The hurgo-for so they call a great lord, as I afterward learned-understood me very well. He descended from the stage and commanded that several ladders should be applied to my sides, on which above a hundred of the inhabitants mounted, and walked toward my mouth, laden with baskets full of meat, which had been provided and sent thither by the king"s orders upon the first news he received of me.
I observed there was the flesh of several animals, but could not distinguish them by the taste. There were shoulders, legs, and loins, shaped like those of mutton, and very well dressed, but smaller than the wings of a lark. I ate them by two or three at a mouthful, and took three loaves at a time, about the bigness of musket bullets. They supplied me as they could, showing a thousand marks of wonder and astonishment at my bulk and appetite.
I then made another sign that I wanted drink. They found by my eating that a small quantity would not suffice me; and, being a most ingenious people, they slung up, with great dexterity1, one of their largest hogsheads, and then rolled it toward my hand and beat out the top. I drank it off at a draught, which I might well do, for it did not hold half a pint, and tasted like a small wine of Burgundy, but much more1 Dexterity: skill; cleverness.
delicious. They brought me a second hogshead, which I drank in the same manner, and made signs for more; but they had none to give me.
When I had performed these wonders, they shouted for joy and danced upon my breast, repeating several times as they did at first, "Hekinah Degul." They made me signs that I should throw down the two hogsheads, but first warning the people below to stand out of the way, crying aloud, "Borach Mivolah." When they saw the vessels in the air there was an universal shout of "Hekinah Degul."I confess I was often tempted, while they were passing backward and forward on my body, to seize forty or fifty of the first that came in my reach and dash them against the ground. But remembrance of what I had felt, which probably might not be the worst they could do, and the promise of honor I had made them-so I interpreted my submissive behavior- soon drove out these imaginations1. Besides, I now considered myself as bound by the laws of hospitality to a people who had treated me with so much expense and magnificence.
However, in my thoughts, I could not sufficiently wonder at the courage of these diminutive mortals who durst venture to mount and walk upon my body while one of my hands was at liberty, without trembling at the very sight of so prodigious2 a creature as I must appear to them. After some time, when they observed that I made no more demands for meat, there1 Imaginations: purposes; ideas; fancies. 2 Prodigious: huge; monstrous.
appeared before me a person of high rank from his imperial majesty. His excellency, having mounted on the small of my right leg, advanced forward up to my face with about a dozen of his retinue1, and producing his credentials2 under the signet3 royal, which he applied close to mine eyes, he spoke about ten minutes without any sign of anger, but with a kind of determinate4 resolution. He often pointed forward, which as I afterward found was toward the capital city about half a mile away, whither it was agreed by his majesty in council that I must be conveyed.
I answered in few words, but to no purpose, and made a sign with my hand that was loose, putting it to the other- but over his excellency"s head for fear of hurting him or his train- and then to my own head and body, to signify that I desired my liberty.
It appeared that he understood me well enough, for he shook his head by way of disapprobation, and held his hand in a posture to show that I must be carried as a prisoner. However, he made other signs to let me understand that I should have meat and drink enough and very good treatment.
Whereupon I once more thought of breaking my bonds; but again when I felt the smart of their arrows upon my face and hands, which were all in blisters, and many of the darts still1Retinue: train of attendants.
2Credentials: letters of credit; testimonials showing that a person has a right to exercise official power.
3Signet: seal; sign.
4Determinate: fixed; positive.
sticking in them, and observing likewise that the number of my enemies increased, I gave tokens to let them know that they might do with me what they pleased.
Upon this, the hurgo and his train withdrew with much civility and cheerful countenances.
Soon after I heard a general shout, with frequent cries of "Peplom Selan;" and I felt great numbers of the people on my left side relaxing the cords to such a degree that I was able to turn upon my right and so ease myself.
But before this they had daubed my face and both my hands with a sort of ointment, very pleasant to the smell, which in a few minutes removed all the smart of their arrows. These things, added to the refreshment I had received by their victuals and drink, which were very nourishing, disposed me to sleep. I slept about eight hours, as I was afterward assured. It was no wonder, for the doctors, by the emperor"s orders, had mingled a sleeping draught in the hogsheads of wine.