and when she desired to express her
affirmative, she, nodding, made the quiz pendent from her mouth flow
down and recoil again. The trial proceeded in this manner for a long
time, to the admiration of the whole empire, when at length I thought
proper to send to my old friend and ally, Prester John, entreating him
to forward to me one of the species of wild and curious birds found in
his kingdom, called a Wauwau. This creature was brought over the great
bridge before mentioned, from the interior of Africa, by a balloon. The
balloon was placed upon the bridge, extending over the parapets on each
side, with great wings or oars to assist its velocity, and under the
balloon was placed pendant a kind of boat, in which were the persons to
manage the steerage of the machine, and protect Wauwau. This oracular
bird, arriving in England, instantly darted through one of the windows
of the great hall, and perched upon the canopy in the centre to the
admiration of all present. Her cackling appeared quite prophetic and
oracular; and the first question proposed to her by the unanimous
consent of the matrons and judges was, Whether or not the moon was
composed of green cheese? The solution of this question was deemed
absolutely necessary before they could proceed farther on the trial.

Wauwau seemed in figure not very much differing from a swan, except that
the neck was not near so long, and she stood after an admirable fashion
like to Vestris. She began cackling most sonorously, and the whole
assembly agreed that it was absolutely necessary to catch her, and
having her in their immediate possession, nothing more would be
requisite for the termination of this litigated affair. For this purpose
the whole house rose up to catch her, and approached in tumult, the
judges brandishing their pens, and shaking their big wigs, and the
matrons quizzing as much as possible in every direction, which very
much startled Wauwau, who, clapping her wings, instantly flew out of
the hall. The assembly began to proceed after her in order and style
of precedence, together with my whole train of Gog and Magog, Sphinx,
Hilaro Frosticos, Queen Mab's chariot, the bulls and crickets, &c.,
preceded by bands of music; while Wauwau, descending on the earth, ran
on like an ostrich before the troop, cackling all the way. Thinking
suddenly to catch this ferocious animal, the judges and matrons would
suddenly quicken their pace, but the creature would as quickly outrun