；〃 said he； 〃to have the honour to receive so illustrious a traveller； and assure you that everything in my empire shall be at your disposal。〃
I thanked his Majesty for his politeness； and expressed how happy I was to meet so polished and refined a people in the centre of Africa； and that I hoped to show myself and company grateful for his esteem； by introducing the arts and sciences of Europe among the people。
I immediately perceived the true descent of this people； which does not appear of terrestrial origin； but descended from some of the inhabitants of the moon； because the principal language spoken there； and in the centre of Africa； is very nearly the same。 Their alphabet and method of writing are pretty much the same； and show the extreme antiquity of this people； and their exalted origin。 I here give you a specimen of their writing ＇/Vide Otrckocsus de Orig。 Hung。/ p。 46＇： Stregnah； dna skoohtop。
These characters I have submitted to the inspection of a celebrated antiquarian； and it will be proved to the satisfaction of every one； in his next volume； what an immediate intercourse there must have been
between the inhabitants of the moon and the ancient Scythians； which Scythians did not by any means inhabit a part of Russia； but the central part of Africa； as I can abundantly prove to my very learned and laborious friend。 The above words； written in our characters； are /Sregnah dna skoohtop/； that is； The Scythians are of heavenly origin。 The word /Sregnah/； which signifies /Scythians/； is compounded of /sreg/ or /sre/； whence our present English word sire； or sir： and /nah/； or /gnah/； knowledge； because the Scythians united the essentials of nobility and learning together： /dna/ signifies heaven； or belonging to the moon； from /duna/； who was anciently worshipped as goddess of that luminary。 And /skooh…top/ signifies the origin or beginning of anything； from /skoo/； the name used in the moon for a point in geometry； and /top/ or /htop/； vegetation。 These words are inscribed at this day upon a pyramid in the centre of Africa； nearly at the source of the river Niger； and if any one refuses his assent； he may go there to be convinced。
The emperor conducted me to his court amidst the admiration of his courtiers； and paid us every possible politeness that African magnificence could bestow。 He never presumed to proceed on any expedition without consulting us； and looking upon us as a species of superior beings； paid the greatest respect to our opinions。 He frequently asked me about the states of Europe； and the kingdom of Great Britain； and appeared lost in admiration at the account I gave him of our shipping； and the immensity of the ocean。 We taught him to regulate the government nearly on the same plan with the British constitution； and to institute a parliament and degrees of nobility。 His majesty was the last of his royal line； and on his decease； with the unanimous consent of the people； made me heir to the whole empire。 The nobility and chiefs of the country immediately waited upon me with petitions； entreating me to accept the government。 I consulted with my noble friends； Gog and Magog； &c。； and after much consultation it was agreed that I should accept the government； not as actual and independent monarch of the place； but as viceroy to his Majesty of England。
I now thought it high time to do away the custom of eating of live flesh and drinking of kava； and for that purpose used every persuasive method to wean the majority of the people from it。 This； to my astonishment； was not taken in good part by the nation； and they looked with jealousy at those strangers who wanted to make innovations among them。
Nevertheless； I felt much concern to think that my fellow…creatures could be capable of such barbarity。 I did everything that a heart fraught with universal benevolence and good will to all mankind could be capable of desiring。 I first tried every method of persuasion and incitement。 I did not harshly reprove them； but I invited frequently whole thousands to dine； after the fashion of Europe； upon roasted meat。 Alas； 'twas all in vain！ my goodness nearly excited a sedition。 They murmured among themselves； spoke of my intentions； my wild and ambitious views； as if I； O heaven！ could have had any personal interested motive in making them live like men； rather than like crocodiles and tigers。 In fine； perceiving that gentleness could be of no avail； well knowing that when complaisance can effect nothing from some spirits； compulsion excites respect and veneration； I prohibited； under the pain of the severest penalties； the drinking of kava； or eating of live flesh； for the space of nine days； within the districts of Angalinar and Paphagalna。
But this created such an universal abhorrence and detestation of my government； that my ministers； and even myself； were universally pasquinadoed； lampoons； satires； ridicule； and insult； were showered upon the name of Munchausen wherever it was mentioned； and in fine； there never was a government so much detested； or with such little reason。
In this dilemma I had recourse to the advice of my noble friend Hilaro Frosticos。 In his good sense I now expected some resource； for the rest of the council； who had advised me to the former method； had given but a poor specimen of their abilities and discernment； or I should have succeeded more happily。 In short； he addressed himself to me and to the council as follows：
〃It is in vain； most noble Munchausen； that your Excellency endeavours to compel or force these people to a life to which they have never been accustomed。 In vain do you tell them that apple…pies； pudding； roast beef； minced pies； or tarts； are delicious； that sugar is sweet； that wine is exquisite。 Alas！ they cannot； they will not comprehend what deliciousness is； what sweetness； or what the flavour of the grape。 And even if they were convinced of the superior excellence of your way of life； never； never would they be persuaded； and that if for no other reason； but because force or persuasion is employed to induce them to it。 Abandon that idea for the present； and let us try another method。 My opinion； therefore； is； that we should at once cease all endeavours to compel or persuade them。 But let us； if possible； procure a quantity of /fudge/ from England； and carelessly scatter it over all the country； and from this disposal of matters I presumenay； I have a moral certainty； that we shall reclaim this people from horror and barbarity。〃
Had this been proposed at any other time； it would have been violently opposed in the council； but now； when every other attempt had failed； when there seemed no other resource； the majority willingly submitted to they knew not what； for they absolutely had no idea of the manner； the possibilities of success； or how they could bring matters to bear。 However； 'twas a scheme； and as such they submitted。 For my part； I listened with ecstasy to the words of Hilaro Frosticos； for I knew that he had a most singular knowledge of human kind； and could humour and persuade them on to their own happiness and universal good。 Therefore； according to the advice of Hilaro； I despatched a balloon with four men over the desert to the Cape of Good Hope； with letters to be forwarded to England； requiring； without delay； a few cargoes of
fudge。
The people had all this time remained in a general state of ferment and murmur。 Everything that rancour； low wit； and deplorable ignorance could conceive to asperse my government； was put in execution。 The most worthy； even the most beneficent actions； everything that was amiable； were perverted into opposition。
The heart of Munchausen was not made of such impenetrable stuff as to be insensible to the hatred of even the most worthless wretch in the whole kingdom； and once； at a general assembly of the states； filled with an idea of such continued ingratitude； I spoke as pathetic as possible； not； methought； beneath my dignity； to make them feel for me： that the universal good and happiness of the people were all I wished or desired； that if my actions had been mistaken； or improper surmises formed； still I had no wish； no desire； but the public welfare； &c。 &c。 &c。
Hilaro Frosticos was all this time much disturbed； he looked sternly at mehe frowned； but I was so engrossed with the warmth of my heart； my intentions； that I understood him not： in a minute I saw nothing but as if through a cloud （such is the force of amiable sensibility） lords； ladies； chiefsthe whole assembly seemed to swim before my sight。 The more I thought on my good intentions； the lampoons which so much affected my delicacy； good nature； tendernessI forgot myselfI spoke rapid； violentbeneficencefiretendernessalas！ I melted into tears！
〃Pish！ pish！〃 said Hilaro Frosticos。
Now； indeed； was my government lampooned； satirised； carribonadoed； bepickled； and bedevilled。 One day； with my arm full of lampoons； I started up as Hilaro entered the room； the tears in my eyes： 〃Look； look here； Hilaro！how can I bear all this？ It is impossible to please them； I will leave the governmentI cannot bear it！ See what pitiful anecdoteswhat surmises： I will make my people feel for meI will leave the government！〃
〃Pshaw！〃 says Hilaro。 At that simple mono…syllable I found myself changed as if by magic！ for I ever looked on Hilaro as a person so experiencedsuch fortitude； such good sense。 〃There are three sails； under the convoy of a frigate；〃 added Hilaro； 〃just arrived at the Cape； after a fortunate passage； laden with the fudge that we demanded。 No time is to be lost； let it be immediately conducted hither； and distributed through the principal granaries of the empire。〃
CHAPTER XXVII
/A proclamation by the BaronExcessive curiosity of the people to know what fudge wasThe people in a general ferment about it They break open all the granaries in the empireThe affections of the people conciliatedAn ode performed in honour of the Baron His discourse with Fragrantia on the excellence of the music。/
Some time after I ordered the following proclamation to be published in the Court Gazette； and in all the other papers of the empire：
BY THE MOST MIGHTY AND PUISSANT LORD； HIS EXCELLENCY THE