SUMMARY: The Author's Return to Maldonada. Sails to the Kingdom of Luggnagg. The Author confined. He is sent for to Court. The manner of his Admittance. The King's great Lenity to his Subjects.

  THE DAY OF our Departure being come, I took Leave of his Highness the Governor of Glubbdubdrib, and returned
with my two Companions to Maldonada, where after a Fortnight's waiting, a Ship was ready to sail for Luggnagg. The
two Gentlemen and some others were so generous and Kind as to furnish me with Provisions, and see me on board. I
was a Month in this Voyage. We had one violent Storm and were under a Necessity of steering Westward to get into
the Trade-Wind, which holds for above sixty Leagues. On the 21st of April, 1711*, we sailed into the River of
Clumegnig, which is a Sea-port Town, at the South-East Point of Luggnagg. We cast Anchor within a League of the
Town, and made a Signal for a Pilot. Two of them came on board in less than half an Hour, by whom we were guided
between certain Shoals and Rocks, which are very dangerous in the Passage, to a large Basin, where a Fleet may ride in
Safety within a Cable's Length of the Town Wall.

Some of our Sailors, whether out of Treachery or Inadvertence, had informed the Pilots that I was a Stranger and a
Traveller, whereof these gave Notice to a Custom-House Officer, by whom I was examined very strictly upon my
landing. This Officer spoke to me in the Language of Balnibarbi, which by the Force of much Commerce is generally
understood in that Town, especially by Seamen, and those employed in the Customs. I gave him a short Account of
some Particulars, and made my Story as plausible and consistent as I could; but I thought it necessary to disguise my
Country, and call my self an Hollander, because my Intentions were for Japan, and I knew the Dutch were the only
Europeans permitted to enter into that Kingdom. I therefore told the Officer, that having been shipwrecked on the
Coast of Balnibarbi, and cast on a Rock, I was received up into Laputa, or the flying Island (of which he had often
heard), and was now endeavouring to get to Japan, from whence I might find a Convenience of returning to my own
Country. The Officer said I must be confined till he could receive Orders from Court, for which he would write
immediately, and hoped to receive an Answer in a fortnight. I was carried to a convenient Lodging, with a Centry placed
at the Door; however I had the Liberty of a large Garden, and was treated with Humanity enough, being maintained all
the Time at the King's Charge. I was visited by several Persons, chiefly out of Curiosity, because it was reported that I
came from Countries very remote of which they had never heard.

I hired a young Man who came in the same Ship to be an interpreter; he was a native of Luggnagg, but had lived some
Years at Maldonada, and was a perfect Master of both Languages. By his Assistance I was able to hold a
Conversation with those who came to visit me; but this consisted only of their Questions, and my Answers.

The Dispatch came from Court about the Time we expected. It contain'd a Warrant for conducting me and my Retinue
to Traldragdubb or Trildrogdrib, for it is pronounced both ways as near as I can remember, by a Party of Ten Horse.
All my Retinue was that poor Lad for an Interpreter, whom I persuaded into my Service, and at my humble Request, we
had each of us a Mule to ride on. A Messenger was dispatch'd half a Day's Journey before us, to give the King Notice
of my Approach, and to desire that his Majesty would please appoint a Day and Hour, when it would be his gracious
Pleasure that I might have the Honour to lick the Dust before his Footstool. This is the Court Style, and I found it to be
more than Matter of Form: For upon my Admittance two Days after my Arrival, I was commanded to crawl upon my
Belly, and lick the Floor as I advanced; but on Account of my being a Stranger, Care was taken to have it made so
clean that the Dust was not offensive. However, this was a peculiar Grace, not allowed to any but Persons of the highest
Rank, when they desire an Admittance. Nay, sometimes the Floor is strewed with Dust on purpose, when the Person to
be admitted happens to have powerful Enemies at Court. And I have seen a great Lord with his Mouth so crammed, that
when he had crept to the proper Distance from the Throne, he was not able to speak a Word. Neither is there any
Remedy, because it is capital for those who receive an Audience to spit or wipe their Mouths in his Majesty's Presence.
There is indeed another Custom, which I cannot altogether approve of. When the King has a Mind to put any of his
Nobles to Death in a gentle indulgent Manner; he commands to have the Floor strowed with a certain brown Powder, of
a deadly Composition, which being licked up infallibly kills him in twenty-four Hours. But in Justice to this Prince's great
Clemency, and the Care he hath of his Subject's Lives (wherein it were much to be wished that the Monarchs of Europe
would imitate him) it must be mentioned for his Honour, that strict Orders are given to have the infected Parts of the
Floor well washed after every such Execution; which if his Domesticks neglect, they are in Danger of incurring his Royal
Displeasure. I my self heard him give Directions, that one of his Pages should be whipt, whose Turn it was to give Notice
about washing the Floor after an Execution, but maliciously had omitted it; by which Neglect a young Lord of great
Hopes coming to an Audience, was unfortunately poisoned, although the King at that Time had no Design against his
Life. But this good Prince was so gracious, as to forgive the poor Page his Whipping, upon Promise that he would do so
no more, without special Orders.

To return from this Digression; when I had crept within four Yards of the Throne, I raised my self gently upon my Knees,
and then striking my Forehead seven Times on the Ground, I pronounced the following Words, as they had been taught
me the Night before, Ickpling Gloffthrobb Squutserumm blhiop Mlashnalt Zwin tnodbalkguffh Slhiophad
Gurdlubh Asht. This is the Compliment established by the Laws of the Land for all Persons admitted to the King's
Presence. It may be rendered into English thus: May your celestial Majesty out-live the Sun, eleven Moons and an
half. To this the King returned some Answer, which although I could not understand, yet I replied as I had been
directed; Fluft drin Yalerick Dwuldum prastrad mirplush, which properly signifies, My Tongue is in the Mouth of
my Friend; and by this Expression was meant that I desired leave to bring my Interpreter; whereupon the young Man
already mentioned was accordingly introduced, by whose Intervention I answer'd as many Questions as his Majesty
could put in above an Hour. I spoke in the Balnibarbian Tongue, and my Interpreter delivered my Meaning in that of
Luggnagg.

The King was much delighted with my Company, and ordered his Bliffmarklub or high Chamberlain, to appoint a
Lodging in the Court for me and my Interpreter, with a daily Allowance for my Table, and a large Purse of Gold for my
common Expenses.

I stayed three Months in this Country out of perfect Obedience to his Majesty, who was pleased highly to favour me,
and made me very honourable Offers. But, I thought it more consistent with Prudence and Justice to pass the remainder
of my Days with my Wife and Family.