The Author’s Journey into the Abyss

In the year 1664, after graduating at the Academy of Copenhagen, in Theology and Philosophy, I prepared to return to my father-land, and took passage in a ship bound for the city of Bergen, in Norway. I had been furnished with brilliant testimonials from both faculties, and wanted only money;—a fate common to Norwegian students, who generally return home with empty purses from the Temple of the Muses.

In 1664, after graduating in Theology and Philosophy from the Academy of Copenhagen, I prepared to return to my homeland. I booked passage on a ship bound for the city of Bergen, in Norway. Both faculties had given me glowing recommendations, and the only thing I lacked was money. This is a common fate for Norwegian students, who generally return home from the Temple of the Muses with empty purses.

We had a good wind, and in three days arrived at my native town, Bergen.

We had a favorable wind and reached my hometown, Bergen, in three days.

I occupied myself now, in expanding my knowledge of natural philosophy, and for practice, geologically examined the neighboring mountains. On the top of the most interesting of these mountains, (interesting I mean to a student,) was a remarkable cave, which the inhabitants of the town called Florien. From its mouth, a mild and not unpleasant air issues at certain periods, as though the cave inhaled the breeze and gently sighed it forth again.

I now spent my time expanding my knowledge of natural science. For practice, I studied the geology of the nearby mountains. At the top of the most interesting mountain was a remarkable cave. I mean interesting to a student. The townspeople called the cave Florien. At certain times, mild and not unpleasant air flows from its mouth. It is as though the cave breathes in the breeze and gently sighs it out again.

The learned in Bergen, especially the celebrated Abelin and Edward, had longed to examine it; but these latter, from their great age, being unable to perform so arduous a feat, used every occasion to induce the young and adventurous to attempt the exploration. 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 matter, the firmer I became. I prepared every thing needful for the expedition, and on a Thursday, at the morning twilight, departed from the city. I started thus early, because I desired to finish my labors before dark, and make a report the same evening.

The scholars in Bergen, especially the celebrated Abelin and Edward, had long wanted to examine it. But Abelin and Edward were too old to take on such a difficult task. So they took every opportunity to urge young, adventurous people to explore the cave. Their encouragement spurred me on. My decision was foolish, and I might even call it wicked. Spurred on, I say, as much by these great men’s encouragement as by my own desire, I decided to descend into the cave. The longer I thought about it, the more determined I became. I prepared everything I needed for the expedition and left the city at dawn on a Thursday. I set out so early because I wanted to finish my work before dark and report back that same evening.

How little did I then dream that like another Phaëton, I should be driven headlong through the air and precipitated to another globe, there to ramble for the space of ten years, before I should see my friends and native land again. The expedition took place in the year 1665. Accompanied by four men to carry the necessary implements, and assist in letting me down, I ascended the mountain. Arrived at the top, near the fatal 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. Aided by the pole, I was enabled to keep clear of the jutting points of rock that would have impeded my progress, as well as have wounded me. I was somewhat anxious about the rope, for it rubbed hard against the rocks at the top; and, in fact, I had scarcely descended twenty to thirty feet, when it gave way, and I tumbled with strange quickness down the abyss, armed like Pluto, with a boat-hook, however, in place of a sceptre.

Little did I imagine then that, like another Phaëton, I would be hurled headlong through the air onto another globe. There I would wander for ten years before seeing my friends and native land again. The expedition took place in 1665. I climbed the mountain with four men to carry the necessary equipment and help lower me down. When we reached the top, near the ill-fated cave, we sat down to breakfast. For the first time, my courage began to fail, as though my heart sensed the misfortune ahead. But a moment later, my almost extinguished courage flared up again. I tied a rope around my body, stood at the cave's edge, and entrusted my soul to God. I told the men to let out the rope steadily and stop when I called out. Then I took a boat-hook in my right hand and slipped into the abyss. With the pole, I kept clear of jutting rocks that would have blocked my descent and injured me. I was somewhat worried about the rope, which rubbed hard against the rocks at the top. In fact, I had descended barely twenty to thirty feet when the rope broke. I tumbled down the abyss with astonishing speed, armed like Pluto, though with a boat-hook instead of a scepter.

Enveloped by thick darkness, I had been falling about a quarter of an hour, when I observed a faint light, and soon after a clear and bright-shining heaven. I thought, in my agitation, that some counter current of air had blown me back to earth. The sun, moon and stars, appeared so much smaller here than to people on the surface, that I was at a loss with regard to my where-a-bout.

I had been falling through thick darkness for about fifteen minutes when I noticed a faint light. Soon after, I saw a clear, brightly shining sky. In my confusion, I thought a current of air blowing in the opposite direction had carried me back to earth. The sun, moon, and stars looked so much smaller here than they did to people on the surface. This left me unsure where I was.

I concluded that I must have died, and that my spirit was now about to be carried to the blessed dwellings. I immediately conceived the folly of this conclusion, however, when 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 celestial citizens would scarcely approve of these accessories, with which I appeared, in the manner of the giants of old, likely to attack heaven and eject the gods therefrom.

I concluded that I must have died and that my spirit was about to be carried to the blessed dwellings. But I immediately realized how foolish that conclusion was when I found myself holding a boat-hook and trailing a long rope. I knew I needed neither to reach Paradise. Heaven’s citizens would hardly approve of such equipment. Armed this way, I looked like one of the giants of old, ready to attack heaven and drive out the gods.

Finally, a new light glimmered in my brain. I must have got into the subterranean firmament. This conclusion decided the opinion of those, who insist that the earth is hollow, and that within its shell there is another, lesser world, with corresponding suns, planets, stars, &c., to be well-grounded. The result proved that I guessed right.

Finally, a new idea dawned on me. I must have entered the sky beneath the earth. This conclusion confirmed the view of those who insist that the earth is hollow. They believe its outer shell contains another, smaller world, with its own suns, planets, stars, and so on. What happened next proved that I had guessed correctly.

The rapidity of my descent, continually augmented for a long time, now began to decrease gradually. I was approaching a planet which I had from the first seen directly before me. By degrees it grew larger and larger, when, penetrating the thick atmosphere which surrounded it, I plainly saw seas, mountains and dales on its surface.

I had been falling faster and faster for a long time, but now my descent gradually began to slow. I was approaching a planet I had seen directly ahead of me from the start. The planet gradually grew larger and larger. As I passed through its thick atmosphere, I could clearly see seas, mountains, and valleys on its surface.

I found now that I did not hang in the atmosphere, buoyed up by the strong current of which I have spoken, but that the perpendicular line of my descent was changed to a circle. I will not deny that my hair rose up on my head in fear. I knew not but that I might be metamorphosed to a planet 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 first mouthful, however, was disagreeable, and I threw it from me. The cake not only remained in the air, but to my great astonishment, began to circle about me. I obtained at this time a knowledge of the true law of motion, which is, that all bodies, when well balanced, must move in a circle.

I now realized I was not hanging in the air, held up by the strong current I mentioned earlier. Instead, my straight downward path had become a circle. I will not deny that my hair stood on end with fear. For all I knew, I might be transformed into a planet or a satellite, spinning around forever. Yet my courage returned as I grew somewhat used to the motion. The wind was gentle and refreshing. I was only slightly hungry and thirsty, but I remembered a small cake in my pocket. I took out the cake and tasted it. The first bite, however, tasted unpleasant, so I threw the cake away. Not only did the cake stay in the air, but to my great astonishment, it began circling around me. At that moment, I learned the true law of motion: all bodies, when properly balanced, must move in a circle.

I remained in the orbit in which I was at first thrown three days. As I continually moved about the planet nearest to me, I could easily distinguish between night and 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 the sun, the whole heavens became illuminated with a peculiar and very bright light. This, I ascribed to the reflection of the sun from the internal arch of the earth.

I stayed for three days in the orbit into which I had first been thrown. As I kept circling the planet nearest me, I could easily tell night from day. I could see the underground sun rise and set, but night did not bring darkness as it does here. I noticed that as the sun set, the whole sky filled with a strange, very bright light. I thought this light came from the sun reflecting off the earth’s inner arch.

But just as I began to fancy myself in the near presence of the immortal gods, about to become myself a new heavenly light and wondered at as a brilliant star—behold! a horrible, winged monster 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 to be an enormous eagle, which followed in my wake as if about to pounce upon me. I observed that this creature noticed me particularly, but could not determine whether as a friend or enemy.

But just as I began imagining myself close to the immortal gods, a horrible winged monster suddenly appeared. I had imagined becoming a new light in the heavens, admired as a brilliant star. Now the monster seemed to threaten me with instant destruction. When I first saw it in the distance, I thought it was one of the signs of the zodiac. But as it came closer, I realized it was an enormous eagle. The eagle followed behind me as if about to swoop down on me. I noticed that the creature paid special attention to me, but could not tell whether as a friend or enemy.

Had I reflected, I should not have wondered that a human being, swinging round in the air, with a boat-hook in his hand, and a long rope dragging behind him, like a tail, should attract the attention of even a brute creature.

If I had thought about it, I would not have been surprised. A human being was swinging through the air, holding a boat hook, with a long rope trailing behind him like a tail. Such a sight would attract even an animal’s attention.

My uncommon figure gave, as I afterwards understood, occasion for strange reports to the inhabitants on my side of the planet.

My unusual appearance led to strange reports among the inhabitants on my side of the planet. I learned this later.

The astronomers regarded me as a comet, with a very long tail. The superstitious thought my appearance to be significant of some coming misfortune. Some draughtsmen took my figure, as far as they could descry it, so that when I landed I found paintings of myself, and engravings taken from them, and hawked about.

The astronomers thought I was a comet with a very long tail. Superstitious people thought my appearance was a sign of some coming misfortune. Some artists drew me as well as they could make me out. So when I landed, I found paintings of myself and engravings copied from them being sold in the streets.

But to return; the eagle flew towards me and attacked me with his wings very furiously. I defended myself as well as I could with my boat-hook, and even vigorously, considering my unstable situation. At last, when he attempted to grapple with me, I thrust the hook in between his wings so firmly that I could not extricate it.

But to return to my story, the eagle flew toward me and attacked me furiously with his wings. I defended myself as well as I could with my boat-hook, fighting hard despite my unstable position. At last, when he tried to grab me, I drove the hook between his wings so firmly I couldn’t pull it out.

The wounded monster fell, with a terrible cry, to the globe beneath; and holding the hook, I, well tired of my pendant attitude, was dragged to the planet.

The wounded monster fell to the planet below with a terrible cry. Still holding the hook, I was dragged down to the planet, thoroughly tired of hanging in midair.

At first my descent was violent, but the increasing thickness of the atmosphere as I approached the planet, made me sink with an easy and soft fall to the earth. Immediately on touching it the eagle died of its wounds.

At first I fell violently. But as I approached the planet, the air grew thicker, slowing my fall until I landed gently. The eagle died of its wounds as soon as it touched the ground.

It was now night; or rather the sun was down, for it was not dark. I could see clearly to read the papers I had in my pocket.

It was night now. Or rather, the sun had set, but it wasn't dark. I could still see clearly enough to read the papers in my pocket.

The light, as I have already said, comes from the firmament or internal shell of our earth, half of it being brightened at one time like our moon. The only difference between night and day is that the absence of the sun makes the weather a little colder.

As I have already said, the light comes from the sky, or the inner shell of our earth. Half of this shell is lit up at a time, like our moon. The only difference between night and day is that the sun’s absence makes the weather a little colder.