I answered in a few words,
but in the most submissive manner, lifting up my left hand and both my
eyes to the sun, as calling him for a witness; and being almost famished
with hunger, having not eaten a morsel for some hours before I left the
ship, I found the demands of nature so strong upon me, that I could not
forbear showing my impatience (perhaps against the strict rules of
decency) by putting my finger frequently on my mouth, to signify that I
wanted food. The Hurgo (for so they call a great lord, as I afterwards
learned) understood me very well. He descended from the stage, and
commanded that several ladders should be applied to my sides, on which
above a hundred of the inhabitants mounted, and walked towards my mouth,
laden with baskets full of meat, which had been provided, and sent
thither by the King's orders, upon the first intelligence he received of
me. I observed there was the flesh of several animals, but could not
distinguish them by the taste. There were shoulders, legs, and loins,
shaped like those of mutton, and very well dressed, but smaller than the
wings of a lark. I ate them by two or three at a mouthful, and took
three loaves at a time, about the bigness of musket bullets. They
supplied me as they could, showing a thousand marks of wonder and
astonishment at my bulk and appetite. |