Page 128 - Child's own book
P. 128

hurgo, or lord, understood me very well.  He commanded that
                          ladders  shrvuld  he  applied  to  my  sides,  on  which  above  an
                          hundred of  the  inhabitants  mounted, and  walked  towards  my
                          mouth, laden with  baskets  full  of  meat,  which  had been pro­
                          vided  by  the  kings  orders.   There were  shoulders,  legs, and
                          loins* shaped  like  mutton, but so small,  that  I  ate  them by two
                          or  three  at  a  mouthful* and  the  loaves  were about the  size  of
                          musket'hullets.  They  supplied  roe  aa  fast  aa  they  could*
                          showing  a  thousand marks  of  wonder and  amazement at  my
                          huik  and  appetite  ;  and  when  1  made  a  sign  that  I  wanted
                          drink,  they  very  ingeniously  slung  up  one  of  (heir  largest
                          hogsheads,  and  beat out the  top :  I  drank  it  off  at- a draught,
                          for  it  did  not  hold  above  half a  pint.  They  brought  me  a
                          second  hogshead, which  1  swallowed,  and  then  made  signs  for
                          more,  but  they  had  no  more to give me.
                            When (hey observed that  I  made no  more demands for meat*
                          there appeared before  me  a person  of high rank,  from  the  king
                          of  the  country.  This  ambassador  having  come  close  to  ray
                          face, spoke  about ten  minutes,  without  any signs of anger, but
                          with  a  kind  of  determined resolution,  often  pointing  forwards*
                          which,  as  I  afterwards  understood,  was  towards  the  capital,
                          whither  it was  agreed  by  his  majesty’s council  I  must be cod-
                          veyed.  J  made signs  to signify  that  I  desired  my  liberty,  but
                          he  shook  his  head  in  token  of  disapprobation ;  however*  he
                         gave  me  to understand  that  1  should  have plenty  of  meat  and
                         drink, and  very good  treatment.  I  thought of attempting again
                         to burst  my  bonds;  but when  I  felt the smart of the arrows oo
                         my  face and  bands*  which  were  all  in  blisters,  and observing
                         likewise  that  the  number  of  my  diminutive  enemies  every
                         moment  increased*  I  intimated that they  might do with  me as
                         they  pleased ;  upon  this*  the  hurgo  and  his train  withdrew,
                         with much  civility  of demeanour.  They  now spread  over my
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