<p class="gutsumm">The author leaves Luggnagg, and sails to
Japan. From thence he returns in a Dutch ship to Amsterdam,
and from Amsterdam to England.</p>
<p>I thought this account of the <i>struldbrugs</i> might be some
entertainment to the reader, because it seems to be a little out
of the common way; at least I do not remember to have met the
like in any book of travels that has come to my hands: and if I
am deceived, my excuse must be, that it is necessary for
travellers who describe the same country, very often to agree in
dwelling on the same particulars, without deserving the censure
of having borrowed or transcribed from those who wrote before
them.</p>
<p>There is indeed a perpetual commerce between this kingdom and
the great empire of Japan; and it is very probable, that the
Japanese authors may have given some account of the
<i>struldbrugs</i>; but my stay in Japan was so short, and I was
so entirely a stranger to the language, that I was not qualified
to make any inquiries. But I hope the Dutch, upon this
notice, will be curious and able enough to supply my defects.</p>
<p>His majesty having often pressed me to accept some employment
in his court, and finding me absolutely determined to return to
my native country, was pleased to give me his license to depart;
and honoured me with a letter of recommendation, under his own
hand, to the Emperor of Japan. He likewise presented me
with four hundred and forty-four large pieces of gold (this
nation delighting in even numbers), and a red diamond, which I
sold in England for eleven hundred pounds.</p>
<p>On the 6th of May, 1709, I took a solemn leave of his majesty,
and all my friends. This prince was so gracious as to order
a guard to conduct me to Glanguenstald, which is a royal port to
the south-west part of the island. In six days I found a
vessel ready to carry me to Japan, and spent fifteen days in the
voyage. We landed at a small port-town called Xamoschi,
situated on the south-east part of Japan; the town lies on the
western point, where there is a narrow strait leading northward
into along arm of the sea, upon the north-west part of which,
Yedo, the metropolis, stands. At landing, I showed the
custom-house officers my letter from the king of Luggnagg to his
imperial majesty. They knew the seal perfectly well; it was
as broad as the palm of my hand. The impression was, <i>A
king lifting up a lame beggar from the earth</i>. The
magistrates of the town, hearing of my letter, received me as a
public minister. They provided me with carriages and
servants, and bore my charges to Yedo; where I was admitted to an
audience, and delivered my letter, which was opened with great
ceremony, and explained to the Emperor by an interpreter, who
then gave me notice, by his majesty’s order, “that I
should signify my request, and, whatever it were, it should be
granted, for the sake of his royal brother of
Luggnagg.” This interpreter was a person employed to
transact affairs with the Hollanders. He soon conjectured,
by my countenance, that I was a European, 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 took shipping for Japan; where I knew my countrymen often
traded, and with some of these I hoped to get an opportunity of
returning into Europe: I therefore most humbly entreated his
royal favour, to give order that I should be conducted in safety
to Nangasac.” To this I added another petition,
“that for the sake of my patron the king of Luggnagg, his
majesty would condescend to excuse my performing the ceremony
imposed on my countrymen, of trampling upon the crucifix: because
I had been thrown into his kingdom by my misfortunes, without any
intention of trading.” When this latter petition was
interpreted to the Emperor, he seemed a little surprised; and
said, “he believed I was the first of my countrymen who
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 a Christian. However, for the reasons I had
offered, but chiefly to gratify the king of Luggnagg by an
uncommon mark of his favour, he would comply with the singularity
of my humour; but the affair must be managed with dexterity, and
his officers should be commanded to let me pass, as it were by
forgetfulness. For he assured me, that if the secret should
be discovered by my countrymen the Dutch, they would cut my
throat in the voyage.” I returned my thanks, by the
interpreter, for so unusual a favour; and some troops being at
that time on their march to Nangasac, the commanding officer had
orders to convey me safe thither, with particular instructions
about the business of the crucifix.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p> </p>
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