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| author | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-21 03:21:04 -0800 |
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| committer | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-21 03:21:04 -0800 |
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diff --git a/75432-h/75432-h.htm b/75432-h/75432-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8689a3d --- /dev/null +++ b/75432-h/75432-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,587 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title>An Account Of The Giants Lately Discovered | Project Gutenberg</title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + + body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + h1, h2 { + text-align: center; + clear: both; + } + + h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + + p { + margin-top: .5em; + margin-bottom: .5em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1em; + } + + .hang { + text-align: justify; + text-indent: -1em; + padding-left: 1em; + } + + /* === Title page === */ + div.titlepage { + text-align: center; + page-break-before: always; + font-weight: bold; + } + + div.titlepage p { + text-align: center; + text-indent: 0; + line-height: 1.5; + margin-top: 3em; + } + + div.chapter { + clear: both; + margin-top: 10%; + page-break-before: always; + } + + hr {width: 95%; margin-left: 2.5%; margin-right: 2.5%;} + hr.short {width: 15%; margin: auto 42.5%;} + hr.chap {width: 65%; margin: 5% 17.5%;} + .x-ebookmaker hr.chap {visibility: hidden;} + @media print {hr.chap {visibility: hidden;}} + + /* === Superscript size === */ + sup {font-size: 75%;} + + /* === Fonts === */ + .small {font-size: small;} + .large {font-size: large;} + .xlarge {font-size: x-large;} + .xxxlarge {font-size: 150%;} + .xxxxlarge {font-size: 200%;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .gesperrt2 {letter-spacing: 0.2em; margin-right: -0.2em;} + .gesperrt4 {letter-spacing: 0.4em; margin-right: -0.4em;} + .gesperrt5 {letter-spacing: 0.5em; margin-right: -0.5em;} + .gesperrt6 {letter-spacing: 0.6em; margin-right: -0.6em;} + .gesperrt8 {letter-spacing: 0.8em; margin-right: -0.8em;} + + /* === Alignment === */ + .mt2 {margin-top: 2%;} + .mt5 {margin-top: 5%;} + .mb2 {margin-bottom: 2%;} + .mb5 {margin-bottom: 5%;} + .lh2 {line-height: 2em;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .right {text-align: right; margin-right: 2%;} + + /* === Page #s === */ + .pagenum { + position: absolute; + right: 1%; + color: gray; + font-size: x-small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + padding: 0 0.2em; + } + + /* === Text drop caps === */ + p.drop-cap {text-indent: 0;} + p.drop-cap:first-letter { + float: left; + font-size: 4em; + margin: 0 0.05em 0 0; + line-height: 0.8 + } + .x-ebookmaker p.drop-cap {text-indent: inherit;} + .x-ebookmaker p.drop-cap:first-letter { + float: none; + font-size: inherit; + padding-right: inherit; + padding-left: inherit; + margin-top: inherit; + line-height: inherit; + } + + /* === Abreviation: no underline, no color === */ + abbr { + border: none; + text-decoration: none; + } + + /* no underline */ + a {text-decoration: none;} + + ul.spaced li {padding-top: 1%;} + + .transnote { + background-color: #E6E6FA; + border: 1px solid; + color: black; + font-size: small; + padding: 0.5em; + margin-bottom: 5em; + font-family: sans-serif, serif; + } + + </style> +</head> + +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75432 ***</div> + + <div class="titlepage"> + <hr> + <div class="xlarge mt5 mb5" style="line-height: 2.5em;"><span class="gesperrt2" style="font-size: 80%;">AN</span><br> + <span class="gesperrt4 xxxlarge">ACCOUNT</span><br> + <span class="gesperrt2" style="font-size: 80%;">OF THE</span><br> + <span class="gesperrt6 xxxxlarge">GIANTS</span><br> + <span class="smcap">Lately Discovered</span>. + </div> + + <hr> + <div class="large mt5 mb2">(Price One Shilling.)</div> + </div> + + <hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + <p class="hang">This Work is entered in the Hall-Book of the <span class="smcap">Company</span> of + <span class="smcap">Stationers</span>, according to Act of Parliament; whoever Prints it, + or any Part thereof, will be prosecuted as the Law directs.</p> + + <hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + <div class="titlepage"> + <h1 class="xlarge mt5" style="line-height: 2.5em; margin-bottom: 7%;"><span class="gesperrt3" style="font-size: 80%;">AN</span><br> + <span class="gesperrt4 xxxlarge">ACCOUNT</span><br> + <span class="gesperrt2" style="font-size: 80%;">OF THE</span><br> + <span class="gesperrt6 xxxxlarge">GIANTS</span><br> + LATELY DISCOVERED; + </h1> + <div class="mb5 large">In a Letter to a Friend in the Country.</div> + + <hr> + <div class="gesperrt6 mt5 mb2">LONDON:</div> + + <div class="mb2">Printed for <span class="smcap"><span class="gesperrt2">F. Noble</span></span>, opposite <i>Gray's-Inn,<br> + Holborn</i>.</div> + <hr class="short"> + <div class="mt2 mb5">MDCCLXVI.</div> + </div> + + <hr> + <hr> + <div class="chapter"> + <span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">1</span> + <h2 class="nobreak lh2" id="An_Account_of_the_GIANTS_LATELY_DISCOVERED">An <span class="smcap">Account</span> of the<br> + <span class="gesperrt6 xxxxlarge">GIANTS</span><br> + LATELY DISCOVERED.</h2> + </div> + + <p><em>Dear Will</em>,</p> + + <p class="drop-cap">THOUGH People in the Country are enough disposed to believe Wonders, + yet are they prudently apt to suspend giving Credit to all that are + sent from <em>London</em>, except of a political Cast. You good Folks + still believe in an uninterrupted Generation of Patriots; and though + they so seldom come to Years <span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">2</span>of Maturity, you trust in them as fast as + they are produced in St. <em>Stephen</em>'s Chapel. For other monstrous + Births, you are fonder of them, the farther they come. Ghosts and + Witches are entirely of your own Growth. Excepting the famous Ghost of + a Sound in <em>Cock-Lane</em>, from which the Methodists expected such a + rich Harvest, (for what might not a rising Church promise itself from + such well imagined Nonsense as the Apparition of a Noise?) I think + many, many Years have elapsed, since the Capital could boast of having + regenerated a Spirit. Your Sagacity will therefore incline you to doubt + the marvellous Account I am going to give you of a new discovered Race + of Giants.</p> + + <p>Perhaps you will take the Relation for some political Allegory, or + think it a <span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">3</span>new vamped Edition of <em>Swift</em>'s Brobdignags. My good + Friend, it is neither the one nor the other; though I must own, a + political Mystery, and a wonderful one too, for it is really kept a + Secret.—The very Crew of the Ship who saw Five Hundred of these lofty + Personages, did not utter a word of the Matter for a whole Year; and + even now, that a general Idea has taken wind, can scarce be brought to + give any Particulars to their most intimate Friends.</p> + + <p>All that the Public can yet learn, is, that Captain <em>Byron</em> and + his Men have seen on the Coast of <em>Patagonia</em> Five Hundred Giants + on Horseback. Giants? you will cry, what do you call Giants? why, + my Friend, not Men of Fifty or an Hundred Feet high, yet still very + personable Giants, and much taller than any <span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">4</span>Individual ever exhibited + at <em>Charing Cross</em>. Come, what do you think of Nine or Ten Feet + high? and what do you think of Five Hundred such? will Mrs. —— cry, + "pish, That is no Giant, it is only a well made Man?"</p> + + <p>I am told, for I am no reader of Travels, that this Gigantic Nation + was known to exist as early as the discovery of that Continent: + That Sir <em>John Narborough</em> mentions them; and of late Years, + <em>Maupertuis</em>. The <em>Spaniards</em> assert that they have long been + acquainted with their existence—So they you see can keep a Secret + too. But the Reasons given why we know so little of the Matter, are, + that few Ships ever touch on that Coast, standing more out to Sea, in + order to double the <em>Cape</em>, and that these Giants are a roving + Nation, and seldom come <span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">5</span>down to the Coast; and then I suppose, only + <em>to bob for Whales</em>.</p> + + <p>You will be eager to know a great deal more than I can tell you; but + thus much I think is allowed. That Captain <em>Byron</em> being on that + Coast, saw a Body of Men at a distance on very small Horses; as they + approached, he perceived that the Horses were common-sized Horses, but + that the Riders were enormously tall, though I do not hear that their + Legs trailed much on the Ground. This was fine Game for a Man sent on + Discoveries. The Captain and part of his Crew immediately landed, on + which Messieurs the Giants as quickly retreated. Whether this Timidity + was owing to the Terror which the <em>English</em> Arms have struck + into all Parts of the known, and I conclude, unknown World; whether + <span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">6</span>they took Captain <em>Byron</em> for Mr. <em>Pitt</em>; whether they took + our Men for <em>Spaniards</em>, whose name must be in Horror to all + <em>Americans</em>; or whether they had any apprehensions of Fire-Arms, + I cannot tell. Be that as it may, the more the Captain and his Men + advanced, the faster the Giants kept trotting off. Seeing this, the + Captain took a bold and sensible Resolution: he ordered his Men to + lay down their Arms and remain Stock still, himself alone advancing. + I doubt much whether <em>Homer</em> would have cared to venture his + <em>Jupiter</em> alone against Five Hundred <em>Titans</em>.</p> + + <p>Captain <em>Byron</em>'s <em>Titans</em> had more of the <em>Scavoir + vivre</em>, and seeing him advance alone, stopped. He came up with + them, and addressed them in all the Languages he knew, and that they + did not. They <span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">7</span>replied in the Giant-Tongue, which I am told a very + reverend Critic, upon the Strength of one Syllable which the Captain + remembered, affirms is plainly <em>Phœnician</em>. The Captain not being + Master of that exceedingly useful and obsolete Language, had the + Misfortune of not comprehending a Word they said. Had he been a deep + Scholar, he would undoubtedly have had recourse to Hieroglyphics, which + the Learned tell us was the first Way of conveying Instruction: But I + must beg leave to observe that it was very lucky the Captain had not + so much Erudition. I do not know whether he can draw or not, but most + probably if he can, he had not his Implements with him. At most perhaps + a Black-Lead Pencil, or a Pen and Ink, and the Cover of a Letter. He + could not with such Tools have asked many Questions; and <span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">8</span>as the Giants + are probably not better Painters than the <em>Egyptians</em>, he would + have understood their Answers as little as the Learned do the Figures + on Obelisks. Thus he would have lost his Time, and got no Information; + or what is worse to every Man but a Critic, have made a thousand absurd + Guesses. The Captain having a great Deal more Sense, and the Savages + some, they naturally fell into that <em>Succedaneum</em> to Language, + Signs. Yet I do not hear that either Side gained much Information.</p> + + <p>The first Thing, or rather first Sign, he said to them in this Dilemma, + was, <em>sit down</em>, which he explained by sitting down on the Ground + himself. The poor good Giants understood him, dismounted, and sat down + too. It is said, but far be it from me to affirm it, that when the + Captain <span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">9</span>(who I am told is upwards of Six Feet) rose again, the nearest + Giant to him, tho' sitting, was taller than he.</p> + + <p>An Hour or two was spent in fruitlesly endeavouring to understand one + another: All I hear the Captain comprehended, was, that the Giants + invited him very civily to go with them into the Woods, where, I + suppose, <em>Gigantopolis</em> stands, and their King resides, who, no + doubt, is at least two Feet taller than the tallest of his Grenadiers. + The Captain declined the Offer, at which these polite Savages expressed + much Concern, but never once, as any still more polite People would + have done, attempted to force him.</p> + + <p>When he took his leave they remained motionless, and continued so, as + he observed <span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">10</span>by his Glasses, till the Ship was out of their Sight.</p> + + <p>Very few other Particulars are come to my Knowledge, except that + they were clothed in Skins of Beasts, and had their Eyes painted of + different Colours; that they had no Weapons, but Spears pointed with + Fish-Bones, that they devour Fish raw, and that they showed great + Repugnance to taste any Liquids offered to them by the Captain; and + that though they were too polite absolutely to refuse his Toast, they + spit the Liquor out of their Mouths again; whether from Apprehension + of Intoxication or Poison, is not certain: However it looks as if they + had some Notion of such <em>European</em> Arts. What is more remarkable; + the Weather being very severe at that Season, the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">11</span>whole Colossal Troop + seemed as sensible of the Cold, and shivered like us little delicate + Mortals of Six Feet high. They had a few Giantesses with them, but as + the Captain did not survey them with the small End of his Spying-Glass, + I do not hear that he was much struck with their Charms.</p> + + <p>This, my dear Friend, is all the Satisfaction I can give you. However I + am proud to be the first who has communicated this important Discovery + to <em>Europe</em>.</p> + + <p>The Speculations it has already occasioned, and will occasion, + are infinite. The Wolf of the <em>Gevaudan</em>, that Terror of the + <em>French</em> Monarchy, is already forgotten. Naturalists, Politicians, + Divines, and Writers of Romance, have a new Field opened to them. The + Scale of <span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">12</span>Being ascends; we mount from the Pigmies of <em>Lapland</em> to + the Giants of <em>Patagonia</em>.</p> + + <p>You will ask, but I cannot answer you, Whether the Scale of the + Country is in proportion to such Inhabitants? Whether their Oaks are + half as lofty again as the <em>British</em>; and such is your Zeal for + <em>England</em>, you will already figure a Fleet built of their Timber. + How large is the Grain of their Corn? of what Size their Sheep, Cows, + and Poultry? Do not go and compute by <em>Gulliver</em>'s Measures, and + tell me that a populous Nation of such Dimensions would devour the + Products of such a Country as Great <em>Tartary</em> in half a Year. + Giants there are; but what proportionable Food they have, except + Elephants and Leviathans, is more than I can tell. <span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">13</span>They probably do + not live upon Bantam-Chickens.</p> + + <p>As you are still more of a Politician than a Naturalist, you will + be impatient to know if Captain <em>Byron</em> took Possession of the + Country for the Crown of <em>England</em>, and to have his Majesty's + Stile run, <span class="smcap">George</span> the Third, by the Grace of <span class="smcap">God</span>, + King of <em>Great-Britain, France, Ireland, and the Giants</em>! You will + ask why some of their Women were not brought away to mend our Breed, + which all good Patriots assert has been dwindling for some Hundreds of + Years; and whether there is any Gold or Diamonds in the Country? Mr. + <em>Whitfield</em> wants to know the same Thing, and it is said intends a + Visit for the Conversion of these poor blinded Savages.</p> + + <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">14</span></p> + + <p>As soon as they are properly civilized, that is, enslaved, due care + will undoubtedly be taken to specify in their Charter that these Giants + shall be subject to the Parliament of <em>Great-Britain</em>, and shall + not wear a Sheep's Skin that is not legally Stamped. A Riot of Giants + would be very unpleasant to an Infant Colony. But Experience, I hope, + will teach us, that the invaluable Liberties of <em>Englishmen</em> are + not to be wantonly scattered all over the Globe. Let us enjoy them + ourselves, but they are too sacred to be communicated. If Giants once + get an Idea of Freedom, they will soon be our Masters instead of our + Slaves. But what Pretensions can they have to Freedom? They are as + distinct from the common Species as Blacks, and by being larger, may + be more useful, I would advise our prudent Merchants <span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">15</span>to employ them + in the Sugar Trade; they are capable of more Labour; but even then + they must be worse treated, if possible, than our Black Slaves are; + they must be lamed and maimed, and have their Spirits well broken, + or they may become dangerous. This too will give a little respite to + <em>Africa</em>, where we have half exhausted the Human, I mean, the + Black Breed, by that wise maxim of our Planters, that if a Slave lives + Four Years, he has earned his Purchase-Money, consequently you may + afford to work him to Death in that time.</p> + + <p>The Mother Country is not only the First, but ought to be the sole + Object of our political Considerations. If we once begin to extend the + Idea of the Love of our Country, it will embrace the Universe, and + consequently annihilate <span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">16</span>all Notion of our Country. The Romans, so much + the Object of modern Admiration, were with difficulty persuaded to + admit even the rest of <em>Italy</em> to be their Countrymen. The true + Patriots never regarded any thing without the Walls of <em>Rome</em>, + except their own <em>Villas</em>, as their Country. Every thing was done + for immortal <em>Rome</em>, and it was immortal <em>Rome</em> that did + every thing. Conquered Nations, which to them answered to discovered + Nations with us, for they conquered as fast as they discovered, were + always treated accordingly; and it is remarkable that two Men equally + famous for their Eloquence have been the only Two that ever had the + weakness to think that conquered Countries were intituled to all the + Blessings of the Mother Country. <em>Cicero</em> treated <em>Sicily</em> + and <em>Cilicia</em> as tenderly as the District <span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">17</span>of <em>Arpinum</em>, and + I doubt it was the folly of that Example that misled his too exact + Imitator on a late occasion. However, the Giants must be impressed + with other Ideas: Bless us, if like that Pigmy old <em>Oliver</em>, they + should come to think the Speaker's Mace a Bawble!</p> + + <p>What have we to do with <em>America</em>, but to conquer, enslave, and + make it tend to the Advantage of our Commerce? shall the noblest + Rivers in the World roll for Savages? shall Mines teem with Gold for + the Natives of the Soil? and shall the World produce any Thing but for + <em>England</em>, <em>France</em>, and <em>Spain</em>? It is enough that the + Overflowings of Riches in those three Countries are every Ten Years + wasted in <em>Germany</em>.</p> + + <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">18</span></p> + + <p>Still, my political Friend, I am not for occupying <em>Patagonia</em>, as + we did <em>Virginia</em>, <em>Carolina</em>, &c. such might be the Politics + of Queen <em>Elizabeth</em>'s Days. But modern Improvements are wiser. If + the Giants in question are Masters of a rich and flourishing Empire, I + think they ought to be put under their Majesties, a <em>West-Indian</em> + Company; the Directors of which may retail out a small Portion of their + Imperial Revenues to the Proprietors, under the Name of a Dividend. + This is an excellent Scheme of Government totally unknown to the + Ancients. I can but think how poor <em>Livy</em> or <em>Tacitus</em> would + have been hampered in giving an Account of such an <em>imperium in + imperio</em>. <em>Cassimirus Alius Caunus</em>, (for they latinized every + proper Name, instead of delivering it, as uncouthly pronounced by their + <span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">19</span>Soldiers and Sailors) would have sounded well enough: But Dividends, + Discounts, <em>India</em> Bonds, <em>&c.</em> were not made for the Majesty + of History. But I am wandering from my Subject; though, while I am + talking of the Stocks and Funds, I could chalk out a very pretty New + South-Sea Scheme, <em>à propos</em> to the <em>Patagonians</em>. It would + not ruin above Half the Nation, and would make the Fortunes of such + industrious Gentlemen, as during the Want of a War in <em>Germany</em> + cannot turn Commissaries.</p> + + <p>Command is the Object of every Man's Ambition; but by the impolitic + Assent of Ages and Nations to Hereditary Monarchy, you must be begotten + on a Queen, or are for ever excluded from wearing a Diadem; except in a + very few Instances; as in <em>Poland</em>, where the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">20</span>Throne is elective; + in <em>Corsica</em>, where they will not acknowledge Hereditary Right + in the Republic of <em>Genoa</em>; in <em>Russia</em>, where a Soldier's + Trull succeeded her Husband the <em>Czar</em>, and where there are other + Ways of succeeding a Husband; in <em>Peru</em> where they are tired of + exchanging their Gold for Tyrants; and in <em>Paraguay</em>, where the + Outcasts of the Earth, and the Inventors of the Oath of Obedience, + have thrown off all Submission to their Prince, and having mounted the + Throne, will probably renounce the Oath of Chastity too. But it is to + <em>England</em> that Persons of the lowest Birth are indebted for the + Invention and Facility of weilding at least Part of a Scepter. Buy + but an <em>India</em> Bond and you have a Property in the Kingdom of + <em>Bengal</em>. Rise to be a Director, and the <em>Mogul</em> has not more + Power <span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">21</span>appointing and displacing Nabobs. <em>Indian</em> Sovereigns may + now be born in <em>Threadneedle-Street</em>.</p> + + <p>What the Government means by pocketing a whole Nation of Giants, is + not to be conceived. It ought again to draw down the Vengeance of + their Antagonists on the present Ministers. I am sure they have done + nothing worse. Who knows but at this Instant they may be preparing to + pour in Forty or Fifty thousand Giants upon us? Their Love of Liberty, + their Tenderness of the Constitution, their Lenity, Mildness and + Disinterestedness, their Attention to the Merchants, in short, all + their Virtues may be affected, and only calculated to lull us asleep, + until the fatal Blow is struck. I own my Apprehensions are gloomy; yet, + thank <span class="smcap">God</span>, we have a <span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">22</span>pretty tall Opposition, who will not + suffer us to be enslaved by any Thing higher than themselves.</p> + + <p>In the mean Time, till we know something of the Matter, it is to be + hoped, that all speculative Authors, who are so kind as to govern and + reform the World through the Channel of the News Papers, will turn + their Thoughts to Plans for settling this new acquired Country. I + call it new acquired, because whoever finds a Country, though Nobody + has lost it, is from that Instant intitled to take a Possession of + it for himself, or his Sovereign. <em>Europe</em> has no other Title + to <em>America</em>, except Force and Murder, which are rather the + executive Parts of Government than a Right. Though <em>Spain</em> + pretends a Knowledge of our Giants, she has forfeited all Pretensions + to their Allegiance, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">23</span>by concealing the Discovery; as is plain from + the Decision of the <em>Canon</em> Law, <em>Tit. de novis regionibus non + abscondendis</em>.</p> + + <p>The first Thought that will occur to every good Christian, is, that + this Race of Giants ought to be exterminated, and their Country + colonized; but I have already mentioned the great Utility that may + be drawn from them in the Light of Slaves. I have also said, that + a moderate Importation might be tolerated for the Sake of mending + our Breed; but I would by no Means come into a Project I have heard + dropped, and in which Propagation would not be concerned, I mean the + Scheme of bringing over a Number of Giants for second Husbands to + Dowagers. <em>Ireland</em> is already kept in a State of Humiliation. We + check their <span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">24</span>Trade, and do not allow them to avail themselves of the + best situated Harbours in the World. Matrimony is their only Branch of + Commerce unrestricted, and it would be a most crying Injustice to clog + that too.</p> + + <p>In truth, we are not sufficiently acquainted with these Goliaths to + decide peremptorily on their Properties. No Account of them has been + yet transmitted to the Royal Society: But it would be exceedingly + adviseable, that a Jury of Matrons should be sent in the next + embarkation to make a report; and old Women for old Women, I would + trust to the Analysis of the Matrons in preference to that of the + Philosophers.</p> + + <p>I will now, my Friend, drop the political Part of this Discussion, and + inform <span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">25</span>you what effect this Phænomenon has had on another Set of Men. + It has started an obvious and very perplexing Question, <em>viz.</em> + whether these Giants are <em>Aborigines</em>; if they are not, from which + of the Sons of <em>Noah</em> are they descended, and in that case how we + shall account for this extraordinary increase of Stature?</p> + + <p>The modern Philosophers are peremptory that these Giants are + <em>Aborigines</em>, that is, that their Country has been inhabited + by Giants from the Creation of the World. The Scriptures, say those + Gentlemen, mention Giants, but never posterior to the Flood; whence we + ought to believe that they perished in the General Deluge. Neither, + add they, are we told that any Son of <em>Noah</em> was of Stature + supereminent to his Brethren. Yet we will <span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">26</span>suppose, say they, that some + of their Defendants might have Shot up to an Extraordinary height, + without Notice being taken of it in Sacred Writ. Nay, they allow that + this increase of Stature might not have appeared till after the Date of + Holy Writ. Yet is it credible, say they, that a race of Giants should + have been formed, and remain unknown to all Ages, all Nations, all + History? Did these Monsters pass unobserved from the most Eastern Part + of the Continent (the supposed Communication by which <em>America</em> + was peopled) to the Northern Parts of the other World, and migrate + down that whole Continent to the most Southern Point of it, without + leaving any Trace, even by Tradition, in the memory of Mankind? Or are + we to believe, that Tribes of Giants sailed from <span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">27</span><em>Africa</em> to + <em>America</em>? What Vessels wafted them? Was Navigation so perfected + in the infant Ages of the World, that Fleets enormously larger than + any now existing were constructed for the transportation of a Race of + <em>Polyphemes</em>? Or to come to the Third Point, is it the Climate + that has ripened them, as <em>Jamaica</em> swells Oranges to Shadocks, + to this stupendous Volume? But North and South of them are Men of + the ordinary size, nor has the same Latitudes produced any thing + similar. Natural Philosophers cannot account for it, therefore Divines + certainly can; and when this People shall be better known, I do not + doubt but the Mystery will be cleared up; for as these Giants have + indubitably remained unmixed longer than any other People, we shall + probably discover stronger Traces <span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">28</span>of their <em>Jewish</em> Origin. Their + Cult is in all likelihood less corrupted from that of the Sons of + <em>Noah</em>, than is to be found elsewhere: their Language possibly the + Genuine <em>Hebrew</em>, not <em>Phœnician</em>; and if I might hazard a + Conjecture, these Giants are probably the Descendants of the Ten Tribes + so long lost, and so Fruitlessly sought by the Learned; and having + deviated less from the true Religion of their Forefathers, may have + been restored so, or preserved in their primitive Stature and Vigour. I + offer this Opinion with much Modesty, though I think it more reasonable + than any <em>Hypothesis</em> I have yet heard on the Subject.</p> + + <p>Whatever their Religion shall appear to be, it will be matter of great + Curiosity. <span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">29</span>We scarce know of any People, except the <em>Hottentots</em>, + or the <em>Heroes</em>, who lived in the Days of <em>Fingal</em>, among + whom no Traces of any Religious Notions or Worship have been discovered.</p> + + <p>If they are not <em>Jews</em>, but Idolaters, the Statues of their + Divinities, their sacrificing Instruments, or whatever are the Trinkets + of their Devotion, will be great Rarities, and worthy of a place in any + Museum.</p> + + <p>Their Poetry will be another Object of Inquiry, and if their Minds are + at all in proportion to their Bodies, must abound in the most lofty + Images, in the true Sublime. Oh! If we could come at an Heroic Poem + penned by a Giant! We should see other Images than our <span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">30</span>puny Writers of + Romance have conceived; and a little different from the Cold Tale of a + late notable Author, who did not know better what to do with his Giant + than to make him grow till he shook his own Castle about his own Ears.</p> + + <p>In short, my good Friend, here is ample Room for Speculation: but I + hope we shall go calmly and systematically to Work: that we shall not + exterminate these poor Monsters till we are fully acquainted with their + History, Laws, Opinions, Police, <em>&c.</em> that we shall not convert + them to Christianity, only to cut their Throats afterwards; that Nobody + will beg a Million of Acres of Giant-Land, till we have determined what + to do with the present Occupiers: <span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">31</span>and that we shall not throw away + Fifteen or Twenty Thousand Men in conquering their Country, as we did + at the <em>Havannah</em>, only to restore it to the <em>Spaniards</em>:</p> + + <p class="mt5"><em>July 1, 1766.</em></p> + + <p class="center mt5">Your's,</p> + + <p class="right mt5"><em>S. T.</em></p> + + <hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + <div class="transnote"> + <div class="large center"><b>Transcriber’s Notes:</b></div> + <ul class="spaced"> + <li>Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected.</li> + <li> Antiquated spelling is unchanged.</li> + <li>Cover is the frontispiece to <cite>A Voyage Round the World, In His Majesty's Ship + The Dolphin, Commanded by the Honourable Commodore Byron (1767)</cite>, + the book that this book satirizes.<br>Caption: <i>A Sailor giving a Patagonian Woman some + Biscuit for her Child.</i></li> + </ul> + </div> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75432 ***</div> +</body> + +</html> + diff --git a/75432-h/images/cover.jpg b/75432-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4a0947d --- /dev/null +++ b/75432-h/images/cover.jpg |
