Cambridge jests, or, Witty alarums for melancholy spirits by a lover of ha, ha, he.

224.

Amongst a company of good fellows, one thinking to impose on the rest, who were poor Seamen, told very soberly for a truth, That as two Gentlemen were fighting, one lost his thumb in the fray, which a Chirurgeon passing by accidental∣ly, took up and put in his Pocket: This Chirurgeon meeting the Gentleman two moneths afterwards, and hearing him complain for the loss of his thumb, told him for so much money he would set it on as fast as ever; and did it so perfectly, that no one could tell that ever it had been cut off. And I doubt not, said he, but if the man were living, I would have his hand to shew for it. One of the Seamen, who had listned all the while, and was too under∣standing, to be imposed upon so grosly, said, I had a thing happened to me once in my travels much like to this; which was, Travelling into the Countrey of the Canni∣bals, with a friend of mine, I chanced to lose him one day, and running to and fro to seek him, I saw at last a company of Canni∣bals feeding on him; this misfortune made me very pensive, but considering no time was to be delay'd, I went privily and sprinkled a powder that I had into their drink; and

they had no sooner drank it, but they pre∣sently were drunk, and disgorged their Sto∣machs of what they had eaten, and fell a∣sleep: then seeing my self pretty secure, s•• had time to gather up the miserable morsels of my friend, then placing them together, I powred some of the same powder on them, and restored him to life, and his perfect shape; and if he were yet alive, he himself would witness what I have told you. 'Ti•• very strange and improbable, quoth the o∣ther, that after your friend was not onely dead, but part of him swallowed down, and then vomited up again; that those parts 〈◊〉〈◊〉 chewed and half digested, should stick to∣gether and become the same man. Oh Sir, said the Seaman, you may easily imagi•• that, if you do but remember the thumb, the thumb.