The Project Gutenberg eBook of Symzonia: Voyage of Discovery
Title: Symzonia: Voyage of Discovery
Author: Captain Adam Seaborn
Release date: April 3, 2017 [eBook #54485]
Most recently updated: October 23, 2024
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed
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Gutenberg (This book was produced from scanned images of
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PRINTED BY J. SEYMOUR, 49 JOHN-STREET.
1820.
Southern District of New-York, ss.
Be it remembered, that on the second day of November, in the forty-fifth year of the Independence of the United States of America, Jonathan Seymour, of the said District, hath deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit:
“Symzonia; a Voyage of Discovery. By Captain Adam Seaborn.”
In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled “An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the time therein mentioned.” And also to an Act, entitled “an Act, supplementary to an Act, entitled an Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints.”
GILBERT LIVINGSTON THOMPSON,
Clerk of the Southern District of New-York.
SECTIONAL VIEW OF THE EARTH,
SHOWING THE
OPENINGS AT THE POLES.
EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE.
| Fig. | 1.— | Rays of the sun when in the equator, refracted 3 degrees. |
| 2.— | Moon’s rays in 28° north declination. | |
| 3.— | Sun’s rays in 9° south declination. | |
| 4.— | Sun’s rays in 23° do | |
| 5.— | Moon’s rays in 28° do | |
| 6.— | Sun’s rays in 23° 27′ south declination, refracted 3°. | |
| 7.— | Supposed place of Belzubia. | |
| 8.— | Place of exile. | |
| 9.— | Symzonia. | |
| 10.— | Token Island. | |
| 11.— | Seaborn’s Land. |
ADVERTISEMENT.
The Author of this work, and of the discoveries which it relates, leaves it to his readers to decide whether he excels most as a navigator or a writer, and whether he amuses as much as he instructs. If he has any professional vanity, arising from his enterprises upon the sea, it does not tempt him to conceal that, in the achievements here recorded, he availed himself of all the lights and facilities afforded by the sublime theory of an internal world, published by Captain John Cleve Symmes, and by the application of steam to the navigation of vessels, for which the world is indebted to Fulton. Far from coveting what does not belong to himself, he feels, after having discovered and explored a world before unknown, that he can well afford to bestow on others the praise to which they are entitled. He has one consolation, in which he is confident of the sympathy of those who wish him well; namely, that if the book is not bought and read, it will not be because it is not an American book. He gives notice that he has no intention to relinquish his right to the invention of oblique paddles for steam ships, though the circumstances narrated at the close of the volume hinder him from taking out a patent at present.
CONTENTS.
The Author’s reasons for undertaking a voyage of discovery.—He builds a vessel for his purpose upon a new plan.—His departure from the United States. Page 13
The Author arrives at the Falkland Islands—Describes West Point Island, and States harbour—Visits the city of the Gentoo Penguins on the Grand Jason—Gives some account of the polity and habits of those civilized amphibia—Sails for South Georgia. Page 21
The Author passes South Georgia, and proceeds in search of Sandwich land—States to his officers and men his reasons for believing in the existence of great bodies of land within the antarctic circle, and for the opinion that the polar region is subject to great heat in summer.—Crew mutiny at the instigation of Mr. Slim, third mate.—Happy discovery of a southern continent, which, at the unanimous and earnest solicitation of his officers and men, he names Seaborn’s Land. Page 37
The Author in great peril, from the vast rise and fall of the tide in the polar sea—Brief account of his observations at Seaborn’s Land.—He takes formal possession of the country, in the manner usual in such cases, in the name and on behalf of the United States.—Leaves a sealing party on one of the islands near the coast, and proceeds to the south, to extend his discoveries. Page 58
The Author discovers the south extremity of Seaborn’s Land, which he names Cape Worldsend.—The compass becomes useless.—He states the manner in which he obviated the difficulty occasioned thereby.—He enters the internal world: describes the phenomena which occur.—Discovers Token Island.—Occurrences at that Island. Page 76
The Author departs from Token Island, in search of an internal continent.—Wind, weather, and other phenomena of the internal seas.—Great alarm of the crew.—Discovery of an inhabited country. Page 89
Description of the first view of the coast.—The Author names the discovered country Symzonia.—Enters the harbour.—His first interview with the Symzonians.—Sketch of their appearance.—He commences the study of the Symzonian language.—Wonderful powers of mind displayed by the natives.—Account of an ærial vessel. Page 99
The Author leaves the ship to visit the seat of government.—Description of the country.—Account of the polity of the Symzonians, as stated by his conductor.—Comparison of the industry, its objects and ends in the two worlds, and of the necessities and habits of the internals and externals.—Expulsion of the unworthy from Symzonia, to a place of exile near the north pole.—External world supposed to have been peopled by the outcasts. Page 117
The Author arrives at the seat of government.—Description of the Auditory.—Symzonian manner of assembling for devotion and public business.—Etiquette of the Symzonian Court.—He is admitted to an audience by the Best Man.—Account of the interview, and of his unfortunate efforts to exalt the character of the externals, by describing some of their splendid follies. Page 135
Containing some account of the strange rationality of the Symzonians.—Their simplicity of dress.—Manner of making cloth.—Circulating medium.—Taxes. Page 156
Containing some account of the Symzonian engine of defence.—Story of a very ancient war with an internal nation called Belzubians, which caused the invention of this engine.—Opposition of the Good men to its being used.—Fultria the inventor’s speech in defence of it.—Deliberations of the Council.—Termination of the war.—Sentiments of the people on the subject. Page 165
Wonderful faculties of the Symzonians.—Translation of my books into their language.—Proposition of a Wise man to make slaves of the Author and his people.—The Author’s remonstrance.—The Wise man disgraced. Page 176
Recreations of the Symzonians.—Wonderful provision of nature for supplying the internal world with light.—Character and employments of the women of Symzonia. Page 181
The Author examines the records of the Assembly.—Grounds of proposal for admittance to the order of Worthies.—Shell fish of Symzonia.—Great quantities of Pearls, and the use to which they are applied. Page 188
The Author is ordered to depart from Symzonia.—The Best Man’s reasons for sending him away.—His ineffectual efforts to obtain a place of rendezvous for purposes of trade. Page 195
The Author returns to the Explorer.—Holds a council of officers—Determines to return to Seaborn’s Land.—Takes leave of Surui—Sails from Symzonia.—Touches at Token Island.—Arrives at Boneto’s station. Page 205
The Author loads the Explorer with seal skins, and sails from Seaborn’s Land.—Discovers Albicore’s Islands.—Transactions at those islands.—He determines to conceal his discoveries from the world.—His reasons for this determination, and measures to effect it.—Sails for Canton. Page 216
The Author arrives at Canton.—Transactions in China.—Sails for the United States.—Loss of manuscripts.—Difficulties with Mr. Slim. Page 222
Hurricane off the Isle of France.—Its consequences.—Death of Mr. Slim. Page 229
The Author arrives in the United States.—Consigns his cargo to Mr. Slippery.—Is reduced to poverty by the failure of Mr. Slippery.—His great distress.—Inducement to publish this brief account of his discoveries.—Conclusion. Page 235