[ 79 ]
to sit down; but what they said we were not able to understand; yet we suspected Treachery to be couch'd under this Civility. That Night we were well entertain'd; and the next Morning several Foreigners were brought before us, to find out one that could understand us: Such a one at length we found, who interpreted to the Hearers what we said, as well as gave us to understand that the People were kindly affected towards us. Our chief Concern was next to learn their Language, that we might be able to converse with them, and find out their Manner of Living.
It was our good Fortune to have some of the Money of Quqns about us, with which we hir'd a Person to instruct as in the Language. His Method, tho' uncommon, prov'd successful; for in seventeen Days Time we became perfect Masters of their Language: He caus'd us to wear every Night Paper Caps upon our Heads, closely shaved, and on the inner Side of those Caps was wrote part of their Language. He then gave us a Potion to make us sleep soundly, and sweat; by which Means, when we awoke the next Day, we understood every Thing that was wrote on our Night-Caps.
For when the Pores of our Heads were open in sweating, the Spirit of the Words was attracted by the Brain, in which it was embrac'd by the Soul, which every Body allows to have a Thirst after Knowledge. That Words have a Spirit, is plain from the wonderful Effects which they produce, which the dead Letter would never be able to perform. Thus by sleeping with the Language about our Heads, we soon understood it.
When we were capable of conversing, we found that we were not to be maintain'd always at others Expence; but if we design'd to live among them, we must prove useful to the Publick. To this End we consulted, growing suspicious that their Favourswould
