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.
PART IV—A VOYAGE TO THE COUNTRY OF THE HOUYHNHNMS.
CHAPTER I.
[The author sets out as captain of a ship. His
men conspire against him, confine him a long time
to his cabin, and set him on shore in an unknown land.
He travels up into the country. The Yahoos,
a strange sort of animal, described. The author
meets two Houyhnhnms.]
