CHAPTER XI.
The author leaves Luggnagg, and sails to Japan. From thence he returnsin a Dutch ship to Amsterdam, and from Amsterdam to England.
I thought this account of the _struldbrugs_ might be some entertainmentto the reader, because it seems to be a little out of the common way; atleast I do not remember to have met the like in any book of travels thathas come to my hands: and if I am deceived, my excuse must be, that it isnecessary for travellers who describe the same country, very often toagree in dwelling on the same particulars, without deserving the censureof having borrowed or transcribed from those who wrote before them.
There is indeed a perpetual commerce between this kingdom and the greatempire of Japan; and it is very probable, that the Japanese authors mayhave given some account of the _struldbrugs_; but my stay in Japan was soshort, and I was so entirely a stranger to the language, that I was notqualified 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 hiscourt, and finding me absolutely determined to return to my nativecountry, was pleased to give me his license to depart; and honoured mewith a letter of recommendation, under his own hand, to the Emperor ofJapan. He likewise presented me with four hundred and forty-four largepieces of gold (this nation delighting in even numbers), and a reddiamond, 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 myfriends. This prince was so gracious as to order a guard to conduct meto Glanguenstald, which is a royal port to the south-west part of theisland. In six days I found a vessel ready to carry me to Japan, andspent fifteen days in the voyage. We landed at a small port-town calledXamoschi, situated on the south-east part of Japan; the town lies on thewestern point, where there is a narrow strait leading northward intoalong arm of the sea, upon the north-west part of which, Yedo, themetropolis, stands. At landing, I showed the custom-house officers myletter from the king of Luggnagg to his imperial majesty. They knew theseal perfectly well; it was as broad as the palm of my hand. Theimpression was, _A king lifting up a lame beggar from the earth_. Themagistrates of the town, hearing of my letter, received me as a publicminister. They provided me with carriages and servants, and bore mycharges to Yedo; where I was admitted to an audience, and delivered myletter, which was opened with great ceremony, and explained to theEmperor by an interpreter, who then gave me notice, by his majesty'sorder, that I should signify my request, and, whatever it were, itshould be granted, for the sake of his royal brother of Luggnagg. Thisinterpreter was a person employed to transact affairs with theHollanders. He soon conjectured, by my countenance, that I was aEuropean, 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 tookshipping for Japan; where I knew my countrymen often traded, and withsome of these I hoped to get an opportunity of returning into Europe: Itherefore most humbly entreated his royal favour, to give order that Ishould be conducted in safety to Nangasac. To this I added anotherpetition, that for the sake of my patron the king of Luggnagg, hismajesty would condescend to excuse my performing the ceremony imposed onmy countrymen, of trampling upon the crucifix: because I had been throwninto his kingdom by my misfortunes, without any intention of trading.When this latter petition was interpreted to the Emperor, he seemed alittle surprised; and said, he believed I was the first of my countrymenwho 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 aChristian. However, for the reasons I had offered, but chiefly togratify the king of Luggnagg by an uncommon mark of his favour, he wouldcomply with the singularity of my humour; but the affair must be managedwith dexterity, and his officers should be commanded to let me pass, asit were by forgetfulness. For he assured me, that if the secret shouldbe discovered by my countrymen the Dutch, they would cut my throat in thevoyage. I returned my thanks, by the interpreter, for so unusual afavour; and some troops being at that time on their march to Nangasac,the commanding officer had orders to convey me safe thither, withparticular instructions about the business of the crucifix.
On the 9th day of June, 1709, I arrived at Nangasac, after a very longand troublesome journey. I soon fell into the company of some Dutchsailors 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 spokeDutch well. The seamen soon knew whence I came last: they were curiousto inquire into my voyages and course of life. I made up a story asshort and probable as I could, but concealed the greatest part. I knewmany persons in Holland. I was able to invent names for my parents, whomI pretended to be obscure people in the province of Gelderland. I wouldhave given the captain (one Theodorus Vangrult) what he pleased to askfor my voyage to Holland; but understanding I was a surgeon, he wascontented to take half the usual rate, on condition that I would servehim in the way of my calling. Before we took shipping, I was often askedby some of the crew, whether I had performed the ceremony abovementioned? I evaded the question by general answers; that I hadsatisfied the Emperor and court in all particulars. However, amalicious rogue of a skipper went to an officer, and pointing to me, toldhim, I had not yet trampled on the crucifix; but the other, who hadreceived instructions to let me pass, gave the rascal twenty strokes onthe shoulders with a bamboo; after which I was no more troubled with suchquestions.
Nothing happened worth mentioning in this voyage. We sailed with a fairwind to the Cape of Good Hope, where we staid only to take in freshwater. On the 10th of April, 1710, we arrived safe at Amsterdam, havinglost only three men by sickness in the voyage, and a fourth, who fellfrom the foremast into the sea, not far from the coast of Guinea. FromAmsterdam I soon after set sail for England, in a small vessel belongingto that city.
On the 16th of April we put in at the Downs. I landed next morning, andsaw once more my native country, after an absence of five years and sixmonths complete. I went straight to Redriff, where I arrived the sameday at two in the afternoon, and found my wife and family in good health.