Gullivers Travels | Page 6

inhabitants came and cut the strings that fastened the left
side of my head, which gave me the liberty of turning it to the right, and of observing the
person and gesture of him that was to speak. He appeared to be of a middle age, and taller
than any of the other three who attended him, whereof one was a page that held up his
train, and seemed to be somewhat longer than my middle finger; the other two stood one
on each side to support him. He acted every part of an orator, and I could observe many
periods of threatenings, and others of promises, pity, and kindness. I answered in a few
words, but in the most submissive manner, lifting up my left hand, and both my eyes to
the sun, as calling him for a witness; and being almost famished with hunger, having not
eaten a morsel for some hours before I left the ship, I found the demands of nature so
strong upon me, that I could not forbear showing my impatience (perhaps against the
strict rules of decency) by putting my finger frequently to my mouth, to signify that I
wanted food. The hurgo (for so they call a great lord, as I afterwards learnt) understood
me very well. He descended from the stage, and commanded that several ladders should
be applied to my sides, on which above a hundred of the inhabitants mounted and walked
towards my mouth, laden with baskets full of meat, which had been provided and sent
thither by the king's orders, upon the first intelligence he received of me. I observed there
was the flesh of several animals, but could not distinguish them by the taste. There were
shoulders, legs, and loins, shaped like those of mutton, and very well dressed, but smaller
than the wings of a lark. I ate them by two or three at a mouthful, and took three loaves at
a time, about the bigness of musket bullets. They supplied me as fast as they could,
showing a thousand marks of wonder and astonishment at my bulk and appetite. I then

made another sign, that I wanted drink. They found by my eating that a small quantity
would not suffice me; and being a most ingenious people, they slung up, with great
dexterity, one of their largest hogsheads, then rolled it towards my hand, and beat out the
top; I drank it off at a draught, which I might well do, for it did not hold half a pint, and
tasted like a small wine of Burgundy, but much more delicious. They brought me a
second hogshead, which I drank in the same manner, and made signs for more; but they
had none to give me. When I had performed these wonders, they shouted for joy, and
danced upon my breast, repeating several times as they did at first, Hekinah degul. They
made me a sign that I should throw down the two hogsheads, but first warning the people
below to stand out of the way, crying aloud, Borach mevolah; and when they saw the
vessels in the air, there was a universal shout of Hekinah degul. I confess I was often
tempted, while they were passing backwards and forwards on my body, to seize forty or
fifty of the first that came in my reach, and dash them against the ground. But the
remembrance of what I had felt, which probably might not be the worst they could do,
and the promise of honour I made them--for so I interpreted my submissive behaviour--
soon drove out these imaginations. Besides, I now considered myself as bound by the
laws of hospitality, to a people who had treated me with so much expense and
magnificence. However, in my thoughts I could not sufficiently wonder at the intrepidity
of these diminutive mortals, who durst venture to mount and walk upon my body, while
one of my hands was at liberty, without trembling at the very sight of so prodigious a
creature as I must appear to them. After some time, when they observed that I made no
more demands for meat, there appeared before me a person of high rank from his
imperial majesty. His excellency, having mounted on the small of my right leg, advanced
forwards up to my face, with about a dozen of his retinue; and producing his credentials
under the signet royal, which he applied close to my eyes, spoke about ten minutes
without any signs of anger, but with a kind of determinate resolution, often pointing
forwards, which, as I afterwards found, was towards the capital city, about half a mile
distant; whither it was agreed by his majesty in council that I must be conveyed. I
answered in few words, but to