A journey to the world under-ground
must be of the highest Advantage to his Dominions, and as there is all
the Reason in the World to hope, that under such an illustrious and
celestial Teacher, the Kingdom will, in a short Time, wear another
Face. For which Reason he hopes you will so much the more willingly
honour his Court, as the Capital of the Empire is a more ample Field
for the Exercise of your Virtues.”
This Harangue being ended, I returned my humble Thanks to the
Embassadors, and accompanied them immediately to the Palace. Though
they had taken up fourteen Days in coming, yet in returning we spent
only four, which was owing to a Contrivance of mine. For as I had
observ’d a vast Multitude of Horses in this Country, which were of
no Manner of Use, but rather a Burden upon the People, inasmuch as
they liv’d in the Woods like wild Beasts, I laid open to the Natives
the several Advantages which would accrue from the Service of those
generous Brutes, and taught them the Art of breaking them. In a
short Time a great Number were tam’d, and upon the Arrival of the
Embassadors, I had as many broke and prepar’d, as would serve us
all in our Return. At the Sight of the Horses thus instructed, the
Embassadors were amazed, but were afraid to mount them. But when they
saw me and others guiding and turning them which Way we pleas’d,
by Means of the Bridle, and that without Fear or Danger, they took
Courage, after two or three Trials, and ventur’d upon the Journey. And
this was the Reason that they return’d in one Third of the Time they
came. When we drew near the Place where the Royal City was suppos’d
to be, we heard that this famous Metropolis was remov’d into another
Province, which oblig’d us to bend our Course another Way.
Upon our Approach to the Capital, the Fright and Surprize of the People
is not to be express’d. Many, struck with a Panick, abandon’d the Royal
City. The Emperor himself kept shuddring in his Pavilion, nor dar’d to
go out of it, till one of the Embassadors alighting from his Horse,
went and explain’d the Mystery to him. I was introduc’d soon after in
great Form, and with a Train of People behind me, to the Emperor’s
Presence. _Casba_ was sitting on a Carpet, surrounded by his Courtiers.
Having paid my Compliments to his Imperial Highness, he rose, and ask’d
me how the Emperor of the Sun did, the Founder of the Royal Family
of _Quama_. To this Question, as I conceiv’d it necessary to keep up
the popular Error, I reply’d, “That I was sent from the Monarch of
the Sun to reform the savage Manners of the _Quamites_ with salutary
Instructions, and to open a Way for them not only to repel the Insults
of their Neighbours, but also to enlarge the Bounds of their Empire,
and that I had Orders to end my Days among them.” This Speech highly
pleas’d the Emperor. He commanded a Tent to be erected for me near
his own; he also assign’d me fifteen Domesticks to attend on me, and,
laying aside the Monarch, behav’d to me always like a Friend.
CHAP. XIII.
_The Rise of the fifth_ +Monarchy+.
From that Time forward, I was wholly taken up in giving a new Form to
the Government, and instructing the Youth in military Discipline.
_Ante urbem hinc pueri, & primævi flore juventus
Exercentur equis, domitantque in pulvere currus:
Aut acres tendunt arcus, aut lenta lacertis
Spicula contorquent._
I began with teaching them the Management of Horses, and training them
for War, as I hop’d that by our Horse alone our Neighbours might be
kept in Awe. The Emperor was soon supply’d, through my Diligence, with
six thousand Horse. The _Tanachites_ were at that Time preparing for
a fresh Invasion, on Account of the Delay of the annual Tribute, the
Payment of which had often been sollicited in vain. I was order’d by
the Emperor to go and meet the Enemy with my new-rais’d Cavalry, to
which were added a Body of Infantry. These were arm’d with Pikes and
Javelins, with which they might engage the _Tanachites_ at a Distance.
For the _Quamites_ had hitherto made use of short Swords or Daggers
only; for which Reason being oblig’d to engage Hand to Hand with very
fierce Enemies, who were much superior to them in Strength, they had
always fought upon unequal Terms.
Being appointed General in this Expedition, as soon as I heard that
the _Tanachites_ were drawn up in Order of Battle, not far from the
Borders of our Empire, I march’d to meet them with all my Forces. The
Enemy, thunderstruck with the Sight of an unexpected Army, remain’d for
some Time motionless: But our Forces advancing towards them, began to
handle their Pikes and Javelins as soon as the Enemy came within Reach,
and made a heavy Slaughter of them. The _Tanachites_, however, did
not lose Courage, but made a brisk Attack upon our Infantry: But the
new-rais’d Horse falling upon their Flanks, their Ranks were quickly
broken, and they themselves put to Flight; so that the Fortune of the
Battle wholly turn’d on this Assault. A terrible Slaughter ensued, and
the General of the _Tanachites_, together with twenty Tigers of the
first Quality, were taken Prisoners, and led in Triumph to _Quama_.
It is scarce to be express’d what Joy this extraordinary Victory
diffus’d throughout the Empire; for the _Quamites_ had generally been
routed in all former Battles, and forc’d to beg a Peace upon the most
dishonourable Terms. The Emperor, according to Custom, immediately
sentenc’d all the Prisoners to be executed: But as I had an Abhorrence
of this Custom, I advis’d the keeping them in Custody, thinking the
_Tanachites_ (with whom we could neither be said to be at War, nor in
Peace, at that Time) would be quiet, until they saw what was to become
of their Prisoners. And besides I urg’d, that a Truce was necessary for
me, to put some Schemes in Execution which I was then projecting. I had
before taken Notice, that the Country abounded with Salt-Petre, and had
got together a large Quantity of it, in order to make Gunpowder. I had
not however communicated my Design to any body but the Emperor, whose
Authority I stood in need of, to erect Offices for casting Barrels
for Guns, and other Kinds of Weapons: And I was in Hopes, that by the
Help of these Instruments all the Enemies of this Empire might in a
short Time be subdued. After I had got some Hundreds of Muskets made,
together with a Quantity of Ball, I gave a publick Specimen of my
Invention, to the great Astonishment of every body. A certain Number
of Men were immediately set aside, to be continually exercis’d in the
Management of these Muskets. After the Musketeers came to be pretty
ready in their Exercises, I was declar’d _Jachal_ by the Emperor, or
Generalissimo of all his Forces, and all the subordinate Officers were
order’d to receive their Commands from me. Whilst these Affairs were
transacting, I had frequent Conferences with _Tomopoloko_, the General
of the _Tanachites_, in order to discover the State, the Manners and
Disposition of that Nation. I found him, to my great Surprize, to be
a Person of Prudence, Learning, and Politeness, and was inform’d by
him, that Literature and Arts were in no small Esteem in the Country of
the _Tanachites_. He told me likewise, that there were a very warlike
People Eastward of them, whom the _Tanachites_ were oblig’d to be
perpetually upon their Guard against. The Inhabitants were small of
Stature, and much inferior to the _Tanachites_ in Strength of Body;
but then their Understandings were very acute, and they were eminent
for their Dexterity in managing their Javelins, or Darts, and for this
Reason had often compell’d the _Tanachites_ to sue for Peace. I learnt
afterward, that that Nation was compos’d of Cats, and that of all the
Inhabitants of the Firmament, they were the most remarkable for their
able Judgment and Skill in Politicks. It was no small Grief to me to
be inform’d, that Learning, Wisdom, and Politeness, flourish’d among
all the Creatures of this Subterraneous World, Man only excepted, and
that the _Quamites_ alone were barbarous and unciviliz’d. I hop’d,
however, that this Reproach would soon be remov’d, and that the
_Quamites_ would recover that Dominion which Nature has given to Man
over all other Animals.
The _Tanachites_ continued quiet for a long Time after their last
Defeat; but after they had discover’d, by Means of their Spies, the
State and Disposition of the new Body of Horse, namely, that those
Centaurs, which had struck such a Terror into them, were nothing else
but Horses, which had been broke and manag’d, they resum’d new Courage,
and rais’d fresh Forces, which the King himself commanded in Person.
The Army consisted of twenty thousand Tigers, all veteran Troops,
except two Regiments which had lately been inlisted. These new-rais’d
Forces were however a nominal, and not a real Addition to their
Strength. This Army, flush’d with Hopes of Victory, struck a Terror
into the whole Empire of _Quama_. Twelve thousand of our Foot advanc’d
to meet them, among which were six hundred Musketeers, together with
four thousand Horse. As I had no Doubt about the Success of the Battle,
lest the Emperor should be defrauded of the Glory of the Victory, I
intreated the old Man to put himself at the Head of his Forces. I lost
nothing of my Credit by this feign’d Modesty, since the whole Army
look’d upon me as their Leader. I thought it most advisable not to
let my Musketeers have any Share in the first Assault, having a Mind
to try, whether we could not carry the Victory by Means of the Horse
alone. But this Piece of Management cost me dear. For the _Tanachites_
attack’d our Foot with so much Violence, that they oblig’d them to give
Way: They stood likewise the Shock of our Horse so valiantly, that for
a long Time it could not be said to which Side the Victory inclin’d.
While we were in the Heat of the Battle, I led my Musketeers on to
the Attack. At the first Discharge of our Artillery, the _Tanachites_
were in a Manner stupefy’d. They could not conceive from whence those
Thunders and Lightnings proceeded; but when they saw the dreadful
Effects thereof, they were seiz’d as it were with a Panick. This first
Salutation laid two hundred Tigers prostrate on the Ground, amongst
which were two Chaplains belonging to the Camp, who were each of them
pierc’d thro’ with a Musket-Ball, whilst they were encouraging the
Soldiers to do their Duty by very pathetick Discourses in Praise of
Valour. Their Fate was bitterly lamented by all, for they were reckon’d
admirable Orators. As soon as I perceiv’d the Terror our Enemies were
in, I order’d a second Discharge to be made. This did more Execution
than the former: Great Numbers were kill’d, and among the rest, the
King himself. Upon this the Enemy losing all Hopes, turn’d their Backs.
Our Horse pursued them, and made so great a Slaughter of them as they
fled, that the Multitude of Carcasses with which the Field was covered,
at length put a Stop to their Pursuit. After the Battle was over, and
we had Time to take an Account of the Number of the Slain, they were
found to amount to thirteen thousand. The Enemy being thus intirely
routed, the victorious Army enter’d the Country of the _Tanachites_,
and after a few Days March encamp’d under the Walls of the Metropolis.
Such a Terror had at that Time seiz’d all Peoples Minds, that
though the Town was strong, and well secur’d by its Situation,
Walls, and Forts, and well stor’d with Provisions of all Kinds, yet
the Magistrates came out in the most suppliant Manner to meet the
Conquerors, and to offer them the Keys of the City. This City was no
less remarkable for its great Extent, than for the Cleanness of its
Streets, and the Neatness of its Buildings. And it was certainly Matter
of great Wonder, that the _Quamites_, who were encompass’d on all Sides