CHAPTER I.

The author sets out on his third voyage. Is taken by pirates. The

malice of a Dutchman. His arrival at an island. He is received into

Laputa.

I had not been at home above ten days, when Captain William Robinson, a

Cornish man, commander of the Hopewell, a stout ship of three hundred

tons, came to my house. I had formerly been surgeon of another ship

where he was master, and a fourth part owner, in a voyage to the

Levant. He had always treated me more like a brother, than an inferior

officer; and, hearing of my arrival, made me a visit, as I apprehended

only out of friendship, for nothing passed more than what is usual

after long absences. But repeating his visits often, expressing his joy

to find me in good health, asking, “whether I were now settled for

life?” adding, “that he intended a voyage to the East Indies in two

months,” at last he plainly invited me, though with some apologies, to

be surgeon of the ship; “that I should have another surgeon under me,

beside our two mates; that my salary should be double to the usual pay;

and that having experienced my knowledge in sea-affairs to be at least

equal to his, he would enter into any engagement to follow my advice,

as much as if I had shared in the command.”

He said so many other obliging things, and I knew him to be so honest a

man, that I could not reject this proposal; the thirst I had of seeing

the world, notwithstanding my past misfortunes, continuing as violent

as ever. The only difficulty that remained, was to persuade my wife,

whose consent however I at last obtained, by the prospect of advantage

she proposed to her children.

We set out the 5th day of August, 1706, and arrived at Fort St. George

the 11th of April, 1707. We staid there three weeks to refresh our

crew, many of whom were sick. From thence we went to Tonquin, where the

captain resolved to continue some time, because many of the goods he

intended to buy were not ready, nor could he expect to be dispatched in

several months. Therefore, in hopes to defray some of the charges he

must be at, he bought a sloop, loaded it with several sorts of goods,

wherewith the Tonquinese usually trade to the neighbouring islands, and

putting fourteen men on board, whereof three were of the country, he

appointed me master of the sloop, and gave me power to traffic, while

he transacted his affairs at Tonquin.

We had not sailed above three days, when a great storm arising, we were

driven five days to the north-north-east, and then to the east: after

which we had fair weather, but still with a pretty strong gale from the

west. Upon the tenth day we were chased by two pirates, who soon

overtook us; for my sloop was so deep laden, that she sailed very slow,

neither were we in a condition to defend ourselves.

We were boarded about the same time by both the pirates, who entered

furiously at the head of their men; but finding us all prostrate upon

our faces (for so I gave order), they pinioned us with strong ropes,

and setting guard upon us, went to search the sloop.

I observed among them a Dutchman, who seemed to be of some authority,

though he was not commander of either ship. He knew us by our

countenances to be Englishmen, and jabbering to us in his own language,

swore we should be tied back to back and thrown into the sea. I spoke

Dutch tolerably well; I told him who we were, and begged him, in

consideration of our being Christians and Protestants, of neighbouring

countries in strict alliance, that he would move the captains to take

some pity on us. This inflamed his rage; he repeated his threatenings,

and turning to his companions, spoke with great vehemence in the

Japanese language, as I suppose, often using the word _Christianos_.

The largest of the two pirate ships was commanded by a Japanese

captain, who spoke a little Dutch, but very imperfectly. He came up to

me, and after several questions, which I answered in great humility, he

said, “we should not die.” I made the captain a very low bow, and then,

turning to the Dutchman, said, “I was sorry to find more mercy in a

heathen, than in a brother christian.” But I had soon reason to repent

those foolish words: for that malicious reprobate, having often

endeavoured in vain to persuade both the captains that I might be

thrown into the sea (which they would not yield to, after the promise

made me that I should not die), however, prevailed so far, as to have a

punishment inflicted on me, worse, in all human appearance, than death

itself. My men were sent by an equal division into both the pirate

ships, and my sloop new manned. As to myself, it was determined that I

should be set adrift in a small canoe, with paddles and a sail, and

four days’ provisions; which last, the Japanese captain was so kind to

double out of his own stores, and would permit no man to search me. I

got down into the canoe, while the Dutchman, standing upon the deck,

loaded me with all the curses and injurious terms his language could

afford.

About an hour before we saw the pirates I had taken an observation, and

found we were in the latitude of 46 N. and longitude of 183. When I was

at some distance from the pirates, I discovered, by my pocket-glass,

several islands to the south-east. I set up my sail, the wind being

fair, with a design to reach the nearest of those islands, which I made

a shift to do, in about three hours. It was all rocky: however I got

many birds’ eggs; and, striking fire, I kindled some heath and dry

sea-weed, by which I roasted my eggs. I ate no other supper, being

resolved to spare my provisions as much as I could. I passed the night

under the shelter of a rock, strewing some heath under me, and slept

pretty well.

The next day I sailed to another island, and thence to a third and

fourth, sometimes using my sail, and sometimes my paddles. But, not to

trouble the reader with a particular account of my distresses, let it

suffice, that on the fifth day I arrived at the last island in my

sight, which lay south-south-east to the former.

This island was at a greater distance than I expected, and I did not

reach it in less than five hours. I encompassed it almost round, before

I could find a convenient place to land in; which was a small creek,

about three times the wideness of my canoe. I found the island to be

all rocky, only a little intermingled with tufts of grass, and

sweet-smelling herbs. I took out my small provisions and after having

refreshed myself, I secured the remainder in a cave, whereof there were

great numbers; I gathered plenty of eggs upon the rocks, and got a

quantity of dry sea-weed, and parched grass, which I designed to kindle

the next day, and roast my eggs as well as I could, for I had about me

my flint, steel, match, and burning-glass. I lay all night in the cave

where I had lodged my provisions. My bed was the same dry grass and

sea-weed which I intended for fuel. I slept very little, for the

disquiets of my mind prevailed over my weariness, and kept me awake. I

considered how impossible it was to preserve my life in so desolate a

place, and how miserable my end must be: yet found myself so listless

and desponding, that I had not the heart to rise; and before I could

get spirits enough to creep out of my cave, the day was far advanced. I

walked awhile among the rocks: the sky was perfectly clear, and the sun

so hot, that I was forced to turn my face from it: when all on a sudden

it became obscure, as I thought, in a manner very different from what

happens by the interposition of a cloud. I turned back, and perceived a

vast opaque body between me and the sun moving forwards towards the

island: it seemed to be about two miles high, and hid the sun six or

seven minutes; but I did not observe the air to be much colder, or the

sky more darkened, than if I had stood under the shade of a mountain.

As it approached nearer over the place where I was, it appeared to be a

firm substance, the bottom flat, smooth, and shining very bright, from

the reflection of the sea below. I stood upon a height about two

hundred yards from the shore, and saw this vast body descending almost

to a parallel with me, at less than an English mile distance. I took

out my pocket perspective, and could plainly discover numbers of people

moving up and down the sides of it, which appeared to be sloping; but

what those people were doing I was not able to distinguish.

The natural love of life gave me some inward motion of joy, and I was

ready to entertain a hope that this adventure might, some way or other,

help to deliver me from the desolate place and condition I was in. But

at the same time the reader can hardly conceive my astonishment, to

behold an island in the air, inhabited by men, who were able (as it

should seem) to raise or sink, or put it into progressive motion, as

they pleased. But not being at that time in a disposition to

philosophise upon this phenomenon, I rather chose to observe what

course the island would take, because it seemed for a while to stand

still. Yet soon after, it advanced nearer, and I could see the sides of

it encompassed with several gradations of galleries, and stairs, at

certain intervals, to descend from one to the other. In the lowest

gallery, I beheld some people fishing with long angling rods, and

others looking on. I waved my cap (for my hat was long since worn out)

and my handkerchief toward the island; and upon its nearer approach, I

called and shouted with the utmost strength of my voice; and then

looking circumspectly, I beheld a crowd gather to that side which was

most in my view. I found by their pointing towards me and to each

other, that they plainly discovered me, although they made no return to

my shouting. But I could see four or five men running in great haste,

up the stairs, to the top of the island, who then disappeared. I

happened rightly to conjecture, that these were sent for orders to some

person in authority upon this occasion.

The number of people increased, and, in less than half an hour, the

island was moved and raised in such a manner, that the lowest gallery

appeared in a parallel of less than a hundred yards distance from the

height where I stood. I then put myself in the most supplicating

posture, and spoke in the humblest accent, but received no answer.

Those who stood nearest over against me, seemed to be persons of

distinction, as I supposed by their habit. They conferred earnestly

with each other, looking often upon me. At length one of them called

out in a clear, polite, smooth dialect, not unlike in sound to the

Italian: and therefore I returned an answer in that language, hoping at

least that the cadence might be more agreeable to his ears. Although

neither of us understood the other, yet my meaning was easily known,

for the people saw the distress I was in.

They made signs for me to come down from the rock, and go towards the

shore, which I accordingly did; and the flying island being raised to a

convenient height, the verge directly over me, a chain was let down

from the lowest gallery, with a seat fastened to the bottom, to which I

fixed myself, and was drawn up by pulleys.