Nottinghamshire was my birth place. My father owned a small estate. I had four brothers.
When I was fourteen, I went to study at Emanuel College in Cambridge. My father gave me pocket money. After I finished my studies, I became an apprentice to Mr. James Bates. He was a surgeon in London. I used my pocket money to learn navigation and mathematics. It was my dream to travel to new places.After I finished my apprenticeship, I returned home. My father and Lincle Johns to study Physics in Holland. I went to Holland. Two years past. I was a yosure than Bateemmended my name to Captain Abraham Pannel, the commander of a slug called the Swallow. I got the job of a surgeon on the ship. I made av on it.
I returned after three years I decided to live in London. Me Bates helped me. He recommended my name to his patients. I began my medical practice. Ibersught a small ho in the Old Jewry and married Mary Burton. My medical practice was soon doing well
Mr Bates died two years later Without his support, my medical practice began to fail. M wife suggested that I should again make a sea voyage to earn money. So, I went to After that. I made several voyages to the East and West Indies. In my free time, continued to read books. I observed the manners of the people in the new lands and trieg to learn their language.
My last voyage was not a good one. I was very tired. I also missed my wife and London home too. I shifted my home to the docks. I hoped that sick sailors would approach me for treatment and I could earn a living. However, this did not happen.
Three years went by. We grew poor. I had to return to sea and work to earn money Captain William Prichard, the captain of the ship Antelope made an offer which 1 accepted. We set sail from Bristol on May 4, 1699 to make a voyage to the South Sea.
The first part of our voyage was very successful. Then, on our way to the East Indies, there was a storm. It drove us off the course.
On the 5th of November, the sailors saw a big rock. The ship banged into it and split into half. We quickly climbed into a lifeboat. We rowed but land was not in sight. Then a wave overturned our boat. I don't know what happened to my five friends. I swam hard to save my life.
Around eight o'clock I reached the shore. I walked on the shore and looked around. There were neither houses nor people. I was tired. I fell to the ground and fell fast asleep. When I woke up the sun was high in the sky. I decided to get up. I found that I could not move! My arms and legs were tied to the ground! My hair was also tied. I was shocked. I had to lie flat on my back. I could only see the sky. I could hear a noise but could not make out where it came from.
Then, suddenly I felt something moving up my leg. It was coming towards my chest. It came till my chin. I was shocked.ir was a bit me being that was just six inches tall! This inte man was carrying a bow and arrow. Forty more little men clirobed on me. They this little many cheat and stared at my face
I was frightened. I screamed loudly. The men leapt down
However, they returned. One of them shouted, "Hekinah degut." The others repeated did know what that meant.
I wanted to be free. I broke the string that fastened my arm. I tried to grab the shouting man but he ran away. Then, I heard another shout "Tolgo phonic". Hundreds of arrows came on me and pricked me.
I was in pain. I decided not to struggle. My jacket protected me. I was not badly hurt. When the small people saw that I was quiet, they stopped shooting, I was lieved.
The small ready, one people began working on building a stage with a ladder. After the stage was man dressed in uniform stood on it. He made a long speech. I did not understand the speech as I did not know the language. Before he started the speech, he cried out three times, Langro dehul san. Then about fifty little men came and cut the strings that fastened the left side of my head. I could turn my head to the right. The speaker was a middle- aged man and tall. I did not disturb his speech.
I was hungry. I put my finger to my mouth, to tell that I wanted food. The hurgo understood me well. He was their great lord. He descended from the stage and commanded that ladders should be put up to my sides. Hundreds of little m mounted the ladders and deathed my mouth. They carried baskets full of meat. The was flesh of aliddels and rewehe shoulders, legs, etc., shaped like mutton, but sm than bird wings. The breads were like bullets. I ate two or three of them at one g little men were astonished at my appeale.
I made another sign with my thumb to tell that I am thirsty. The little men rolled up len hogsheads towards my hand. I drank them. The drink tasted like wine of Burgundy.
The little men danced upon my chest. I wanted to seize them and throw them on ground. But I did not want to hurt them.
In some time, an officer of high rank appeared. A large retinue of a dozen little me followed him. The other men bowed to him. This officer showed me the King's seal. was his messenger. He pointed his finger towards the right. I later came to know that was showing me the direction of the capital city. It was about half a mile away t Majesty wanted me to be brought there.
I requested to set me free but he said - No. I was a prisoner
I tried to break my bonds and shouted. They started to shoot arrows at me again. Then a few little people came and put ointment on my face. I smiled gratefully.
I was feeling sleepy. I closed my eyes. While I was asleep, the people made a carriage to carry me to the capital city. Their king was waiting to see me.