CHAPTER XI



[The author leaves Luggnagg, and sails to Japan.
From thence he returns in a Dutch ship to Amsterdam,
and from Amsterdam to England.]


I thought this account of the STRULDBRUGS might be some
entertainment to the reader, because it seems to be a little out
of the common way; at least I do not remember to have met the
like in any book of travels that has come to my hands: and if I
am deceived, my excuse must be, that it is necessary for
travellers who describe the same country, very often to agree in
dwelling on the same particulars, without deserving the censure
of having borrowed or transcribed from those who wrote before
them.

There is indeed a perpetual commerce between this kingdom and the
great empire of Japan; and it is very probable, that the Japanese
authors may have given some account of the STRULDBRUGS; but my
stay in Japan was so short, and I was so entirely a stranger to
the language, that I was not qualified to make any inquiries.
But I hope the Dutch, upon this notice, will be curious and able
enough to supply my defects.

His majesty having often pressed me to accept some employment in
his court, and finding me absolutely determined to return to my
native country, was pleased to give me his license to depart; and
honoured me with a letter of recommendation, under his own hand,
to the Emperor of Japan. He likewise presented me with four
hundred and forty-four large pieces of gold (this nation
delighting in even numbers), and a red diamond, which I sold in
England for eleven hundred pounds.

On the 6th of May, 1709, I took a solemn leave of his majesty,
and all my friends. This prince was so gracious as to order a
guard to conduct me to Glanguenstald, which is a royal port to
the south-west part of the island. In six days I found a vessel
ready to carry me to Japan, and spent fifteen days in the voyage.

We landed at a small port-town called Xamoschi, situated on the
south-east part of Japan; the town lies on the western point,
where there is a narrow strait leading northward into along arm
of the sea, upon the north-west part of which, Yedo, the
metropolis, stands. At landing, I showed the custom-house
officers my letter from the king of Luggnagg to his imperial
majesty. They knew the seal perfectly well; it was as broad as
the palm of my hand. The impression was, A KING LIFTING UP A
LAME BEGGAR FROM THE EARTH. The magistrates of the town, hearing
of my letter, received me as a public minister. They provided me
with carriages and servants, and bore my charges to Yedo; where I
was admitted to an audience, and delivered my letter, which was
opened with great ceremony, and explained to the Emperor by an
interpreter, who then gave me notice, by his majesty's order,
"that I should signify my request, and, whatever it were, it
should be granted, for the sake of his royal brother of
Luggnagg." This interpreter was a person employed to transact
affairs with the Hollanders. He soon conjectured, by my
countenance, that I was a European, and therefore repeated his
majesty's commands in Low Dutch, which he spoke perfectly well.
I answered, as I had before determined, "that I was a Dutch
merchant, shipwrecked in a very remote country, whence I had
travelled by sea and land to Luggnagg, and then took shipping for
Japan; where I knew my countrymen often traded, and with some of
these I hoped to get an opportunity of returning into Europe: I
therefore most humbly entreated his royal favour, to give order
that I should be conducted in safety to Nangasac." To this I
added another petition, "that for the sake of my patron the king
of Luggnagg, his majesty would condescend to excuse my performing
the ceremony imposed on my countrymen, of trampling upon the
crucifix: because I had been thrown into his kingdom by my
misfortunes, without any intention of trading." When this latter
petition was interpreted to the Emperor, he seemed a little
surprised; and said, "he believed I was the first of my
countrymen who ever made any scruple in this point; and that he
began to doubt, whether I was a real Hollander, or not; but
rather suspected I must be a Christian. However, for the reasons
I had offered, but chiefly to gratify the king of Luggnagg by an
uncommon mark of his favour, he would comply with the singularity
of my humour; but the affair must be managed with dexterity, and
his officers should be commanded to let me pass, as it were by
forgetfulness. For he assured me, that if the secret should be
discovered by my countrymen the Dutch, they would cut my throat
in the voyage." I returned my thanks, by the interpreter, for so
unusual a favour; and some troops being at that time on their
march to Nangasac, the commanding officer had orders to convey me
safe thither, with particular instructions about the business of
the crucifix.

On the 9th day of June, 1709, I arrived at Nangasac, after a very
long and troublesome journey. I soon fell into the company of
some Dutch sailors belonging to the Amboyna, of Amsterdam, a
stout ship of 450 tons. I had lived long in Holland, pursuing my
studies at Leyden, and I spoke Dutch well. The seamen soon knew
whence I came last: they were curious to inquire into my voyages
and course of life. I made up a story as short and probable as I
could, but concealed the greatest part. I knew many persons in
Holland. I was able to invent names for my parents, whom I
pretended to be obscure people in the province of Gelderland. I
would have given the captain (one Theodorus Vangrult) what he
pleased to ask for my voyage to Holland; but understanding I was
a surgeon, he was contented to take half the usual rate, on
condition that I would serve him in the way of my calling.
Before we took shipping, I was often asked by some of the crew,
whether I had performed the ceremony above mentioned? I evaded
the question by general answers; "that I had satisfied the
Emperor and court in all particulars." However, a malicious
rogue of a skipper went to an officer, and pointing to me, told
him, "I had not yet trampled on the crucifix;" but the other, who
had received instructions to let me pass, gave the rascal twenty
strokes on the shoulders with a bamboo; after which I was no more
troubled with such questions.

Nothing happened worth mentioning in this voyage. We sailed with
a fair wind to the Cape of Good Hope, where we staid only to take
in fresh water. On the 10th of April, 1710, we arrived safe at
Amsterdam, having lost only three men by sickness in the voyage,
and a fourth, who fell from the foremast into the sea, not far
from the coast of Guinea. From Amsterdam I soon after set sail
for England, in a small vessel belonging to that city.

On the 16th of April we put in at the Downs. I landed next
morning, and saw once more my native country, after an absence of
five years and six months complete. I went straight to Redriff,
where I arrived the same day at two in the afternoon, and found
my wife and family in good health.

****

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