Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- General Editors’ Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Chronology of Swift’s Life
- Chronology of Gulliver’s Travels
- List of Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Gulliver’s Travels
- A Letter From Capt. Gulliver, to His Cousin Sympson
- The Publisher to the Reader
- The Contents
- Part I
- Part II
- Part III
- Part IV
- Long Notes
- Appendices
- Textual Introduction
- Select Bibliography
- Index
Chapter XI
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 September 2021
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- General Editors’ Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Chronology of Swift’s Life
- Chronology of Gulliver’s Travels
- List of Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Gulliver’s Travels
- A Letter From Capt. Gulliver, to His Cousin Sympson
- The Publisher to the Reader
- The Contents
- Part I
- Part II
- Part III
- Part IV
- Long Notes
- Appendices
- Textual Introduction
- Select Bibliography
- Index
Summary
The Author leaves Luggnagg and sails to Japan. From thence he returns in a Dutch Ship to Amsterdam, and from Amsterdam to England.
I thought this Account of the Struldbruggs 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 hath 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.
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 Struldbruggs; but my Stay in Japan was so short, and I was so entirely a Stranger to the Language, that I was not qualified tomake any Enquiries. But I hope the Dutch upon this Notice will be curious and able enough to supply my Defects.
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 Licence 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 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.
On the 6th Day 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 Part, where there is a narrow Streight, leading Northward into a long Arm of the Sea, upon the North-West Part of which Yedo the Metropolis stands.
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- Gulliver's Travels , pp. 322 - 326Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2012