Journeys Through Bookland, Volume 5 | Page 6

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 mine 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 on my mouth, to signify that I wanted food.
The hurgo (for so they call a great lord, as I afterward learned)
understood me very well. He descended from the stage, and
commanded that several ladders should be applied to my sides, on
which above an hundred of the inhabitants mounted, and walked
toward 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 eat 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 toward 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 mivolah"; and when they saw the vessels in the
air there was an universal shout of "Hekinah degul."
I confess I was often tempted, while they were passing backward and
forward 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 honor I made them--for so I interpreted my submissive
behavior--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 forward up to my face, with about a dozen of his retinue; and
producing his credentials, under the signet-royal, which he applied
close to mine eyes, spoke about ten minutes without any signs of anger,
but with a kind of determinate resolution; often pointing forward;
which, as I afterward found, was toward 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 no purpose, and made a sign with my
hand that was loose, putting it to the other (but over his excellency's
head, for fear of hurting him or his train), and then to my own head and
body, to signify that I desired my liberty.
It appeared that he understood me well