ON the Seventh of Novem­ber, failing as pleasantly on the Ganges as the natural impetuosity of that Stream would permit, the Weather changing on a suddain, our Ship Veer'd about to the Lar­board, and we were driven by a violent cold and dry North wind, into a narrow Arm of a great Lake on the utmost Borders of India, [Page 2]that takes its rise from one common head with that famous River; there having escaped that direful em­brace, which the inhospitable Waves had seem'd to profer us, we proceeded so slowly, as if a Re­mora had held our Keel, or rather as if we had cast Anchor in the Mare Mortuum; but having at last with much labour conquer'd Three Leagues towards the nearest Land, in about eight and twenty hours, we began to ease our selves, by desisting from our toyl, and by a general participation of the residue of our Victuals, which as yet held out as we desired. After this re­freshment, the golden Rayes of Phaethon began to make the Eastern Mountains blush, that all their costly Stones and glittering Sands, were not sufficiently rich and august, to welcome so illustrious a Monarch; and the gentle Breezes [Page 3]of the Lake having on the Shoar saluted the delicious fannings of Aurora, return'd to us in soft whisperings, and assured us of the arrival of that Rosie-fingred Queen. At this, I and two of my Friends advanced our selves on the Deck, and at the same time the glorious Prince of Day seem'd to add speed to his fiery Horses, and return our Complement in a nearer approach to us. But how soon were our thoughts divided betwixt fear and admiration; while the Mountains, which but now appeared to us as flaming, began to confess them­selves of that more innocent and amiable Lustre, which attends the brightest of Metals, when it is bur­nished most surprizingly? We ga­zed something earnestly at this amazing spectacle, and proposing to our hopes no less than Golden Mountains, we still fixing our [Page 4]Eyes on that desireable object, 'till a suddain noise of the rusling of Leaves alarum'd our Ears, which kept sentinel at the side portals of our Brain, and they recalling our Eyes from their studious curiosity, sent them towards the Shoar, as He­ralds, to enquire the reason of that so easie disturbance. Where we beheld a few Persons, whom we thought Men, Inhabitants of that place; though they sent no Voices to frighten or invite us, but only certain mimical and ridiculous Gestures, from whence notwith­standing, we might soon collect, that they profess'd us no ill-will. With which encouraged, we re­doubled our endeavours to reach the Land, and a stedfast blast or two backing our design, that in less than an hour we touch'd the Shoar, where we might easily discern, that our Invitants forbore to welcome us [Page 5]with acclamations, or with obli­ging words, to complement us to a nearer access, not because they lack'd Civility, but wanted those channels of Expression, which we call Mouths. Their Posture, though something uncouth, was not so rude, but that it declared them to be so far different from Brutes, that nothing seem'd absent, which might make them compleat Men, but the Gentleman-Usher of all Knowledge, Sermocination. On their Heads they proudly wore green Boughs, the wanton Leaves whereof, seem'd desirous to show themselves by their soft whispering, more Vocal than their Bearers. Their Habit was of the woolly Moss of Trees, most artificially cemented with Gum, and inter­spersed with delectable Posies; a­bout their Necks they wore plea­sant chains of odoriferous Flowers, [Page 6]the smell whereof is their chiefest aliment, except that of a certain lushious and nourishing Juice, which they suck thorough a small Tube or Pipe, into that little Ori­fice, which Nature hath granted them in the place and stead of Mouths. Their Legs are destitute of any other covering, but what their natural Hair supplies them with; but the Nails of both Hands and Feet were augmented to such a length, by their Sylvan Diet and Ignorance of more humane ways, that they served them instead of Weapons, against the strongest wild Beast, who was alwayes too weak for them; and with those they dug up Flowers and Plants, as they pleased. They received us with no vulgar Civility, expres­sing by their nodds and loquacious motions of their active Limbs, no small pride at our presence. But [Page 7]poor Creatures! Alass, our stock of Victuals was but low, and we were not so good Chamaeleons as they, to live upon Air, neither could their fragrant Chapplets pre­vent our Famishment, if we staid longer there. Wherefore being soon weary of their dumb conver­sation, we resolved in time, to seek some other People, whose liberali­ty might store us with Provision for another Voyage, and whose community of living, being not so abhorrent from ours, might make them more sensible of our necessi­ties, and so more prone to relieve them. To which end, having left twenty Men in the Ship, and all the remaining Victuals, (which was enough to last them five or six days) and solemnly promising not to go far, but to find out some place, and return again within six or seven days; after Breakfast, on Monday [Page 8]Morning, and Prayers for the Di­vine protection and direction, all the rest of our Company (which was thirty five) being directed by the signs of the Astomi (for so these People are called) went straight up towards the Mountains. It was now spring time of the Year, yet notwithstanding the warmth of the Season, the Mountains were cloathed with a double Garment, the embroidered Vest of Flora, and the Eye-dazling Mantle of Phaebus, and while they glittered in their eminence and apparel, the aemulous Valleys raised their swelling breasts of Corn to such an exuberance of height, as if they intended to make the Mountains acknowledge them­selves inferiour to them: Which lovely contention, was such an incentive to the Poetical Genius of one in our Company, that he could not forbear exonerating his Fancy in this Gratulatory manner.

And truly the last Distick was Prophetical enough, for though these Blessings are so superabun­dantly great, yet those who have the fruition of them, are Microcos­mically little to such a degree, that I verily believe, excepting some other parts of their own Nation, they are the smallest People in the whole Habitable. The first we met with were some Children, driving an Herd of Kids; we pre­sently began to admire with our selves at the Ingenuity of the Inha­bitants, thinking they had inven­ted these little Engins, so as by Clock-work to make them walk; But we were soon put out of that fondness, when the little Imps be­holding our Gigantick size, run away shrieking, and the nimble Kids, run scatter'd back in no less confusion than their drivers; truly a small matter would have made [Page 11]us run away too, we were so a­maz'd at such an intricate accident. Some thought it was the Land of the Faries, and implored me to lead them back; others supposing them Devils, exhorted me to re­cal my foot-steps, and hast back a­gain, while there was opportunity. But Hunger was a more prevalent Oratour at that time; for we had now Travail'd hard two dayes and an half, having only broke our fast the Morning we set out, and since not met with any thing to allay our Appetite, except some few strange Fruits we found in the way; so that if we went back, we were sure to faint and famish a­mong fruitless Flowers, and unpro­fitable Dainties; wherefore I en­couraged them to proceed cheerful­ly, and rather to venture any death than kill themselves by Fear, and dye by Famine. But they had had [Page 12]little stomach to follow my advice, if the Poet Eucompsus had not assi­sted me with his Oration; and in­deed he was our only support and solace in Travail, being a very merry Fellow, eminently ingenious, of a large and noble Soul, and my singular good Friend. But because you may better conjecture at his Person by his speech, and that I may do him right, I'le give you his very Words, as near as I can remember; which for the future, as oft as occasion serves, I will promise you to do, whether they be Verse or Prose; because I ever took good heed of his Discourses and other Fancies. And thus he began: Friends and Companions, let me desire you for two or three Minutes only, to compose your selves, for I have something to say, that will please and secure you. At this they all came about him, and stood quaking, to [Page 13]hear what he would deliver, like a timorous Herd of Deer, when they are first terrifi'd with the ap­proaching noise of Huntsmen and Dogs. And though I could not devise what his intent might be, I doubted not, but it would be very convenient for the occasion; but thus he went on: It is not the man­ner of gracious Heaven to place unbe­coming Inhabitants in so happy a Soil; nor can any Man of reason or judg­ment believe these Creatures to be Faries (i. e. nothing) or any spiritual Being. In short, they are Men; (here they stared at him monstrously,) I, Men, I say, rational as we are, and I doubt, far more couragious; for did you not observe them sometimes to make a stand, and looking at us, seem'd almost prepared to come to us? And certain­ly, though the unusual largeness of our Bulk might justly amaze them, had we had their hearts, we should not have [Page 14]trembled so easily at the sight of such minute Animals. I have often heard of Pygmies, that they ride on Goats, and those Kids we saw are Colts, pro­portionable enough to such Coursers. The darkness of their Complexion be­ing a consequence of this Climate, why should we suspect any Diabolical Appa­rition? Seeing Devils, as Spirits, can have no colour at all, because such Qualities are only proper to Bodies; and if no colour, why may they not in the assumption of Bodies to them, in­vest that Body they assume with any other colour as well as Black? For thus, though we paint Devils of that colour, which is most different from ours; so the Aethiopians are accustomed to paint them white, and perhaps with no less absurdity. Having therefore shown them to be no immaterial Substances, it remains, they must be material, that is (as may be gathered from their self-motion and Voice) Animal Creatures; [Page 15]and their shrieking being much after the manner of our Children, though more sharp and squeaking, as well as their shape and habit perswades us they must be Men. Then let us view them, their manner of Government, their Buildings, Customs and Labours; which will prove no doubt the most delectable adventure, that all our Travails did ever yet present us with. You would not think of what wondrous efficacy these few words were, be­ing confidently uttered by one, whom they all knew to be well Learned in Geography, and of great Eloquence, which was at­tended with a secret energy, called Peitho, which made him perswade the most obstinate, and lead his hearers by their Ears, as Bears are led by their Noses. But yet there was one obstacle more, by reason of one unreasonable Fellow, called Pan­deison, a Romanist, who began to [Page 16]exclaim after this foolish manner. Oh ye Mad-men! to follow a whimsical Poet to this Land of Misery; though such kind of Men are not only believed to go to Hell themselves, but are known to lead others thither. This place is the Gate of Hell, those are De­vils, which he would fain perswade us to be men; and the Kids and Goats, that he confesses abound there, we are told by Scripture, are the Damned, which those Devils are driving to some place of Torment; nor is it strange, that the place seems so pleasant and delectable, for they say, the way to Hell is strewed with Roses. And I fear, if you proceed, (for I am resol­ved not to follow) that these Mountains will indeed prove flaming ones, as they seem'd at first; a just punishment for your temerity. And saying this, he hasted backward, fumbling with his Beads, and Crossing him­self all over, continually flinging [Page 17] Ora-pro-nobis'es to the Virgin Mary. Which when Eucompsus perceived, he holp to Cross him too, and fell into such a violent Laughter, that while none of us could refrain, the noise being at least trebly in­creased by the reverberation of that mountainous and hilly Country, put Pandeison into such a fright, that he hastned down the Moun­tains, like one possessed, till his praecipitant fear gave him such a fall, that we thought he had broke his Neck; yet for all this, our Laughter was rather augmented than diminished, till a charitable Thought for our Companion, enfor­ced us to a restraint. And this Mirth did us so much good, as to make us forget our Hunger, which we could hardly else have tolerated longer. So we sent four of our Servants to bring him back to us, who made a very speedy return [Page 18]again with poor Pandeison in a swound, his Cloaths and Face all torn, and his left Arm broken; all which, seem'd to us a very cheap ransom for his Neck. But as soon as ever he recover'd, he winked very slighly, and of a suddain cry'd out on us, as if we were Devils too, which occasioned us to Laugh once more. But at last, finding how still and harmless we bore our selves, he took the confi­dence to open his Eyes a little wider, and having come to the knowledge of us, he intreated our pardon, and desired, we would not leave him behind us, but carry him to the next House we should see, and rest there till he was re­covered. Then we cut up some Grass and Flowers, and having spred them on a Bed, which we had composed of Twigs and Boughs we committed him to our four Ser­vants, [Page 19]to be laid thereon, and so to be brought after us. Thus all was at rights again. The first Province we came to, was that of Gadozolia, the People whereof being called Gadozim, are the fairest, largest, and most stately of all other Pygmies. The very sight of the Smoak here gave heat to our resolutions, and we made such hast, being enforced by Hun­ger, that to use a Scholastick Phrase, We did even devour the way. At last being directed by a great Smoak, which was suffi­ciently observable in so thin and serene an Air, we arrived before a stately Fabrick of about 200 Foot square, yet not above sixty Foot high, made all of well-carved Wood, which abounds in that Country, called Geranophonon; a Wood, that contrary to the nature of all other, dyes when it is in the [Page 20]Earth, after it hath grown twenty Years; but when it is fell'd down, it proves stronger, and looks more ve­get than before; so that age, which conquers all other things, makes this to triumph; and Worms them­selves, as knowing their attempt will prove vain, never corrode, or so much as come near it. On the Battlements of this Castle, (for a Castle it proved) was Earth spread, so that we took it for arable Ground, and Corn was besprinkled in the counterfeit Furrows; at each cor­ner of which were Stakes fastned, and four Nets so artificially spread, that no sooner could any thing of weight touch that ground, which is called Geodyctyum, but the Nets are closed on all sides, and the Prey that is taken, lyes hampered on the Geodyctyum. We needed not to crave entrance at this Castle, for before we came to the Gates, there [Page 21]met us nine young dandiprat-Gal­lants, about two Foot and an half or three Foot high, attired in a party-coloured Silk, with Tur­bants on their Heads of Linnen, covered over with cloth of Gold, and adorned with divers splendent Jewels, about their Back was cast a Mantle of blew Sarcinet, which was gathered upon the right Shoul­der with a golden Button, over which there was cast a small chain of Silver, whereon a rich Sword of about a Foot long was hung, their Legs were cover'd with fine Linnen, and on their Feet they wore Sandals of Sheeps Leather, every one bestriding a lusty Ram, with guilded Horns, and Trappings beset with sparkling Diamonds. Eueompsus had by this time pretty well confirmed us all in the opinion, that these were Pygmies; so that we did not much admire at the [Page 22]strange Equipage of such dwarfish Orlando's, but bowing our Bodies to them, stood still in a posture to receive them, when three of the formost, and as it appeared, most Noble of them, turning back, and making their followers to stand, of a suddain, sprung, as it were, with one consent, from their Ram-Horses, and with admirable cele­rity coming up to us, first boldly beheld our Faces, and then in the Indian Language bad us all wel­come to their Countrey. Eucompsus and my self, and another Friend of ours, having formerly for some years Traffick'd in the Indies, made shift to understand them, and to return them an assurance, that we came in peace, and desired only to Sojourn so long in their Country, as to repair our lack of Provision, and by observing their Customs to encrease our Knowledge. They [Page 23]having assured us of all that might conduce to our satisfaction, entrea­ted us to follow them, pointing to the Castle, which they called the Royal Bulwark: Then they nimbly remounted, and placing themselves before our company, two others on each side, and the remaining two behind; in this or­der we all moved towards the Royal Bulwark, they riding softly with us. But when we came to the Gates, one of their Company took from his Neck a small Rams-horn, tipt with Silver, and ty'd with a Silken Cord, and having blown three blasts with such strength, that he was forced to stagger in his Sad­dle, the Castle-gates were imme­diately opened by twenty Men, who pull'd them wide by silken Cords, which were fastned to the Gates with Silver Rings. And they di­viding themselves on each side the [Page 24]folding Doors, stood still, affording us a large passage, when the three Chiefs, that went before us, aligh­ting, gave their Steeds to their Ser­vants to put them up, and walked streight before us into a spacious Hall, where was an Ancient Gen­tleman about three Foot and an half high, with a Coronet of Gold, beset with precious stones, and a long Robe of flowered Satin, all be-laced wiah Spangles, who stood leaning on a staff to bid us welcome. The three Heroes ran to meet him, and having fell on their Knees, pointed back to us, and said something, as we thought, on our behalf; when having raised them up, he walked forward, as well as his age would permit him, to meet us: We were now all entred into the Hall when he came to us, and having yielded him as profound respect as was possible, he re-salu­ted [Page 25]us, and making signs that we should move forward, presently those twenty Men, who had opened the Gates, came in loaded with Velvet-Cushions, two of them to each Cushion, and placing their burthen decently on each side of a very small, but stately Chair, they brought in two Courses of Cushions more, which made thirty in number, as many as our com­pany were, besides the four Ser­vants and Pandieson, whom now we could no where spye. At this time the Sun began to decline his golden head, and feeble Day seem'd ready to faint under the burthen of twelve hours, when an hundred young Virgins, cloathed all in white Sarcenet, entered the Hall with burning Tapers in their Hands, which they placed in Golden Soc­kets, that were made on the sides of the Hall, and so retired with [Page 26]a solemn silence. And here I be­gan to think nothing wanting to a complete entertainment, but a good Supper, and my Stomach being somthing importunate, while the looks of our Company put me in mind of their necessities, I could no longer forbear, but rising from my Cushion, came before the Ancient Gentleman, who was now ready to sit in his Chair of State, and first bowing my Body three times, (a fashion which I ob­served in them) I unfolded our condition to him in the Indian Lan­guage to this purpose; Great Ruler, (Eucompsus smiled at that Epithet) of the Bulwark Royal, we all easily perceive, that our Treatment here is as Noble and Magnificent as the highest ambition could desire; but our hungery Stomachs put us in mind to sa­tisfie them before the Eyes, that being a work more necessary for Nature, and [Page 27]helpful for all other operations: — I was going to proceed, when he smilingly interrupted me, and told me, he knew all this before, having read in our Countenances, that we wanted both Food and Sleep; and therefore, he said, he intended not to trouble us with any Discourse or in­quiries that Night, but only to take care, that after a good treat­ment, (which would be brought up presently) we should be conducted to our several rooms, and there left to our repose. For he said, about two or three hours before, some Children of his Chief Goat-herds, had given him information of our arrival; and that though they had never seen such tall Men before, yet he had been long acquainted with Men as big as we, having frequent­ly entertain'd Embassadours from the Macrobians, a People of the same India; and having himself, [Page 28]with his three Sons, gon on several Embassies to the neighbour Nati­ons. While he was making this brief relation, the 20 Men brought into the Hall store of Goats-Milk, in Silver Dishes, each whereof was born by a couple of them, both for state, and perhaps because they were too heavy for one of them to bear, and fetching two Courses more, till we had a Dish for every one, they softly retrea­ted; after which a couple of Gen­tlewomen brought in the Spoons, made of a certain bright Shell, and after that, ten of those twenty Men came in, every one with a fine wrought Basket on his Head, wherein were three Cakes, about the bigness of a six peny Loaf, though not so thick, made of purer Flower, than any part of Europe yields, and so fragrant with Spices, that the greatest Monarch in the [Page 29]Earth would not desire a finer Manchet; and lastly, there was set before each of us a Bowl of plea­sant and wholsome Wine, called by them Zythus, made of the Vine Persephonodia, which Zagreus plan­ted there before the Birth of Bac­chus; a Wine more like Nectar, than any drink of Mortals. We were going to fall on what was set before us, when the suddain noise of a golden Bell made us forbear, and look out, till a tall, slender, and comely Personage appeared in a Robe of purest white, constella­ted with the figure of the Celestial Bodies, and on his Fore-head this mark ✚ in a golden Meddal; who taking up a Cake of Bread, and standing on an Ivory step, spoke thus in English; O Thou, who though never fully comprehended, art signi­fied to weak Mortals by the sign which I thy Servant continually bear on my [Page 30]Forehead, whom our Nation adores and magnifies above all powers, showre down thine heavenly Benediction on these thy Creatures, and hear this Prayer of mine, for thy Compassions sake, in the behalf of these Strangers, who come from a place, where thy Sal­vation is known, that they may re­cover strength thereby and refreshment from their Travail; Grant this, O thou, who wast a stranger in Aegypt, and a Sojourner in Bethlehem, for thine own most meritorious sake: So be it. While he was saying this, he ex­pressed so much fervency, that it struck us with a devout veneration and respect of his person; nor did it a little amaze us to hear him use our Language with such freedom, as if he had been an English Native; but his suddain leaving us, gave us opportunity of eating our Suppers, which we did with good Stomachs, till the first brunt of our Hunger [Page 31]was satiated, and we began to feed more leisurely, which afforded us time to feed our Eyes too with the Splendour of our entertainment, and the rarities of the Hall; which was all hung with rich Arras, whereon was pourtrayed the Story of Phryxus the Son of Athamas, here he swam over the yet un-nam'd River on the golden back of the Ram, and here the timorous Girl be­fallen off, still strugling with those Waves, which her death has made so famous; and now the Hellespont, as seeming content with so great a Sacrifice, smooth'd its frothy cheeks in calmness. On an other side was a lively descrip­tion of the Fight of Damasen (an Earth-bore Gyant) with the Dra­gon. How young Tylus walking by the banks of the River Hermus, chanc'd to touch with his Hand a sleeping Dragon, being ignorant [Page 32]what it was, but the incensed Creature bending back his Neck, and opening his impartial Jaws, ran against him, and lashing his sides, shook the Tempestuous bur­then of his fatal Tail, which he cast about his Neck in undissolva­ble Spires, still sending from his poisonous Throat the frothy mes­sengers of indubitable death: This was the only chain which grim Lachesis allotted the youth, though glorious with dazling Scales, yet most pernicious to the wearers of it; and in the embrace of this, like a sweet Flower covered with Dew, he bow'd to the Earth, and left the Nymph his Sister, to mourn his untimely fate: She forgat not a pious Groan or two, and then went in search of the Dragon, to know how big he was; for it was not one Travailer, nor one She­pherd he had destroyed, nor was [Page 33] Tylus alone slain by him, nor did he only feed on Beasts while he lay basking in the Wood, but often tearing up a strong Tree with his Teeth, he would swallow it, and often drawing back a Travailer with the very force of his magne­tick Breath, he had been seen afar off to receive an whole Man in his gaping Throat. The Nymph Meroe saw from far this Mutherer of her Brother, and was shaken with horrour, to behold the thick rows of his pestiferous Teeth, and the Crown of Death circum­scribed in the limits of his wide Throat. And making sad lamen­tation in the Wood, she met Da­masen, the huge Son of Earth, whom contention had nurs'd up, and Lucina her self had arm'd; an Infant, yet terrible; a Suckling, yet Warlike, and a Child of more than humane strength: Him the [Page 34]Nymph beholding near a side of the Wood, fell on her Knees, and sobbing mournfully, show'd him the Monstrously-crawling Mur­therer of her Brother, and poor Tylus yet strugling with death in the dust. The Gyant gladly un­dertook her quarrel, and wren­ching up a huge Tree from his Mother Earth, he presently came before the cruel Dragon, who had by this time sounded the trumpet of his horrid Hissing to the Battle. Never were two such Monsters met together, the one covering near fifty Acres with his Scaly folds, the other threatning the Stars with his lofty front; the fearful Dragon had soon ty'd the Legs of Damasen with a double Sphincter, and opening the gates of his Teeth, with an enraged look, that breathed death, he darted at him the moist weapons of Poison from his Lips, [Page 35]and leap'd up towards his Head: But the proud Damasen scorning such familiarity with a Beast, easily repell'd him with his Hand, and smiting him with the Oak on his Temples, he rooted the Tree once more, sending it and death toge­ther into the Monster; who folding himself up in close wreaths, lay dead on the Earth; when of asuddain the Female Dragon com­ing by, as it were on purpose, saw her dead Male, and presently ha­sted to the herbiferous Mountain, whence cropping with her vipe­rous Teeth the Flower of Jove, she brought back the Medicinal Herb in her Lips, and presently apply'd it to the dry Chaps of the dead Serpent; the hinder part of him was now liveless, the formost moved, and lovingly joyn'd it self to the other part, which now recover'd motion too; thus having [Page 36]drawn his returned Breath through his cold Mouth, he soon after be­gan to open his Throat and send forth accustomed Hisses, and so returned with his loving Mate to his secret Den. And then fair Meroe, who beheld all this, took up the Flower of Jove, and ap­plyed it to the Mouth and Nostrils of her breathless Brother; but the vital Herb with its Virtual leaves, re-insouled the Body, and forced his departed Spirit to return again, infusing heat and life through every part: At this Young Tylus rose again, like a Man who after his nocturnal Sleep shakes off the Eye­binding shackles of lazy Somnus, and leaps from his Bed on his vigou­rous Feet; again, his late congea­led Blood began to run its wonted circulation through the channels of the Veins, and his newly relea­sed Hands began to actuate, his [Page 37]Face was reinvested with its former Beauty, and strength returned to his Body, light to his Eyes, and speech to his Lips. On an other side was pourtrayed the contention of emulous Arachne with the Goddess Minerva; but the most admirable rarity there was the Spiders Web, which was made by Metamorphosed Arachne; ne­ver were threads so small, so artifi­cially wrought by any humane Hand before. These representati­ons and more were expressed to the life on those ingenious Hangings, which while we curiously run over, our Stomachs had remitted much of their former rapacity, and we had leisure to ruminate on the wonderful and undeserved Civi­lities we had received from so small a Nation, not only some­times remembring the goodness of their Bread and Wine, but often [Page 38]reflecting on that admirable skill had been shown in the Work on the Arras; at which time we, seeming not to employ all our Or­gans at Supper, were supprized with such an Harmonious Consort of Musick, that every Sense seem'd converted into that of Hearing, and our Apostate Ap­petite, to prefer this Auditory Banquet. Which so inflam'd the Aery Soul of Eucompsus, that be­ing very dexterous in that faculty, hewarbled out extempore this rapture with a most sweet and low Voice to the Indian Tune, which was then play'd.

And here the Musick ending, his Pegasean heat was a little coo­led, when the youngest of the Three Heroes (who the Ancient Gentleman before called his Sons) stept behind Eucompsus, and having obligingly commended his Voice, he thank'd him for the Honour conferr'd on their Solemnity, and confessing that by a familiarity with his Country Priests, he had attained to so much knowledge at lest in the English Tongue, as might make him perceive the drift of his Song to be in praise of that Consort, he therefore desired to be permitted to make his return in the like nature; which Eucompsus gladly condescended to, and whis­pered to me and my Friend his intent, so that we were almost Ear-starved with expectation of that genial entertainment; when of a suddain, the Musick having [Page 41]play'd one Preparative, the Spirit of the young Heroe was so ra­vishingly elevated, that soaring above the usual pitch of meaner Poets, he warbled forth, with the most gratiously surprizing Voice imaginable, this Song in the Indian Language.

After this favourable Vale, the residue of our Supper was taken away, in the same order it was all brought in, and immediately, upon the ringing of the Golden Bell, the Priest, which they call a Dramesco (i. e. a representative of Christ) returned in the same Habit [Page 43]and manner as before, who moun­ting on the aforementioned Ivory Basis, returned the Thanks of the Guests to the Supream Deity in these words, O thou ineffable Being, whose Goodness is as boundless as thine Empire, in the name of these Stran­gers, I thine unworthy Substitute, return thee deserved Thanks for this present comfortable repast, as well as thy daily favours to them; beseeching thee, that as their weak Bodies, through thy Mercy, are nourished with daily Food, so their immortal Souls may continually be satisfied with the Spiritual Banquets of thy Grace, that both their Souls and Bodies may joyn in a pure Life, to the Glory of thy Great Name, and the Health of their own Souls: Grant this of thine un­speakeable Clemency. So be it.

Having so said, he blessed us, and bad us rest in Peace; adding, that he would see us the next [Page 44]morning, and confer with us; at which saying, we all rose up and bow'd to him, which he seem'd to take no notice of, but went di­rectly out of the Hall; after which there came in four Damsels (who were of the hundred fore-mentio­ned) with lighted Tapers in their hands, who approaching to me first, as being the Chief, beck'ned to me to follow them, which I did, (leaving the rest behind on their Cushions, as the custom of the Country required) till they brought me into a fair Chamber, wherein there was a large Couch, standing on four Feet of Ebony, and co­vered with a rich Mantle of Silk, quilted with Wool, on which there seem'd Poppies to grow: They pointed to the Couch, and set the Tapers in Sockets of Silver, which were purposely placed on each side the Couch, and so left [Page 45]me to my repose, closing the Door after them. No sooner was this done, but the most Fragrant sent imaginable began to allure my yielding Senses to a retirement; it proceeded from a Smoak of burnt Spices and Perfumes, which I suppose, the Maids, by some Tube, transfused into my Chamber through the hole of the Door. I was thinking, what a rare sub­ject that would prove for Eucompsus to exercise his Poetry on; but in­deed the Virtue of this sweet Fu­migation was so effectually sopori­ferous, that I had no sooner lay'd my self on the Couch, and co­ver'd me with the Mantle, but the irresistable Charms of Somnus locked up my wearied Senses in the Cabinet of Rest. And so I lay, till a knocking at my Door awaked me with this Tetrastich.

At which serious and apt Me­mento, I saw the Tapers began to confess themselves useless at the approach of Aurora, and as see­ming desirous to resign their Of­fice to a brighter Luminary, they hid their dying Heads in the Soc­kets, and yet in their very snuffs, left an odoriferous Savour behind them. Then I arose, and having taken a turn or two in my Cham­ber, and view'd the delectable and costly furnishing thereof, the four former Maids came in, and beck­ning to me to follow, they recon­ducted me into the same Hall, where having left me, four others came in with Eucompsus, and so [Page 47]every one in the order they sat at Supper, was conducted in by four Maids, till we were all met, and then it was found, that all of us had a like ceremony used in all respects. But while we were de­bating on the past occasions, ap­plauding their Magnificence and Hospitality, the Venerable Dra­mesco came in, according to his promise, and desiring us to sit down on our Cushions, he him­self mounted on a Step of Ebony, opposite to the Ivory Basis, and made this following Discourse to us.

Friends and Brethren, first of all, as English Men, I bid you welcome, but as Christians, I embrace your Society. That Basis of Ivory being Consecrated to Holy Uses, I never stand on it, unless while I am Praying or Praysing of God; but this whereon now I am, is the place where I usually Discourse, [Page 48]and it is of this colour, to signifie, that all other talk is as much below that, as black is contrary to white. But these things are obvious, and of themselves explicable enough. I sup­pose you may all wonder to hear me speak so readily your Language, in so remote a Country; but you must know, that our Dramesco's, whom you call Priests, are taught from their Infancy, all the most known Languages of the World, which for the most part, we in a pretty manner attain to, notwithstanding the brevity of our Lives, which never exceeds forty Years; nay we count twenty a sufficient Age, though many attain to thirty; but forty, as I said before, is the highest apex, to which our Life can or did ever climb. And yet, some among us, have been found able in all the Sciences, and skill'd in fifty four Languages; a thing, which to the Europeans may seem incredible, but as soon as they know our circum­stances, [Page 49]it will not prove so difficult to believe. For the Nature of our Climate, it is so providentially dis­posed, as if Heaven intended to com­pensate the deficience of our time in a more vigilant aptitude to Industry; for he that is most wearied with La­bour among us, in the space of twenty four hours, requires but one three hours Sleep, by which only he is suffi­ciently invigorated and refreshed: Besides, we have the presence of the Sun two hours and an half sooner than any in Europe, and find him setting but an hour sooner, so that our day gains of them one whole hour and an half; moreover Nature has enriched this Soyl with a soveraign Plant cal­led Anthypuum, the Berries where­of being made into a Drink, do re­fresh us as well as any Sleep, and save us the loss of time; so that though our Bodies are so inconsiderable, and our Years so few, yet our Life may be [Page 50]justly reckoned the longest and most Proper Life, because it is hardly ever, and then but for a small time deprived of its operations, by that silent un­active Interregnum of Sleep. And I remember to have heard of such a Drink, among you of England, which is called by that improper name of Coffee; you count that a great help to vigilancy, and so I grant it may be, but I can assure you, it is made of a Plant which is the bastard Plant to our Anthypuum, and has scarce one scruple of the Virtue which belongs to ours. I suppose, it is the way of Hea­ven to bless each Soyl with those Fruits which are most congruous and agreeable to the disposition of the Inhabitants, and most profitable and necessary for the sustenance of the Country. Our people are for the most part Husband­men, Gardeners and Keepers of Cat­tle; only two Hundred thousand of the Commonalty are in especial em­ploy'd [Page 51]in digging of Mines, which a­bound here, and coyning the Gold and Silver, though there are but 50000 of them work at it yearly. Others make it their Trade to Work in all kinds of Silk, to make Tapestry, and Quilted Works, and to make Apparel for the rest of the Nation. Others that are of the Militia, are sent every Spring to the Sea-side, to break the Eggs of the young Cranes, and kill the old ones, as many as they can. Thus, every one is helpful to another; one sort manures the Ground, another defends the Country: Another Cloaths us, ano­ther Feeds us, and another helps us to Barter for what we lack, by enriching our Coffers: So that every one being content with his Profession, and every Profession being sufficiently gainful, (because we are all Industrious, and know not those luxurious wayes of Spending, which others practice) those that have much have but enough, [Page 52]and those that have little want nothing. Now the desire of Riches being unnatural to our Constitutions, and the wayes of Deceiving being un­known, while every one enjoys his own, no body is in want, and our own Soyl yields us as much as the whole World could. Hence having no need to fall to base practises, we are all exercised in our own Vocations, and when we are Old we leave the practice and gains of our Trade to our Children, who, (as we wrought before to maintain them) are now, by the Law both of Nature and our Land, forced to nourish us, which they do most dutifully: But if any neglect it, as I never yet could hear of more than two, the Judges, that go about to look to such things, bring them from their Fathers House, and having caused their Eyes to be pull'd out, and bran­ding them with the Figure of a Viper in their Fore-heads, they send them forth, thus helpless, into the Fields, [Page 53]and so those who refused to nourish their Parents, are now uncaple of finding nourishment for themselves; but being hated and abhorred of all, who see them so stigmatiz'd, they wander a­bout, till they dye deservedly mise­rable. And here the Good Man having made a pause, and looking stedfastly on me, I thought fitting to make some reply; and thinking nothing could prove more accep­table, than if I should retaliate him, by a narration of our Cu­stoms, I prepared to answer him in that kind, though I was a­sham'd to see how these small ones exceeded us: But yet, because I doubted whether he might not have attained to the knowledge of them, as well as of our Language, I first chose to ask him, whether he had ever yet been acquainted with our wayes of Government, or would desire to hear any News [Page 54]from us? To which, he thus re­turned. About 2660 Springs past, (for we commonly use that part of the Year in discourse, for the whole, it being the only memorable time for Action with us) there came into our Country an Indian Brachman, (for so their Wise Men are called) the first Stranger that our Annals make mention of, called Melesigenes of a comely Personage, tall and long-Visa­ged, his Eyes black and sharp-sighted, his Hair and Beard as white as Goats-Milk, his Complexion Sanguine; and in short, his Aspect such, as could allure Mens love, and enforce their respect. He was no sooner seen by some of our Nation, but they received him as a God, adoring him and offe­ring him Presents; but when the King of Gerania (which is the Name of our Country) heard of him, he came himself to do him Honour, and carrying him into the Temple of [Page 55]Jupiter, who was then God of the Land, made there a sumptuous Feast for him; at which, he having Eaten little, and Drunk less, came to the King, and spake to this purpose in the Indian Language, which was scarcely then understood by our Ancestours. O King! I am no God, nor Person that merit such Divine Honours, but a Graecian Born, and a Man that have Travailed most parts of the known World, to encrease Knowledge. I have been in Aegypt, and seen the Wisdom of their Priests and Magici­ans: I have been in Persia, and con­versed with their Magi. I have noted the Holiness and Religion of the Jews, and read the Poetical Writings of their Learned King David; I have also examined the skill of the Chaldaeans in the Stars; but pre­ferring the strict and temperate Life of the Indian Gymnosophists, I have conversed with them above this [Page 56]ten Years; so that now by my Speech, Habit, and Profession, I seem a Na­tive of that Country. But of all the People I ever met with, none, as yet, have appeared to me to Live so irregu­larly as your People do, who though they are naturally well enclin'd to Hospitality and a sense of Religion, yet being destitute of a sufficient Law­giver, they live among themselves more like Brutes than rational Crea­tures. In short, give me Authority, O King, and I shall so employ my skill in cultivating their Manners, by wholsome Laws, and in Moddelling your Government by good Policy, that you shall have cause to remember me for ever. At this saying, the King fell down before his Feet, and testify­ing his ready acceptance, committed all his Affairs to the Discretion of this Stranger; but would suffer him to reside no where, but in the Temple of Jupiter, with the Priests of that [Page 57]God, partly, because he esteemed him next that Deity, and partly, because no place beside in that Province was big enough for the reception of such a Man. Here then he abode, and after he had instituted all those Laws, where­by this Land is yet governed, he di­vised, for increase of Knowledge, two Places, which he called Lescha's, the one for the Dramaesco's or Holy Men; the other for the Talcomummi, which you call Lay-Men; and added this difference, that the Dramaesco's should be bred there, and trained up from their Child-hood, in all the known Languages, and after the at­tainment of them in the Mysteries of Theology, Ethicks, Metaphysicks, Astronomy, and Geometry, only; and that the Talcomummi should only know the most proper Dialect of the Indian Tongue, and in that find out the Secrets of Nature, studying Lo­gick, Mathematicks, Musick, [Page 58] and Ethicks, which comprehend all the liberal Sciences; and to this in­tent, he left us Forty Volumns, every one in a several Language, which he ever bore with him, being light Rolls of Parchment; one whereof, contained the writings of Moses, David, and Solomon; adding, that they had been Servants to the true God, and that by their Writings, he had perswaded himself, how the Heathen Gods should shortly be demolished, and the true God manifesting himself to the World, should teach Men a way to serve him; in the mean time he left us in our Lescha this wonderful Prophecy:

Which I may thus English to you,

He said when this number of Years was complete, which is 986, we should understand the Prophecy: Now, which is strange, those Letters in Greek, which make this number, being joyned together in that order he placed them, do constitute the word [...], Christ, who was Preached to us in that Year, which this Prophecy foretold. After this he ordered such Castles as these to be made in such places, that may most annoy the Cranes; and shew'd us the Nature of three most useful things, the one of the Tree which he called Geranophonon, which signi­fies a Crane-killer; for if a Crane doth but touch it, it makes the Claws or Bills, or any other part, that tou­ches it, to fall off, and soon destroys that enemy of ours: Then he show'd us the use of an Herb called Moly by us, but by him Cynocephalea, which being beat to Powder and drank in Wine, is a soveraign Remedy against [Page 60]Witchcraft and Poison. But this most profitable Antidote, whose chief Vir­tue lies in its Root, is so deep and strongly radicated in the Earth, that we ought to use our utmost care in dig­ging about it, for fear of breaking the Root. And lastly, he taught us the manner of making that Drink, which we use instead of Sleep, and therefore he called it Anthypuum. And ha­ving done all these things of love for us, in the space of eight or nine years, he told us he would depart now for Greece, and promised to mention us to the World, in the Writings he inten­ded to publish, which he said, should comprehend the Vigour of the Body, and strength of a Wise Mind, as a means to eternize his Name, which, though first he said was Melesigenes, be afterwards acknowledged it to be Homer, that is blind, because his Country-Men seeing him not overcome as others, by vain Pleasures, which [Page 61]begin at the Eyes, they counted him as blind, and therefore, called him Homer, never considering, that the quick eye of his Reason and Virtue had purposely closed the Eye of Concu­piscence, with which, as long as Men see, they themselves are no better than blind. But when our King heard of his intended departure, after all his Prayers, perswasions, and promi­ses proved ineffectual to stay him, he offered him many large Favours, which when he refused to accept, the King begg'd of him to say what he should do for his sake, that had done so much for our Country. He only desired him to do three things; first, to Erect a Tem­ple, bigger than that of Jupiter, and Dedicate it [...], to the God that was to come, and to ho­nour him with no Sacrifices, but of continual Prayer and Praises, and to that end to institute a Quire with Songs and Musick, to Bless and Mag­nifie [Page 62]him; Then he desired him to give his mind to Hospitality; and to that purpose, to provide Two hundred Chambers in every Castle, and to furnish them after the manner you saw your Lodgings furnished: And lastly, he desired him to transmit his Laws to Posterity, and to choose out every Year some of the gravest and justest Talcomummi to expound the Law to the People, and to select out of them two Judges for every Province in his Dominions of Gerania: First, for the Province of Gadozalia (so called, from that King Gadozal) where is the chief City, and the largest Men of all the Pygmies, who are also the longest liv'd and best Learned. Se­condly, for the Province of Homeria, which took name from that Gymno­sophist, where the People delight chiefly in Caverns and Cottages, built of Mud, and adorned with Feathers and whites of Eggs. Thirdly, for [Page 63]the Province of Calingi, where the Pygmies are the smallest of all, Marrying at five years of Age, and not living beyond twelve; who chiefly feed on Fish, which they take from the River Arbis, that runs through their Province. And lastly, for the Pro­vince of Elysiana, so called, for its wholesome Air and pleasant Situation. All this the King Gadozal promised and thereto Swore by his Scepter, which was made of Wood, and plated over with Gold. And so that God­like Man left our Country, and left an Eternal Memory of his Acts with us, which the grateful King strove to encrease several wayes; as first, by a golden Image, representing Homer, giving Laws to the Pygmies, with this Motto, —

Moreover, he Instituted an Order of Greek-Talcomummi; who are only permitted, beside their Mother Tongue, to Learn the Greek, both Verse and Prose, which they were much assisted in by several admirable Poems of his, (which he Wrote for them) chiefly three, his Thesmo­phoron, which contained all his Laws in Verse; a small one called Epicichlides; and his Margites, which, it may be, have never come to your Hands, because he left them wholly here, except some few Frag­ments of them, which he took with him. And this Greek Order from him are called to this day Homeridae. But I forgot to tell you, that in that Temple, which he wish'd to be built To the God that should come, there was an Adytum called the Proseu­cha, over which Homer left this Distich to be wrote in golden Cha­racters, (for we soon had learned [Page 65]to make Letters by his assistance.

Which I thus English for you, because every one may understand me,

And thus, by this mans means, we have not only lost our Barbarism, but arrived to a prety degree of Know­ledge, and have a way to understand the Language, Customs, and Govern­ment of all Countries, especially since these Indies have been so open; for the Indians learn of English or Dutch Merchants the Affairs and Transactions of other Countries, and [Page 66]from them the Brachmans learn the same, and they, in memory of Homer, send to us every Year with writings of those Matters.

Here he paused again, and Eu­compsus being a great admirer of Homer, began to be altered in his Countenance, with a more than perhaps moderate Joy; which, I verily believe, came but little short of a rapture, and would have soon extemporized an Ode or so, had not the three young Squires come, who making very low Reverence to the Dramaesco, he went straight out of the Room, bowing to no Body; for it is a Law to the Priests, never to bow their Bodies to any but God, as being above all others, by virtue of their Function; like­wise they are never to be seen in publick, unless standing, to put them in mind of the uprightness of their lives, and to make them [Page 67]more watchful and diligent. Soon after, the Ancient Gentleman came in, and gave order to bring in our Breakfast-Dinner, (for it was insteed of both, and between the time of both; they in that Coun­try having but two Meals a day) which was done after the former manner, the Dramaesco still begin­ning and ending the Meal with his Orisons. But after Dinner, while some of us were reasoning on the absence of Pandeison and the four Servants, not being able to imagin what was become of them, we saw him come with them very cheerfully into the Hall, appearing as well and sound as ever, which put us into no small admiration, considering how late it was since we left him in that miserable plight. But we soon heard him from his own Mouth acknowledge the wonderful skill of the Talcomummi [Page 68]Physicians, and their wholesome Provision, made for Wounded or Sick, so that they keep none un­der their Hands above a day or two; which great proficiency in that faculty, cannot be attained to by other People, because, no where else are found such good Simples, such Sanative Drinks, such lear­ned Treatises, and rare Experi­ments, such exquisite Care and Diligence, and such moderate and wholsome Diet, and perhaps such faithful Physitians too. And then I understood by him, how, at our first entrance, he was taken by the two hindmost Gentlemen, riding on Rams, (it being un­lawful for Sick Strangers to enter the Hall) and suddainly laid on a Chariot, drawn by six Hee-Goats, and carried to Physician's-Lescha, where his Servants attended him, and in that short time his Arm was [Page 69]Set, and the rents of his Face closed up to admiration; nay, and his very Cloaths were so neatly ranter-draw'd, that no man li­ving could ever discern they had been torn. Which kind usage made Pandeison as obstinately now affirm them good Angels, as be­fore he would make them appear to be Imps of Hell. And indeed that fall made him afterward stand the surer; for where before he thought every Bush a Murtherer, and every breath of Wind a flat­t'ring Traytor, considering now the ill consequences of such pusilla­nimous Cowardize, he bore him­self for the future with a far more virile and couragious Resolved­ness.

But now the Ancient Gentleman sat down among us, and bad his three Sons to discourse with us, about what he had ordered; when [Page 70]the youngest of them placing him­self near Eucompsus, began this relation: Worthy Gentlemen, see­ming your selves young and vigorous Blades, and being, I doubt, not well skill'd in Military affairs, you would take it kindly, I presume, if we should deliver unto you the true man­ner of our War with the Cranes, it being impossible, that you should be ignorant of our Antipathy. To pre­vent therefore your modesty, according to the General, my Fathers Orders, I shall tell you the whole Story, that when you talk of us to the Europaeans, there may be no mistake. And first, you must know, my Father, whom you see, is the tallest Man, the most Aged, and has been the best experienced in this whole Realm of Gerania; when he was twenty Years old, his first Wife, my Elder Brothers Mother, dyed for grief, that one of her Sons had been slain by the Cranes in a fierce skirmish; [Page 71]after that, the late King Pantalcus requested him to Marry his Daughter, which he condescended to (though he came of a more Honourable race, from King Porus his Dwarf) and then he was created Generalissimo of all the King's Forces, Lord Hospitaller of Geranea, and his Governour of this Castle; to which he no sooner came, but in revenge of his Sons Death, and for love of his late Wife, he invented this most artificial Snare, which you saw from the high Ground, on the Bat­tlements of our Castle. For the Cranes being the only causers of Famin in our Land, by reason they are so numerous, that they can devour the most plentiful Harvest, both by eating the Seeds be­fore-hand, and then picking the Ears that remain: My Father, to deceive them, hath caused Earth to be spread over the Roof, and to be raised into Furrows, which are purposely full of Seeds, by which these Creatures, [Page 72](though very wise) being cheated, when they think to fill themselves, and prejudice us, not only lose those hopes, but their Liberty and Lives, being made a Prey to our anger. So that, where other Lords of Castles are scarce able to pay their Tribute of one hun­dred Cranes Heads yearly, my Father, though he has an immunity from all such Taxes, as being the Kings Bro­ther, doth freely, by the help of this Snare, present him with two thousand Heads a Year. Now, (not to mention my Fathers Acts, which are more than any History can equal, in respect of his Stature) every Spring-time, I and my two Brothren go mounted, as you saw us, with those six Captains of our Horse, and their Companies, down to the Sea-side, where the Cranes build; at the first bleating of our Goat-Horses, all the old Cranes leave their Nests, and in them their young ones, and fly about us with great fury, for [Page 73]they are very sensible of our Hostile intent; then our Valour is most con­spicuously signalized; for as they will sometimes daringly come on the ground and endeavour, with their strength, to push us beside the Saddle, some of us have been so bold to throw by our Weapons, and setting our selves firm, to catch hold of their long Necks, notwithstanding the many Wounds of their sharp Bills, and so wringing their Heads from their Bodies, to put them as Trophies under our Belt. And thus my Father hath often said, that day his young Son was slain (for being then but tender, yet venturous, he seperated himself from the rest, and having transfixt nine of them through with so many Darts, when all his Wea­pons were gone, he was dismounted, and wounded to the Heart, with one of their long and sharp Bills) that day, I say, he hath said, and all men acknowledge, that to comfort his [Page 74]Wife for that loss, he presented her with five hundred Enemies Heads, and three hundred dozen of their Eggs, all taken and slain with his own hands and my elder Brothers. And many such encounters we have had and must have every Spring-time; but for all this, they are so numerous, that in Seed-time they come in Shoals to spoil the Husband-man's hopes, and our nourish­ment; There we being both Horse and Foot, stand ready with Darts, Slings, and Staves, to assail them with all our Vigour. They chiefly aim at the Head and Face, but those places we have guarded with an Helmet of that fatal Wood Geranophonon; which, whoever of them touch, are sure to dye. Now, that these Creatures may not seem so inconsiderable, besides the advantage of Flying and equalling us in Bulk, but far exceeding us though mounted in highth; they are very wise and strong, as may be ar­gued [Page 75]by that immense way they fly after our Harvest, which they alwayes ex­pect. When they begin their Airy Voyage, they all agree together, and rank themselves in the perfect form of an Oxygonical Triangle, some­thing like the Roman Wedge, the acute Cuspe whereof not resisting, but penetrating the Air, still widens the Gap, and quite takes off the force of the opposite Wind, which would else scatter and disturb their March. Their Flight is to the sight very lofty, the King flying formost, whom they elect: In the Reer they place by turns, a certain number, who are to direct and encourage them with their Voice, and keep the rest all silent. At Night­times they set a Sentinel, or a Corps du guard, holding a Pebble in their Claws, which being let loose in Sleep, and so falling, rouzes them again to the Watch, and makes them ashamed of their supine negligence. In the [Page 76]mean time the rest Sleep securely, hi­ding the Head under the Wing, and standing alternately on each Foot. Their King sees forward on the March, and fore-tells what he sees. We have some of them tamed in our great Tower of Ainodnol, and these will wan­tonly make rounds, Dancing very pleasantly, though irregularly. It is known to your Men, that when they would pass over the Sea, they wisely choose the Straights between two Promontories, which we call Creu­methopson and Crambis; by which means, when weary, they rest them­selves. Having pass'd half way, they cast the Pebbles from their Feet, and the Sand from their Mouth, when they have touch'd the Continent. Which Sand they took, that by their silence, they might escape the know­ledge of those Eagles in their way, to whose fury their Loquacity would else have betrayed them. For these, and [Page 77]many more of their Customs, they de­serve to be reckoned a Flying Com­mon-wealth; and some of our Poets have feigned, that because Jupiter, (who himself being a Pygmie, used to ride on the Goat Amalthaea) had been displeased at the former Pyg­mies for their frequent immolation of Goats (which we now hold Sacred) he therefore Metamorphosed them into Cranes, who still will fight with our Goats, and having formerly been Husband-men, come now in such throngs to require the Fruits of their Ground, and to expell us the Country. But, if you please, you may smile at the fancy: I shall only add this, that from Seed-time to Harvest, we fasten a thin net-like work on stakes, over our plow'd Ground, so high, that the Cranes cannot come to the Corn, and yet the Rain and Sun-shine is nothing hindred thereby; on the sides of which expanded sheets we drive close stakes [Page 78]of Geranophonon, which, if they endeavour to pass, it kills them. And so by our Valour and Wit we not only are Masters of our own Land, but transmit our Empire to the People of the Air, and without a tedious watch, may securely expect a full Harvest.

And here the Ancient Gentle­man lifting up his staff, gave his young Son a sign to leave off, which he readily obey'd, and only putting into Eucompsus his hand a Volumn, which contained his own History, he rose and left his place to be supply'd by his Brother; who was of a long Visage, straight Hair, Sanguine Complexion, grey Ey'd, and of a moist Palm. He being drawn near me, began this subsequent Discourse:

Gentlemen, you having heard the Original of our Laws, of our Wars and Customs, may further, I suppose, desire to understand after what manner [Page 79]we express our Love and Courtship to the Female kind, the Intrigues of Love not being the smallest part of a young Man's enquiry. First then, (for I love to be brief in talk,) where there is a lawful Affection, it can be no where kept so inviolable as with us. Our pretences are not long, but after both parties are agreed, they must have the consent of their Parents, (who seldome here dye before their Chil­dren are Married) which being ob­tained, the next New-Moon they are joyned, after which, they make a Feast, Inviting all their Friends and Rela­tions, who, after the Fathers and Mothers of both have given their donation, cast every one, according to their ability, a certain sum into a Box, provided on purpose, which serves them for their Portion. So that Por­tions among us are never regarded, we being naturally more Generous than your great Nations, and not thinking [Page 80]fit to esteem the Compartner of our Lives by the Parents Dowry, but rather, by what Nature and Virtue hath made their own. As for that filthy Merchandize of Bodies, which you call prostitution or Whoredome, we are utterly unacquainted with it, partly, because the Nature of our Wo­men is more modest, partly, because they have all a livelyhood with such practices, and abhor to gain any thing unlawfully; and partly, because we have such an esteem of Marriage, (which would seem vain, if other ways were suffer'd) that we count it the most honourable state of Life, and the most dreadful to violate; and there­fore none are desirous of it, but they are free to enjoy it, there being no great disparity of Faces or Fortunes among us: We are all naturally health­ful, all straight Bodied, all Honest and Generous, all affable and Religi­ous; and all obliged to profess the [Page 81]same Trades as their Parents have done, by which they attain more skill and more riches. Only, if they have many Sons beside the eldest, some are bred up for the increase of the Mili­tia, some for the Lescha of the Tal­comummi, (for the Priest's Sons succeed them in the Dramaesco's Les­cha) whence they either practice Physick or Law, or are Singers in the Temples, or Secretaries of Learned Men, or Councellors to the King, and nothing is ever wanting to them for the attainment of these things, for the Lescha's are maintained by the Kings Charge, and every Science is able to sustain its followers. I might tell you of our more Court-like way of winning the Ladies Hearts, of their Beauty, sweet Nature, Modesty, and Affability; how silent, cleanly, indu­strious and loving our Wives are; how devout, sober, and grave our Ma­trons; how lovely, ingenious, and [Page 82]chast our Virgins; so that this three hundred Years have given us no ex­ample of any known Whore, dishonest Wife, or immodest Widow: And so indeed it is with the Men too; only one Trebor Nostaw, one of the Talcomummi, was lately found guilty of conveying away some Goods and Monies from their Lescha, and decieving a faithful Friend, who trusted in him; for which last Fact chiefly, he was first disgracefully ex­pell'd the Lescha, and afterward stigmatized in the Forehead with this Mark I. H. by which he being known to have proved a false Friend, is befriended by none, but cast out, to live as he can, or dye as he deserves: And such punishments are the greatest we ever yet used in our Nation; be­cause there are so few Delinquents, and because the Shame and Misery may be more exemplary. But I can­not so soon pass by Friendship, it being [Page 83]a Virtue so honourable with us, and especially so pleasing to my self; and 'tis a common Proverb with us; Virtue and Friendship are the Twins of God. At this time I have a Friend called Mahdeen, in the Lescha of Dramaesco, so sober and virtuous, so prudent and ingenious, so notable for his universal knowledge and remar­kable Piety, that the hope and ex­pectation of all pitch on him for the future ornament of our Church, and support of the Kingdome, by his Ju­stice and Prudence; and notwithstan­ding our great distance, he sends me notice of his Affairs, and I commit all my concerns that lye that way, to his hands, not doubting of his Fide­lity and Discretion.

I remember a Witty Distich he shew'd me on our new contracted Amity.

Which I requited with this,

The thoughts of this his friendship and known constancy, are now the chiefest solace I delight in, and his [Page 85]memory is the most pretious and gra­phical Effigies of Virtue, that I can bear about me: So that though such an Affectionate Intimacy is here very usual; yet I dare affirm, that of Mahdeen and Senrab (which is my Name) to be the most defecated and sincere.

And here again the Ancient Gen­tleman, lifting up his Staff, put him in mind to conclude his Dis­course, and give place to the Eldest Brother, who spake in this manner.

Worthy Sirs, having your minds prepossessed with the knowledge of what is most memorable with us, except what I am going to tell you; I think, your selves being put to it, could not imagin any thing undeclared of more importance, than Court matters. Of them therefore I shall briefly inform you. Our present Government (as it was ever since we knew Civility) Monarchical, the most natural and [Page 86]best Government: But to omit the Stories of our former Kings (which are not able enough, but unfit for this time) I shall only give you an account of the present King. You have heard, I suppose, by the Dramaesco, that our Kingdome of Gerania contains but four Provinces, Gadozalia, Ho­meria, Calingi, and Elysiana; the Metropolis of Gadozalia is called Ainodnol, the most large, rich, and populous City of the whole Pygmean Kingdom; here our King keeps his Court, here is the Centre of all the Gentry and Nobility, and here flou­rishes the practice of all Arts and Sciences, which are highly esteemed and cherished by the King, whose Name is Sulorac, Son to Pantalcus the late King, the manner of whose Death was too Barbarous to be told to any stranger, but the Actions and Virtues of his life have already swoln many Volumns. He bears in his Coat [Page 87]the Arms of each province quartered, a Lyon passant in chief, an open Book, whereon is written [...], a Fish and a Tree, the Supporters are a Goat and a Ram, the Horns Or, on the Crest a Cranes Head erased, and on that four Crowns. This King keeps the most Royal Court of any Monarch, though he maintains neither Life-guard, nor armed Men, because our Court is as content and humble as the Country, and the King himself hath protested he fears nothing but Vice and Flattery. In Apparel, I confess, they are almost extravagant, because they think Men may lawfully deck themselves with what their own Country yields, if they think themselves not better than others, because finer. But in Drink and Amorous desires they keep such a moderation, as if they were rather Nymphs of Diana than Courtiers of a King. And this proceeds from a virtuous restraint, not from a langui­shing [Page 88]impotency. So that they can practice Love here, and please the Ladies, as well as the most passionate European Amoretto, but detest to abuse their Bodies where the Scripture will not permit. For Taxes, we are wholly unacquainted with them, because our King is never forced, like others, to desire a supply, the Representatives of the Nation, by the Peoples perswa­sion, alwayes filling the Exchequer, by their voluntary donations, not doubting of the Wisdom of the King and Councel, in disposing of it. But yet, for the benefit of the Nation, it hath been a custom of our Kings, to impose on all the Governours of Castles the Tribute of an Hundred Cranes Heads yearly, which they duly pay every Spring time. There are now belonging to the Kings houshold, a Dra­maesco, a Poet, a Philosopher, a Phy­sician, and a Painter, with whose talk and works he is used to relax his [Page 89]mind from the Cares of Empire. he is a Just, Wise, Temperate, and Valiant Prince, most generous in his Largesses, and mild in his Punishments; He sends yearly to the Heads of each Lescha, to render him the Names of those, who are eminent in any faculty, with their Age, standing, and behaviour; and as he sees in his Wisdom, he provides for them rewards according to their Deserts, which must needs be a great Encouragement to young Learners. He hath lately, to his eternal Renown, instituted an Order called the Royal Lescha, for the increase and propagation of ex­perimental Knowledge, by whose In­dustry, Philosophy hath been more promoted within this ten Years, than in an hundred Years before. And indeed, there is no such progress made in any parts of the World as here, in Learning and Piety; for it is an Epidemical Disposition we all have, [Page 90]to shun our Labour, that will produce Good, nor to embrace any Pleasure that is Evil; because, if any Good thing is done with Labour, the Labour soon passes away, but the Good remains; and if any Evil is done with Pleasure, the Pleasure soon vanisheth, but the Evil sticks behind.

And here he broke off, at the sign his Father gave, and within a while after, our Supper was brought in after the former manner. Only having understood that Eu­compsus was a great admirer of Homer, and not unhappy in Greek Poetry, they brought in after Sup­per, a Greek Talcomummi, one of the Homerides, who was lately sent thither by the King, about some business; when the youngest Squire pointing to him, gave Eu­compsus intimation of it, who thus accosted the Pygmie:

Which short Dialogue is thus ren­dred in English.

And saying this, he gave him a fair small Roll of Parchment in very small Characters of Gold, digested into three Columns, which you shall find Translated out of the Greek, at the end of this Narration; and he added, how every Pygmie Man and Woman was from four Years old obliged to read it over once a day, all their Life long; and to that end, bore it alwayes about in their Bosom, [Page 94]excepting only that his Order had them in Greek, and all the rest in their Mother Tongue, which eve­ry Parent is bound to teach his Children, not only to Speak, but to Read perfectly. After all this, we thanked the Ancient Gentleman for all the knowledge imparted to us, and kindnesses conferred on us, promising, if ever we return'd to our own Country, to publish their Hospitality and Goodness; and so we declared our stedfast pur­pose of leaving them the next Morning: which when they per­ceived, they professed how loath they were to part with us, and promised all possible accommoda­tions, and so taking our leave of them that Night, we were con­ducted to our several Lodgings, after the usual manner. The next Morning early, the youngest of the Brothers expected Eucompsus [Page 95]at his Chamber Door, who was at that instant considering and devising to speak with him before his departure; so that as their in­tent was mutual, their meeting found no impediment; but after the tedious ceremonies of their obliging Discourse, the young Squire embraced Eucompsus his Knees, and he lifting him up in his Arms, kissed his tender Cheeks, and promised to extol the Virtue of that small People, but chiefly that of him, to all the greater Nati­ons he should come to: And saying so, he gave him a prety consi­derable Volumn in Greek, which he had formerly composed in his youthful days, with his lively Effigies on the Frontispiece; and the grateful Pygmie, in requital of such a worthy present, gave Eu­compsus many precious and choise Rarities, among which there was [Page 96]his own Picture, enchased with Diamonds, drawn to the life, and when unfolded, expressing his true Stature, which Eucompsus received with abundant testimony of his joy and gratitude. But by this time Sol had drove his Chariot al­most half way towards his Noon­baiting place, in a high Town called Meridies, when the other two Brothers having loaded me and my other Friend with exces­sive Complements and Presents, we were at last dismissed with twelve Chariots of Provision for our Ship, drawn by Hee-Goats, who went directly, without lash or threat, before us, and the nine Ram-Horse-men accompanied us, as they had met us the other day, to the utmost limit of the Moun­tain tops, and bidding us, after we had taken out the Provision, to send the Chariots back again, [Page 97]they left us: But when we retur­ned to the Ship, and had already spooned her for Launching, we saw those well-taught Creatures to go directly homeward in the same order they came loaded, but with much more speed: And we all admired at the Works of God, and the power of Nature, who hath made so small a People so Wise, that they fail in nothing of that absolute Dominion our selves have over the Creatures.

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