The Voyage of Captain Popanilla | Page 4

instantly overcome by a profound slumber. But his slumber, though
deep, was not peaceful, and he was the actor in an agitating drama.
He found himself alone in a gay and glorious garden. In the centre of it
grew a pomegranate tree of prodigious size; its top was lost in the sky,
and its innumerable branches sprang out in all directions, covered with
large fruit of a rich golden hue. Beautiful birds were perched upon all
parts of the tree, and chanted with perpetual melody the beauties of
their bower. Tempted by the delicious sight, Popanilla stretched
forward his ready hand to pluck; but no sooner had he grasped the fruit
than the music immediately ceased, the birds rushed away, the sky
darkened, the tree fell under the wind, the garden vanished, and
Popanilla found himself in the midst of a raging sea, buffeting the
waves.
He would certainly have been drowned had he not been immediately
swallowed up by the huge monster which had not only been the
occasion of the storm of yesterday, but, ah! most unhappy business!
been the occasion also of his losing that lock of hair.
Ere he could congratulate himself on his escape he found fresh cause
for anxiety, for he perceived that he was no longer alone. No friends
were near him; but, on, the contrary, he was surrounded by strangers of
a far different aspect. They were men certainly; that is to say, they had
legs and arms, and heads, and bodies as himself; but instead of that
bloom of youth, that regularity of feature, that amiable joyousness of
countenance, which he had ever been accustomed to meet and to love

in his former companions, he recoiled in horror from the swarthy
complexions, the sad visages, and the haggard features of his present
ones. They spoke to him in a harsh and guttural accent. He would have
fled from their advances; but then he was in the belly of a whale! When
he had become a little used to their tones he was gratified by finding
that their attentions were far from hostile; and, after having received
from them a few compliments, he began to think that they were not
quite so ugly. He discovered that the object of their inquires was the
fatal pomegranate which still remained in his hand. They admired its
beauty, and told him that they greatly esteemed an individual who
possessed such a mass of precious ore. Popanilla begged to undeceive
them, and courteously presented the fruit. No sooner, however, had he
parted with this apple of discord, than the countenances of his
companions changed. Immediately discovering its real nature, they
loudly accused Popanilla of having deceived them; he remonstrated,
and they recriminated; and the great fish, irritated by their clamour,
lashed its huge tail, and with one efficacious vomit spouted the
innocent Popanilla high in the air. He fell with such a dash into the
waves that he was awakened by the sound of his own fall.
The dreamer awoke amidst real chattering, and scuffling, and clamour.
A troop of green monkeys had been aroused by his unusual occupation,
and had taken the opportunity of his slumber to become acquainted
with some of the first principles of science. What progress they had
made it is difficult to ascertain; because, each one throwing a tract at
Popanilla's head, they immediately disappeared. It is said, however,
that some monkeys have been since seen skipping about the island,
with their tails cut off; and that they have even succeeded in passing
themselves off for human beings among those people who do not read
novels, and are consequently unacquainted with mankind.
The morning's adventure immediately rushed into Popanilla's mind, and
he proceeded forthwith to examine the contents of his chest; but with
advantages which had not been yet enjoyed by those who had
previously peeped into it. The monkeys had not been composed to
sleep by the 'Universal Linguist' of Mr. Hamilton. As for Popanilla, he
took up a treatise on hydrostatics, and read it straight through on the

spot. For the rest of the day he was hydrostatically mad; nor could the
commonest incident connected with the action or conveyance of water
take place without his speculating on its cause and consequence.
So enraptured was Popanilla with his new accomplishments and
acquirements that by degrees he avoided attendance on the usual
evening assemblages, and devoted himself solely to the acquirement of
useful knowledge. After a short time his absence was remarked; but the
greatest and the most gifted has only to leave his coterie, called the
world, for a few days, to be fully convinced of what slight importance
he really is. And so Popanilla, the delight of society and the especial
favourite of the women, was in a very short