Chapter 15
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 rendez-vous for the purposes of trade.
Note: The Best Man informs Seaborn that he is of a race fallen from virtue. Further, it was an "inordinate thirst for gain" that had led the externals to risk their lives in an unknown region, and they had brought with them weapons to enforce their will. The Symzonians would supply them with supplies, but they could not stay in their land. Seaborn proposes that Token Island be made a meeting place for trading, but he is told that Token Island is "situated in the worst region of the earth, where the extreme heat and great humidity of the air would generate violent diseases amongst those who should have the temerity to remain there in the presence of the sun."
Chapter 16
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.
Chapter 17
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.
Excerpt
Being now about to visit a place where I should meet many of my countrymen and persons full of curiosity from every part of the world, who would be very inquisitive as to the discoveries I had made, I was led to reflect maturely on the consequences which might result from a disclosure of them; and the advantages which might be derived to myself, my friends, and my officers and people, by withholding all knowledge of them from the world.
At length, having made up my own mind on the subject, I called my officers and people together, and stated to them that if we should on our return to the United States, or at Canton, declare the discoveries we had made, we should in the first place expose ourselves to the charge of being imposters and outrageous falsifiers; in the second place, our countrymen, and even the Europeans, who would give us no credit for our bravery and enterprise, would avail themselves of all the information we might communicate, to fit out expeditions to Seaborn's Land, and possibly to Belzubia, and thus reap the harvest of our planting; but, worse than all, after thus appropriating to themselves the benefits of our skill and perseverance, they would assert that they had made all those discoveries, call all those places by new names, and affirm that we had never been there at all.
On the other hand, by concealing the knowledge of these discoveries in our own breasts, we could derive extensive benefits therefrom during the remainder of our lives. To effect this, they had only to bind themselves to me by oath, to keep this matter a profound secret, and when they had been a sufficient time on shore, or had spent most of their money, I would fit out the Explorer, or another and better vessel, under the command of Mr. Boneto or Mr. Albicore, in which all should share according to their present standing on my books, and for which I should have money enough out of my profits from the present voyage. This would give us all a certain resource for the good things of this life; whereas if we made our adventures public, the business would be overdone in a year or two, and we should then have to look to the moon or some of the planets for room for further discoveries.
Chapter 18
The Author arrives at Canton.-Transactions in China.-Sails for the United States.-Loss of manuscripts.-Difficulties with Mr. Slim.
Note: Seaborn's manuscripts disappear.
Excerpt
There was great cause to suspect that Slim had been into my cabin, and thrown them all out of the windows to gratify his inveterate malice: but there was no help for it--there was no proof. A monkey, which, out of a foolish partiality to jack Whiffle, I had permitted him to bring on board, and which visited every part of the ship, and was very mischievous, might have done it. They were irrevocably lost; and though I deplored them more than I should the loss of the mainmast, I was not without consolation. I had read most of them attentively, and being favored with a very retentive memory, I had treasured up their contents.
Chapter 19
Hurricane off the Isle of France.--Its consequences.--Death of Mr. Slim.
Chapter 20
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.