Chapter I: Front Matter

SYMZONIA;

VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY.

BY CAPTAIN ADAM SEABORN.

NEW-YORK:
PRINTED BY J. SEYMOUR, 49 JOHN-STREET.
1820.

Southern District of New-York, ss.

Be it remembered, that on the second day of November, in the forty-fifth year of the Independence of the United States of America, Jonathan Seymour, of the said District, hath deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit:

"Symzonia; a Voyage of Discovery. By Captain Adam Seaborn."

In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled "An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the time therein mentioned." And also to an Act, entitled "an Act, supplementary to an Act, entitled an Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints."

GILBERT LIVINGSTON THOMPSON,
Clerk of the Southern District of New-York.

ADVERTISEMENT.

The Author of this work, and of the discoveries which it relates, leaves it to his readers to decide whether he excels most as a navigator or a writer, and whether he amuses as much as he instructs. If he has any professional vanity, arising from his enterprises upon the sea, it does not tempt him to conceal that, in the achievements here recorded, he availed himself of all the lights and facilities afforded by the sublime theory of an internal world, published by Captain John Cleve Symmes, and by the application of steam to the navigation of vessels, for which the world is indebted to Fulton. Far from coveting what does not belong to himself, he feels, after having discovered and explored a world before unknown, that he can well afford to bestow on others the praise to which they are entitled. He has one consolation, in which he is confident of the sympathy of those who wish him well; namely, that if the book is not bought and read, it will not be because it is not an American book. He gives notice that he has no intention to relinquish his right to the invention of oblique paddles for steam ships, though the circumstances narrated at the close of the volume hinder him from taking out a patent at present.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

The Author's reasons for undertaking a voyage of discovery.--He
builds a vessel for his purpose upon a new plan.--His departure
from the United States. Page 13

CHAPTER II.

The Author arrives at the Falkland Islands--Describes West Point
Island, and States harbour--Visits the city of the Gentoo Penguins
on the Grand Jason--Gives some account of the polity and habits
of those civilized amphibia--Sails for South Georgia. Page 21

CHAPTER III.

The Author passes South Georgia, and proceeds in search of Sandwich
land--States to his officers and men his reasons for believing
in the existence of great bodies of land within the antarctic
circle, and for the opinion that the polar region is subject to
great heat in summer.--Crew mutiny at the instigation of Mr. Slim,
third mate.--Happy discovery of a southern continent, which, at
the unanimous and earnest solicitation of his officers and men,
he names Seaborn's Land. Page 37

CHAPTER IV.

The Author in great peril, from the vast rise and fall of the
tide in the polar sea--Brief account of his observations at
Seaborn's Land.--He takes formal possession of the country, in
the manner usual in such cases, in the name and on behalf of the
United States.--Leaves a sealing party on one of the islands near
the coast, and proceeds to the south, to extend his discoveries.
Page 58

CHAPTER V.

The Author discovers the south extremity of Seaborn's Land,
which he names Cape Worldsend.--The compass becomes useless.--He
states the manner in which he obviated the difficulty occasioned
thereby.--He enters the internal world: describes the phenomena
which occur.--Discovers Token Island.--Occurrences at that Island.
Page 76

CHAPTER VI.

The Author departs from Token Island, in search of an internal
continent.--Wind, weather, and other phenomena of the internal
seas.--Great alarm of the crew.--Discovery of an inhabited country.
Page 89

CHAPTER VII.

Description of the first view of the coast.--The Author names
the discovered country Symzonia.--Enters the harbour.--His first
interview with the Symzonians.--Sketch of their appearance.--He
commences the study of the Symzonian language.--Wonderful powers
of mind displayed by the natives.--Account of an ærial vessel.
Page 99

CHAPTER VIII.

The Author leaves the ship to visit the seat of
government.--Description of the country.--Account of the polity
of the Symzonians, as stated by his conductor.--Comparison of
the industry, its objects and ends in the two worlds, and of the
necessities and habits of the internals and externals.--Expulsion
of the unworthy from Symzonia, to a place of exile near the
north pole.--External world supposed to have been peopled by
the outcasts. Page 117

CHAPTER IX.

The Author arrives at the seat of government.--Description of the
Auditory.--Symzonian manner of assembling for devotion and public
business.--Etiquette of the Symzonian Court.--He is admitted to
an audience by the Best Man.--Account of the interview, and of
his unfortunate efforts to exalt the character of the externals,
by describing some of their splendid follies. Page 135

CHAPTER X.

Containing some account of the strange rationality of the
Symzonians.--Their simplicity of dress.--Manner of making
cloth.--Circulating medium.--Taxes. Page 156

CHAPTER XI.

Containing some account of the Symzonian engine of defence.--Story
of a very ancient war with an internal nation called Belzubians,
which caused the invention of this engine.--Opposition of the
Good men to its being used.--Fultria the inventor's speech in
defence of it.--Deliberations of the Council.--Termination of the
war.--Sentiments of the people on the subject. Page 165

CHAPTER XII.

Wonderful faculties of the Symzonians.--Translation of my books
into their language.--Proposition of a Wise man to make slaves
of the Author and his people.--The Author's remonstrance.--The
Wise man disgraced. Page 176

CHAPTER XIII.

Recreations of the Symzonians.--Wonderful provision of nature
for supplying the internal world with light.--Character and
employments of the women of Symzonia. Page 181

CHAPTER XIV.

The Author examines the records of the Assembly.--Grounds of
proposal for admittance to the order of Worthies.--Shell fish of
Symzonia.--Great quantities of Pearls, and the use to which they
are applied. Page 188

CHAPTER XV.

The Author is ordered to depart from Symzonia.--The Best Man's
reasons for sending him away.--His ineffectual efforts to obtain
a place of rendezvous for purposes of trade. Page 195

CHAPTER XVI.

The Author returns to the Explorer.--Holds a council of
officers--Determines to return to Seaborn's Land.--Takes leave
of Surui--Sails from Symzonia.--Touches at Token Island.--Arrives
at Boneto's station. Page 205

CHAPTER XVII.

The Author loads the Explorer with seal skins, and sails from
Seaborn's Land.--Discovers Albicore's Islands.--Transactions at
those islands.--He determines to conceal his discoveries from
the world.--His reasons for this determination, and measures to
effect it.--Sails for Canton. Page 216

CHAPTER XVIII.

The Author arrives at Canton.--Transactions in China.--Sails
for the United States.--Loss of manuscripts.--Difficulties with
Mr. Slim. Page 222

CHAPTER XIX.

Hurricane off the Isle of France.--Its consequences.--Death of
Mr. Slim. Page 229

CHAPTER XX.

The Author arrives in the United States.--Consigns his cargo
to Mr. Slippery.--Is reduced to poverty by the failure of
Mr. Slippery.--His great distress.--Inducement to publish this
brief account of his discoveries.--Conclusion. Page 235

A VOYAGE.