A VOYAGE то LAPUTA, BALNIBARBI, LUGGNAGG, GLUBBDUBDRIB, and JAPAN. CHAP. I. The author fets out on his third voyage, is taken by pyrates. The malice of a Dutchman. His arrival at an island. He is received into Laputa. I Had not been at home above ten days, when captain William Robinfon a Cornish man, commander of the Hope-well, a ftout fhip of three hundred tuns, came to my house. I had formerly been furgeon of another ship, where he was mafter and a fourth part owner, in a voyage to the Levant; he had always treated me more like a brother, than an inferior officer, and hearing of my arrival made me a visit, as I apprehended, only out of friendship, for nothing paffed more than what is ufual after long abfences. But repeating his vifits often, often, expreffing his joy to find me in good health, asking whether I were now fettled for life, adding that he intended a voyage to the East-Indies in two months; at last he plainly invited me, though with fome apologies, to be furgeon of the ship; that I should have another furgeon under me, befides our two mates; that my salary should be double to the usual pay; and that having experienced my knowledge in fea-affairs to be at least equal to his, he would enter into any engagement to follow my advice, as much as if I had fhared in the command. He said so many other obliging things, and I knew him to be fo honeft a man, that I could not reject his propofal; the thirst I had of seeing the world, notwithstanding my past misfortunes, continuing as violent as ever. The only difficulty that remained, was to perfuade my wife, whose confent however I at last obtained by the profpect of advantage she proposed to her children. We set out the 5th day of August, 1706, and arrived at Fort St. George the 11th of April, 1707. We ftayed there three three weeks to refresh our crew, many of whom were fick. From thence we went to Tonquin, where the captain refolved to continue fome time, because many of the goods he intended to buy were not ready, nor could he expect to be dispatched in feveral months. Therefore, in hopes to defray fome of the charges he must be at, he bought a floop, loaded it with feveral forts of goods, wherewith the Tonquinefe ufually trade to the neighbouring islands, and putting fourteen men on board, whereof three were of the country, he appointed me master of the floop, and gave me power to traffic, while he tranfacted his affairs at Tonquin. We had not failed above three days, when, a great ftorm arifing, we were driven five days to the north-north-eaft, and then to the eaft; after which we had fair weather, but still with a pretty ftrong gale from the weft. Upon the tenth day we were chaced by two pyrates, who foon overtook us; for my floop was fo deep laden, that she failed very flow, neither were we in a condition to defend ourselves. We were boarded about the fame time by by both the pyrates, who entered furiously at the head of their men; but finding us all proftrate upon our faces (for fo I gave order) they pinioned us with strong ropes, and, fetting a guard upon us, went to fearch the floop. I observed among them a Dutchman, who seemed to be of fome authority, though he was not commander of either ship. He knew us by our countenances to be Englishmen, and jabbering to us in his own language, fwore we should be tied back to back, and thrown into the fea. I fpoke Dutch tolerably well; I told him who we were, and begged him in confideration of our being chriftians and proteftants, of neighbouring countries in strict alliance, that he would move the captains to take fome pity on us. This inflamed his rage, he repeated his threatenings, and turning to his companions, spoke with great vehemence in the Japanese language, as I fuppofe, often ufing the word chriftianos. The largest of the two pyrate ships was commanded by a Japanese captain, who Spoke a little Dutch, but very imperfect ly. ly. He came up to me, and after feveral questions, which I answered in great humility, he faid we fhould not die. I made the captain a very low bow, and then turning to the Dutchman faid, I was forry to find more mercy in an heathen, than in a brother chriftian. But I had foon reason to repent thofe foolish words: for that malicious reprobate, having often endeavoured in vain to perfuade both the captains that I might be thrown into the fea (which they would not yield to after the promise made me that I should not die) however prevailed fo far as to have a punishment inflicted on me, worse, in all human appearance, than death itself. My men were fent by an equal divifion into both the pyrate ships, and my floop new manned. As to myself, it was determined that I fhould be fet a-drift in a small canoe, with paddles and a fail, and four days provifions, which laft the Japanese captain was fo kind to double out of his own ftores, and would permit no man to fearch me. I got down into the canoe, while the Dutchman ftanding upon the deck loaded me with all the curfes and I injurious |