The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen - Rudolf Raspe

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      © Rudolf Raspe, 2019

      © Алексей Борисович Козлов, cover design, 2019

      ISBN 978-5-0050-2077-2

      Created with Ridero smart publishing system

      TRAVELS OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN

      CHAPTER I

      (THE BARON IS SUPPOSED TO RELATE THESE ADVENTURES TO HIS FRIENDS OVER A

      BOTTLE.)

      The Baron relates an account of his first travels – The astonishing

      effects of a storm – Arrives at Ceylon; combats and conquers two

      extraordinary opponents – Returns to Holland._

      Some years before my beard announced approaching manhood, or, in other

      words, when I was neither man nor boy, but between both, I expressed in

      repeated conversations a strong desire of seeing the world, from which

      I was discouraged by my parents, though my father had been no

      inconsiderable traveller himself, as will appear before I have reached

      the end of my singular, and, I may add, interesting adventures. A

      cousin, by my mother’s side, took a liking to me, often said I was

      fine forward youth, and was much inclined to gratify my curiosity.

      His eloquence had more effect than mine, for my father consented to my

      accompanying him in a voyage to the island of Ceylon, where his uncle

      had resided as governor many years.

      We sailed from Amsterdam with despatches from their High Mightinesses

      the States of Holland. The only circumstance which happened on our

      voyage worth relating was the wonderful effects of a storm, which

      had torn up by the roots a great number of trees of enormous bulk and

      height, in an island where we lay at anchor to take in wood and water;

      some of these trees weighed many tons, yet they were carried by the wind

      so amazingly high, that they appeared like the feathers of small birds

      floating in the air, for they were at least five miles above the earth:

      however, as soon as the storm subsided they all fell perpendicularly

      into their respective places, and took root again, except the largest,

      which happened, when it was blown into the air, to have a man and his

      wife, a very honest old couple, upon its branches, gathering cucumbers

      (in this part of the globe that useful vegetable grows upon trees): the

      weight of this couple, as the tree descended, over-balanced the trunk,

      and brought it down in a horizontal position: it fell upon the chief man

      of the island, and killed him on the spot; he had quitted his house

      in the storm, under an apprehension of its falling upon him, and was

      returning through his own garden when this fortunate accident happened.

      The word fortunate, here, requires some explanation. This chief was a

      man of a very avaricious and oppressive disposition, and though he had

      no family, the natives of the island were half-starved by his oppressive

      and infamous impositions.

      The very goods which he had thus taken from them were spoiling in his

      stores, while the poor wretches from whom they were plundered were

      pining in poverty. Though the destruction of this tyrant was accidental,

      the people chose the cucumber-gatherers for their governors, as a mark

      of their gratitude for destroying, though accidentally, their late

      tyrant.

      After we had repaired the damages we sustained in this remarkable storm,

      and taken leave of the new governor and his lady, we sailed with a fair

      wind for the object of our voyage.

      In about six weeks we arrived at Ceylon, where we were received with

      great marks of friendship and true politeness. The following singular

      adventures may not prove unentertaining.

      After we had resided at Ceylon about a fortnight I accompanied one of

      the governor’s brothers upon a shooting party. He was a strong, athletic

      man, and being used to that climate (for he had resided there some

      years), he bore the violent heat of the sun much better than I could; in

      our excursion he had made a considerable progress through a thick wood

      when I was only at the entrance.

      Near the banks of a large piece of water, which had engaged my

      attention, I thought I heard a rustling noise behind; on turning about

      I was almost petrified (as who would not be?) at the sight of a lion,

      which was evidently approaching with the intention of satisfying his

      appetite with my poor carcase, and that without asking my consent. What

      was to be done in this horrible dilemma? I had not even a moment for

      reflection; my piece was only charged with swan-shot, and I had no other

      about me: however, though I could have no idea of killing such an animal

      with that weak kind of ammunition, yet I had some hopes of frightening

      him by the report, and perhaps of wounding him also. I immediately let

      fly, without waiting till he was within reach, and the report did but

      enrage him, for he now quickened his pace, and seemed to approach me

      full speed: I attempted to escape, but that only added (if an addition

      could be made) to my distress; for the moment I turned about I found a

      large crocodile, with his mouth extended almost ready to receive me. On

      my right hand was the piece of water before mentioned, and on my left a

      deep precipice, said to have, as I have since learned, a receptacle at

      the bottom for venomous creatures; in short I gave myself up as lost,

      for the lion was now upon his hind-legs, just in the act of seizing

      me; I fell involuntarily to the ground with fear, and, as it afterwards

      appeared, he sprang over me. I lay some time in a situation which no

      language can describe, expecting to feel his teeth or talons in some

      part of me every moment: after waiting in this prostrate situation a few

      seconds I heard a violent but unusual noise, different from any sound

      that had ever before assailed my ears; nor is it at all to be wondered

      at, when I inform you from whence it proceeded: after listening for

      some time, I ventured to raise my head and look round, when, to my

      unspeakable joy, I perceived the lion had, by the eagerness with which

      he

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