CHAP. XII.
The Generality of them were kind and affectionate to each other, which produc'd in them an Openness of living, whereby they held all Things almost in common. When they went abroad, they left their Houses open, and knew not what a Lock was. It was usual with them to assist each other in their private Concerns, without the Expectation of any Reward, other than the like Kindness, if requisite. In their Marriages they never us'd any tedious Courtships; but when a Woman was marriagable, her nearest Friend advertis'd it, with her good and bad Qualities, if she had any, and invited Persons to come and treat with them about her, that so if their Inclinations were the same, they might speedily be join'd. Upon the Decease of an Husband, the Wife, if inclin'd to Marriage, hung out a plain Black Flag, to signify her Resolution to have a second Husband. Sometimes a Widow wou'd hang out a Black Flag, with a Death's Head in the Middle of it, thereby declaring her Aversion to Marriage; as by the same Arms Pyrates declare their Enmity to Mankind.
Here, again, I believed that I was settled for Life; but I soon found my Mistake, and happily found out Means to return to the Earth. The Occasion of my leaving them was this: There was brought before us one Day an Account of a certain Nobleman, who, by a base and underhand Dealing, had drawn off many of the King's Subjects from their Allegiance: This was confirmed to us by some whom he had corrupted. I immediately enter'd it, and published his Crime, with some Considerations upon Rebellion, which render'd them odious to the People. As soon as this was publick, he found out those who had turned against him, and, by Promises of Security and Bribes, caus'd them publickly to recant, and, further, to declare that we, out of Malice to the Nobleman, had hired them to accuse him. All that we could say could not clear us; for the King believed our Accusers honest, and sentenc'd us, within twenty Days to depart from his Dominions.
Tckbrff proposed to return to Quqns; but I said we had not Money sufficient to bear our Charges thither, since we would be obliged, on Account of some vast Mountains, to go round-about a great Part of the Moon, to arrive at it. What (said he) will you then remain here to be put to Death? I answer'd, that I had form'd a Design of attempting a Return to the Earth, and would be exceedding happy if he would bear me Company thither. He replied, that it seem'd to him impracticable: Besides, if it should succeed, he would not desire to live among such Inhabitants of it, as I had described to him; yet, since we must part, said he, I will assist you, if I can, while I stay here: But surely you don't intend to trust to a Whirl-Wind a second Time? I confess'd that I did not like such Travelling, but intended to go thither after the following Manner.
We already know, said I, the Height of the Moon's Atmosphere, and know how Gun-Powder will raise a Ball of any Weight to any Height: Now I design to place myself in the Middle of ten wooden Vessels, placed one within another, with the Outermost strongly hooped with Iron, to prevent its breaking. This I will place over 7000 Barrels of Powder, which I know will raise me to the Top of the Atmosphere. I should here observe, that there were several Mountains out of which they dug Gun-Powder, which was made fit for use, as Salt is on the Earth, by exposing it to the intense Heat of the Sun in some Parts that are very near the Equator. The Mountains were called Psefwhthbz, or the Devil's Warts. But before I blow myself up, I'll provide myself with a large Pair of Wings, which I will fasten to my Arms in my Resting-Place; by the Help of which I will fly down to the Earth.
Here he objected that both the Vessels and I would be set on Eire. To this I answered, that I had a Remedy to prevent that; for, said I, between the Vessels I will pour a Quantity of Water, which will prevent the burning any but the Outermost, by boring Holes in the Sides of all the Innermost, excepting that in which I stand, thro' which the Water may freely pass to quench the Outer, which, I believe, will be fir'd; that which is in the Middle shall have no Holes in it, that so the Water may not come near me: The upper Part of my Tubs I will cover with two Plates of Tin, between which I will place a Quantity of wet Sand to prevent the lowermost Plate from setting the Wood on Fire: This Cover shall be fastned by me on the Inside, so as that I can throw it off when I think that I am got out of the Smoak. I'll supply the Want of fresh Air by some Bottles of animal Spirits; and will prevent the Vessels from touching each other, by placing Pieces of Lead between the Sides and Bottoms, which upon the Approach of the Fire, will melt and fall off before they can do any Harm. I believe that my Motion will be pretty swift; but I am used to travel Post, and by this Time can bear to be hurried. I provide my self with Wings, to prevent my too rapid Fall to the Earth; for I believe, were I not thus provided, I should not escape so well as I did in my Fall to the Moon.
Tckbrff said, that the Design, though rendered a little feasible, might not succeed, and many unforeseen Accidents might cause it to miscarry. As to that, said I, I must rely upon Providence, which I hope will send me with News to my Countrymen, whose Ingenuity may, in Time, find out a more easy Method of maintaining a Correspondence with other Planetary Inhabitants.
Immediately I set about preparing for my Departure, and in about a Week's Time had all Things ready for it. The Morning before I was blown up, I took my Leave of Tckbrff, and my other Friends, with the utmost Regret. He presented me with a Tobacco-Stopper; and in return, I gave him an Irish Bottle-Skrew. He would not be a Spectator of my leaving 'em, for he could not believe that I would survive it.
In short there was an Hole dug in the Earth for the Powder, and a Train laid of about a Mile long. When I enter'd my Tubs, as soon as I saw the Fire approaching me, I covered my self, and in a short Time was carried with great Rapidity far out of Sight; and with the Loss of mine outer Tub, I arriv'd safe between the Atmospheres of the Earth and Moon; where I sat a while to refresh myself, and tie on my Wings for the Remainder of my Journey.
While I was sitting here, there came a Flock of Woodcocks from the Moon, and alighted on my Tubs, where after having rested a while, they made towards the Earth. It was of great Use to me to observe their Flight; for they being acquainted with the best Roads, were a Guide to me: They did not fly directly down, but going before the Wind, descended obliquely, to prevent, as I suppose, their being hurried down. I placed my Feet against my Tubs, and made after them. I could not keep up with them, so that in a little Time I lost Sight of them.
I flew very pleasantly, till I chanced to come to the Southern Parts of Africk, where I had like to be knock'd down with the Top of an high Mountain, as the Earth was revolving; but I timely perceiv'd it, and got over the Ethiopick Ocean. In that I durst not alight, but flying more to the South, I alighted on a pleasant Country, situate in Terra Australis incognita, where in a delightful Grove I fell asleep, being much tired with my flying, and almost roasted with the Sun. I know not how long I slept, but I was awaken'd by a Number of Parrots that were sitting in Trees about me. When I began to stir, they made a great Noise, and seem'd to be afraid of me, I believe, on Account of my Wings and Size. I then took but little Notice of them, but went to the Top of a Mountain, in order to look out for some Town, to which I might resort; but seeing none, I could not tell what would become of me. The Parrots still followed me, and by Degrees became less afraid of me; for I suddenly laid hold on one of them; 'upon which the rest made a prodigious Noise; but when they perceived that I used it very gently, and let it go again, they came about me in great Numbers.
As a Return for my civil Treatment, they called to me by the Name Crammrick, and went before to a Cave where they reposited their Winter's Store, which consisted in Abundance of different Sorts of fine Fruits, which were laid upon broad dry Leaves spread over a Moss. One of them presented me with a Bunch of Raisins, and another with some other choice Fruits, till I had eaten plentifully: This was my daily Entertainment for many Days, till I one Day found by chance a kind of Grain, not unlike Pease, which I dried, and pounding it between two Stones, I mixed it with Water, then I moulded it into a thin Cake, and bak'd it in the Sun. This I used for Bread, neither was it unpleasant, and eat it with the Flesh of some small Animals common among them, after I had dried it by the Sun. After every Meal I made, I had a Collation of fine Fruit brought me, and might have lived entirely upon it, had I not feared that it would not agree well with my Constitution, and perhaps breed a Famine among those that were so kind to me.
By Degrees I came to know the Names of several Things in their Language, and could salute those that I met, and in a little Time was able to converse with them. The only Fault that I could find with them, was, that they were too talkative, like Women, constantly asking impertinent Questions. They lived under a Monarchial Government, and observed a lineal Succession. They had certain Festivals in Honour of their King, which they celebrated by regular Flights in the Air, and Songs in the Praise of their Monarch; but those Festivals were attended generally with a great Slaughter of them, occasion'd by some Birds of Prey that used to watch this Opportunity to destroy them, and plunder their Fruits. They complained to me of this Calamity, and asked if I could provide a Remedy against it. I asked in what Manner they attack'd them; and was told, that they pursued them whither soever they fled, till they were tired of destroying them; and then they went to their Store to plunder it.
I promis'd my Assistance; and accordingly, when the Festival was come, I cover'd my Face and Head with a Cap made of strong Bark, only I left Holes in it for my Mouth and Eyes, and placed myself with a Club in my Hand by the Store. The Birds of Prey arriv'd, and after a great Fight went to visit the Store: They did not come all at once, but in small Companies; most of which I destroy'd, though they made what Resistance they could, and the rest fled away. I number'd near an Hundred that I had kill'd, to the great Joy of the Parrots, who spent the Remainder of the Day in praising me for the Victory, and proffering me their Service in any thing they were able to perform. I thank'd them, and promis'd to make use of their Assistance in going to mine own Country; which they, with some Relunctance to part with me, at length consented to:
I first with sharp Flints, and a Knife which I had in my Pocket, cut down as many small Trees, as I, with much Labour and Difficulty, made a pretty large Boat of, not unlike those made use of in the North of Ireland, save that it was not covered with Skins, instead of which I made use of Gum, of which there was great Plenty, with which I daub'd it all over, so that it would keep out the Water, and bear me without Danger. When this was finish'd, I twisted as many Twigs together as serv'd me instead of several Ropes: These I fastened tothe Stem of my Boat, and begg'd of the King, that he would lend me as many of his Subjects as would be able to draw my Boat to the nearest Country that was inhabited by Men.
At length he comply'd, and allow'd us a sufficient Quantity of Provision for our Voyage. We put off early in the Morning, after Abundance of Ceremony at our parting. The Birds which came along with me, took hold of the Twigs fastened at the Stem of the Boat; and being many in Number, in sixty Days Time we got safe into the Trade-Winds, which in seventeen Days more drove us on the Coast of Guinea. The Birds would not come ashore with me, but left me pretty near it, so that I did swim out, while they carried my Cloaths and Wings, and dropp'd them down to me, but would not alight: They went back again to the Boat, where, after a moderate Repast, they went away.
There was so great a Number of them, that they reliev'd each other very often, and sail'd with little Trouble.
When I was arriv'd at Guinea, I sought for English Merchants, and found a very civil Gentleman, one Mr. Jacob Broome, who hir'd me for a Sailor towards England: But I rather liv'd like a Passenger than a common Sailor; for Mr. Broome was so taken with my Adventures, that he exempted me from the Office of a common Sailor, and made me his Companion, while I gave him an Account of my Travels.
Our Voyage was very easy; for we met with but one small Storm, and were chas'd for a Day by an Algerine. In our Road home I saw the Peak of Teneriffe, which brought many Things into my Mind, which griev'd me in the suffering, but pleas'd me in the remembering of them. Thence we sail'd to London, and on the 12th of September, 1720. landed there. My Master furnish'd me with what Money bore my Charges to Dublin, upon promising that I would publish mine Adventures. I arriv'd at Dublin the 27th of the same Month, where I was inform'd that my Friends were remov'd to the North of Ireland: Thither I follow'd them, being sufficiently tir'd with Rambling; and there I resolve to spend the Remainder of my Days in, Quiet, if Fortune has not some unforeseen Trouble in Store for me.
Thus in the Space of two Years, three Months, twenty one Days, I view'd a great Part both of the Earth and Moon: There are few, I believe, would run the Risque that I did, though they may be desirous of feeing what I saw; for a Whirlwind is not the easiest Vehicle; and being blow'd up, it but little better. If I have said any Thing to displease the Ladies, let them go on to drink Tea, and kill themselves out of Spight: If the Beaux are angry, I care not; and the Criticks may go hang themselves, e're they shall vex me: Besides, let them all consider, that what is here spoken is to the Inhabitants of the Moon. Well-meaning Persons I esteem, and to their Censure I wholly submit, who, I am persuaded, will not expect the greatest Exactness, and much Rhetorick, from a Sailor, studious to deliver the Truth.
The End of the First Part.