together. In his right Waftecoat-Pocket, we found a prodigious Bundle of white thin Subftances, folded one over another, about the Bignefs of three Men, tied with a strong Cable, and marked with black Figures; which we humbly conceive to be Writings, every Letter almoft half as large as the Palm of our Hands. In the left there was a Sort of Engine, from the Back of which were extended twenty long Poles, refembling the Palisadoes before your Majefty's Court; wherewith we conjecture the Man-Mountain combs his Head, for we did not always trouble him with Questions, becaufe we found it a great Difficulty to make him understand us. In the large Pocket on the right Side of his middle Cover, (fo I tranflate the Word Ranfu-Lo, by which they meant my Breeches) we faw a hollow Pillar of Iron, about the Length of a Man, faftened to a ftrong Piece of Timber, larger than the Pillar and upon one Side of the Pillar were huge Pieces of Iron ticking out, cut into ftrange Figures, which we know not what to make of. In the left Pocket, another Engine of the fame Kind. In the fmaller Pocket, on the right Side, were feveral round flat Pieces of white and red Metal, of different Bulk; fome of the white, which seemed to be Silver, were fo large and heavy, that my Comrade and I could hardly lift them. In the left Pocket were two black Pillars irregularly shaped We could not, without Difficulty, reach the Top of them as we ftood at the Bottom of his Pocket. One of them was covered, and feemed all of a Piece: But, at the upper End of the other, there appeared a white round Subftance, about twice the Bignefs of our Heads. Within each of thefe was inclofed a prodigious

Plate

Plate of Steel; which, by our Orders, we obliged him to fhew us, because we apprehended they might be dangerous Engines. He took them out of their Cafes, and told us, that in his own Country his Practice 'was to fhave his Beard with one of these, and to cut his Meat with the other. There were two Pockets which we could not enter; Thefe he called his Fobs; they were two large Slits cut into the Top of his middle Cover, but fqueez'd close by the Preffure of his Belly. Out of the right Fob hung a great filver Chain, with a wonderful Kind of Engine at the Bottom. We directed him to draw out whatever was fastened to that Chain; which appeared to be a Globe, half Silver, and half of fome tranfparent Metal: For on the transparent Side we faw certain ftrange Figures circularly drawn, and thought we could touch them, till we found our Fingers ftopped by that lucid Substance. He put this Engine to our Ears, which made an inceffant Noife like that of a Water-Mill. And we conjecture it is either fome unknown Animal, or the God that he wor fhips: But we are more inclined to the latter Opinion, because he affured us (if we understood him right, for he expreffed himself very imperfectly) that he feldom did any Thing without confulting it. He called it his Oracle, and faid it pointed out the Time for every Action of his Life. From the left Fob he took out a Net almoft large enough for a Fisherman, but contrived to open and fhut like a Purfe, and ferved him for the fame Ufe: We found therein feveral maffy Pieces of yellow Metal, which, if they be real Gold, must be of immenfe Value.

Having thus, in Obedience to your Majesty's Commands, diligently fearched all his Pockets,

we obferved a Girdle about his Wafte, made of the Hide of fome prodigious Animal, from which, on the left Side, hung a Sword of the Length of five Men; and on the right, a Bag or Pouch, divided into two Cells, each Cell capable of holding three of your Majefty's Subjects. In one of these Cells were feveral Globes, or Balls, of a moft ponderous Metal, about the Bignefs of our Heads, and required a strong Hand to lift them: The other Cell contained a Heap of certain black Grains, but of no great Bulk or Weight, for we could hold above fifty of them in the Palms of our Hands.

This is an exact Inventory of what we found about the Body of the Man-Mountain, who used us with great Civility, and due Refpect to your Majefty's Commiffion. Sign'd and feal'd, on the fourth Day of the eighty-ninth Moon of your Majefty's aufpicious Reign.

Clefrin Frelock, Marfi Frelock.

When this Inventory was read over to the Emperor, he directed me, although in very gentle Terms, to deliver up the feveral Particulars. He firft called for my Scymiter, which I took out, Scabbard and all. In the mean Time he ordered three thousand of his choiceft Troops (who then attended him) to furround me at a Distance, with their Bows and Arrows juft ready to discharge: But I did not observe it, for mine Eyes were wholly fixed upon his Majefty. He then defired me to draw my Scymiter, which, although it had got fome Ruft by the Sea-Water, was in moft Parts exceeding bright. I did fo, and immediately all the Troops gave a Shout, between Terror and Surprize; for the Sun fhone clear, and the Reflection dazzled their Eyes as I waved the Scymeter to and fro in my Hand. His Majefty, who is a moft

mag

magnanimous' Prince, was lefs daunted than I could expect; he ordered me to return it into the Scabbard, and caft it on the Ground as gently as I could, about fix Feet from the End of my Chain. The next Thing he demanded, was one of the hol-' low iron Pillars, by which he meant my PocketPistols. I drew it out, and at his Defire, as well. as I could, expreffed to him the Ufe of it; and charging it only with Powder, which by the Clofenefs of my Pouch happened to efcape wetting in the Sea (an Inconvenience against which all prudent Mariners take fpecial Care to provide) I firft cautioned the Emperor not to be afraid, and then I let it off in the Air. The Aftonishment here was much greater than at the Sight of my Scymeter. Hundreds fell down, as if they had been ftruck dead; and even the Emperor, although he ftood his Ground, could not recover himself in fome Time. I delivered up both my Pistols in the fame Manner, as I had done my Scymiter, and then my Pouch of Powder and Bullets; begging him that the former might be kept from the Fire, for it would kindle with the smallest Spark, and blow up his Imperial Palace into the Air. I likewife delivered up my Watch, which the Emperor was very curious to fee, and commanded two of his tallest Yeomen of the Guards to bear it on a Pole upon their Shoulders, as Dray-men in EngLand do a Barrel of Ale. He was amazed at the continual Noise it made, and the Motion of the Minute-Hand, which he could easily discern; for their Sight is much more acute than ours: And asked the Opinions of his learned Men about him, which were various and remote, as the Reader may well imagine without my repeating; although indeed I could not very perfectly under

ftand

ftand them. I then gave up my Silver and Cop per Money, my Purfe with nine large Pieces of Gold, and fome, fmaller ones; my Knife and Razor, my Comb and filver Snuff-box, my Handkerchief and Journal-book. My Scymiter, Pistols, and Pouch, were conveyed in Carriages to his Majesty's Stores; but the rest of my Goods were returned me.

I had, as I before obferved, one private Pocket which escaped their Search, wherein there was a pair of Spectacles (which I fometimes ufe for the Weakness of mine Eyes) a Pocket Perspective, and feveral other little Conveniencies; which being of no Confequence to the Emperor, I did not think myself bound in Honour to difcover, and I apprehended they might be loft or spoiled if I ventured them out of my Poffeffion.

CHA P. III.

The Author diverts the Emperor and his Nobility of both Sexes in a very uncommon Manner. The Diverfions of the Court of Lilliput defcribed. The Author has his Liberty granted him upon certain Conditions.

MY

Y Gentleness and good Behaviour had gained fo far on the Emperor and his Court, and indeed upon the Army and People in general, that I began to conceive Hopes of getting my Liberty in a fhort Time. I took all poffible Methods to cultivate this favourable Difpofition. The Natives came by Degrees to be lefs apprehenfive of any Danger from me. I would fometimes lie down, and let five or fix of them dance on

my