid us be in Readinefs, while he
went to acquaint his Highness with our Ar-
rival. He had fcarce left us when we heard
a Noife, like that of great Rejoicings, and
immediately the Air echo'd with the Sound..
**
of:
World Under-Ground.
45
of Trumpets and Beat of Drums. Alarm'd
at this Noiſe we went out, and beheld a cer-
tain Tree magnificently attended and crown'd
with a Chaplet of Flowers, and preſently
difcover'd that it was the fame Citizen
whom we juſt now faw in the Forum with
his Neck in a Halter. The Reaſon of this
Triumph was the Approbation of that Law,
which at the Peril of his Head he had ad-
vifed. But by what Arguments he attack'd
the old Law, I could never reach to the
Knowledge, by Reaſon of the great Silence
of the People; and hence it is, that the leaft
Matter tranfacted in the Senate in relation
to the Government never tranfpires, or
takes the leaſt Air. Far otherwiſe it is with
us, where the Actions of the Senate and the
whole of their Debates are reported, weigh'd
and criticiz'd upon in every Tavern and
Street.
In the Space of an Hour the Karatti re-
turns, and commands us all to follow him.
We obey'd. As we went, we met certain
young Trees, who offer'd to Sale little print-
ed Books of curious and memorable Things.
Among the reft, I caft my Eye upon a
fmall Book, the Title of which was, "A
"full and true Account of the ſtrange
66
flying Dragon, that appear'd in the Ele-
"ment laft Year." There did I behold
myſelf, that is, my Effigies engrav'd juſt as
I appear'd when I was whirling round this
Planet with my Harpoon and my long Rope.
I
!
46
A JOURNEY to the
I could not help fmiling at the Figure, and
faid to myfelf,
Hei! qualis facies! & quali digna tabella!
Having bought the Book for three Kilacs,
which is equivalent to about two Shillings of
our Money, I walk'd on gravely to the Pa-
lace. Art and Elegance feem'd to prefide
here, rather than Profufion and a vain Mag-
nificence. I obferv'd the Prince had very
few Attendants; for fuch was his Tempe-
rance, that he had difcarded whatever was
fuperfluous. Nor is there indeed the fame
Neceffity for as many Servants as our Courts
require. For as many Branches as thefe
Trees had, fo many Arms; fo that the com-
mon Labours and Bufinefs of the Houſe-
hold could be done with at least thrice the
Expedition.
It was about Dinner-time when we ar-
riv'd at Court: And fince it was his High-
nefs's Pleaſure to talk with me alone, I was
introduced into the Prefence-Chamber.
There is in this Prince a very remarkable
Mixture of Mildnefs and Gravity. Such
was his Steadinefs, that his Countenance.
was never known to have the leaft Cloud
upon it. Seeing the Prince, I inftantly fell
upon my Knees. The Courtiers were afto-
nifbed at this Adoration, and when I told
his Highness (who afk'd me) the Reafon
why I bent my Knee, he commanded me to
rife, faying, that fuch a fort of Reverence
was due to the Deity alone; adding, that
nothing
World Under-Ground.
47
nothing could obtain the Favour of the
Prince but Obedience and Induſtry. When
I rofe, he afk'd me fundry Queſtions,
Qua veniam, caufamq; viæ, nomenq; rogatus,
Et patriam: Patria eft, refpondea, grandior
Orbis
Klimius eft Nomen; veni nec puppe per undas,
Nec pede per terras; patuit mihi pervius E-
ther.
He then proceeded to enquire what I had
met with in my Journey, and what were
the Cuſtoms and Ufages of our World. Af-
ter which I proceeded to explain, as fenfibly
as I could, the Wit, the Virtues, the civi
liz'd Manners of the Men of our World,
and every Thing that Mankind pride them-
felves in. He receiv'd my Account very
coldly, and at fome Things which I thought
would not have rais'd his Admiration, he "
perfectly yawn'd. Lord! faid I to myfelf,
how different are the Taftes of Mortals!
that what gives One the moſt ſenſible
Pleaſure, to Another fhall be quite naufeous!
But what moſt offended his Highness was
the Relation I gave him of our Law-Pro-
ceedings, of the Eloquence of our Lawyers,
and the quick Diſpatch of the Judges in
pronouncing Sentence. While I was en-
deavouring to make this ftill clearer to him,
he interrupted me by turning the Difcourfe
to fomething elfe, and at length he proceed-
ed to an Enquiry into our Religion and
Worship. I then explain'd to him in a
concife
18
A JOURNEY to the
concife Manner, the feveral Articles of our
Faith; at the Recital of which he fome-
what foften'd his Countenance, atteſting
that he could readily fubfcribe to them, and
he could not chufe but wonder how a
Race of People of fuch weak Judgments.
fhould entertain ſuch found Notions of God
and his Worſhip, But when he heard that
the Chriftians were divided into Sects with-
out Number, and that upon fome Diffe-
rences in Matters of Faith, People of the
fame Blood and Family would cruelly per-
fecute one another, he anſwer'd thus: "A-
'
mong us alfo there are a large Variety of
"different Sentiments concerning Things.
"pertaining to divine Worſhip: But one
"Man does not perfecute another for that.
"All Perfecution for fpeculative Matters or
"Errors arifing from the fole Variety of our
"Perceptions, can fpring from nothing but
..
Pride, one thinking himſelf wiſer and
more penetrating than the reft. But fuch
Pride must be highly difpleafing in the
Eyes of the Supreme Being, who muſt be
a Lover of Humilty and Meekneſs in
"Mortals. We never teaze an Affembly
"of Judges about any one who fhall hap-
..
pen to diffent from the receiv'd Opinions
in Points of Speculation, provided he
"does it fincerely, and alfo conforms in
"practical Matters to the publick Worship
of the Deity. And in this we purſue the
“Track chalk'd out to us by our Anceſtors,
"who always thought it inhuman to fetter
"the
World Under-Ground.
49
"the Underſtanding, and tyrannize over
"the Confcience. In our Politicks we
extremely recommend the Obfervance of
"this Rule, fo that if my Subjects fhould
"differ about the Make of my Body, the
"Manner of my Life, or about my Oeco-
6.6
">
nomy or any fuch fort of Thing, yet at
"the fame time acknowledg'd me for their
"lawful Sovereign to whom Obedience is
"due, I think them all good Subjects.
To this I reply'd, May it pleaſe your moſt
Serene Highnefs, fuch a Conduct would in
our World be call'd Syncretism, and would
be highly condemned by the Learned. He
did not give me room to fay any more, and
feeming to be a little difpleas'd walk'd away,
and commanded me to ſtay till Dinner was
over.
His Highness fat down to Table with his
Royal Confort and their Son, together with
the High Chancellor, or Kadoki. This fame
Kadoki was in the first Efteem among the
Potuans for the Politenefs of his Manners,
as well as his Prudence and Warinefs. For
full twenty Years he never once gave his
Sentiments in the Senate-Houfe, but the reft
immediately came into them, nor ever decreed.
any thing with regard to the Publick, but
what ſtood firm and unſhaken, ſo that his
Decrees were ſo many Axioms. But then
he was fo flow of Apprehenſion, that for the
leaft of them he uſed to require the Space of
fourteen Days; and therefore in our World
he would hardly be thought fit for Bufinefs
D
of
50.
A JOURNEY to the
of great Moment, where all Delay paffes
for Sloth and Lazinefs But fince whatever
he once apprehended he underſtood through
and through, and fince he executed no-
thing but upon the fevereſt Examination,
hence he might be faid to do more in Rea-
lity than ten others, who mighty readily fet
about Bufinefs, and are frequently ftyl'd Great
Geniuſes, but whofe Decrees muft afterwards
be mended, alter'd, and lick'd into Shape;
infomuch that at the Expiration of their
Office, it is diſcover'd that they have at-
tempted every thing and brought nothing to
Perfection. Among the Maxims therefore
of the Potuan Court, this is one, That they
who are ſo forward at Bufinefs, are like
thoſe who walk to and fro and tread a great
deal of Ground, but gain none.
And
When the Family were feated, a Virgin
enter'd with eight Branches and as many
Difhes, ſo that in a Moment the whole Ta-
ble was cover'd. Prefently another Tree
enter'd with eight Veffels of different Kinds.
of Wine. This latter had nine Branches,
and fo was judg'd extremely qualified for
the domeftick Bufinefs of the Court.
thus by two Servants only this whole Affair
was commodiously performed, which in
terreſtrial Courts is not to be done without
a perfect Army of Servants.
With the
fame Dexterity the Diſhes were remov'd,
as they had been at first placed. It was a
frugal but not inelegant Meal. Of the
whole Number of Difhes, the Sovereign con-
fin'd
World Under-Ground.
5 £
fin'd himself to one. Not fo the great Ones
of our Globe, who never think a Supper
grand, unleſs one Courfe of Difhes give
way to a finer and more exquifite Succeffion.
During the Repaft, the Converſation run
upon Morality or Politicks; fo that even
theſe ſenſual Pleaſures had a Seaſoning of
Learning. Mention alfo was made of me,
whom from the Quickneſs of my Appre-
henfion they took to be not the Wood out of
which Mercury was to be made.
The Repaft being ended, I was order'd
to produce my Teſtimonial; which being
perus'd, the Prince directing his Eyes down
to my Feet, faid, the Karatti had judg'd
right, and that fo it ought to be. Quite
thunderstruck with this Anfwer, and over-
whelm'd in Tears, I implor'd a Revifal of
the Teſtimonial, fince upon a more inti-
mate Scrutiny into the Virtues of my Mind,
and the Endowments of my Underſtanding,
I might reaſonably expect a milder Judg
ment to be made. His Highneſs being a
merciful and equitable Prince, not at all
incenſed at this forward and unufual Re-
queft, enjoin'd the Karatti then prefent, to
examine me anew, and as accurately as
poffibly. During this Trial, the Prince
ſtept aſide to read fome other Teftimonials.
The Prince having withdrawn himſelf, the
Karatti propofed a new Set of Queſtions to
be folv'd by me. I anfwer'd them with
my ufual Readinefs; upon which he ſpake
thus to me: You take a Thing preſently, but
D 2
719t
52
A JOURNEY to the
not entirely for your Solutions fhew that the
Queſtion is readily perceiv'd, but not inti-
mately understood.
1
The Examination being finifh'd, the
Prince went into the Council-Chamber,
and foon return'd with a final Sentence to
this Purpoſe: That I had acted imprudent-
ly in calling in Queſtion the Judgment of
Karatti, and that therefore I had incurr'd
the Penalty which the third leſſer Space of
the fourth greater Space inflicts upon Slan-
derers (by the greater and leffer Spaces, or
Skibal and Kibal, they mean Books and
Chapters) and that I deferv'd to undergo
the Vena-fection in both my Branches, and
alfo to be imprifon'd. The Words of the
Law, lib. 4. cap. 3. concerning Defamation
are theſe, Spik. antri. Flak. Shak, mak. Tabu
Mihalatti Silac. But tho' the Senfe of the
Words was very clear and evident, and the
Law too facred to be evaded, yet his moft
Serene Highneſs, by a Stretch of his Prero-
gative, thought fit to pardon this Offence
of mine, occafioned through an Immatu-
rity of Judgment, as well as Ignorance of
the Law, which could hardly be faid to be
infring'd by this Indulgence to me, inaf
much as I was a Stranger and a Foreigner.
And to give me a more ample Teftimony of
his moft gracious Favour, he appointed me
one of his Meffengers in Ordinary, an Ho-
nour I ought, to hold myſelf highly fatisfy'd
with.
}
Im-
World Under-Ground.
53
Immediately the Kiva, or Secretary, was
fent for, who enroll'd my Name in the
Book of Promotions, together with the
Names of feveral other Candidates. This
Secretary was a moft extraordinary Perfon;
for he had eleven Pair of Branches, and
could confequently write eleven Letters all
at the fame Time, and with the fame Eaſe
and Expedition that we can one; yet he
had a very indifferent Judgment, upon
which Account he never could expect any
farther Promotion, and fo he grew old in
the fame Poft which he had fill'd for thirty
Years. I contracted a cloſe Friendſhip with
him, and indeed I could not help cultiva-
ting an Affection for him, becauſe all the
Edicts and Letters of State, which he wrote,
I, as Meffenger in Ordinary, difpers'd over
the Province. I was often aftoniſh'd to fee
him execute Buſineſs with fo much Dexte-
rity; for it was a common Thing with
him to write eleven Letters at once, and
afterward feal them all in the fame In-
ftant. Among the Bleffings therefore of
a Family, a large Number of Branches is
reckon❜d one. And hence the Women in
Child-Bed, immediately after the Birth of
the Infant, are wont to fignify to the Neigh-
bours how many Branches it has brought
into the World with it. It was reported,
that the Father of our Secretary was born
with twelve, and that his Family had long
been famous for a Plurality of Branches.
D 3
The
54
A JOURNEY to the
The Diploma, which conftituted me in
my Office, being order'd to be drawn
out, I now retir'd to my Repoſe. But tho'
my Limbs were exceffively tir'd, yet was I
not able to compofe myfelf to Sleep. That
ignoble Employment, to which I was con-
demn'd, run continually in my Head, and
I thought it the greateft Debafement ima-
ginable for one who was a Candidate for
Holy Orders, and a Bachelor of Arts in
the Upper World, to be chang'd into a
vile Subterranean Court-Meffenger. With
thefe mortifying Thoughts did I waſte a
great Part of the Night, and during this
Agitation I feveral Times perus'd my Uni-
verfity-Teftimonium, which I had brought
with me; (for as I obferv'd above, the
Night is almoſt as light as the Day.) At
length quite jaded with thinking, I funk in-
to the Arms of Sleep. But what a Variety
of Scenes prefented themſelves to my dif
turb'd Imagination! I thought I was re-
turn'd to my own Country, and relating
aloud to vaft Numbers of People all that
had befel me in my fubterranean Tour;
preſently I was failing in the Air again,
and engag'd with the Griffin once more,
who gave me fo warm a Reception, as that
it wak'd me out of my Sleep. But how
was I fhock'd when I beheld by my Bed-
fide a Monkey of the largeſt Size, which,
by Reaſon of the Doors being left open,
had got into my Chamber. This unlook'd
for Spectacle chill'd all my Blood, and made
me
World Under-Ground.
55
me alarm the Houfe with my Cries for
Affiſtance. Some Trees, which lay in the
adjacent Chambers, immediately entering,
difengag'd me from the Struggle, and drove
the beaſtly Creature away. I underſtood
afterwards, that this Accident afforded the
Prince plentiful Matter for Laughter. But
that I might run no fuch Rifque for the fu-
ture, he gave Command that I fhould be
habited after the ſubterranean Faſhion, and
adorn'd with artificial Branches. As for
my European Garments, they were taken
from me, and for their Novelty hung up
in the Prince's Wardrobe, with this In-
ſcription: "The Dress of a fuperterranean
"Animal." Blefs me! faid I to myfelf, if
Mafter Andrews, the Taylor at Bergen, who
made this Suit, fhould know that his Work-
manfhip was preſerv'd among the Curiofities
of a fubterranean Prince, without Doubt
he would grow vain, and think himfelf as
great a Man as any in the City.
After this Misfortune Sleep quite forfook
me. In the Morning my Diploma was brought
me, which gave me the full Powers to ex-
ecute my Office. A Multiplicity of Bufi-
nefs pour'd in upon me foon, and carrying
the Royal Edicts and Letters to every City
of his Dominions, I was the perpetual Mo-
tion itſelf. In theſe Expeditions I explor'd
the Genius of the Country, and in many
Places diſcover'd an uncommon Meaſure
of Politeness and Underſtanding. Only the
Inhabitants of the City of Mabolki, which
D 4
were
56
A JOURNEY to the
were all Brambles, feem'd to me fomething
rude and uncultivated. Every Province
has its peculiar Trees, or Natives of the
Place, particularly the Province of Huf-
bandmen. Tho' in the great Cities, and
eſpecially in the Capital, there is a Mix-
ture of all Sorts. The high Sentiments I
had entertain'd of the Wifdom of this
People encreaſed, as faft as I had freſh Op-
portunities of infpecting into them. Thofe
very Laws and Cuftoms, which I had dif
approv'd, upon mature Reflection, extorted
all my Admiration. I could eaſily bring a
Cloud of Inftances of certain Manners and
Ufages, which upon a tranfient View ap-
pear'd abfurd, but which to the curious
Enquirer, would be full of Solidity and.
Wiſdom. Out of a thouſand I fhall pro-
duce but this one, which gives you a perfect
Idea of this People. A certain Student in
Humanity ftood Candidate for the vacant
Maſterſhip of a School. His Pretenfions.
were ſtrengthen'd in this Manner, to wit,
the Inhabitants of the City of Nahami cer-
tify'd, that the Candidate had liv'd very
quietly for four Years together with a wan-
ton and unfaithful Wife, and wore his
Horns very patiently. The Certificate was
couch'd in the following Style: "Where-
"as the learned and venerable Jocthan Hu
"has requir'd of his Neighbours a Teftimo-
"nial of his Life and Morals, We the Ci-
"tizens living in that Street or Portion of
"the City call'd Posko, do teſtify, that the
"faid
World Under-Ground.
57
"faid Jocthan Hu has liv'd in Wedlock for
"full four Years with a difloyal Wife, and
"that without the leaſt Noiſe or Diſtur-
"bance; that he has wore his Horns with
'' a laudable Patience, and with ſuch Meek-
"neſs has bore this Misfortune, that we
r
judge him highly worthy to fucceed to
"the vacant Maſterſhip, if his Learning be
"but equal to his Morals. Given under
our Hands this 10th Day of the Month
"Palm, in the 3000ndth Year after the
"great Deluge.
>>
To this Recommendation was annex'd a
Teftimonial from the Seminary of the Ka-
ratti, of his Learning and Studies, which
feem'd to be more to the Purpoſe. For
what great Merit Cuckoldom had to bear
the Bell from all other Doctors, I could
not readily apprehend. But here lay the
Senfe and Meaning of this ftrange Tefti-
monial, viz. Among the Virtues that prin-
cipally recommend a Teacher, Moderation
is one. For with all his Pomp of Learn-
ing, unless he has an invincible Patience, he
muſt be but indifferently qualify'd for the
Scholaftick Employment, which fhould be
exercifed without Severity or Paffion, left
by untimely Corrections the Minds of the
Youths fhould be harden'd. And fince a
greater Inftance of Moderation could hard-
ly be given, than this of the Candidate,
therefore his Neighbours infifted chiefly on
this Argument, as every Thing was to be
hop'd for from a Teacher fo renown'd for
D 5
this
58
A JOURNEY to the
this neceffary Virtue. It is faid his Majeſty
laugh'd immoderately at fo unufual a Re-
commendation, but fince it was far from be-
ing abfurd, he conferr'd the vacant Mafter-
fhip upon the Petitioner. And in Effect,
he underſtood and difcharg'd his Duty with
fuch Addreſs, and fo engag'd his Pupils byhis
Mildneſs and Clemency, that they regarded
him rather as a Parent than a Tutor, and
fuch was their Paffion for Learning under
fuch foft and gentle Government, that thro'
the whole Dominions there were few Schools
that annually ſent out fuch eminent, learned
and civiliz'd Trees.
As during the ſeveral Years of my Em-
ployment, I had frequent Opportunities of in-
ſpecting into the Nature of the Soil, into the
Genius and Manners of the People, into
their Policy, Religion, Laws and Studies, I
hope it will not be unacceptable to the Reader,
if I collect into one View what he will meet
with ſeparately thoughout the whole Book.
CHA P. V.
Of the Nature of the Country, and the
Manners of the People.
HE Potuan Empire is of no very
T great Extent. The whole Globe is
call'd Nazar, and is about two hundred
German Miles in Circumference. A Tra-
veller
World Under-Ground.
59
veller may eafily go round it without a
Guide, for the fame Language obtains every
where, tho' the Potuans differ greatly in
their Cuftoms and Manners from the other
States and Principalities. And as in our
World the Europeans excel the reſt of Man-
kind, fo the Potuans are diftinguiſhed by
their fuperior Virtue and Wiſdom from the
reft of the Globe. The high Roads, at pro-
per Diſtances, are adorn'd with Stones, that
mark the Miles, and abound with Direct-
ing-Pofts, which fhew the Ways and Turn-
ings to every City and Village. It is indeed
a very memorable Circumftance, and wor-
thy of Admiration, that the fame Lan-
guage is fpoke every where, altho' the fe-
veral Kingdoms differ fo widely in other
Refpects, namely, in their Manners, Un-
derſtanding, Cuſtoms, and Condition, that
we ſee here all that Variety which Nature
delights in, and which does not only fimply
move or affect the Traveller, but even
throws him into an Extafy of Wonder.
There are alfo Seas and Rivers which
bear Veffels, whofe Oars feem to be mov'd
by a Kind of magick Impulfe, for they are
not work'd by the Labour of the Arm, but
by Machines like our Clock-work. The
Nature of this Device I cannot explain, as
being not well vers'd in Mechanicks; and
befides, thefe Trees contrive every Thing
with fuch Subtilty, that no Mortal without
the Eyes of Argus, or the Power of Divi-
nation, can arrive at the Secret. This
3
Globe,
60
A JOURNEY to the
Globe, like ours, has a triple Motion, fo
that the Seaſons here, namely, thofe of Day
and Night, Winter and Summer, Spring
and Autumn, are diftinguifh'd like ours;
alſo towards the Poles it grows colder. As to
Light, here is little Difference between Day
and Night, for the Reaſons before affign'd.
Nay, the Night may be thought more
grateful than the Day; for nothing can
be conceiv'd more bright and fplendid, than
that Light which the folid Firmament re-
ceives from the Sun, and reflects back upon
the Planet, infomuch that it looks, (if I
may be allow'd the Expreffion) like one
univerfal Moon. The Inhabitants confift
of various Species of Trees, as Oaks, Limes,
Poplars, Palms, Brambles, &c. from whence
the fixteen Months, into which the ſub-
terranean Year is divided, have their Names.
For every fixteenth Month the Planet Na-
zar returns to its firft Station, yet not upon
the fame Day, upon account of the Ine-
quality of its Motion; for juſt like our
Moon, by its manifold Phafes, it perplexes
the Literati of the Firmament. Their
Dates or Æras of Time are various; theſe
they fix from fome memorable Circum-
ftance, and particularly from the great
Comet which appear'd 3000 Years ago,
and is faid to have caus'd an univerfal De-
luge, in which the whole Race of Trees,
and other Animals perifh'd, except a few
which on the Tops of Mountains eſcap'd
the general Wreck, and from whom the
prefent
World Under-Ground.
61
prefent Inhabitants are defcended. The Soil
abounds with Corn, Herbs, and Pulſe; and
produces all the Fruits of Europe, except
Oats, of which there is no Want, fince
there are no Horfes. The Seas and Lakes
afford delicious Fiſh, and the Shoars and
Banks are adorn'd with the moſt entertain-
ing Variety of Villages, fome contiguous,
and fome divided. The Liquor they drink
is extracted from certain Herbs which flou-
rifh all the Year. The Venders of this
Liquor are call'd Minhalpi, that is, Herb-
Dreffers, who in every City are reſtrained
to a certain Number, and who alone have the
Privilege of preparing it. Thoſe who en-
joy this Advantage, are commanded to ab-
ftain from all other Bufinefs or lucrative
Employment. In particular it is provided,
that thoſe who already are in any publick
Offices, or who have Salaries from the Govern-
ment, fhall never concern themſelves in this
Branch of Trade; becauſe theſe by their
Power and Authority in the City might
monopolize the Bufinefs, and be able to un-
derfel the reſt, from the Revenues they alrea-
dy enjoy. An Artifice often practifed by
the Courtiers and great Men of our World,
who in the Shape of Merchants or Jobbers,
become immenſely rich.
Their Populouſneſs is mightily promo-
ted by a certain falutary Law concerning
Procreation; for according to the Number
of Children, their Privileges and Immuni-
ties are increas'd or diminiſh'd. He who is
the
62
A JOURNEY to the
the Father of fix Children is exempted from
all Taxes, ordinary and extraordinary. Hence
a numerous Iffue is deem'd as advantageous
there as it is hurtful and inconvenient in our
World, where often a Tax is impos'd in
the Way of Capitation. No one here fills
two Pofts at once, becauſe they are of O-
pinion, that the leaft Employment requires
the whole Activity of the Soul. And there-
fore, with the Leave of my fellow Creatures,
I muſt ſay, that Buſineſs is better done with
them than with us. So facred is the Obfer-
vance of this Law, that a Phyſician does
not direct his Studies to the whole Circle
of Phyfick, but bends all his Application to
the Nature and Cure of one only Diſorder.
A Muſician plays upon only one Inſtrument,
quite otherwife than it is upon our Earth,
where by the Variety of our Pretenfions,
Humanity is trampled on, Bitterneffes in-
creaſe, and our Duty is neglected; and
where, by aiming at every Thing, we do
nothing to good Purpoſe. Thus a Phyſician,
while he affects to rectify the Diſorders of
the State, as well as thofe of the Body, per-
forms neither well. Thus, if another will
be both a Senator and a Muſician, we can
expect nothing but Difcord. We are apt
to admire fuch daring Spirits as fly at all
Things, who mix officioufly in Matters of
the higheſt Concern, and think there is no-
thing they are unfit for. But it is all Rafh-
nefs, Preſumption, and a total Want of
Senſe of their own Strength, that we thus
blindly
World Under-Ground.
63
blindly admire.
Did they but thoroughly
know the Weight of publick Office, and
the Shortness of their own Abilities, they
would reject the offer'd Honours, and trem-
ble at the Sound. No one here undertakes
the leaft Employment invita Minerva. I re-
member to have heard an illuftrious Phi-
lofopher, by Name Rakhafi, defcanting up-
on this Subject, and thus expreffing himself:
"Every one of us fhould be acquainted
"with his own Abilities, and be the ftrict-
"eft Judge of his own Virtues and Vices;
otherwife Stage-Players will appear to
"have more Wiſdom than we; for they
"do not chuſe the fineſt Parts, but thofe
"that are the fitteft for them. And fhall
"a Player fee that on a Stage, which a
"wife Man cannot fee in Life?"
The Natives of this Empire are not di-
vided into Nobles and Commons. Formerly
indeed this Diftinction ohtain❜d. But when
the Sovereigns obferv'd that the Seeds of
Diſcord fprang from hence, they wifely re-
moved all fuch Privileges as were deriv'd
from Birth, fo that Virtue alone is now the
Teft of Honour; and this will appear
plainer hereafter. The fole Preheminence
of Birth confifts in a Plurality of Branches.
The Offspring is accounted Noble or Igno-
ble, according to the Plenty or Want of
thofe, for this Reafon, becauſe the greater
Plenty they have, the fitter they are for all
manual Operations.
Enough
64
A JOURNEY to the
Enough has been faid in the foregoing
Part of this Work concerning the Genius
and Manners of this People; and therefore
referring the Reader to thofe Paffages, I
conclude this Chapter, and proceed to fome
other Particulars.
CH A P. VỊ.
Of the Religion of the Potuan Nation.
HE Potuan Syſtem of Religion lies in
TH
a narrow Compafs, and contains a
Confeffion of Faith, fomething longer than
our Apoſtles Creed. It is prohibited here,
under Pain of Baniſhment to the Firma-
ment, to comment upon the facred Books.
And if any prefume to difpute about the Ef
fence and Atrributes of God, or about the
Nature of Spirits and Souls, he is condemn'd
to the Vena-fection, and then confin'd in the
publick Bedlam. For they think it the height
of Folly to offer to deſcribe or define thoſe
Things, to which the human Mind is as
blind as the Eyes of an Owl to the Light of
the Sun. They are all unanimous in adoring
one Supreme Being, by whofe Almighty
Power all Things were created, and by
whofe Providence they fubfift. Let but this
Principle be uncontroverted, and they never
moleft any one for entertaining different
Sentiments concerning a Method of Wor-
fhip. Thofe alone who openly attack this
Religion,
World Under-Ground.
65.
Religion, as by Law eſtabliſhed, are re-
garded as Diſturbers of the publick Tran-
quillity. Hence I had the free Exercife of
my own Religion, nor fuffer'd the leaſt Af-
front upon that Account. The Potuans
pray but feldom, but then it is with great
Ardency, infomuch that they ſeem to be
in an Extafy. And when I related that we
pray and fing Pfalins very often while em-
ploy'd about the common Affairs of Life,
the Potuans thought it a vicious Cuſtom,
replying, that an earthly Sovereign would
take it extremely ill, to fee any one humbly
approaching him with a Petition, and at
the fame Time brufhing his Cloaths, or
buckling his Hair. Nor had they a much
greater Relifh for our Hymns, and An-
thems, as holding it ridiculous to expreſs
Grief and Penitence in mufical Meaſures,
fince the Diſpleaſure of the Deity is to be
appeas'd by Sighs and Tears of real Sorrow,
not by the Artifice of Tunes and Inftru-
ments. This and more I heard, but not
without fome Indignation, efpecially as my
own Father of bleffed Memory, who was
once Chanter of a Cathedral, had compos'd
feveral Anthems in Vogue to this Day, and
as I myſelf intended once to have ſtood for
a
vacant Chanterſhip. But I ftifled my
Refentment; for the Subterraneans fo ftre-
nuouſly defend their Opinions, and ſo ſpe-
cioufly fet every. Thing out to View, that it
is no eafy Matter to refute even the plaineſt
of their Errors. There were alſo ſeveral
other
66
A JOURNEY to the
other Opinions upon religious Subjects,
which they maintained with the fame Art,
and Appearance of Truth. Thus, when I
had often obferv'd to fome Acquaintance,
that they could hope for no Salvation after
Death, as living in utter Darkneſs, they
reply'd, That thoſe who were fo free of deal-
ing Damnation to others, run the greateſt
Rifque of it themſelves; that the Source of
all that, is Arrogance, which God muft
hate and difallow; and that to condemn the
Judgment of others, and to ufe Force to
convince them, was the fame Thing as to
affume the whole Light of Reaſon; which
is just the Conduct of Fools, who think
that they alone are wife. Moreover, when
I was proving a certain Opinion, and had
oppos'd to my Adverfary's Reaſonings the
Dictates of my own Conſcience, he extol'd
my Argument, and defir'd me ftill to perfift
in following thofe Dictates of Confcience,
as he himſelf would always do; for that
then, every one following the Teſtimony of
his Confcience, all Contention would ceafe,
and much Matter of Controverſy be cut
off.
Among other religious Miftakes main-
tained by the People of this Globe, were
thefe: They did not deny that good Ac-
tions were rewarded, and bad ones puniſh'd
by God; but then they thought that Branch
of Juftice, confifting in the Diftribution of
Rewards and Puniſhments took Place only
in a future State. I brought various Ex-
amples
World Under-Ground.
67
amples of fuch as for their Impieties had
been puniſh'd in this Life; but they al-
ledg'd as many oppofite Examples of very
wicked Trees, who yet were as fortunate as
they were wicked to the End of their Lives
In a Difpute, faid they, we are too apt to
borrow only thofe Weapons, and attend to
only thoſe Inſtances, which make for our
Purpoſe and Arengthen our Caufe, over-
looking and difregarding fuch as might in-
jure it. With that I inftanc'd in myſelf,
by fhewing that many who had injur'd me
came to a miſerable End. In Anfwer they
urg'd, that all this proceeded from Self-
Love, from my over-weening Opinion,
that in the Eyes of the Supreme Being I
was of more Confequence, than many o-
thers, who, like me, had fuffered the fe-
vereft Injuries undefervedly, and yet had
beheld their Perfecutors blefs'd and profpe-
rous to the laſt Day of their Lives. Again,
when accidentally I was commending the
Practice of daily Prayer, they reply'd, That
indeed they did not deny the Neceflity of
Prayer, but that they were thoroughly per-
fuaded that the trueft Piety conſiſted in a
practical Obfervance of the divine Law.
To prove this, they borrow'd an Argument
from a Prince, or Lawgiver: This Prince
has two Sorts of Subjects; fome are continu-
ally offending and tranfgreffing his Laws
thro' Infirmity or Contumacy; and yet thefe
fhall be found continually haunting the
Court to procure Pardon for Faults, to be
re-
68
A JOURNEY to the
repeated as foon as pardon'd. Others ap-
proach the Court very rarely, but remain-
ing peaceable at Home, are habitual Obfer-
vers of their Sovereign's Laws. Who can
doubt but that he muſt think this latter Sort
more worthy of his Favour, and regard the
first as bad Subjects and troubleſome Crea-
tures ?
In theſe and the like Controverfies was I
often engag'd, tho' without Succeſs; for I
was able to bring nobody over to my Way
of thinking. And therefore omitting all
other religious Difputes, I fhall only give
you their general and moft obfervable Doc-
trines, leaving it to the intelligent Reader
to applaud or cenfure them as he ſhall judge
beſt.
The Potuans believe in one God, Omni-
potent, Creator and Preferver of all Things,
whofe Omnipotence and Unity they demon-
ftrate from this ample and harmonious
Creation. And fince they are admirably
fkill'd in the Study of Nature, they have
fuch magnificent and exalted Sentiments of
the Nature and Attributes of the Deity,
that they look upon it as a Defect in the
Underſtanding to attempt to define what
tranfcends their Capacities. The Year is
diftinguiſh'd by five Feftival Days; the
firft of which is celebrated with the utmoſt
Devotion in fuch obfcure Places as that no
Rays of Light can pierce them, indicating
by this, that the Being they adore is in-
comprehenfible. There the Worshipers
remain
World Under-Ground.
69
remain almoſt immoveable, from the Rifing
to the Setting of the Sun, as tho they were
in an Extafy. This high Day is called, the
Day of the incomprehenfible God, and it falls
on the first Day of the Month of Oaks.
The other Feſtivals are celebrated at four
other Seaſons of the Year, and were infti-
tuted to return Thanks to God for the Blef-
fings of his Providence. The Abfentees,
unleſs they are able to give very juſt Rea-
fons for their Abfence, are deem'd bad
Subjects, and live totally difregarded. The
Publick Forms of Prayer are fo devis'd, as
not to regard the People who pray, but the
Welfare of the Prince or the State. None
prays
in Publick for himſelf. The Defign
of which Inftitution is, that the Potuans may
believe that the Happineſs of Individuals is
ſo cloſely connected with that of the Pub-
lick, that they cannot be feparated. None
are compell'd by Force or by Fines to at-
tend the Publick Worſhip, for as they are
of Opinion that Piety confifts chiefly in
Love, and as Experience teaches them that
Love is dampt and not inflam'd by Force,
therefore it muft be an unprofitable and a
wicked Thing, to ufe Compulfion in the
Cafe of Religion. This Point they thus il-
luftrate. Should a Husband defire a recipro-
cal Affection from his Confort, and fhould
he hope to conquer her Coldneſs and In-
difference by Blows, he would be fo far
from kindling up her Love by this Me-
thod,
70
A JOURNEY to the
thod, that her Indifference would increaſe,
and end in Abhorence and Deteftation.
Theſe are ſome of the principal Doc-
trines of the Potuan Divinity, which to
ſome muſt appear like mere natural Reli-
gion; and fo indeed it did at firſt to me.
But they affert that all was divinely reveal'd
to them, and that fome Ages ago they re-
ceiv'd a Book which contain'd their Syftem
of Faith and Practice. Formerly, fay they,
our Anceſtors liv'd contented with the Reli-
gion of Nature only; but Experience taught
them, that the fole Light of Nature was
infufficient, fince all thofe noble Principles
thro' the Sloth and Carelefnefs of fome were
forgot, and thro' an airy Philofophy of
others, (nothing being able to check
their licentious Career) were utterly de-
prav'd and corrupted. Hereupon God
gave them a written Law. Hence it ap-
pears how great is their Error, who obfti-
nately deny the Neceffity of a Revelation.
For my Part, I freely own, that many
Points of this Theology feem'd to me, if
not Praiſe-worthy, yet by no Means to be
defpifed. To fome I could not affent. But
one Thing there is deferving all our Admi-
ration, namely, that in Times of War the
Conquerors, returning from the Field, in-
ftead of that Joy and Triumph with which
we celebrate Victories, and fing Te Deum, pafs
fome Days in deep Silence, as if they were a-
ſhamed of having been obliged to ſhed Blood.
Therefore there is very little Mention of
military
World Under-Ground.
71
military Affairs in the Subterranean Annals,
which are chiefly Records of Civil Matters,
fuch as their Laws, Inftitutions, and Foun-
dations.
CHAP. VII.
Of their Policy.
N the Potuan Empire an hereditary,
IN
and indeed lineal Succeffion has flou-
rifh'd for a full Thouſand Years; and the
fame is at this Day religioufly obferv'd.
Their Annals indeed diſcover, that in one
Inftance they departed from this Order of
Succeffion. For fince right Reafon feem'd
to require, that Rulers hould excel their
Subjects in Wiſdom and all the Endow-
ments of the Mind, hence it was thought
neceflary that Virtue fhould be more re-
garded than Birth, and that he fhould be
elected for their Sovereign, who ſhould be
thought the moft excellent and worthy a-
mong the Subjects. Upon this the ancient
Succeffion being laid afide, the fupreme
Power by the general Voice was conferr'd
upon a Philofopher, nam'd Rabbacku. At
firft he govern'd with fuch Prudence and
with fuch Mildneſs, that he ſeem'd a Pattern
for fucceeding Princes. But theſe happy Times
were but of fhort Duration; and the Po-
tuans were too late convinc'd of the Falf-
hood of that Maxim, which holds, "That
"the
72
A JOURNEY to the
"the Kingdom is happy, where aPhilofopher
"is at the Helm." For fince the new So-
vereign was rais'd from the meanest Fortune
to the Height of Power, his Virtues and all
his Arts of Government could not procure
or maintain that Veneration, that Reſpect,
that Majefty, which is the great Support of
a Monarch's Power. Thoſe who but lately
had been his Equals or Superiors, could
hardly be brought to bow to an Equal or In-
ferior, or to pay the new Prince that Mea-
fure of Obedience due from Subjects to their
Rulers; and therefore when any ftrict or
troubleſome Commands were laid upon
them, they murmur'd loud, and never re-
garded what the Prince then was, but what
he was
before his Exaltation. Hence he
was forc'd to have Recourſe to ſubmiſſive
Flatteries; and even this availed not; for
after theſe Submiffions, being obliged to
iffue out his Commands and Edicts, they
were ftill receiv'd with Frowns and with
Reluctance. Rabbacku then perceiving,
that other Means were neceffary to keep
the Subjects to their Duty, from a mild and
popular Behaviour, he now chang'd his
Meaſures, and treated his People with Seve-
rity. But alas! by this Extream, thofe
Sparks which lay conceal'd under the Aſhes,
now broke into an open Flame; the Subjects
roſe in Arms againſt their Prince, and one
Rebellion not thoroughly fubdued and
laid aſleep, was the Beginning of another.
The Monarch finding at length that the
Go-
World Under-Ground.
73
Government could no longer fubfift but
under a Sovereign of illuftrious Defcent,
whofe high Birth might extort a Veneration
from the People, made a voluntary Abdica-
tion of the Empire in Favour of the Prince,
who in Right of Birth fhould have fuc-
ceeded. The ancient Family being thus
reftor'd, Peace was reſtor'd with it, and all
thofe Storms, which had fhatter'd the Vef-
fel of the Commonwealth, at once fubfided.
From that Time it was made Capital to at-
tempt any Innovation in the Order of Suc-
ceffion.
The Empire therefore is now hereditary,
and probably will remain fo till Time fhall
be no more, unleſs the most urgent and
extreme Neceffity oblige them to deviate.
from this Rule. Mention is made in the
Potuan Annals, of a Philofopher who de-
vis'd an Expedient to break thro' this Law.
His Counſel was not to fet afide the Royal
Family, but to make Choice of that Son
of the deceas'd Sovereign, be it elder or
younger, whofe Virtues were more eminent,
and who fhould be deem'd moſt equal to
the Weight. This Philofopher, having
propos'd this Law, fubmitted himſelf (ac-
cording to the Cuſtom of his Country) to
the uſual Teſt, namely, to have his Neck
in a Halter, while they were debating about
the Utility of the propos'd Law. The Se-
nate being affembled, and the Votes caſt up,
the Propoſal was condemn'd as a Thing de-
trimental to the Commonwealth. They
E
be-
74
A JOURNEY to the
believ'd it would be the Source of perpe-
tual Troubles, and would fow the Seeds of
Diſcord between the Royal Progeny; that
therefore it was more advifable for the old
Law to take Place, and that the Right of
Dominion fhould ftill devolve upon the
Firſt-Born, altho' the younger Iffue might
excel in the Endowments of the Mind.
The Law therefore not paffing, the Pro-
jector was ftrangled. And theſe are the
only Species of Criminals that are puniſh'd
with Death. For the Potuans are perfuaded,
that every Change or Reformation, how-
ever well digefted, gives Occafion to Dif
turbance and Commotion, and puts the
whole State into a fluctuating and unfettled
Condition; but if it be a rafh and ill-digeft-
ed Alteration, it is followed with inevitable
Ruin.
The Power of the Potuan Monarchs, al-
tho' fubject to no Laws, is yet rather a pa-
ternal than a regal Power. For being natu-
rally Lovers of Juftice, Power, and Liber-
ty, Things totally incompatible elfewhere,
do here go Hand in Hand.
Among the Laws of this Kingdom, the
moſt falutary is that by which the Princes
endeavour to preferve an Equality between
the Subjects, that is, as far as the Nature of
Government will admit. You ſee here no
different Ranks and Titles of Honour. In-
feriors obey their Superiors, and the Younger
the Elder; and this is all.
The
World Under-Ground.
75
The fubterranean Memoirs fhew, that
fome Ages ago fuch Claffes of Dignities
were in ufe, and that they were eſtabliſh'd
by Law; but it appear'd that they were the
Source of infinite Diſorders. It was an in-
tolerable Evil, for an elder Brother to give
Place to his younger, or a Parent to his
Child; fo that at length each fhunning
the other's Company, it put a Stop to all
Converſation and good Fellowſhip. But
thefe were not the only Grievances. For in
Procefs of Time it came to that Paſs, that
the more noble and worthy Trees, whom
Nature had blefs'd with the ſtrongeſt Capa-
cities, and with the greateſt Number of
Branches, were feated in the loweſt Places
at Feafts and Affemblies. For no Tree of
real Virtue and intrinfick Worth, could
bring himself to fue for a Title or Mark of
Preheminence, which from his Soul he de-
fpis'd. And on the contrary, the more
profligate and worthlefs Sort of Trees would
inceflantly teaze their Royal Maſter with
Petitions, till they had even extorted a Title
that might in a Manner hide the Poverty
of their Nature, and be a Skreen for their
Vices. Hence it came to pafs, that Titles
'were at laſt look'd upon as certain Indica-
tions of the vileft Trees. Their Feftivals
and folemn Meetings, were, to Strangers, a
Spectacle the moſt abfurd that can be ima-
gin'd. There might they behold Brambles
and Bufhes in the moft honourable Seats,
while the lofty Cedar and the noble Oak, each
·
i
>
1
E 2
of
A JOURNEY to the
•
of whom Nature had adorn'd with ten or
twelve Tire of Branches, took the remoteſt
and moſt obſcure Seats. Even the Ladies ·
had Titles; they were Counſellors of the
Houfhold, Counſellors of State, Counsellors
of Court. And this blew up the Coals of
Diſcord more in that weaker Sex than in the
other. To fuch an Excefs this vain Am-
bition roſe, that they to whom Nature had
been fo unkind, as to afford them no more
than two or three Pair of Branches, even
they abfurdly affected the Title of Trees of ten
or twelve Branches. This Vanity is juſt as
ridiculous, as if the moft deform'd Monſter
in Nature fhould affect to pafs for a Beauty,
or a Man of the meaneft Original give him-
felf the Airs of a Man of Quality. When
this Evil had arriv'd to its higheſt Pitch, and
the whole Kingdom upon the Brink of be-
ing ruin'd, every Mortal grafping at empty
Names, and difhonourable Titles, a certain
Native of Keba had the Hardineſs to propoſe
a Law for the aboliſhing this Cuftom. This
fame Perſon was, according to the ufual
Cuftom, brought into the Forum, with a
Halter about his Neck. The Senate being
fet, and proceeding to vote, the Propofal
paffed without any open Oppofition, and was
judg'd uſeful to the Commonwealth. Up-
on this he was crown'd with a Garland of
Flowers, and led into the City in Triumph,
amidſt the Shouts and Acclamations of the
Populace. And when in Procefs of Time
it was diſcover'd how advantageous the Re-
peal
World Under-Ground.
77
peal of thefe Laws was, the Projector was
advanc'd to the Honour of Kadoki, or High
Chancellor.
Ever fince this Time, the Law for pre-
ferving this Equality among the Subjects,
has been inviolably obferv'd. Yet the Re-
peal did not put a Stop to all Emulation;
for every one now endeavour'd to ſhine by
true Virtue and real Merit. It appears
from the Annals of this Empire, that from
that Time to this, has been but one Pro-
jector who twice attempted to revive the
Diftinction of Dignities; but for his firft
Effort he was condemn'd to the Venæ-fection,
and fince he perfifted in his Attempt, he was
baniſh'd to the Firmament. Now there-
fore no Ranks or Titles of Honour obtain
here, only the fupreme Magiftrate declares
fome Profeffions to be nobler than others,
by which Declaration, notwithſtanding, no-
body has a Right of affuming the chief Seats
in publick Allemblies. This fmall Diffe-
rence we find in the Edicts and Letters man-
datory of the Sovereign, which generally end
with theſe Words: "We command and
"enjoin all Husbandmen, Inventors of
"Machines for the Manufactures, Mer-
"chants, Tradefmen, Philofophers, Offi-
"cers of the Court, &c."
I was inform'd, that in the Archives of the
Prince, this Catalogue of Honour was pre-
ferv❜d.
E 3
1. Thoſe
78
A JOURNEY to the
1. Thoſe who had affifted the Govern
ment with their Wealth and Fortunes in
its greateſt Streights.
2. Officers who ferve gratis and without
Salary or Penfion.
3. Husbandmen of eight Branches and
upwards.
4. Husbandmen of feven Branches and
under.
5. Inventors or Erectors of Machines for
Manufactures.
6. Operators who exercife the more ne-
ceffary Callings and Employments.
7. Philofophers and graduate Doctors of
Both Sexes.
་
8. Artifans.
9. Merchants.
10. Officers of the Court, with a Salary
of 500 Rupats.
II. Officers of the Court, with a Salary
of 1000 Rupats.
This Series of Honours feem'd very ridi-
culous to me, as it muft to every one of
our Globe. I gueſs'd indeed at fome of the
Reafons for this inverted Order, what Foun-
dation it was grounded on, and by what
Arguments the Subterraneans would defend
it. But I confefs upon the whole it was a
Paradox I could not comprehend.
Among other Things worthy of Obſer-
vation, remark'd the following: The
more Benefit any one receiv'd from the
Government, with a proportional Modeſty
and
World Under-Ground.
79
and Humility he carry'd himſelf. Thus I
frequently faw Bofpolak, the richest Man
in the Potuan Dominions, receive all he
met with fuch Condefcenfion, that he low-
er'd all his Branches, and by inclining his
Head, teſtify'd to every common Tree his
grateful Senfe of the Publick Favours. Up-
on my afking the Reafon, I was told, that
thus it ought to be, fince upon no Subject
more Benefits were confer'd, and that there-
fore he was the greateſt Debtor to the Com-
monwealth. Not that he was oblig'd by
any Law to this Condefcenfion; but as the
Potuans in general act wifely and judiciously,
fo they make a voluntary Virtue of it, hold-
ing themſelves bound to uſe ſuch a Beha-
viour as Gratitude would dictate; far other-
wife than it is with us, where thoſe, whom
their Country has loaded with Wealth and
Titles, receive their Inferiors with a lofty
and contemptuous Air.
:
But the most deferving Subjects of all,
and who receive the moſt univerfal Honour
and Reſpect, are the Parents of a numerous
Offspring. Theſe are the Heroes of the
Subterranean World, and their Memory is
held facred with Pofterity. They are alfo
the only Perfons upon whom the Name of
GREAT is conferr'd, Not fo with us;
where the Deſtroyers of Mankind are com-
plimented with that Title. One may eafily
guess what Sentiments they would entertain
here of Alexander the Great and Julius Ca-
far, each of whom having flain their Mil-
E 4
lions,
80
A JOURNEY to the
lions, died without Offspring. I remember
to have ſeen at Keba this Epitaph of a Huf-
bandman : "Here lies Fochtan the Great,
"Father of thirty Children, the Heroe of his
" Time.' ""
It muſt be obſerv'd, that in or-
der to acquire this Glory, the mere Procrea-
tion of Children is not alone fufficient,
unless they be alfo liberally and virtuouſly
educated.
In the enacting Laws, they proceed with a
Deliberation equal to that of the old Romans.
The Propofal of a new Law is fix'd upon
all the Courts and Places of Refort through
out the City. The Citizens are free to exa-
mine it, and fend their Sentiments and Ad-
vices upon it to the College of Wife Men, in-
ftituted for this very Purpoſe. Here every
Thing is weigh'd that concerns the enact-
ing, the difannulling, approving, correct-
ing, limiting, or extending this Law. And
when it has thus gone through all this Trial
and Examination, it is offer'd to the Prince
for his Conſent and Authority. This De-
lay may feem abfurd to fome; but the Con-
fequence of this Caution is, that their Laws.
are immortal; and I have been inform'd, that
not one of their Laws for thefe five hundred
Years paft has fuffer'd the leaft Alteration.
In the Cuftody of the Sovereign, there is a
Lift of the most worthy and valuable Trees,
together with Certificates of their Learning
from the Karatti, and of their Life and
Morals from their Neighbours. Hence the
Republick are never in Want of proper Per-
fons
World Under-Ground.
81
fons to fill the vacant Offices. It is parti-
cularly worth remarking, that no one has
a Right or Freedom to live in any City or
Village without a Certificate from the Place
they came from, and Security for their fu-
ture Behaviour.
A Law once enacted by publick Autho-
rity, all future canvaffing and criticiſing up-
on it is prohibited upon Pain of Death. So
that in their Politicks, their Liberty feems to
be more reſtrained than in their Religion.
The Reaſon they affign is this: "If any
66 one err in Matters of Faith and Specula-
❝tion, at his own Peril he errs; but if
"any one call in Queftion the eſtabliſh'd
"Laws, or endeavour to pervert the Senſe
"of them by fome new Glofs or Inter-
"pretation, he is an Enemy to Society."
Something has already been faid of the
State and Oeconomy of the Court. It has
been obferv'd, that the Kadoki, or High
Chancellor, is the Supreme Officer. Next
to him is the Smirian, or High Treaſurer.
This Poft was in my Time difcharg'd by a
Widow of ſeven Branches, call'd Rahagna,
who for her eminent Integrity and other
great Endowments, was advanced to an
Office of that Weight and Truft. Long had
ſhe prefided at the Head of the Treaſury,
even many Years before the Death of her
Husband, who, tho' extremely well vers'd
in the State of the Finances, yet was entire-
ly ruled by the Counfels and Authority of
his Wife, and never ventur'd to act upon
E 5
his.
82
A JOURNEY to the
his own Judgment; hence he was more
her Official or Deputy than her Husband.
The Edicts and Ordinances indeed were if-
fued out in his Name, as often as fhe was
hindred, by Lyings-in, or any other Ma-
lady; yet nothing was efteem'd firm and
authentic till her Subfcription or Seal was
affixed to it. Raḥagna had two Brothers,
one of which was Butler, and the other
Butcher to the Court; nor, tho' they had
a Sifter in the higheſt Exaltation, did they
dare to aim at any Thing greater by Rea-
fon of the Poverty and Slenderneſs of their
Abilities With fo much Equity are Pre-
ferments here diftributed.
This Lady, tho' ingag'd in the moſt ar-
duous Affairs of the Kingdom, yet at the
fame Time fuckled an Infant fhe was de-
liver'd of foon after the Death of her Huf-
band. This I thought was too troubleſome
and too mean an Employment for fo great
a Matron. And upon my giving my Opi-
nion, they reply'd in this Manner: "Can
"you imagine that Nature has given Breafts
"to Women only as a fofter Ornament,
" and not rather for the Nouriſhment of
"their Offspring? The Quality of the
"Milk, and the Temper of the Nurfe, go
"farther than we imagine, in forming the
<< Diſpoſition of the Infant. And Mothers
"who difdain to nourish their own Iffue,
diffolve one of the fineft and strongeft
"Ties of Nature." And hence there is
hardly
World Under-Ground.
83
hardly a Lady throughout all theſe Domi-
nions but fuckles her own Children.
The Heir apparent of the Crown was a
Youth of fix Years old, in whom 'twas
eaſy to diſcover the Seeds of many great
and fhining Virtues. Nature had been fo
liberal, as to adorn him with fix Pair
of Branches; an uncommon Circumftance
in that tender Age. His Preceptor, the
wifeft Tree in all the Empire, inftructed
him in the Knowledge of the Creator, in
Hiſtory, in Mathematicks and moral Phi-
lofophy. I obtain'd a Sight of that Mo-
ral Syſtem or Political Compendium, which
he compos❜d for the Ufe of his Pupil. The
Title of it was, Mahalda Libab helil, which
in the Subterranean Language fignifies a
Key to Government. It confifts of a Collec-
tion of Precepts and Maxims, the moſt
folid and advantageous; fome of which I yet.
perfectly remember, and ſhall here fet them
down.
1. Afperfions or Encomiums are not ha
ftily to be credited; but the Judgment is
to be fufpended, till an indubitable Know-
ledge can be procur'd.
2. When any one is accus'd and convict-
ed of a Crime, it fhould be examin'd what
Good the Delinquent has ever done; thus
his good Actions being compar'd with his
bad, let Reaſon interpofe and pronounce
Sentence.
3. Thofe
-.
84
A JOURNEY to the
3. Thofe Counsellors who are given to
Contradiction and Conteft, the Sovereign
may fafely confide in as the heartieft Sub-
jects; for no one will expofe themſelves to
Danger, but thoſe to whom the Welfare
of their Country is dearer than their private
Safety.
4. Let none but large-eftated Men com-
poſe the Senate. Their Advantage is united
with the Publick Advantage :
Whereas
thoſe who poffefs but a moveable Eſtate,
look upon the Kingdom not as their Coun-
try, but as an Inn, and themſelves as Tra-
vellers.
5. The Prince may make uſe of the Mi-
niftry or Agency of bad Men, if they ſhould
happen to be fit for a particular Bufinefs, but
never load them with uncommon Favours ;
for if a wicked or an obnoxious Man be re-
ceiv'd into Favour, the worst of Subjects
will rife under his Patronage, and work
themſelves into Office.
6. Let him most of all fufpect thofe,
who perpetually haunt the Court: Such ei-
ther have committed, or are prepar'd to
commit the moft daring Things.
7. Let him be very backward to reward
thoſe who are moft impatient of Honours.
For as no one begs an Alms till opprefs'd
with Poverty and Hunger, fo none infatia-
bly haunt after Dignities, but who deſpair
to rife by real Merit and Virtue.
8. The eighth Precept is indeed a very
uſeful one, but what I could not be pleas'd
with
World Under-Ground.
85+
with upon Account of the odious Example
with which it was illuftrated. The Precept
is this: No Subject is to be confider'd as
altogether uſeleſs; none are fo dull but may
be made fubfervient to fome good Purpoſe,
nay even may be made to excel in fome
Point. For Inftance, one excels in Judg-
ment, another in Ingenuity; one's Excel-
lence fhall be in the Mind, another's in the
Body; this fhall make a good Judge, that a
better Advocate. One thall have a vaſt
Power of Invention, another ſhall labour at
the Execution of a Thing; infomuch, that
there are few entirely unprofitable. That
fome Creatures indeed feem fo, is not the
Fault of the Creator, but of thoſe who will
not perceive or enquire where their chief
Strength lies, and follow that Clue. This
Pofition he thus illuftrated. We have ſeen,
fays he, in this our Age, one of the Superter-
ranean Animals, who, by the unanimous.
Suffrage of all was deem'd as an unprofita-
ble Load upon the Earth, by reafon of that
Quickneſs and Forwardness of his Judg-
ment; but yet we fee his great Swiftnefs
of Foot is of no fmall Service to us. Upon
reading this Paragraph, I could not help
faying, This is a very honest Preface, but a
fcandalous Conclufion.
9. It is of no fmall Importance to a Prince
who would know the Arts of governing, to
be very nice and cautious in the Choice of
a Preceptor to the Heir of his Dominions.
Let him therefore chufe one of remarkable
Piety,
[
86
A JOURNEY to the
Piety, and eminent Learning, fince from
the Inftitution of the future Succeffor, the
Welfare of the State muſt be determin'd.
What we learn in the tender Age of Life,
paffes into Nature. Hence it is neceffary,
that the young Prince's Tutor fhould be a
Lover of his Country, that he may inftil
into his Prince a Love for his Subjects, the
firft and principal Mark that all his Precepts
fhould be aim'd at.
10. 'Tis neceffary the Prince fhould ftu-
dy the Genius of his Government, and con-
form to it; and if he would correct the
Diſorders of his Subjects, let him do it
rather from his own Example than the
Laws.
Velocius & citius nos
Corrumpunt vitiorum exempla domeftica,
magnis
Cum fubeant animos autoribus.
II. Let none be fuffer'd to be idle, fince
fuch are a dead Weight upon their Coun-
try. By conftant Induftry and Toil, the
Republick rifes into Strength and Power;
nor is there any Room left for pernicious
Counfels and Contrivances againſt the State.
And therefore it is fafer for the State to al-
low the Subjects their infignificant Diver-
fions, than to indulge them in a Laziness,
which would be a Source of Confpiracies.
12. Let
World Under-Ground.
87
•
12. Let the Prince preferve Peace among
his Subjects; however, it would not be amifs
to encourage an Emulation
among his
Counsellors, as it leads to the Diſcovery of
Truth. A ſkilful Judge will often extract
the Truth from the Paffions of the Ad--
vocates.
13. He would act wifely, if in Affairs of
the laſt Moment he heard the Sentiments
of every Member of the Senate, and that,
rather apart than when conven'd. For in
a full Senate, where Opinions are openly
given, it often falls out that the moſt fluent
Speaker bears all before him with a Torrent
of Eloquence, and fo the Sovereign hears
but one Opinion.
14. Puniſhments are not lefs neceffary
than Rewards: The firft puts a Stop to
Evil, as the latter encourages Good. Hence
it may not be wrong even to reward a bad
Subject for a good Action, if it were only,
that others may thereby be whetted up and
incited to do their Duty vigorously.
15. In Promotions to Honours and pub
lick Pofts, let Regard be had principally to
the Perfon's Dexterity and Adroitnefs for
that particular Employment. Though Piety.
and Integrity are of themſelves moft com-
mendable Virtues, yet 'tis poffible we may
be deceiv'd by their Appearance. Every
one would affect a Sanctity of Behaviour, if
he knew that this Shew of Virtue was the
Road to Honcurs; and would in Words
profeſs the utmoft Probity and Uprightneſs,
with
*
A JOURNEY to the
88
with the fame View. Befides, it is no eafy
Matter to form a Judgment of a Perfon's
Virtues, till he is admitted to Employment,
in which, as upon a Stage, he is to exhi-
bit Specimens of his Virtues. But nothing
is eafier than to make Experiment of any
one's Aptnefs for Bufinefs before-hand. It
is infinitely harder for the Stupid and the
Ignorant to conceal their Stupidity and Igno-
rance, than for a Hypocrite to cover his
Impiety, or a Knave his Roguery. Beſides,
great Abilities and much Virtue are not fo
very oppofite but they may be often found
united in the fame Character. And if a
Perſon of large Abilities be at the fame
Time honeft and virtuous, nothing more
can be wanting. An Ignorant is either
good or bad; if bad, who knows what
Monſters Ignorance and Wickedness in
Conjunction produce? If good, his very
Dulneſs muſt indubitably hinder the Ex-
erciſe of his Virtues. And if he of him-
ſelf neither can nor dare attempt the Com-
miffion of fome atrocious Crime, yet the
Servant, whofe Affiftance he muft make ufe
of, in all Likelihood may. A fooliſh
Landlord has commonly a roguifh Bailiff,
and a dull Juftice a knaviſh Clerk, who
fearlefly commits Frauds and Errors under
the Protection of his Maſter. In Promo-
tions therefore, let Dexterity be the principal
Thing regarded.
16. Let none be haftily cenfur'd as ambi-
tious, for aiming at an Employment he is
I
in
World Under-Ground.
89
in Reality unfit for, or for that Reaſon ex-
cluded from all Hopes of Preferment. For
if, in the Diftribution of publick Honours,
the Prince fhould happen to adhere to this
Rule too cloſely, the moft Ambitious will
foon put on the Maſk of Humility, as a ſa-
fer Road and a fhorter Cut to Preferment.
And thus the Sovereign would, contrary to
his Inclination, prefer the moft forward Wor-
fhippers of Fortune, as being to all Appear-
ance the most humble; that is, he would
prefer thofe, who about the Time of any
Vacancy pretend to fly from Court and re-
tire into the Shade, giving out by their
Friends that they are averfe to Grandeur.
To illuftrate this Point, he inferted an Ex-
ample of one who, during the Vacancy of
a confiderable Employment he was all on
Fire to obtain, wrote to the Prince to this
Effect, viz. "That it was reported, that
his Serene Highnefs defign'd the vacant
"Dignity for him, tho' follicited for it by
"Numbers; that he for his Part muft beg
"Leave to decline an Office to which he
"profefs'd himſelf unequal; that he in-
"treated his Majefty to confer it upon
"fome more proper Perfon, and that be-
❝ing perfectly contented with his preſent
"Station, he afpir'd to nothing greater."
The Monarch mov'd with ſo ſtrong an At-
teftation of Humility, preferr'd this humble
Hypocrite to the faid Dignity. But he foon
learnt that he was abus'd; for no Miniſter
ever
go
A JOURNEY to the
ever behav'd with ſuch Pride, or acted with
fuch Weakneſs.
17. To fet a poor Infolvent at the Head
of the Treaſury, is the fame Thing as to
put a hungry Man in your Pantry.
Nor
is a covetous rich Man a better Choice.
The former has nothing, and the other
thinks nothing enough.
18. Let there be no Foundations or
Eſtabliſhments for the Maintenance of
flothful Trees. Accordingly, throughout
this Empire, the Monafteries and Colleges
admit only the Induftrious and the Dili-
gent; thoſe who either by fome uſeful Ma-
nufacture help to advance the Intereſt of
the Republick, or who by their Studies and
Learning can be an Ornament to the So-
ciety they are Members of. A few Mo-
nafteries indeed are to be excepted, which
maintain the Aged and the Helpleſs; fuch
by the Privilege of Age being exempted
from all Labour.
19. When the Diſorders of the State call
loud for Reformation, it will be right to
proceed flowly in it. For to endeavour to
extirpate inveterate Evils at a Blow is as ab-
furd as to prefcribe Purging, Bleeding, and
Vomiting all at once to a Patient.
20. Thoſe who boldly attempt every
Thing, and undertake a Multitude of Af-
fairs together, are either Fools who have
not duly compar'd their own Strength with
the Weight of the Things, or elſe they are
wicked and unnatural Members of their
Society,
•
World Under-Ground.
91
Society, who confult their own Intereft
alone, inftead of that of the Common-
wealth. A prudent Man will try his Arms
before he takes his Burden up; and an ho-
neft Subject, who loves his Country, will not
tranfact the Affairs of it fuperficially.
I
CHAP. VIII.
Of the ACADEMY.
N this Empire there are three great
Schools or Univerfities, one at Potu, an
other at Keba, and a third at Nahami. The
Studies purſued there are Hiftory, Econo-
my, Mathematicks, and Law. As to their
Divinity, fince, it is fo fhort and conciſe, as
that the Whole is contain'd in the Compafs
of a couple of Pages, importing, That we
ought to love and adore Almighty God, the
Creator and Governor of Things, who in
fome State of Exiſtence hereafter will re-
ward Virtue and puniſh Vice; as this, I
fay, is the Main of their Divinity, fo it is
no academical Study, nor indeed can it be,
fince it is prohibited by Law to have any
Controverfy about the Effence or Attributes
of God. Phyfick, in like Manner, is not
reckon'd among the Studies of the Univer-
fity; for ſince thefe Trees live all fober Lives,
internal Diſeaſes are almoſt wholly unknown.
I fay nothing of Metaphyficks, and fuch
tranfcen-
92
A JOURNEY to the
tranfcendental Learning, fince it has been
obferv'd above, that to difpute about the
Effence of the Divine Being, about the Qua-
lities of Angels, or the Nature of Spirits,
incurr'd the Puniſhment of the Arm, and
Confinement in their Bedlam.
The academical Exercifes are thefe: The
young Students, during the Time of their
Probation, are oblig'd to give Solutions of
certain difficult and curious Questions, which
are propos'd at ftated Times, with a Re-
ward to thofe who give the moft ingenious
and elegant Expofitions. By thefe Means,
the true Genius of the Students is difco-
ver'd, what the utmoſt Reach of their Ca-
pacity is, and in what Branch of Know-
ledge they are most likely to fhine. Every
one imploys himſelf in one only Science.
An univerfal Scholar is a Chimæra; and
the Affectation of fuch a Character is a
Mark of a looſe and unfettled Genius.
Hence it is, that the Sciences, confin'd
within fuch
fuch narrow Bounds, are foon
brought to Perfection. The feveral Doc-
tors likewife exhibit yearly Specimens of
their Learning. The moral Philofopher
clears fome abftrufe fpeculative Point. The
Hiftorian compiles a Hiftory, or fome Part
of Hiſtory. The Mathematician throws
freſh Light upon his Science by ſome new
and ingenious Hypothefis. The Lawyers
are oblig'd to make fome eloquent Ha-
rangues: And theſe alone ftudy Rhetoric
or Oratory, becauſe it is to theſe alone fuch
a
World Under-Ground.
93
a Study will be advantageous when they
come to be Advocates. When I told them,
that all our academical Specimens of all
Sorts were in the labour'd and oratorical
Style, they freely condemn'd fuch an Infti-
tution, replying, that if every Artiſan were
oblig'd to make a Shoe, and exhibit Speci-
mens of fuch their Work, 'tis certain that
Shoemakers alone would bear away the Prize.
I purpofely omitted to ſpeak of our ſcholaftic
Difputations, becaufe fuch Exerciles were
there but in equal Eftimation with drama-
tical Performances. Their Doctors and
publick Teachers never deliver their In-
ftructions in a harfh, pedantick, and impe-
rious Manner, as the Philofophers of our
World, but forming fome agreeable and de-
lightful Fiction, they drefs up and inculcate
a falutary Truth with all the Charms of
Fancy and Imagination.
'Tis furprizing to behold with what So-
lemnity the academical Promotions are
made. For they take the extremeſt Care
not to furniſh the leaft Matter for Ridicule,
or to be guilty of any theatrical Levities,
rightly judging that a plain and grave
Simplicity fhould diftinguifh the Exerciſes
of an Univerſity from the Diverſions of a
Stage, left otherwife the liberal Arts ſhould
run into Difeſteem. Upon this, I would
not venture to mention the leaſt Syllable of
our academical Degrees and Promotions,
fince what happen'd to me at Keba, when
I gave a Defcription of this Kind of Ho-
nours,
94
A JOURNEY to the
nours, was ample Reafon for my eternal Si-
lence upon this Head.
1
Befides thefe Academies, the great Cities
have their ſeveral Seminaries or Colleges,
where the niceft Examination is made into
the Talents of every Scholar, what his
particular Capacity is, and in what Kind of
Learning he gives the moſt promifing Hopes
of excelling. During the Time of my
Probation in the Seminary at Keba, there
were four Sons of the High Prieft who were
all educated in the Art of War; four o-
thers of Senatorian Quality were inftructed
in Trade; and two young Virgins learnt
Navigation. For here the Genius alone is
regarded, without any Refpect to Sex or
Condition. The Examination being made,
the Governors of the Seminaries give Tefti-
monials to the Examinants with a Veracity
I have elſewhere ſpoke of. Theſe Tefti-
monials are perfectly juft and impartial;
tho' I myſelf thought otherwife, fince that
which I obtain'd from them appear'd to me
abfurd, ridiculous and unjuft.
None is here fuffer'd to be an Author til
after thirty Years of Age, and till he fhall
be deem'd by his Judges ripe and fit
for fuch an Undertaking; confequently,
few Books are here publifh'd; but then they
are well digefted, and full of Meaning.
Hence, tho' I had wrote five or fix Differta-
tions while under Age, I never diſcover'd
it to any Creature for fear of drawing down
their Ridicule. Enough has now been ſaid
of
World Under-Ground.
95
of the Religion, Policy, and Literature of
this People. But there are, beſides, feve-
ral Things peculiar to them, which are wor-
thy of our Obfervation and Remembrance.
4
If one Tree challenges another, the Chal-
lenger is for ever forbid the Uſe of Arms.
He is condemn'd, like a Minor, to live un-
der Guardianſhip, as not knowing how to
rule his Affections. With us the Cafe is
different, where Appeals to the Sword are
Marks of an heroic Soul, efpecially in the
North, which must have given Birth to
this abominable Cuftom, fince Challenges
and Duels were entirely unknown among
the Greeks, Romans, and other ancienter
Nations.
I obferv'd one ftrange Cuftom in their
Manner of adminiftring Juftice. The
Names of the contefting Parties are con-
ceal'd from the Judges; and the Differen-
ces are not decided in the Place where they
aroſe, but the Cafe is fent to the more re-
mote Provinces to be determin'd. The
Reaſon of this ftrange Cuftom is this. Ex-
perience taught them, that Judges were of-
ten corrupted by Prefents, or fway'd by
Partiality. Thefe Temptations they think
they effectually remove, if the Parties are
conceal'd, if the Names of the Plaintiff
and Defendant, together with the Names
of the Lands or Eftates litigated, be all
unknown. The Reaſons and Arguments
alone are fent, at the Diſcretion of the
Prince, to whatever Court of Juftice he
M
thinks
96
A JOURNEY to the
r
thinks fit, with certain Marks and Charac-
ters; for Example, "Whether A who is in
"Poffefion, ought to restore the Thing poffefs'd
"at the Suit and Motion of B." Ihould
rejoice to find fuch a Cuftom introduc'd
among us, fince we often experience the
fatal Force of Corruption and Partiality in
the Minds of our Judges.
Juſtice in general is freely adminiſter'd
without Reſpect of Perfons. Againſt the
Prince only no Action can lie during his
Life, but upon his Death the publick Accu-
fers, or (if one may ſo call them) the Coun-
cil for the Kingdom, cite him to Judgment.
There in full Senate the Actions of the de-
parted Monarch are strictly examin'd, and
at length Sentence is pronoun'd, which ac-
cording to the Merit of the Deceas'd is
diftinguifh'd by different Words and Cha-
racters, fuch as thefe, Laudably; Not illau-
dably; Well; Not ill; Tolerably; Indifferent-
ly; which Words are proclaim'd aloud to
the People, and afterwards engrav'd on the
Monument of the Deceas'd. The Potuans
give this Account of that Cuſtom: That
the Prince while living cannot be proceeded
againſt without great Commotions and Dif-
turbances; for that during his Life a perfect
Obedience and inviolable Veneration ſhould
ftill be paid him, which indeed is the very
Bafis of Government. But when that Ob.
ligation is diffolv'd by Death, the Subjects
then have Liberty to call his Actions to a
trict Account. Thus by this falutary, tho'
very
World Under-Ground.
97
very paradoxical Law, the Security of the
Sovereign is provided for, his Authority not
at all invaded, and the Welfare of the Peo-
ple at the fame Time promoted. For thefe
Characters, tho' given to the Dead, are to
the Living fo many Spurs to Virtue. The
Potuan Hiftories for four hundred Years af-
ford only two Inſtances of Princes who bore
the laft mention'd Character, that is, that
of Indifferent. All the others obtain'd ei-
ther the Laudable or the Not illaudable Cha-
racter, as appears from the Infcriptions upon
their fepulchral Monuments, which have
efcap'd the Injuries of Time. The Cha-
racter of Indifferent, which in the Potuan
Language is call'd Rip-fac-fi, cauſes ſuch
Grief in the Royal Family, that the Sue-
ceffor of the deceas'd Prince, with all his
Kindred, mourn for fix whole Months.
And fo far are the Heirs from refenting the
odious Character given by the Judges, that
it becomes a new Incentive to them to
fignalize themſelves by noble and worthy
Actions, and to efface the Infamy of the
Family by a Conduct full of Virtue, Pru-
dence, Justice and Moderation.
The Cauſe why one of the two Princes
above-mention'd had the Title of Indiffe-
rent given him, was this: The Potuans are
a brave and warlike People; they never de-
clare War themfelves, but if War be de-
clar'd against them they pufh it with all
imaginable Vigour. By thefe Means they
are the Umpires between contending Na-
F
tions,
98
A JOURNEY to the
tions, and the feveral Kingdoms of this
Globe ſubmit to their mild and pacific
Sway. But a Prince, by Name Mikleta,
feiz'd with the Ambition of extending his
Dominions, made War upon a neighbour-
ing Kingdom, and fubdued it.
But as
much as the victorious Potuans gain'd by
the Conqueft, fo much they loft of their
ancient Renown; the Love of the border-
ing Nations was now chang'd into Dread
and Jealoufy; and that high Idea of their
Juftice, by which the State grew into Re-
putation, was now vaniſh'd. The Potuans
finding this, to regain the loft Affections
of their angry Neighbours, branded the
Memory of the deceas'd Prince with this
Mark of Infamy. What the Crime of the
• other indifferent Prince was, is not altoge-
ther fo clear.
Their publick Doctors or Teachers are
fuch as have attain'd to the third Age. To
explain this it muſt be obferv'd, that here.
Life is divided into three Ages. The first
is that in which they are inftructed in pub-
lick Affairs. In the fecond they publickly
purſue and exerciſe what they have learnt.
And in the third, being honourably dif
mifs'd from their Employments, they then
take upon them the Inftruction of the Ju-
niors. Hence, none have a Right to teach
in publick but fuch as are grown old in the
Adminiftration of publick Affairs, fince
none are fo capable of laying down folid
·
Rules
World Under-Ground.
99
Rules as thoſe who have drawn their Know-
ledge from long Experience.
If any one already infamous for the Im-
morality of his Life fhould however give
wholeſome Advice to the State, the Name
of the Perfon is fupprefs'd, left it ſhould
lofe its Effect from the Character of its
Author, and the Decree purfuant to ſuch
Advice is fhelter'd under the Name of fome
more honourable Perfon. Thus the good
Opinion is known, and the bad Author
conceal'd.
I was inform'd, that with respect to Reli
gion, it was prohibited to diſpute about the
prime Articles of Faith, particularly about
the Effence and Attributes of the Deity.
But as to all other Points, it is free for every
one to propoſe their Opinions and engage in
Controverfies. For, fay they, the Incon-
veniences which arife from fuch Conten-
tions may be compar'd to Storms, which
indeed throw down Houſes, but at the fame
Time cleanſe the Air, and prevent that
Putrefaction which would arife from a ftag-
nant Atmoſphere. The Reafon of their
having few Holidays, is, left a Spirit of Idle-
neſs ſhould creep upon them; for the Potu-
ans believe that good People as duly worſhip
God when employ'd in uſeful Labours, as
they do by Vows and Prayers.
The Study of Poetry meets with but cold
Encouragement; yet they are not altoge-
ther deftitute of Poets. But the fubterra-
nean Poetry differs from Profe only in the
F 2
Subli-
100 A JOURNEY to the
Sublimity of Style; and they receiv'd what
I told them concerning our Rhime and
Meaſure with the utmoft Derifion.
Among the Potuan Doctors fome are call'd
Profeffors of Tafte. It is their Province to
fee that the Minds of the Youth are not
employ'd in fenfelefs Controverfies and
Things of no Ufe; to take Care that no
trivial and vulgar Writings get abroad to
poifon and debauch the Tafte; and to fup-
prefs or blot out from every Book whatever
is writ in Defiance of common Senfe. And
to this End alone certain Perfons are ap-
pointed to revife and cenfure Books; far
otherwiſe than it is in our World, where
the Licenſers of Books fhall fupprefs the
very beſt, only perhaps becauſe they deviate
fomething from the reigning Opinions, from
the receiv'd Manner of Expreffion, or be-
cauſe they laſh the Vices of the Age with
too ftrong a Sincerity, and too fine a Viva-
city. By this Means, great Geniuſes are
in a Manner fuffocated and ftifled, and
Writings of a good Stamp are for ever bu-
ried. But yet, as the Potuans have a free
Commerce with the Neighbour Nations,
among other Commodities, fome Books of a
poor and trivial Turn will creep abroad.
Upon which Account Cenfors are appointed
by the State, who from Time to Time vi-
fit the Bookſellers Shops. Theſe are call'd
Syla-Macati, that is, Purgers of Bookfellers
Shops. For as among us there is a certain
Sort of Men, who bruſh and cleanſe our
Chimnies
World Under-Ground.
ΙΟΙ
Chimnies once a Year, fo thoſe Cenſors,
who pry and examine into the Books that
are put to Sale, cleanfe away all the Dregs,
that is, fuch Books, or Parts of Books, as
would deprave the Tafte, and convey them
to the Jaques. Blefs me! faid I to myſelf,
What Havock would be made among our
Books, if fuch an Inftitution were to take
Place among us!
But what cannot be enough commended,
is the Care they take in founding the Ge-
nius of their Youth, in order to know
what Courfe of Life they will be fitteſt for.
For as in Mufick a judicious Ear diftin-
guiſhes every little Sound; in the fame Man-
ner thefe piercing Judges of the Virtues and
Vices of the Mind, form their Sentiments
from fome ſeemingly inconfiderable Hints,
from perhaps a Caft of the Eye, from a
Frown, from Dejection, Mirth, Laughter,
Speech, and even Silence. 'Tis by theſe
Things they eafily know every one's Pro-
penfity, and alfo what is contrary to his
Conftitution.
But to return to what concerns myſelf. I
pafs'd my Time, it may be well imagin'd,
not in the moft agreeable Manner with
theſe paradoxical Trees, who treated me
with Difdain upon Account of that too for-
ward and unfettled Judgment which they
imputed to me. I grew impatient under
thofe Scoffs they were ever flinging out; for
they even went fo far, as to give me the
Nick-name of Skabba, which in their Lan-
F 3
guage
102
A JOURNEY to the
guage fignifies over-bafty. But what cha
grin'd me moft, was that my very Laun-
drefs, tho' of the Dregs of the Populace,
and one of the most miferable and indigent
Trees herfelf, did not even fcruple to call
me by that Name of Reproach.
CHAP. IX.
The Author's Journey round the Planet
NAZAR.
H
AVING continued in the unpleafing
Employment of King's Meffenger
for two whole Years, and carry'd the Royal
Mandates and Letters Patents to every Pro-
vince of the Empire, I at laft grew tir'd of
fo troubleſome and fo unworthy an Office,
Accordingly I again and again petition'd his
Serene Highnefs to grant me an honourable
Difmiffion, and at the fame Time follicited
a more reputable Employment. But I met
with nothing but Repulfes from his High-
nefs, whoſe conftant Reply was, that a more
important Office was above my Strength
and Capacity. He alledg'd alfo, that the
Laws and Cuftoms of the Country were
Death to my Hopes, in that they admitted
only fit and proper Perſons to the most emi-
nent and arduous Pofts of Government;
that therefore I muft make a Virtue of Ne-
ceffity, and reft myfelf contented, till I had
done
World Under-Ground.
103
done fomething to merit better Fortune.
He concluded his Advice in Terms like
thoſe of the Poet,
Metiri fe quemque fuo modulo ac pede fas eft.
E coelo magnum defcendit Nofce teipfum,
Figendum ac memori tractandum pectore.
-
Theſe repeated Refufals were enough to
throw me upon the moſt daring and defpe-
rate Defigns. From that Day forward my
Invention was upon the Rack to produce
fomething, that fhould demonftrate the Ex-
cellence of my Genius, and wipe away my
prefent Infamy. Accordingly, for a whole
Year I ftudy'd the Laws and Customs of
the Country with an invincible Application,
refolv'd to diſcover, whether there were in
them any Defects that requir'd a Reforma-
tion. I open'd my Deſign to a certain Bufh,
with whom I had contracted a clofe Inti-
macy, and with whom I us'd to converfe
very freely upon all Subjects, whether grave
or gay. He thought my Defign not altoge-
ther abfurd, but extremely queſtion'd, whe-
ther it would be of any Service to the
State. He added, that it should be the
Care of a Reformer, to be a thorough Ma-
fter of the Nature and Genius of the Coun-
try he intends to reform; becauſe the ſame
Thing might, in different Countries, pro-
duce different Effects, as the fame Medicine
may be good for fome Bodies, and perni-
cious to others. He likewife inform'd me
of the Danger I expos'd myfelf to in this
Experi-
F 4
啡
​104
A JOURNEY to the
Experiment, that no less than my Life depend-
ed on it, which muſt be a Forfeit to the State,
fhould my Project have the Misfortune to
be condemn'd by the Judges. He therefore
ardently intreated me to beftow a little more
Reflexion on this Affair; tho' he did not
plainly diffuade me from my Attempt, fince
he thought it not impoffible, that a Sagacity,
like mine, might at length difcover fome-
thing ufeful, as well to myfelf, as to the
State. I took the Advice of my Friend,
and for a Time laid afide my Scheme, and
with a laudable Patience continued to dif
charge my Duty, by vifiting the various
Cities and Provinces of the Kingdom after
the ufual Manner. Thefe repeated Expe-
ditions furnish'd me with an Opportunity
of making Enquiries into the State of the
Kingdom, as well as that of the bordering
Nations; and left what I had obferv'd in
my Travels fhould eſcape my Memory, I
penn'd it all down, and making a little Vo-
lume of it, humbly prefented it to the
Prince. How much his Serene Highness was
taken with this Work appear'd afterward,
by his doing me the Honour to commend
my Labours in full Senate; and having
again attentively perus'd my Book, he was
pleas'd to make ufe of my Services in a far-
ther Diſcovery of the whole Planet Nazar.
I expected a different Recompence for my
Labours, but was forc'd to fay with the
Poet,
Virtus laudatur & alget.
But
World Under-Ground.
105
But fince I was fond of Novelty, and had
Hopes that fo bountiful a Prince would ne-
ver leave me unrewarded after my Return,
1 fet about the Work with a good Degree
of Pleaſure.
are
ut-
The whole Globe of the Planet Nazar,
altho' ſcarce fix hundred Miles in Circum-
ference, yet to the Inhabitants appears of an
immenfe Extent, by Reafon of the Slow-
neſs of their Motion. And hence to this
Day a great many Countries, and parti-
cularly the more remote ones,
terly unknown to the Natives. A Potuan
would hardly be able to travel over this
Globe on foot in two Years. But what
embarraſs'd me moft, was the Fear I had
that a Variety of Languages would put me
to great Difficulties. But I was foon unde-
ceiv'd, and reviv'd to hear, that the Inha-
bitants of the whole Planet, tho' wonder-
fully different in their Manners, yet all
ſpoke the fame Tongue; and befides this,
that the whole Race of Trees were in the
main harmleſs, fociable, and beneficent Be-
ings, fo that I might, without the leaft
Danger, make the Tour of the whole
Globe. This redoubled my Ardour, and
in the Month of Poplars I began my
Journey.
What follows is fo marvellous, that it
looks more like a poetic Fiction, or the
Chimæras of ungovern'd Fancy, than Rea-
lity and Truth; efpecially fince thofe Varie-
ties, both of Body Mind, which in this
Journey
F 5
106 A JOURNEY to the
Journey I met with, are fuch as one would
never expect to find between the moft dif-
tant Nations. It must be obſerv'd, that
many Kingdoms here are feparated from
each other by Seas and Straits, not unlike
the Archipelago in Europe. Thefe Straits are
feldom crofs'd; but for the Benefit of Tra-
vellers, there are certain Ferrymen that
keep their Stations on the Banks in Readi-
nefs to tranſport the Paffengers. It is very
rare, that the Natives ever venture beyond
the Limits of their own Country; and if
compell'd, by Neceffity, to make a Voyage,
they foon return, as if impatient of a fo-
reign Soil.
Hence, as many Nations as
there are, you ſee ſo many new Worlds in a
Manner. The principal Caufe of this vaft
Diffimilitude, is the different Nature of the
Lands, as appears from the various Colours
on the Surface, and from the furprizing
Difference between the Plants, Herbs, and
Fruits; it is the lefs Wonder, therefore, if
with that Diverfity of the Soil, and the
Products of it, there fhould alſo be found a
no lefs furprizing Variety of Inhabitants,
and even oppofite Natures and Tempers.
In our World, indeed, even Nations the
moft remote, differ very little from each
other in Genius, Manners, Learning, Shape
and Colour. For fince the Nature of the
Earth is almoft every where the ſame, ex-
cept that one Part is more fruitful than an-
other, and fince the Nature of our Plants,
Herbs, and Water, is nearly the fame every
where,
2
World Under-Ground.
707
where, hence nothing heterogeneous or un-
common is produc'd, as in this fubterranean
Planet, where every Tract of Land has its
own peculiar Property. Strangers are al-
low'd to trade and travel, but not to ſettle
out of their own Country; nor, indeed, could
fuch a Liberty be well granted, confidering
the great Diverfity and Oppofition of Na-
tures between each other. Hence all Fo-
reigners that you meet with, are either Mer-
chants or Travellers. The Countries which
border upon the Potuan Dominions, are
nearly of the fame Nature with them.
Their Inhabitants were formerly often at
War with the Potuans; but at this Day
they are either in Alliance with them, or
having been fubdued, they now reft con-
tented in their Subjection to ſo mild a Power.
But if you once croſs the great Sea, which
divides their whole Globe, new Scenes pre-
fent themſelves, together with new and
ftrange Creatures unknown to the Potuans.
One only Thing they have in common,
and that is, that all the Creatures of this
Globe are rational Trees, and all ufe the
fame Dialect. This makes Travelling very
pleaſant, eſpecially as the Merchants and.
Foreigners, perpetually paffing thro' every
Province, give People an Opportunity of
feeing Creatures extreamly ftrange and un-
like themſelves. Thus much I thought
proper to premife, left tender Ears fhould
be offended with the fubfequent Narration,
and.
108 A JOURNEY to the
and the Author reproach'd with Want of
Veracity.
It would be a tireſome and an unprofita-
ble Taſk, to recount every Thing fingly,
and in exact hiftorical Order, that I met
with in my Travels. Let it fuffice, that I
give an Account of thofe particular People
only, whofe Character, Defcription, and
Manners have fomething fo unuſual and
marvellous in them, that upon their Ac-
count this Planet of Nazar may be reckon'd
one of the principal Prodigies of the Uni-
verfe. I muft here call to Mind an Obfer-
vation I have before made, that this whole
Race and Country of rational Trees differ
very little in Senfe and Judgment from the
Potuans; but in their Rites and Cuftoms,
in their Make and Temper, there is fo
much Diverſity, that every Province you
would fwear to be a new World.
In the Province of Quamfo, which is the
first beyond the Sea, the Inhabitants are
fubject to no Infirmities or Diſeaſes of Bo-
dy, but each enjoys a perfect Health from
Youth to lateſt Age. I could not help
thinking them the moft happy of Mortals.
But upon a flight Acquaintance with them,
I found myſelf infinitely miſtaken. For as,
upon one Hand, I faw nobody fad or for-
rowful; fo upon the other, I faw nobody
pleas'd and joyful. For as we never highly
reliſh the Serenity of the Heavens, and the
Weather, unless we have been fenfible of
the Hardſhips of a different Temperature
of
World Under-Ground.
10g
of the Air ; fo theſe Trees tafte no
Felicity, becauſe it is perpetual and unin-
terrupted, and never know the Pleaſure of
Health, for want of knowing the Mifery of
Diſeaſes. Their Life is one eternal Indo-
lence. Their Enjoyments are never exqui-
fite, and thofe alone can tafte the Sweets
of Life, who have their Pleaſures feafon'd
with a little Pain. I proteft, that I never
found, in any Country upon the Face of
the Earth, fuch lifelefs Creatures, or fuch
cold and infipid Converfations. The Peo-
ple are harmleſs, but deferve neither your
Love or Hatred. You fear no Affront,
and you expect no Favour, In a Word,
here is nothing either to pleaſe or diſpleaſe.
Befides, as that continual Health never
brings the Image of Death before their Eyes,
nor ever moves their Concern towards the
Afflicted and Difeafed, fo they pafs their
Days in dull Security, and never know the
generous Warmths of Pity and Compaffion;
nor do the leaft Footfteps of Love, or any
fuch tender Affection appear there. In
Truth, Diſeaſes remind us of our Mortality,
excite us to die well, and keep the Soul as
it were equipt for its Journey to that World
from whence none return; and as they af-
flict us with Pain, fo they inſpire a Sym-
pathy towards others when afflicted.
leads one eafily to difcern how much Difeafes,
and the Danger of dying, contribute to
Charity, Love, and all the focial Affections,
and that thofe People unjuftly complain of
This
their
110 A JOURNEY to the
their Creator for appointing theſe Afflic-
tions, which are fo full of real Advantage..
It must be obferv'd, that thefe Trees, as
often as they remove into other Places, are
expos'd to the fame Evils and Caſualties of
Life that others are. This is a Proof to
me, that they are indebted to the Climate
for this peculiar Advantage, if indeed it
can be call'd an Advantage.
The Province of Lalac, furnam'd Maf
catta, or the Bleft, feems to correſpond with
its Name; for there the Earth produces all
Things fpontaneouſly.
Flumina jam lactis, jam flumina Nectaris
ibant,
Flavaque de viridi ftillabant ilice mella:
Ipfa quoque immunis, raftroque intacta, nec
ullis
Saucia vomeribus, per fe dabat omnia tellus.
But this extraordinary Circumſtance does
not render the Natives one Jot happier.
For as there is no Need of Labour to pro-
cure their daily Suftenance, they spend their
Days in Softneſs, Sloth, and Luxury, and.
fo lay the Foundation of innumerable Dif
eafes, and untimely Deaths. The Nature
of this Country affords ample Matter for
our ferious Reflexion; in particular it ap-
pears, from the Condition of the People,
that Huſbandmen, Servants and Labourers,
are far happier than thofe, who, free from
the Fatigue of providing for themſelves, are
devoted to Idlenefs and Pleaſure.
Nempe
World Under-Ground.
III
Nempe inamarefcunt epula fine fine petite,
Illufique pedes vitiofum ferre recufant
Corpus.
Hence follows a Train of vicious Actions,
deſperate Reſolutions, and violent Deaths,
which are here obferv'd to be very com-
mon. For the perpetual Affluence in which
they live, in Length of Time quite wears away
all Taſte and Senfe of Pleaſure, and almoſt
infallibly introduces a downright Loathing
of Life. Thus this Region, which appear'd.
at firft like the Abodes of the Bleft, was in
Reality the Seat of Sorrow, and more an.
Object of my Compaffion than my Envy.
Hoc celerare fugam, terrâque excedere juffit.
The next Province is that of Mardak;
they are Cypreſſes, all of the fame Form and
Height, and differ only from each other by
the different Make of their Eyes. Some
have long Eyes, fome fquare Eyes; fome
have ſmall ones, others have Eyes fo large
as to take up the whole Space of the Fore-
head. Some are born with two,- others
with three, and fome with four Eyes. There
are alſo thoſe who have only one Eye; and.
theſe might be reputed the Offspring of Po-
hyphemus, but that their one Eye is feated in
the hinder Part of the Head. And hence,
according to the different Shape of their
Eyes, they are divided into ſo many Tribes,
the Names of which are as follows:
1. Nagiri,
112
A JOURNEY to the
1. Nagiri, or thofe who have long Eyes,
and to whom confequently every Object ap-
pears long.
2. Naquiri, thofe who have fquare Eyes.
3. Talampi, the ſmall Eyes.
4. Jaraku, thoſe who have two Eyes,
one of which is more oblique than the
other.
5. Mehanki, three Eyes.
6. Tarrafuki, four Eyes.
7. Harramba, thofe whofe Eyes occupy
the Space of the whole Forehead.
8. Skadolki, thoſe who have only one Eye
in the hinder Part of the Head.
The most numerous, and of courſe the
moſt powerful Tribe, is that of the Nagiri,
or thoſe who have long Eyes, and to whom
confequently all Objects appear long. From
this Tribe are taken the Senators, the
Priefts, and all fuch as bear Office in the
State. Theſe fit at the Helm, nor do they ad-
mit any one from another Tribe to a Poft in
the Government, unless he fhall firft con-
feſs, and confirm his Confeffion with an
Oath, that a certain Tablet, dedicated to
the Sun, and plac'd in the most confpicu-
ous Part of the Temple, appears to him to
be long. This facred Tablet of the Sun
is the principal Object of the Mardakanian
Worſhip. Hence the honefter Part of the
Citizens, who ftart at Perjury, are exclu-
ded from all publick Honours, and what is
worſe, are expos'd to a thouſand Sneers,
Railleries, and even Perfecutions; and tho'
they
World Under-Ground.
113
they over and over proteft, that they can-
not diſbelieve their Eyes, they are ftill com-
plain'd of, and what is only a Fault of Na-
ture, is imputed to their Obftinacy and
Malice,
The Form of the Oath, which all, who
are admitted to publick Employments and
Honours, are forc'd to fubfcribe to, is this,
Kaka manafca quihompu miriac Jacku me
fimbrii Caphani Črukkia Manaſcar quebriac
Krufundora.
That is, I A. B. do fwear, that the fa-
cred Tablet of the Sun appears to me to be
long, and I promife that I will perfift in
this Opinion to my laſt Breath.
After this Oath, they are declar'd fit for
the Service of the State, and are incorpo-
rated into the Tribe of the Nagiri.
The Day after my Arrival, as I was faun-
tring in the Market-Place, I beheld an old
Man, whom they were hurrying away to
be fcourg'd. A large Croud of Cypreffes
follow'd him, with Scoffs and Revilings.
Upon my inquiring the Caufe, I was in-
form'd, that he was a Heretick, who open-
ly taught, that the Tablet of the Sun feem'd
to him to be ſquare; and in that diabolical
Opinion he had obftinately perfifted, after
repeated Admonitions.
This rous'd my Curiofity to go to the
Temple, and try whether I had orthodox
Eyes or no. I examin'd the aforefaid Ta-
blet with all the Eyes I had, and really it
appear'd fquare to me. This I ingenuously
told
114 A JOURNEY to the
told my Hoft, who at that Time had the
Poft of Edile. With that he fetch'd a
deep Sigh, and confefs'd to me, that it ap-
pear'd fquare to him too, but that he dare
not fay fo publickly, for fear of being dif-
poffefs'd of his Employment by the govern-
ing Tribe.
And
All pale and trembling I left this execra-
ble City, fearing left my Back muſt expiate
the Crime of my Eyes, or left branded-
with the Title of Heretick, I fhould be
fent with Ignominy out of their Domi-
nions. In Truth, no Inftitution ever ap-
pear'd more horrid, barbarous, and unjuft,
than this, where Hypocrifies and Perjuries
alone are the Avenues to Preferment.
when I return'd to the Potuans, I took
every Opportunity to exprefs my Indigna-
tion against that deteftable Race of People.
But while I was in one of my angry Moods,
and venting my Spleen according to Cuf
tom, a certain Juniper Tree, with whom I
had liv'd in a good Degree of Intimacy,
made me this Anfwer: It is true, fays
"he, that the Conduct of the Nagini will
"always appear abfurd and iniquitous to
"the Potuans; but to you it fhould not
"feem at all ftrange, that this Diverſity of
"Eyes fhould caufe fuch Cruelties, becaufe
"you have formerly affur'd me, that in
"moſt of the European Dominions there
"are governing Tribes, which fall upon
"the reft with Fire and Sword, upon Ac-
"count of fome Defect, not of their Eyes
indeed,
World Under-Ground.
115
"indeed, but of their Reafon; and you
"yourfelf extoll'd fuch a Proceeding as a
"pious Act, and of Advantage to the Go-
"vernment.”
I prefently underſtood the
Drift of this Obfervation, and blufht for
Shame. I left him foon, and was ever after
a ftanch Advocate for Toleration, and en-
tertain'd milder Sentiments of People under
Error.
Kimal, the next Principality, is account-.
ed the moſt potent, by reaſon of its immenfe
Wealth. For befides the Silver Mines,
which are there in great Abundance, vaft
Quantities of Gold are gather'd from among
the Sands of their Rivers. Their Seas too
And yet
afford the most coftly Pearls.
upon a due Examination of this Country, I
could diſcover, that Happiness did not con-
ſiſt in Wealth alone. For as many Inhabi-
tants, fo many Divers and Diggers there
were, who, bent upon Gain, feem'd con-
demn'd to perpetual Slavery, and fuch a
Slavery as one would think was fit only for
Criminals. Thoſe who are rich enough to
be exempted from thefe Toils, are oblig'd
to keep conftant Watch. The whole Coun
try is fo infefted with Thieves and Robbers,
that it is not ſafe to go without a Guard.
Non tam fefta dies, ut ceffet prodere furem,
Perfidiam, fraudes, atq; omni ex crimine lucrum.
Vivitur ex rapto; non hofpes ab hofpite tutus,
Non focer a genero, fratrum quoque gratia.
kara eft.
Filius
116
A JOURNEY to the
Filius ante diem patrios inquirit in annos ;
Victa jacet pietas, & virgo cæde madentes
Ultima cæleftum terras Aftræa reliquit.
Hence this Nation, beheld with envious.
Eyes by their Neighbours, drew Pity from
me more than Envy. Fear, Jealoufy, Suf-
picion, and Diftruft, reign in every Mind,
and each looks upon his Neighbour as a de-
figning Enemy. So that endleſs Solicitude,
wafting Cares, and pallid Complexions, are
the Fruits of the boafted Felicity of this
Province. It was not without Anxiety I
travell'd over this Region; for in every
Road, and upon every Frontier, I was
oblig'd to give an Account of my Buſineſs,
Name, and Country, to the Guards and
Examiners, and I found myfelf expos'd to
all thoſe Vexations which Travellers expe-
rience in Countries that are jealous of Stran-
gers. There is a Volcano, or burning
Mountain, in this Province, from whence
afcend perpetual Whirlwinds of Fire.
After having run over this Principality,
and that with more Trouble than I experi-
enc'd throughout my whole Journey, I
purfued my Čourfe full Eaft. I every where
found the Inhabitants fociable and well-
behav'd, but extremely paradoxical. The
Natives of the little Kingdom of Quamboia
furpriz'd me most. There the Order of
Nature is inverted. The more the Natives
advance in Years, the more wanton and
voluptuous they grow; and Age produces
fuch
World Under-Ground.
117
fuch fantaſtic Vices, and fuch lafcivious
Freaks, as Youth alone, in every other
Place, is guilty of. Here none are intruſted
with the Cares of State, unless they are
under forty Years of Age. When they
exceed this Term, they are too giddy for
Bufinefs, like Children,
Quos dura premit cuftodia matrum.
I ſaw here the Aged frifking and gambe-
ling in the Streets like Boys, and ſpending
their Time in puerile Diverfions. They
did, as the Poet fays,
Edificare cafas, ploftello adjungere mures,
Ludere par impar, equitare in arundine longa.
While on the other Hand the Youths took
the Liberty to reprove them, and fometimes
drive them home before them with a Whip.
I faw an old decrepit Male Tree whipping
a Top in the Market-Place, and was in-
form'd he was fome Years ago a Perſon of
very great Confequence, no lefs than Prefi-
dent of the Grand Council. This inverted
Order obtain'd alfo in the weaker Sex.
Hence, when a certain Youth was to be
marry'd to an old Lady, all were of Opi-
nion he muſt undergo the Fate of Aftein;
which is diametrically oppofite to what hap-
pens among us, where if an old Man has a
Mind for a young Bride, he has ample
Reaſon to fear an Injury of that Sort. Once
I remember I met two old Bald-Heads en-
gag'd in a Duel. Amaz'd to find fuch Vi-
2
gour
118
A JOURNEY to the
gour at fuch an Age, I enquir'd the Caufe
of this Duel, and was told, that the Quar-
rel aroſe about a Miſtreſs they had met with
at one of their Haunts, and who had equal-
ly pleas'd them both. They who told me
this, added, that if the Governors of theſe
two old Sinners were to know of their Dif-
ference, their Backs would be fure to ſmart
for it. The fame Evening a Report flew
about, that a certain venerable Matron had
hang'd herſelf for Defpair, becauſe ſhe had
met with a Repulfe from a young Beech the
was enamour'd of.
This inverted Order of Nature demands
of courfe an Inverfion of the Laws. Hence,
in that Chapter of the Law which treats
of Guardianſhip, it is enacted, That the Ad-
miniftration of Goods fhall not be granted
to any one, unleſs he be under forty Years
of Age. Moreover, Contracts are deem'd
ineffectual, if enter'd into by Perfons above
Forty, unleſs fuch Contracts are fign'd by
their Tutors or Children. In the Chapter
concerning Subordination, there is this Injunc-
tion, Let the Aged of both Sexes be obedient to
their Children. Every Perfon in Office is
always difmifs'd before he arrives to the
Age of Forty.
Interdicto buic omne adimat jus
Prætor, & ad juvenes abeat tutela propinquos.
+
I did not think it convenient to continue
longer in this Place, where if I had hap-
pen'd
World Under-Ground,
119
pen'd to have ftay'd but ten Years, I must
have been oblig'd by Law to become a Child
again.
In the Province of Cocklecu there is a very
perverſe Cuſtom, and fuch as would be
highly condemn'd among us. The Order
of Things is indeed inverted, but the Fault
is not owing to Nature, but folely to the
Laws. The Natives are all Junipers of
both Sexes: But the Males alone perform
the Drudgery of the Kitchen, and every
fuch ignoble Labour. In Time of War
indeed, they ferve their Country, but rarely
rife above the Rank of common Soldiers.
Some few get to be Enfigns, which is the
very higheſt military Honour the Males ever
arrive to. The Females, on the other
Hand, are in Poffeffion of all Honours and
Employments facred, civil, or military. I
had lately derided the Potuans for obferving
no Difference of Sex in the Diſtribution
of publick Offices: But that was nothing to
the Phrenzy of this People. I could not
conceive the Meaning of ſo much Indolence
in the Males, who, tho' of far fuperior
Strength of Body, could yet fo tamely ſub-
mit to fuch a Yoke, and for Ages toge-
ther digeft fuch an Ignominy. For it would
have been very eafy, at any Time, to have
freed themſelves from fo fhameful a Tyran-
ny. But long and ancient Cuſtom had fo
blinded them, that none ever thought of
attempting to remove fuch a Disgrace, but
quietly believ'd it was Nature's Appoint-
ment,
120
A JOURNEY to the
▼
ment, that the Government fhould be lodg'd
in Female Hands, and that it was the Bufi-
neſs of the other Sex to ſpin, to weave, to
clean the Houſe, and upon Occafion take a
Beating from their Wives. The Argu-
ments, by which the Ladies juftify'd this
Cuſtom, were thefe: That as Nature had
furniſh'd the Males with greater Strength of
Body, her Intention in that could only be
to deftine them to the more laborious and
fervile Duties of Life. Strangers are amaz'd,
when going into a Houſe they ſee the Mif-
trefs of the Family in the Compting-Houfe,
with a Pen in her Hand, and her Books be-
fore her, and at the fame Time find her
Hufband in the Kitchen fcouring the Diſhes.
And, indeed, whatever Houſe I went to,
if I enquir'd for the Mafter of the Family,
I was still conducted into the Kitchin.
Hic lavet argentum, vafa afpera tergeat alter ;
Vox domina fremit inftantis virgamque tenentis.
·
Horrible were the Effects of this unnatural
Cuftom. For as in other Countries there
are abandon'd Women, who proſtitute
themſelves for Hire, fo here the young Men
fell their Favours, and to that End hire
fome Houſe of Pleafure, which fhall be
eafily known, either by a Writing over it,
or fome other infallible Sign. And when
the Men drive this wicked Trade with too
great Effrontery, and in too barefac'd a
Manner, they are had to Prifon, and whipt
like our Street-Walkers. On the other
Hand,
World Under-Ground.
120
Hand, the Matrons and Virgins here, with-
out the leaft Reproach, can prowl up and
down, gaze at the young Fellows, nod,
whiſtle, tip the Wink, pluck them by the
Sleeve, importune them, write Love-Verfes
upon their Doors, boaft of their Conqueſts,
and reckon up their Gallantries with as,
much Satisfaction as the fine Gentlemen of
our World entertain you with their Amours.
Moreover, it is no Crime for the Ladies
here to make amorous Poems, and fend
Preſents to the Youths; who, on the con-
trary, counterfeit Coynefs and Modefty, as
knowing it indecent to furrender to a Lady
upon the firſt Summons. There was at the
Time I was there, a mighty Disturbance
about a noble Youth, the Son of a Senator,
who had been raviſh'd by a young Woman.
I heard, that it was whifper'd among the
Friends of the injur'd Youth, that a Suit
would be commenc'd againſt the Raviſher,
and that at the next Confiftory Court fhe
would be ſentenc'd to repair the Dishonour
by Marriage, fince it could be indubitably
prov'd, that he was a Perſon of an innocent
Life and Converfation. During my Stay
here, I had not the Courage openly to con-
demn this deprav'd Cuftom: But upon my
leaving the City, I told feveral, that thefe
Junipers acted in downright Contradiction
to Nature, fince from the univerfal Voice
and Confent of Nations it was evident, that
the Males alone were form'd for all the är-
duous and important Affairs of Life. To
G
this
T22
A JOURNEY to the
this they reply'd, that I confounded Cuſtom
with Nature, fince the Weakness we im-
pute to the Female Sex is deriv'd folely from
Education. This is clear, from the Form
of Government eſtabliſh'd at Cocklecu, where
in that Sex you find all the Virtues, and
large Endowments of Mind, which the maſ-
culine Sex, in other Places, arrogate to
themſelves. For the Cocklecuanian Women
are grave, prudent, conftant, and fecret.
The Men, on the contrary, are light, emp-
ty, frothy Creatures. Hence, when any
Thing abfurd is related, the common Say-
ing is, That's a manly Trifle. Again, when
any Thing is done rafhly and unthinkingly,
the Proverb is, We must make Allowances for
manly Weakness. Notwithſtanding this, I
could not acquiefce in thefe Arguments, be-
ing thoroughly convinc'd of the Improprie-
ty and Deformity of this Cuftom. The
Indignation I conceiv'd againſt fo much
Female Pride and Infolence, gave Birth to
an unfortunate Defign, which I put in Ex-
ecution foon after my Travels, as in its
proper Place fhall be related.
Among the ſumptuous Edifices of this
City, the moſt admirable was the Royal Se-
raglio, the Refidence of three hundred
Youths of exquifite Beauty. They were
all maintain'd at the Expence of the Queen,
and kept for her private Pleaſures. As I
happen'd to hear, that my Perſon was much
commended, I was afraid of being clapp'd
up
World Under-Ground.
123
up in the Seraglio, and hurry'd away with
all imaginable Hafte.
Pedibus metus addidit alas.
From this Place I proceeded to the Philo-
fophical Region, fo ftyl'd from the Inhabi-
tants, who are continually bury'd in the
profound Speculations of Philofophy. I was
all on Fire to ſee this Country, which I fan-
cy'd muſt be the Center of Sciences, and
the true Seat of the Muſes. Inſtead of vul-
gar Fields and Meadows, I expected to find
one continued lovely Garden; and in this
Imagination I haſten'd my Pace, and count-
ed the Hours and Minutes as they flew.
However, the Ways thro' which I pafs'd
were very ftony, with every now and then
a Ditch or Cavern, infomuch that ſome-
times I was forc'd to go thro' a Length of
craggy Way, and fometimes thro' miry
Bogs, where for want of Bridges, I was
oblig'd to wade thro', and drag my weary
Limbs after me, quite dirty'd to the Waiſt:
Yet I fortify'd myſelf againſt theſe Acci-
dents, with all the confoling Arguments I
could think of. While for a full our I
had been labouring under thefe Difficulties,
I met a Peafant, of whom I inquir'd how
far I had to Mafcattia, or the Philofophical
Province. He reply'd, I ought rather to cfk
him, how much there was left of the Journey,
Since I was in the very Heart of the Place.
Amaz'd at this Anfwer, How is it poffible,
ſaid I, that a Land inhabited only by Philofo-
G 2
phers
124 A JOURNEY to the
phers ſhould appear rather like the Haunts of
favage Beafts, than like a cultivated Country?
He return'd, That in a little Time Things
would have a better Face, as foon as ever the
Natives could get Time to think upon fuch
Trifles. At this prefent, fays he, we are
all folely intent upon an extraordinary Difco-
very, no less than that of a Paffage to the
Sun; that therefore it was very excufable to
leave the Soil to itself, it being impoffible to
do two Things at once. I preſently under-
ftood the Drift of this cunning Country-
man's Difcourfe; and purfuing my Jour-
ney, I at laſt arriv'd at the Metropolitan
City Caska. In and about the Gates, in-
ftead of Guards and Centinels, I faw only
a few tame Fowl, and upon the Walls
Heaps of Birds-Nefts and Cobwebs. Phi-
lofophers and Swine indifferently walk'd the
Streets, nor was the one diftinguifh'd from
the other but by Shape, being otherwife
perfectly alike in Dirt and Nattinefs.
Philofophers had all Cloaks of the fame.
Form, but what the Colour was, I could
not difcern for the Duft upon them. There
was one quite bury'd in Thought coming
directly towards me; and meeting him,
Pray, Sir, fays I, what may be the Name of
this City? At this he paus'd, and for a
Time continued as immoveable as if he had
no Life in him; at laft, fays he, turning
his Eyes upwards, 'Tis almoft Noon. An
Anfwer fo foreign to the Purpoſe, was a
Demonftration of great Abſence of Mind,
and
World Under-Ground,
125
•
and convinc'd me, that it was better to ftu-
dy ſparingly, than to run mad with too
much Learning. I proceeded directly to
the Center of the City, to fee, if befide
Philofophers, I could have the good Luck
to meet with a reaſonable Creature. The
Forum of the City, which was very ſpacious,
was adorn'd with Statues and Columns. I
was endeavouring to read the Inſcription
upon one of them, and being thus employ'd,
fuddenly I felt my Back grow warm and
moift. Turning my Head, to fee from
whence this warm Shower proceeded, I
faw a Philofopher making Water againſt
me. For being bury'd in profound Thought,
he had taken me for one of the Statues there,
that are us'd for Neceffities of this Kind.
Stung to the Soul with fuch an Affront, efpe-
cially as the Philofopher, inftead of apolo-
gizing for the Miftake, only laugh'd in my
Face, I gave him a ſmart Box on the Ear.
Enrag'd at this, he fell upon me, feiz'd me
by the Hair, and dragg'd me round the
Forum. But when I found there was no
Proſpect of appeafing his Wrath, I endea-
vour'd to make Reprifals upon him with
all my Might and Vigour; and I believe,
with Regard to our Blows, the Receipts
and Diſburſements might be pretty equal on
both Sides. At length, after a long Con-
teft, we both fell upon the Ground. At
this Spectacle, a Croud of Philofophers
flock'd from all Parts, and with inexpreffi-
ble Fury fell upon me with their Fifts and
G 3
Sticks,
126
A JOURNEY to the
Sticks, and then once more dragg'd me by
the Hair all round the Market; inſomuch
that I was juſt upon the Point of giving up
the Ghoft. At last, rather tir'd than fa-
tiated, they left off beating me, and brought
me to a ſpacious Houfe, where when I
ftruggled againſt the Door with both my
Feet, and vow'd I would not enter, Mef-
fieurs the Philofophers threw a Rope round
my Neck, and tugging me in, like an Ox
at a Slaughter-Houfe, they fell'd me flat
upon the Floor. The Houfe, and all Things
in it, were in the utmoft Confuſion, and
not unlike the Diſorder People are in at
Lady-Day or Michaelmas, when they are
moving Houfe. I then humbly intreated
theſe wife Men to put an End to their Re-
fentment, and fuffer themfelves to be mov'd
to Pity and Compaffion, reprefenting to
them how little for the Honour of Philofo-
phy it was to abandon themſelves to a blind
Rage, and give a Loofe to thofe very Paffions
they are the forwardeſt to declaim against.
But I preach'd to the Winds. For that
very Philofopher, who had fo plentifully
water'd my Back, forthwith renew'd the
Fight, and redoubled his Blows upon me,
like a Smith upon an Anvil, as if nothing
but my Death could ftop his Fury. This
plainly taught me, that no Anger equals a
philofophical Anger; and that they who
can talk fo well upon the Beauty of Virtue,
care to practiſe it as little as any.
----Nea
World Under-Ground.
127
Pettore in hoc,
dullas.
Nec enim minor ira rebullit
leviorve exurit flamma me-
At length there came in four Philofophers,
the Form of whoſe Robes ſpoke them of a
fingular Order. They prefently appeas'd
the Uproar, and feem'd to commiferate. my
Fate; and after they had conferr'd apart,
they remov'd me to another Houſe. Glad
was I, that I had efcap'd thefe Barbarians,
and at laſt fallen into honeft Hands. They
enquir'd the Caufe of all this Tumult, and
I told them every Tittle. They ſmil'd at
fo pleaſant an Accident, telling me, that it
was a common Thing for the Philofophers
to make Water againſt the Statues, and
that probably my Antagoniſt, wholly ab-
forb'd in Meditation, had miftook me for
a Statue. They inform'd me likewiſe, that
that Perfon was an Aftronomer of great
Eminence, and that my other Perfecutors
were Profeffors of Moral Philoſophy. I
could now hear all this with Pleaſure, be-
lieving myſelf intirely out of Danger. Yet
one Thing alarm'd me mightily, and that
was the great Attention with which they
furvey'd my Form. Beſides, their reiterated
Queſtions concerning my Manner of Life,
my Country, and the Caufe of my Jour-
ney, together with the Whiſpers that en-
fued, gave me a violent Jealouſy. But,
good God! what Horror invaded my Soul,
when they conducted me into an Anatomy-
Chamber,
G. 4.
128
A JOURNEY to the
Chamber, where there was a frightful Hcap
of Bones and Carcafes upon the Floor, that
gave a Stench enough to poifon me. I
thought I was fallen into a Den of Thieves
and Murderers; but the anatomical Inftru-
ments which hung upon the Walls took
away that Fear, and convinc'd me, that my
Hoft muſt be a Phyfician, or a Surgeon.
Half an Hour was I left alone in this Place,
when a Matron enters with my Dinner.
She feem'd very humane, and eying me at-
tentively, he would every now and then
fetch a deep Sigh. Upon my enquiring the
Caufe of her Grief, the reply'd, that my
impending Fate drew thofe Sighs from her;
That I was indeed fallen into very honest
Hands, for my Husband, continues fhe, is
Lord of this Iſland, being publick Physician of
the City, and Profeffor of Medicine; and the
others you faw are his Collegues: But afto-
nifh'd at the extraordinary Make of your
Body, they have determin'd to examine the
inward Machinery of it, and to make a Dif
Section of you, in order to add fome new
Light to Anatomy. This Account threw
me into a moft violent Palpitation, and fet-
ting up a horrible Cry, Oh! how! Madam,
faid I, can you call them honest Men, who
make no Scruple to rip up the Bowels of an in-
nocent Perfon? To which the anſwered,
I fay again you are fallen into the Hands
of boneft Men, who will do nothing with a
bad Defign, and have refolv'd upon this Ope-
ration for the fole Illuftration of the Science of
Ang-
World Under-Ground.
129
ما
Anatomy. Alas! faid I, I had rather fall
into the Hands of Thieves and Murderers,
from whom I might poffibly make my Eſcape,
than be diffected by fuch very honest Gentle-
men; and immediately throwing myſelf at
her Feet, fhedding at the fame Time a
Flood of Tears, I implor'd her to intercede
for my Life. She told me, her Interceffion
would avail very little against the Refolution
of the Faculty, which was irrevocable; but
however, that ſhe would deliver me from
Death by fome other Means. With theſe
Words, fhe took me by the Hand, and
leading me thro' a back Door, brought me
as far as to the Gate of the City. Being
now ready to take my Leave of my Pre-
ferver, I endeavour'd to exprefs my Grati-
tude in the beft Language I was Maſter of;
but the preſently interrupted me, and telling
me fhe would not leave me till fhe faw me
out of all Danger, the continued to accom,
As we walk'd together, we en-
pany me.
ter'd into various Converfations concern-
ing the State of the Country, and I heard
her with the utmoft Avidity. But at length
ſhe made a Digreffion to a Circumſtance not
very agreeable to my Ears, and I conjec-
tur'd, that for her Services, the requir'd
fome Things of me which were morally im-
poffible. For fhe told me with the greateſt
Concern, that in this Country the Fate of
marry'd Ladies was extremely hard, for
that their philofophick Hufbands, immers'd
in Learning, neglected conjugal Duties.
G 5
For
130 A JOURNEY to the
For my Part, I proteft, fays fhe, with an
Oath, we should all be very wretched, if
now and then a good-natur'd, compaffionate
Stranger did not adminifter Comfort to us in
our Misfortunes, and occafionally apply a Re-
medy to them. I pretended not to under-
ftand this Harangue, and mended my Pace.
But this Coldness ferv'd only to enflame her.
Whereupon,
Confumptis precibus, violentam tranfit ad iram,
Intendenfque manus, paffis furibunda capillis,
fhe reproach'd me with Ingratitude. I ne-
vertheleſs continued my Pace, till at laſt ſhe
laid Hands upon my Cloaths, and endea-
vour'd to stop me. With that I forcibly
Atarted from her, and having vaſtly the Ad-
vantage of her in Swiftnefs, I quickly got
out of her Sight. One may judge of the
Extremity of the Rage fhe was in, by the
Words I could hear her pronounce, name-
ly, Kaki fpalaki, that is, ungrateful Dog.
digefted this Affront with a Spartan Noble-
nefs of Mind, and was glad at my Heart,
that I could any Way eſcape from this Land
of Philofophers, the bare Remembrance of
which fills me with Horror.
I
The next Province I arriv'd at, was
that of Nakir; the Capital of which is a
fine, large City of the fame Name. I can-
not fay much of this Place, becauſe I pafs'd
with the utmoft Hafte thro' the Countries.
adjoining to that I lately left, and long'd
to be among People lefs philofophically, and
eſpe-
World Under-Ground.
131
eſpecially lefs anatomically given. For fuch
a Terror had feiz'd me, that I could not
help afking every one I met, whether he
were a Philofopher; and even in my
Dreams, the Carcafes and Inftruments of
Diffection ſtill ſwam before me. The Na-
tives of Nakir were very courteous;
for
every one I met offer'd me his Service un-
afk'd, with long Atteftations of his Honour
and Honefty. I thought this very ridicu
lous, fince I fufpected none of them, nor
call'd their Integrity in Queftion. I ex-
prefs'd my Wonder at thefe Compliments,
and obferv'd, that I could not conceive to
what Purpoſe they were made; at which
they only renew'd their Proteftations of
Service with a thoufand Oaths. Leaving
this Place, I overtook a Traveller bending
beneath the Weight of his Burden. Seeing
me, he ftopt, and enquir'd whence I came.
When I told him I had pafs'd thro' the
Province of Nakir, he congratulated me
upon my Eſcape, affuring me, that the In-
habitants were a People famous for their
Skill in Tricking, and hardly a Traveller
pafs'd, but was their Prey. I anfwer'd, If
their Actions at all correfponded with their
Words, they must be People of the greateft
Honour, of which every one boafted ex-
tremely, and affur'd me of it with a Mul-
titude of Execrations. The Stranger fmi-
ling at thefe Words, Take Care, fays he,
of thofe who trumpet their own Virtues, and
especially of those who readily fend themselves
to
132
A JOURNEY to the
to the Devil to convince you. That Piece of
Advice I bury'd deep in my Mind, and I
have fince experienc'd that my Adviſer had
Reafon.
Be-
I now arriv'd at a Lake, the Waters of
which were of a yellowish Colour. On
the Bank there was a Veffel of three Ranks
of Oars, in which Paffengers, for a ſmall
Confideration, were ferry'd over into the
Land of Reafon. Having agreed for my
Paffage, I went aboard, and with the high-
eft Pleaſure imaginable began my Voyage,
inafmuch as I prefently obferv'd, that theſe
fubterranean Veffels are impell'd by fecret
Springs and Machines, which cleave the
Waters with an aftoniſhing Rapidity, and
all. without the Agency of Rowers.
ing landed on the other Side of the Lake, I
hir'd one of the Guides, which ply in the
feveral Ports, and. under his Conduct I tra-
vell'd on. In the mean Time my Guide
told me every Thing that related to the
Government of the City, and the Manners
of the People. I understood from him,
that they were all Logicians to a Man, and
that this City was the true Seat of Rea-
fon, from whence it had its Name. And
upon my Arrival, I found all he had told
me was true. Every Citizen from his eat
Penetration, and the Compofedneſs of his
Manners, had the Appearance of a Judge.
I could not forbear lifting my Hands to
Heaven, and crying out, Oh! infinitely
happy Country, where every Member is a
Cato.
World Under-Ground.
133
Cato. But when I had more accurately ex-
amin'd the Condition of the City, I ob-
ferv'd that Buſineſs went but dully on, and
that the Republick in a Manner languiſh'd
for want of Fools. For as their good Senſe
weighs every Thing in the jufteſt Balance,
and as not a Soul can be cajol'd by fpecious
Promiſes and ſtudied Words, it follows,
that all thoſe prudent Means and Methods,
by which the Minds of Subjects are excited
to the beſt and nobleft Actions, and that
too at the cheapeſt and eaſieſt Rate, muft
here lofe all their Efficacy. In fhort, the
bad Effects of ſuch an exact Knowledge of
Things were explain'd to me, and patheti-
cally lamented by the Super-Intendant of
the Treaſury. One Tree, fays he, is
"here diftinguiſh'd from another by no-
"thing else but his Name, and the Make
"of his Body. No Emulation among the
Subjects, fince Marks of Diſtinction are
"thought not worth acquiring, and nobody
is wife, becauſe every body is fo. Folly,
"I confefs, is a Defect, but to have it
wholly baniſh'd, may not be ſo deſirable.
"Let every State, indeed, have a com-
(6
66
petent Number of wife Men for the
"publick Employments. Some muſt go-
(6 vern, and fome muſt fubmit to be go-
"vern'd. What other States effect by the
"moft trifling Inducements, our Magi-
"ftrates can procure only by folid Re-
"wards, which often drain the Treafury.
"Wife Men require the Kernel if they
" ferve
134
A JOURNEY to the
* ferve their Country, but Fools are put off
"with the Shell. Thus, for Inftance, the
"Diftribution of Honours and Titles, with
" which Fools are taken as with a Hook,
"and fpirited up to the moſt hazardous
<< Enterprizes, can be of little Force
ર among a People, who know that folid
Fame and Honour is to be acquir'd only
by inward Worth and Virtue. A Peo-
"ple of this Stamp are not to be deceiv'd
" with fpecious Sounds. Your Soldiers, I
"think I have heard you fay, are anima-
ted to undergo the utmoft Severities,
"from the Hope of an immortal Name in
"Hiftory. This is what our People can-
"not conceive. They think, that this
"Mode of Seech, for Inftance, DYING
"IN EARNEST, AND LIVING IN A
"HISTORY, is the verieft Jargon in the
"World, and that it is mere Dotage to
proclaim aloud the Praifes of one, who
"cannot hear nor underſtand them.
I
pafs over numberlefs Inconveniences,
"which flow only from our exquifite
Knowledge, and which prove to De-
"monftration, that at leaſt half the Mem-
"bers of every civil Eftabliſhment ought
to be Fools. Folly is to Society, what
Fermentation is to the Stomach; too
"much, or none at all, are alike injurious.
I heard all this with the greateſt Amaze-
ment. But when in the Name of the
Senate he offer'd me the Freedom of the
City, and repeated his Intreaties, that I
would
World Under-Ground.
135
would fix my Abode here, I could not for-
bear bluſhing, from a Sufpicion that his Re-
queft proceeded from a pre-conceiv'd Opi-
nion of my Fooliſhneſs, and that he took
me for fuch a Sort of Ferment as might be
of Uſe to a State labouring under the Mif-
fortune of too much Wiſdom. I was con-
firm'd in this Sufpicion, when I heard the
Senate had decreed to fend a Colony abroad,
and in their Places to take in an equal
Number of Fools from the neighbouring.
Nations. And fo with a Sort of Refent-
ment, I left this Race of Reafoners. Yet
for a long Time I could not help reflecting.
upon that fubterranean Axiom of theirs,
unknown to the Politicians of our World,
namely, That in a well-conftituted Society, it
is neceffary that at least half the Members
fhould be Fools. I wonder'd fo falutary a
Maxim fhould remain undifcover'd by the
worthy Spirits of our Age. But poffibly it
might be known to fome, who were how-
ever unwilling to have it inferted in the
Clafs of political Truths, fince with us
there are great Plenty of Fools, nor is there
(Envy apart!) a Village or City with us,
but what is handsomely ftor'd with this
goodly Ferment.
Having refted fome Time, I renew'd my
Travels, and vifited feveral Countries, which-
I pafs over in Silence, as having nothing re-
markable in them. I fuppos'd I had now
feen all the marvellous Things in the Planet:
Nazar. But arriving at the Province of
Cabac,
136
A JOURNEY to the
Cabac, freth Wonders offer themſelves, and
even ſuch as exceed the Bounds of Credibi-
lity. Among the Natives of this Region,
fome are born without Heads. They ſpeak
by a Mouth plac'd in the Middle of the
Breaft. Upon Account of this great Defect
in Nature, they are exempted from all fuch
difficult Employments as require the leaft
Headpiece. The only Pofts they are ad-
mitted to, are chiefly thoſe about the Court.
Thus the Chamberlain, the Maſter of the
Ceremonies, the Prefident of the Seraglio,
and the like, are all taken from the Clafs of
People that are without Heads. Neverthe-
lefs fome that have no Heads are, by the
fpecial Indulgence of the Government, re-
ceiv'd into the Senate for fome Merit of
their Anceſtors, and that without much De-
triment to the Republick. For Experience
tells us, that the whole Authority of the
Senate is lodg'd in the Hands of a few leading
Members, and that the reſt only help to fill up
the Number, and to affent and fubfcribe to
the Refolutions of others.
And in my
Time, there were in the Senate two that
were born without Heads, who nevertheleſs
enjoy'd the fenatorial Stipends. For tho'
they were deftitute of Senfe, by reaſon of
that Defect of Nature, yet furely they
might give their Vote with others; happier
in one Thing than their Collegues, namely,
that nobody was angry with thoſe who had
no Heads, but vented all their Rage againſt
the others. And hence it is evident, that it is
fafer
I
World Under-Ground.
137
fafer fometimes to be born without a Head.
This City may vie with any in Magnifi-
cence and Splendour. It has a Court, an
Univerfity, and feveral noble Temples.
Cambara and Spelek are the two next
Provinces. The Natives are all Limes. But
in this they differ, that the former ſeldom
live beyond the Age of four Years, whereas
the others feldom fall fhort of four hun-
dred. Here you might fee Fathers, Grand-
fathers, Great Grandfathers, and fo on;
they would tell you old Stories and Adven-
tures of their own that happen'd Ages ago,
and by their lively Repreſentations make you
think you was almoſt prefent at them. As
much as I pity'd the firft, I envy'd the
laft. But after I had more inly examin'd
the State of both, I found my Error. In
Cambara every one, within a few Months
after their Nativity, arriv'd to their full Ma-
turity of Body and Mind. One Year was
enough to form and perfect them; in the reſt
they prepar'd for Death. Not Plato's felf could
have imagin'd a more charming Republick;
here all the Virtues flouriſh'd to Perfection.
Being hourly convinc'd of the Shortness of
Life, they are always ready for Death, and
regard this Life only as a Paffage to a better.
We
may imagine every one of them a Phi-
lofopher, who with a happy Indifference to
his prefent State, aims only at fecuring that
folid and durable Pleaſure, which is the Re-
ward of Virtue and Piety. In a Word,
this feem'd to be the Abode of Angels, the
King-
138
A JOURNEY to the
Kingdom of Saints, and the trueft School
of Wiſdom and Virtue. Hence one may
judge how unjuft their Murmurs are, who
complain of the Brevity of Life, making it
the Foundation of a Quarrel at their Ma-
ker. Our Life is fhort, becauſe we loſe
the greateſt Part in Sloth and Pleaſure; it
would be long enough if our Time were
better employ'd. But in the other Region,
where Life is lengthen'd to four hundred
Years, I difcover'd all the Vices under Hea-
ven. The prefent State of Things they
look upon as eternal and immortal.
Hinc fugere pudor, verumque, fidefque & ha-
neftum :
In quorum fubiere locum dolus infidiæque.
There was alſo another Inconvenience re-
fulting from long Life. Thoſe who had
unhappily loft their Eſtate or Fortunes, thofe
who were maim'd' in their Limbs, or were
fallen into incurable Difeafes, made the
moſt piercing Complaints, and knowing no
End to their Miferies, often laid violent
Hands on themfelves. The Shortness of
Life, therefore, is to the Wretched the beſt
of Remedies. Both thefe Countries afford-
ed mé Matter of much Admiration, and
upon my Departure fill'd me with very phi-
lofophical Reflexions.
I purſued my Journey thro' certain de-
fert and rocky Places, which lead to Spa-
lank, or the Country of Innocence. This
Place is fo call'd from the Innocence and
peace.
་།
World Under-Ground.
139
peaceful Humour of the Natives.
Thefe
are all Beeches, and efteem'd the happieſt of
the whole Creation. They are fubject to
no Paffions and Affections, and confequent-
ly free from all Vices.
Sponte fua, fine lege, fidem rectumque colebant;
Pæna metufque aberant, &c.
Upon my Arrival, I found all I had heard
was true, and that actually they were go-
vern'd not by Laws, but by their own in-
nate Virtue and Difpofition. Envy, Anger,
Hatred, Pride, Vain-Glory, Difcord, and
all which among Mankind bears the Name
of Vice, is here profcrib'd and baniſh'd.
But with the Vices there were alſo many
Things wanting, which adorn the human
Species, and feem to diftinguifh them from
Brutes. Except Divinity, Natural Philofo-
phy and Aftronomy, all the Arts and Sci-
ences were wholly unknown. They had
not the leaft Idea of Law, Politicks, Hif
tory, Ethicks, and Eloquence, the very
Names of which were never heard of..
As there was not the leaft Spark of En-
vy, fo there was no Emulation to excite and
animate the Soul to worthy Deeds. There
were no fplendid Edifices, no Palace, no
Senate-Houfe, no Forum, no Magiftrate,
no Riches, and confequently no Defire of
them, or Contention about them. In two
Words, if they had no Vices, they had
no Politeness, Art, or Elegance; nor any
of thofe Things, which, tho' in Reality
no.
140
A JOURNEY to the
To
no Virtues, are yet extremely like Virtues,
and render Men civiliz'd and focial.
fay the Truth, I feem'd here to be rather in
a Foreft of real Trees, than in a rational
Society. I ftood a long Time in doubt
what Judgment to form of theſe People,
and whether fuch a State were in Reality
defirable. At length reflecting, that an un-
cultivated Creature was however better than
a vicious Creature, and that tho' they had
no Arts, they had alfo no Thefts, Mur-
ders, and other atrocious Crimes, which
deſtroy both Body and Soul, I could not
help pronouncing them happy. Walking
carelefly along one Day, while I was ડો.
mong them, 1 ftruck my left Leg againſt a
Stone. It fwell'd violently, and gave me
exceffive Pain. An honeft Countryman
feeing this Accident, prefently ran to me,
and with a certain Herb he held in his Hand
and apply'd to the Wound, the Anguifh
forthwith abated, and the Swelling decreas'd.
Thefe People, thought I, muſt have extra-
ordinary Skill in the Art of Healing. Nor
was my Conjecture wrong. For fince their
Studies were confin'd within fo narrow a
Compafs, they were not contented with the
outward Rind of Knowledge, like our mo-
dern Connoiſeurs, but went to the Bottom
of Things. When I thank'd my Benefac-
tor for his Services, and told him that God
would be his Reward, he anfwer'd me in fo
folid, fo learned, and fo devout a Manner,
tho' in Terms perfectly fimple and rural,
that
World Under-Ground.
141
that I had really fome Apprehenfions it was
an Angel in the Shape of a Tree. It ap-
pears hence, with what little Reafon we
diflike that calm Philoſophy of fome Men,
who neither wifh nor grieve, are neither
angry, nor pleas'd, who divest themſelves
of all the impetuous Paffions of the Soul,
and whom we therefore accuſe of leading a
Life of Indolence and Softnefs. It appears.
alſo how much miftaken they are, who are
Advocates for the Neceffity of Vices among
Men; who ftile Anger the Whetſtone of
Courage, Emulation the Spur of Induſtry,
and Diſtruſt the Parent of Difcretion.
who does not know, that from ill Eggs ill
Birds are hatch'd, and that many Virtues
which Mortals pride themfelves in, and
which are celebrated in Verfe, are rather
the Difgrace than Ornament of Humanity,
if beheld with a philofophical Eye.
For
I left this Place, and arriv'd at Kiliac,
where the Inhabitants are born with cer-
tain Marks imprefs'd upon their Forehead,
fignifying the exact Number of Years they
have to live. Thefe furely I thought muſt
be the moſt fortunate People under the Sun,
fince an unexpected Death could furprize
none of them in a finful Action. But then,
as their laſt Day of Life was known to
every one, they deferr'd their Repentance to
the laft; infomuch that if you found one
among them fincerely devout and honeft, it
was one whom the Marks upon his Fore-
head directed to think of his Quietus. Some
I
€42 A JOURNEY to the
I obferv'd who walk'd with their Heads
hanging down; they had almoſt liv'd out
their Time, and were counting the Re-
mainder of their Days and Hours upon their
Fingers, expecting with Horror their laſt
approaching Moment. This gave me to
fee the general Wiſdom of the Creator in
concealing from Mortals the Time of their
Death.
Having travell❜d over this Country, I
came to a Streight, the Water of which
was black; and being ferry'd over, I land-
ed upon the Province of Askarac. Here
new Monſters met my Eyes. As Cabac
produces Animals without a Head, fome
among thefe People are born with feven
Heads. To thefe, as being poffefs'd of an
amazing Knowledge, the Citizens formerly
paid almoſt divine Honours; and out of
their Tribes alone, Commanders, Confuls,
Senators, and other great Officers were
elected. But, alas! as many Heads as they
had, fo many different Geniufes they had.
They confidently and readily undertook to
diſcharge various Employments at one and
the fame Time; and left nothing unat-
tempted while they held the Reins of Pow-
er: But from that Multiplicity of Bufinefs,
and from their various Ideas interfering and
joftling with each other, they made wretch-
ed Work of it; and in Proceſs of Time fo
great was the Confufion, that it requir'd the
Labour of an Age to recover from the Diſ-
order theſe omnifcient Magiftrates had
thrown
World Under-Ground.
143
thrown Things into. Hence a Law was
enacted, to exclude for ever theſe ſeven-
headed Trees from all publick Offices of
Importance, and that the Government
ſhould hereafter be intrufted to fimple Heads,
that is to fay, thofe who have only one
Head. Ever fince, thofe very People, who
had been rever'd as Gods, have been fink-
ing into the fame Contempt as the headlefs
Inhabitants of Cabac. For as they, who
had no Head at all, could do nothing; fo
thefe with many Heads did every Thing
perverſely, But tho' they are for ever re-
mov'd from all State-Trufts, yet they ferve
as an Ornament to the Kingdom. They
are carry'd about like publick Spectacles, to
fhew the World how liberal Nature has
been in their Formation. Tho' to ſay the
Truth, had he been lefs laviſh of her Fa-
vours, ſhe had been in Reality much kinder.
Of all this Race, there were only three in
my Time in Employment, to which, how-
ever, they were not admitted, till they had
confented to an Amputation of fix of their
Heads. After this, the confus'd Ideas they
labour'd under vanifh'd, and they were
brought to common Senfe. Thus Men prune
Trees of their fuperfluous Branches, to de-
rive more Health and Vigour to the reſt.
Very few undergo this Operation, upon
Account of the extreme Pain and Danger.
From hence I drew this ufeful Maxim, That
all Excess is hurtful, and that Simplicity is
true Wiſdom.
From
144
A JOURNEY to the
From hence I pafs'd to the Principality
of Boſtanki, a People, as to their outward
Make, little different from the Potuans ; but
as to the inward, they have this Singularity,
that their Heart is fituated in their Thigh;
fo that it may be truly ſaid of them, that
they carry their Heart in their Breeches.
Hence, among all the Inhabitants of this
Globe, theſe are accounted the moſt fear-
ful and pufillanimous. Upon my Arrival,
I enter'd into an Inn near the Gate, and
as the Fatigue of Travelling had made me
fomething weary and fretful, I rattled my
Hoft for being flow in his Attendance. But
he, falling on his Knees, implor'd for Mer-
cy, and extending his Thigh for me to feel
the great Palpitation of Heart he was in,
from ftorming I fell to laughing, and bid
him dry his Tears, and caft away all Fear:
He rofe, and in a Tranfport kif'd my
Hand, and fet about Supper immediately.
In a Minute or two the whole Kitchen re-
founded with Cries and Lamentations. I ran
thither, and to my vaft Aſtoniſhment, there
did I behold my very fearful Hoft beating and
whipping his Wife and the Maids about.
Seeing me, he took to his Heels, and run
away. I turn'd to the weeping Family,
and begg'd to know what Crime they had
committed, to provoke fo meek a Man to
fo great Rage. They, on the other Hand,
ſtood mute, with their Eyes faften'd to the
Ground, not daring to tell the Caufe of
their Affliction. But upon my perfifting to
enquire,
World Under-Ground.
145
enquire, and adding Threats to my Intreaty,
the Miſtreſs ſpoke to me in this Manner :
You feem, Sir, to be a great Stranger to
"the Manners of the World. The Na-
"tives of this Principality can't bear the
Sight of an armed Enemy, and out of
"their own Houſes tremble at the leaſt
"Noife; yet they all domineer in the
€6
Kitchen, they exert their Bravery on
"their defenceless Family, and are only
"then valiant, when no Refiftance can be
"made. On this Account they are the
"Jeft, as well as the Prey, of the neigh-
"bouring States. But in the bordering
Kingdom, to which we are Tributaries,
"the Cafe is otherwife. There they ne-
"ver fight but against an arm'd Enemy.
"There the Males command abroad, and
"ſerve at home.” Ì admir'd the Wiſdom
of the Hofteſs, whom I look'd upon as wor-
thy of a better Condition. And, indeed,
upon a cloſer Inſpection into the Nature and
Difpofition of People, this Matron, it must
be own'd, was extremely in the right, fince
from innumerable Examples it is clear, that
Hercules is not the only one who has yielded
to a Diftaff, but that it is the common Fate
of brave and warlike Men to fubmit, with
all due Patience, to the Female Yoke : And
that, on the other Hand, the verieft Cow-
ards in all Nature, who like the Boftankians,
carry their Hearts in their Breeches, are
yet Heroes in the Kitchen. This People
H
live
746
A JOURNEY to the
live under the Protection of a neighbouring
Kingdom, to whom they pay Tribute for it.
5
From hence I pafs'd by Water to Miko-
lac. Coming out of the Boat I mifs'd my
Cloak-Bag. I prefently charg'd the Boat-
Man with the Theft, who ftifly deny'd it.
Upon this I went and complain'd to the
Magiftrate, telling him, that if I had not
the Liberty of bringing an Action againſt
the Boat-Man for Breach of Truft or Theft,
I hop'd he would at leaſt compel him to
make fimple Reftitution. But my Adver-
fary not only perfifted in denying the Fact,
but threaten'd me with an Action of Slan-
der. In a Cafe fo doubtful the Court call'd
for Witneffes. But as I could bring none,
I defir'd my Antagoniſt might purge him-
felf by Oath. At this the Judge fmil'd,
and fpoke as follows. "My Friend, fays
he, in this Province we are bound by no
"Religion, nor have we any other Gods
befide the Laws of our Country. Ac-
"cufations here muſt be made good by le-
"gal Methods, fuch as proving the Delive-
"ry, eftimating the Value, exhibiting Re-
66
ceipts, and producing Witneffes. Who-
"ever is deftitute of thefe, not only loſes
his Cauſe, but is liable to be fued for Ca-
"lumny. Make the Cafe plain by proper
"Evidence, and what you have loft ſhall
be reftor'd to you. 21 Thus lofing my
Caufe for want of Witneffes, I not only
lamented my own Misfortune, but that of
the Republick itfelf. For from hence it
appear'd,
}
World Under-Ground. 147
appear'd, what a weak unfettled Society that
muſt be which depends for its Security upon
human Laws alone, and how frail are all
political Edifices unlefs cemented together
by Religion. I ftaid three Days here in
continual Fears. For tho' the Laws of the
Country are in Reality very good, and tho'
Crimes are puniſh'd with the utmoſt Severi-
ty, yet no Safety can be reaſonably expected
in a Country too atheiſtical to have the leaft
Senfe of religious Obligation, and where
they fcruple the Commiffion of no Crimes,
provided they can but conceal them.
From this Land of Atheifts, I travell'd
on over a ſteep Mountain to the City of
Bracmat, which was fituated in the Plain at
the Foot of the Mountain. The Inhabi-
tants are Junipers. The firſt Perſon I met,
came directly ruſhing at me, and threw me
backwards. I did not well underſtand this,
and aſking the Reaſon of it, the Juniper
begg'd my Pardon a thouſand Times. Pre-
fently after, another with a Staff he had in
his Hand, gave me a Blow upon the Reins
that almoſt took away my Senſes: But in
the fame Moment he made a long Harangue
to me in Excufe of his Imprudence. Suf-
pecting, therefore, this People to be either
totally blind, or very weak-fighted, I took
Care to avoid every one I met. In fact, all
this aroſe from the exquifite Senfe of Sight
which fome are here endued with. They
can clearly difcern remote Objects, which
are impenetrable to vulgar Eyes; but then
H 2
they
148
A JOURNEY to the
they do not fee what is nearer and almoſt at
hand. Theſe are call'd Makatti; and they
devote themſelves principally to the Studies
of Metaphyficks and Aftronomy. They
are of very little Service in the World, by
reafon of their too delicate Viſion. They
make very pretty minute Philofophers; but in
folid Matters and Things of daily Ufe, they
commit innumerable Blunders. However,
the Government makes fome Ufe of them,
and fends them to the Mines for the Difco-
very of Metals. For tho' they fee ſcarce
any Thing upon the Surface of the Earth,
their Sight exerts itfelf upon any Thing be-
neath it. I concluded from hence, that
there are ſome who are blind from too great
a Delicacy in the Organs of Vifion, and
that they would fee better if their Eyes
were worſe.
Having gain'd the Top of another very
fteep and rocky Mountain, I now enter'd
the Province of Mutak, the Capital of
which look'd like a Grove of Willows, the
Inhabitants being all of that Species. Pro-
ceeding to the Market, I there found a ro-
buft, healthy young Man, fitting in a Place
of Eafe (of which there are many round the
Market-Place) and imploring the Mercy of
the Senate. I enquir'd the Meaning of
this, and was inform'd, that the faid Perfon
was a Criminal, to whom they were going
to give the fifteenth Dofe. Surpriz'd at
the Anſwer, I ftep'd afide, and defir'd my
Hoft to explain this Riddle. He reply'd
thus:
World Under-Ground.
149
thus: "Moft Nations punifh Crimes by
"whipping, branding, hanging and the
"like: But nothing of that Kind obtains
"in this Country. For we ftudy not fo
"much to puniſh Crimes, as to mend the
"Criminal. The Culprit upon the Seat is
' а wretched Author, who for his violent
"Itch of Writing, which neither Law
،،
nor Advice could reſtrain, has been con-
"demn'd by the Senate to the publick Pu-
"nifhment. This is left to the Cenfors of
"the City, who are all Doctors of Phy-
"fick, and who are now going to mace-
tt
rate and bring him low by frequent Pur-
"gings, till they have conquer'd and ex-
"tinguifh'd the Luft of Scribbling." He
ended his Difcourfe with defiring me to go
to the Shop of a publick Apothecary.
I
went with him accordingly, and to my vaſt
Amazement beheld Phials and Gallipots all
properly arrang'd, with fuch Inſcriptions as
thefe: Powder of Avarice. Pills for Luft.
Tincture against Cruelty. Lenitive of Ambi-
tion. Cortex against Pleaſure, &c. Words
cannot exprefs the ftrange Confufion of
Mind this odd Spectacle threw me into.
But a perfect Ecftafy of Surprize enfued,
when I obferved a Parcel of Manufcripts
with thefe Titles: Sermons of Maſter Pifa-
gus, a Morning's Perufal of which gives fix
Stools. Meditations of Dr. Jukes, a Specific
in the Coma Vigil, or Want of Sleep, &c.
I thought the People out of their Senfes,
and to examine more accurately the Virtuet
H 3
of
150
A JOURNEY to the
I
of their Medicines, I open'd the firft of
thefe Books. It was fuch infipid Stuff, that
at the firſt Chapter I began to make Faces;
and reading on, I found my Bowels rumble,
and foon after had a Tenefmus. But as I
knew I had no Occafion for Purging, I
threw the Book down, and run away.
then obferv'd, that nothing in the whole
World was without its Ufe, and that the
moft pitiful Performances were ferviceable
for fomething. I found alfo, that this Peo-
ple were no Fools, however abfurd I at firſt
took them to be. My Hoft averr'd to me,
that he was cur'd of lying awake from only
perufing Doctor Juke's Book, the Virtue of
which was fo profound and potent, that
Vigilance itſelf muſt fnore at it.
Thefe
Things occafion'd in me a tumultuous Va-
riety of Thought. And left they fhould
break in upon that Chain of philofophical
Reflexions I had heretofore made, I refolv'd
foon to leave the Country. And happily
enough, the ſtrange Things I foon faw in
other Provinces, joftled out almoſt all
Thoughts of this Place. But notwithſtand-
ing, after I had finifh'd my Tour round
this Globe, and was reflecting upon the
Mutakian Philofophy, their Manner of cu-
ring Diſorders was not altogether ſo abfurd.
For I am convinc'd, that in our Europe
there are fome Books that would purge the
moſt coſtive, or give Sleep to the moſt
wakeful. As to the Diſorders of the Mind,
I own I could not ſubſcribe to the Mutakian
Princi-
World Under-Ground.
151
Principles in this Point, tho' it muſt be
confefs'd, there are fome Infirmities of Bo-
dy, which we confound with the Diſorders
of the Mind; as a witty Poet of our World
has obferv'd in the following Epigram.
Sexte, diu mecum morbo vexaris eodem,
Humores acres nos cruciare folent.
Cum mihi fit morbus circum præcordia verfans,
Exofus, querulus, difficilifque vocor.
At te ægrotantem plorant, miferantur amici,
In pedibus morbi vis quia tota fedet.
Comiter excufant te, cum faltare recufas,
Immunem clamant, namque podagra tenet.
Inter convivas at me cantare negantem,
Faftofum, querulum, difficilemque vocant.
Cum minus ardua res tibi fit faltatio, Sexte,
Quam fit cardiaco pfallere fæpe mihi.
I departed from Mutak, and croffing over
a Lake of a yellow Hue, I arriv'd at Mik-
rok, and proceeding to the capital City, I
found the Gate fhut. I was oblig'd to wait
till the drowſy Centinel was pleas'd to open
it, which was fome confiderable Time, it
being fecur'd with a Multitude of Locks,
Bolts, and Bars. Entring, I obſerv'd a deep
Silence reign throughout the whole City,
except that my Ears were now and then
affaulted by a Noife as of People fnoring. I
could not help fancying I was got into the
Region of Sleep, as the Poets talk. Would
to God, fays I to myſelf, that feveral of
the Magiftrates, Senators, and a few other
honeſt Countrymen of mine, who are dear
H 4
Lovers
152
A JOURNEY to the
Lovers of Peace, had had the Luck to be
born in this bleffed City! How fweetly and
quietly would they live! And yet from the
Signs in the Streets, and Infcriptions on the
Houſes, it was evident, that Arts and Sci-
ences were not unknown here, and that
Laws were exercis'd. Led by theſe Signs, I
found out an Inn. No Entrance to be had.
The Doors were all faft. And tho' it was
Noon with the reft of the World, it should
feem it was Night to the Inhabitants of this
City. At laft, after having knock'd and
bounc'd a long while, I was let in. Time
is here divided into twenty-three Hours;
nineteen of them are facred to Sleep, the
other four to Bufinefs. Sufpecting, there-
fore, thefe People to be monftrouſly negli-
gent both in their publick and private Affairs,
I defir'd fomething to be brought me to eat,
which they had ready in the Houfe, fearing,
if I had order'd any Thing to be dreſs'd, the
Cook ſhould fall afleep while it was about.
But all Things are here done in the con-
cifeſt and moſt compendious Manner; every
Thing fuperfluous is omitted; and there-
fore this diminutive Day of theirs is long
enough for all Sorts of Bufinefs. After
Dinner, which was brought upon Table
with a furprizing Expedition, my Hoft
waited on me round the City. We went
into a Temple, where we heard a Dif
courſe, fhort indeed, with refpect to the
Time, but long enough confidering its
Importance. The Preacher went directly
to
World Under-Ground.
153
to his Subject. He us'd no Flouriſhes, no
Tautologies, nor ſaid one ſuperfluous Thing.
So that when I compare this Difcourfe with
the long nauſeous ones of Maſter Petre, the
former is in Reality more copious than the
latter. With the fame Brevity Proceedings
in Law are diſpatch'd: The Advocates fay
all in few Words, and then produce their
Witneffes. I remember to have feen a Co-
py of a Treaty of Alliance between this
d a neighbouring Kingdom. It was
couch'd in these Terms: Let there be perpe-
tual Friendſhip between the Mikrekians and
Splendikanians. Let the Limits of the two
Kingdoms be the River Klimac, and the Top
of Mount Zabor. Sign'd, &c. Thus in
three Lines they exprefs, what with us
would require a Volume. Hence I am per-
fuaded one may come to the Point with leſs
Noife and lefs Lofs of Time, if Superflui-
ties were to be retrench'd; as a Traveller
would find his Journey half as ſhort again,
were he always to go directly ftrait. The
Natives here are Cypreffes, and are diftin-
guifh'd from other Trees by Wens in their
Forehead, which Wens have a ftated In-
creafe and Decreaſe. When they increaſe,
a certain Humour diftils from them, which
falling upon the Eyes brings on a Drowſineſs,
and is an Indication of the approaching Night.
From hence to Makrok is one Day's
Journey. Here the Inhabitants never fleep.
Entring into the City, I ftopp'd a Perfon,
tho' he feem'd to be in Hafte, and begg'd
H. 5.
he:
154
A JOURNEY to the
he would be pleas'd to direct me to a good
Inn. He reply'd he was very bufy, and
made the beſt of his Way forward. So
great was the general Hurry of this Place,
that they feem'd not to walk thro' the
Streets, but to run or fly, as if they were
afraid of being too late. The leaſt I could
think was, that fome Part of the City was on
Fire, or that fome other fudden and un-
look'd for Difafter had frighted the Citi-
zens out of their Senfes. At laft I caft my
Eyes upon a Sign before a Houfe, which
fignify'd it was an Inn. Here fome were
entring, others departing, others ftumbling
for Hafte, infomuch that I was a Quarter
of an Hour buftling in the Yard before I
could gain Admittance. In a Moment I
was afk'd a Multitude of impertinent Quef-
tions. One faid, Where do you come
from? Where are you going to? How
long do you ftay here? Another faid, Will
you dine alone, or with Company? If the
latter, what Room will you dine in, the
red, the green, the white, or the black
Room? Or will you dine above Stairs, or
below? with a thoufand Impertinences of
this Kind. My Hoft, who was a Clerk of
one of the inferior Courts of Juftice here,
went away to Dinner, but foon return'd,
and then gave me a long tedious Account of
a Law-Suit that had been depending thefe
ten Years, the Hearing of which was now
coming on before the fourteenth Court.
He told me, he hop'd it would be ended
-
within
World Under-Ground.
155
within two Years, fince there were but two
Courts remaining, beyond which there was
no Appeal. He left me in great Aſtoniſh-
ment, and convinc'd me, that this Nation
was extremely buſy in doing nothing. When
my Landlord was gone, I walk'd about the
Houſe, and by Chance dropt upon a Library.
It was large and well ftock'd, with refpect to
the Number of Books, but a very indifferent
one with refpect to the Contents. Among
thofe Books, which to Appearance were in
beſt Condition, I obferv'd the following,
1. Defcription of the Cathedral
2. Relation of the Siege of Pehunc
3. Of the Ufe of the Herb Slac
4. Funeral Oration upon the
24 Vols.
36 Vols.
13 Vols.
} 18 Vols.
Death of Senator Jackfi
My Landlord, at his Return to me, en-
tertain❜d me with a Deſcription of the State
of the City; and from what he ſaid, I
concluded that more Bufinefs was tranfacted
by the fleepy Mikrokians, than by the wa-
king Makrokians; that thefe play'd with
the Shell, while the other eat the Kernel.
The People here too are all Cypreffes, and
as to the outward Make of their Bodies,
differ very little from the Mikrokians,
cepting the Wens upon their Foreheads.
They have not the fame Blood or Juice in
their Bodies which other Trees of this Globe
have, but instead of Blood, they have a
thicker Juice in their Veins, which is of a
mercurial Quality and Appearance. Nay
fome think it is Quickſilver itſelf, inaſmuch.
38
156
A JOURNEY to the
as in a Barometer it is found to have the
fame Effect.
At the Diſtance of about two Days Jour-
ney from hence lies the Republick of Sik-
lok, which is divided into two Societies, in
Alliance with each other, but govern'd by
different and oppofite Laws. The firft is
call'd. Miho, founded by Mihac, a famous
Lawgiver of old, and the Lycurgus of the
Subterraneans. In order to render his Re-
publick ftronger and more lafting, he made
fumptuary Laws, which forbid all Luxury
on the fevereſt Penalties. And accordingly
this Society, for its great Continence and
Parfimony, may be justly call'd another
Sparta. One Thing I, wonder'd at, and
that was, that in a Government fo well
conftituted, and which piqu'd itſelf upon
the Excellence of its Laws, there fhould be
fo many Beggars. For wherever I turn'd
my Eyes, there was a Tree begging an
Alms, which is a very troublefome Thing
to Travellers. Upon a nice Infpection into
the State of the Republick, I was
vinc'd, that thefe Miferies flow'd from the
too great Economy of the People. For all
Luxury being profcrib'd, and the Rich baulk-
ing their Genius, and giving into no Indul-
gences, the common People of courſe muſt
lead an indolent, idle, and beggarly Life,
for want of Matter to make a proper Gain
of. I concluded from hence, that rigid
Parfimony in a State produces the fame In-
conveniences as an Obftruction of the Blood
2
con-
in
World Under-Ground.
157
in a human Body. In the other Province,
that of Liho, they live fplendidly and jo-
vially, and fpare no Expence. Here Arts
and Profeffions flouriſh; the People are en-
courag'd to Induſtry, and every Citizen has
an Opportunity to raife a Fortune. Who-
ever is poor among them may fairly impute
it to his own Negligence. Thus the Profu-
fion of the Rich gives Life to the Body po-
litick, as the Circulation of the Blood in
the human Body gives Strength and Vigour
to the Limbs..
The Territory of Lama borders upon
this. Here is the celebrated School of Phy-
ficians. With ſo much Ardour is the Study
of Phyfick here purſued, that none are
look'd upon as genuine Doctors, unleſs
they come from the illuftrious School of
Lama. And hence this City is crouded
with ſo many Doctors, that you fee more of
them than of all other Sorts of People put
together. Whole Streets are fill'd with
Shops of Apothecaries, and anatomical In-
ftrument-Makers. Loitering about the Ci-
ty, I met a Tree offering to Sale the Bills of
Mortality for the Year laſt paſt. I bought
one of them, and to my great Surprize
found the Births and Burials ftand thus:
Born fifty; buried fix hundred. I could not
conceive that in a Place, where Apollo him-
felf feem'd to have fix'd his Refidence, there
fhould be fuch a yearly Havock among the
Citizens. I afk'd the Tree what unufual
Plague or Peftilence had rag'd in the City
the
*58
A JOURNEY to the
the laft Year. He reply'd, that two Years.
ago the Number of the Deceas'd was great-
er, that this was the common Proportion
between the Births and Burials, and that
the Inhabitants of Lama were perpetually
afflicted with Diftempers, which haften'd
their Deaths; infomuch that in a fhort
Time the City would be empty, if it were
not ſupplied and recruited from the neigh-
bouring Provinces. Upon this I hurry'd
out of the City, not thinking it prudent to
ftay longer here, especially as the Name of
a Phyſician, and the Sight of the anato-
mical Inſtruments, after what I had fuffer'd
in the Country of Philofophers, could not
be very agreeable. Therefore leaving this
Place, I never ftopt, till I came to a Town
four Miles diftant, where the People live
without Phyficians, and without Difeafes.
In the Space of two Days, I arriv'd at the
Land of Liberty. The People here are ac-
countable to no Authority. They conſiſt
of feparate Families, without being fubject
to any Laws or Power whatſoever. Yet
an Appearance of Society is preferv'd, and
in publick Matters they confult the Seniors,
who perpetually exhort them to Peace and
Unanimity, and admonish them never to
depart from that primary Precept of Nature,
of doing to others, as you would be done by..
On all the Gates of the Cities and Villages.
a Statue of Liberty is erected trampling upon
Chains and Fetters, with this Infcription.
over the Head, GOLDEN LIBERTY..
In.
་
World Under-Ground.
159
In the firft City I enter'd, all was quiet
enough; yet I obferv'd fome of the Citi-
zens diftinguifh'd themfelves by certain Rib-
bands which they wore, and which, as I
afterward underſtood, were Marks and Sym-
bols of two Factions which then divided the
People. The Avenues and Court-Yards of
the Houſes of the Great were lin'd with
arm'd Soldiers, who always held themſelves ·
in Readineſs, becauſe the Truce being about
two Days ago expir'd, the War was upon
breaking out afresh. I fled away trembling
as faſt as I could, nor thought myfelf free,.
till I had convey'd myſelf out of Sight of
this Land of Liberty.
The next Province is fochtan, of which I
had heard a fhort Defcription, which very
much alarm'd me, and led me to think it
must be the Seat of Diſorder, Confufion,
and Infecurity. For this Country was the
Sink and Receptacle of all Religions. All
the feveral Principles and Doctrines which
prevail in any Part of this Globe, retire
here as to their Center, and are taught pub-
lickly. Recollecting, therefore, what Trou-
bles had been excited in Europe by religious
Differences, I was almoft afraid to approach
the capital City, the feveral Streets and Por-
tions of which have all Churches and Tem-
ples for different and oppofite Sects. But
my Fears foon vanifh'd, when I obferv'd a
profound Agreement and Concord reign in
every Part. With refpect to their Politicks,
there was the fame Face, the fame Senti-
ments,
2
160
A JOURNEY to the
ments, the fame Tranquillity, and the fame
Care in all. For as the Laws made it
capital for one Member of the State to dif
turb another in his Way of Worship, or
to moleft him upon Account of any religi-
ous Difference, hence whatever Diffenfions
they had were without the leaft Appearance
of Hoftility, their Difputes were without
Bitterness or Invectives, and they had no
Averfions, becauſe they had no Perfecutions.
There was a perpetual, but very honeſt and
worthy Emulation among the feveral Sects,
every one of which endeavour'd to demon-
ftrate the Excellence of their Religion by
the Purity of their Life and Morals. Thus
by the Wiſdom of the Magiftrate, all thefe
different Sentiments excited no more Troubles
in the State, than did the different Shops of the
Artifts and Merchants in the Forum, where
the Buyers are invited by the fole Goodneſs
of the Commodity, and where they ufe
neither Fraud, Force, or Difparagement.
By theſe Means, the leaft Seed of Difcord.
is ftifled in the Birth, and that Sort of Emu-
lation only encourag'd, which is honourable
in itſelf, and advantageous to the State.
This convinc'd me, that the religious Trou-
bles which reign in many Places arife not
from the Variety of Religions, but from Per-
fecution alone. A fenfible and learned Fochta-
nian explain'd to me more at large the Ge-
nius of this Government, and the Cauſes of
its Tranquillity. I heard him with Rap-
ture, and his Obfervations I ſhall keep en-
grav'd..
World Under-Ground.
161
grav'd on the Table of my Heart. I did
indeed, for fome Time, make Replies and
Objections to him, but was at laft forc'd to
own myſelf vanquifh'd, ſince he irreſiſtibly
prov'd all his Points by Arguments drawn
from Experience. Afham'd, therefore, to
contradict my Senfes, and give the Lie to
pofitive Matter of Fact, I was forc'd to
own, that Liberty of Belief was the true
Fountain of this Tranquillity and Concord.
However, once more I attack'd my Adver-
fary with an Argument different from all
I had us'd. I told him it was the Duty of
a Lawgiver, in erecting a Government, to
regard the future, rather than the preſent
Happineſs of Mortals, and that he ſhould
conform his Scheme not fo much to their
Palate as to the Laws of God. To this he
reply'd in this Manner: "My good Friend,
fays he, you are greatly deceiv'd, if you
"" imagine that God, the Fountain of
"Truth, can be pleas'd with diffembled.
"Worship.
In other Nations, where
"all are oblig'd by publick Authority to
66 one certain Rule of Faith, what a Door is
"open'd for Ignorance and Hypocrify!
"Few, or none, have the Will or the
"Courage to difcover their true Sentiments,
"and fo they profefs one Thing, and be-
"lieve another. This makes the Study of
"Divinity a cold, lifelefs Thing, and be-
"gets a Negligence in the Diſcovery of
"Truth. This alfo makes profane Learn-
ing more cultivated: For the Priests
'
"them-
162
A JOURNEY to the
"themſelves, left they fhould be branded
"with the Title of Hereticks, relinquifh
"the Purfuit of facred Things, and divert
"their Studies to other Subjects, where
their Minds may range without Danger,
and where their Liberty is not fetter'd.
"The Vulgar will ftill condemn all who de-
"part from the reigning Doctrines. But
"Hypocrites and Diffemblers muſt be hate-
"ful to God, to whom a fincere, tho' er-
(6
roneous Belief, muſt be infinitely lefs dif-
"pleafing than an orthodox, but pretended
"Faith." Hearing this, I kept Silence,
unable to diſpute the Point any longer with
fo wife a People.
I had now been almost two Months out
upon my Travels, when at laft I arriv'd at
Tumbac, a Territory contiguous to the Po-
tuan Dominions. I thought myſelf now at
home, my wearifome Journey being almoſt
finish'd. The Inhabitants of this Region
are chiefly Wild Olives, extremely devout,
and extremely cenforious. In the firft Inn
I enter'd, I waited two Hours for my
Breakfaſt, knocking and calling for it al-
moſt all that Time in vain. The Reaſon
of this Delay, was the unfeaſonable Devo-
tion of my Hoft, who would not, for the
World, put his Hand to the leaſt Thing,
till he had finiſh'd his Morning Prayers.
Tandem intrans magno porrexit murmure panem
Pallidus, caulem mifero mihi ponit olentem
Lanteram.
However,
World Under-Ground.
163
However, that Breakfaſt was one of the
deareſt in all my Travels, and I proteſt I
never met with a Landlord more devout, or
more unmerciful. Well! thought I to
myfelf, this Landlord had better have pray'd
lefs, and been more honeſt. But I diffem-
bled my Refentment, well knowing how
dangerous it is to provoke a Saint. The
Citizens here were all Cato's, all Cenfors
of Manners. They walk'd up and down
the Streets with penfive Looks and folded
Arms, declaiming against the Vanity of the
Times, and condemning every innocent.
Pleaſure. Not a Gefture, not a Smile,
efcap'd their Obfervation. And thus by
their perpetual Cenfures, and envenom'd
Zeal, they pafs'd for Perfons of eminent
Sanctity. For my Part, as I was ſpent and
exhaufted with Fatigues, I made no Scruple
of indulging in feveral innocent Diver-
fions. But I got a bad Name by fo doing,
infomuch that every Houfe I enter'd was
like a Court of Justice, where I was fure
to be arraign'd. Some, when they faw I
was not at all mov'd by their Rebukes and
Admonitions, fhunn'd me like a Plague or a
Contagion. I forbear to fay more upon the
Morofenefs of this People: However, one
Circumftance I must not omit, becauſe it
gives you their exact Character; and from
this Sample you may judge of the reft. A
certain Tumbacian, with whom I had been
acquainted at Potu, being at an Inn, and
feeing me go by, ftept out to me, and prefs'd
me
164
A JOURNEY to the
me to go in. I waited on him.
As he
had heard that I was far from being an
Enemy to Pleaſure, he gave me ſuch a Lec-
ture, and upbraided me with my Life and
Morals in fuch Terms, that my Hair
ftood on End, and every Joint of me
fhook. But while our Cato was diſcharging
thus the Artillery of his Cenfures, the Glafs
had paſs'd very infenfibly, but very briſkly,
from one to the other, till in fhort we both
fell fairly fuddled on the Floor, and were
carried off half dead. Having flept off
this Debauch, and recover'd my Reafon, I
fet myſelf to examine into the Nature of
thefe People's Religion; and I made a fair
Diſcovery, that their Zeal flow'd rather
from fome vicious Humours, or a Predomi-
nancy of the bilious Juices, than from true.
Piety. But I never communicated this to
any one, and left them without faying a
Word.
At last, after two compleat Months, I
arriv'd at Potu, fo extremely weary with
fuch inceffant Exercife, that my Legs had
fcarce Strength to fupport my Body. It was
on the tenth Day of the Month of Beeches
that I enter'd this Capital. I went forth-
with to his Serene Highness, and offer'd
him my little Hiftorical Collection, which
he immediately order'd to be printed. (For
it must be noted, that the Art of Printing,
of which the Europeans and Chinese boat
themſelves to be Inventors, was of far greater
Antiquity among the Potuans.) The People
in
World Under-Ground.
165
in general were fo pleas'd with this Account
of my Travels, that they were never weary
of reading it. All Day long they were
running about the Streets felling my Jour-
nal, and crying, as loud as they could,
A Journey round the World, by Scabba, the
King's Meffenger. Elated with this Succeſs,
I gave a Loofe to my Ambition, and afpir'd
to fome Employment of greater Weight and
Dignity. But ſeeing my Hopes not quick-
ly anfwer'd, I preferr'd a new Petition to
the Prince, wherein extolling my late La-
bours, I earnestly implor'd his Highneſs to
vouchſafe me a proper Recompence. The
Prince, who was Humanity in the Abstract,
was fenfibly touch'd with my Cafe, and
graciously promis'd that he would have a
due Regard to me. He was as good as his
Word: But his whole Favour terminated
in the Enlargement of my annual Salary.
I thought I had Reafon to expect a far bet-
ter Recompence, and therefore I could not
reſt contented with this. But as I would
not trouble his Highness any further, I
open'd my Grief to the Chancellor. He
heard me with his ufual Humanity, and
promis'd me all the good Offices in his
Power; but at the fame Time admonifh'd
me to defift from fo wild a Petition, and
begg'd me to conſider the Meaſure of my
Abilities, and the Weakneſs of my Judg-
ment. "Nature, fays he, has been but a
"Step-Mother to you, and has deny'd
you thoſe Powers of the Mind, which
(6
66 are
766 A JOURNEY to the
66
"are requifite for the more arduous Offices
"of the State; and therefore you fhould
** not aim at what it is not poffible for you
"to procure. Nay, the Prince himself,
were he to comply with this weak Re-
"queft of yours, muſt ſuffer in his Fame,
<< as a Violator of the Laws. Reft con-
tented therefore with your Condition,
and renounce a Hope, which Nature has
"made unreaſonable." In Conclufion, he
own'd I had fome Merit, and particularly
extoll'd my late Performance.
But it is
not, fays he, Merit of this Kind that paves
the Way to State-Preferment. 'Tis true,
you have drawn a very pretty Picture of the
World; but if for a Performance of this
Kind we were to gratify you with the moſt
honourable Employments, why might not
a Painter for drawing a great Likeneis, or a
Sculptor for exhibiting a Statue in juſt Pro-
portion, with as much Reafon expect to be
made a Senator? Merit fhould doubtlefs
meet with a Recompence, and Rewards
fhould be affign'd to the Deferving; but then
they fhould be Rewards of fuch a Nature,
as that the Commonwealth receive no De-
triment, and fuffer no Ridicule.
Thefe Admonitions filenc'd me for a
While. But as I could not bear to think
of growing old in this vile Employ, I re-
fum'd that defperate Refolution, which had
laid dormant a long Time, of attempting
a Reformation in the State, by which Pro-
ject I might, at one and the fame Time,
help
World Under-Ground.
167
help forward the publick Good, and my
own too.
+
A little before I fet out upon my late
Travels, I had clofely ftudy'd the Nature of
this Government, to fee if I could difcover
any Defects, and at the fame Time what
Remedies were proper for them. Since
that, in the Province of Cockleku, I had ob-
ſerv'd that the Government there was in a
tottering Condition, by reafon of the Ad-
miffion of Women to the Management of
publick Affairs, that Sex being naturally
ambitious, ftill aiming to extend their Pow-
er, nor ever reſting till they have acquir'd a
full and abfolute Authority. Hereupon I
determin❜d to bring in a Bill to exclude that
Sex from the Adminiftration of publick
Affairs. I flatter'd myfelf I fhould find
Multitudes to abet and eſpouſe this Point,
fince it was an eaſy Matter to make it very
clear, and to fhew beyond Contradiction
the Misfortunes that flow from this De-
fect in the State, and the Danger the Male
Sex was in, unless the Wings of fuch an
unnatural Power were timely clipt. And
if it ſhould ſo happen, that the Abolition of
this ancient Cuſtom fhould appear to ſome
to be too hazardous an Attempt, in fuch
Cafe I humbly offer'd, that the Female
Power ſhould be at leaſt reſtrain'd and
abridg'd.
This Scheme of mine had three Ends
in view. Firft, to remove an Inconveni-
ence the State labour'd under. Secondly,
by
168 A JOURNEY to the
by producing a Specimen of my Sagacity
and Judgment, I had Hopes to mend my
Condition. And, thirdly, I thought by
theſe Means to revenge certain Taunts and
Affronts I had receiv'd from many of the
Females of this Country. I frankly con-
fefs, that my own private Intereft, and a
Defire of Revenge, were the primum Mo-
bile of this Project. But then I artfully
conceal'd theſe Views, left under a Pretence
of publick Good, I fhould feem only to
purfue my own, and fo tread in the Steps of
other Innovators, whofe Schemes breathe
nothing but the publick Good, when it is
evident to the dulleft Obferver, that their pri-
vate Intereſt is the Spring that moves the
whole Machine.
And now, having dreft my Project out
to the beſt Advantage, and ftrengthen'd it
by the most powerful Reafons I could in-
vent, I waited upon the Prince, and hum-
bly offer'd it to him. His Highnefs, who
had always teſtify'd a great Regard to me,
was thunderstruck at the Boldness and Folly
of my Undertaking, which he foreboded
muſt end in my irreparable Ruin. Where-
fore he endeavour'd to diffuade me from this
mad Attempt by the ftrongeft Intreaties:
Precibufque minas regaliter addit.
I, for my Part, relying as well upon the
Utility of my Project, as upon the Favour
of the Male Sex (who I was in Hopes would
not defert the common Caufe) remain'd im-
movable
World Under-Ground.
169
1
movable to all his Highneſs ſaid, nor could
his repeated Admonitions vanquiſh my Ob-
ftinacy. In fine, according to the Cuſtom
of the Country, I was brought to the Forum,
and there, with my Neck in a Halter, I
ftood waiting the Judgment of the Senate.
That venerable Body debated the Matter,
and foon came to a Refolution; which Re-
folution was fent up to the Prince for his
Confirmation; and being return'd by him,
was read aloud by a publick Officer. It
run thus:
"After due Examination, we are of
"Opinion as follows: That the Project of
"Scabba, the King's Meffenger, to exclude
"the Female Sex from publick Bufinefs,
cannot take Effect without the higheft
"Detriment to the Commonwealth, fince
66 no less than Half of the Nation, which
"confifts of the faid Sex, muſt look upon
"this Innovation as a very great Hardſhip,
"and their Refentment may occafion infi-
"nite Diſorders. Moreover we are of Opi-
"nion, that it is abfurd and unjuft, intirely
"to exclude Trees of the fineft Talents
"from publick Honours, eſpecially as Na-
.. ture, who does nothing in vain, can ne-
"ver be fuppos'd to have given them all
"thofe noble Advantages to no Purpoſe.
"We are perfuaded, that for the Welfare
"of the State, Regard ought to be had not
cr to the Name, but the Abilities of a Per-
"fon. And as a Country may often la-
"bour under a Want of able Perfons, we
I
"think
170 A JOURNEY to the
"think it a great Folly, by one Act of
"Senate, to render one intire Half of the
"Nation incapable and unworthy of Em-
ployment, folely upon Account of their
"Birth. For theſe and divers other good
"Reaſons we are of Opinion, that the ſaid
"Scabba, for this fooliſh and rafh Attempt,
"ought to be puniſh'd according to the
"Cuftom of our Anceſtors."
The Prince was extremely concern'd for
my Misfortune, but as he never refcinded
the Decree of the Senate, he fign'd it with
his own Hand, and affix'd the Royal Seal to
it, and commanded it to be made publick,
inferting however this mollifying Claufe,
That as I was a Foreigner, a Native of a
new and unknown World, where forward
Geniuſes are in great Efteem, I fhould be
exempted from capital Punishment. But
left by a total Remiffion of the Sentence the
Laws fhould fuffer an Infringement, it was
therefore thought fit to detain me in Prifon
till the Beginning of the Month of Birches,
and that then, with other Violators of the
Law, I fhould be banifh'd to the Firma-
ment.
This Sentence being publifh'd, I was
clapt into Priſon. Some of my Friends
perfuaded me to protest againſt this Sen-
tence, fince among my Judges there were
fo many Matrons and Virgins, all Judges in
their own Caufe. Some advis'd me, as the
fafer Way, to make a fair Acknowledg-
ment of my Crime, and lay the Blame
upon
World Under-Ground.
171
upon my own native human Weakneſs.
But this laft Advice I rejected with great
Conftancy, out of Refpect to Mankind,
upon whoſe Character ſuch a Confeffion
would leave an indelible Blemish.
I heard foon after, that his Highneſs had
determin'd to give me an abfolute Pardon,
if I would but only proftrate myſelf at his
Feet, confefs my Fault, and implore his Fa-
vour, although Rahagna the Treaſurer op-
pos'd that Motion with Might and Main.
But, to ſpeak the Truth, I was not diſpleas'd
with the Sentence. For Death was not
half fo terrible to me as that Employment.
they pick'd out for me; and I was weary
of converfing longer with thefe Trees, who
had fo high an Opinion of their Wiſdom.
I hop'd alſo to meet with better Treatment
in the Firmament, where I had heard, that
all Strangers, without Diftinction, were
kindly receiv'd.
CHAP. X.
The Author's Banishment to the FIR-
I
MAMENT.
HAVE hitherto faid nothing concerning
the ſtrange and very fingular Puniſhment
the Potuans have, of banifhing to the Firma-
ment: Wherefore I think myfelf oblig'd in
this Place, to give fome Account of it.
I 2
Twice
172
A JOURNEY to the
Twice every Year certain Birds of an
enormous Magnitude appear upon this Globe.
They are call'd Gupac, that is to ſay, Birds
of Poſt, and at ſtated Seaſons they come
and go. It has long perplex'd the Subterra-
nean Naturaliſts to account for this periodi-
cal Viſit. Some think they defcend upon
this Planet in Queft of certain Infects, or
large Flies, of which there are prodigious
Numbers about this Time of the Year, and
of which theſe Birds are exceedingly vora-
cious. This Opinion is ftrengthen'd by this
Circumftance, that when thefe Flies difap-
pear, the Birds fly off towards the Firma-
ment. An evident Proof of this we have
in other Countries, where Birds by the fame
Inſtinct of Nature appear, and for the very
fame Cauſes. Others think that theſe Birds
are train❜d up and inftructed to this very
End and Purpoſe by the Inhabitants of the
Firmament, like our Falcons and other
Birds of Prey. This Hypothefis receives
fome Countenance from that Tenderness,
Care, and Dexterity, which thefe Birds ufe.
in bringing home their Prey, and laying it
gently down before their Mafters. Other
Circumstances alfo fhew, that thefe Crea-
tures are either thus inftructed, or elſe that
they have a certain Portion of Reaſon to
direct them; for at the Approach of the
Seafon of Departure, they are fo tractable
and tame, that they fuffer certain Nets, or
fmall Chains, to be thrown over them, un-
der which they lie quiet for many Days,
and
World Under-Ground.
173
and are fed out of Hand by the Inhabitants
with the aforefaid Flies, of which they take
Care to provide a great Quantity for this
very Purpoſe. For it is neceffary to keep
feeding them till all Things are prepar'd and
got ready for thoſe who are to be baniſh'd.
The Apparatus for their Departure is as fol-
lows: On thofe Nets, in which they are
intangled, a Box or Cage is faften'd with
Cords. Every Cage is capable of containing
one Perfon. The Time now drawing near,
and the Infects failing which fupply'd them
with Food, the Birds mount upon Wing, and
cutting the Air, return to the Place from
whence they came. Such was this won-
derful Paffage, by which I and ſeveral other
Exiles were to be tranflated to a new World.
There were alfo at this Time two Citi-
zens of Potu, who for different Crimes
were fentenc'd to Banishment, and were
now preparing for their Journey. One of
theſe was a Metaphyſician, who had in-
curr'd this Puniſhment by difputing con-
cerning the Effence of God, and the Nature
of ſpiritual Substances. He had fatisfy'd the
Law for his first Offence of this Kind, by
undergoing the Puniſhment of the Arm;
but being a ſecond Time detected, he was
condemn'd to be baniſh'd to the Firmament.
The other was a Fanatick, who having
conceiv'd fome Doubts concerning Religion,
and concerning the civil Rights of the State,
attempted to fubvert the Foundations of
each. He refus'd to obey the publick Laws,
I 3
under
174
A JOURNEY to the
under Pretence that fuch Obedience was
contrary to the Dictates of his Confcience.
His Friends endeavour'd, by the most pow-
erful Arguments, to cure him of this Con-
ceit, by fhewing him how many Deluſions.
thefe Impulſes of Confcience and imagina-
ry Inspirations were fubject to; they told
him, that Zeal and Confcience were often
confounded with Melancholy and certain.
corrupt Humours of the Body; they de-
monftrated to him the egregious Folly of
thus appealing to the Authority of Con-
fcience, and how unjuſt it was to contend
that the Impulfes of his Mind fhould be a
Rule to others, who might make uſe of the
fame Argument, and oppofe Confcience to
Confcience. At laft they prov❜d to him,
that whoever firmly held this Principle, pre-
tending Confcience for his Difobedience,
ought to be excluded from the Rights and
Benefits of the Community, fince every
good Subject fhould pay an implicit Obe-
dience to the Laws; but that a Fanatick
neither cou'd nor wou'd pay fuch an Obedi-
ence, fince his Confcience was his fole Rule
of Politicks. But as thefe Reafons had no
Effect upon the Mind of our Fanatick, he
continued obftinate and incorrigible, and
fo was condemn'd to the Firmament. Thus
at this Time there were only three of us to
undergo this Punifament, a Projector, a
Metaphyſician, and a Fanatick.
About the Beginning of the Month of
Birches, we were all carry'd from Prifon to
ſeparate
World Under-Ground.
175
feparate Places. What became of the Me-
taphyfician and the Fanatick I know not,
as being too full of Cares for myſelf to mind
any Thing elfe. Being brought to the de-
ftin'd Place of Departure, I was forthwith
thruſt into the Box or Cage, with as much
Provifion as would ferve me for two or three
Days. Soon after this, when the Birds
found no more Flies brought them, as if
they took the Hint, they left the Place, and
flew off with incredible Celerity. The
Diſtance of the Firmament from the Planet
Nazar, is reputed by the Subterraneans to
be about an hundred Miles. How long I
was in paffing from the one to the other I
cannot fay, but to me this ætherial Voyage
feem'd to be no more than about four and
twenty Hours. After a profound Silence,
at laſt a confus'd Noife feem'd to reach my
Ears, from whence I conjectur'd I was not
far from Land. Then it was I perceiv'd
that theſe Birds had been carefully exercis'd
and inftructed; for with great Art and Care
they landed their Burden, fo as not in the
leaft to injure or hurt it. In a Moment I
was furrounded with a prodigious Number
of Monkies, the Sight of which put me
into a very great Fright, remembring what
I had fuffer'd from theſe Animals upon the
Planet Nazar. But my Fright redoubled,
when I heard thefe Monkies articulately dif-
courfe with one another, and when I be
held them clad in diverfe-colour'd Veft-
ments. I then conjectur'd that they were
4
the
376
A JOURNEY to the
the Inhabitants of this Country. But as
after that Heap of Wonders I had been ac-
cuſtom'd to, nothing now could well feem
new or ſtrange, I began to recover my Cou-
rage, especially as I had obferv'd that theſe
Creatures approach'd me with an Air of Ci-
vility and Good-nature, taking me gently
out of my Cage, and receiving me with the
Humanity due to Strangers. Even Am-
baffadors in our World are hardly receiv'd
with more Ceremony than I was. They
all came one after another, and addrefs'd
me in theſe Words, Pul Affer. When they
had repeated this Salutation pretty often, I
repeated the fame Words. Upon this they
fet up an immoderate Laugh, and by a
Multitude of comic Gestures, fignify'd they
were highly delighted to hear me pronounce
them. This made me conclude theſe Peo-
ple to be a light, babbling Race of Creatures,
and vaft Admirers of Novelty. When they
ſpoke, you wou'd think fo many Drums
were beating, with ſo much Volubility, and
fo little out of Breath, they held on their
Chattering. In a Word, as to Dreſs, Man-
ners, Speech, and Form of Body, they were
the very Reverſe of the Potuans. At firſt
they were all aftoniſh'd at my Figure, and
the chief Reaſon of that Aftoniſhment was,
that I wanted a Tail. For as among the
whole Brute Creation none fo much re-
femble the human Form as Monkies, fo,
had I had a Tail, they would have taken
me for one of their own Species, efpecially
1
as
World Under-Ground.
177
as all thoſe who had hitherto been tranf-
ported from the Planet Nazar to this Place,
were of a Form extremely unlike their
own. About the Time of my Arrival here
the Sea run very high, by reaſon of the
near Approach of the Planet Nazar: For
as with us the Tides of the Ocean corre-
ſpond with the Courfe of the Moon, fo the
Ocean of this Firmament increaſes and de-
creaſes according to the Vicinity or Remote-
nefs of the aforefaid Planet.
Preſently I was conducted to a very noble
Houfe, all beautifully fet off with coftly Stone,
Marble, Mirrors, Vales, and Tapeſtry. At
the Gate were Centinels pofted, which gave
me to underſtand that this could not be the
Dwelling of a vulgar Monkey. And I was
foon inform'd, that it was the Houſe of the
Conful or chief Magiftrate. He was very
defirous of converfing with me, and there-
fore hir'd fome Mafters to inftruct me in
their Language. Near three Months had
been ſpent upon my Inftruction, at the
Expiration of which, as I could now ſpeak
the Tongue pretty fluently, I hop'd to gain
the Applauſe and Admiration of all, upon
Account of the Forwardness of my Genius,
and the Strength of my Memory. But my
Tutors thought me flower and duller than
ordinary, infomuch that they loſt all Pati-
ence, and threaten'd to leave me off. And
as at Potu I was call'd in Derifion Scabba, or
Quick-Parts, fo here, by reafon of my Stu-
pidity and Dulneſs, they gave me the Name
I 5
of
178
A JOURNEY to the
of Kadicoran, which fignifies a Clown, or
Dunce. For thofe alone are here eſteem'd,
who are quick and nimble, and cover their
Senfe in a confus'd and rapid Volley of
Words. While I was learning the Monkey-
Language, my Hoft took me round the Ci-
ty, which I beheld diffolv'd in every Kind
of Luxury. What with the Multitude of
Coaches, Chaifes, Valets, and a Croud of
People hurrying every Way, we were obli-
ged to use a Sort of Force to get on. Yet
this was nothing, if compar'd to that Lux-
ury which reign'd in the Metropolis, where,
as in its Center, you might fee all that mor-
tal Vanity could invent. Being now taught
the Language, I was brought to this famous
Capital by my Hoft, who hop'd to purchaſe
the Favour of a Senator, by making him
a Prefent of fo uncommon a Curiofity as I
For the Form of Government here
is aristocratical, fo that the Sovereign Au-
thority refides in the Grand Senate, the
Members of which are all noble from firſt
to laft. None of plebeian Family can ever
hope to be more than a Centurion or Præ-
tor in the Provinces or leffer Cities. Some-
times, indeed, one of this Clafs may arrive
at the Confulate, yet never without fome
very extraordinary Merit. Thus it was
my Hoft obtain'd the Confulfhip; for fo
fertile was his Genius, that in the Space of
one Month, he projected twenty-eight new
Laws. And though not half of them were
calculated for the Good of the Publick,
was.
yet
World Under-Ground.
179
yet they were Specimens of a fruitful In-
vention, and procur'd him a great Charac-
ter. For throughout the whole fubterranean.
World, there is no Place where Projectors
are in more Efteem than in this. The
capital City is call'd Martinia; it gives
Name to the whole Country, and is famous
for its fine Situation, for the Grandeur of
its Buildings, its Commerce, and naval
Force. For Extent of Ground, and Num-
ber of Inhabitants, I believe it may rival
Paris. So crouded was every Street, that
we were forc'd to beat our Way through to
go to that Part of the City where the Syn-
dick of the Senate liv'd. For he it was to
whom the Conful was to preſent me.
When we drew near to the Syndick's
Houſe, my Friend the Conful went into an
Inn, to put himſelf in Order, and to com-
poſe his Perfon and Habit in a Manner fit
to appear before the Syndick. Immediately
there appear'd a little Army of occafional
Valets or Footmen, commonly call'd Maf-
katti, whofe Affiftance every one makes ufe
of before they enter the Palaces of the Se-
nators, Thefe bruth your Cloaths, take
out the Spots, and with the exacteſt Care
adjust whatever is difcompos'd, even to the
fmalleft Plait. One of theſe Maskatti took
the Conful's Sword, and wip'd it clean and
bright, and then return'd it him. Another
drefs'd his Tail with Ribbands of various
Colours: For theſe Monkies have nothing
more at Heart than the Ornaments of their
Tails.
180
A JOURNEY to the
Tails. There were fome Senators, and
efpecially fome of the Wives of the Sena-
tors, whofe Tails on high Occafions could
fcarcely be drefs'd out to the beſt Advantage
under two or three hundred Pounds Ster-
ling. A third approach'd the Conful with
a geometrical Inftrument, to take the Di-
menſions of his Cloaths, and to fee if all
hung in due Proportion. A fourth brought
a Bottle of Paint, and with it improv'd his
Vifage. A fifth examin'd his Feet, from
which he par'd the Superfluities. A fixth
brought him perfum'd Water to waſh with.
In fhort, one brought a Towel, another a
Comb, another a Looking-Glaſs, and all
with an Exactnefs not inferior to that of a
Geometrician meafuring and adorning his
Map. Oh! thought I to myſelf, how much
Time and Expence muft the Dreſs of the
Ladies here require, when there is fo much
Fufs in tricking out one of our Sex? And,
indeed, the Martinian Ladies exceed all
Bounds, and cover their Defects with fuch
a Load of Paint, as makes their Perfons
offenfive. For when the Sweat and Paint
are pretty well united, it exhales an Odour
like that of your great Kitchens; what you
fmell you know not, but this you know,
that it is fomething very difagreeable.
My Hoft thus painted, powder'd, comb'd
and polifh'd, went to the Syndick's Palace,
attended only with three Valets. When
he came to the Court-Yard he pull'd off his
Shoes, left he ſhould afterwards difoblige
I
the
•
World Under-Ground.
181
the Marble Floor with Dirt or Duft. He
was forc'd to ftay a full Hour before the
Syndick was inform'd that he was there,
nor was he introduc'd without a proper Gra-
tification to fome of the Guards and Ser-
vants. The Syndick, feated on a gilt Set-
tee, as foon as he efpy'd me entring with
my Hoft, burst out into an ungovernable
Laughter, and afterward afk'd me a thou-
fand trifling, foolish Queftions. To every
Reply I made him, he redoubled his Fits of
Laughter.
Ingeminat tremulos nafo crifpante cachinnos.
For my Part, I was of Opinion, that to
play the Buffoon was reckon'd among the
Virtues here, fince the Government had
made this Perfon Syndick, which is the fe-
cond Dignity in the Senate; and I obſerv'd
as much to my Friend. But he affur'd me,
he was a Monkey of great Abilities, as ap-
pear'd from the Multitude of Bufinefs of
various Surts, which even in his greener
Years he went through. For fuch was his
Readiness of Perception, that even over a
Glafs he would tranfact Affairs of the ut-
moſt Weight; nay even at Dinner, or at
Supper, between the Courfes, he would of-
ten draw up a new Law. I enquir'd if
fuch Laws, conceiv'd in fo fhort a Space of
Time, were of any confiderable Duration.
To this he only reply'd, that like other
Laws they continued in Force, till it pleas'd
the Senate to abrogate or repeal them.
The
182
A JOURNEY to the
The Syndick, having convers'd with me
about half an Hour, and with full as great
a Degree of Loquacity as our European Bar-
bers, turn'd himfelf about to my Friend,
and told him, he would take me into the
Number of his Servants, though upon Ac-
count of my flow Intellects he much doubt-
ed whether I could be good for any Thing.
I have myself, reply'd my Friend the Con-
ful, obferv'd a natural Torpor or Dulneſs in
him, but give him Time for Reflexion, and
you will find he has no contemptible Judgment.
That fignifies little here, return'd the Syn-
dick, fince our Multiplicity of Bufinefs ad-
mits of no Delay. With theſe Words he
fell to examining my Limbs and my Body,
and after having furvey'd them a ſhort
Time, he commanded me to lift up a cer-
tain Weight from the Ground, which I
did without much Trouble. Upon this he
told me, that though Nature had been un-
kind to me with refpect to my Intellects,
yet that ſhe had in a Manner compenfated
that Defect by an extraordinary Strength of
Body. I was then order'd to withdraw to
another Apartment, where the Domeſticks.
and Attendants receiv'd me with a good deal
of Pleaſure, though their exceffive Imperti-
nence and Geſtures were troubleſome enough,
So
many Queſtions they afk'd me concern-
ing our World, I knew not how to anſwer
them, and fo gave them what came upper-
moft, fome Truth, fome Falfhood, just to
allay their impatient Curiofity.
At
World Under-Ground.
183
At length my Friend returning, told me
his Excellence did me the Honour to retain
me in his Court. From the foregoing Con-
verfation of the Syndick I could guefs, that
the Employment defign'd for me was no
very important one, probably his Valet, or
his Butler; and upon enquiring what it
was, my Friend faid to me, His Excellence
has been graciously pleas'd to appoint you
one of his Body Chairmen, with an annual
Salary of twenty-five Stercolates. (A Mar-
tinian Stercolate is equal to about ſeven Shil-
lings and Six-pence Sterling.) He has more-
over engag'd, that you fhall have the Ho-
nour of carrying only himself, or his Lady.
I was thunderftruck with this Anſwer, and
remonſtrated in the moſt pathetic Manner
how unworthy an Office this was for one
of my ingenuous Education and Family.
But fome Courtiers rufhing in in Heaps, in-
terrupted me from ſpeaking more, and half
kill'd me with their Impertinence. For all
the Martinians are light, frothy, talking
Creatures, that have a ſmooth, fluent Jar-
gon of Words, without the leaft Mixture
of Serioufnefs or Gravity. At length I was
conducted to an Apartment, where Supper
was ready; and having taken a moderate
Repaft, I retir'd to my Repofe.
I threw myſelf upon my Bed, but fuch
was the Diſorder of my Mind, I could take
no Sleep. The Difdain I was receiv'd with
fhock'd me to the higheſt Degree, and no-
thing less than a Spartan Patience could di-
geft
184
A JOURNEY to the
geſt ſo grofs an Indignity. I heartily de-
plor'd my Fate, which feem'd feverer now
than what I had experienc'd in the Planet
Nazar, and I could not help faying to my-
felf, "What would here become of the
"Kadoki, or High Chancellor of Potu, a
"Perfon of ineftimable Worth in his own
"Country, but who requir'd at leaſt an
"intire Month to form a new Law? What
"would be the Fate of Palmka in this
"Place, where the Senators make Laws
"between the Courfes at Meals?" After a
ferious Confideration, I found myfelf tranf-
lated from a Land of Sages to a Country of
Fools. At laft being tir'd with thinking,
Sleep overpower'd me. I know not how
long I flept, fince there is here no Difference
between Night and Day. For it is never
dark except at one ftated Time, when the
fubterranean Sun is in an Eclipſe by the In-
terpofition of the Planet Nazar. This E-
clipfe is very remarkable, becauſe the afore-
faid Planet, being not far from the Firma-
ment, overſhadows the whole Sun, and fo
always makes the Eclipfe total. But as this
happens but feldom, it makes no Alteration.
of Seafon, which is here invariably the fame
upon Account of the conftant Preſence of
the Sun. Hence the Inhabitants are forc'd
to have Recourſe to various Inventions, as
Groves, Baths, Walks, and Grotto's, to
qualify the Heat.
I was ſcarce awake, when a Monkey en-
ter'd my Chamber, who told me he was
my
World Under-Ground.
185
my Comrade in Office, and with a flight
Cord (being order'd fo to do) he apply'd a
fictitious Tail to my Pofteriors, to make
me look more like a Monkey. He then
bid me get ready, becaufe the Syndick with-
in an Hour was to be carry'd to the Acade-
my, to which Place he and his Brother Se-
nators had receiv'd a formal Invitation. It
feems there was to be a Promotion to a Doc-
tor's Degree at Ten o'Clock that Morning.
It must be noted here, that though the
Days are not diftinguifh'd from the Nights,
by reafon of the perpetual Prefence of the
Sun, yet are they diftinguifh'd into Hours,
half Hours, and Quarters, and that by
Means of Clocks or Hour-Glaffes, fo that
Day and Night together take up about
twenty-two Hours. Hence, if all the Clocks
in the City were to stop at once, it would
be impoffible for the Citizens to recover the
true Time, till they had confulted fome of
the Clocks in the next Neighbourhood. For
there neither are, nor can be, any Sun-
Dials, becauſe there is never any Shadow,
the Sun continually darting perpendicular
Rays upon the Place. So that were you to
dig a Well here, it would be illuminated to
the Bottom. As to the Year, that is re-
gulated and governed by the Courfe of the
Planet Nazar round the Sun.
At Ten o'Clock we took up his Excel-
lence, and carry'd him to the Academy.
Entring into the Auditory, we beheld the
Doctors and Mafters feated in Order, every
one
186
A JOURNEY to the
one of which rofe up as the Syndick pafs'd
by, and turning themfelves about paid him
their Compliments with their Tail. This
is their Manner of doing Reverence. And
this accounts for their Care in adorning
their Tails. For my own Part, I confefs
thefe inverted Salutations feem'd extremely
fooliſh and abfurd. For to turn one's Back
upon any one, is among us a Mark of In-
difference or Contempt: But every Nation
has its particular Tafte. The aforefaid Doc-
tors and Maſters were feated on each Side of
the Auditory. In the lower Part of it was
plac'd a Chair, in which fat the Candidate.
Before the Act of Promotion, the following
Queſtion was difcufs'd in a folemn Difputa-
tion, namely, Whether the Sound, which
Flies and ather Infects make, comes through the
Mouth, or the Pofteriors? The Preſident un-
dertook the Defence of the former Opinion,
which was attack'd by the Opponents with
fo much Ardour, that I was afraid it would
have terminated in a bloody Battle. And
moft certainly they had come to Blows, but
that the Senate rofe up, and cool'd the
Flame by their Authority. During the Dif
pute, a certain Monkey play'd upon a Pipe:
This was the Moderator, who by the Ma-
nagement of his Mufick, either in foft, or
in ſmart Strains, would quicken the Diſpute
when it flagg'd and languifh'd, or bring it
down when it was noify and violent. Tho
very often all his Art had no Effect: So very
hard a Matter it is to preferve the Temper,
when
World Under-Ground.
187
when the Diſpute is upon fuch interefting
Subjects. The fame Thing often happens.
in our World, where, when the Difpute
turns upon ſome very dubious and almoſt
inexplicable Point, one may obferve the
Combatants are often work'd up to the moſt
violent Agitations of Mind or Body. How-
ever, this threatning Quarrel which pro-
mis'd nothing but Blood and Slaughter, end-
ed all in Compliments and Praifes. Some-
thing like this obtains in our European Uni-
verfities, where, according to general Cuf-
tom, the Prefident, when the Difpute is
clos'd, defcends victorious and triumphant
from the Chair.
This Preamble ended, they proceeded to
the Act of Creation with thefe Ceremonies.
The Candidate was plac'd in the Middle of
the Auditory: Three of the Univerſity-
Beadles walk'd gravely up to him, and
threw a whole Pail-full of cold Water upon
his Head; they then perfum'd him with
Incenſe, and laftly gave him a Vomit to
take off. Having perform'd this with the
utmoft Solemnity, they retir'd bowing, and
declar'd him aloud a true and legitimate
Doctor. Amaz'd at ſo many wonderful
Ceremonies, I aſk'd a certain learned Mon-
key who ſtood near me, the Meaning of all
this. He told me, (pitying at the fame
Time my Ignorance) that by the Water,
the Incenfe, and the Vomit, it was under-
ſtood that the Candidate was to forfake
his old Vices, and to affume a new Set of
Manners,
188 A JOURNEY to the
Manners, to diftinguifh him from the Vul-
gar. Hearing this, I deplor'd my own
Stupidity, and full of Admiration, forbore
to aſk any farther Queſtions, for fear I
fhould be thought to have never convers'd
with any Thing above Brutes.
At laft all the muſical Inſtruments ftruck
up at once, and the new Doctor, cloath'd
in a Robe of Green, and girt with a Saſh of
the fame Colour, was eſcorted home from
the Auditory with all Parnaffus at his Heels.
But as he was of a plebeian Family, he had
not the Honour of a Coach, but was feated
in a Vehicle not unlike a Wheelbarrow,
and drawn by Hand, the Univerfity-Beadles
marching before in their respective Habits.
The Whole ended in a very handſome En-
tertainment, where the Guests drank fo
plentifully, that many of them were car-
ried home extremely intoxicated, and were
fo ill for many Days after, that without the
Help of proper Medicines they would hard-
ly have recover'd. So that from the Be-
ginning to the Ending of this whole Cere-
mony, nothing was wanting to the due So-
lemnity of it; and I proteft, I never, even
in our World, faw a more truly academical
Promotion, or any Candidate commence
Doctor more legitimately than this.
In the Courts of Juftice, Caufes are dif
patch'd with a furprizing Dexterity, and I
was charm'd with that Readineſs of Appre-
henfion, that Velocity of conceiving Things,
fo peculiar to this Nation. Very often, be-
fore
World Under-Ground.
189
fore the Advocates have wound up their
Pleadings, the Judges rife and give Sentence
with equal Expedition and Elegance. I of-
ten frequented thefe Courts, to inform my-
felf thoroughly of their Manner of Pro-
ceeding. At first hearing, their Decrees
feem'd juft and equitable enough; but upon
a more careful Examination, they were in
Reality abfurd, unjuft, and full of Contra-
dictions, infomuch that I would fooner
commit my Cauſe to the Chance of a Die,
than to the Judgment of the Martinian
Lawyers. I forbear to fay any Thing con-
cerning the Laws of this People, by reafon
of the capricious Changes they perpetually
undergo. They are as fickle in theſe as in
their Faſhions. Many are here puniſh'd for
Crimes, which were not Crimes at the
Time they were committed, but commence
fuch by Virtue of an After-Law to make
them fo. For which Reafon nothing is
more common than Appeals from the infe-
rior to the fuperior Courts, the Plaintiff
having Hopes, that, while the Suit is de-
pending, the old Law (which loft him his
Caufe in the lower Court) may be repeal'd.
This is owing to the Suddennefs with which
their Laws are invented and promulged.
Such Lovers of Novelty are this People,
that they perfectly naufeate the moſt uſeful
Statutes, folely upon Account of their Anti-
quity. The Advocates are in great Reputa-
tion for their Shrewdnefs in Difputation.
Nay, there are fome among them, who
difdain
190
A JOURNEY to the
•
difdain to undertake a Caufe that is not un-
juft, or at leaſt very doubtful; for in fo do-
ing they might be depriv'd of an Occafion
of exerting their Parts, and giving Speci-
mens of their Ability to turn Black into
White. The Judges will often favour a bad
Caufe, in Compliment to the Council for
defending it fo well. "We perceive well.
"enough, fay the Judges, the Injuftice of
"this Cauſe, but then it has been manag'd
"with fuch inimitable Art, that in Juftice
"to the Advocate for his Performance, we
"ought to train a Point of Law." The
Students in this Profeffion are taught Law
at different Prices; for Inftance, Thofe who
teach their Pupils to manage a bad Caufe,
or, according to the Proverb, to make the
beft of a bad Market, require twenty Ster-
colates for their Trouble; the Art of mana-
ging a good one fhall coft but ten.
Their
Forms of Law are fo many, they re-
femble a huge Chaos, without Bottom and
without Shore. For the Martinians, having
a fublime Genius and a quick Perception,
deteft every Thing that's plain and fimple,
and think nothing worth their Care that is
not very knotty and intricate.
The fame Tafte prevails in Religion,
which does not confift in Practice, but in
idle Speculations. Thus there are two hun-
dred and thirty different Opinions about the
Form or Figure of the Supream Being, and
three hundred and ninety-fix about the Na-
ture and Quality of Souls. The Martinians
never
World Under-Ground.
191
never reſort to their Temples or Churches
with the View of hearing any Thing uſeful,
or of improving themſelves in the Art of
living and dying well, but only to obferve
with what Art and Dexterity the holy Ora-
tors acquit themſelves; for the more obfcure
their Language is, the more they are ad-
mir'd, their Audience having very little Re-
lifh for what they underſtand. More Pains
are taken about the Expreffion, than about
the Matter, the Preachers affecting the
fmooth, round Period
round Period more than the
Strength of Reafon, and the Audience ex-
pecting to be amus'd with a founding Pomp
of Words without a Meaning. For this
Reaſon I did not dare fay any Thing con-
cerning the Chriftian Religion, which con-
fifting of naked, fimple Truths, could ne-
ver recommend itſelf to their Goût.
Projectors are no where in fo high Repu-
tation as here. The more odd and imprac-
ticable the Scheme, the greater is the In-
ventor's Glory. When I had accidentally
been explaining to a certain Monkey the
Nature of our terraqueous Globe, and had
inform'd him that the Surface of it was in-
habited, he prefently conceiv'd a Project of
digging through the Earth, and opening a
Paffage to the Superterraneans. This Device
met with univerfal Applaufe, and a Society
was thereupon inftituted, and call'd THE
SUPERTERRANEAN COMPANY,
to which the Inhabitants flock'd in Shoals,
and, according to the Language of thoſe
Times,
192
A JOURNEY to the
Times, bought in Stocks. However, as
this Affair introduc'd a great deal of Con-
fufion into the Kingdom, and ruin'd a
Multitude of Families beyond Redemption,
they found the Folly of the Scheme, and
dropt it all at once. And though the Na-
tion fmarted fo feverely by it, yet the Pro-
jector not only efcap'd with Impunity, but
with almoſt general Praife, this People en-
tertaining the higheſt Idea of his great Abi-
lities.
Perceiving this Turn of Mind to prevail,
I endeavour'd by the fame Means to procure
myſelf a Reputation among the Martinians,
and to mend my Fortune by fome new Pro-
ject of my own. After a due Examination
of the State of the Publick, I diſcover'd
feveral Flaws in it. I faw the whole Coun-
try was full of the more fubtle Sort of Ar-
tifts, but that it labour'd under a Want of
uſeful Traders and Workmen. Upon this
I propos'd a Law for the Inftitution of cer-
tain Manufacturers, that might be of great
Service to the Nation. But every Propofal
of this Kind met with nothing but Sneers
I
and Contempt from this vain People.
then accus'd my own Stupidity in thefe
Terms, What a Sot have I been? and how
richly do I deferve to end my Days in the igno-
ble Office of Chairman? Yet I did not alto-
gether defpond, and being convinc'd I
hould never do them, nor mi felf, any
Good by falutary Counfels, I refolv'd to try
whether I could not get over the Difficulty
3
by
World Under-Ground.
193
by fome ridiculous Invention or other.
open'd my Defign to one of the graveft
Monkeys I knew, who encourag'd me to it
mightily. And when he prov'd to me, that
Numbers there had made their Fortunes by
mere Trifles and boyish Gewgaws, and
more eſpecially by the Invention of fome
new Faſhion, I then refolv'd to ſwim with
the Tide, and among Fools to play the
Fool myfelf. Upon this I call'd to Mind
all the most ridiculous and extravagant In-
ventions of Europe, and being at Liberty to
pick and chufe, I fix'd upon thofe Orna-
ments of the Head, which we call Perriwigs,
and determin'd with myfelf to introduce
this Faſhion. What contributed to bear
me out in this Attempt, was the great
Number of Goats in this Kingdom, whofe
Wool or Hair would be very proper for my
Purpoſe. And as my good Tutor (now at
Reft) long exercis'd the Occupation of a
Perriwig-Maker, I was not altogether igno-
rant of the Art. In fhort, I procur'd fome
Goat's Hair, and made a Perriwig fitted to
my own Head, and thus adorn'd, I ap-
pear'd before the Syndick. Startled at fo
new and unufual an Appearance, he afk'd
me what it was, and immediately fnatching
it from my Head, he put it upon his own,
and run to the Glaſs to ſurvey himſelf. But
how fhall I exprefs his Wonder and Delight?
He burst into an Ecftafy of Pleaſure, cry-
ing, Oye Gods! and forthwith fent for his
Lady to join with him in his Joy. Her
K
Won-
194
A JOURNEY to the
Wonder was equal to his, and embracing
the Syndick, fhe vow'd fhe never faw any
Thing fo charming, and every Soul in the
Family was of the fame Opinion. The
Syndick then turning towards me, My dear
Kakidoran, fays he, if this Invention of yours
Should take with the Senate as it does with
me, you may promise yourself every Thing. I
thank'd his Excellence, and foon after put a
Petition into his Hands, addrefs'd to the Se-
nate, which I begg'd the Favour of him to
offer. It was conceiv'd in thefe Terms.
Most Excellent, most Generous, moft Illuſtrious,
moft Noble, and moft Wife Senators.
66
r
TH
HE natural Propenfity, by which
I am influenc'd to promote the
"publick Good, has now mov'd me to
contrive this new and hitherto unheard-
"of Ornament for the Head, which here I
"moft humbly offer to your Excellencies,
"and fubmit it to the Examination of
"this auguft Tribunal, not doubting but it
"will meet with a moft gracious Recep-
"tion, eſpecially as the Invention muſt
conduce to the Glory, as well as Orna-
"ment of the Nation, and make the ad-
"miring World confefs, that the Marti-
"nians excel.the reſt of Mortals, not only
" in the Virtues and Endowments of the
Mind, but in thofe Ornaments of the
"Body which render the Perfon grand and
majeſtick. I folemnly vow to all your
6C
I
"Excel-
World Under-Ground.
195
"Excellencies, that in this I never con-
"fulted my own Intereft, and therefore I
"require no Reward: It is enough for me
"in my flender Capacity to have promoted
"the publick Welfare, and the Kingdom's
"Honour. But if the moſt illuftrious Se-
"nate are pleas'd to decree me a ſuitable
"Reward for my Labours, I fhall receive
"it with a grateful Heart, that ſuch their
"Munificence may be known throughout
"the World, and others animated to the
"like, or greater Inventions. In this View
"I cannot oppofe the Liberality of the Se-
"nate and People of Martinia.
As to
the reft, I commend myfelf to the Fa-
"vour of your Excellencies, and am,
May it pleaſe your Excellencies,
Martinia,
Your most obedient,
7th Day of Aftral.
And most humble Servant,
KAKIDORAN.
The Syndick produc'd the Petition with
the Perriwig in open Senate. I heard that all
Bufinefs was laid afide that Day, fo much
did the Examination of the Perriwig engage
the general Attention. Upon the Clofe of
all, they prais'd the Work, extoll'd the Ar-
tift, accepted of his Good-will, and ap-
pointed him a Reward. In the whole Se-
nate there were but three who oppos'd this
Motion;
K 2
196 A JOURNEY to the
Motion; but they got no Credit by it, and
were look'd upon as rude, unpolifh'd Crea-
tures, totally unworthy of the fenatorial
Function.
This Decree being paſs'd, I was com-
manded to appear before the Senate, where
a fenior Monkey rifing up, thank'd me in
the Name of the whole Commonwealth,
and affur'd me they would reward me in a
Manner fuitable to my great Merit. He
likewiſe afk'd me, how much Time it
would require to make fuch another Or-
nament? I reply'd, that as to the Reward,
it was fufficient Recompence to receive the
Applauſes of fo venerable a Body: As to
the other Point, the making a fecond Per-
riwig, provided I might have the Affiftance.
of as many Monkeys as I could inftruct in
the Art, I could undertake in one Month to
furniſh almoſt the whole City. At theſe
Words, the Syndick rofe and faid, Heav'n
forbid, Kakidoran, that fuch an Ornament
Should be common to all the City, and grow
into Difefteem by frequent Ufe! No; let the
Nobility be by this diſtinguiſh'd from the Vul-
gar. This Opinion was feconded by all the
Senate, and the publick Cenfors were or-
der'd to take due Care that this Decree
fhould be inviolably obferv'd, that the No-
bility receive no Difhonour by the promifcu-
ous Ufe of Perriwigs, and that fo bright an
Ornament ſhould be referv'd folely for their
Ufe. But this Edict had the fame Effect
that all fumptuary Laws have, and only ex-
cited
World Under-Ground.
197
cited a ftronger Defire in the Commons to
tranfgrefs them. And as this Invention had
the Happineſs to pleaſe every one, the richer
Citizens, by Friends or Money, procur'd
Titles of Honour to qualify them to wear
Perriwigs, infomuch that in a fhort Time a
very great Part of the City was enobled.
At length, when Petitions arriv'd from the
feveral Provinces, to be allow'd to come into
this Faſhion, the Senate took the Matter un-
der Confideration, and made a Repeal of the
Law, with a Permiffion for the promiscuous
Ufe of Perriwigs; fo that I had the Pleaſure
to fee the whole Nation perriwig'd, if I may
uſe the Expreffion, before I left Martinia.
And a most delightful Sight it was! Such
general Satisfaction did this Contrivance
give, that it gave Birth to a new Epoch, or
Date of Time, which was call'd in the
Martinian Annals, THE YEAR OF PER-
RIWIGS.
To return to myfelf. Surrounded with
Applaufes, and cloath'd in a Purple Robe, I
was carried back in a Chair to the Syndick's
Houſe, and my Comrade Chairman now
perform'd the Office of a Horfe for me.
From that Hour I was admitted to the Syn-
dick's Table. After this lucky Prelude of
my Fortune, I purfued my Defign, and by
the joint Labours of thoſe I inftructed, I in a
fhort Time finifh'd off Perriwigs enough to
accommodate the whole Senate; and about
the End of the Month the following Di-
ploma of Nobility was
Nobility was brought me,
"Whereas
K 3
198
A JOURNEY to the
"Whereas a certain Perfon, by Name
"Kakidoran, Native of a City call'd Europe,
has by a glorious and ufeful Invention
"highly oblig'd the whole Martinian Na-
"tion: It is our Will and Pleaſure to affo-
"ciate him into the Body of our Nobility;
"and we do accordingly decree, That he
" and his Heirs henceforth be reputed as
true and genuine Nobles, and enjoy all
"fuch Privileges, Rights and Immunities,
4
as are claim'd by the Martinian Nobility.
"Moreover we have decreed to honour
him with a new Name, ſo that inſtead
"of Kakidoran, he ſhall now be ſtyl'd Ki-
"kidorian. And lastly, it is our Will and
"Pleaſure to ſettle an annual Stipend upon
"him of two hundred Patari, to enable
"him to fupport his new Dignity."
Given at our Court of Senate
in Martinia, the 4th Day
of Merian, under our Great
Seal, &c.
Thus from a poor Chairman was I tranf-
form'd to a Nobleman; and for fome Time
I liv'd in the higheſt Repute, and with the
utmoft Felicity. And as the Martinians
faw I was in high Favour with the Syndick,
every Creature made his Court to me. The
Flattery of the Preferment-Hunters went fo
far as to ſtrive which fhould write the moſt
fulfome Panegyricks upon me, in which
they kindly gave me a great many Virtues I
never had. Some, though they knew I
was
World Under-Ground.
199
was a Native of an unknown World, yet
reckon'd up for me a long Lift of Anceſtors,
and drew out Genealogies in a direct Line
from Heroes of the earliest Ages. Thefe
Computations could not be very agreeable to
me, nor was it poffible for me to think it
an Honour to be defcended from Monkeys.
Moreover, as it is ufual with the Martinians
to celebrate the Tails of the Quality, as
our Poets fing the Beauties of their Mif-
treffes, accordingly fome of the Martinian
Poets celebrated my Tail in Verfe, though
I never had any. In fhort, to ſuch a
Height did their Flattery rife, that a cer-
tain Perſon of no mean Extraction, and
whofe Name I fpare upon Account of his
Family, actually offer'd me the Enjoyment
of his Wife, if in Return I would use all
my Intereft for him with the Syndick. This
vile Propensity to Flattery, to which all the
Martinians are extremely fubject, makes it
not worth one's while to read their Hito-
ries, which are little more than a Heap of
extravagant Encomiums, though the Lan-
guage of them is every where polite and
elegant. Hence this Country produces bet-
ter Poets than Hiftorians, which is owing
to the fine Imagination of the Martinians.
I enjoy'd a tolerable good Share of Health
while I was in this Country, tho' the Heat,
occafion'd by the continual Prefence of the
Sun, was not a little troubleſome. Once I
was feiz'd with a Diarrhea, attended with a
high Fever; but it was of no great Con-
K 4
tinuance :
200 A JOURNEY to the
tinuance: But during my Illneſs, the Phyſi-
cian I made ufe of was ten Times more
troubleſome than my Diforder, by reafon of
his Impertinence and Loquacity, which are
fo peculiar to this People. Having Occa-
tion for a Phyfician in that ill State of
Health, a Doctor of Phyfick came a Vo-
luntier, and offer'd me his Affiftance: I
could not forbear laughing at the Sight of
him, becauſe who fhould this be but my
very Barber? I queſtion'd him, how it hap-
pen'd that from a Barber he was fo foon
metamorphos'd into a Doctor? He reply'd,
he exercis'd both Profeffions. Upon this I
was a little dubious, whether I ought to
truft the Care of my Health to ſuch a gene-
ral Trader, and frankly told him, that I
had rather have a Phyfician who profefs'd
the Art of Phyfick alone; but he vow'd
and proteſted to me, that there was not one
fuch throughout the whole City. I was
therefore oblig'd to venture myſelf with
him. The Hafte the Doctor was in in-
creas'd my Wonder; for having preſcrib'd
for me a Potion, he abruptly took his
Leave, declaring he could not poffibly ftay
longer, becauſe he was oblig'd to attend up-
on fome other Affairs, in which he was en-
gag'd, at that very Time. And when I
afk'd him what thofe Affairs could be which
requir'd fuch violent Hafte, he told me, he
was under a Neceffity of being at a Market-
Town in the Neighbourhood by ſuch an
Hour, to act as a Notary-Publick, which
was
World Under-Ground.
201
This
was another of his Employments.
Multiplicity of Bufinefs is in great Vogue
here, and every body is very ready to un-
dertake any the moft oppofite and contra-
dictory Offices. This Confidence is occa-
fion'd by that wonderful Livelinefs of Ge-
nius, which difpatches Bufinefs in a Trice.
Yet from the various Miftakes and Blunders
they daily commit, I concluded that theſe
Geniuſes, which are fo full of Fire, are ra-
ther an Ornament to the Commonwealth,
than of any real Uſe to it.
After I had ſpent two Years in this Ter-
ritory, partly as a Chairman, and partly as
a Nobleman, I fell into an Adventure which
had like to have been fatal to me. In his
Excellency's Palace, I had met with the
higheſt Civilities; I had alfo the Honour to
be extremely in the good Graces of his La-
dy, infomuch that I feem'd to have the firſt
Place in her Friendſhip. She often favour'd
me with tete a tete Converfations; and tho'
fhe feem'd highly pleas'd with my Compa-
ny, yet all the faid was with fo much Mo-
defty and Delicacy, that it was impoffible to
put a finifter Interpretation upon her Conduct
in this Reſpect, nor could I with all my
Penetration guefs, that the Source of all
this wondrous Goodnefs was an impure Paf-
fion, more eſpecially as fhe was a Lady of
Quality, and as eminent for her Virtue, as
for her Birth and Family. But, in Proceſs
of Time, from fome equivocal Speeches of
hers, I could not but entertain a few Sufpi-
K 5
cions,
202
A JOURNEY to the
cions, which were confiderably increas'd by
feveral evident Symptoms,
The wan Complexion, and the dying Eye,
The ftedfaft Gaze, th' involuntary Sigh.
At length the Mystery was clear'd up, a
young Virgin, her Confidante, bringing me
the following Billet.
Lovely KIKIDORIAN,
M%
Y Birth, and the natural Modefty
of my Sex, have till now con-
"ceal'd thofe Sparks of Love, which lurk'd
"within my Bofom, and with-held them
"from bursting into an open Flame. But
66
now, finking under the Oppreffion, I
can no longer refift the Violence of my
"Wiſhes.
Let this foft Secret all thy Pity move,
Extorted from my Soul by raging Love.
I am Yours,
PTARNUSA.
Words cannot utter the Confufion this
paffionate Declaration threw me into. But
as I thought it better to be expos'd to the
Vengeance of difappointed Love, than to
difturb the Laws of Nature by mixing my
Blood with a Creature not of the human
Species, I return'd the following Anſwer.
MADAM,
World Under-Ground. 203
MADAM,
TH
HE repeated Favours I have receiv'd
from his Excellency the Syndick, the
Benefits he has heap'd upon an undeferving
Stranger, the moral Impoffibility of com-
plying with your Requeft, together with in-
numerable other Reaſons which I forbear to
recount; all this, Madam, determines me
to hazard your Ladyfhip's Refentment, ra-
ther than conſent to an Action which would
render me of all two-footed Creatures the
moſt vile and abominable. Not Death it-
felf is half fo terrible. The Crime too
would bring an indelible Stain upon a moſt
illuftrious Family, and fhe who commands
it must be the greateſt Sufferer. Let me
conjure you, therefore, to pardon this Re-
fufal, and be fatisfy'd, that in every other
Refpect I fhall always pay the profoundeſt
Obedience to your Ladyfhip's Commandș.
I am,
Madam,
Your most humble,
And most obedient Servant,
KIKIDORIAN,
This Anfwer I feal'd up, and gave it to
the Bearer to deliver to her Miſtreſs. It
had the Effect I fufpected. Her Love was.
chang'd
204
A JOURNEY to the
chang'd into the ſtrongeſt Averfion. How-
ever, the deferr'd her Revenge till fhe had
recover'd that Letter fhe fent to me. She
then fuborn'd falſe Witneffes, who ſwore
that I attempted to violate the Syndick's
Bed. This Story was cook'd up with fo
much Art, and fuch an Air of Probability,
that the Syndick, not making the leaſt Doubt
about it, threw me into Prifon. In this
Extremity, there was but one Thing to be
done, and that was, to make Confefſion of
the Crime, and implore his Excellency's
Mercy. By theſe Means, I hop'd to divert
or foften his Anger, and procure a Mitiga-
tion of my Puniſhment. For it was ridicu-
lous to think of contefting the Matter with.
a powerful Family, eſpecially in a Country,
where not the Merits of the Caufe, but the
fole Quality of the Perfon is regarded.
Therefore omitting all Sort of Defence, I
had Recourfe to the moſt abject Supplica-
tions and Tears, imploring not a total Re-
miffion of my Puniſhment, but only to
have it moderated.
Thus by the Confeffion of a Crime I ne-
ver dreamt of, I chang'd the Puniſhment of
Death for a perpetual Captivity. My Di-
ploma of Nobility was taken from me, and
torn in Pieces by the Hands of the common
Hangman, and I myſelf was condemn'd to
be a Galley-Slave all my Days. The Gal-
ley, or Veffel, I was fent to work in, be-
long'd to the Government, and lay in Rea-
dinefs for its Voyage to the Mezendores, or
!
Land
World Under-Ground.
205
Land of Wonders. This Voyage is un-
dertaken at a ſtated Time of the Year,
namely, in the Month Radir. They fail
to thefe Parts in Queft of fuch Commodi-
ties as are not to be had in their own
Country, fo that the Mezendores are a Kind
of Indies to the Martinians. A Body of
Merchants, as well Nobles as Citizens, are
erected into a Society called the Mezendorian.
Company, among whom the Merchandiſe of
the returning Veffel is divided, according
to their ſeveral Subfcriptions and Shares.
The Veffel moves both by Sails and Oars,
and to every Oar two Slaves or Captives are
affign'd: And to this Drudgery was I con-
demn'd during this Voyage.
With what
Reluctance I enter'd upon it, it is eaſy
to guefs, eſpecially as I had done nothing to
deferve being thus expos'd to fervile Labour,
and to the Lafh, among Wretches and
Slaves. Various were the Sentiments of
the Martinians concerning my Misfortune.
Some were of Opinion I was culpable, and
therefore deferv'd the Puniſhment; but
then the Sight of me in that miſerable Con-
dition drew Compaffion from them. Others
thought fome Regard ought to have been
had to my former Services, and that there-
fore my Puniſhment need not have been ſo
fevere. But fome of the honefter Mon-
keys mutter'd among themfelves that I was
accus'd falfely, though no one dar'd openly
undertake my Defence, through Fear of
my powerful Accufers. I determin'd, how-
I
ever,
206 A JOURNEY to the
ever, to bear my Calamity with Patience.
My greatest Comfort was the approaching
Voyage; for as I had always a ftrong Paffion
for Novelty, I was in Hopes of meeting
with ſomething new and wonderful, though
I could not give Credit to all the Sailors told
me, nor bring myſelf to think that there
were fuch Prodigies in Nature, as I after-
wards met with. There were feveral In-
terpreters in our Veffel, whoſe Affiſtance
the Mezendorian Company made ufe of in
thefe Expeditions; for all Contracts, as to
Buying and Selling, were made by them.
CHA P. XI.
The Author's Voyage to the LAND Of
WONDER S.
B
EFORE I proceed to the Defcription
of this Voyage, I muft caution the ri-
gid and cenforious Critick not to be too
much out of Humour at the Relation of
fome Things which perhaps may appear not
to deſerve any Credit, as being contrary
to the ufual Courſe of Nature. I fhall here
recount Things very incredible, but very
true, and of which I myfelf was an Eye-
Witneſs. The Vulgar and Illiterate, who
never have fet a Foot beyond the Limits of
their own native Country, are apt to look
upon
World Under-Ground.
207
upon all fuch Things as fabulous to which
they have not been accuſtom'd from their
Infancy. But the Learned, and eſpecially
fuch of them as are converfant in phyfical
Enquiries, who know how fertile Nature is
in her Productions, will look with a more
favourable Eye upon the wonderful Parts of
this Narration.
Quis tumidum guttur miratur in Alpibus? aut
quis
In Meröe craffo majorem infante mamillam, &c.
It is now well known, that there were a
People formerly in Scythia, called Arimafpi-
ans, who had only a fingle Eye apiece in
the Middle of their Foreheads; and others
in the fame Parts of the World, whofe
Feet were fet on the contrary Way to ours.
We read of People in Albania, who were
grey-headed from their Childhood.
The
Sauromatians us'd to make a Meal but once
in three Days, and to faft the intermediate
ones. Mention is made of certain Families
in Africa, who had the Art of faſcinating
or bewitching People with the Sound of
their Voices. The Inhabitants of lyrium
were remarkable for having two Pupils in
each Eye, and us'd, when they were pro-
vok'd, to ftare their Enemies to Death. In
the Mountains of India, there are fome Men
with Dogs Heads, and who have been heard.
to bark like thofe Animals; others, with
Eyes in their Shoulders. And in the far-
theft Parts of the fame Country, there have
been
208
A JOURNEY to the
been found Animals refembling Men, with
hairy Bodies, and Wings like Birds, who
never eat, but live upon the Scent of Flow-
ers, which they draw through their Noftrils.
Now I may afk, Who would have given.
Credit to thefe, and the like Things, if
Pliny, a very grave Hiftorian, had not fo-
lemnly affirm'd, not that he had heard or
read of fuch Things, but that he himſelf
had feen them? In like Manner, who would
ever have thought that the Earth was hol-
low, and that another Sun, and other Pla-
nets, were contain'd within its Bowels, had
not my own Experience clear'd up that
Myftery? Or how could an Account of a
World, inhabited by Trees endued with
Reafon, and a Power of local Motion, have
ever gain'd Belief, had not my Diſcoveries
prov'd the Exiftence of it beyond a Poffibi-
lity of Doubt. I am not inclin'd, however,
to quarrel with any Man for his Incredu-
lity, fince I muft confefs, that before I un-
dertook this Voyage, I was a little in doubt
myſelf, whether the Relations of Travellers
in general were any Thing better than
pompous Fables, and infignificant Amuſe-
ments.
It was in the Beginning of the Month
Radir that we fet Sail. We had a fair
Wind for fome Days, and our Veffel fail-
ing right before it, we had no Occafion
to handle our Oars, and were therefore at
Liberty to divert ourfelves. But on the
fourth Day the Wind funk, and we were
forc'd
World Under-Ground.
209
forc'd to take to our Oars. The Captain
perceiving I was unaccuftom'd to fuch hard
Labour, and unfit to bear it, would often
give me Leave to reft a while, and at length
he entirely freed me from this fervile Öf-
fice. Whether he thought me innocent,
and therefore fhew'd me fo much Kindness,
or whether he judg'd me worthy of better
Treatment on Account of the curious In-
vention of Perriwigs, which I had the Ho-
nour of, as I have before related, I cannot
take upon me to determine. I muft how-
ever obferve, that he carry'd three Wigs
along with him this Voyage, the Combing
and Buckling of which was committed to
my Charge. So that I was on a ſudden
advanc'd from being a Galley-Slave, to the
Dignity of the Captain's Wig-Dreffer. This
Civility of the Captain's to me was the
Reaſon that as often as we arriv'd at any
Port, I was always one of the Number
who were appointed to go on Shore. This
was extremely agreeable to me, as it gave
me an Opportunity of fully fatisfying my
Curiofity.
We kept on our Courſe for fome Time
without meeting with any Thing remarka-
ble; but after we had loft Sight of Land
we fell among the Syrens, who as often as
the Wind abated, and the Sea grew calm,
would fwim to the Ship, and beg our Cha-
rity. The Language they fpoke refembled
the Martinefe, fo that fome of our Ship's
Crew were able to talk with them without
the
}
210 A JOURNEY to the
the Help of an Interpreter. One of the
Number, after I had given her a Piece of
Meat, fixing her Eyes ftedfaftly upon me,
cry'd out,
Hero! proceed, and rule a conquer'd World!
I only fmil'd at the Prophecy, as thinking
it an empty Piece of Flattery, though our
Sailors affur'd me very feriously, that thefe
Syrens were feldom or never out in their
Predictions. We had been under Sail about
eight Days when we difcovered Land, which
the Mariners call'd Picardania. As we were
entring the Harbour, we faw a Jack-Daw
hovering about us, who upon Enquiry I
found to be a Perfon of great Dignity, and
at that Time Infpector-General of the Cuf
toms. I could ſcarce refrain from laughing,
when I heard that an Office of fo great
Truft was committed to a Jack-Daw, and
from the Appearance of their Chief, I con-
jectur'd, that Wafps and Hornets muſt be
the Tide-Waiters and Cuftom-Houſe Offi-
cers. After this Bird had flown two or
three Times round the Ship, he made for
the Shore again, and prefently after return'd
with three other Daws, and alighted upon
the Fore-caſtle. I was ready to burſt with
laughing, when I faw one of our Interpre-
ters approach thefe Birds with a profound
Refpect, and immediately enter into a long
Converfation with them. The Reafon of
their coming, was to infpect what Merchan-
dife we had on board, it being their Buſineſs
to
World Under-Ground.
211
to enquire, whether we had any contraband
Goods, and particularly any of the Herb
commonly call'd Slac. It is very common
for thefe Creatures to fearch every Corner
of the Ship, and to unpack every Bale of
Goods, to fee if they can difcover any of
this Herb, the Importation of which is pro-
hibited by the Magiftrate, under a very fe-
vere Penalty. The Inhabitants barter feve-
ral Sorts of Commodities, which are very
ufeful and neceffary towards the Support of
Life, in Exchange for this Herb; from
whence it happens, that the Plants which
grow in Picardania, though every whit as
good as this, are held in no Efteem. The
Picardanians in this refemble the Europeans,
who are often fond of Things for no other
Reaſon, but becauſe they are fetch'd from
remote Countries, and grow in foreign Soils.
The Infpector, after he had had a long Confe-
rence with our Interpreters, went down in-
to the Hold with the reft of his Compani-
ons, and returning foon after, with an angry
Countenance declar'd, that he forbad us
trading with the Picardanians, becaufe we
had acted contrary to the Faith of Treaties,
in importing prohibited Goods. But the
Captain, who knew by Experience how
to mitigate the Officer's Anger, prefented
him immediately with a few Pounds of Slac,
upon which his Anger fubfided, and he gave
us Leave to unload our Cargo. As foon as
this was over, 2 vaft Flock of Daws came
fluttering about us. Theſe were all Mer-
chants,
212
A JOURNEY to the
chants, who came to traffick. The Captain
intending to go afhore, order'd me, and
fome others, to accompany him.
Accord-
ingly four in Number of us left the Ship,
namely, the Captain, myfelf, and two other
Monkeys, to wit, our Supercargo and Inter-
preter. We were invited to Dinner by the
Infpector-General. The Inhabitants have
no Tables, as not making any Uſe of
Chairs, for which Reafon the Cloth was
laid in the Middle of the Floor. A moſt
delicate and magnificent Repaft was pre-
fently ferv'd up, but in very ſmall Dithes :
And as the Kitchen was at the Top of the
Houſe, each Difh was brought in fupported
by two Pair of Jack-Daws, as if it defcend-
ed from the Clouds. After Dinner the Of-
ficer took us along with him, to fhew us
his Library. There was a vaft Collection
of Books, but of a mighty fmall Size, the
largeſt Folios being ſcarce fo big as one of
our Primmers. I had much ado to with-
hold laughing when I faw the Librarian fly
up to the Top-Shelves to fetch down fome
of the Octavos and Duodecimos. The Houfes
of the Picardanians are very little different
from ours, as to the Building, and the Dif
pofition of the Apartments; but the Bed-
Chambers are fufpended just beneath the
Roof, after the Manner of Birds-Nefts. It
may be afk'd, perhaps, how it is poffible for
Daws, (who are reckon'd amongſt the Birds
Minorum gentium) to build Houfes of fuch a
Magnitude? But it was evident, from a
Houſe
t
World Under-Ground.
213
Houfe which was then building from the
Ground, that the Thing was very poffible;
for feveral thoufand Labourers were employ'd
about it at the fame Time; fo that what
was wanting in Strength was fupply'd by
Numbers, and by the Agility with which
they flew about their Work. For this Rea-
fon they will finiſh a Houſe almoſt as quick-
ly as our Bricklayers can. The Inſpector's
Lady did not appear at Table, by reaſon of
her Lying-in; for at fuch Times the Mother
never ftirs out as long as her little ones are
callow, but as ſoon as ever they begin to be
fledg'd, her Hufband gives her Leave to
go abroad.
We did not stay long in this
Country, for which Reaſon I can fay no-
thing as to the Government thereof, or the
Manners and Cuſtoms of the Inhabitants.
Every Thing was in great Confufion at that
Time, on Account of a War which was juſt
then broke out between the Daws and their
Neighbours the Thrushes, especially as News
was brought the Day after our Arrival,
that a great Battle had been fought in the
Air, in which the Daws were entirely rout-
ed. The General was afterwards try'd by a
Court-Martial, and fentenc'd to have his
Wings clipt, which is look'd upon as a
very heavy Punishment in this Country,
and very little different from what is in-
Ricted for capital Offences. After we had
difpos'd of the Cargo, we fet Sail from
thence. At a little Distance from the Shore,
we faw great Quantities of Feathers floating
about
214
A JOURNEY to the
about upon the Water, and from thence
conjectur'd, that it was the Spot where the
late Battle had been fought.
After a profperous Voyage, which lafted
only three Days, we arriv'd upon the Coaft
of Crotchet-Island. We immediately came
to an Anchor, and went on Shore, prece-
ded by an Interpreter, who carry'd that
Sort of muſical Inftrument along with him,
which is generally call'd a Bafe. This Ce-
remony appear'd very ridiculous to me, as I
could not comprehend for what Reafon he
fhould load himſelf with ſuch an uſeleſs Bur-
den. As the Coafts feem'd to be deferted,
and there was no Appearance of any living.
Creature, the Captain order'd our Interpre-
ter to play a March, to give Notice of our
Coming. Upon this about thirty mufical
Inftruments, or Bafes, with one Leg, came
hopping towards us. I thought at first, that
what I faw was all Inchantment, as I never,
in all my Travels, met with any Thing fo
wonderful. The Make of thefe Bafes,
whom I afterwards found to be the Inhabi-
tants of the Country, was as follows: Their
Necks were pretty long, with little Heads.
upon them; their Bodies were flender, and
cover'd with a fmooth Kind of Bark or
Rind, in fuch a Manner, as that a pretty
large Vacuity was left between the Rind
and the Body itſelf. A little above the Na-
vel, Nature had plac'd a Sort of Bridge
with four Strings. The whole Machine
reſted upon one Foot, fo that their Motion
was
World Under-Ground.
215
was like that of Hopping, which they per-
form'd with wonderful Agility. In fhort
one would have took them for real Bafes,
from their Similitude to that Inftrument,
had it not been for their Hands and Arms,
which were in every Reſpect like our own.
One of theſe Hands was employ'd in hold-
ing the Bow, as the other was in ſtopping
the Strings. Our Interpreter begun the
Conference, by taking up the Inftrument
he had brought with him, and playing a
flow Strain.
Suftinet a lævâ, tenuit manus altera plectrum,
Artificis ftatus ipfe fuit: Tum ftamina docto
Pollice follicitat.
An Anfwer was prefently return'd him in
the fame Strain, and thus they went on
warbling their Thoughts to one another for
a confiderable Time. Their Converſation
began with an Adagio, which I cannot but
fay had a good deal of Harmony in it, but
it foon flid into Difcords which were very
grating to the Ear. The Conference ended
with an harmonious and delightful Præfto.
Upon hearing this laft our Men were ex-
ceedingly pleas'd, fince it was a Token, as
they told me, that the Price of their Cargo
was agreed upon. I was afterward inform❜d,
that the flow Mufick in the Beginning was
only a Prelude to the Difccurfe, and was
employ'd in mutual Compliments on both
Sides: But that when we heard the Difcords
they were diſputing about the Price of our
Commo-
216
A JOURNEY to the
Commodities, and that the Præfto in the
Conclufion fignify'd that the Bufinefs was
happily determin’d. Accordingly a little
while after we unloaded the Ship. The
Commodity for which there is the greateſt
Demand in this Country is Rofin, with
which the Inhabitants rub their Bows,
which are their Inftruments of Speech.
Such as are convicted of any great Crime in
this Country, are generally fentenc'd by the
Judge to be depriv'd of their Bows; and a
perpetual Privation of the Bow is equal to
capital Puniſhment amongst us.
As I un-
derſtood there was to be a final Hearing of a
Law-Suit in a neighbouring Court of Juſtice,
while I ftaid there, my Curiofity prompted
me to hear fome of their mufical Law-
Proceedings. The Council, inftead of ma-
king a Speech, mov'd their Bows, and
play'd each of them a Kind of Tune. So
long as the Pleadings lafted, I could diftin-
guifh nothing but diffonant and jarring
Sounds; for all the Eloquence of the Bar
confifts in the Loudneſs of their Notes, and
the quick Motion of their Hands. After
the Hearing was over, the Judge rifing
flowly from the Bench, and taking up his
Bow, gave the Court an Adagio, which is
the fame Thing as pronouncing Sentence.
For as ſoon as he had made an End, the
Executioners advanc'd directly to the Cri-
minal, to take away his Bow. The Boys
in this Country refemble that Kind of In-
ftrument, which in our Parts of the World
W&
World Under-Ground.
217
we call a Kitt. They are never ſuffer'd to
handle a Bow till they are three Years old.
Upon their Entrance into their fourth Year
they are ſent to School to learn their Ga-
mut, from Mafters appointed for that Pur-
pefe, as Children in Europe are, to learn
their Alphabet. They are kept under the
Difcipline of the Ferula till they are able to
play thoroughly in Tune, and to give their
Inftruments a clear and diftinct Expreffion.
We were very much molefted by theſe Boys
during our Stay there, as they were perpe-
tually teazing us with their fcraping. Our
Interpreter, who had a very good Hand
himſelf, and perfectly understood the Lan-
guage, told us, that the only Meaning of
this Mufick was to beg a little Rofin of us.
They begg'd in a whining Tone of the
Adagio Kind, but as foon as ever they had
got what they wanted, they run into the
Allegro, or Jig-Time, which was their Me-
thod of returning Thanks. However, a
Repulfe would at any Time fpoil all their
Mufick.
Having difpatch'd our Affairs to our Sa-
tisfaction, we left this Place about the Month
Gufan, and after a Voyage of a few Days
came in Sight of another Coaft. Our Crew
guefs'd it to be Pygloffia, from the foetid
Smell which came from thence. The In-
habitants of this Country are not unlike hu-
man Creatures, except in one Particular,
which is the Want of Mouths. This lays
them under a Neceffity of ſpeaking a poſte-
L
riori,
218
A JOURNEY to the
riori, if I may be allow'd the Phrafe. The
firſt Perſon who came aboard our Ship was
a wealthy Merchant. He very civilly falu-
ted us from behind, according to the Cuf-
tom of the Country, and then began to
talk with us about the Price of our Goods.
The Barber belonging to our Ship, to my
great Misfortune, was at that Time fick;
for which Reafon I was oblig'd to make uſe
of a Pygloffian Barber. The People of this
Profeffion are more talkative, if poffible, in
this Country, than they are in Europe; fo
that whilſt he was fhaving me, he left fuch
a horrid Stench behind him in the Cabin,
that we were oblig'd to burn great Quanti-
ties of Incenſe to ſweeten it again after
his Departure. I was fo accuftom'd to fee
ftrange Things, and fuch as were contrary
to the ufual Courfe of Nature, that nothing
now appear'd furprizing to me.
As the
Converſation of the Pygloffians was difagree-
able and offenfive, by reafon of this natural
Imperfection, we were willing to get away
from thence as foon as poffible, and there-
fore weigh'd Anchor before the Time we
had appointed. We haften'd our Depar-
ture the more on Account of our being in-
vited to Supper by one of the principal In-
habitants. We all fhrugg'd up our Shoulders
at this Invitation, and nobody would accept
of it, but upon Condition that a general Si-
lence fhould be obferv'd all Supper-Time.
As we were going out of the Harbour, the
Pygloffians crouded to the Shore to wifh us a
good
World Under-Ground.
219
good Voyage; but as the Wind blew di-
rectly from the Land, we made all the Signs
we could, by nodding our Heads, and wa-
ving our Hands, to let them know we would
excuſe their Compliments. I could not help
reflecting, upon this Occafion, how very
troubleſome a Man may prove by ftriving to
be over-complaifant. The chief Trade of
the Martinians to this Country, confifts in
Rofe-Water, and divers Kinds of Spices
and Perfumes. We fteer'd our Courfe from
hence to Iceland, a Country the moft hor-
rid, defert, and inhofpitable, that ever my
Eyes beheld. Hardly any Thing is to be
feen, but Mountains continually cover'd
over with Snow. The Inhabitants, who
are all made of Ice, are difpers'd here and
there amongst the Tops of the Hills, in
Places where the Sun never comes. For all
between the Summits of the Mountains, to
fpeak poetically, is bound up in eternal
Froft. On this Account likewiſe it is per-
petually dark here, or if there is any Light,
it is only what proceeds from the Glitter-
ing of the Hoar-Froft. But the Valleys
which lie between theſe Hills of Snow are
(full as miraculously) fcorch'd with Heat,
and burnt up by the fiery Vapours with
which the Atmoſphere abounds. For this
Reaſon the Inhabitants never dare venture
down into the Valleys, unleſs it be in hazy
Weather, or when the Sky is overcaft.
And as foon as ever they perceive the leaft
Glimmering of the Sun's Rays, they either
L 2
get
220
A JOURNEY to the
get back into the Mountains, or plunge di-
rectly into fome Cavern. It often happens,
that whilſt the Inhabitants are upon the
Road into thefe Valleys, they are either
melted, or come to fome other Misfortune.
The extraordinary Heat in thefe Places fur-
niſhes them with a ready Means of puniſh-
ing notorious Criminals. The Executioners
take the Opportunity of the first cloudy Day
to carry fuch Criminals down into the Plain,
where they tie them to a Stake, and there
leave them expos'd to the burning Rays of
the Sun, which foon diffolves and melts
them. The Country produces all Kinds of
Minerals, except Gold. Thefe are bought
up by foreign Merchants, in the crude State
in which they are digg'd out of the Earth.
For the Natives being unable to bear the
Fire, know nothing of the Art of fmelting
or working up of Metals. 'Tis thought
that the Iceland Trade is the moſt beneficial
of any that is carry'd on in theſe Parts.
All theſe Countries, which I have been
hitherto deſcribing, are fubject to the great
Emperor of Mezendoria, properly fo call'd; for
which Reaſon thefe, as well as others which
have not been mention'd, are by Travel-
lers call'd by the general Name of the Me-
zendores, or Mezendorian Islands, tho' they
are diſtinguiſh'd from one another by pecu-
liar Names, as has been fhewn in this Itine-
rary. That Empire, which is no leſs ſpa-
cious than it is extraordinary, was the End,
and as it were the Center of our Voyage.
Eight
World Under-Ground.
22 I
Eight Days after we left Iceland, we arriv'd
at the Imperial City. Whatever the Poets.
have faid about Societies of Animals, or
Frees, we here found to be real. For Me-
zendoria is a Country which is actually pof-
fefs'd in common by Animals and Trees,
who are alike endued with Reafon. Any
Kind of Animal or Tree whatfoever is al-
low'd to enjoy the Privileges of this City,
provided he is obedient to the Laws, and to
the establish'd Government. One would
be apt to think, that a Mixture of fo many
Creatures of different Forms and oppofite
Natures ſhould neceffarily create Diſorder
and Confufion. But by Virtue of prudent
Laws and Conftitutions, this Contrariety is
made to produce happy Effects. For by
Means thereof, a different Office or Em-
ployment, and fuch as is fuited to his diffe-
rent Genius, Temper, and Abilities, is pru-
dently affign'd to each of theſe miſcellaneous
Subjects. Lions, becauſe of their innate
Magnanimity, are here made Generals of
Armies; Elephants, by reafon of their na-
tural Sagacity, and the Soundneſs of their
Judgments, are appointed Members of the
Supreme Council of the Nation. All Offi-
ces at Court are fill'd up by Cameleons,
which Animals being by Nature ſubject to
Change, can the more readily accommodate
themſelves to Times and Circumftances.
The Land-Forces are made up of Bears
and Tygers, and fuch warlike Animals.
Bulls and Oxen are admitted into the Sea-
Service;
L 3
222
A JOURNEY to the
Service; for theſe being fimple and well-
meaning Creatures, and at the fame Time
hardy and obftinate, and not overburden'd
with good Breeding, are therefore efteem'd
the propereft Inhabitants for that boisterous
Element. They have likewiſe a Seminary
of Calves, which are inftructed in the Art
of Navigation, and train'd up for the Ser-
vice of the Fleet; thefe are call'd Sea-Calves,
and are promoted by Degrees to the Dignity
of Captains and Admirals. Trees, by rea-
fon of their Uprightneſs, are created Judges.
Geefe are Advocates in the Supreme Courts
of Juftice, and Magpyes have the Manage-
ment of Caufes in the inferior Courts.
Foxes are made Plenipotentiaries, Envoys,
Confuls, Agents and Secretaries to Embaffies,
Rooks are generally appointed Adminiftra-
tors to the Goods and Chattels of fuch as-
die inteftate. Goats are Philofophers, eſpe-
cially Grammarians, as well out of Regard
to their Horns, with which they are us'd to
puſh their Adverfaries upon the ſlighteſt
Provocation, as on Account of their vene-
rable Beards, in which Refpect they furpafs
all other Animals. Horfes are Civil Magi
ftrates; and Vipers, Moles, and Dormice,
Farmers and Hufbandmen. Birds are em-
ploy'd as Couriers and Poft-Boys.
Affes,
on Account of the Loudness of their Voices,
are made Deacons; and Nightingales exe-
cute the Office of Singing-Men and Choir-
ifters. Cocks are the Watchmen in great
Towns, and Dogs are Porters at the Gates.
Wolves
World Under-Ground.
223
Wolves are the fuperior Officers in the Trea-
fury and Cuſtom-Houfe, and Hawks and
Vultures are their Deputies.
By Means of theſe excellent Inftitutions
all publick Offices are duly and faithfully
executed, and every Thing tranſacted in
the moſt orderly Manner. This Empire,
therefore, ought to be a Pattern for all Le-
giflators to copy after in the Eſtabliſhment
of new Forms of Government. For that
fo many worthleſs Wretches get into Em-
ployments is not owing to any Want of
Perfons of Abilities to fill them up, but fole-
ly to an improper Choice. But if this Mat-
ter was taken Care of as it ought to be,
and wife and able Men promoted not on
Account of their general Merits, but of
their Fitnefs to that particular Poft, we
fhould fee publick Offices far better manag'd
than they now are, and Governments in a
more flouriſhing Condition. What a falu-
tary Inftitution this is which we have been
ſpeaking of, is evident from the Example of
this Empire. We find in the Annals of
Mezendoria, that about three hundred Years
ago this Law was repeal'd by the Emperor.
Lilak, and that publick Employments were
conferr'd upon all Sorts of People indiffe-
rently, provided they had Merit of any
Kind, or had fignaliz'd themſelves by any
extraordinary Action. But this promifcu-
ous Diftribution of Places of Truft occa-
fion'd fo many and fuch great Diſorders,
that the Government feem'd upon the Point
L 4
of
224 A JOURNEY to the
of being overturn'd thereby. Thus, for
Example, a Wolf having acquitted himſelf
with Reputation in the Management of the
publick Revenues, lays Claim, on that Ac-
count, to a fuperior Dignity, and becomes
a Senator; on the other Hand a Tree, ha-
ving fignaliz'd himself by the Integrity of
his Decifions, was rewarded by an Em-
ployment in the Treafury.. By this pre-
pofterous Promotion, two able Men at once
were rendered abfolutely uſeleſs to the Pub-
lick. A Goat, or a Philofopher, who was
extoll'd to the Skies by the Scholafticks, for
his Keenneſs and Obftinacy in defending an
Argument, defiring to advance himſelf, re-
queſted the firſt Place that fhould happen to
be vacant at Court, and obtain'd it; whilſt
a Cameleon, noted for his Good-Breeding
and his Compliance with the Times, ob-
tain'd by theſe Qualities a Profeffor's Chair
in the Univerſity, which he follicited for
the Sake of the Salary. The Effect of this
was, that the former from an able Philofo-
pher became an abfurd Courtier; and the
latter from an excellent Courtier, was tranf-
form'd into a moft empty Philofopher. For
that Perfeverance in maintaining his Opini-
ons, which does a Man Credit as a Philo-
fopher, is an Imperfection in the other Cha-
racter, fince Fickleness and Inconftancy are
cardinal Virtues at Court, and he that
would rife there muſt regard not ſo much
what is true, as what is fafe, and muſt af-
fume a different Afpect juft as the Face of
Affairs
World Under-Ground.
225
Affairs happens to change. What is there
a Vice, is a Virtue in the Schools; where
Pofitiveneſs, and a determin'd Reſolution to
adhere, at all Events, to the Point you
have undertaken to defend, is a Token of a
very great Man. In fhort, the Subjects in
general, even fuch as were remarkable for
very extraordinary Abilities, were by this
Alteration in the Conftitution render'd uſe-
lefs to their Country, and the Republick of
courfe began to totter. In this State of
Affairs, when every Thing was running to
Ruin, an Elephant of great Prudence, na-
med Baccari, at that Time a Senator, laid
this Grievance before the Emperor in very
pathetick Terms. That Prince, being con-
vinc'd of the Truth of what was told him,
determin'd to put an immediate Stop to the
growing Evil The Manner in which a
Reformation was brought about was this.
Such as were in Employment were not im-
mediately turn'd out, for by that Means the
Remedy would have been worse than the
Difeafe; but as faſt as Offices became va-
cant, fuch as already were in Employments,
for which they were unfit, were remov'd to
others better adapted to their Capacities.
The good Effects of this Change foon be-
came vifible; and Baccari, for the great
Service he had done his Country, had a Sta-
tue erected for him, which is to be feen in
the great Square in Mezendoria at this Day.
Ever fince that Time the ancient Laws have
been religiously obferv'd. Our Interpreter
affirm'a,
L S
226
A JOURNEY to the
affirm'd, that he had this Relation from a
certain Gooſe, with whom he was very in-
timate, and who was reckon'd one of the
moſt eminent Lawyers in the whole City.
Many unuſual, and even ftupendous Phæ-
nomena, are daily offering themſelves to
View in this Country, and attracting_the
Eyes of Strangers and Travellers. The
Sight alone of fo many Kinds of Animals,
to wit, Bears, Wolves, Geefe, Magpyes,
c. walking up and down the different
Streets and Quarters of the City, and con-
verfing familiarly with each other, cannot
fail of exciting Admiration and Delight in
thofe who are unaccustom'd to fuch Kind of
Sights. The firſt Perſon who came on.
board us was a meagre Wolf, or Cuſtom-
Houfe Officer; he was attended by four
Kites, or Under-Officers, fuch as in Europe
are call'd Searchers. They feiz'd whatever
they had a Mind to of our Cargo, and by
that Means made it appear that they had
learnt their Leffon perfectly, and were very
far from being Novices in their Trade. The
Captain, according to his ufual Civility, al-
ways took me along with him when he went
afhore. We were met at our Landing by a
Cock, who having afk'd the ufual Queftions,.
namely, what our Bufinefs was, and from
whence we came, gave Notice of our Ar-
rival to the chief Officer of the Cuftoms..
We met with a very civil Reception, and
were invited to fup with him. His Wife,,
who, as we were told, was a celebrated.
Beauty
World Under-Ground.
227
Beauty among the Wolves, did not make
her Appearance at Table. The Reaſon of
her Abſence, we heard afterward, was her
Huſband's Jealoufy, who did not think it
proper to expoſe a Perfon of her Beauty to
the View of Strangers, and efpecially of
Sailors, who by reafon of their long Abfti-
nence, being generally very loving when
they come on Shore, ufe little or no Diftinc-
tion in their Addreffes. Divers other mar-
ry'd Females fat down to Supper with us.
One of our Company, a white Cow with
black Spots, was the Wife of a Sea-Officer,
Next to her fat a black Cat, who was Wife
to one of the King's Huntfmen, and was
juſt come up out of the Country. The
Perfon that fat next to me at Table was a
particolour'd Sow, Wife to a Gold-finder,.
all Offices of this Kind being fill'd up by
fuch as are of Hoggiſh Extraction. She
was very fluttifh, and fat down to Table
without waſhing her Hands, which is a
common Thing amongſt thoſe of her Tribe;
but then ſhe was extremely officious, and
help'd me ſeveral Times with her own
Hands. Every body was furpriz'd at her
unufual Civility, especially as theſe Crea-
tures are by no Means remarkable for Po-
litenefs. For my Part, I wifh'd fhe had
not been quite fo well-bred, fince the being
help'd by fuch Hands was not in the leaft
agreeable to me. I muſt here obferve, that
though the Inhabitants of Mexendoria re-
femble Brutes, as to their Shapes, yet they
*...
have
2.28
A JOURNEY to the
\
have Hands and Fingers which grow out of
their Forefeet, in which Reſpect alone they
differ from our Quadrupeds. They have
no Occaſion for Cloaths, as their Bodies are
cover'd over with Hair or Feathers. The.
Rich are diftinguifh'd from the Poor only
by certain Ornaments, as Collars of Gold,
or Pearls, or Garlands wound in a ſpiral
Manner round about their Horns. The
Sea-Officer's Lady was fo fet off with Orna-
ments of this Kind, that one could ſcarce.
ſee any Horns ſhe had. She excus'd her
Huſband's Abfence, by ſaying he was de-
tain'd at home by a Law Suit, a Hearing of
which, was, to come on the. Day following.
After Supper was over, the particolour'd.
Sow, whom I have been ſpeaking of, took
our Interpreter afide, and had a long Con-
ference with him, the Purport of which
was, that fhe had conceiv'd a violent Paffion
for me. He comforted all he could, and
promifing her a mutual Paffion on my Part,
he next began to make his Attack on me..
But as he found his Words made no Im-
preffion upon me, he advis'd me to make
my Eſcape as foon as poffible, fince he knew.
the Lady would leave no Stone unturn'd to.
gratify her Wiſhes. From that Time for-
ward I kept cloſe on board, eſpecially after I
heard that a former Admirer of her Lady-
fhip's, a Student in Philofophy, who was
grown jealous of me, had form'd a Deſign
against my Life. I was ſcarce fecure even
on board againſt the repeated Attacks of
this.
..
World Under-Ground.
229
this Inamorata, who fometimes by Meflages,
and at other Times by Billet-doux and Love-
Verſes, endeavour'd to ſoften my obdurate
Heart. Had not I unfortunately lóft thefe
Letters, when I afterwards fuffer'd Ship-
wreck, I could here have prefented the
Reader with a Specimen of Piggifh Poetry.
But they are now flipt out of Memory, and
all that I can at prefent recollect of them
are the following Lines,, in which the thus
fets off her Beauties.
'Tis true, in dread Array my Briftles rife ;
But let me not for this be hateful to thee.
What is the Steed, without his flowing Mane?
What are the feather'd Race, without their
Plumes?
What is a Tree, ftript of its leafy Honours?
What is a mortal Man without his Beard?
And what, ye Gods! a Sow without her
Briftles?
We made an End of our Market with
fuch Expedition, that we were in a Condi-
tion to fet Sail from thence in a few Days.
Our Voyage, however, was retarded fome.
Time, by a Quarrel which happen'd be-
twixt our Sailors, and fome of the Inhabi
tants of the Country. The Occafion of
the Quarrel was this. As one of our Men
was paffing through the City, a Cuckoo,
who had a Mind to be arch upon him, call'd
him in Derifion Peripom, which fignifies the
fame as a Stage-Player amongſt us. For as
Monkeys
230 A JOURNEY to the
Monkeys in this Country are commonly
Rope-Dancers and Comedians, the Cuckoo
took our Martinian for a Player. The
Sailor, refenting the Affront, fell upon him
with a Cudgel, and repeating his Blow,
almoſt maim'd him. The Cuckoo calling
out for Help, defir'd the By-Standers to bear
Witneſs of the Affault, and fummon'd them.
the next Day to give Evidence in a Court
of Juftice. The Witneffes having been ex-
amin'd, the Matter was laid before the Se-
nate. The Sailor being ignorant both of
the Laws and Language of the Mezendo-
rians, was forc'd to fee a Pye, or Lawyer,
to be Counfel for him. The Caufe was
thus brought before the Senate, and after a
Hearing, which lafted about an Hour, Sen-
tence was given to the following Purpoſe:
That the Cuckoo, as being the Aggreffor,
fhould undergo the Puniſhment in that Cafe
provided, and pay the Cofts of the Suit.
However, the Lawyer's Fees had ſwallow'd
up all his Cafh already. The Judges who
determin'd this Affair were Horfes, two of
which were Confuls, and the other four
Senators. An equal Number of Colts were
likewife prefent, who had a Right of giving
their Opinions, but not of voting, and were
admitted into the Court as Pupils and Can-
didates to fill up Vacancies upon the Bench.
Having finish'd our Affairs to our Satif-
faction, and got our Loading which was.
very valuable on board, we thought of re-
turning home. Soon after we were out at
Seas
World Under-Ground.
231
Sea, a fudden Calm at once put a Stop to
our Courſe. Upon which we fell to our
Diverfions, fome to fpearing of Fishes as
they leapt above the Surface, others to
angling for them. By and by we had a
Gale of Wind, and proceeded in our Voyage.
Having long plough'd the Ocean with a
profperous Gale, we at length came in
Sight of other Syrens, who by Intervals.
would fet up a moft hideous and difmal
Yell. This ftruck an uncommon Terror
into the Sailors, who knew, by woful Ex-
perience, that fuch mournful Mufick por-
tended Storms and Shipwrecks. Hereupon
we immediately took in our Sails, and every
Man was order'd to his Poft. We had
ſcarce made an End of our Work before
we faw the Heavens cover'd with black
Clouds. The Waves began to fwell, and
fuch a Storm follow'd, that the Pilot, who
had us'd the Subterranean Seas for almoft
forty Years, declar'd he had never known.
fo terrible a one. Every Thing that hap-
pen'd to be upon Deck was immediately
wafh'd overboard, partly by Means of the
Waves, which were every Moment break-
ing over it, and partly by the violent Rains
which fell at the fame Time, attended with
dreadful Lightning and loud Claps of Thun-
der. So that all the Elements feem'd to
confpire together for our Destruction. Our
Main-Maft was prefently broke fhort off
and carry'd away, and the reft ſoon fol-
low'd it. We had nothing now but Death
before
2:32
A JOURNEY to the
before our Eyes. One was calling out upon
his Wife and Children, another upon his
Friends and Relations, and the whole Vef-
fel refounded with their mournful Cries.
The Pilot, though without Hope himſelf,
was nevertheleſs oblig'd to footh the reſt
with Hopes, and to adviſe them not to
give Way to unavailing Sorrows. Whilſt
he was in the Midft of this Difcourfe, a
fudden Guſt of Wind hurry'd him over-
board, and he was quickly fwallow'd. up
by the Waves. Three others underwent
the fame Fate, namely, the Purfer, and two
Sailors. I was the only one who bore the
general Calamity without repining. Life
was grown a Burden to me, and I had no
Inclination to return to Martinia, where I
had forfeited my Liberty and good. Name.
All the Compaffion I had left was for the
Captain, who had treated me with ſo much
Kindneſs during our whole Voyage. I
ftrove with all the Eloquence I was Maſter
of, to raiſe his drooping Spirits; but in
vain; he perfifted in his Sighs and wo-
maniſh Complaints, till a Wave came rolling
over us, and carry'd him away with it into
the Ocean.
The Storm increafing ftill, no farther
Care was taken about the Ship. Not a
Maft, not a Rudder, or even ſo much as a
Rope or Oar was left; and our Veſſel float
ed at Random on the Waves. We werę
tofs'd about in this Condition near three
whole Days, half dead with Fear and Hun-
ger.
World Under-Ground.
233
ger. The Sky appear'd ferene by Intervals,
but nevertheleſs the Storm continued with
its uſual Violence. At length we discovered
Land, the Sight of which, though it ap
pear'd to be nothing but craggy Rocks and
Precipices, was fome Comfort to thofe of
the Crew who were ftill left alive. As
the Wind blew towards the Shore, we
were in Hopes that we fhould foon be
driven thither. But this could not happen.
without our ſuffering Shipwreck, by reafon
of the Cragginefs of the Coaft. It feem'd
however probable, that fome of us, if not.
all, by the Help of fome Fragments of the
Ship, might for the prefent at leaft efcape.
But whilst we were comforting ourselves.
with theſe Hopes, we ftruck upon a Rock,.
which being under Water had eſcap'd our
Notice, with fuch Violence, that the Veſſel
was in an Inſtant daſh'd into an hundred.
Pieces. In the Midft of this Confufion I
laid hold of a Plank, being only anxious for
my own Safety, and little minding what
became of my Companions, whofe Fate I
am yet a Stranger to. It is moft likely.
that they were all loft, fince I could not.
hear of the Arrival of any of them into
that Country. I was carry'd with great.
Rapidity to the Shore, by the Help of the
Tide and of the Waves.. This was a Means.
of faving me, for had I continued a little.
longer in the State I was in, I fhould cer-
tainly have perifh'd through Hunger and
Fatigue. After I had doubled the Point of
•
234
A JOURNEY to the
a certain Promontory, the Waves abated,
and I heard the Murmuring of them at a
Diſtance only, and that too by Degrees
grew weaker and weaker, till it intirely va-
nifh'd.
This whole Region is mountainous. And
hence the frequent Windings of the Moun-
tains, their overhanging Tops, together with
the Deepness of the Vales below, are the
Occafion of very great Echoes here. As
foon as I found myfelf near the Shore, I
hollow'd out as loud as I was able, in hopes
that ſome of the Inhabitants upon the Coaſts
might hear me, and come to my Affiſtance.
My first Shout was not return'd, but after I
had repeated it, I heard a Kind of Noiſe
from the Shore, and at length faw the In-
habitants running out of the Woods, and
coming to meet me with a Boat, which
was made of Ofier Branches and Oaken
Twigs, a Proof that they were not a very
improv'd or civiliz'd People. But the Sight
of the Rowers gave me a Tranfport beyond
Defcription; for as to their exterior Figure,
they did not differ at all from Men, and
were the only Creatures of my own Species
that I had beheld during this whole Subter-
ranean Tour. They are fomething like the
Inhabitants of the Torrid Zone. For they
have black Beards, and ſhort, curl'd Hair ;
and thoſe who have long, flaxen Hair, are
reputed a Kind of Monſters. At length
they drew near to the broken Piece of the
Ship I was upon, and took me into their
Boat
1
World Under-Ground.
235
Boat in a dropping Condition. They then
row'd to Shore, where after I had been re-
fresh'd with fome Meat and Drink, though
in a very plain and coarfe Manner, I foon
recover'd my Vigour and Spirits, notwith-
ſtanding I had been three whole Days and
Nights in a Manner combating with Thirft
and Hunger.
CHAP. XII.
The Author's Arrival at QUAMA.
A
ND now a Croud of People furround-
ed me. They talk'd to me in their
Language, of which, as I was wholly igno-
rant, I was at a Lofs what to anfwer. They
often repeated the Word Dank, Dank, which
founding like High Dutch, I anfwer'd firft
in that Language, then in the Danish
Tongue, and laftly in Latin. But to all
this they only fhook their Heads, to in-
timate that thefe Languages were utterly un-
known to them. Then I try'd them in the
Subterranean Languages, namely, the Na-
zaric, and the Martinian; but all to no
Purpoſe. This made me conclude, that they
were an unfociable Nation, who had no
Kind of Commerce with the rest of the
World, and that therefore I fhould be un-
der a Neceffity in this Country of turning
Boy's
2-36
A JOURNEY to the
Boy, and going to School once more to
learn my Letters.
After we had convers'd fome Time toge-
ther, but in fuch a Manner that we did not
underſtand one another, they brought me to
a Cottage made of Ofiers.
There were no
Seats, Benches, or Tables in it; for they
eat upon the Ground, and for Want of
Beds, they ufe only Straw, and fleep pro-
mifcuouſly on the Floor, which is the more
to be admir'd, as they have Plenty of Tim-
ber among them. Their Food is Milk,
Cheeſe, Barley-Bread, and Flesh; which
laft they broil upon the Coals, having no
Notion of any other Sort of Cookery. In
fhort, they liv'd in as plain a Manner as
the firft Race of Mankind. So that I was
forc'd to live like a Cynic Philofopher, till I
had made fuch a Progrefs in their Language
as enabled me to converfe with the Inhabi-
tants, and affift their Ignorance. And, in-
deed, all my Orders and Directions were
obferv'd as fo many Oracles. Nay to fuch
a Height my Reputation rofe, that they
flock'd to me in Crouds from all the adja-
cent Towns and Villages, as to an illuftri-
ous Doctor, or a Teacher fent from Hea-
ven. I heard alfo, that a new Computation
of Time was made. ufe of among them,
which commenc'd from my Arrival. All
this, I own, was fo much the more grateful
to me, as in the Planet Nazar, and at Mar-
tinia, I had been a publick Jeft; in the former
Place for my Vivacity and quick Concep-
tion,
World Under-Ground.
237
tion, and in the latter for my Dufhefs.
And here I experienc'd the Truth of that
vulgar Saying," Among the Blind, he that
fquints is a King." For I was now in a
Country, where with a flender Share of
Knowledge, and with ordinary Abilities, I
could arrive at the higheſt Honours. And
Room enough there was here, to try my
own Strength, and exerciſe my Talents;
for the Country abounded to Profufion with
every Thing neceffary for the Uſe of Man.
Many Things it produc'd fpontaneouſly,
and whatever Grain was fow'd, repaid the
Huſbandman with ample Intereft. The Inha-
bitants were of a docil Difpofition, and by
no Means deſtitute of Wit and Underſtand-
ing; but then, as they had never been
taught any Thing, they remain'd in the
Depth of Ignorance. When I related to
them the Circumftances of my Family, my
Country, my Shipwreck, and the other Ac-
cidents that befel me in my Travels, nobody
could be brought to believe it. For they
were pofitive, that I was an Inhabitant of
the Sun, and that I defcended from that
glorious Luminary. Agreeably to this Con-
ceit, they commonly call'd me by the Name
of Pikil-Su, that is, Embajador of the Sun.
As to their Religion, they did not deny the
Exiſtence of a Supreme Being, but then
they did not trouble their Heads about the
Proof of that high Point; it was fufficient
to them that their Fathers before them be-
liev'd it: And this is their whole Syftem of
Divinity.
3
}
238
A JOURNEY to the
Divinity. As to their Morality, they knew
nothing except this fingle Precept of Not
doing to others what you would not have done to
yourſelf. They knew no Law befide the
fole Will and Pleaſure of their Emperor,
and therefore no Crimes, but thoſe of a
publick Nature, were ever puniſh'd. What-
ever Mifdemeanour was otherwife commit-
ted, all the Revenge the Neighbours took,
was to avoid the Company of the Offenders,
to whom fuch a general Contempt was
ufually fo intolerable, that many have died
for Grief, and as many more have laid vio-
lent Hands upon themſelves through a Wea-
rinefs of Life. Chronology they know no-
thing of, only they compute their Years
from the Eclipfe of the Sun, which happens
by the Interpofition of the Planet Nazar ;
fo that when you enquire how old any one
is, their Anſwer is, that he is ſo many
Eclipfes old. Their Phyficks are exceffively
barren and abfurd; they believe the Sun is a
Golden Plate, and the Planet Nazar a
Cheeſe. When I enquir'd the Reaſon why
at ſtated Times the Planet Nazar increas'd
and decreas'd, they reply'd, that they knew
nothing at all about it. Their Wealth and
Subftance confifts chiefly in Swine, which
they diftinguiſh by fome particular Mark,
and then fuffer them to run looſe in the
Woods. They fcourge and beat all fuch
Trees as bear no Fruit, from a fooliſh Opi-
nion, that their Sterility proceeds from Ma-
lice and Envy. Such was the State of this
poor
World Under-Ground.
239
poor miferable People, whom I almoſt de-
fpair'd of ever reducing to Humanity; but
recollecting that Affertion of the Poet,
Nemo adeo ferus eft, ut non mitefcere poffit,
Si modo cultura patientem præbeat aurem,
I took Courage, and employ'd the whole
Force of my Capacity and Abilities in re-
forming thefe Barbarians.
For theſe my
Endeavours, and the Succefs which attended
them, they regarded me as fomething above
the Race of Mortals, and fo extravagant
an Opinion did they entertain of my Wif
dom, that they thought nothing was impof-
fible to me. Upon the Lofs of Cattle or
Goods, they would come, at all Hours, to
my Hut, and implore my Affiftance. One
Day I faw a poor Peaſant proftrate before
my Door weeping and wringing his Hands,
and crying out to me to help him. Upon
Inquiry into the Occaſion of his Grief, he
complain'd to me of the Perverſeneſs and
Ill-Nature of his Trees, and begg'd me to
interpofe my Authority to make them bear
more Acorns.
I was inform'd, that the whole Country
was in Subjection to a Monarch, whofe Re-
fidence, at that Time, was about eight Days
Journey from the Place I was now in. I
fay at that Time, becauſe the Metropolis of
the Empire was moveable, that is, his Ma-
jefty (whoſe Place of Refidence was look'd
upon as the Capital) had no Palace, or fix'd
Habi-
240 A JOURNEY to the
Habitation, but liv'd in Tents, which he
tranſported, together with his Royal Family
and the whole Court, from one Province to
another. The Prince, who then fway'd
the Sceptre, was a Man in Years, and was
call'd Casba, which fignifies, Great Empe-
Tor. This Territory, with reſpect to the
Extent of it, merits indeed the Name of
an Empire; but thro' the Ignorance of the
Inhabitants, who do not know their own
Strength, it makes no great Figure, but is
expos'd to the Infults and Ridicule of its
Neighbours, and is often oblig'd to become
tributary to Nations in Reality more con-
temptible than themſelves.
Fame had now ſpread my Name and Vir-
tues over all the Provinces. Nothing of
Moment was undertook without firft con-
fulting me, and every unfuccefsful Enter-
prize was afcrib'd to my Coldneſs and Want
of Favour. Nay, fome had it in their
Heads to appeaſe my Anger with Sacrifices.
I forbear to recount all the Follies of this
ftupid Nation, and fhall only give one or
two Inftances, by which you may eafily
judge of the reſt. A big-bellied Woman
came to me, to defire ſhe might have a Boy.
Another intreated me to make his old Pa-
rents young again. Another begg'd me to
take him with me up to the Sun, that he
might return from thence with as much
Gold as he could carry. With theſe, and
fuch unaccountable Requefts, was I conti-
nually pefter'd, tho' I ftill reprimanded their
Folly
World Under-Ground.
241
Folly in a ſevere Tone: For I was afraid
left that abfurd Conceit of my Power might
terminate in divine Worſhip.
At length it reach'd the Ears of the Mo-
narch, that a Stranger was arriv'd in his
Dominions, who call'd himſelf the Ambaf-
fador of the Sun, and who by giving moſt
wiſe and divine Instructions to the Quamites
(fo were call'd the Inhabitants of this Coun-
try, the Name of which was Quama) had
convinc'd the People that he was more than
Man. Upon this he prefently diſpatch'd an
Embafly to me, inviting me to Court. The
Embaffadors were in Number thirty, all
cloath'd with Tigers Skins, a Drefs fo much
the more honourable in this Country, as the
Uſe thereof is permitted to none but thoſe
who have behav'd themſelves with Gallan-
try in the War againſt the Tanachites.
(Theſe are rational Tigers, and implacable
Enemies to the Quamites.) But during all
this Time, in the Village where I conti-
nued, I had run up a Stone-Houfe of two
Stories, after the Manner of the Buildings
in Europe. The Embaſſadors beheld it as a
ftupendous Work, exceeding human Strength,
and therefore when they came to me to fig-
nify his Imperial Majeſty's Pleaſure, they
enter'd my Houſe with a religious Awe, as
into a Temple or Sanctuary. The Speech
they made to me, on this Occafion, was
nearly this :
"Whereas the great Emperor Casba, our
"Sovereign Lord and Mafter, derives his
M
« Origin
242
A JOURNEY to the
"Origin from the great Spynko, Son of the
Sun, and Founder of the Quamitic Em-
"pire, he therefore thinks nothing could
" be more fortunate or agreeable, than your
ཀ
Arrival, eſpecially as it muſt be of the
"higheſt Advantage to his Dominions, and
as there is all the Reaſon in the World to
hope, that under fuch an illuſtrious and
"celeftial Teacher, the Kingdom will, in
C a fhort Time, wear another Face. For
"which Reaſon he hopes you will fo much
"the more willingly honour his Court, as
the Capital of the Empire is a more am-
"ple Field for the Exercife of your Vir-
"tues."
This Harangue being ended, I returned
my humble Thanks to the Embaffadors, and
accompanied them immediately to the Pa-
lace. Though they had taken up fourteen
Days in coming, yet in returning we ſpent
only four, which was owing to a Contri-
vance of mine. For as I had obſerv'd a vaſt
Multitude of Horfes in this Country, which
were of no Manner of Uſe, but rather a
Burden upon the People, inafmuch as they
liv'd in the Woods like wild Beafts, I laid
open to the Natives the feveral Advantages
which would accrue from the Service of
thofe generous Brutes, and taught them the
Art of breaking them. In a fhort Time a
great Number were tam'd, and upon the
Arrival of the Embafladors, I had as many
broke and prepar'd, as would ferve us all in
our Return. At the Sight of the Horfes
thus
World Under-Ground.
243
骨
​thus inſtructed, the Embaſſadors were ama-
zed, but were afraid to mount them.
But
when they faw me and others guiding and
turning them which Way we pleas'd, by
Means of the Bridle, and that without Fear
or Danger, they took Courage, after two
or three Trials, and ventur'd upon the Jour-
ney. And this was the Reafon that they
return'd in one Third of the Time they
came. When we drew near the Place
where the Royal City was fuppos'd to be,
we heard that this famous Metropolis was re-
mov'd into another Province, which oblig'd
us to bend our Courſe another Way.
Upon our Approach to the Capital, the
Fright and Surprize of the People is not to
be exprefs'd. Many, ftruck with a Panick,
abandon'd the Royal City. The Emperor
himſelf kept fhuddring in his Pavilion, nor
dar'd to go out of it, till one of the Em-
baffadors alighting from his Horſe, went
and explain'd the Myſtery to him.
I was
introduc'd foon after in great Form, and
with a Train of People behind me, to the
Emperor's Prefence. Casba was fitting on
a Carpet, furrounded by his Courtiers.
Having paid my Compliments to his Impe-
rial Highnefs, he rofe, and afk'd me how
the Emperor of the Sun did, the Founder of
the Royal Family of Quama. To this
Queftion, as I conceiv'd it neceffary to keep
up the popular Error, I reply'd, "That I was
"fent from the Monarch of the Sun to re-
form the favage Manners of the Qua-
M 2
« mites
244
A JOURNEY to the
"mites with falutary Inftructions, and to
"open a Way for them not only to repel
"the Infults of their Neighbours, but alſo
to enlarge the Bounds of their Empire,
and that I had Orders to end my Days
<< among
them. This Speech highly
pleas'd the Emperor. He commanded a
Tent to be erected for me near his own; he
alfo affign'd me fifteen Domeſticks to attend
on me, and, laying afide the Monarch, be-
hav'd to me always like a Friend.
CHAP. XIII.
The Rife of the fifth MONARCHY.
ROM that Time forward, I was whol-
Fly taken up in giving a new Form to
the Government, and inftructing the Youth
in military Difcipline.
Ante urbem hinc pueri, & primævi flore ju-
ventus
[rus:
Exercentur equis, domitantque in pulvere cur-
Aut acres tendunt arcus, aut lenta lacertis
Spicula contorquent.
I began with teaching them the Manage-
ment of Horfes, and training them for War,
as I hop'd that by our Horſe alone our
Neighbours might be kept in Awe. The
Emperor was foon fupply'd, through my
Diligence, with fix thoufand Horfe. The
Tana-
World Under-Ground.
245
Tanachites were at that Time preparing for
a freſh Invaſion, on Account of the Delay
of the annual Tribute, the Payment of
which had often been follicited in vain. I
was order'd by the Emperor to go and meet
the Enemy with my new-rais'd Cavalry, to
which were added a Body of Infantry.
Thefe were arm'd with Pikes and Javelins,
with which they might engage the Tana-
chites at a Diſtance. For the Quamites had
hitherto made ufe of fhort Swords or Dag-
gers only; for which Reafon being oblig'd
to engage Hand to Hand with very fierce
Enemies, who were much fuperior to them.
in Strength, they had always fought upon
unequal Terms.
Being appointed General in this Expedi-
tion, as ſoon as I heard that the Tanachites
were drawn up in Order of Battle, not far
from the Borders of our Empire, I march'd
to meet them with all my Forces. The
Enemy, thunderftruck with the Sight of an
unexpected Army, remain'd for fome Time
motionless: But our Forces advancing to-
wards them, began to handle their Pikes
and Javelins as foon as the Enemy came
within Reach, and made a heavy Slaughter
of them. The Tanachites, however, did
not lofe Courage, but made a briſk Attack
upon our Infantry: But the new-rais'd
Horſe falling upon their Flanks, their Ranks
were quickly broken, and they themſelves
put to Flight; fo that the Fortune of the
Battle wholly turn'd on this Afſault.
M 3
A
terrible
246
A JOURNEY to the
terrible Slaughter enfued, and the General
of the Tanachites, together with twenty Ti-
gers of the firſt Quality, were taken Pri-
foners, and led in Triumph to Quama.
It is ſcarce to be exprefs'd what Joy this
extraordinary Victory diffus'd throughout
the Empire; for the Quamites had generally
been routed in all former Battles, and forc'd
to beg a Peace upon the moſt diſhonourable.
Terms. The Emperor, according to Cuf-
tom, immediately fentenc'd all the Priſoners
to be executed : But as I had an Abhorrence
of this Cuſtom, I advis'd the keeping them
in Cuftody, thinking the Tanachites (with
whom we could neither be faid to be at
War, nor in Peace, at that Time) would
be quiet, until they faw what was to become
of their Prifoners. And befides I urg'd,
that a Truce was neceffary for me, to put
fome Schemes in Execution which I was
then projecting. I had before taken Notice,
that the Country abounded with Salt-Petre,
and had got together a large Quantity of it,
in order to make Gunpowder. I had not
however communicated my Defign to any
body but the Emperor, whofe Authority I
ſtood in need of, to erect Offices for caft-
ing Barrels for Guns, and other Kinds of
Weapons: And I was in Hopes, that by
the Help of theſe Inftruments all the Ene-
mies of this Empire might in a fhort Time
be fubdued. After I had got fome Hun-
dreds of Mufkets made, together with a
Quantity of Ball, I gave a publick Speci-
men
World Under-Ground.
247
men of my Invention, to the great Afto-
niſhment of every body. A certain Num-
ber of Men were immediately fet afide, to
be continually exercis'd in the Management.
of theſe Muſkets. After the Muſketeers
came to be pretty ready in their Exerciſes,
I was declar'd Fachal by the Emperor, or
Generaliffimo of all his Forces, and all the
ſubordinate Officers were order'd to receive
their Commands from me. Whilft theſe
Affairs were tranfacting, I had frequent
Conferences with Tomopoloko, the General
of the Tanachites, in order to difcover the
State, the Manners and Difpofition of that
Nation. I found him, to my great Sur-
prize, to be a Perfon of Prudence, Learn-
ing, and Politenefs, and was inform'd by
him, that Literature and Arts were in no
fmall Efteem in the Country of the Tana-
chites. He told me likewife, that there
were a very warlike People Eaſtward of
them, whom the Tanachites were oblig'd to
be perpetually upon their Guard againft.
The Inhabitants were fmall of Stature, and
much inferior to the Tanachites in Strength
of Body; but then their Underſtandings
were very acute, and they were eminent
for their Dexterity in managing their Jave-
lins, or Darts, and for this Reafon had of-
ten compell'd the Tanachites to fue for Peace.
I learnt afterward, that that Nation was
compos'd of Cats, and that of all the Inha-
bitants of the Firmament, they were the
moſt remarkable for their able Judgment
M 4
and
248
A JOURNEY to the
and Skill in Politicks. It was no fmall Grief
to me to be inform'd, that Learning, Wif-
dom, and Politenefs, flouriſh'd among all
the Creatures of this Subterraneous World,
Man only excepted, and that the Quamites
alone were barbarous and unciviliz'd. I
hop'd, however, that this Reproach would
foon be remov'd, and that the Quamites
would recover that Dominion which Nature
has given to Man over all other Animals.
The Tanachites continued quiet for a long
Time after their laft Defeat; but after they
had diſcover'd, by Means of their Spies, the
State and Difpofition of the new Body of
Horfe, namely, that thofe Centaurs, which
had ftruck fuch a Terror into them, were
nothing elſe but Horfes, which had been
broke and manag'd, they refum'd new Cou-
rage, and rais'd fresh Forces, which the
King himſelf commanded in Perfon. The
Army confifted of twenty thousand Tigers,
all veteran Troops, except two Regiments
which had lately been inlifted. Theſe new-
rais'd Forces were however a nominal, and
not a real Addition to their Strength. This
Army, flufh'd with Hopes of Victory, ftruck
a Terror into the whole Empire of Quama.
Twelve thoufand of our Foot advanc'd to
meet them, among which were fix hun-
dred Muſketeers, together with four thou-
fand Horſe. As I had no Doubt about the
Succefs of the Battle, left the Emperor
ſhould be defrauded of the Glory of the
Victory, I intreated the old Man to put
himſelf
World Under-Ground.
249
I loft
himſelf at the Head of his Forces.
nothing of my Credit by this feign'd Mo-
defty, fince the whole Army look'd upon
me as their Leader. I thought it moſt ad-
vifable not to let my Muſketeers have any
Share in the firft Affault, having a Mind to
try, whether we could not carry the Victo-
ry by Means of the Horfe alone. But this
Piece of Management coft me dear. For
the Tanachites attack'd our Foot with fo
mueh Violence, that they oblig'd them to
give Way: They ftood likewife the Shock
of our Horfe fo valiantly, that for a long
Time it could not be faid to which Side the
Victory inclin'd. While we were in the
Heat of the Battle, I led my Muſketeers on
to the Attack. At the firft Diſcharge of
our Artillery, the Tanachites were in a Man-
ner ftupefy'd. They could not conceive
from whence thofe Thunders and Light-
nings proceeded; but when they faw the
dreadful Effects thereof, they were feiz'd as
it were with a Panick. This firft Salutation
laid two hundred Tigers proftrate on the
Ground, amongſt which were two Chap-
lains belonging to the Camp, who were
each of them pierc'd thro' with a Muſket-
Ball, whilſt they were encouraging the Sol-
diers to do their Duty by very pathetick
Difcourfes in Praife of Valour. Their Fate
was bitterly lamented by all, for they were
reckon❜d admirable Orators. As foon as I
perceiv'd the Terror our Enemies were in,
I、order'd a fecond Difcharge to be made,
This
M 5.
250
A JOURNEY to the
This did more Execution than the former :
Great Numbers were kill'd, and among the.
reft, the King himſelf. Upon this the Ene-
my lofing all Hopes, turn'd their Backs.
Our Horſe purſued them, and made fo great.
a Slaughter of them as they fled, that the
Multitude of Carcaſſes with which the Field
was covered, at length put a Stop to their
Purfuit. After the Battle was over, and
we had Time to take an Account of the
Number of the Slain, they were found to
amount to thirteen thousand. The Enerny
being thus intirely routed, the victorious
Army enter'd the Country of the Tanachites,
and after a few Days March encamp'd un-
der the Walls of the Metropolis. Such a
Terror had at that Time feiz'd all Peoples
Minds, that though the Town was ftrong,
and well fecur'd by its Situation, Walls,
and Forts, and well ftor'd with Provifions
of all Kinds, yet the Magiftrates came out
in the moſt fuppliant Manner to meet the
Conquerors, and to offer them the Keys of
the City. This City was no leſs remarka-
ble for its great Extent, than for the Clean-
neſs of its Streets, and the Neatneſs of its
Buildings. And it was certainly Matter of
great Wonder, that the Quamites, who
were encompaſs'd on all Sides by Nations fo
polite, fhould have continued fo long in
their Barbarity. But they were in this Re-
fpect like fome other Nations, who though
ignorant of what paffes in foreign Coun-
tries, entertain a high Conceit of them-
felves,
World Under-Ground.
251
felves, and who having no Commerce or
Communication with others, live hugely
contented in their own Sordidnefs and Igno-
rance, of which it would be very eaſy to
produce Inftances among the Europeans.
This Defeat became a new Era among the
Tanachites; and as this decifive Battle was
fought, according to their Computation,
upon the third Day of the Month Torul,
they reckon this among the unlucky Days.
At this Seaſon of the Year, the Planet Na-
zar, whofe Revolution round the Subterra-
nean Sun regulates the Time, and diftin-
guiſhes the Seaſons, is at its fartheſt Diſtance
from this Part of the Firmament. The
whole Firmament likewife makes its Revo-
lution round the Sun, but as the Planet
moves with greater Velocity, Nazar feems
to increaſe or decreaſe, according as it is
nearer to, or more remote from this or that
Hemiſphere. The Increaſe or Decreaſe of
this Planet, as alfo the Eclipfes of the Sun,
are the Subject of aftronomical Obfervations
in this Country. I once took the Pains,
at my Hours of Leifure, to examine the
Tanachitifh Kalendar, and it feem'd to me
to be an orderly and well digefted Thing.
The Taking of the capital City was fol-
low'd by the Surrender of the whole King-
dom; ſo that the Contempt with which
the Quamites had been before ftigmatiz'd,
was chang'd into Renown; and the Empire
of Quama, by the Addition of this con-
quer'd Nation, became almoſt twice as
powerful
252
A JOURNEY to the
But as every
powerful as it was before.
body look'd upon this Succefs to be owing to
my Induſtry and Management, the Efteem
which they had for a long Time conceiv'd
for me was heighten'd almoſt into Adora-
tion. The Tanachites being thus fubdued,
and Governors appointed in every City, to
keep this fierce and warlike People in their
Duty, I went to work, to finish the Tafk
I had begun, and to root out that Barbarity
in which the Quamites were as yet involv'd.
It was a Matter of great Difficulty, how-
ever, to introduce the Study of the liberal.
Arts at once; for the Latin Tongue, and a
few Scraps of Greek, which I had learnt in
Europe, would not, I knew, be here of any
Ufe. For this Reaſon, I caus'd twelve of
the moſt learned Tigers to be ſent for out of
the Enemies Country. Theſe were made.
Profeffors, and commanded to found an
Univerſity upon the Model of thoſe in their.
own Country. I likewife order'd the Royal
Library of Tanachin to be remov'd to Qua-
ma. I was determin'd, however, that as
foon as the Quamites had made fuch a Pro-
grefs in Literature. as to be able to ſtand
upon their own Legs, I would ſend theſe
Foreigners back into their own Country.
I was very defirous of feeing the Ťana-
chitish Library, becauſe I had been inform'd
by their General Tomopoloko, that amongst
other Manufcripts in the Archives of the
Library, there was one compos'd by an Au-
thor who had been in our World, and had
left
World Under-Ground.
253
left a Deſcription of its different Kingdoms,
eſpecially the European ones; he told me
likewife, that the Tanachites had got Poffef-
fion of this Book while they were at War
in a very diftant Country, but that the
Name of the Author was conceal'd, nor
could it ever be learnt who he was, or how
he was carry'd to the Superterranean Habi-
tations.
Upon looking over the Book, I found
what Tomopoloko had told me concerning the
Author was true, and therefore I candidly
diſcover'd my Race and Country to him,
affuring him at the fame Time, that I had
declar'd the fame Thing to the Quamites at
my first Arrival, but that the ftupid Mortals
gave no Credit to my Narration, but would
needs have me to be an Embaffador from
the Sun, and ftill continued to perfift obfti-
nately in that Error. I added likewife,
that as I look'd upon it to be a Crime to
keep fo vain a Title any longer, I was at
length determin'd to difcover my Origin to
the Publick, by which ingenuous. Confeffion
I thought my Reputation would not in the
leaft fuffer, eſpecially as I hop'd, that the
Reading of this Book would convince.
every body how much the Europeans ex-
cel all other People in Virtue and in
Knowledge. The prudent Tomopoloko did
not ſeem pleas'd with my Defign, and gave
me his Sentiments upon it, as I remember,
in the following Terms. "Good Sir, be-
"fore you proceed in your Defign, it will.
"be.
3
254 A JOURNEY to the
"be neceffary for you to ſee the Book, the
"Reading of which may, perhaps, divert
.. you from your Purpofe; for either the
"Author has mifreprefented them, or the
"Manners of the Superterraneans are fool-
"iſh and abfurd, and they are govern'd by
"Laws and Customs more worthy of
"Laughter than Regard.
But after you
have read the Book, you may uſe your
One Piece of Advice,
66 own Diſcretion.
however, I will prefume to give you,
❝ and that is, not rafhly to reject a Title
"which has render'd you fo venerable in
"the Opinion of the Quamites: For no-
"thing ferves more effectually to reſtrain
"Men within the Bounds of Duty, than
"the Opinion which the Vulgar entertain
"of Birth and high Defcent."
I took the Advice, and determin'd, with
the Affiftance of Tomopoloko, to read the
. Book. The Title of it is this; Tanian's
Journey to the Superterranean World, or a De-
Jcription of the Kingdoms and Countries upon
Earth. The Name of Tanian is thought
to be fictitious, and as the Book was grown
mouldy for want of being taken due Care
of, and imperfect in feveral Places through
Length of Time, what I wanted moſt to
fee, namely, which Way the Author got
up to our World, and down again, was
miffing. Thefe are the Contents of what
remain'd of the Work.
Frag
World Under-Ground.
255
Fragments of Tanian's Journey above Ground,
tranflated from the Original, by the cele-
brated, noble, and valiant Tomopoloko,
General of the Tanachites.
*** This Country (i. e. Germany) goes
by the Name of the Roman Empire; but
this is merely titular, for the Roman Monar-
chy has been extinct for ſeveral Ages. The
Language, which the Germans ufe, is with
much Difficulty to be understood, becauſe.
the natural Order of the Words is inverted;
for what goes first in other Languages, comes
laft in this, fo that you may be oblig'd to
read to the End of a Page before you can.
comprehend the Meaning of it. The Form.
of Government is ftrange. The Germans.
think they have a King, and yet in Reality
they have none. Germany is faid to be one
Empire, and yet it is divided into many
feparate Principalities, each of which has-
the Sovereign Power within itſelf, fo that
they often make War upon one another,
and have moft certainly a Right fo to do.
The Empire is faid to be always Auguft.
though it is fometimes very much dimi-
nifh'd; Holy, tho' without any Holiness; In-
vincible, though often expos'd to the Depre-
dations of its Neighbours. Nor are the
Rights and Privileges of this Nation lefs
wonderful, fince many have Rights, which
they are prohibited from making any Ufe
of.
Infinite are the Comments which have
been
256
A JOURNEY to the
been publifh'd upon the State of the German
Empire, but fo intricate is the Subject, that
in Spite of all their Labours they are at
every Turn as much at a Loſs as ever con-
cerning it; for ****
**** The Capital of this Kingdom
(France) which is very large, is call'd Paris.
It may in fome Senfe be ftyl'd the Capital of
Europe: For it exerciſes a Kind of Jurifdic-
tion over all other European Nations. For
Example, it prefcribes Rules to them about.
their Eating, and about the Faſhion of
their Cloaths; fo that let any Faſhion be as
ridiculous and as inconvenient as it will,
all other Nations are oblig'd to follow it,
whenever the Parifians are pleas'd to lead
the Way. How or what Time they ac-
quir'd this Right, I could never learn.
Their Authority, however, did not, as I
understood, extend to other Things, for
the rest of the European Nations are often at
War with the French, and fometimes force
them to accept of Peace upon very fevere
Terms; but the Servitude they are under
with regard to Drefs, and the Manner of
Eating is perpetual; fo that whatever Fa-
fhion is invented at Paris, the rest of
Europe are strictly oblig'd to come into it.
The Parifians very much reſemble the Mar-
tinians in Quickneſs of Apprehenfion, the
Love of Novelty, and a Fertility of In-
vention.
*** Having left Bononia, we went to
Rome. This City is fubject to a Prieft,
who,
World Under-Ground.
257
who, though his Dominions are very nar-
row, is reckon❜d the moſt powerful of all
the European Kings and Princes. For other
Princes exerciſe Dominion only over the
Perfons and Eftates of their Subjects, but
this can deftroy their Souls likewife. The
Europeans in general believe, that the Keys-
of Heaven are in the Cuftody of this Prieſt.
I was very defirous of feeing fo great a Cu-
riofity, but I loft my Labour, nor do I
know, to this Day, what Form they are
of, or in what Cabinet they are kept. The
Authority which this Pontiff exerciſes, not
only over his own Subjects, but over all
Mankind, chiefly confifts in this, that he
can abfolve whom God condemns, and con-
demn whom he abfolves. An enormous
Power, indeed! and fuch an cne as our
Subterraneans will never believe can fall to
any Mortal's Share. But it is an eaſy
Matter to impofe upon the Europeans as
one pleaſes, and to make them ſwallow the
greateſt Abfurdities, though they imagine
that nobody has any Underſtanding but
themſelves; and being puff'd with this Opi-
nion, they look down with Contempt upon.
all other Mortals, as if they were Barba-
rians in Compariſon of them.
For my Part, I do not undertake to juſti-
fy the Manners, Laws, and Cuftoms of our
Subterraneans; I will only produce fome
Inftances of the Cuftoms of the Europeans,
in order to make it appear how undefervedly
they
258
A JOURNEY to the
they paſs a Cenfure upon the Manners of
other Nations.
It is a Cuſtom all over Europe for People
to ſcatter a Kind of Meal, which is made
by grinding the Fruits of the Earth, and
which Nature intended for Food, over their
Hair and Cloaths. This Meal is commonly
call'd Powder, and great Care and Pains.
are us'd to cleanſe their Hair from it every
Morning, with an Inftrument call'd a
Comb, in order to make Room for more of
the fame Sort. They have another Cuſtom
which appear'd to me no less ridiculous,
which is this. They have a Kind of little-
Cover, or Hat, to defend their Heads against
the Cold, which Cover they very often wear
under one of their Arms, even in the very
Depth of Winter. This appear'd as abfurd.
to me, as it would have been to have feen a
Man walking through the Streets with his
Coat or his Breeches in his Hand, and leav-
ing his Body to be expos'd to the Inclemen-
cies of the Air, from which they were in-
tended to defend it.
The religious Opinions of the Europeans
are very found and agreeable to right Rea-
fon. They are under an Injunction care-
fully to ſtudy the Books in which the Rule
of Faith and Practice is contain'd, in order
to difcover their true Senfe and Meaning.
Thefe Books recommend Indulgence to
weak Brethren, and fuch as happen to be
miſtaken; but if any fhould chance to
underſtand a Thing in a different Senſe
from
World Under-Ground.
259
from the Majority, he is punifh'd for this
Defect of Judgment by Fines, Imprifon-
ment, Whipping, and even fometimes by
dying at a Stake. This feem'd to me the
fame Thing, as if a Man, who happen'd to
be fhort-fighted, fhould undergo the Bafti-
nado, only becaufe Objects, which feem
fquare to me, appear round to him. I was
inform'd, that Thouſands had been hang'd
and burnt, by Order of the Magiftrate, on
this Account.
In almoſt every Town and Village, you
fee Men ſtanding up in Places of publick.
Refort, and feverely reprimanding others
for thoſe Sins which they themselves are
daily guilty of; which is juft as if one
fhould hear a Man in Liquor declaiming
against Drunkenneſs.
Oftentimes a Perſon who is born hump-
back'd, crooked, or lame, fhall be ambi-
tious of being thought handfome; and
another ſprung from the Dregs of the Peo-
ple, fhall be ambitious of a Coat of Arms,
or a Title: Which is full as abfurd as if a
Dwarf fhould affect to be call'd a Giant, or
an old Man, young.
It is a Custom in great Towns, for
Friends and Acquaintance to vifit one ano-
ther after Dinner, in order to drink a Kind
of black Broth made of burnt Beans. This
Broth is commonly call'd Coffee. When
they make theſe Vifits, they are fhut up in
a Box, which is fix'd upon four Wheels,
and drawn to the Place of Rendezvous by
twQ.
260 A JOURNEY to the
two Beafts of very great Strength: For the
Europeans think it a Difgrace to uſe their
Legs.
Upon the first Day of the Year the Eu-
ropeans are feiz'd with a Diſeaſe, which we
have no Knowledge of amongst us. The
Symptoms of it are ftrange Commotions
and Agitations of Mind, and an Inability
to fit ftill in any Place. They run about at
fuch Times from one Houfe to another, as
if they were distracted, without knowing
why they do it. The Diſeaſe ſometimes
lafts for fourteen Days. At length, when
they are quite fatigu'd and ſpent with conti-
nually running about, they come to them-
felves again, and recover their former
Health.
As the Europeans have innumerable Dif-
eaſes of Mind, fo they have innumerable
Remedies. Some are feiz'd with a ſtrange
Paffion of walking in fuch a Manner, as
that the left Sides of their Bodies may be
turn'd towards the right Sides of others.
The farther North you go, the ſtronger
you find this Humour, which proves that it
is all owing to the Climate, and the Intem-
perature of the Air. This Diſeaſe is cur'd
by certain feal'd Papers, fill'd with Charac-
ters of a particular Kind. As long as the
Patient carries thefe Papers about him, by
Way of Talifman or Charm, he grows
better and better by Degrees, till he is quite
recover❜d.
Another
World Under-Ground.
261
Another raging Diftemper they have,
which is cur'd by the Sound of a Bell, at
the Noife of which the Mind immediately
grows calm, and the Diſorder abates: Yet
this Remedy is by no Means effectual, be-
cauſe in two or three Hours Time the fame
raging Evil returns.
In Italy, France, and Spain, during the
Winter Seaſon, an epidemick Madneſs pre-
vails for feveral Weeks. They put a Stop
to it at length, by fprinkling the Foreheads
of the Patients with Afhes, at an appointed
Time. But in the Northern Parts of Eu-
rope theſe Aſhes have no Virtue, and the
Inhabitants of the North recover by the
Help of Nature only.
Moft of the Europeans enter into a folemn
Covenant with God, which they call the
Communion, three or four Times a Year, and
break it as ſoon as ever they have made it.
So that they ſeem to make it for no other
Reaſon, but that they may fhew that they
are refolv'd not to ftand to their Agree-
ment.
When they confefs their Sins, and im-
plore the Mercy of God, their Words are
generally fet to Mufick. Flutes, Trum-
pets, and Drums, are fometimes added to
the Concert, according to the Greatnefs of
the Crime, for which they are fuing Par-
don.
Almoſt all the European Nations are obli-
ged to confefs their Belief of a Doctrine
contain'd in a certain facred Book, But
the
262
A JOURNEY to the
the reading this Book is totally prohibited in
the Southern Countries, fo that People there
are laid under a Neceffity of believing what
it is criminal to read or enquire into.
In the fame Countries, Men are forbad
to worſhip God in any, but an unknown
Tongue; fo that fuch Prayers only are.
thought to be legitimate, and agreeable to
the divine Being, as are put up by Perfons,
who do not underſtand a Word they ſay.
In the great Cities, fuch as arrive at Ho-
nours and profitable Employments are all
paralytick; for they are oblig'd to be car-
ry'd along the Streets, like weak and impo-
tent People, on a Kind of Couch, made in
the Figure of a Cheft or Box.
Moſt of the Europeans fhave their Heads,
and to conceal their Baldneſs, wear an ar-
tificial Covering made of other Peoples
Hair.
The Controverfies which are commonly
difcufs'd in the Schools in Europe, are about
Things, the Knowledge of which neither
concerns Mankind, nor is within the Reach
of their Comprehenfion. But the moſt
learned Subjects of all, which the Europeans
comment upon, are the Rings, Robes, Slip-
pers, Shoes, and Buſkins of certain antiqua-
ted People, who liv'd many Centuries ago.
As to the Sciences, as well facred as pro-
fane, the Generality do not judge for them-
felves, but fubfcribe implicitly to the Opi-
nion of others. Whatever Sect they hap-
pen to fall into, they ftick to it with all
ima-
World Under-Ground.
263
imaginable Firmpefs. As to what they ſay
of pinning their Faith upon the Sleeve of
others who are wifer than themſelves, I
fhould approve of it, were the Vulgar and
Illiterate proper Judges of this Matter; for
to be able to diftinguiſh who is this. wife
Man that may be rely'd upon, requires the
greateſt Wiſdom.
In the Southern Countries, a Sort of little
Cakes or Wafers are carry'd about the
Streets, which the Priefts fay are Gods:
But what is moſt furprizing, the very Ba-
kers themſelves, who fhew you the Flour of
which they were made, will take their Oaths
upon it, that the World was created by theſe
Wafers.
The English are very fond of Liberty,
and are fubject to nobody but their Wives.
As to their Religion, it is hard to fay what
it is, for they take up an Opinion one Day,
and throw it afide the next. I imputed
this fickle Difpofition to the Situation of the
Country. For the English live upon an
Ifland, and being a maritime People, par-
take much of the Nature of the inconftant
Element that furrounds them.
The English are very follicitous about the
Health of every one they meet, ſo that a
Man would take them all to be Phyficians.
But that common Queſtion, How do you do?
I found to be only an empty Form of Speech,
and a Scund without any Senfe or Meaning
in it. Many of theſe Iſlanders take fo much
Pains to improve their Minds, and poliſh
3
their
264 A JOURNEY to the
their Underſtandings, that at length they
intirely loſe them.
Towards the North, there is a Republick
confifting of feven Provinces. Theſe go
by the Name of the United Provinces, tho'
there is but little Sign of Concord or Unity
amongst them. The People here boaft of
their Power, as if the whole Authority of
the Republick was lodg'd in their Hands ;
and yet the Populace are no where more ex-
cluded from publick Employments, and the
fupreme Power is veſted in a very few Fa-
milies. The Inhabitants of thefe Provinces
are deeply attentive upon heaping up Riches,
which they make no Ufe of; fo that while
their Purſes are full, their Bellies are empty.
They feem to live upon Smoke only, which
they fuck in thro' a Tube or Pipe, which is
made of Clay. It muſt be allow'd, how-
ever, for the Honour of this Nation, that
they are the neatest of all People, for they
take great Care to waſh every Thing except
their Hands.
In the Cities and great Towns in Europe,
a Watch is kept in the Street by Night.
The Watchmen go their Rounds every
Hour, and wake People out of their Sleep,
by wiſhing them a good Night.
Every Country has its peculiar Laws, and
its peculiar Cuftoms likewife, which are oft-
times diametrically oppofite to thofe Laws.
For Example: A Wife, according to the
Laws, ought to be fubject to her Hufband;
but
World Under-Ground.
265
but according to Cuftom, fhe has a Right
to govern him.
Thoſe who live moft luxuriouſly, and
confume the greateſt Quantity of the Pro-
ducts of the Earth, are held in moſt Eſteem
in Europe; and only Hufbandmen, and ſuch
as fupply Materials for the Luxury of the
Great, are treated with Contempt.
The great Number of Gibbets, Gallows's,
and Places of Execution, which are every
where to be ſeen, fhew the Europeans to be
People of very bad Difpofitions, and fubject
to many Kinds of Vices. There is a pub-
lick Executioner in every City. The Eng-
liſh are an Exception to this Rule, amongſt
whom, I believe, there are no Executioners;
for the People in that Country hang them-
felves.
One would fufpect the Europeans to be
Anthropophagi, or Men-Eaters; for it is a
Cuftom amongst them to fhut up a great
Number of able-body'd Men in Cloifters,
which they call Monafteries, for no other
End, but that they may grow fleek and fat:
And whilft they are kept in theſe Cells,
they are utterly exempted from all Labour,
and have nothing to do but to eat and
drink.
The Europeans have a Cuſtom of drink-
ing Water every Morning, to moderate the
Heat of their Stomachs; but before they are
well grown cool by this Means, they go to
work to warm them again, by fwallowing
down
266
A JOURNEY to the
down Draughts of fiery Liquors, which they
call Drams.
'The Religion of the Europeans is divided
into two principal Sects, one of which are
call'd Proteftants, and the other Papifts.
The former worſhip one God only; but
the latter adore feveral, for they have as
many Gods and Goddeffes, as there are
Towns and Villages. All theſe Gods and
Goddeffes are made by the Roman Pontiff,
or High-Prieft. This Pontiff himfelf is
made by Prefbyters, commonly call'd Car-
dinals. Hence it appears how great the
Power of theſe Cardinals muft be, fince
they can make him who makes the Gods.
The ancient Inhabitants of Italy con-
quer'd the whole World, and were only
fubject to their Wives: But the modern
ones tyrannize over their Wives, and are
Slaves to all Mankind befides.
The Animals in Europe are divided into
terreſtrial and aquatick. There are fome
amphibious ones likewife, as Frogs, Dol-
phins, and Dutchmen. The laſt dwell in
a marfhy Soil, and live upon Land or Water
indifferently.
The Europeans ufe much the fame Food
that we do: But a Spaniard will live upon
Air.
Trade flouriſhes much in every Part of
Europe, and many Commodities are fold
there in which we never traffick: Thus, for
Example, the Romish Church fells Heaven;
the Swifs fell themfelves; and in *** Crowns,
Scepters,
World Under-Ground.
267
Scepters, and the Royal Authority itſelf are
fet to Sale.
In Spain, Lazineſs is the Token of a Gen-
tleman, and nothing is a greater Recom-
mendation of Nobility than fleeping much.
Thofe are call'd good Men and true Be-
lievers, who believe what they do not under-
ftand, and never think it worth their while
to examine what they hear. Some have even
been reckon❜d Saints merely for their Sloth-
fulneſs, their Want of Curiofity, and their
neglecting to enquire into religious Matters.
But thoſe who are follicitous about their own
Salvation, and happen, through a diligent
and accurate Enquiry, to diffent from any
reigning Opinion, are faid to be damn'd to
all Eternity.
It is a prevailing Opinion in Europe, that
future Happineſs or Mifery does not depend
upon good Works, or the Exercife of Vir-
tue and Religion, but upon the Place of
a Man's Nativity. For all agree, that if
they had been born in another Place, or of
other Parents, they ſhould have been of a
different Religion. Hence they in Reality
condemn People not fo much on Account
of their Religion, as the Place, or other
Circumftances of their Birth. But how
this Opinion is reconcileable with the divine
Juftice or Goodness, I cannot comprehend.
Amongst the Men of Letters, thofe are
moſt eſteem'd, whofe Buſineſs it is to invert
the natural Order of Words, and render
that obfcure and perplex'd, which before
N 2
was
268
A JOURNEY to the
was plain and eaſy. Theſe are call'd Po-
ets, and this Art of disjointing Words goes
by the Name of Poetry. But Poetry does
not confift in this Perverfity of Stile only;
becauſe to deſerve that Name, a Compofi-
tion muſt likewife be extremely full of Lies.
An ancient Poet, Homer by Name, is held
in high Efteem, and almoft Adoration, be-
cauſe he excell'd in both theſe Arts. Many
have imitated him, but nobody ever yet
came up to him, either in confounding
the Order of Words, or perverting the
Truth.
The Literati of Europe are very fond of
buying Books, but in this Point they do not
fo much regard the Matter they contain,
as they do the Form and Neatness of them.
'The Bookfellers, who are well aware of
this, and know that their learned Cuſtomers
had rather feaft their Eyes than their Minds,
are perpetually reprinting their Books in a
different Size and Letter, and with new
Decorations; by which Means they make
an infinite Advantage. For in this Country
the liberal Arts are made a Trade of, and
fome Authors are reckon'd as ſharp and cun-
ning as any Trader at all.
The Univerſities in Europe are Shops,
where Degrees, Promotions, Dignities, and
various Kinds of Titles, and other learned
Wares, are fet to Sale at reaſonable Rates:
All which are not to be acquir'd in our
Subterranean World without indefatigable
Pains and Study for Years together. Thofe
who
World Under-Ground.
269
who have reach'd the Summit of all Erudi-
tion, or (in the European Phrafe) have got
to the Top of a certain Mountain, call'd
Parnaffus, inhabited by nine Virgins, are
styl'd Doctors. The next to thefe are Maf-
ters of Arts, who come at their Titles at
ſomewhat a lefs Expence, and are therefore
thought to be lefs learned. The Good-will
which thefe Superterranean Schools bear to
Mankind is evident, from their thus ren-
dring the Way to Learning fmooth and eaſy.
The Northern Seminaries were a little more
rigid in this Refpect, fince the higheſt Ho-
nours are not there conferr'd without a pre-
vious Examination.
The Learned are diftinguifh'd from the
Illiterate by their Drefs and Manners, but
chiefly by their Religion; for the latter wor-
fhip only one God, but the former pay their
Devotions to feveral. The principal Dei-
ties of the Learned are Apollo, Minerva, the
Nine Muses, and others of an inferior Rank,
which Writers, and efpecially Poets, are
wont to invoke at fuch Times as they fall
into Raptures, or a Kind of Raving.
The Learned, according to the Diverſity
of their Studies, are diftinguifh'd into va-
rious Claffes; for Inftance, Philofophers,
Poets, Grammarians, Naturalifts, Meta-
phyſicians, &c.
A Philofopher is a literary Merchant, who
fets to Sale Precepts concerning Self-Denial,
Temperance, and Poverty, at a ſtated Price,
and ſpends his Time in writing and declaim-
N 3
ing
270
A JOURNEY to the
ing againſt Riches till he grows rich himſelf.
The Father of thefe Philofophers was one
Seneca, who, by this Method, amafs'd to-
gether a princely Fortune.
A Poet is a Perſon who acquires Renown
by being thought to be out of his Senfes.
Hence it is ufual to fpeak of all great Poets,
as poffefs'd with a divine Fury or Diftrac-
tion; and all who exprefs their Thoughts
with Simplicity and Perfpicuity, are judg'd
unworthy of the Laurel.
The Grammarians are a Sort of Militia,
whofe only Bufinefs is to diſturb the publick
Peace. They differ from the other Sol-
diery in this Refpect, that inftead of a Coat.
of Mail, they wear a Gown, and fight
with their Pens inftead of Swords. They
contend as obftinately for Letters and Sylla-
bles, as the others do for their Liberties and
Properties. The Reaſon why they are kept.
up, I believe, is this, that the European
Princes are afraid left People in a Time of
Peace fhould grow dull, and lofe their Spi-
rits for want of fomewhat like a War.
Sometimes, however, when thefe Differen-
ces begin to threaten Bloodſhed, the Senate
interpofes its Authority. An Accident of
this Kind happen'd not long ago at Paris,
as I was told. For a Difpute concerning
the Letters Qand K growing to a Height
among the Doctors, the Senate wifely put
an End to it, by allowing every one to uſe
the Letter he lik'd beft.
A
World Under-Ground.
271
A Naturalift, or Natural Philofopher, is
a Perſon who diligently enquires into the
Nature of Quadrupeds, Reptiles, and In-
fects of all Kinds, and who is acquainted
with every Thing, except himſelf.
A Metaphyſician is one who alone knows
thofe Things which are conceal'd from
others, and who can defcribe and define the
Effence of Spirits and of Souls, of Entities.
and Non-Entities; and who being very
fharp-fighted in fpying out Things at a Dif-
tance, overlooks fuch as are almoft under
his Nofe.
Such is the State of Learning in Europe.
I could fay more upon this Head, but it is
fufficient to have touch'd upon the principal
Points. The Reader will eafily judge from
hence, whether the Europeans are right or
wrong, in thinking no People have any
Knowledge but themſelves.
It must be confefs'd, however, that the
Doctors and Mafters in Europe, are much
more dextrous in inftructing Youth, than
our Subterraneans are. For they have Maf-
ters of Arts, and of Languages, among
them, who teach others not only what they
have learnt themfelves, but even what they
are utterly unacquainted with. If it is an
arduous Taſk, to communicate clearly to
others what we know ourſelves, furely it
is much more fo to teach them what we are
intirely ignorant of.
Amongst the Men of Learning, there
are fome who apply themfelves, with equal
N 4
Dili-
272 A JOURNEY to the
Diligence, both to Philofophy and Divinity.
Thefe Men, as Divines, dare not deny,
what as Philofophers they very much doubt
of.
The Europeans apply themſelves to Letters
with as much Induſtry as we do; but they
become learned in much lefs Time, by
Means of a certain extraordinary magical
Invention, by the Help whereof they can
read over a hundred Volumes in a Day.
The Superterraneans are very religious, and
conftant at Divine Service; but their Times.
of Worſhip are not regulated by the Mo-
tions of the Heart, but by the Ringing of
Bells, by Clocks, or Sun-Dials; fo that
this Devotion feems to be purely mechani-
cal, and to depend upon Externals, upon
Cuftom, or upon ftated Times, rather than
to flow from the Dictates of the Heart.
Their Taſte for religious Duties apppears
from their Cuſtom of finging Hymns or
Pfalms, while they are cleaving Wood,
waſhing Diſhes, or employ'd in any other
manual Labour.
When I arriv'd in Italy, I look'd upon
myſelf to be Lord of the whole Country,
for every one I met profefs'd himſelf my
Slave. Having a Mind to try how far this
Servility, which they made fuch a Shew of,
would extend, I order'd my Landlord's Wife
to be brought to me one Night: But he
immediately fell into a Paffion, and com-
manded me to pack up my Baggage and be
gone;
World Under-Ground.
273
gone; and as I did not make hafte enough,
he fairly turn'd me out of Doors.
In the Northern Countries, People are
very fond of Titles, though they have not
the Poffeffions which belong to them. They
are likewiſe extremely ambitious of the up-
per Hand. Moreover * * *
Thus far I patiently attended, but my
Indignation was now rais'd, and I would
hear no more, declaring, that theſe were
Fictions of a partial Writer, and one who
was over-run with Spleen. But when my
Heat a little abated, I began to form a more
favourable Judgment of this Itinerary, as I
faw that the Author, though he appear'd in
many Places to be partial, and not to have
had the beſt Regard to Truth, was not,
however, miſtaken in his Judgment, but
had often hit the Nail, as we ſay, on the
Head.
I now determin'd with myfelf, to take
the Advice of Tomopoloko, and cherish the
Error of the Quamites concerning my Ori-
gin; fince I thought it more for my In-
tereft to pass for an Embaffador Extraordi-
nary from the Sun, than for a Citizen of
Europe.
Our Neighbours had now continued quiet
for a long Time, and I had taken the Ad-
vantage of this wifh'd for Peace, to ſettle
the Republick to my Satisfaction. News at
length arriv'd, that three very powerful Na-
tions had enter'd into an Alliance to invade
the Quamites. Thefe were the Aronians, the
Kiſpu-
N 5
274
A JOURNEY to the
Kifpucians, and the Alectorians. The Arcto-
nians were a Nation of Bears, who were
endued with Speech and Reaſon, and were
reckon'd very fierce and warlike. The
Kifpucians were Cats of an extraordinary
Size, and were in great Repute among the
Subterraneans, for their Sagacity and Judg-
ment: For this Reaſon they kept fome very
powerful Enemies in Awe, not fo much by
their ſuperior Strength, as by their Artifice
and Stratagems. The Alectorians fought in
the Air, as well as upon Land, and by that
Means gave their Enemies infinite Vexa-
tion: Theſe were Game-Cocks, arm'd
with Bows and Arrows dipt in Poifon,
which they manag'd with wonderful Dex-
terity, and thereby did great Execution.
Theſe three Nations, alarm'd at the un-
ufual Succefs of the Quamites, enter'd into
a League or Alliance, by which it was
agreed to check the growing Power of the
Quamites with their united Force, before it
fpread any further. However, before they
declar'd War, they fent Embaſſadors to
Quama, to demand that the Liberties of
the Tanachites might be reftor'd, and to
threaten War, in cafe fuch Demands were
not comply'd with.
The Embaffadors deliver'd their Com-
miffion, and receiv'd the following Anſwer,
which was given them by my Advice:
That the Tanachites having broken the
Peace, and violated the Faith of Treaties,
ought to impute the Misfortune they were,
fallen
World Under-Ground.
275
fallen into, to their own Folly and Pre-
fumption; that the Emperor was refolv'd,
with all his Might, to defend the Territo-
ries he had acquir'd by Right of War; and
laftly, that he was not to be aw'd by the
Threats of the Confederate Nations. The
Heralds were difmifs'd with this Anſwer,
and we turn'd`our Thoughts towards making
Preparations for the impending War. In a
fhort Time I got together an Army of forty
thouſand Men, among which eight thou-
fand Horſe, and two thouſand Mufketeers..
The Emperor, though he was grown de-
crepid through Age, refolv'd to be prefent
in this Expedition, and was inflam'd with
ſuch a Thirſt of Glory, that neither I my-
ſelf, nor the Emprefs and her Children,
who join'd with me in ftriving to overcome
his Obftinacy, could divert him from his
Purpoſe. What gave me the moſt Distur-
bance at that Time, was my Jealoufy of
the Tanachites; for I was afraid left they
hould grow weary of their Servitude, and
lay hold of that Occafion to fhake off the
Yoke, and join the Enemy. Nor was £
deceiv'd in my Conjecture; for a little
while after War had been proclaim'd, News
was brought us, that twelve thouſand Ta-
nachites had taken Arms, and were gone:
over to the Enemy. Hence I faw, that we
fhould have four powerful Enemies to ftrug-
gle with at one and the fame Time.
All neceffary Preparations being made,
the Army was commanded to begin their
March.
276
A JOURNEY to the
March towards the Enemy in the Beginning
of the Month Kilian. As we were upon
the Road, Intelligence was brought us, that
the Confederate Forces had enter'd the
Country of the Tanachites, and laid Siege to
the Caſtle of Sibol, which was fituated on
the Borders of the Kipucian Territories.
The Place was attack'd with fo great a
Force, and with fo much Violence, that
the Governor was juſt going to ſurrender it.
But as foon as the Enemy were inform'd of
our Approach, they broke up the Siege, and
march'd againſt us.
The Battle was fought
upon a Plain, not far from the Fortreſs
which had been befieg'd, from whence it
was call'd the Battle of Sibol. The Arcto-
nians, which compos'd the Enemies left
Wing, falling upon our Horfe, made great
Slaughter of them; and, as this Attack was
fupported by the Rebel Tanachites, it was
very near proving fatal to us. But the
Muſketeers going in to their Affiſtance, and
having thrown the Enemy into Diſorder by
two Diſcharges of their Artillery, the Face
of the Battle was quite chang'd; fo that
they who but juft now had borne down our
Horfe, and were almoft Conquerors, being
now borne down themſelves, began to give
Way, and at laft to turn their Backs. In
the mean Time the Kipucians brifkly at-
tack'd our Foot, and fhot their Arrows with
fo much Art, and with fuch Succefs, that
fix hundred Quamites were, in a very little
Time, either fhot dead, or defperately
wounded.
World Under-Ground.
277
wounded. But the Horfe, together with
the Muſketeers, coming to their Affiſtance,
the Enemy were oblig'd to fave themſelves
by Flight; which they did, however, in ſo
good Order, without once breaking their
Ranks, that they might be rather faid to
yield than fly. This was owing to the
Conduct of Monfonius, General of the Kif
pucians, who at that Time was thought to
excel all the Subterranean Generals in the
Art of War. The Alectorians yet remain'd,
whom it was no eaſy Matter to ſubdue; for
as oft as our Muſketeers fir'd upon them,
the Enemy sprung up all at once into the
Air, and thence difcharg'd a Shower of Ar-
rows, which were fo well aim'd, that few
of them fell to the Ground without doing
Execution. The Reaſon why theſe Arrows
feldom mifs'd their Aim, was becauſe it is
eafier to hit an Object when you are above,
than when you are below it. Our Men
often miss'd their Mark, becauſe the Enemy
were fo volatile, and perpetually fhifting
Places. In the Midft of the Engagement,
whilſt the Emperor was in the very Heat of
Action, his Neck was pierc'd through with
a poifon'd Arrow. He fell from his Horfe
immediately, and was carry'd out of the
Battle to his Tent, where he expir'd foon
after. In this ticklifh Situation of Affairs,
I thought it moſt adviſable to injoin all fuch
as had been Witneffes of this unhappy Ac-
cident, to keep it fecret, left the Ardour of
the Soldiers fhould abate upon hearing the
Emperor
278
A JOURNEY to the
Emperor was dead. I bade them take Cou-
rage, and told them, that the King indeed
was ſtunn'd with the fudden Stroke, but
that the Arrow had not enter'd deep; that
the Wound had been fearch'd, and taken
due Care of; that every Thing would go
well, and that they might expect to fee their
Emperor again very foon. By this Means
moſt of the Army were kept in Ignorance
of what had happen'd, and the Battle was
prolong'd till Night. At length the Alecto-
rians quite ſpent with Labour, and the
Wounds they had receiv'd, retir'd into their
Camp, and a Truce of a few Days Continu-
ance was agreed upon, in order to bury the
dead Bodies. In the mean Time, as I
found that there was need of fome other
Stratagem to fubdue the Alectorians, I or-
der'd our Mufket-Ball to be caft into ſmall
Shot. This Project was attended with fo
good Succefs, that at our next Encounter
the Alectorians came tumbling down apace,
and one Half of the Army perifh'd in a
miferable Manner: Thofe that were left
feeing this, threw down their Arms, and
begg'd for Peace. The Arctonians and Kif-
pucians follow'd their Example, and com-
mitted themſelves, their Arms, and For-
treffes to our Mercy. Matters being thus
brought to a happy Iffue, I call'd a Coun-
cil, and addrefs'd them in the following
Harangue.
"Gentlemen and Fellow-Soldiers, I do
"not doubt but moſt of you are well ac-
"quainted,,
2
World Under-Ground.
279
"quainted, how earneftly I diffuaded our
"moft Serene Emperor from this Expedi-
"tion; but his innate Fortitude and Mag-
"nanimity would not permit him to re-
"main idle at home, while his faithful Sub-
c jects were expofing their Lives abroad in
"his Defence. I can truly fay, that this
c is the only Requeft which his Imperial
"Majefty ever refus'd to grant me.
How
"happy fhould I have thought myſelf had
"he refus'd me every Thing befides, and
"only been indulgent to me in this! For
"then we fhould not have known that Ca-
"lamity that now hangs over us, our Re-
"turn into the Imperial City would have
"been truly triumphant, and our Joys for
"our Succeſs would have been pure and
"unmix'd.
<<
I cannot, nor indeed ought I,
any longer conceal from you that fatal
"Accident which has thus dafh'd all our
"Happineſs. Attend then to the dreadful
"News Your Emperor, while he was
"gallantly fighting for his Subjects, was
pierc'd by an Arrow in the Battle, and
now lies breathleſs in his Tent. What
"Grief, what Anguish muft not the Loſs
"of fuch a Prince occafion? I can eafily
"make a Judgment of your Sorrows from
"what I feel myſelf. But let us not give
"Way to Defpondency; Death, to ſuch a
"Hero, is not the End of Life, but only
"the Period of Mortality. We have not
66
wholly loft our Emperor, fince he has
" left two Princes behind, form'd after the
"Example
280 A JOURNEY to the
"Example of the beſt of Parents, and who
"inherit their Father's Virtues, as well as
"his Dominions. You cannot, therefore,
be fo properly faid to change your King,
as the bare Name of King. And fince
"the eldeſt Prince, Timufo, is by Right of
"Primogeniture to be promoted to his Fa-
"ther's Throne, I fhall henceforth derive
"my Authority from him. He it is to
"whom we ought to fwear Allegiance, and
"to whom we will now pay Homage.'
CHAP. XIV.
The Author is elevated to the Imperial
A
Dignity.
T the Conclufion of this Harangue,
the Soldiery lifted up their Voice and
cry'd, We will have no Emperor but Pikil-
fu. I was all Aftoniſhment at this, and
with a Flood of Tears befought them to con-
fider better, to remember, the Allegiance
they ow'd to the Imperial Houfe, and the
publick as well as private Benefits they had
receiv'd from the departed Monarch, which
it was not poffible to forget, without bring-
ing an indelible Stain upon their Character.
To this I added, that if ever they had Oc-
cafion to commaud my Services, I could be
of equal Uſe to them in a private Capacity.
But all this fignify'd nothing. The Officers
and
World Under-Ground.
281
and Soldiers join in the common Cry, and
the whole Camp refounded with the before-
mention'd Acclamation. Upon this, I re-
tir'd to my Tent in Confufion, and order'd .
the Guards to give Entrance to none: Be-
caufe, probably, the Soldiers might return to
Reafon, when this fudden Fit of Zeal fhould
cool. But the Generals and common Sol-
diers burst into my Tent, and in ſpight of
all my Reluctance, adorn'd me with the
Enfigns of Royalty, and conducting me out
of the Tent with Trumpets and Drums,
proclaim'd me Emperor of Quama, King
of Tanachin, Ar&tonia, Alectoria, and Great
Duke of the Kifpucians. Seeing then how
vain was all Reſiſtance, I no longer ftrug-
gled with my Fortune, but follow'd the
Torrent; and I muft own, that I was not:
altogether unwilling to be rais'd to this Ele-
vation; for an Empire, with three King-
doms, and a Great Dutchy, was too deli-
cious a Morfel to be ey'd with Indifference.
I immediately ſent to the Prince, to acquaint
him with the preſent Situation of Affairs,
and to adviſe him to infift ftrenuouſly upon his
natural and hereditary Rights, and to de-
clare this new Election void, as being con-
trary to the Laws of the Realm. But at the
fame Time I had refolv'd with myſelf not
to relinquish in Hafte an Empire thus fpon-
taneously offer'd me; fo that this Advice of
mine to his Highness the Prince was rather
to feel his Pulfe upon this Occafion. The
Prince had an admirable Underſtanding,
and
1
282 A JOURNEY to the
and a very folid Judgment; and as he well
knew the Doubles and Difguifes of the hu-
man Heart, and that this Modefty of mine
was only put on to ferve a Turn, he wifely
yielded to the Neceffity of the Times, and
after the Example of the Army, he himſelf
proclaim'd me Emperor in the Capital
City, to which I was foon after led in
Triumph, attended by the Generals and Of-
ficers of the Army, in the midſt of the
Shouts and Acclamations of the Populace.
In a few Days after this, I was folemnly
crown'd, and invefted with the Regal Au-
thority. Being thus metamorphos'd from a
miferable Shipwreck'd Sailor into a Mo-
narch, that I might ftrengthen my Intereſt
with the Quamites, who I perceiv'd had ſtill
a great Veneration for the Royal Race of
Quama, I efpous'd the Daughter of the
deceas'd Emperor, whofe Name was Ralac.
-
Having perform'd theſe great Things, I
projected new Schemes, to raiſe the Empire
to a Height that ſhould make it formidable
to the whole fubterranean World. My
firſt Care was to affure myfelf of the Duty
and Allegiance of the lately conquer'd Na-
tions. To this End I garifon'd all their
Citadels and fortify'd Places in the ſtrongeſt
Manner, treated the Conquer'd with the
utmoſt Humanity, and advanc'd ſome of
them to very great Offices in the Capital.
In particular the Captive Generals, Tomopo-
loko and Monfonius, had the higheſt Share in
my Favour, a Circumftance that rais'd the.
Envy
World Under-Ground.
283
Envy of the Quamites, tho' they ſuppreſs'd
their Diffatisfaction for the prefent; but in
Time the Spark, which had long lain con-
cealed under the Afhes, burst into an open
Flame, as fhall be related in its proper
Place. To return to my domeſtick Affairs:
The liberal Sciences, and the Art of War,
1 labour'd to bring to the higheſt Perfection:
And as this Country abounded with very
deep Woods, which could furnish Plenty
of Timber for the building a Fleet after the
Manner of the Europeans, I purfued this
Point with fuch unweary'd Ardour, that
tho' in Reality I had a thouſand other
Affairs to perplex me, it feem'd as if my
whole Thoughts were directed to this one
View. The Kipucians were of great Ser-
vice to me in this Cafe; they had a tolerable
Knowledge of maritime Affairs, and their
General Monfonius I appointed Lord High
Admiral of the Fleet.
And now the Timber is felling, the In-
ftruments for working it preparing, and with
fuch Vehemence I apply myfelf to the Bufi-
nefs, that in fixty Days from the firſt falling
of the Wood, a Fleet of twenty Ships now
rides at Anchor in the Harbour. All this cor-
refponding exactly with my Wiſhes, I look'd
upon myſelf as the Alexander of the fubter-
ranean World, and that below I was the
Author of as great Revolutions as he was
above. The Luft of Power is infinite, and
never finds the Point to ftop at. Some few
Years fince, the Office of a Deacon, or
that
284
A JOURNEY to the
that of a Writer, or Clerk, was the Height
of my Ambition, nor did I aſpire to any
thing greater; and now four or five King-
doms ſeem too narrow for me: So that
with Reſpect to my Defires, which rife in
Proportion to our Wealth and Power, I
never found myfelf more indigent than
now.
Having made myfelf acquainted, from
the Accounts and Informations of the Kif-
pucian Mariners, with the Nature of the
Seas, and the Situation of the Kingdoms on
the Coafts, and underſtanding that it was
very practicable with a fair Wind to make
the Mezendoric Shore in eight Days Sail,
from whence it would be but a fhort
Trip to Martinia, and that over a well-
known Ocean; I fay, being acquainted
with all this, I made Preparation for the
Voyage. Indeed, Martinia was the prin-
cipal Object of my Defigns. I was spurr'd
on by the immenfe Wealth of that Nation,
and the Informations I fhould gain from a
People of their Knowledge in maritime
Affairs, fince the Lights I might receive
from them would be very useful to me in
the Courſe of all my great Undertakings.
There was alſo another Incentive, namely,
a Thirſt of Revenge, which prompted me
to fubdue this Nation. I took the Elder of
the two Royal Princes along with me as
an Affociate in this Expedition, pretending
that a fine Occafion offer'd itſelf to his
Highness of exercising his Bravery and
mar-
World Under-Ground.
285
martial Virtues. But the true Meaning of
this was, that I might keep him as a Ho-
ſtage or Pledge of the Fidelity of the Qua-
mites. The younger Prince indeed re-
main'd at Home, but the Regency of the
Empire I committed to the Emprefs, who
was then big with Child. The whole Fleet
confifted of twenty Ships, great and ſmall;
and were all built after the Martinian Mo-
del, by the Direction and Superintendency
of Monfonius the Kifpucian General, to
whom the fole Management of the Navy
was intruſted, and who had made Draughts
and Deſigns of them with his own Hand.
For the Martinians were among the Sub-
terraneans what the Tyrians and Sidmians
were in antient Days, or what the English
and Dutch are in our Times, that is, Sove-
reigns of the Seas. Yet, when we arriv'd
at Martinia, I perceiv'd that in the Built
of our Ships we had widely err'd from
their Model.
We fet fail about that Time of Year
when the Planet Nazar was at its mean
Distance from us. Having fail'd three
Days, we fpy'd a large Ifland, the Conqueſt
of which would be no difficult Matter, by
Reafon of the Feuds and Factions into
which the Inhabitants were fplit; but (what
is remarkable) as they were deftitute of
Arms, and were ignorant of the Ufe of
them, they fought only with their Tongues,
and gave all the hard Names, Curfes, and
foul Language they could invent. This
was
1
286 A JOURNEY to the
was all we had to fear. The only Puniſh-
ment that in this Country was inflicted
upon Offenders, was that they were taken
up and impriſon'd, and upon full Proof of
the Crime were openly brought into the Fo-
rum, there to hear themſelves revil'd in
the bittereſt Manner. Certain People were
appointed for this very Purpoſe, call'd Sabuti,
that is, Revilers, and are there look'd upon
in the fame Light, as an Executioner
amongst us. As to the Make of their Body,
they differ'd only from us in one or two
Circumftances, which was, that the Women
had Beards and the Men none; the Feet
alfo of them all were turn'd backwards. Af-
ter we had made a Defcent upon this Iſland,
about three hundred Canalifcans, (fo the
Iſlanders were call'd) met us. They at-
tack'd us in a hoftile Manner with their
ufual Weapons, that is to fay, with a Vol-
ley of Curfes and hard Names. With
fuch exquifite Malice, and in ſuch a diabo-
lical Spirit of Bitterness, their foul Lan-
guage was conceiv'd and utter'd, (as we
were inform'd by an Alectorian Interpreter
of the Canalifean Tongue) that they ſhew'd
themſelves perfect Mafters of their Wea-
pons, and not inferior to the Grammarians of
our World. However, knowing that Rage
alone was infignificant without Power, I
forbid any Violence to be offer'd to them,
but only to fpread Terror among them.
I order'd fome Guns to be fir'd, which
had this Effect, that they fell upon their
Knees,
World Under-Ground.
287
Knees, and implor'd Mercy. Preſently the
feveral little Kings of the Inland came down,
and made a formal Surrender of themfelves
and Subjects, putting their whole Dominions
under Tribute to me, making me at the
fame Time a Compliment, that it was no
Diſhonour to be fubdued by him, whom
it was Impiety to refift, nor any Difgrace to
fubmit to him, whom Fortune had rais'd
above all the World. Thus this Iſland, (the
Conquest of which added fomething to my
Power, tho' little to my Glory, by Reaſon
of the Effeminacy of the Inhabitants) be-
coming tributary to me, we hoifted Sail,
and after a fair Voyage of fome few Days,
arriv'd at the Mezendoric Coaft. I then
call'd a Council of War, to enquire what
was beft to be done, whether it were ad-
vifeable immediately to act in a hoftile
Manner, or to fend an Embaffy to the Em-
peror, to know if he would make a peace-
able Surrender, or whether we muſt come
to an open Rupture. The Majority were
for the latter. Wherefore five Perſons
were commiffion'd for this Embaffy, one of
each Nation, a Quamite, an Arctonian, an
Alectorian, a Tanachite, and a Kifpucian.
Being introduced into the Capital, they
were ask'd by the chief Magiftrate, in the
Name of the Emperor, the Meaning of
this unexpected Vifit to the Mezendoric Do-
minions? The Deputies reply'd, that it
was not by Accident, but by Defign they
came there, and forthwith they produced
their
288
A JOURNEY to the
their Credentials, and a Letter from me to
the Emperor, the Tenour of which was as
follows:
"Nicolas Klimius, Embaffador of the
Sun, Emperor of Quama, King of Ta-
"nachin, Arctonia, and Alectoria, Great
"Duke of the Kifpucians, and Lord of
"Canalifca, to Miklopolatu, Emperor of
"Mezendoria, Greeting. Be it known
"unto thee, that by the immutable Coun-
"cil of Heaven, it is ordain'd, that all the
"Empires and Kingdoms of the World
fubmit to the Quamitic Sovereignty. And
"fince the Decrees of Heaven are irrevo-
"cable, it is neceffary your Empire fhould
"undergo the common Deſtiny of all.
"We exhort you therefore to a voluntary
"Surrender, and cordially admonish you
"not to ſubject your Realms to the Chance
"of War, by a rafh Opppofition to our
"victorious Arms. A timely Obedience.
"may fave the Effufion of innocent Blood,
"and mend your own Condition. Given
"aboard our Fleet, the 3d Day of the
"Month Rimat."
In a few Days the Embaſſadors return'd
with a fierce and haughty Anſwer. Here-
upon all Proſpect of Peace diſappearing, we
made a Defcent. Having rang'd our Troops
in order of Battle, we fent out Spies to
explore the Condition of the Enemy. They
foon return'd with News, that the Enemy's
Army was in Readineſs, that it conſiſted of
Lions, Bears, Tigers, Elephants, and Birds
of
World Under-Ground.
289
of Prey, to the Number of fixty Thouſand.
Hereupon we poſted ourſelves on an advan-
tageous Piece of Ground, and waited their
Coming. All things being now in Readi-
nefs, and the Signal of Battle being given,
fuddenly there came four Embaffadors, all
Foxes, from the Enemy, to renew the
Negotiations, and treat of a Peace. But
having ſpent fome Days in Conferences
with our Generals, they departed without
coming to any Conclufion. It appear'd af-
terwards that theſe were Spies, rather than
Embaffadors, fent for no other End but to
explore the State and Condition of our Ar-
my. They pretended indeed that they would
foon return with more ample Powers:
But as we quickly perceiv'd the whole Body
of the Enemy marching brifkly towards us,
we hoifted our Colours, and marched to
meet them. An obftinate Fight enfued.
For tho' our Muſketeers made a furious
Slaughter among them, yet the Elephants.
every where kept their Rank, the Hardneſs
of their Hide being Proof againſt our Ball.
But as foon as our heavy Artillery began to
thunder upon them, and the Elephants per-
ceiv'd the horrible Effects of it, they were
feiz'd with a Panic, and left the Field.
this Battle thirty-three thoufand Mezendo-
rians were flain, and twenty thouſand taken
Prifoners. Thofe who efcap'd, fled to the
Metropolis, a City very well fortify'd, and
fill'd the Inhabitants with Terror and Con-
fternation. We pufh'd our Victory, and
In
in
290
A JOURNEY to the
in three Days March, came to the Capital,
which we befieg'd by Sea and Land. At
our Approach, we were faluted by a new
Embaffy, which brought much fofter Terms
of Peace. In this the Emperor offer'd me
his Daughter in Marriage, who was eſteem'd
the most beautiful Lionefs throughout the
whole Dominions, together with Half his
Empire in Dower with her. Theſe Condi-
tions were by no Means agreeable to me,
eſpecially with Refpect to the Nuptials of
his Daughter; for it ſeem'd to me neither
fafe nor honourable to divorce my Empreſs
to marry a Lionefs. Hereupon the Embaf-
fadors were difmifs'd without any Anſwer.
Preſently our great Guns began to play
against the City-Walls, which tho' com-
pos'd of Stone, were foon torn and fhat-
ter'd in many Places. And as this City
was full of Animals of all Species, it was
ftrange to hear the Variety of Noifes upon
this Occafion, fuch as Roaring, Howling,
Bellowing, Braying, Bleating and Hiffing.
The Serpents retir'd into the Clefts and
Fiffures of the Earth: The Birds hover'd
in the Air, and feeing the City fo fiercely
affaulted, fled off to the Rocks and open
Country. The Trees trembled and drop'd
their Leaves all over the City. We heard
that twenty Maids of Honour, (theſe were
Rofes and Lilies) upon the firſt Diſcharge
of our Cannon fhrunk up, and wither'd
away through Fear. Such a prodigious Con-
courſe of Animals of all Kinds, as well
thofe
World Under-Ground.
291
thofe of the City, as thoſe from the Neigh-
bourhood, miferably ftraiten'd each other;
and that very Affiftance, which was ſo ne-
ceffary, was the Caufe of Difeafes and In-
fection. The Elephants ftood the Siege
better than the reft; but upon the Dif-
charge of the great Guns, they abandon'd
the Walls. Hereupon the Emperor, de-
ſpairing to hold out much longer, fummon'd
a Council to deliberate upon the prefent
Pofture of Affairs. They were all unani-
mous for a Peace upon any Terms; and
therefore without Delay his Imperial High-
nefs made a formal Surrender of himfelf,
with all his Territories. Thus in one Day
my Power was increas'd by the Addition of
an Empire, together with nine or ten leffer
Realms or Principalities; for immediately
all the petty Sovereignties follow'd the Ex-
ample of the Emperor, and ftrove who
fhould be foremoſt in their Submiffions.
After fuch marvellous Succefs, having firſt
plac'd a Gariſon of fix hundred Muſke-
teers in the Capital, I order'd the captive
Emperor to be conducted aboard our Fleet.
I treated him with the moft perfect Huma-
nity, and upon our Return fome time after
to Quama, I gave him an intire Province,
the Revenues of which enabled the Royal
Prifoner to live with a good Degree of Splen-
dor.
We now fet Sail from this Place, and
coafted along the Mezendoric Shores. In
this Voyage we demanded Hoftages of all
Q 2
the
292 A JOURNEY to the
the ſeveral States and Governments ſubject
to the Emperor Miklopolatu, fo that in a
ſmall Time the very Mezendoric Name and
Empire were in a manner extinguifh'd.
Theſe People were for the moſt Part the
fame of which I have formerly given fome
Account in my Defcription of my Voyage
from Martinia. Leaving therefore the
Mezendoric Territories, we fteer'd directly
for Martinia, which, after a profperous,
tho' long Voyage, we happily arriv'd at.
Never was the Sight of any Country fo
highly grateful to me as this; and when
I reflected, that in Times paſt I had been
condemn'd to the Oar in this very Place, to
which I now return'd as a puiffant Con-
queror, I was hardly able to conceal the
Tranfport of Joy I felt. I had at firſt re-
folv'd to declare myſelf, in order to ſpread
the greater Terror among the Martinians :
But I chang'd that Refolution, and deter-
min'd to cherifh the old Error concerning
my Birth, and ftill to pafs for an Embaffa-
dor of the Sun.
I flatter'd myſelf, that in a fhort time,
and with a very little Trouble, I ſhould be
able to make a compleat Conqueft of the
Martinians, whofe Effeminacy I was well ac-
quainted with. For this People have a strong
Propenfity to Pleaſure, and are hurry'd
on to all vicious Exceffes, not only through
a natural Bent, but from that Affluence
and Abundance, which both Sea and Land
confpire to indulge them in. However, I
found
World Under-Ground.
293
found by Experience, that I had an ar-
duous Enterprize upon my Hands: For by
means of that vaft Commerce carry'd on by
thefe People, they had amafs'd fuch endless
Riches, as enabled them to have always at
their Devotion the choiceft of the moſt
warlike Troops among the neighbouring
Nations, who flood ready at their Nod to
fight their Battles for them. Add to this,
that the Martinians were eminent for their
Skill in maritime Affairs beyond all the
Subterraneans, and our Veffels were in
Compariſon of theirs extremely rude,
and very flow of Motion. For it is eafy to
judge what fort of Ships ours must be,
which were run up in Hafte under the Di-
rection and Supervifion of a Bachelor of
Philofophy, as alfo what a Cenfure they
would undergo, were they to be fubmitted
to the Criticifm of the Dutch, English, or
Danes. But this Defect my Artillery a-
ton'd for; a Method of Fighting hitherto
unknown to the Martinians.
Before I attempted any Thing in a ho-
ftile Manner, I fent an Embaffy to the Se-
nate with the fame Tenders of Peace, which
I had lately offer'd the Emperor of Me-
zendoria. But while we waited for an An-
fwer, all on a Sudden we beheld a Fleet of
Ships coming full Sail upon us, in order of
Battle. At Sight hereof, we rang'd our
Veffels in as much order on our Side, as
the Hurry would permit, and immediately
gave out the Signal for Engagement. The
Battle
03
294
A JOURNEY to the
Battle was fought with equal Bravery and
Ardor on both Sides. The Martinians in-
ftead of Guns, made ufe of a Machine,
which flung Stones of an enormous Size and
Weight, and which grievoufly gall'd our
Sailors. They had alfo Fire-fhips loaded
with Pitch, Brimftone, Sulphur, and other
combuftible Materials. Thefe fet Fire to
our beſt Ship, and utterly confum'd it.
Victory was a long Time in Sufpence, and
my Forces even began to deliberate whether
they had beſt fight, or fly. But at last,
the Exploſion of the great Guns chang'd
the Face of Things, and fo funk the Cou-
rage of the Martinians, that they retir'd
precipitately into their Harbour. Yet we
took not one of the Enemy's Ships, becauſe,
as they were light Sailors, they could at any
Time eſcape from us. After this Fight, we
landed our Forces, and with all Speed made
directly towards the Metropolis of Martinia.
In our March we met our own Embaffa-
dors returning from the Senate, by whom
they had been receiv'd in a proud and lofty
Manner, and difmifs'd with much fuch.
a Meffage as Neptune gave to the Winds.
Maturate fugam, Regique hæc dicite veftro;
Non illi imperium Pelagi; fævumq; tridentem,
Nobis forte datum : tenet ille immania faxa.
For the Martinians claiming the Sove-
reignty of the Seas, receiv'd my Offers with
all imaginable Difdain.
And
World Under-Ground.
295
And now they levy'd a vaft Body of
Forces, for befides the mercenary Troops,
the whole military Power of Martinia took
the Field upon this Occafion. We had not
march'd far before we efpy'd a numerous
Army, compos'd of different Nations, ad-
vancing directly against us. This Confi-
dence and Prefumption of the Enemy, not-
withſtanding their late Defeat at Sea, occa-
fioned a good deal of Uneafinefs on our
Side. But all this was but a Meteor which
fuddenly appears, and as fuddenly vanifhes:
For at the very firft Difcharge of our Artil-
lery, they all turn'd their Backs, and fled.
We purfued the flying Foe, and made a
prodigious Slaughter of them. What the
Number of the Slain were, appear'd from
that of the Perriwigs, which we collected
after the Action, and which upon a mode-
rate Computation amounted to the Num-
ber of five Thoufand. The Make of theſe
Perriwigs was pretty much alter'd fince
my Time, and I obferv'd above twenty
different Faſhions of them; nor is that at
all ftrange; for fo ingenious a Nation
would give a thoufand Improvements to
any Invention whatever.
After this fuccefsful Battle, or rather
Carnage, we immediately fet about the
Siege of the Capital. But, when we had
prepared every Thing for the Enterprize,
and difpos'd our Cannon in proper Order,
the whole Body of Senators came in a fup-
pliant Manner to our Camp, and made a
volun-
0 4
296
A JOURNEY to the
voluntary Surrender of the City, together
with the whole Republick. Hereupon,
Peace being declar'd, we enter'd in Tri-
umph into this moft fplendid City. Up-
on our Entrance into the Gates, there was
not that Tumult and Hurry, as is gene-
rally obfervable in conquer'd Towns, but
a forrowful Silence, and an univerfal
Sadness every where prevail'd. But when
we declar'd that we would not do the
leaft Injury to the Citizens, their Sadneſs
was chang'd into Joy. The first Thing I
did, was to make a Vifit to the publick
Treaſury. I was beyond Meaſure aftoniſh'd
at the immenfe Stores of Riches depoſited
there; great Part of which I diftributed
among my Soldiers, referving the reft for
my own Finances. I left a Garifon at
Martinia, and took feveral of the Senators
aboard the Fleet, by way of Hoftages. A-
mong theſe, was my old Friend the Syndic,
together with his Wife, who had fallly ac-
cufed me of the Crime for which I was con-
demned to the Gallies. Yet I entertain'd
no Thoughts of Vengeance, as thinking it
beneath an Emperor of Quama to refent an
Injury done to a Chairman.
After this compleat Conqueft of the Mar-
tinians, I refolv❜d to reduce the feveral neigh-
bouring Powers. But while I was upon
the Point of executing this Defign, the
Embaffadors of four different Realms ar-
riv'd, and made their Submiffions. I had
already fo many States and Kingdoms under.
my
World Under-Ground.
297
my Dominion, that I did not fo much as
give myſelf the Trouble to enquire the
Names of theſe four furrender'd Territo-
ries, but was contented to comprehend them
under the general Name of the Martinian
Provinces.
H
CHA P. XV.
The CATASTROPHE.
AVING perform'd fuch an ama-
zing Series of Exploits, and our Fleet
being confiderably augmented, by the Ad-
dition of the Martinian Ships, we now
hoifted Sail, and return'd to Quama, where,
upon our Arrival, we triumph'd with more
than Roman Magnificence. And, in good
Truth, the noble Deeds we had atchiev'd,
deferv'd the higheft Pomp of Feftivals and
publick Rejoicings. For what can be con-
ceiv'd more heroic, than to transform a
Nation the moſt abject, and the moſt ex-
pos'd to the Infults of their Neighbours, into
the Lords and Sovereigns of the whole Sub-
terranean Globe? What can be conceiv'd-
more glorious, or more for my Honour,
as a Man, whoſe Fate it happen'd to be to
live among fo many heterogeneous Crea-
tures, what, I fay, could redound more to
my Glory, than to have afferted that Do--
minion which Nature gave Mankind over
0 5
!
the
298
A JOURNEY to the
the Animal Creation? A Deſcription of
the Splendor of this Triumph, the Crowds,
and the Applaufes of Men of all Ranks and
Ages, would of itſelf make a regular Vo-
lume, and therefore I fhall not attempt it
in this ſhort Account. I fhall only obſerve,
that from this Time a new Era appears
in Hiſtory, and there may now be reckon'd
five Monarchies, namely, the Affyrian, the
Perfian, the Grecian, the Roman, and the
Quamitic; the laſt of which feems to ſurpaſs
the reft in Power and Grandeur.
And ac-
cordingly I accepted the Title of Koblu, or
GREAT, which was offer'd me, as well by
the Quamites, as by the other vanquiſh'd Nati-
ons. There is, I confefs, fomething exceffively
vain and arrogant in the Name GREAT: But
yet, when you compare me with the Cyrus's,
the Alexanders, the Pompeys, and the Ca-
fars, the Title then feems perfectly humble
and modeft. Alexander indeed enflav'd the
Eaft, but with what Forces? with hardy
veteran Troops inur'd to War; for ſuch
were the Macedonians in the Time of his
Father Philip. But I, in a fhorter Space
of Time, ſubdued far more and fiercer Na-
tions than the Perfians, and that by the
Help only of a rude and barbarous People,
whom I myſelf had form'd and inſtructed..
The Titles I now us'd were theſe ; Nicolas
the Great, Emperor of Quama and Mezen-
doria, King of Tanachin, Alectoria and Arcto-
nia, Great Duke of Kifpucia, Lord of Mar-
tinia and Canalifca, &c. &c.
3
Ingers
World Under-Ground.
299
Ingens jam ftabat Regnum, poteramque videri
Exilio felix: fed fcilicet ultima femper
Expectanda dies homini, dicique beatus
Ante obitum nemo fupremaque funera debet.
Being thus lifted up to a Point of Power
and Succefs, beyond even the Wiſhes of a
mortal Man, the fame Thing happen'd to
me, as to almoſt all thoſe who rife to Great-
nefs from a fordid Original. For unmind-
ful of my former State, I grew intolerably.
vain and haughty, and inftead of all thofe
winning Ways, which artful Princes ufe to
procure the popular Efteem, I became a
hot and cruel Perfecutor of all Orders of
Men, defpifing as very Slaves thoſe Subjects,
whom before I had courted to my Intereſt
with all imaginable Affability, infomuch,
that none had Accefs to my Perfon, without
a Ceremony, almoſt like that of Adoration,-
and when they were admitted, were re-
ceiv'd with a moft difdainful Air: All
which alienated the Minds of the People
from me, and chang'd their Love into
Coldneſs and Terror. This Difpofition of
my Subjects I foon experienced, and parti-
cularly upon the following Occafion. The
Emprefs, my Spouſe, whom I had left big
with Child, was in my Abfence brought to
Bed of a young Prince. Intending to ac-
knowledge this Prince for my Succeffor, I
affembled the feveral States of my Empire,
as well thoſe of the conquer'd Kingdoms,
as thofe of Quama, to the folemn Inaugu-
ration
300
A JOURNEY to the
ration of the Infant.
As none dar'd dif
obey my Orders, the Ceremony was per-
form'd with all poffible Pomp and Gran-
deur. But it was eafy to perceive in the
Vifages of my Subjects, that all the Joy
upon this Occafion was forc'd, unnatural,
and mix'd with hidden Difcontent. What
help'd to confirm my Jealoufy, was, that at
this Time certain Libels or Pafquinades,
written by anonymous Authors, were hand-
ed about, in which the Injury done to
Prince Timufo by this Inauguration, was fet
forth with much Satyr and Acrimony. This
created fuch Diſorders in my Spirits, that I
could take no Reft till I had got rid of that
beſt of Princes. However, I thought it
by no means advifeable to difpatch this illu-
ſtrious Rival in an arbitrary Manner, and
therefore I fuborn'd certain Witneſſes to
accuſe him of High Treafon. As Sovereigns.
never want for Minifters of Darkneſs to
ferve their criminal Purpoſes, I quickly
found out proper Perfons to fwear that the
Prince was projecting a Revolution, and had
a Defign against my Life. Upon this he
was thrown into Prifon, and condemn'd by
his Judges, the Majority of whom I had
corrupted. However, he was executed pri-
vately, for fear of raifing. Difturbances.
As to the ſecond Prince, becauſe he was
very young, I defer'd facrificing him to my
Repoſe yet a while; fo that the Weakness
of his Age was his Protection. Thus ftain'd
with the Parricide of his Brother, I began
now
World Under-Ground.
30T
now to rule with fo much Cruelty and Ri-
gour, and carry'd my Rage to fuch a Height,
that all Perfons, whofe Fidelity I fufpected,
whether Quamites, or others, I deliver'd
over to immediate Death. Not a Day
pafs'd, but was remarkable for fome extra-
ordinary Execution, which haſtened the
Rebellion, which the Nobles had been for
a conſiderable Time projecting, as will be.
related in its proper Place.
I own I deferv'd all thofe Misfortunes,
which I afterwards experienc'd. It had
doubtlefs been more glorious, and more
worthy of a Chriftian Monarch, to have
guided a grofs and barbarous People to the
Knowledge of the true God, rather than to
have proceeded from Conqueft to Conqueft,
and to have ſhed fuch Torrents of innocent
Blood. And, indeed, it had been eafy for
me to have converted the whole Empire;
for there was a Time when all my Deter-
minations were rever'd like Oracles. But
unmindful of God, and of myſelf, I dream'd
of nothing but the vain Splendor of a Court,
and the Increaſe of my Power. Moreover,
being now given up to a deprav'd and re-
probate Mind, I choſe to aggravate and in-
Яame thefe Difcontents, rather than remove
them, as if the Offences of my Injustice
were to be rectify'd by my Cruelty. To
all the Remonstrances of my Friends I ſtill
urg'd,
Neceffity, the Tyrant's hellish Plea.
So
302
A JOURNEY to the
So that Misfortune on Misfortune came
thick upon me, and I fell into fuch Dif-
grace and Wretchedneſs, that from my Ex-
ample, all Mortals may learn what a Vi-
ciffitude there is in human Affairs, and
how fhort is the Duration of arbitrary Power
and Violence.
My Subjects Averfion increas'd with the
Severity of my Government, and when they
perceiv'd that the Vices, to which I aban-
don'd myſelf, but ill agreed with that di-
vine Original I boafted, and were utterly
irreconcilable with my Character, as Em-
baffador of the Sun, they began to examine
every thing with more Attention, particu-
larly the Circumftance of my Arrival into
thefe Parts, and the Condition I was in
when I landed upon their Coaft. They now
ſaw, that all the great Things I had done,.
were owing more to the Savageneſs of the
Quamites, than to any extraordinary Abilities
of my own, eſpecially as they found, after
that Miſt of Ignorance was difpell'd, that I
had actually committed many Errors in the
Courſe of my Government. Above all my
Conduct was highly cenfur'd by the Kifpu-
cians, a judicious and penetrating People.
They had obferv'd in my publick Edict a
Multitude of Things fo crude and indigefted,
as betray'd the groffeft Ignorance in Politicks.
Nor was the Cenfure unjuft: For as my aca-
demical Tutors and Inftructors never dream'd
of Crowns and Scepters for me, they gave
me an Education more adapted to a pri-
vate
World Under-Ground.
303
vate Station, than that of a Sovereign; and:
my Studies, which extended no farther than
to fome little Syftem of Divinity, and a
few metaphyfical Terms, were by no Means
equal to my preſent Elevation, where I had
the Charge of two Empires, and almoſt twen
ty Kingdoms upon my Hands. The Mar-
tinians had alfo remark'd, that the Ships of
War I had built, were fo rude and clumſy,
that in an Engagement they were of no
manner of uſe againſt a regular and well
appointed Fleet, and that all my naval
Glory was to be afcrib'd folely to the Inven-
tion of Cannon. All thefe cutting Re--
marks they induftriouſly difpers'd, and at:
the fame Time call'd to Remembrance the
Manner of my firft Appearance in this
Country, namely, how I had efcap'd from
a Shipwreck, and being ready to perifh
with Hunger, was taken up by the
Inhabitants all in tatter'd Garments, an
Equipage furely very unfuitable to an Em-
baffador of the Sun. Add to this, that theſe
fame Martinians, being excellent natural
Philofophers, had now given the Quamites
a Tincture of Aftronomy, enough to know
that the Sun was an inanimate Body, plac'd.
in the Centre of the Heavens by the Al-
mighty, to give Light and Heat to all Crea-
tures, and that as it was a Globe of Fire,
it could of Confequence be no proper Habi-
tation for a mortal Man.
With thefe and other fuch unlucky Dif-
courfes, was I from Day to Day diſtracted.
But
304
A JOURNEY to the
But they were mere Murmurs; fince nobody
through fear of my Power dar'd talk thus
with any Degree of Opennefs. And in Reality,
I was a long Time ignorant that the Male-
volence of my Subjects had roſe to ſuch a
Pitch, as to queftion my Condition, till at
length I was convinc'd of it by a Book
compos'd in the Canalifean Tongue, and
publifh'd with this Title, THE HAPPY
SHIPWRECK. For I obferv'd before, that
the Canaliſcans were perfect Artiſts at Satyr
and Reproaches, which were all the Wea-
pons they wag'd War with. The Book in
Queſtion comprehended all thoſe Accufa-
tions, of which I have juft now given a
Detail, and was wrote in a Stile the moſt
fevere and farcaftical, that can well be ima-
gin'd, according to the Genius of the Ca-
nalifcans, who excel in this Manner of
Writing.
But fuch was the Weakneſs of my Mind
at this Juncture, fuch my vain Prefumption
and Confidence of my own Power, that
no Advices or Remonftrances whatever could
make me change my Conduct, or bring me
to my Senfes. The moſt wholeſome Counſels
inſtead of checking, contributed only to in-
flame my Cruelty. Wherefore thofe whom
I had moft Reafon to fufpect, I put to the
Torture to diſcover the Author of this Libel..
But all endur'd their Torture with an afto-
nifhing Firmnefs, infomuch, that this Cru-
elty produced no other Effect, than to
irritate the Spirits of my People ftill more
againſt
World Under-Ground.
305
againſt me. Thus my Fate would have it,
and I run headlong to my Deftruction.
In this State of Affairs I determin'd to
facrifice the furviving Prince Hicoba.
pen'd my Defign to the High Chancellor
Kalac, in whom I plac'd great Confidence.
He promiſed me all Obedience and Affift-
ance, and ſtrait withdrew on Pretence of
contriving the Means of putting this Scheme
in Execution. But detefting the Villany in
his Heart, he difcover'd the Plot to the
Prince. Both of them retir'd into the Ci-
tadel, which was well fortify'd and there
the Chancellor harangu'd the Guards, and
in the most pathetick Manner laid open
their prefent Condition. His Difcourfe,
together with the Tears of the young Prince
which added confiderable Weight to it,
produc'd the defir'd Effect. The Soldiers
run to their Arms, and vow'd they would
die to fave their Prince. Upon this the
dexterous Chancellor did not give their Ar-
dour Time to cool, but perfuaded them
immediately to fwear Allegiance to their
Prince, and then out of hand fent private.
Meflengers to thoſe whom he knew to
be exasperated againſt me, exhorting them
to take Arms against a Tyrant, who at-
tempted the Extinction of the whole Royal
Progeny. Upon this all the Difaffected roſe
and join'd with the Garifon. While I
was expecting the Return of the Chancellor,.
a Meffenger brought me the News of this
grand Infurrection. My Friend Tomopoloko
ad-
306.
A JOURNEY to the
advis'd me by all Means to retreat to Tana-
chin. There, fays he, we can quickly raiſe
an Army, and bring thefe Mutineers to
Reaſon. Theſe Words produc'd in me
various Agitations of Mind, and Hope and
Fear alternately govern'd me each Moment.
At length in Compliance with his Admo-
nition I fled from Quama, and that with
little or no Difficulty, as the Bulk of the
Quamites were yet unacquainted with the
Reaſons of this Sedition. Soon after this, I
return'd with an Army of forty thouſand
Soldiers, the greateſt Part of which were
Tanachites, expecting a confiderable Aug-
mentation from fuch Quamites as continu-
ed in their Duty. But I deceiv'd myſelf
egregiouſly: For inſtead of thofe Auxilia-
ries I flatter'd myſelf with, I met a Herald
who brought me Letters from the Prince,
to acquaint me, that War was declar'd a-
gainſt me as an Ufurper and Invader, and
that my Wife and Son were Priſoners of
State. Soon after the Departure of the He-
rald, I beheld the Quamitic Army advancing
with my young Rival at their Head. As
they had a fine Artillery, I would not run
the Rifque of an Engagement, till I was
reinforc'd with freſh Troops: Therefore
I made a Stop, and entrench'd myſelf in
the beſt Manner I could. But when I per-
ceiv'd that my own Soldiers deſerted to the
Enemy, who befides expected hourly new
Supplies, I took Advice of my General
Officers, and refolv'd to engage directly;
nor
World Under-Ground.
307
nor did Tomopoloko oppofe this Refolution.
We fought upon the fame Plain, where
fome Years ago in a decifive Battle the Ta-
nachites were entirely routed. The Enemy's
Cannon now threw our Ranks into great
Diſorder, and it griev'd me to the Soul to be
baffled by my own Invention, and be con-
quer'd by thofe very Arms I myſelf had
devis'd. For a while however my Soldiers
fuftained the Attack of the rebellious Ar-
my, till a Ball took off Tomopoloko. Then
every one loft his Courage, and we all turn'd
our Backs and fled to the Woods and Moun-
tains. I, for my Part, climb'd to the Top
of a Rock, from whence I defcended into
the Valley on the other Side. There I
paus'd a while to curfe my Fate, or rather
my Folly, and to pour out my Soul in Tears
and Sighs. But, alas! it was all too late. So
great was the Diſorder of my Spirits, that
I forgot to throw off my Diadem, which
was the very thing that in all likelihood
muft have difcover'd me. After I had fat
trembling for half an Hour in that Valley,
I heard the Voices of fome Perfons climbing
the Rock, and roaring out Vengeance a-
gainſt me if they found me. I then look'd
all round me for a Place to conceal myſelf.
in.
There was hard by a deep Wood over-
grown with Trees and Buſhes. I prefently
enter'd into it, and having pick'd out fome-
thing like a Path, I walk'd on till I came
to a Cave. Here I ftopp'd fome Moments.
to take Breath. By and by I crept into the
Cave,
308
A JOURNEY to the
Cave, like a Serpent, upon my Belly, and
as I perceiv'd it to be very deep and fhel-
ving, yet of eafy Defcent, I refolv'd to pe-
netrate to the Bottom of it. But I had
fcarce walk'd a Quarter of a Mile, when
all on a Sudden I tumbled down, and as if
Thunder drove me, was hurry'd headlong
through the thickeft Darkneſs, till at laft a
faint glimmering Light dawn'd in upon
me. With the Increaſe of that Light the
Force of my Motion was proportionably di-
minifh'd, fo that by little and little, and in
the gentleft Manner, like a Perfon rifing
out of the Water, I found myfelf among
fome Mountains, which to my unutterable
Amazement, I obferv'd to be the very fame
from whence fome Years ago I was hurry'd
down into the fubterranean World.
Reaſon of that Abatement of my Motion,
I found after fome Reflection to be owing
to the Quality of our Atmoſphere, which
is much denfer, and confequently refifts
more than the fubterranean Atmoſphere.
Unleſs it were fo, the fame Thing would
have happen'd to me in my Afcent, as in
my Defcent, and in all likelihood I muft
then have been carry'd aloft through the
Air as far as the Region of the Moon. Yet
I fubmit this Hypothefis to the maturer
Examination of Philofophers.
The
CHAP
World Under-Ground,
309
CHAP. XVI.
The AUTHOR's Return into his own
Country.
I confiderable
Mountains, almoſt deftitute of Senfe.
For my late violent Motion, together with
that ſtrange Metamorphofis from a Founder
of a fifth Monarchy, into a famiſh'd Bache-
lor of Arts, had occafion'd very great Dif-
orders in my Brain. And, in Truth, my
Adventure was fo fingular and fo poetical,
that it might well fhock the Frame of the
foundeft Head. In this Condition I began
to aſk myſelf, whether what I faw was a
Reality, or whether it was not fome vifion-
ary Deception. But my Diftraction aba-
ting, and returning by Degrees to my Senfes,
my Aſtoniſhment gave Place to Grief and
Indignation. And, indeed, turn over the
Annals of remote Antiquity, as well as
thoſe of modern Date, and you will not be
able to find a parallel Adventure with mine,
unleſs perhaps in the Cafe of Nebuchad-
nezzar, who from the greateſt Monarch in
the World, was transform'd into a wild
Creature, and liv'd like one of the Beaſts
of the Field. Much the fame Freaks of
Fortune I experienc'd. For in a few Hours
two mighty Empires were wrefted from me,
together with almoft twenty Kingdoms, the
Shadows
310 A JOURNEY to the
Shadows and faint Images of which now only
remain'd. Lately I was a Monarch; and now
the Utmost of my Hopes was to procure the
Maſterſhip of fome little School for my
Subfiftence. Lately I was call'd the Em-
baffador of the Sun; and now I fear'd Ne-
ceffity would drive me to become the Ser-
vant of fome Biſhop or Dean. But a few
Days ago Glory, Hope, Victory and Suc-
cefs attended my Steps; and now Care and
Mifery, Tears and Lamentations are all my
Companions. In fhort, I refembled thofe
Summer Herbs, which fuddenly fpring up,
and as fuddenly die away; and to fay all
in one Word, Sorrow, Rage, Anxiety, Dif
appointment, and Defpair, rais'd fuch a
Conflict in my Breaft, that fometimes I re-
folv'd to end my Being with my Sword,
fometimes I determin'd to plunge again into
the Cavern to try if I could not fucceed
better in a fecond Expedition. But a Re-
gard for my immortal Soul, and the Prin-
ciples of the Chriſtian Religion, reſtrained
me from theſe mad Attempts.
I now endeavour'd to defcend the Moun-
tain by that narrow Path which leads to
Sandwic. But my Imagination was ſo diſ-
turb'd, that I ftumbled almoft every Step I
took: For the whole Powers of my Mind
were taken up in contemplating upon the
fifth Monarchy. This Idea fo conſtantly
haunted me, that it almoſt unhing'd my
Underſtanding. And indeed the Lofs of fo
much Dignity and Power, could never be
recom-
World Under-Ground.
311
recompenc'd by any Advantages which my
own Country could beftow. For fuppofe
they ſhould make me Governor of Bergen,
or what is more, Lord-Lieutenant of Nor-
wey, yet, alas! what Compenſation, what
Comfort would this be to the Monarch and
Founder of ſo many Empires and King-
doms? However, I refolv'd not to refufe
a Thing of that Kind, in cafe it fhould be
offer'd me.
After I had got half way down the Hill,
I faw at a little Diſtance fome Children, to
whom I beckon'd and made Signs to come
to my Affiſtance, pronouncing aloud at the
fame Time thefe Words, Jeru Pikal Salim,
which in the Quamitic Language fignifies,
Shew me the Way. But the Boys, at the
Sight of a Man cloath'd in a foreign Ha-
bit, and with a Diadem upon his Head em-
broider'd with Ray's like thofe of the Sun,
ran down the Mountain as faſt as they could,
and foon gaining the Start of me, (for I
was forc'd to drag my weary and wounded
Feet but flowly after me) they got to Sand-
wic an Hour before me, where they alarm'd
the whole Village, vowing and proteſting
that they had ſeen the Wandring Jew among
the Mountains, his Head all glittering with
Rays, and by his Groans expreffing great
Uneafinefs of Mind. The Inhabitants en-
quiring how they knew it was the Wandring
Jew, they readily anfwer'd, that I myfelf
had told my Name and Country. This
Miftake I guess'd muft proceed from thofe
Words
312
A JOURNEY to the
Words of mine mifinterpreted, Jeru Pikal
Salim, which indeed have fome Affinity in
Sound to that Conceit of the Children.
All the Village was now in an Uproar, and
nobody doubted the Truth of the Fact,
eſpecially as there had been but very lately
a Story cook'd up about this Wanderer,
who was faid to have appear'd not long fince
at Hamburgh.
About Evening I arriv'd at Sandwic,
where I found a Mob of the Inhabitants
gather'd together, from a natural Curioſity
implanted in all Men to fee ftrange Sights.
They ftood at the Foot of the Mountain to
meet me, but as foon as ever they heard me
ſpeak, they all took to their Heels as if they
were feiz'd with a Panic, except one old
Man, who having more Courage than the
reft, would not move out of his Place. To
this Man I addrefs'd myfelf, and begg'd to
know if he would have the Goodness to en-
tertain a Stranger. He afk'd me who I
was? and whence I came ? To which I
reply'd with a deep Sigh, that the Day was
too far ſpent to begin my Story, but that if
he would receive me into his Houfe, I
fhould relate to him fuch a Series of Ad-
ventures, as were not to be parallel'd in all
Hiſtory, and which muft confequently ftag-
ger human Belief. The old Man, who was
a Lover of Novelty, took me by the Hand,
and led me to his Houfe; and as we went,
he rally'd the ridiculous Fears of the Pop-
lace, who are frighten'd at a ftrange Face
as
World Under-Ground.
313
as much as at a Comet. As foon as I was
within the Houfe, I begg'd the Favour of
fome cold Water to affuage my Thirft. In-
ftead of which a Cup of Ale was brought
me by my Hoft himfelf, becauſe his Wife
and Maids were all afraid to venture them-
felves near me. Having drank off my
Liquor, and flack'd my Thirst, I spoke to
my good Hoft in the following Terms:
"You ſee before you a Man, who has
"experienc'd the moft cruel Reverſes of
"Fate, and who has been the Bubble and
"Sport of Fortune to a Degree beyond all
"mortal Men. It is indeed an undoubted
"Truth, that in a Moment of Time the
"greateſt Affairs may be difconcerted and
"thrown into Confufion; yet nevertheleſs
"what has happened to me furpaffes all
"Credibility." To which my Hoft reply'd,
That this must be the Condition of those who
wander for fuch a Length of Time; for,
continued he, what Viciffitudes, what Mif-
fortunes may not happen to a Man in a Courfe
of Sixteen hundred Years Peregrination? I
could not comprehend the Meaning of this,
and therefore I afk'd him what he meant
by thoſe Sixteen hundred Years? If, re-
turn'd he, any Credit is to be given to Hif
tory, it is now Sixteen hundred Years fince
Jerufalem was deftroy'd: I doubt not, most
venerable Sir, but that about the Time of
that memorable Action, you was even then
fomething advanc'd in Years; for if what is
related concerning you be true, we may refer
P
meſt
the
314 A JOURNEY to the
the Date of your Nativity to the Reign of
Tiberius. At thefe Words I was filent for
a confiderable Time, and thought the old
Man doated; but at laft I told him, that
his Language requir'd an OEdipus to un-
riddle it. With that he brought me a Print
of the Temple of Jerufalem, and aſk'd me,
whether I thought it differ'd very much
from the Original? In fpite of all my
Grief, I could not help bursting into a
Laugh, and aſk'd him the Meaning of this
odd puzzling Difcourfe. He reply'd, Whe-
ther I am in an Error, or not, I cannot fay:
But the Inhabitants of this Place aver, that
you are that famous Jew, who ever fince the
Days of Chrift have been condemn'd to wan-
der over the World. But yet, methinks, the
nearer I furvey you, the more I diſcover in
your Face the Features of an old Friend of
mine, who fome twelve Years ago perish'd on
the Top of this Mountain. At theſe Words,
the Mift before my Eyes was diffipated, and
I knew my old Friend Abeline, whoſe Houſe
in Bergen I us'd to frequent. I flew into
his Arms immediately, and tenderly em-
brac'd him. And do I live to hold thee
thus, my Abeline, faid I? I ſcarce believe
my Eyes and Senfes. Yes, I am Klimius,
return'd in a manner from the Grave. I
am that very Klimius, who about twelve
Years fince deſcended into that Cavern.
My Friend, confounded at this unexpected
Turn, ftood like one thunder-ſtruck; at
length
World Under-Ground.
315
length he cry'd out, Yes! it is he! I fee
my Klimius! I hear his Voice!
Sic oculos, fic ille manus, fic ora ferebat.
But tho' no Twin can be more like his
Brother, than you are like my Klimius, yet
I neither can nor dare believe my Senſes;
for Miracles are ceas'd, and the Dead rife
not now: I muſt have therefore ſtronger and
more convincing Proofs, e'er I can give
Credit to what you tell me. Hereupon, at
once to conquer his Incredulity, I gave him
a fuccinct Detail of all that had pafs'd be-
tween us formerly. This remov'd every
Doubt; and ftraitway he embrac'd me with
Tears of Joy, and cry'd out, It is, it is
the very Man, whofe Ghoſt I thought I
had feen! But explain to me, purfued he,
in what Part of the World you have loft
yourſelf all this Time, and in what Coun-
try you procur'd that wonderful Dreſs you
have on. Then I proceeded to recount to
him every Particular which had happen'd to
me, and he heard me with profound Atten-
tion, till I came to that Part of my Hiſtory
concerning the Planet Nazar, and Trees en-
du'd with Speech and Reafon : At this, he
loft all Patience: "Not all the Abfurdities,
" fays he, which Dreams convey to us,
tr
not all the Follies which Madneſs pro-
"duces, or all the Nonfenfe which Drunk-
"ennefs utters, can equal theſe Viſions of
yours; I ſhould rather chufe to believe
with the Vulgar, that you muſt have
"fallen
<<
P 2
316 A JOURNEY to the
"fallen into the Hands of Witches or Hob-
"goblins; for how idle foever fuch Tales
"are, yet they have an Appearance of
Truth, if put in Competition with this
fubterranean Journey of yours." I begg'd
and intreated of him to have but a Moment's
Patience more, till I had finiſh'd my Reci-
tal; upon which, as I obferv'd he kept Si-
lence, I proceeded to relate all that had hap-
pened to me below, the fundry Accidents
and Reverſes of Fortune I had experienc'd,
and how I had been the Founder of the
fifth and greateſt Monarchy that ever was.
All thefe Things increas'd the Sufpicion he
had entertain❜d, that I was bewitch'd, or
had had fome Commerce with Magicians or
evil Spirits; and that being abuſed with
their diabolical Delufions, I had embrac'd a
Cloud inftead of Juno. In order to try
how far the Force of theſe Charms and In-
cantations had ſpread, or to what a Length
my Extravagance would run, my Friend
began to interrogate me concerning the State
of the Happy, and that of the Damn'd in the
other World; concerning the Elyfian Fields,
and divers other Matters of that Kind. I
foon perceiv'd the fly Defign of thefe Que-
ftions, and told my Friend, that I, for my
Part, could hardly blame his Incredulity,
fince my Narration appear'd too fabulous to
command a ready Affent: However, it was
not my Fault; for that in Reality my Ad-
ventures were ſo marvellous, as to baffle all
human Belief. I folemnly proteft to you,
con-
World Under-Ground.
317
continued I, that I have not added or fup-
ply'd one Jot or Tittle from my own In-
vention, but that I have recounted every
thing fimply and ingenuouſly in the Order
they happened to me. My Friend perſiſting in
his Incredulity, defir'd that I would compoſe
my Mind, and take a few Days Reft and
Refreſhment, in which Time he told me
he hop'd thefe Commotions in my Brain.
would by degrees fubfide and die away.
After 1 had repos'd myſelf for full eight
Days, my Friend now thinking I had taken
fufficient Reft, was refolv'd to try if I had re-
cover'd my Senfes, and therefore artfully re-
fum'd the Converfation concerning my fub-
terranean Journey. He was now in Hopes,.
that the fifth Monarchy, together with the
twenty conquer'd Kingdoms, was all vanifh'd
into Smoke, and fo utterly buried in Oblivion,.
that not an Idea remain'd of fo much as a
fingle Town or Village. But when he heard
me repeat the very fame Things in the very
fame Order I had before done; when at the
Conclufion of my Hiftory I upbraided him
with his obftinate Unbelief, and moreover
alledg'd certain indubitable Facts, ſuch as
that about twelve Years ago it was noto-
rious I had defcended into that Cavern, and
that I was now return'd into my own Coun-
try in a ſtrange and foreign Habit; he then
began to waver, and had not a Word to
reply. I took the Advantage of this his
Situation of Mind, and prefs'd the Matter
ftill more home. I demonftrated to him,
that
P 3
318
A JOURNEY to the
that his Hypothefis concerning Witchcraft
and Sorcery, was far, infinitely far more
abfur'd than this Expedition of mine; for
that thoſe were juftly to be thrown into the
Clafs of old Wives Fables; but that on the
other hand, he could not but know that fe-
veral Philofophers of Reputation were of
Opinion, that the Earth was concave, and
that probably it contain'd within it a leſſer
habitable World; and that I, for my Part,
being convinc'd of it by Experience, could
not poffibly give up my Senfes with refpect
to this Article.
Convinc'd at length by thefe Arguments,
Your Conftancy, faid he, and your Punc-
tuality in affirming thefe Things, the Pre-
tence of which could not be the leaft Ad-
vantage to you, has at laft entirely van-
quifh'd my Incredulity; I muft and do be-
lieve you. My Friend thus perfuaded of
the Facts in Queftion, now begg'd me to
renew my Story to him, if poffible, in a
more full and copious Manner; accordingly
I obey'd him. He was quite charm'd with
my Account of the Planet Nazar, and the
Potuan Government, the Laws and Infti-
tutions of which, he faid, were fuch as de-
ferv'd to be a Model to all the Kingdoms
in the World. He alfo obferv'd in Juftice to
me, that a Defcription of fo wife and well-
regulated a Government, could not poffibly
proceed from a diforder'd Head, or a con-
fufed Imagination; for that fuch Principles
were
World Under-Ground.
319
were rather of divine, than human Ori-
ginal.
When I found that his Conviction was
perfectly fincere, and well establifh'd, I then
thought it high Time to talk to him about
my own Affairs; accordingly I defir'd to
know of him, what he thought I had beſt
do in my preſent Condition, or what I
might reaſonably expect in my own Coun-
try, after the mighty Exploits I had at-
chiev'd in the fubterranean World. To
which he anfwer'd thus:
"Let me per-
"fuade you, fays he, never to diſcover theſe
"Things to any Mortal. You know the
"Zeal of our Priefts. You know they
"perfecuted the Author of that famous
"Diſcovery of the Earth's Motion round
"the Sun, and all who adher'd to that
"Philofophy. And what then do you think
"will become of you for afferting the Exift-
ec ence of a fubterranean Sun and Planets ?
"You will be declar'd a Heretick, and as
fuch unworthy to live in a Chriftian
"Community. How will Mafter Rupert
"thunder against you? He, who but a
"Year ago ſentenced a Man to do publick
"Penance, for afferting the Doctrine of
"the Antipodes. Certainly, fo holy a Per-
"fon will condemn to the Flames, the Au-
"thor of fo new a Syftem, as that of a
« World under Ground. I give it you
1
"therefore as my beſt Advice, that you
*fuffer thefe Things to lie buried in eter-
"nat
320
A JOURNEY to the
nal.Oblivion, and that you live privately
"in my Houfe for a Time."
He then made me throw afide my
fubterranean Habit, and equipp'd me ac-
cording to the Faſhion of my own Coun-
try. Moreover, he drove away all thoſe
Crowds of People from the Door, who came
out of Curiofity to fee the Wandering Jew,
affuring them, that he difappear'd all at
once. However, the Affair was nois'd all
over the Country, and, in a fhort Time,
all the Pulpits rung with Predictions and
Prophecies of the Evils and-Misfortunes that
muft follow upon this Apparition. It was
faid at Sandwic, that the Wandering Jew
was come, publiſhing every where the ap-
proaching Vengeance of Heaven, and ex-
horting the People to Repentance. And
this Story (as Stories always gain in telling)
was preſently enrich'd with various Addi-
tions and Interpolations. Accordingly fome
faid, that the Wandering Jew had foretold
the End of the World, and that the next
St. John's Day would be the Day of the ge-
neral Conflagration, unleſs they would pre-
vent it by a very fincere Repentance; with
abundance of other Things in the fame
Style. Nay, theſe Predictions had_occa-
fion'd fuch Troubles in a certain Parifh,
that the Farmers all gave off Plowing and
Sowing, becaufe as the World was foon
to be at an End, there would certainly be
no Harveſt. Hereupon, Mafter Nicho-
las, the Minifter of the Pariſh, fearing he
fhould
World Under-Ground.
321
ſhould fall fhort in his Tythes and other
Articles of his Income, told his Congrega-
tion, that to his certain Knowledge, the
Day of Judgment was put off to the next
Year. The Stratagem took, and they all
returned to their wonted Labours. As the
Origin of all this Folly and Superſtition was
known only to my Friend and me, it af-
forded us plentiful Matter of Mirth and
Laughter from Time to Time.
At length, as I did not care to continue
longer in a Houſe that was not my own,
and as I was under a Neceffity of coming
abroad one Time or other, in order to
procure myſelf a competent Livelihood, I
thought it was now high time to begin:
Accordingly, we both went to Bergen; and
my Friend made me pafs for a Student of
Drontheim, and a Relation of his, who came
to ſpend fome Time in that Capital. Soon
after he recommended me fo earneſtly to
the Biſhop of Bergen, fometimes by Letters,
and fometimes in Converfation, that that ve-
nerable Prelate promiſed me the firſt vacant
Maſterſhip of any School or College he had
in his Gift. This was an Office to my Pa-
late, inaſmuch as it feem'd to be ſomething
a-kin to the Elevation I was lately fallen
from. For the Government of a School is
the Shadow or Image of Imperial Power:
The Ferula is the Scepter, and the Chair a
Throne. But as no Vacancy happen'd in
a long Time, and as it was neceffary fome-
thing fhould be done for my prefent Subfif-
tence,
322
A JOURNEY to the
tence, I was refolv'd to embrace the first
Offer that fhould be made me. Luckily the
Curate of St.Crofs now died, and the Biſhop
appointed me to fucceed him. This Pro-
motion feem'd ridiculous enough for the
Monarch of fo many Empires and King-
doms. But as nothing makes Men more
ridiculous than Poverty, and as it is too high
a Strain of Nicenefs, to refufe muddy Wa-
ter, when a Man is parch'd with Thirft, I
accepted the gracious Offer, and am now
fpending the Refidue of my Days in this
Office, with the Contentedneſs of a Philofo-
pher.
A little after this Promotion, a Match
was propos'd to me with the Daughter of a
Merchant of Bergen, whofe Name was Mag-
dalen. The Lady pleas'd me highly: But
as it was very likely that the Empress of
Quama was ftill alive, I was afraid left by
this Marriage with Magdalen, I fhould be
guilty of Polygamy. But my Friend Abeline,
to whom I unbofom'd myſelf on this Occa-
fion, ridicul'd my Fears, and by fo many
Arguments demonftrated the Folly of my
Scruples, that I no longer hefitated to con-
clude the Match. I liv'd fix Years with this
Wife in the utmoft Love and Friendship;
altho' in all that Time, I never once related
my fubterranean Hiftory to her. But as I could
never entirely loſe the Remembrance of that
Height of Glory from which I was fallen,
fome fudden Starts and Geftures would now
and then eſcape me, which did not ſeem to
agree
World Under-Ground.
323
agree with my prefent Condition. By this
fecond Venter I had three Sons, Chriftiern,
John, and Jasper; fo that in the whole I
have four, if fo be that the Prince of
Quama is ſtill alive.
Thus far the Manufcript of NICHO-
LAS KLIMIUs reaches. What fol
lows is the Appendix of Mafter
ABELINE.
N
ICHOLAS KLIMIUS lived to
the Year 1695. He was belov'd and
etteem'd for the Sobriety of his Life, and
the Purity of his Manners. The Rector
however was now and then difpleas'd at his
exceffive Gravity, which he thought pro-
ceeded from Pride. But I, who knew the
Man, and knew his Hiftory, rather won
der'd at his exemplary Modefty and Pa-
tience, who from the Government of ſo
many Kingdoms, could humbly accomodate
himſelf to ſuch an Employment. How-
ever, with other Men, to whom his amazing
Metamorphofis was unknown, he could not
altogether eſcape the Charge of Pride.
It was his Cuftom, at certain Times of the
Year, while his Strength permitted him, to
afcend the old Mountain, and take an ear-
neft View of the famous Cavern. His
Friends obferv'd, that he always return'd
from thence with his Eyes fwoln, and his
2
Face
324
A JOURNEY, &c.
Face all bath'd in Tears; that he would af-
terwards ſhut himſelf up whole Days in his
Study, and feem'd to fhun the Converſation
of Mankind. His Wife alfo affured me, that
he would often talk in his Sleep, about Land
Armies and Forces at Sea. This Abfence of
Mind went fo far once, as to give Orders
for the Governor of Bergen to come imme-
diately before him. His Spouſe imagin'd
thefe Diſorders of his Brain proceeded from
an exceffive Application to his Studies.
His Library confifted chiefly of political
Books, and as fuch a Choice but ill agreed
with the Office of a Curate, he could not
avoid fome Cenfures upon that Head.
He himſelf wrote his own Adventures, and
his Manufcript, which is the only one in
Being, is at prefent in my Cuftody. Tho'
I always intended it for the Prefs, yet I
have hitherto been hinder'd from publiſhing
it by very important Reaſons.
FINI S.
V
Phillippa Hant
Hur Beck +787
еееее
*