Page:Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World by Lemuel Gulliver First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships.djvu/44

4 the Evening. I then advanced forward near half a Mile, but could not discover any sign of Houses or Inhabitants; at least I was in so weak a condition, that I did not observe them. I was extremely tired, and with that, and the Heat of the weather, and about half a pint of Brandy that I drank as I left the Ship, I found myself much inclined to sleep. I lay down on the Grass, which was very short and soft, where I slept sounder than ever I remember to have done in my life, and as I reckoned, above Nine hours; for when I awakedawoke [sic], it was just Day-light. I attempted to rise, but was not able to stir : For, as I happened to lie on my back, I found my Arms and Legs were strongly fastened on each side to the ground; and my Hair, which was long and thick, tied down in the same manner. I likewise felt several slender Ligatures across my body, from my Arm-pits to my Thighs. I could only look upwards; the Sun began to grow hot, and the Light offended mine Eyes. I heard a confused Noise about me, but in the posture I lay, could see nothing except the Sky. In a little time I felt something alive moving on my left Leg, which advancing gently forward over my Breast, came almost up to my Chin; when bending mine Eyes downwards as much as I could, I perceived it to be a Human creature not Six inches high, with a Bow and Arrow in his Hands, and a Quiver at his Back. In the mean time, I felt at least forty more of the same kind (as I conjectured) following the first. I was in the utmost astonishment, and roared so loud, that they all ran back in a fright; and some of them, as I was afterwards told, were hurt with the Falls they got by leaping from my sides upon the ground. However, they soon returned, and one of them, who ventured so far as to get a full sight of my Face, lifting up his hands and eyes by way of Admiration, cryedcried [sic] out in a shrill but distinct voice, Hekinah Degiil: The others repeated the same Words several times, but I then knew not what they meant. I lay all this while, as the Reader may believe, in great Uneasiness: At length struggling to get loose, I had the fortune to break the Strings, and wrench out the Pegs that fastened my Left arm to the ground; for, by lifting it up to my Face, I discover'd the methods