Niels Klim's journey under the ground

nd took passage in a ship bound for the city of Bergen, in Norway. I had been furnished with brilliant testimonials from both facultie

in three days arrived at

p of the most interesting of these mountains, (interesting I mean to a student,) was a remarkable cave, which the inhabitants of the town called Flo

loration. Instigated, (and it was a foolish, and I might say, a wicked resolution,) instigated, I say, not less by the encouragement of these great men than by my own inclination, I determined to descend into the cave. The longer I thought of the matt

l cave, we sat down to breakfast. Now, for the first time, my heart began to faint, as though it foreboded my coming misfortune; but, in a moment, my half extinguished courage blazed again. I fixed a rope around my body, stood on the edge of the cave, and commended my soul to God. Ordering the men to veer the rope steadily, and to hold when I cried out, I took a boat-hook in my right hand, and glided into the abyss. Aide

r and bright-shining heaven. I thought, in my agitation, that some counter current of air had blown me back to earth. The sun, m

en I found myself armed with a boat-hook, and dragging behind me a long strip of rope; well knowing that neither of these were needful to land me in Paradise, and that the c

ded the opinion of those, who insist that the earth is hollow, and that within its shell there is another, lesser

oaching a planet which I had from the first seen directly before me. By degrees it grew larger and larger, whe

rd, between th

's summit, s

thed rock, and

e foam, my b

or to a satellite; to be turned around in an eternal whirl. Yet my courage returned, as I became somewhat accustomed to the motion. The wind was gentle and refreshing. I was but little hungry or thirsty; but recollecting there was a small cake in my pocket, I took it out and tasted it. The f

day; for I could see the subterranean sun ascend and descend-the night, however, did not bring with it darkness as it does with us. I observed, that on the descent of

ter appeared, who seemed to threaten me with instant destruction. When I saw this object in the distance I supposed it to be one of the celestial signs, but when it came near I perceived it

und in the air, with a boat-hook in his hand, and a long rope dragging behi

nderstood, occasion for strange reports to

o be significant of some coming misfortune. Some draughtsmen took my figure, as far as they could descry

well as I could with my boat-hook, and even vigorously, considering my unstable situation. At last, when he

he globe beneath; and holding the hook, I, well tir

osphere as I approached the planet, made me sink with an easy and soft f

own, for it was not dark. I could see cle

earth, half of it being brightened at one time like our moon. The only difference b