for the sun shone clear, and the reflection dazzled
their eyes, as I waved the scimitar to and fro in
my hand. His majesty, who is a most magnanimous
prince, was less daunted than I could expect:
he ordered me to return it into the scabbard, and
cast it on the ground as gently as I could, about
six feet from the end of my chain. The next thing
he demanded was one of the hollow iron pillars; by
which he meant my pocket pistols. I drew it
out, and at his desire, as well as I could, expressed
to him the use of it; and charging it only with powder,
which, by the closeness of my pouch, happened to escape
wetting in the sea (an inconvenience against which
all prudent mariners take special care to provide,)
I first cautioned the emperor not to be afraid, and
then I let it off in the air. The astonishment
here was much greater than at the sight of my scimitar.
Hundreds fell down as if they had been struck dead;
and even the emperor, although he stood his ground,
could not recover himself for some time. I delivered
up both my pistols in the same manner as I had done
my scimitar, and then my pouch of powder and bullets;
begging him that the former might be kept from fire,
for it would kindle with the smallest spark, and blow
up his imperial palace into the air. I likewise
delivered up my watch, which the emperor was very
curious to see, and commanded two of his tallest yeomen
of the guards to bear it on a pole upon their shoulders,
as draymen in England do a barrel of ale. He
was amazed at the continual noise it made, and the
motion of the minute-hand, which he could easily discern;
for their sight is much more acute than ours:
he asked the opinions of his learned men about it,
which were various and remote, as the reader may well
imagine without my repeating; although indeed I could
not very perfectly understand them. I then gave
up my silver and copper money, my purse, with nine
large pieces of gold, and some smaller ones; my knife
and razor, my comb and silver snuff-box, my handkerchief
and journal-book. My scimitar, pistols, and
pouch, were conveyed in carriages to his majesty’s
stores; but the rest of my goods were returned me.
I had as I before observed, one private pocket, which
escaped their search, wherein there was a pair of
spectacles (which I sometimes use for the weakness
of mine eyes,) a pocket perspective, and some other
little conveniences; which, being of no consequence
to the emperor, I did not think myself bound in honour
to discover, and I apprehended they might be lost
or spoiled if I ventured them out of my possession.
[The author diverts the emperor, and his nobility
of both sexes, in a very uncommon manner. The
diversions of the court of Lilliput described.
The author has his liberty granted him upon certain
conditions.]
