Biographer's Note:
Inasmuch as my friend Lemuel Gulliver has vouchsafed me the record of his voyages, I am pleased to record this remarkable account of what happened between his visits to Luggnagg and Japan. However (as with one or two other incidents) it clearly cannot be published along with the others. I hope that in a future date it can be, and we may know more of these delightful people. J. Swift, 1726
Librarian's Note:
This original text contains some words which Mr Swift would have replaced in his job as editor, had it gone to publication. Mr Gulliver as a surgeon uses the technical terms where appropriate. However, he also uses some vulgar words. In Holland where he lived, such terms were not considered offensive, the Hollanders being more concerned about blasphemy. The Japanese also would not find them improper. S. R., 1803
Researchers Note:
There is a Japanese tradition of Nyōgo no Shima, the Island of Women, somewhere to the West, supposedly a stable society with only women, who were supposed to be fierce fighters, from the Edo Period, which includes the date of 1726. M.S., 1929
CHAPTER 1
I was once again shipwrecked, and lying helpless on the beach, when I was found by two women, speaking a language I did not know. Having formerly escaped from the lands of Lilliput and Brobdingnag, I was pleased to see that my discoverers were two normal sized women. They half carried me to a little one-storey house, and sat me on the veranda.
They gave me first of all some water, then a little soup, for which I was very grateful. When I had recovered a little and had more soup, they took me to what I saw was a bath-house, and signalled that I should undress. I expected them to leave or turn away, but they did not. Thinking I did not understand, one took off her upper garment to reveal her breasts without embarrassment. She was obviously a young woman in the prime of life, well equipped to suckle babies.
I knew that among many savages, nakedness was not a concern, but the house and the garments suggested a cultured society. Still, with the indignities I had suffered from some of the women of Brobdingnag, I had no reason to be embarrassed myself, and it would be good to get the salt off me.
When I had undressed, they looked at me in a strange way and spoke to each other quickly. They then spoke to me in a way expressing concern. I guessed this was because I was bruised and red from three days in the salt water, so thanked them and got into the warm bath. I later learned there were hot water springs.
The young woman took off her remaining robes and I was amazed to see she had a male member fully the equal of my own! I tried to hide my surprise in consideration of her kindness and my situation as a guest, but thankfully she smiled, and got into the water, where she insisted on washing me. I was so exhausted that I was glad to just lay back and feel her gentle hands getting the sand and salt out of my crevices. They were both amused by my beard as if they had never seen one before!
Her companion undressed and I saw she was also what is called hermaphrodite, but seemed very well equipped for both male and female roles. Her hips were wide, her waist narrow, her breasts also full, but her member and testicles large. They were both almost hairless in the pubic region. I could also see that both of these creatures were used to hard work. I wondered if they had been banished here, and was greatly sorrowed. She dried me with thick towel, motioned me to lie on a soft mat and produced a pot of some ointment, which she proceeded to spread on my sunburned and salt affected body.
It was very soothing, but I was embarrassed as her ministrations resulted in my own member starting to rise, and tried to cover myself and apologise, but they both laughed, and shushed me. She took a little pot of oil and started to massage it. I confess I was so weak and it felt so good that I could do naught but lay back, as she proceeded to encourage it to full vigour. I was helpless to resist as she continued and my seed came out in a veritable fountain!
Her friend clapped her hands and laughed most prettily. I felt they were pleased, rather than amused. Perhaps in their culture it was normal service to a guest. A custom which others might well adopt, I thought!
As unconcerned as a lady pouring tea, she cleaned off my genitals, but looked surprised as she lifted my scrotum. Her friend came and looked carefully. They clucked together in a concerned way and looked a little sorrowfully at me. I feared that perhaps I had some injury or some parasite had invaded me, but could feel nothing out of the ordinary in my perineum.
They provided me with some clothes similar to their own, and I sat on the floor with them for a little more food and drink. They were comfortably on their knees, but I perforce had to sit cross-legged, and hoped I did not cause offence.
I was impressed by how clean they were. We washed our hands before and after the meal. I could not understand their language, but tried a little of those I knew. Finally they got excited when I tried Dutch, which it seemed they recognised but did not speak as such. They stood up gracefully, and motioned me to do the same, which I did clumsily.
It was the first and abiding impression that they possessed a truly feminine grace in their every action. Despite what I knew, I could never think of them as anything but ladies.
They wanted me to watch them. Approaching each other, they displayed their genitals and each took the other's member in her hand. Carefully each said "Hallo," while looking at me.
I guessed this was from the Hollanders rather than the English. I nodded and said "Hallo", to show I understood.
They repeated it again, this time saying "Konichiwa" and bowing slightly.
Then the first one approached me and revealed her genital, looking expectantly. Hesitatingly, I did the same. She reached forward and grasped my member as gently as a gentleman would take a lady's hand, and waited. Even more hesitantly, I did the same. She smiled, said "Konichiwa" and bowed. I had never held another penis except in my work as a physician, so was somewhat taken aback by this social situation, and did nothing, so she repeated her greeting. I managed to reply in turn and her companion clapped her hands, and came forward. This time I managed to greet her properly!
Then one put her hand on her chest and said "Suki". The other did the same, saying "Michiko". I copied them and said "Lemuel", at which Suki came forward, took my penis and said "Konichiwa Remuer". Thus I learned names and greetings. I happily accepted my new name, as it seemed that the letter L was not in their tongue.
They showed me the latrine, in a hut outside. As we entered the house there was some more water, soap and a towel. They indicated that I should wash my hands after using the latrine. Again their fastidious habits were shown.
I was then encouraged to lie down on a low bed. Beside it was water and some fruit, obviously should I need it. However, my exhaustion overtook me. I do not know how long I slept, but it was well light when I awoke, my throat dry, and I was hungry. Breakfast was fish and some sort of cake or bread. Then we went down to the beach where they had their fishing nets to attend to.
However, before commencing work, they kissed most tenderly, and each produced a bottle of oil from a pocket and massaged the other's member until it was in full glory. They then proceeded to masturbate themselves standing in the shallows. In my travels it has not been unusual to see sailors satisfying their desires over the side of a boat, but I had never seen organs as fine as this. It was strange yet rather pleasant to see them on the bodies of two such fine women. When their semen came out it was of an amount befitting the bodies from which it had come, and their evident enjoyment gave me nothing but pleasure to see.
My own smaller member was now firmly erect and they indicated to me that I should do the same. However, I did not want to, feeling a little ashamed and wondering if they had been laughing at it the day before. I later discovered that such mockery was not in their nature: they had only been glad of my pleasure after my ordeal.