Chapter III: Front Matter (3)

But, said _Du Puis_, since you talk of Paces, is not the Heat of one and the same Fire better felt at the Distance of two Paces, than of ten? No doubt, said I. Then if the Sun, which is a Body of Heat, reply'd he, is nearer the Earth in the Winter, than in Summer, how comes it that the Heat is not felt in proportion to its Distance, and what's the Reason that we shake with Cold at the same time one might expect to be in a melting Sweat? You say very well, I reply'd, and this Objection shews that Ignorance and Reason are not incompatible, but while you think you have hamper'd me, you are quite mistaken. I will not go about to prove to you, that there are no such things in Nature as Heat, Cold, Light, Smell, Sound, or Colours, nor any of the Qualities which we perceive in Bodies; for it would be a Work of too much Trouble, and perhaps too you would not understand me, because this depends on certain Points of Knowledge, of which you have not so much as the Principles. I will only observe to you, that properly speaking, there is but one and the same sort of Matter, which according as it's form'd or actuated, produces in us, by means of our Organs, certain Effects which we ascribe to Bodies, and which therefore we call Hot, Cold, Luminous, Colour'd, and so of the others, tho' in effect Sounds Colour, Taste, _&c._ are properly in us, and not in those Bodies; as the Pain or Smart which proceeds from a Prick, is in our selves, and not at all in the Thorn which occasion'd it. And to prove that your Comparison is not just, even in the Sense that you your self would use it in, consider, that the Top of the _Alpes_, which is so much nearer to the Sun than the Foot, is cover'd with Snow in the Summer, while the Valleys, which are so much farther from the Sun, are quite burnt up with Heat: The true Reason of which is, (that we may pass over nothing without some Right Explanation) the Air, about a League from the Earth, is so thin, that it has not Strength enough to dissipate the least Bodies; whereas 'tis so gross upon the Surface, that 'tis capable of shaking our most solid Parts, and to cause what we call excessive Heat.

All this is really fine, reply'd _La Foret_, but pardon me, if I tell you, that I don't see you have yet settled the Point, with respect to Summer and Winter. Very true, said I, that's a Question of another Nature. When the Sun is ascended towards our Zenith, as it does in Summer, tho' it be at a very great Distance from us, yet it emits a great Number of Rays, almost perpendicularly upon us; whereas in Winter, when it declines lower towards the Horizon, most of its Rays, which can only come sideways, reverberate upon the Surface of our Atmosphere, so that very few pass and penetrate to our Bodies: Mean time, Heat and Cold consist in the greater and lesser Number of those Rays, as is easily to be prov'd by Mirrors and Burning-Glasses, whose Effects are always proportion'd to the Number of Rays of Light which they collect.

During this agreeable Conversation, which was carry'd on with a View, rather to pass the Time, than to increase the Number of Philosophers, because in that Case another Course must have been taken, we had travell'd a good way, but at length we were oblig'd to turn to another Subject. It was now Thirty-five Days that we had left our Company, and we imagin'd that we could not have travell'd less than 130 Leagues, when on a sudden, we found our selves on the Brink of a Lake, which seem'd to be of a vast Extent. This Obstacle in our way so confounded us, that for a long time we knew not what to resolve upon. One talk'd of returning back, another of staying where we were for a few Days, and making the best shift we could to lodge our selves; but at last we resolv'd to go straight along by the Side of this great Water, in hopes of finding the End of it. After coasting it seven or eight Leagues, we began to see Land on the other side of it, and were overjoy'd to find that the farther we advanc'd we had still a plainer View of the Objects on the other Shore; but then we had a fresh Mortification to see our selves got insensibly into a marshy Place, where the Ground was not only soft, but stunk, and trembled under our Feet. All the Country about us was flat and even; we saw no end of it, and every Step we took, which way soever we turn'd, we sunk in half way the Leg. All that I could say to encourage my Comrades, was in vain; there was no going further, so that we were fain to return back as we came, much against our Wills and tho' extremely fatigu'd, were forc'd to travel two long Leagues before we durst make a Halt, because we were sadly bemir'd, and had not yet met with any Fuel fit to make a Fire to dry us.

After we had rested our selves sufficiently, we resolv'd to turn still to the Left, and to see if there was any Rub on that Side. We travell'd on four Days successively, 'till we came to a Forest full of tall Oaks, of an extraordinary Bigness. We paus'd at first whether we should enter it, and at length resolv'd to venture into it, on condition of keeping as near as possible to the Lake; but this did not hold long, for we had scarce advanc'd three small Leagues but we came to the Foot of a Mountain, so cragged, that it was impossible for any Creature to ascend it. The Rock hung over the Lake, the Waters of which being sometimes ruffled, had in all Probability gradually wash'd away the Bottom. We try'd to ascend this Mountain on the other Side, for a whole Day, without finding any Place where it was accessible, because of Precipices and astonishing Hills. At the dismal Sight of so many invincible Obstacles, our Patience left us, and my two Comrades reproached me very heartily for having brought them into this Disaster.

I confess, said I, that we have reason to bewail our unhappy Fate; but you ought to consider that nothing happens by chance, for there is a Providence which directs every thing according to his own Pleasure. As 'tis this same wise Being who has brought us hither, so he will not fail to hint some Means or other to extricate us. 'Tis most certain that God never abandons his People, let them go where they will; if we place our Confidence in him, he will infallibly assist us, You know that it was neither a View to Profit nor Honour that led us hither; we had nothing to lose, and provided we escape with our Lives, we have all that we brought along with us. Let us not be daunted at what has happen'd to us hitherto; our principal Aim is to ramble in search of new Things, which may give us Pleasure; I don't despair of going farther still, and that we shall some Day or other find out a way to get a comfortable Subsistence. Come on, my Lads, let us lose no Time, said I, but return back to the Lake, and see if we can't contrive how to pass it, without running too great a Risque. By good Fortune we have Hatchets, and here's Timber in abundance. If we venture over upon Floats, we shan't be the first Adventurers of this sort, and if we are so happy as to get safe to the other Side, I flatter my self we shall make more fortunate Discoveries. Hitherto the Country is uninhabited, but, humanely speaking, 'tis impossible it should be the same every where; and who knows, but at last we may meet with some civiliz'd Nation, whose kind Treatment of us may make us ample Amends for the Fatigues and Dangers we have run thro' to find them out, and for telling them if they don't know it already, that there are other People in the World besides them.

My Comrades turn'd a deaf Ear to me; nothing I said could make 'em easy, and I am persuaded, that if they had seen the least Probability of finding our Ship's Company again, where we left them, they would undoubtedly have run all Hazards in quest of them. In the mean time, there was a Necessity of resolving upon something. We return'd to the Lake, and view'd it well in many Parts, before we agreed what Place to put off at. These Motions backwards and forwards took us up eight Days, and the ninth we began to set our Hands to the Work. First, we cut down half a score Trees, of seven or eight Inches Diameter, from which we stripp'd the Branches, shorten'd them to the length of twenty Foot, put them into the Water, and then fasten'd them together as well as we could, partly with Rushes, but chiefly with the Bark of Willow-Trees, which were very numerous on the Side of the Lake, and of which we made a sort of Cordage, of what length we pleas'd. After this, we provided a Score of other shorter Trees, which we laid in a row, and bound across the former, and upon these we laid a third Floor of the same Size and Length as those of the first Lay. We also made five Oars, or rather Shovels, which took us up more Time than all the rest.

Before we had finished our Carpenter's Work, _La Foret_ came and told us, that at sixty Paces distance he saw something stir in the Rushes, which were not very far from the Lake, and in short, we were of his Opinion immediately, that it must be some great Animal. _Du Puis_, and I, took each our Gun, and charging with four Balls, we fir'd both at once, reserving a third Charge in case of Necessity, as we had been taught to do by Experience in our Travels, wherein we had like to have been torn to Pieces by Bears, two or three times, because we had spent all our Fire at once. Our Pieces were scarce discharg'd, when we were extremely surpris'd and terrify'd with a hideous Howling, and prodigious Rustle among the Reeds, so that we were a long time in Suspence, whether we should go near to see what it was; but upon consideration that what we heard and saw could be nothing else, in all probability, but the Effect of a mortal Wound, which had disabled the Beast from defending himself, we charg'd our Pieces again, and approach'd, tho' with great Fear and Trembling, to the Place where he made such a Stir. As soon as he perceiv'd us, he made a greater Noise than before, and struggled hard to escape, which Fear of his rais'd our Spirits, and _La Foret_ seeing him lift up his Head, let fly at him so dexterously that he shot him thro' and thro', and laid him flat on the Ground. Nevertheless, we durst not approach him for some Moments, but perceiving he had no Motion, we began to touch him with the Ends of our Pieces, and at length dragg'd him out, when we found him to be of the Otter Kind, with two very short Legs before, which either _Du Puis_ or I maim'd at the first Discharge, whereby he was disabled from getting away. This Creature could not weigh less than 150 Pound. We skinn'd him, roasted the best Part of him, and found his Flesh to be good, and that it tasted not much unlike our Ducks.

Next Day, which was the thirteenth since we arrived there, we resolv'd to put off, but our Float was so heavy that we made very little way; and two of us constantly ply'd the Oars by turns, while the third rested. As good Luck would have it, the Weather was very favourable, and the Season exceeding pleasant, so that I can truly say, we were very much delighted in the Voyage, tho' we did not know what would become of us when we undertook it. 'Twas surprising to see the infinite Shoals of Fish in this fine Lake, leaping and casting on both sides of our Float, which some of them follow'd with their Heads above Water, and playing with their Tails, as if they had been rejoic'd to see us. We were so attentive at this dumb Sport, that we lay upon our Oars sometimes for a great while together to enjoy it. We took up several of them with our Hands, and then toss'd them back again into their own Element, and might have caught what Number we had pleas'd. At the Close of the Day, just as we lost Sight of the Shore we came from, we were overjoy'd to discover that to which we were steering our Course. This agreeable Sight gave us fresh Spirits; we work'd lustily almost all Night, and I think it was next Day about four of the Clock in the Afternoon, when we had the good Luck to touch Land. As soon as we got ashore, we made use of all the Tackle we had to moor our Machine, not only to great Stones upon the Strand, but to a Post or Stump of a Tree, which we drove into the Ground, and which we carry'd with us for that purpose, being uncertain whether we should fare better elsewhere, and whether we should not be oblig'd to come back again the same way. We were so fatigu'd with our Voyage that we took up our Lodging at the distance of an hundred Paces, and stay'd there till next Morning, when we continu'd our Journey.

We had not travell'd half a League but we came to a Wood, as thick as any we had yet met with, tho' we forc'd our way thro' it in less than two Hours. But there we were stopt all on a sudden, by steep Rocks altogether as difficult to ascend as a Wall. This new Barrier occasion'd fresh wrangling betwixt us; my Comrades murmur'd sadly, and I, as usual, did all I could to hearten them, so that I was forc'd at last to assure them, that tho' my Ideas were commonly so confus'd and irregular in my Slumbers, that I could seldom tell what to make of my Dreams, yet I had one last Night, the Connexion and Circumstances of which were so particular, that it was an infallible Presage of something to our Advantage; and thereupon I invented some Fictions _ex-tempore_, which, tho' perhaps not very well concerted, had however all the Effect I expected from them. In the Morning, said I, about an Hour before Sun-rise, methoughts I heard a Rumbling, like the Voice of Thunder, which said to me, _What have you to do there, Child? Rise up, and walk, thy Deliverance is near at hand._ At the same time a young Woman appear'd to me with a smiling Countenance, dress'd in white Raiment, with her dishevell'd Hair flowing about her Shoulders, her Legs bare even to the Knee, and in her Hands a little Basket of fine Ozier, artfully interwoven with all manner of fragrant Flowers, and full of uncommon delicious Fruits, of which she invited me to eat. On my left Hand there appear'd a Field, cover'd all over with Sheaves of the finest Corn that the Earth ever bore; and on my right a Tree, in the Trunk of which there was a Cleft, from whence there gush'd a clear beautiful red Liquor, which smelt like musk. I turn'd about to look behind me, and perceiving a frightful Monster, bristled all over like a Porcupine, I was so affrighted at it, that tho' it turn'd its Back upon me, I started out of my Sleep. To this Dream I gave a favourable Interpretation, which contributed not a little to quicken our Pace.

As we still kept along the East side of those Mountains, we at last discover'd a narrow Passage, which we resolv'd to climb, but the Difficulty we met with before we got up to the Top, was such that I cannot express it. When we had conquer'd it, we sat down to recover Breath, and take a little Food. Soon after we rose again, we perceiv'd a Pond about a Quarter of a League in Circumference, which was bounded on one side by the craggy Points of a Rock, which hung over the Water, and on the other by a very narrow rugged sort of Dyke, with a Precipice on the right hand, of which there was no discovering the Bottom. These mocking Objects made me as mute as a Fish; I had neither the Strength nor Courage to speak, and to be frank, I wish'd then with all my Heart I had never undertaken the Voyage. There was no Prospect of going down the way that we ascended, and the Danger of going farther was very great.

While we were at that Nonplus, I made a hard Struggle to climb to the Top of a Rock which was behind us; as soon as I was got up to it, my Sorrow was turn'd on a sudden into extravagant Joy, at the Discovery of a fine Champain Country beyond these Hills, which was interspers'd with Canals, and Trees regularly planted on the Banks of them. I thought likewise that I saw Cattle grazing in the Meads, and at a further distance great Bodies, which I took to be the Habitations of Men. I beckon'd to my Comrades to follow me, and signify'd to them by my Gestures and various Contortions of Body, that our Deliverance was nigh. They were so fond to know the good News, that they ventur'd after me, tho' they had like to have broke their Necks as well as I; but then, on the other hand, they were soon satisfy'd for their Pains, and agreed that this Country was, without Dispute, inhabited. All the Difficulty was how to come at it, a Difficulty, which we verily thought insurmountable. From this Eminence we carefully survey'd all the Country round; but there being no Appearance of Access to it, we help'd one another down, and took another View of the Precipice and Pond.

For my part, I was immediately of Opinion let the Danger be what it wou'd, that we ought to return and cut down Timber in the Forest where we had spent the Night, and to draw it up in the best manner we could, in order to venture this short Passage over the Pond. But _Du Puis_, thinking my Proposal impracticable, said, that the Passage between the Lake and the Precipice seem'd to be only two Foot broad in the narrowed Parts of it, that therefore one might easily cross over it, and that he would undertake to be our Guide. I was wonderfully pleas'd with his Motion, and did not fail to second it by instancing in the _Pyrenees_ and _Alpes_, of which I had read something in the Memoirs of several Travellers; but _La Foret_, who was, as he said, subject to Vertigoes, protested he would not go that way, whatever was the Consequence, but that if we were resolv'd to pass it, he would rather do it by Swimming. _Du Puis_ immediately acquiesc'd, and engag'd to carry his Clothes, and mine too, if I would take to the Water with him. No sooner said, but done, for _La Foret_ and I stripp'd, bundled up our Clothes, and _Du Puis_ taking them along with him, set out. We resolv'd to leave our Hatchets and Fowling-Pieces behind us, which indeed were of no more Service to us, because we had not three Charges of Powder left; nevertheless, _Du Puis_ was to return to fetch them, if he found the Passage not so dangerous as we imagin'd. _La Foret_ and I being both very good Swimmers, we arriv'd quickly at the other Shore, because we made choice of the narrowed Place; but _Du Puis_, who had taken our Clothes, was oblig'd to take a large Compass, before he came to the Place where he was to pass.

As soon as we got ashore, we ran to meet him, and glad we were to see him briskly advancing to us, but by an unaccountable Disaster, which I shall lament as long as I live, the poor Man was within ten Paces of being upon _Terra Firma_, when a Piece of the Rock giving way all on a sudden under his Feet, he cry'd out, _Lord have Mercy upon me!_ and, and to our Astonishment, disappear'd in an Instant. We ran hastily to see what became of him, but alas! we neither saw nor heard him more.

I beg the kind Reader to pause here for a Moment, and seriously to reflect upon our Misfortune. Our inconceivable Grief for the Loss of our Friend, together with the pitiful Condition he left us in, having neither Clothes to cover our Nakedness, nor any Means possible to subsist us, so dispirited us, that we thought a hundred times of casting our selves headlong after him, and by that means to have put a sudden Period to the fatal Course of our unfortunate Lives.

CHAP. VI.

_Of the Discovery of a very fine Country, its Inhabitants, their Language, Manners and Customs_, &c. _and of the Esteem which our Author and his Comrade gain'd there._

Mean time, the Surf was at the End of his Race, and we found our selves very cold, which were two pressing Motives to induce us to betake our selves to some Shelter. We descended the Mountain with no great Difficulty, because on that side it was not very deep. At the Foot of it was a broad deep Ditch, where we were again forc'd to swim over. This was one of the Barriers of the Country, and was destitute of Bridges, so that People could neither pass in nor out of it.

The farther we went into the Country, the more of its Beauties we discover'd, and a thousand things occur'd to convince us that it was inhabited. The Creatures which we spy'd, as we thought, from the Mountains, were Goats feeding in the Meadows, where the green Herbage was so high, that it partly conceal'd them from our Sight. In short, we were not a great way from one of the Herds, when the Man that look'd after them, who was then lain down upon the Grass, observing that they stretch'd out their Necks as if they spy'd something that had affrighted them, rose up to see what it was, and as soon as he perceiv'd us, ran away with all the Speed he could; and we heard afterwards, that seeing two such naked Men coming down the Mountain in the Evening, he took us for Savages: His Goats also ran as if they had been pursu'd by some Beast of Prey. Certain Shepherds who were not far off, tending their Flocks of Sheep, knew not what to think of this Alarm, but they had the Courage to join one another, and came seven or eight in a Body to examine us. As soon as we thought they could see us, we wrung our Hands, and endeavour'd by all the Signs we could think of, to move them to Compassion. They advanc'd, and perceiving that we were naked and unarm'd, came within four Paces of us, each having a great Stick in his Hand, and fell a talking to us. I told them in _Latin_, in _French_, and in _Portuguese_, a Language which I understood pretty well, considering the Time I was in _Portugal_, that we were two honest _Europeans_, who believ'd in God, and at the same time lifted up my Hands to Heaven, and then smote my Breast. But notwithstanding all my various Looks and Actions, I plainly perceiv'd by their Countenances, that they understood us no more than we did them; upon which I fell prostrate at their Feet, and by trembling, and extending my Arms, endeavour'd to give them to understand that I was almost starv'd to Death with Cold. Then they talk'd with one another a few Moments, but without giving the least Indication that they intended us any Harm, and at length, after some Deliberation, they beckon'd to us to follow them, and carry'd us to a venerable Personage, who, after having survey'd us, first gave each of us a great Robe, which cover'd us from Head to Foot, for at the Top of it a Cap was fasten'd, in the manner of a Monk's Cowl; then he interrogated us by Signs from whence we came, whether from the East, the West, or from any other Part of the Globe. We answer'd him in our own Language, and by the best Signs we were capable of making, that we were neither Angels nor Devils; that we came neither from Heaven nor Hell; that we were rational Creatures like himself, who having put to Sea in a great Machine of Wood, were cast away about 150 Leagues off; that of all the Crew only three of us set out inquest of some Asylum to pass the Remainder of our Days; but that we left one of our Companions by the way, in the most tragical manner that could be; and so of the rest. Then we begg'd him to take Pity of us, to put us to work, and to give us Nourishment. Tho' I knew not whether he understood what we said to him, yet he seem'd to be affected, by his shedding of Tears. He gave us a Supper, and in an Hour after we were carry'd to a Bed, which was all done in so handsome a manner, that we were charm'd with our Entertainment. Next Day it was as good as a Comedy to see the Crowds of People that came from all Parts to gaze at us. Every one look'd upon us with Amazement, because no body could comprehend from whence or which way we came hither. These Visits held at least a Fortnight or three Weeks. By hearing them talk much, we began to understand some Words of their Language: The first we retain'd was the Word _Mula_, which they seldom fail'd to pronounce, when with our Eyes or Hands lifted up to Heaven, we utter'd the Name of God. We learnt the Terms, _At_, to Eat; _Bouskin_, to Drink; _Kapan_, to Sleep; _Pryn_, to Walk; _Tian_, to Work; _Touto_, Yes; _Touton_, No; and a great many others, which we found afterwards to bear the same Meaning as we imagin'd they had at first. What very much contributed to make this Language familiar to us, was there being but three Tenses in the Indicative Mood of every Verb, _viz._ the _Present_, the _Præterperfect_, indefinite or compound, and the _Future_; that they have no _Imperative Mood_; that in their _Subjunctive_ they have only the _Præterimperfect_ and _Præterpluperfect_; and that besides these they have only the _Infinitive Mood_ and _Participle_. They have also but three _Persons_ in both the _Singular_ and _Plural Numbers_, and thus, for Instance, they conjugate the Verb _At_:

_Indicative Mood, Present Tense._

_Ata_, I eat or We eat.
_Até_, Thou eatest, You eat.
_Atη_, He eateth, They eat.

_Præterperfect Tense._

_Atài_, I have eaten, We have eaten.
_Atéi_, Thou haft eaten, You have eaten.
_Atiη_, He has eaten, They have eaten.

_Future Tense._

_Atàio_, I shall or will eat, We will eat.
_Atéio_, Thou wilt eat, You will eat.
_Atηio_, He will eat, They will eat.

_Infinitive Mood._

_At_, To eat.

_Præterimperfect Tense of the Subjunctive Mood._

_Atàin_, I would eat, We would eat.
_Atéin_, Thou wouldn't eat, Ye would eat.
_Atηin_, He would eat, They would eat.

_Præterpluperfect._

_Atais_, I would have eaten, We would have eaten.
_Atéis_, Thou would'st have eaten, You would have eaten.
_Atηis_, He or she should have eaten, They would have eaten.

_Participle of the Present Tense._

_Atain_, Eating.

From thence are deriv'd the Words, _Ataus_, Kitchen; _Ataɤs_, Food; _Atiɤ_, Cook; _Atians_, Eater, or the Person that Eateth.

Their Alphabet consists of Twenty Characters, _viz._ Seven Vowels, _a_, _e_, _i_, _o_, _u_, _η_, _ɤ_, (the Sixth of which is properly the _Aita_ of the Greeks, and the Seventh is equivalent to the Dipthongue, _ou_) and Thirteen Consonants, _b_, _d_, _f_, _g_, _h_, _k_, _l_, _m_, _n_, _p_, _r_, _s_, _t_. These same Consonants serve them also for Numerals; as _b_, 1; _d_, 2; _f_, 3; _g_, 4; _h_, 5; _k_, 6; _l_, 7; _m_, 8; _n_, 9; _p_, 10; _pb_, 11; _pd_, 12; &c. _dp_, is equivalent to twice Ten, or Twenty; _fp_, to thrice Ten, or Thirty; _fb_, 31; &c. _pp_, ten times Ten, or 100; _r_, 1000; _pr_, 10000; _ppr_, 100000; _s_, a Million; _ps_, 10 Millions; _pps_, 100 Millions; _ppps_, 1000 Millions; and so on, always adding one _p_ more.

It must likewise be observed, that their Nouns and Verbs are deriv'd from one another, like the French, _Chat_, a Boar Cat; _Chate_, a She Cat; _Chatons_, Kittlings; _Chatonner_, to Kitten. Their Declensions are also very easy, of which this is an Example:

Nom. _Brol_, }
Gen. _Brul_, } A Weather.
Dat. _Brel_, }

Nom. _Brolu_, }
Gen. _Brula_, } An Ewe or Sheep.
Dat. _Brèla_, }

Nom. _Brolη_, }
Gen. _Brulη_, } Weathers or Sheep.
Dat. _Brelη_, }

'Tis wonderful, that there is not one Exception in the Conjugations and Declensions of this Language; and that when we know the Variations of one Verb or Noun, it leads to the Knowledge of all the rest; which Variation consists only in adding the Letter _A_ to the Infinitive Mood to make the Present Tense of the Indicative; as from _At_, comes _Ata_; from _Bɤskin_, _Bɤskina_, &c. And to the Nouns they add _A_, to the Nominative Case of the Masculine Gender, to make them Feminine in _η_ when they change them to the Plural Number, as is plain from the foregoing Example. From hence it will not be thought strange, that at the End of six Months we understood every thing they said to us; and that they also understood what we said to them. But to return to our former Subject.

Not many Days after our Arrival, we were awaken'd one Morning by an extraordinary Hurly-burly in the House. We arose to see what was the matter; but tho' we observ'd the minutest of their Proceedings, we could not conceive the Meaning of the Hurry they were all in from the the Highest to the Lowest; only we guess'd there was to be a grand Dinner, because there was a great Slaughter of Fowls, and abundance of Meat in the Kitchen. About Ten of the Clock, the whole Family went out. Our Patron march'd first, with a great Cock under his Arm, and we follow'd with the rest of the Houshold. As we pass'd the Bridge over the Canal, we saw that all our Neighbours did the same, every Family marching out with a Cock. Our opposite Neighbour expos'd his Cock against ours; and the others did the same thing, it being a general Cock-match between the People of both sides the Canal. It is incredible with what Courage and Fury, with what Vigor and Skill these Creatures fought. My Landlord, whose Cock was kill'd, went and took the Victor by the Hand, congratulated him on his Conquest, and carry'd him to his House, follow'd by all his Children and Domestics. The Provisions laid in at the other's House, were brought to ours. We sat down to Table, and I can say, that I had not been at such an Entertainment a long while. It was a Feast truly Royal, and we drank to a very hearty Pitch; but the worst on't was, we did not understand them.

Our People were every whit as alert next Day. As soon as the Sun was risen, all the young Men of the Canton, that is to say, the eldest Son of every Family, went out and took a straight Pole, like to the Mast of a Ship, which they planted in the middle of the Canal, and to the End of it they ty'd as many great Ropes as there were Families present. All these Ropes were afterwards extended, and wound about the several Trees which were planted on the Bank of the Canal; and that there might be no Jealousy, or any Cause of Complaint, there was a Noose made in each Rope, all at the same Distance from the Pole. To the Top of this Pole, which was not Thirty Foot from the Surface of the Water, a round Board was nail'd, upon which an Eagle was plac'd, whose two Feet were fasten'd separately with strong Packthread, to two Cramp-Irons drove into the Timber.

When every thing was ready, each of the young Men laid hold of one of the Ropes at the Place where the Noose was, and at the first Signal, which was given by our Landlord, they drove who could climb up fastest. They that came first up to the Eagle, endeavour'd to lay hold of him, but they had a smart Reception, for as their Hands were oblig'd to be bare, they were expos'd to the Strokes of the Eagle's Beak, which made them all over bloody. Besides, each Man had but one Hand at liberty to attack, because with the other he was oblig'd to hold fast. And then, the Eagle was not ty'd so short, but that he could rise at least two Foot from his Board; so that whereas I thought at the Beginning, the Battle would have been over in a Trice, when it had continued two Hours 'twas like to hold all Day. Notwithstanding the Vigour of the Assailants, their Situation was too fatiguing, and it was impossible they could keep it long. Some rested themselves as well as they could; others dropped into the Water, where they were reliev'd immediately by Persons who were underneath in little Boats, on purpose to catch them. In short, it was a wild Skirmish; but I think they had been engag'd about six Hours, when one of the Assailants nimbly seizing the Eagle, broke one of its Legs, but another pushing him, made him let go his Prize for fear of falling off of the Rope, grip'd the Bird with both his Hands, flung himself desperately down the Rope, and fell, with the dismembered Prey in his Arms, into the Water. At his Fall, the Spectators shouted as much for Joy, as if the Safety of the Publick had been the Matter in question. Those who were wet went to shift their Clothes, and soon after repair'd to the Victor's House, where every one paid him their Compliments. There they supp'd together, and spent part of the Night in Merriment, while the Parents of the Family treated one another reciprocally with hearty good Cheer. The third Day was spent in Plays, Dances, Races, and agreeable Diversions.

We knew not what all this meant; but afterwards we found that they observ'd the same Ceremonies throughout the Kingdom, every Year, at the Full Moon preceding the Solstice of _Capricorn_, and that the young Man who carries off the Eagle, has that Year the Choice of all the Girls in the Canton, in case he has a mind to alter his Condition, so that there can be no Marriage without his Consent, which however he seldom refuses; and therefore it may be said, that it all terminates in a meer Formality and Punctilio of Honour to the Conqueror. At all the other Full-Moons of the Year, without Exception, they fight Cocks. They take their Pleasure in Gondola's, during the Summer; and in the Winter they are drawn upon the Snow in Sleds. For two Days they take all the innocent Pleasures they are capable of, except that of the Eagle planted on the Pole. The rest of the Month every body is at their Business, and there are no other Feasts at all.

Having spent all this Time without putting our Hands to any thing, we gave our Patron to understand that we should be glad of some Business. At first they pretended not to give ear to it, but seeing that we insisted on being employ'd, they gave us Wool to cleanse, wash, beat, and card, as thinking that we were fit for nothing else. We were soon weary of this Work. _La Foret_, who was by Profession a Watchmaker, wanted to take a File in his Hand, and to work on the Movement of a Watch; but there were no such Machines in those Parts, and it would have been difficult to have given them a Notion of such presently. When they perceiv'd our Dissatisfaction, they were willing to make use of us for the Rigging of a little Fleet.

There being Twenty-two Houses in our Canton or Village, of which I shall give a Description hereafter, the Number of Vessels to be equipp'd was the same. Every Master of a Family caus'd his Vessel to be fitted, and the necessary Provisions to be put on Board, to serve four Persons for three Weeks. In these Vessels they put all manner of Provisions or Merchandise which they knew to be proper for a Voyage; as for Instance, Cordage, Pullies, Wheelbarrows, Hatchets, Spades, Mattocks, Pick-Axes, and other Tools fit to turn up the Ground; but especially Robes, and other Habits, Woollen and Linen. It was then the Month of _December_, and by consequence in the Heart of Summer, and in the finest Season of the Year. As the Goats are extremely large in that Country, and as strong as our Horses, they are generally made use of for Carriages. There were four of 'em to every Boat, of which two drew for two Hours, while the others eat, and relied in the Vessel. Thus they work'd alternately for fifteen or sixteen Hours every Day, which was in a manner from Sun-rise to Sun-set, but at Night there was a Halt, and a general Rest.

My Comrade and I could never see enough of the Beauties of this inchanting Country, and the Riches of its Soil. Their Orchards were adorn'd with fine Trees, some in Blossom, and others with ripe Fruit, the most excellent in the World; their Arable Lands were cover'd with Wheat, Barley, and other Grain; their Pastures were full of Goats and Sheep, of an extraordinary Size (for as to Horses and Cows, I never saw any there) and every thing was in such Elegance, Order, and Regularity, that it perfectly charm'd us.

The whole Country, which, as we were afterwards inform'd, extends 130 _French_ Leagues from East to West, and 80 at least from North to South, is divided into Cantons or Villages. These Cantons are exactly of the Form of a Quadrangle, each Side being 1500 Paces, or an _Italian_ Mile and Half in length, incompass'd all round, and separated from one another by a Canal 20 Paces broad, and a Royal Road on each side of it of 25 Paces, with two Rows of Trees in the middle, which form a Walk of 25 Foot, or five Geometrical Paces, that there may be free and commodious Passage for the Creatures employed to draw the Boats.

Every Canton is also divided in the middle by a Ditch of 20 Paces, and by a Road on both sides, of 25; with Trees planted after the same manner. Every one of these Roads contains 11 Habitations in length, each being 130 Geometrical Paces in Front, and about 700 in Depth, which are also separated by little Ditches five Foot over. At the Head of every one of these Habitations, on the Side of the Ditch which divides the Village into two equal Parts, there's a House only one Story high, but 60 Foot wide, with a Passage in the middle, which leads to all the Apartments, Stables, Barns, and other Offices. The Reason why they have no Upper Rooms is, because sometimes, tho' very seldom, they are subject to violent high Winds, which throw down their Houses to the Ground, for their Buildings are but slight.

From this Disposition that I have now describ'd, tis plain that in one Canton there are 22 Habitations; or Houses, opposite to one another, and all of the same Height and Breadth, 11 on one side of the Canal, and 11 on the other. At each End of this Water, on both Sides, there are Bridges to pass from one Village to the other, besides some in the middle of each Canton, which are all built of Free-Stone of fine Architecture, and kept in very good Repair. In these Twenty-two Families, there were always two of Distinction; one, that of the _Papɤ_ or Priest; and the other, that of the _Kini_, or Judge of the Canton, which face the middle Bridge, and are opposite to one another; and behind these Houses there's an Apartment the breadth of the whole House, which serve the one for the Church, the other for the Court or Senate. But we shall have occasion to treat more of this perhaps elsewhere, and therefore we return now to our Journey.

We stay'd nine Days upon the Road, and when we came within seven or eight Leagues from the Place to which we were bound, we began to discover the Highlands, where we saw nothing scarce but Mountains, whose Tops seem'd to touch the Clouds, and dazzled our Eyes with the Whiteness of the Snow, with which they are cover'd all the Year round. The Canal where we were, ended about two short Leagues from those Hills, so that there we were oblig'd to halt. Part of our Company stay'd there in the Boats, and the rest of us made our way to the Mountains. But before we came to them, we were fain to pass thro' a very beautiful Forest.

The perpetual Din and Clatter, which we heard as we went on, made me think more than once, of _Vulcan_ and his Cyclops. The Air resounded with great Strokes of Hammers, and one would actually have sworn that we were but three Paces from the Forges of Mount _Gibel_, or the Anvils of _Brontes_, _Pyracmon_, and _Steropes_. We were not vastly mistaken in our Conjecture, for the Men whom we discover'd soon after were not much unlike Giants and Dæmons; some of them were monstrously tall, others as shagged as Bears, and not one but was blacker than a _Newcastle_ Collier.

Some of our Company immediately apply'd to a Director, and told him what Canton we were come from, what sort of Merchandise we had brought, and what we came for in exchange. Then they presented me and my Comrade to him, which we believed was to desire him to conduct us to all those Places which he thought worth seeing by People who had never been there; for he presently gave Orders to one of his Footmen to accompany us wherever we went, and five of our Companions join'd us.

The first thing he shew'd us was a large Pit, of a prodigious Depth, where was an Iron Mine which had been work'd for thousands of Years, and from whence so much Earth, _&c._ had been dug as form'd several other Mountains near it. On the left side of this Pit was a Descent of Steps, which the Workmen had made in the Rock as they dug downwards, but tho' they were broad and easy, I did not care to go down them. Over it they had erected a wooden Machine, and a great Windlass, with a Pulley fasten'd to it three Foot in Diameter, which drew up the Oar, by means of Baskets that were fill'd by Men at the bottom, as often as they were let down. On the right side of the Pit there was not a Hand at work, but every thing seem'd in Disorder. Our Guide perceiving me stoop to view the confused State of it, made Signs to me, by which he gave me to understand, as well as he could, that not above five Months ago a great part of the Mountain; which had perhaps been undermin'd too far on that Side, broke away, and in the Fall crush'd 360 Labourers that were at work.

After we had view'd that Place, he carry'd us to another, from whence Coal was extracted after the same manner; but 'tis much fatter than the _English_ Coal, and even than that Mineral which is produc'd in the Country of _Liege_, for the Fire that is commonly made of it burns twenty-four Hours, without laying on fresh Coals.

Between these two Mines there was a Pond of Mineral Water, which continually bubbled up. They make use of it to scour their Bodies, Clothes, and Utensils; but they can't dress their Victuals with it, 'tis so very ill-tasted. The Iron which they steep in this hot Water becomes impenetrably hard, and is much fitter than our Steel to make Springs of. I never was at a Loss to account for the degree of Heat which is said to be in the Mineral Waters of _Aix la Chapelle_, because they come thro' long Subterranean Channels, where the Earth no doubt abounds with bituminous and sulphureous Particles, which being themselves much agitated, communicate a part of their Motion to them, as they pass along; but here I really saw nothing like it. For this was a little Lake of standing Water, which, as fast as it wafted by Exhalations, and what was drawn off by People for their Use, was supply'd by a Stone Pipe, which Nature seem'd to have form'd for the Purpose, from whence there came a Thread of Water as clear as Crystal, but colder than Marble; which made me think there must be a prodigious Fire of Spirits underneath to give it that Heat and Ferment.

We went also to see the Men that separated the Iron from the Mine, the Furnaces where they melted it, and the Forges where they extended it into Bars, to be work'd elsewhere; but all this was so like the Practice in _Europe_, that there's no need to describe it here.

I understood by what they told me afterwards, that this intire Chain of Mountains, which serves instead of a Barrier to this fine Country, is properly the Magazine from whence these People have great part of their Wealth, and things which are generally useful in Society; as Stones for Building, others for Lime; Salt, which, tho' different from ours, is very good; very fine Pewter, and red Copper, but in a very little Quantity, which at the same time coils a great deal of Labour, and the Lives of very many Men.

While I was taken up with viewing, all these Curiosities, our People were busy in landing their Goods, bartering them, and taking in their Ladings of such Goods as they had Orders to bring away in exchange, which were carry'd off by Sledges, or little flat long Carts, drawn by two, three, four, and even ten Goats at a time, or on the Backs of Porters, and in which so many People were imploy'd, that they made quick Work, tho' the Way was pretty long, so that we were not there two whole Days. We carry'd our Guide to our Barks, where we treated him in the best manner we could, and made him so drunk, that as he got up to go away, he fell all along and hurt his Shoulder, insomuch that the exquisite Pain he felt made him call out upon the Name of Christ. I was startled at the Expression, and should have been glad to have known how he came to hear of the Saviour of Mankind, but for want of knowing the Language, I contented my self with having raised him on his Legs again, and glad I was to see that he had not hurt himself dangerously.

Just as we were unmooring in order to return, it came into my Head, that if instead of going back by the same Canal, we struck into another two or three Cantons off, perhaps we should see Novelties that would divert us, and make us amends for all our Time and Labour. I communicated my Mind to _La Foret_, and he join'd with me in persuading the others, who were so complaisant that they consented to our Proposal, without any Scruple. Thereupon we went Westward but when the Goats were to be harness'd which were to draw our Boat, the oldest of 'em, which, according to the Report of the Driver, was Forty-two Years of Age, and had been that way I know not how often, finding that they did not keep in the usual Track, was so unruly, that it was impossible for the Guide to hold him in. He made so many Leaps and Capers, that he broke the Rope with which he was harness'd, and run away. Twenty People immediately pursu'd him, and call'd out to others to stop him, which, as one was attempting to do, the mad Creature leap'd fairly into the middle of the Water, at a Place where the Banks are very high and sleep, so that he could not possibly climb out. Our Guide getting a little before him, stoop'd till he came by, and then throwing in a Rope with a Noose, caught him by the Horns. At the same time the Goat being affrighted, darted towards the other Shore, and whether the Rope was twin'd round the Body of our Guide, or whether he chose to be dragg'd into the Water, rather than let go his Hold, I know not, but so it was that he fell in. The Company were immediately so alarm'd that they all hurry'd to his Assistance; and while they were busy in helping him out, the Creature made up to one of the Steps of the next Bridge, by which he recover'd Land, and got quite out of our Sight, so that we knew not what was become of him. For my own part, I was heartily vex'd to lose him, and wish'd almost that I had been Tongue-ty'd, ere I propos'd to come this way, for I was afraid that my Patron would look upon us with an evil Eye, and revenge himself upon those who had been so complaisant as to hearken to us. We pursued our Purpose, however, tho' some of the other Goats were resty for a little while, but as soon as the foremost were in the Humour to go, the others follow'd as gently as Lambs. Yet we were never the better for this Voyage, for the Country is so uniform, that when you have seen a Part of it, 'tis as well as if you had seen the whole, there being really no remarkable Difference but in the People's Faces, the same that you observe every where else; and indeed, if there had been any Pleasure to have tasted, we were at that time too uneasy to have partaken of it. But we were most agreeably surpriz'd at our Arrival, to hear that the Goat had been a Week in the Stables; so that this nimble Creature had ran home in Thirty-five Hours. This welcome News banish'd all melancholy, and made every one of us laugh very heartily.

The next Day the Boats were unladen, in Presence of all the Inhabitants of the Canto. The Judge having call'd for the Bill of Lading, and examin'd it, caus'd the Goods to be deliver'd to the respective Proprietors, with so much Order, that it was impossible for the least Thing to be lost. To make him amends for this Trouble, every Family sends him next Day a Dish of the best Fish they can catch in their Rivers, half of which is dress'd at his own House, and the other half at the Priest's Apartment, whither the Parents of the Family go to take part of it. This is reckoned an Honour for these Gentlemen, but they pay dearly for it, because all that they can save of the Fish, is not worth one half of the Sauce, which they are oblig'd in Generosity to add to it.