We infer"d from thence, That no wonder there were such Numbers of these Birds, because they multiply to such a Degree, and there"s no body to destroy them.
Scarce were we recovered from our last surprize, but we were infinitely more astonish"d at the Sight of one of these Caverns about a hundred Paces off. The Entrance of it could not possibly be the Fabrick of any Birds whatsoever, for three great Stones, each a Foot long, plac"d in the Earth, one by another, form"d the Threshold, and in the Door-way were large Flints, four Foot in height, and above a hundred Weight each, with other Stones plac"d in order, one behind another, which intirely shut it up. These Productions of the Hand of Man made us hesitate whether we ought to wish to find Humane Beings here or not; "tis true we should have rejoic"d to see Creatures of our own Species, but we were afraid we should not be very well us"d by them. Tho" we were in this sad Quandary, we advanc"d towards it, but took care to cry out and make Noise enough, that we might be heard by any that should happen to be within. _La Foret_ being quite out of Patience to see what wry Faces we made, bid us stand on each Side with our Hatchets in our Hands, while he wou"d remove the Obstacles, and open the Pa.s.sage, that he might go in and examine what there was behind. He actually did so; but when he was in the Inside, he found it too dark there to see anyone thing. All that he told us when he came out was, that a Man might stand upright in it, and that the Apartment was habitable, he having felt a Bench there. Upon this we went and fell"d some Trees at a small distance from us, where we cut as much Wood as we cou"d carry, and made a Fire before our Cavern, and, when it was well lighted, we enter"d into our Room, which was twice the Bigness of the others, neatly pav"d with choice little Flints, and border"d all round with a Bank of Turf.
But, O dreadful Sight! what should we see at the same time upon the Bank, on the left, which was most shelter"d from the Wind, but a Humane Corpse, which was from Head to Foot a very Skeleton. Over it there was a kind of smooth Slate, fasten"d in the Wall, on which was engrav"d in the Greek Language, and in Capital Letters, ??G??S ?? T??S, ??G??S ?S????S, ??G??S ???
??T?????S, ?????S?? ????S. _O holy G.o.d, holy and powerful, holy and immortal, have Mercy upon us!_ Every one will naturally imagine, that various were our Conjectures and Sentiments of this Matter, which I will not therefore trouble my self to repeat.
Mean time, Hunger, which made us very sharp-set, oblig"d us to take a Brace of the Birds we had kill"d, which we held over the Flame to burn off the Feathers, instead of skinning them, as we us"d to do, because we fancy"d the Skin to be as delicate a Part as any; nor were we at all deceiv"d, for after having drawn them, and wash"d "em, we put "em upon the Brands, where they were roasted in a Moment, and as we had eat but very little all Day, we scarce left any thing, besides Bones; for they were fat, juicy, and very well tasted. After having made a very hearty Supper, we settled our selves to sleep, as well as we could, leaving the dead Man to his Cavern, without touching him, because we had a mind to examine him more narrowly next Day.
It was hardly Day-break, when our impertinent Birds renew"d their Noise, as they flew to and from their Holes, to such a degree, that it was impossible for us to sleep any longer, tho" we were heartily inclin"d to it. We staid, however, till the Sun was up; but our Appearance did not at all alarm the Fowls which were all as hard employ"d about their several Occasions, as if they had actually been in Pay. We saw some with their Bills full of Earth, which they brought, no doubt, from the most irregular Parts of their Holes, in order to make them either larger or neater.
Others came with Materials for repairing their Nests, but the generality carry"d those Cracknels, which I thought so good the Night before. We ascended the Eminence, to see from whence they brought this Food. As soon as we had lifted up our Eyes, we saw upon a little Hill, within a Musket-shot of us, three Bodies of the same Height and Bigness. We went to take a near View of them, and found, in short, that they were three broken Pyramids, eight Foot in Height, five in Diameter at the Base, and about three at the Top, very regularly built of Flints neatly placed in Rows upon one another.
The bare View of three such rare Monuments in a Desert Country, did not satisfy us; we were resolv"d to take one of them to pieces; But as soon as we had taken off about the thickness of a Foot and half of the Stones at the top, we discover"d first the Skull of a Humane Creature, then the Shoulder-Bones, Arm-Bones, and in a word, the whole Carcase. We just discover"d the Head of a Corpse, which was in the Second, but went no farther, because probably it was all the same in the last. While we were reflecting upon all this with a sort of Wonder, I went and discover"d round the third Pyramid certain Characters, form"d also of little Flints, almost like Pidgeons Eggs, which I took for the following _Hebrew_ Letters; and they were rang"d on the Ground in this Order, _Koph_, _Vau_, _Lamed_, _He_, _Teth_, _Lamed_, _Koph_, _Pe_, _Gimel_, _Vau_, _Beth_, _Thau_, _Hajin_, _Koph_, _Mem_, _Lamed_, _Aleph_, _Sajin_, _Samech_, _Resch_; but they had no Points, nor any other Mark to explain them. I try"d my utmost to find out the Meaning of them, and have thought on"t a thousand times since, but could never accomplish it, which way soever I set about it. There was something of the like kind round the two other Monuments, but I did not think it worth while to take off the Stones that we had cast upon them. In all Appearance, these were the Remains of four poor Devils like our selves, who, after having rambled out of their Knowledge, and seeing no Likelihood of coming to any better Place than this, stopt here, dug a Cave after the manner of the Birds I mention"d, or perhaps took Possession of one of their Nests, and so dy"d there, one after another; first those we saw under the Monuments, and then the last upon the Bench, where we found him, and where Time had so consumed his Clothes and Flesh, that we did not see the least Traces of either.
What further confirm"d us in this Opinion was, that not far from hence there was a vast Number of Trees, as straight as a Bulrush, whose Branches grew all in Pyramidical Stories, ending at the Top in form of an Acorn, as big as an Egg. All the Branches of these Trees were like so many Plumes of Ostrich-Feathers, that is to say, garnish"d with small Leaves like Strings, on both Sides.
From one end to the other, and all round the Edge of this Plumage, there was a Border of the Size of a Writing-Quill, and over each Row of Branches a Ring, which encompa.s.s"d the Tree, about the thickness of one"s Finger, and was that excellent Food, of which our great Birds seem"d so dainty, and which we imagin"d the four poor Pilgrims eat instead of Bread.
Forasmuch as I had but just tasted this Bread the Night before, I and my Comrades fell on it very heartily. It was who could climb best to come at it, where any was left; for in several Places there was none to be had. In fine, we cramm"d till we could swallow no more, and we all lik"d it so well, that _Du Puis_ actually talk"d of building a Tabernacle, and dying there, as the Owners of those Skeletons seem"d to have done. But while we were talking of this Subject, we were overtaken with such a sudden Drowsiness, that we could scarce heave our Legs from the Ground, and we all lay down. Not one of us was bereft of his Understanding, but our Members were all benumb"d, and we almost lost the Use of Speech. We had been two Hours in this Condition, when we fell asleep till the Afternoon.
_Du Puis_, who was the first that awak"d, felt something under his right Hand, betwixt Sleeping and Waking, which he thought naked, smooth, and as big as his Thigh. He imagin"d at first, that he had roll"d in his Sleep upon one of us, but recovering his Reason with the Revival of his Spirits, and opening his Eyes for better Information, he was terribly astonish"d to see betwixt him and _La Foret_, a Serpent, which was above twenty-five Foot long. He was more depriv"d of the Use of his Members then, than before, and could neither stir nor speak; in the mean time the Serpent retreated, twin"d himself about one of the neighbouring Trees, and crept up to taste the Cracknels. Upon this, my Friend took Courage, jogg"d me, and when I awak"d, he shew"d me that hideous Animal. As weak as I still found my self, I got up in a Moment, and ran away as fast as I could. _Du Puis_ follow"d me, and _La Foret_, upon our calling out to him, did the like instantly. Glad we were that this Monster had not swallow"d us up, the Fear of which was a strong Motive to our Resolution of decamping forthwith; but we were forc"d to stay all Night to recover our selves.
CHAP. V.
_Continuation of the Adventures of the Author and his Comrades, till they came to an Inhabited Country._
Finding our selves fresh and brisk when we wak"d, we resolv"d to shift our Quarters; and, despising this terrestrial Manna which had so enervated us, after laying in a good Stock of the roasted Fowls for our Provision, we bid adieu to the Monuments, and advanc"d farther into the Country. We were then full fifty Leagues from the Sea. We were inclinable to eat the first Night, but tho" we had walk"d a great deal, and pa.s.s"d over a Mountain of seven or eight Leagues, we had little or no Appet.i.te; and it was three Days before we could take any thing; which gave us reason to think, that the Bread of the Tree must be extremely nourishing, and that it could not but be good, when taken with Moderation. Mean time, the Way prov"d worse and worse; but, to our Comfort; the Nights were clear, and the Days long, and the farther we advanc"d into the Spring of this Country, and the farther we got from the Line, the more charming we thought the Climate and the Soil; and either the one or the other was generally the Subject of our Conversation.
_Du Puis_, above all things, seem"d to be charm"d with the Sun, which, from its Rising to its Setting, continually smil"d on us with its agreeable Rays. I do a.s.sure you, said he to us one Day, If I had not been born in a Country where the People are so happy as to be instructed in the Knowledge of their Creator, and if I had never heard a Word about the Being of all Beings, the Flambeau of Heaven would, without dispute, be the only Deity that I should think worthy of my Adoration; not only, because of all the visible Objects in the World "tis the most agreeable, but because without its Influence, no Plant nor Animal can subsist: Every thing languishes the Moment that it departs; whereas its Presence renders Vigour to what before seem"d dying. You are not the only Man, said I, of that Opinion; there are intire Nations that invoke this glorious Planet, as the prime Cause of all things; and even those Ancients who acknowledge a Being of Sovereign Perfection, could not help ascribing certain Epithets to it, which plainly denoted their Esteem for it. _Orpheus_ call"d it the _Eye of Heaven_. _Homer_, the _Being which sees and hears all things_. _Herac.l.i.tus_, the _Fountain of Celestial Light_. St. _Ambrose_, the _Beauty of Heaven_. _Philo_, the _Image of eternal Splendor_. _Plato_, the _Soul of the World_.
King _David_ extols its Excellency to a marvellous Degree, especially in his 18th _Psalm_; and the holy Men of the _Old_ and _New Testament_, make no Scruple to represent it to us as the Model of the Divinity, whom they call in a hundred Places, the _Day-spring from on high_, and the _Sun of righteousness_.
I laugh, continued _La Foret_, at what some People have said concerning the Planets. I pray to G.o.d, and if I have any Veneration for the Creatures, "tis only for the Creator"s sake, who is marvellous in all his Works; but what surprises me most is to hear of two Motions of the Sun, which are directly opposite to each other, _viz._ its Daily Motion, from East to West; and its Annual one, from West to East. "Tis true, reply"d I, these two Motions are directly contrary to one another, if they are ascrib"d to the Sun, which is done by the Ancients universally; but nothing is more natural, if we ascribe these two Motions to the Earth, which makes a great Circle round the Sun in the s.p.a.ce of a Year, and turns once upon its own Center or Axis in Twenty-four Hours, just as if you were to push a Bowl, or if you please, a Turnep, from one end of an Alley to the other, which, while it was rolling to the end of the Alley, would make several Turns at the same time upon its own Axis. The Earth does the very same thing; and its two different Motions were always of use to Men to measure the Time of their Duration. The Tour which it makes upon its own Axis, forms our Natural Day of Twenty-four Hours; and the Time it takes in its grand Circle round the Sun, makes our Year of 365 Days and 6 Hours, wanting a few Minutes.
"Tis true, that this Computation or Measure for the Year was not known always alike to all Nations. The _Egyptians_, the _Chaldeans_, the _Jews_, and other ancient People, computed their Years differently, and made them longer or shorter, some than others. Many of them regulated their Years rather by the Course of the Moon, than that of the Earth, as several Nations do even at this Day.
The Calendar now follow"d by the Nations of _Europe_, came from the ancient _Romans_, but was not always so exactly regulated as at present; for in the time of _Romulus_, the Founder of _Rome_, the Year, which ought to be the Time that the Earth is making its great Tour round the Sun, was computed at only 304 Days, included in 10 Months: _March_, _May_, _July_, _October_, consisted each of 31 Days, and the others of but 30. _Numa Pompilius_, his Successor, added 51 to this Number, so that then the Year had 355 Days. Besides, he cut off a Day from every lesser Month, which he added to those 51, and of these he inst.i.tuted the Months of _January_, consisting of 29, and _February_, of 28 Days. In fine, _Julius Caesar_, the first of the _Roman_ Emperors, having consulted the most skilful Astronomers of his Time, did, with their Consent, change the Year, which was almost a Lunar Year, into a Solar one by adding 10 more Days to it, which he distributed in such manner, that _January_, _August_, and _December_, had each two, and _April_, _June_, _September_, and _November_, one. Nevertheless, as all this was not enough, because the Year consists of 365 Days, 6 Hours, wanting about 11 Minutes, the Emperor would have every 4 Years, a Year of 366 Days, which additional Day should be plac"d between the 6th and 7th of the Calends of _March_, so that there were two 6th Days of the Calends of _March_, in such a Year, which was therefore call"d _Biss.e.xtile_, because the 6th Day was reckon"d twice before they proceeded to the next.
This Correction, as just as it was thought to be, did nevertheless occasion a Mistake in the Calendar, in process of Time; for tho" the Year was then but about 11 Minutes too long, whereas the Sun, as they said, enter"d in his Time (or 45 Years before the Birth of Jesus Christ) into the Vernal Equinox, the 24th of _March_, it enter"d into it on the 21st, at the time of the _Nicene_ Council, _Anno_ 327, and on the 11th of _March_ in 1582, in the Reign of Pope _Gregory_ XIII, who observing it, suppress"d 10 Days of that Year, between the 4th and 15th of _October_, because in that s.p.a.ce there were no Festivals nor Saints Days. And for fear that Posterity should relapse into the same Error, which was a Point of Consequence to the Equinoxes, that in time would have made an entire Revolution thro" all the Months of the Year, by such Retrogradation, he order"d, that for the next three Centuries successively, the _Biss.e.xtile_ Year should not be computed at their Expiration, but only at the End of the Fourth, from whence it comes, that there must be 400 _Gregorian_ Years and three Days to equal 400 _Julian_ Years.
I am oblig"d to M. _Du Puis_, said _La Foret_, for having started this Subject of Conversation; for I had been a long time desirous to know what was meant by the _Biss.e.xtile_ Year, by _Old_ and _New Style_, and what was the real Cause of all those Alterations. They would not be satisfy"d till I had at several times explain"d to them the Meaning of the Terms _Epact_, _Golden Number_, _Solar Cycle_, _Roman Indiction_, _Ides_, _Calends_, and every thing almost that is necessary to be known for the Composition of an Almanack. What they most wonder"d at was, when I a.s.sur"d them that the Sun, which to us seem"d so small, is absolutely bigger than the whole Earth. Really, said _La Foret_, this is beyond Imagination, and I can"t think that all the Stories told us of these things are any better than Dreams. _Du Puis_, who aggravated every Objection made by his Comrade, presum"d to tell me, that I talk"d very much at random, because I maintain"d the Truth of it; so that I was under a Necessity, tho"
sorely against the Grain, to proceed to some Eclairciss.e.m.e.nts for their Satisfaction.
I confess, said I, that "tis impossible to determine the exact Dimensions of the Celestial Luminaries; and all that have pretended to it have been presumptuous Impostors. The Instruments we make use of to measure the Parallax of the Sun, are too small, and too ill divided, considering the prodigious Distance of that Planet from the Earth. I never yet saw an Astrolabe divided into Minutes, tho" it were necessary it should be divided into Seconds, and perhaps into smaller Parts, which is impossible, or it would be too large for the Purpose. And as a Proof how liable we are to be mistaken for want of it, the most exact Astronomers, who, not content with the Theory, have gone about to reduce this Query to Practice, have been so grossly deceiv"d, that the wide Difference of one Man"s Opinion from another, is enough to bring the Understanding of those Men in question, who would palm their Conjectures upon the World for real Truths. _Tycho Brahe_, who seems to have made a Circuit round the Heavens, as _Christopher Columbus_ did round the Earth, affirms, that the Sun is 139 times bigger than the Globe which we inhabit. _Copernicus_ makes the Number to be 162; _Ptolemy_, 166; Father _Scheiner_, 434; _Wendelinus_ 4096: And one of my Tutors affirm"d it to be three Millions of times bigger than the Earth. Therefore we know nothing positively of its Bigness, but that "tis much larger than this great Body, how big soever it appears to us, is a Certainty.
For in the first Place, supposing it to be of equal Bigness with the Earth, "tis evident that its Rays in their Pa.s.sage over the exterior Parts of this Terrestrial Sphere, would leave a Cylinder of Obscurity beyond it, whose Sides would be parallel, so that the Planets, in their way thro" that Opaque, receiving no Light, and having none of their own, would be eclips"d. If the Sun was Smaller than the Earth, its Rays, after having glanced over the Earth, would grow wider, and form a Cone cut off by a Shadow, with its Basis in the Firmament, and the Top on the Part of the Earth opposite to the Sun; the Consequence of which is that a still greater part of the Heavens would be darken"d, and all the Planets there, as was just now observ"d, could give no Light. The only Planet that ever we see eclips"d is the Moon; it appears, therefore, that the Sun must be incomparably bigger than the Earth, because its Rays, when they have pa.s.s"d over this great Ma.s.s, unite again a little above the Moon, where the Cone, form"d by the Shadow of the Earth, ends in a Point. To ill.u.s.trate this Explanation, I made a Figure in the Sand.
I confess, said _Du Puis_, this is demonstrative, as to the Cause; but as to the Effects you speak of, or the Defects of the Planets, I can"t comprehend it, for I always thought that Eclipses were things uncommon and unnatural. On the contrary, I reply"d, there is nothing in them that is mysterious. The Planets are hard opaque Bodies, which bear a good Resemblance to the Earth, and are by many People thought to be inhabited, for they give no Light but by Reflexion, after having receiv"d it from the Sun. For this Reason it is that we have no Eclipse of the Moon, except when this Planet is rising on the one hand, while the Sun is setting on the other, and when the Earth happens to interpose directly between them, and hinders their seeing each other Face to Face. But if the Sun, said _La Foret_, be the Source of Light, how happens it that at certain times it loses it? From whence come those Eclipses which are so alarming to the World, and what is it that restores its former l.u.s.tre to it? As the Interposition of the Earth, said I, causes Eclipses of the Moon, the Interposition of the Moon, in like manner, darkens the Sun; that is to say, as often as the Moon is in Conjunction with the Sun, and pa.s.ses in a direct Line, betwixt it and the Earth, it does the Office of a Curtain, and conceals that glorious Planet from us; but this Privation can be of no long Continuance, because of the different Motion of those Bodies. The Circle which the Earth describes about the Sun, is incomparably greater than that which the Moon describes round the Earth; and whereas the former advances about 13 Degrees in a Day, the latter rids away little more than one in Winter, and not quite so much in Summer, so that they soon get clear of one another. What, said _La Foret_, does the Earth go faster at one Season, than at another?
Yes, said I, in Appearance the Difference is about four Minutes, because the Earth being much farther from the Sun in Summer, than in Winter, it must necessarily seem to have a slower Motion during the long Days, than the short ones; as a Waggon which is not above 50 Paces off, seems to go much faster than when it is at the Distance of 500.
But, said _Du Puis_, since you talk of Paces, is not the Heat of one and the same Fire better felt at the Distance of two Paces, than of ten? No doubt, said I. Then if the Sun, which is a Body of Heat, reply"d he, is nearer the Earth in the Winter, than in Summer, how comes it that the Heat is not felt in proportion to its Distance, and what"s the Reason that we shake with Cold at the same time one might expect to be in a melting Sweat? You say very well, I reply"d, and this Objection shews that Ignorance and Reason are not incompatible, but while you think you have hamper"d me, you are quite mistaken. I will not go about to prove to you, that there are no such things in Nature as Heat, Cold, Light, Smell, Sound, or Colours, nor any of the Qualities which we perceive in Bodies; for it would be a Work of too much Trouble, and perhaps too you would not understand me, because this depends on certain Points of Knowledge, of which you have not so much as the Principles. I will only observe to you, that properly speaking, there is but one and the same sort of Matter, which according as it"s form"d or actuated, produces in us, by means of our Organs, certain Effects which we ascribe to Bodies, and which therefore we call Hot, Cold, Luminous, Colour"d, and so of the others, tho" in effect Sounds Colour, Taste, _&c._ are properly in us, and not in those Bodies; as the Pain or Smart which proceeds from a p.r.i.c.k, is in our selves, and not at all in the Thorn which occasion"d it. And to prove that your Comparison is not just, even in the Sense that you your self would use it in, consider, that the Top of the _Alpes_, which is so much nearer to the Sun than the Foot, is cover"d with Snow in the Summer, while the Valleys, which are so much farther from the Sun, are quite burnt up with Heat: The true Reason of which is, (that we may pa.s.s over nothing without some Right Explanation) the Air, about a League from the Earth, is so thin, that it has not Strength enough to dissipate the least Bodies; whereas "tis so gross upon the Surface, that "tis capable of shaking our most solid Parts, and to cause what we call excessive Heat.
All this is really fine, reply"d _La Foret_, but pardon me, if I tell you, that I don"t see you have yet settled the Point, with respect to Summer and Winter. Very true, said I, that"s a Question of another Nature. When the Sun is ascended towards our Zenith, as it does in Summer, tho" it be at a very great Distance from us, yet it emits a great Number of Rays, almost perpendicularly upon us; whereas in Winter, when it declines lower towards the Horizon, most of its Rays, which can only come sideways, reverberate upon the Surface of our Atmosphere, so that very few pa.s.s and penetrate to our Bodies: Mean time, Heat and Cold consist in the greater and lesser Number of those Rays, as is easily to be prov"d by Mirrors and Burning-Gla.s.ses, whose Effects are always proportion"d to the Number of Rays of Light which they collect.
During this agreeable Conversation, which was carry"d on with a View, rather to pa.s.s the Time, than to increase the Number of Philosophers, because in that Case another Course must have been taken, we had travell"d a good way, but at length we were oblig"d to turn to another Subject. It was now Thirty-five Days that we had left our Company, and we imagin"d that we could not have travell"d less than 130 Leagues, when on a sudden, we found our selves on the Brink of a Lake, which seem"d to be of a vast Extent. This Obstacle in our way so confounded us, that for a long time we knew not what to resolve upon. One talk"d of returning back, another of staying where we were for a few Days, and making the best shift we could to lodge our selves; but at last we resolv"d to go straight along by the Side of this great Water, in hopes of finding the End of it. After coasting it seven or eight Leagues, we began to see Land on the other side of it, and were overjoy"d to find that the farther we advanc"d we had still a plainer View of the Objects on the other Sh.o.r.e; but then we had a fresh Mortification to see our selves got insensibly into a marshy Place, where the Ground was not only soft, but stunk, and trembled under our Feet. All the Country about us was flat and even; we saw no end of it, and every Step we took, which way soever we turn"d, we sunk in half way the Leg. All that I could say to encourage my Comrades, was in vain; there was no going further, so that we were fain to return back as we came, much against our Wills and tho" extremely fatigu"d, were forc"d to travel two long Leagues before we durst make a Halt, because we were sadly bemir"d, and had not yet met with any Fuel fit to make a Fire to dry us.
After we had rested our selves sufficiently, we resolv"d to turn still to the Left, and to see if there was any Rub on that Side.
We travell"d on four Days successively, "till we came to a Forest full of tall Oaks, of an extraordinary Bigness. We paus"d at first whether we should enter it, and at length resolv"d to venture into it, on condition of keeping as near as possible to the Lake; but this did not hold long, for we had scarce advanc"d three small Leagues but we came to the Foot of a Mountain, so cragged, that it was impossible for any Creature to ascend it.
The Rock hung over the Lake, the Waters of which being sometimes ruffled, had in all Probability gradually wash"d away the Bottom.
We try"d to ascend this Mountain on the other Side, for a whole Day, without finding any Place where it was accessible, because of Precipices and astonishing Hills. At the dismal Sight of so many invincible Obstacles, our Patience left us, and my two Comrades reproached me very heartily for having brought them into this Disaster.
I confess, said I, that we have reason to bewail our unhappy Fate; but you ought to consider that nothing happens by chance, for there is a Providence which directs every thing according to his own Pleasure. As "tis this same wise Being who has brought us. .h.i.ther, so he will not fail to hint some Means or other to extricate us. "Tis most certain that G.o.d never abandons his People, let them go where they will; if we place our Confidence in him, he will infallibly a.s.sist us, You know that it was neither a View to Profit nor Honour that led us. .h.i.ther; we had nothing to lose, and provided we escape with our Lives, we have all that we brought along with us. Let us not be daunted at what has happen"d to us. .h.i.therto; our princ.i.p.al Aim is to ramble in search of new Things, which may give us Pleasure; I don"t despair of going farther still, and that we shall some Day or other find out a way to get a comfortable Subsistence. Come on, my Lads, let us lose no Time, said I, but return back to the Lake, and see if we can"t contrive how to pa.s.s it, without running too great a Risque. By good Fortune we have Hatchets, and here"s Timber in abundance. If we venture over upon Floats, we shan"t be the first Adventurers of this sort, and if we are so happy as to get safe to the other Side, I flatter my self we shall make more fortunate Discoveries. Hitherto the Country is uninhabited, but, humanely speaking, "tis impossible it should be the same every where; and who knows, but at last we may meet with some civiliz"d Nation, whose kind Treatment of us may make us ample Amends for the Fatigues and Dangers we have run thro" to find them out, and for telling them if they don"t know it already, that there are other People in the World besides them.
My Comrades turn"d a deaf Ear to me; nothing I said could make "em easy, and I am persuaded, that if they had seen the least Probability of finding our Ship"s Company again, where we left them, they would undoubtedly have run all Hazards in quest of them. In the mean time, there was a Necessity of resolving upon something. We return"d to the Lake, and view"d it well in many Parts, before we agreed what Place to put off at. These Motions backwards and forwards took us up eight Days, and the ninth we began to set our Hands to the Work. First, we cut down half a score Trees, of seven or eight Inches Diameter, from which we stripp"d the Branches, shorten"d them to the length of twenty Foot, put them into the Water, and then fasten"d them together as well as we could, partly with Rushes, but chiefly with the Bark of Willow-Trees, which were very numerous on the Side of the Lake, and of which we made a sort of Cordage, of what length we pleas"d. After this, we provided a Score of other shorter Trees, which we laid in a row, and bound across the former, and upon these we laid a third Floor of the same Size and Length as those of the first Lay. We also made five Oars, or rather Shovels, which took us up more Time than all the rest.
Before we had finished our Carpenter"s Work, _La Foret_ came and told us, that at sixty Paces distance he saw something stir in the Rushes, which were not very far from the Lake, and in short, we were of his Opinion immediately, that it must be some great Animal. _Du Puis_, and I, took each our Gun, and charging with four b.a.l.l.s, we fir"d both at once, reserving a third Charge in case of Necessity, as we had been taught to do by Experience in our Travels, wherein we had like to have been torn to Pieces by Bears, two or three times, because we had spent all our Fire at once. Our Pieces were scarce discharg"d, when we were extremely surpris"d and terrify"d with a hideous Howling, and prodigious Rustle among the Reeds, so that we were a long time in Suspence, whether we should go near to see what it was; but upon consideration that what we heard and saw could be nothing else, in all probability, but the Effect of a mortal Wound, which had disabled the Beast from defending himself, we charg"d our Pieces again, and approach"d, tho" with great Fear and Trembling, to the Place where he made such a Stir. As soon as he perceiv"d us, he made a greater Noise than before, and struggled hard to escape, which Fear of his rais"d our Spirits, and _La Foret_ seeing him lift up his Head, let fly at him so dexterously that he shot him thro" and thro", and laid him flat on the Ground. Nevertheless, we durst not approach him for some Moments, but perceiving he had no Motion, we began to touch him with the Ends of our Pieces, and at length dragg"d him out, when we found him to be of the Otter Kind, with two very short Legs before, which either _Du Puis_ or I maim"d at the first Discharge, whereby he was disabled from getting away. This Creature could not weigh less than 150 Pound. We skinn"d him, roasted the best Part of him, and found his Flesh to be good, and that it tasted not much unlike our Ducks.
Next Day, which was the thirteenth since we arrived there, we resolv"d to put off, but our Float was so heavy that we made very little way; and two of us constantly ply"d the Oars by turns, while the third rested. As good Luck would have it, the Weather was very favourable, and the Season exceeding pleasant, so that I can truly say, we were very much delighted in the Voyage, tho" we did not know what would become of us when we undertook it. "Twas surprising to see the infinite Shoals of Fish in this fine Lake, leaping and casting on both sides of our Float, which some of them follow"d with their Heads above Water, and playing with their Tails, as if they had been rejoic"d to see us. We were so attentive at this dumb Sport, that we lay upon our Oars sometimes for a great while together to enjoy it. We took up several of them with our Hands, and then toss"d them back again into their own Element, and might have caught what Number we had pleas"d. At the Close of the Day, just as we lost Sight of the Sh.o.r.e we came from, we were overjoy"d to discover that to which we were steering our Course. This agreeable Sight gave us fresh Spirits; we work"d l.u.s.tily almost all Night, and I think it was next Day about four of the Clock in the Afternoon, when we had the good Luck to touch Land. As soon as we got ash.o.r.e, we made use of all the Tackle we had to moor our Machine, not only to great Stones upon the Strand, but to a Post or Stump of a Tree, which we drove into the Ground, and which we carry"d with us for that purpose, being uncertain whether we should fare better elsewhere, and whether we should not be oblig"d to come back again the same way.
We were so fatigu"d with our Voyage that we took up our Lodging at the distance of an hundred Paces, and stay"d there till next Morning, when we continu"d our Journey.
We had not travell"d half a League but we came to a Wood, as thick as any we had yet met with, tho" we forc"d our way thro" it in less than two Hours. But there we were stopt all on a sudden, by steep Rocks altogether as difficult to ascend as a Wall. This new Barrier occasion"d fresh wrangling betwixt us; my Comrades murmur"d sadly, and I, as usual, did all I could to hearten them, so that I was forc"d at last to a.s.sure them, that tho" my Ideas were commonly so confus"d and irregular in my Slumbers, that I could seldom tell what to make of my Dreams, yet I had one last Night, the Connexion and Circ.u.mstances of which were so particular, that it was an infallible Presage of something to our Advantage; and thereupon I invented some Fictions _ex-tempore_, which, tho" perhaps not very well concerted, had however all the Effect I expected from them. In the Morning, said I, about an Hour before Sun-rise, methoughts I heard a Rumbling, like the Voice of Thunder, which said to me, _What have you to do there, Child? Rise up, and walk, thy Deliverance is near at hand._ At the same time a young Woman appear"d to me with a smiling Countenance, dress"d in white Raiment, with her dishevell"d Hair flowing about her Shoulders, her Legs bare even to the Knee, and in her Hands a little Basket of fine Ozier, artfully interwoven with all manner of fragrant Flowers, and full of uncommon delicious Fruits, of which she invited me to eat. On my left Hand there appear"d a Field, cover"d all over with Sheaves of the finest Corn that the Earth ever bore; and on my right a Tree, in the Trunk of which there was a Cleft, from whence there gush"d a clear beautiful red Liquor, which smelt like musk. I turn"d about to look behind me, and perceiving a frightful Monster, bristled all over like a Porcupine, I was so affrighted at it, that tho"
it turn"d its Back upon me, I started out of my Sleep. To this Dream I gave a favourable Interpretation, which contributed not a little to quicken our Pace.
As we still kept along the East side of those Mountains, we at last discover"d a narrow Pa.s.sage, which we resolv"d to climb, but the Difficulty we met with before we got up to the Top, was such that I cannot express it. When we had conquer"d it, we sat down to recover Breath, and take a little Food. Soon after we rose again, we perceiv"d a Pond about a Quarter of a League in Circ.u.mference, which was bounded on one side by the craggy Points of a Rock, which hung over the Water, and on the other by a very narrow rugged sort of d.y.k.e, with a Precipice on the right hand, of which there was no discovering the Bottom. These mocking Objects made me as mute as a Fish; I had neither the Strength nor Courage to speak, and to be frank, I wish"d then with all my Heart I had never undertaken the Voyage. There was no Prospect of going down the way that we ascended, and the Danger of going farther was very great.
While we were at that Nonplus, I made a hard Struggle to climb to the Top of a Rock which was behind us; as soon as I was got up to it, my Sorrow was turn"d on a sudden into extravagant Joy, at the Discovery of a fine Champain Country beyond these Hills, which was interspers"d with Ca.n.a.ls, and Trees regularly planted on the Banks of them. I thought likewise that I saw Cattle grazing in the Meads, and at a further distance great Bodies, which I took to be the Habitations of Men. I beckon"d to my Comrades to follow me, and signify"d to them by my Gestures and various Contortions of Body, that our Deliverance was nigh. They were so fond to know the good News, that they ventur"d after me, tho" they had like to have broke their Necks as well as I; but then, on the other hand, they were soon satisfy"d for their Pains, and agreed that this Country was, without Dispute, inhabited. All the Difficulty was how to come at it, a Difficulty, which we verily thought insurmountable. From this Eminence we carefully survey"d all the Country round; but there being no Appearance of Access to it, we help"d one another down, and took another View of the Precipice and Pond.
For my part, I was immediately of Opinion let the Danger be what it wou"d, that we ought to return and cut down Timber in the Forest where we had spent the Night, and to draw it up in the best manner we could, in order to venture this short Pa.s.sage over the Pond. But _Du Puis_, thinking my Proposal impracticable, said, that the Pa.s.sage between the Lake and the Precipice seem"d to be only two Foot broad in the narrowed Parts of it, that therefore one might easily cross over it, and that he would undertake to be our Guide. I was wonderfully pleas"d with his Motion, and did not fail to second it by instancing in the _Pyrenees_ and _Alpes_, of which I had read something in the Memoirs of several Travellers; but _La Foret_, who was, as he said, subject to Vertigoes, protested he would not go that way, whatever was the Consequence, but that if we were resolv"d to pa.s.s it, he would rather do it by Swimming. _Du Puis_ immediately acquiesc"d, and engag"d to carry his Clothes, and mine too, if I would take to the Water with him. No sooner said, but done, for _La Foret_ and I stripp"d, bundled up our Clothes, and _Du Puis_ taking them along with him, set out. We resolv"d to leave our Hatchets and Fowling-Pieces behind us, which indeed were of no more Service to us, because we had not three Charges of Powder left; nevertheless, _Du Puis_ was to return to fetch them, if he found the Pa.s.sage not so dangerous as we imagin"d. _La Foret_ and I being both very good Swimmers, we arriv"d quickly at the other Sh.o.r.e, because we made choice of the narrowed Place; but _Du Puis_, who had taken our Clothes, was oblig"d to take a large Compa.s.s, before he came to the Place where he was to pa.s.s.
As soon as we got ash.o.r.e, we ran to meet him, and glad we were to see him briskly advancing to us, but by an unaccountable Disaster, which I shall lament as long as I live, the poor Man was within ten Paces of being upon _Terra Firma_, when a Piece of the Rock giving way all on a sudden under his Feet, he cry"d out, _Lord have Mercy upon me!_ and, and to our Astonishment, disappear"d in an Instant. We ran hastily to see what became of him, but alas! we neither saw nor heard him more.
I beg the kind Reader to pause here for a Moment, and seriously to reflect upon our Misfortune. Our inconceivable Grief for the Loss of our Friend, together with the pitiful Condition he left us in, having neither Clothes to cover our Nakedness, nor any Means possible to subsist us, so dispirited us, that we thought a hundred times of casting our selves headlong after him, and by that means to have put a sudden Period to the fatal Course of our unfortunate Lives.
CHAP. VI.
_Of the Discovery of a very fine Country, its Inhabitants, their Language, Manners and Customs_, &c. _and of the Esteem which our Author and his Comrade gain"d there._
Mean time, the Surf was at the End of his Race, and we found our selves very cold, which were two pressing Motives to induce us to betake our selves to some Shelter. We descended the Mountain with no great Difficulty, because on that side it was not very deep.
At the Foot of it was a broad deep Ditch, where we were again forc"d to swim over. This was one of the Barriers of the Country, and was dest.i.tute of Bridges, so that People could neither pa.s.s in nor out of it.
The farther we went into the Country, the more of its Beauties we discover"d, and a thousand things occur"d to convince us that it was inhabited. The Creatures which we spy"d, as we thought, from the Mountains, were Goats feeding in the Meadows, where the green Herbage was so high, that it partly conceal"d them from our Sight. In short, we were not a great way from one of the Herds, when the Man that look"d after them, who was then lain down upon the Gra.s.s, observing that they stretch"d out their Necks as if they spy"d something that had affrighted them, rose up to see what it was, and as soon as he perceiv"d us, ran away with all the Speed he could; and we heard afterwards, that seeing two such naked Men coming down the Mountain in the Evening, he took us for Savages: His Goats also ran as if they had been pursu"d by some Beast of Prey. Certain Shepherds who were not far off, tending their Flocks of Sheep, knew not what to think of this Alarm, but they had the Courage to join one another, and came seven or eight in a Body to examine us. As soon as we thought they could see us, we wrung our Hands, and endeavour"d by all the Signs we could think of, to move them to Compa.s.sion. They advanc"d, and perceiving that we were naked and unarm"d, came within four Paces of us, each having a great Stick in his Hand, and fell a talking to us. I told them in _Latin_, in _French_, and in _Portuguese_, a Language which I understood pretty well, considering the Time I was in _Portugal_, that we were two honest _Europeans_, who believ"d in G.o.d, and at the same time lifted up my Hands to Heaven, and then smote my Breast. But notwithstanding all my various Looks and Actions, I plainly perceiv"d by their Countenances, that they understood us no more than we did them; upon which I fell prostrate at their Feet, and by trembling, and extending my Arms, endeavour"d to give them to understand that I was almost starv"d to Death with Cold. Then they talk"d with one another a few Moments, but without giving the least Indication that they intended us any Harm, and at length, after some Deliberation, they beckon"d to us to follow them, and carry"d us to a venerable Personage, who, after having survey"d us, first gave each of us a great Robe, which cover"d us from Head to Foot, for at the Top of it a Cap was fasten"d, in the manner of a Monk"s Cowl; then he interrogated us by Signs from whence we came, whether from the East, the West, or from any other Part of the Globe. We answer"d him in our own Language, and by the best Signs we were capable of making, that we were neither Angels nor Devils; that we came neither from Heaven nor h.e.l.l; that we were rational Creatures like himself, who having put to Sea in a great Machine of Wood, were cast away about 150 Leagues off; that of all the Crew only three of us set out inquest of some Asylum to pa.s.s the Remainder of our Days; but that we left one of our Companions by the way, in the most tragical manner that could be; and so of the rest. Then we begg"d him to take Pity of us, to put us to work, and to give us Nourishment. Tho" I knew not whether he understood what we said to him, yet he seem"d to be affected, by his shedding of Tears. He gave us a Supper, and in an Hour after we were carry"d to a Bed, which was all done in so handsome a manner, that we were charm"d with our Entertainment. Next Day it was as good as a Comedy to see the Crowds of People that came from all Parts to gaze at us. Every one look"d upon us with Amazement, because no body could comprehend from whence or which way we came hither. These Visits held at least a Fortnight or three Weeks. By hearing them talk much, we began to understand some Words of their Language: The first we retain"d was the Word _Mula_, which they seldom fail"d to p.r.o.nounce, when with our Eyes or Hands lifted up to Heaven, we utter"d the Name of G.o.d. We learnt the Terms, _At_, to Eat; _Bouskin_, to Drink; _Kapan_, to Sleep; _Pryn_, to Walk; _Tian_, to Work; _Touto_, Yes; _Touton_, No; and a great many others, which we found afterwards to bear the same Meaning as we imagin"d they had at first. What very much contributed to make this Language familiar to us, was there being but three Tenses in the Indicative Mood of every Verb, _viz._ the _Present_, the _Praeterperfect_, indefinite or compound, and the _Future_; that they have no _Imperative Mood_; that in their _Subjunctive_ they have only the _Praeterimperfect_ and _Praeterpluperfect_; and that besides these they have only the _Infinitive Mood_ and _Participle_. They have also but three _Persons_ in both the _Singular_ and _Plural Numbers_, and thus, for Instance, they conjugate the Verb _At_:
_Indicative Mood, Present Tense._
_Ata_, I eat or We eat.
_Ate_, Thou eatest, You eat.
_At?_, He eateth, They eat.