and, if ever I returned to England, was not with out Hopes of being useful to my awn Species, by celebrating the Praifes of the renowned Houyhubums, and propofing their Virtues to the Imitation of Mankind.

My Mafter, in a few Words, made me a very gracious Reply, allowed me the Space of twe Months to finish my Boat; and ordered the Sorrel Nag, my Fellow-fervant (for fo at this Distance I may prefume to call him) to follow my Inftructions, because I told my Mafter, that his Help would be fufficient, and I knew he had a Tendernefs for me..

In his Company, my first Business was to go to that Part of the Coaft, where my rebellious Crew had ordered me to be fet on Shore. I got upon aHeight, and, looking on every Side into the Sea, fancied I faw a fmall Ifland, towards the Northeaft: I took out my Pocket glafs, and could then clearly diftinguish it about five Leagues off, as I computed; but it appeared to the Sorrel Nag to be only a blue Cloud: For, as he had no Cenception of any Country befide his own, fo he could not be as expert in diftinguifhing remote Objects at Sea, as we who fo much converfe in that Element.

After I had difcovered this Ifland, I confidered no farther; but refolved, it fhould, if poffible, be the first Place of my Banifhment, leaving the Confequence to Fortune.

I returned Home, and confulting with the Sor rel Nag, we went into a Copfe at fome Distance, where I with my Knife, and he with a fharp Flint fastened very artificially, after their Manner, to a wooden Handle, cut down feveral oak Wattles, about the Thickness of a Walking-staff, and

fome

fome larger Pieces. But I fhall not trouble the Reader with a particular Defcription of my own Mechanics; let it fuffice to fay, that in fix' Weeks Time, with the Help of the Sorrel Nag, who performed the Parts that required moft Labour, I finished a Sort of Indian Canoo, but much larger, covering it with the Skins of Faboos, well ftitched together with hempen Threads of my own making My Sail was likewife compofed of the Skins of the fame Animal; but I made Use of the youngest I could get, the older being too tough and thick and I likewife provided myfelf with four Paddles. I laid in a Stock of boiled Flesh, of Rabbets and Fowls; and took with me two Veffels, one filled with Milk, and the other with Water.

I tried my Canoo in a large Pond, near my Mafter's Houfe, and then corrected in it what was amifs; ftopping all the Chinks with Yahoos Tallow, till I found it ftanch, and able to bear me, and my Freight. And, when it was as compleat as I could poffibly make it, I had it drawn on a› Carriage, very gently, by Yahoos, to the Sea-fide. under the Conduct of the Sorrel Nag, and another. Servant.

When all was ready, and the Day came for my Departure, I took Leave of my Mafter and Ladys and the whole Family, mine Eyes flowing withaf Tears, and my Heart quite funk with Grief. But his Honour, out of Curiofity, and perhaps (if I may fpeak it without Vanity) partly out of Kindnefs, was determined to fee me in my Canoo; and got feveral of his neighbouring Friends to accompany him. I was forced to wait above an Hour for the Tide, and then obferving the Wind very fortunately bearing towards the Hland,

Ifland, to which I intended to fteer my Courfe, I took a fecond Leave of my Mafter: But, as I was going to proftrate myself to kifs his Hoof, he did me the Honour to raife it gently to my Mouth. I am not ignorant how much I have been cenfured for mentioning this laft Particular. For my Detractors are pleafed to think it improbable, that fo illuftrious a Perfon fhould defcend to give fo great a Mark of Diftinction to a Creature fo inferior as I. Neither have I forgot, how apt fame Travellers are to boast of extraordinary Favours they have received. But, if thefe Cenfurers were better acquainted with the noble and courteous Difpofition of the Houyhnhnms, they would foon change their Opinion.

I paid my Refpects to the reft of the Houyhnkums in his Honour's Company; then, getting into my Canoo, I pushed of from Shore.

CHAP. XI.

The Author's dangerous Voyage. He arrives at New-Holland, hoping to fettle there. Is wounded with an Arrow by one of the Natives. Is feized and carried by Force into a Portugueze Ship. The great Civilities of the Captain. The Author arrives at England. DON

I

g BEGAN this defperate Voyage on February 15, 1714-15, at 9 o'Clock in the Morning.The Wind was very favourable; however, I made Ufe, at first, only of my Paddles; but confidering. I fhould foon be weary, and that the Wind might probably chop about, I ventured to fet up my little Sail; and thus, with the Help of the Tide, I went

at

At the Rate of a League and a half an Hour, as near as I could guefs. My Mafter and his Friends continued on the Shore, till I was almoft out of Sight; and I often heard the Sorrel Nag (who always loved me) crying out, Hnuy illa nyha majah Yahoo, Take Care of thy felf, gentle Taboo.

My Defign was, if poffible, to discover fome fmall Island uninhabited, yet fufficient with my Labour to furnifh me with the Neceffaries of Life, which I would have thought a greater Happinefs, than to be firft Minifter in the politeft Court of Europe; fo horrible was the Idea I conceived of returning to live in the Society, and under the Government of Yahoos. For, in fuch a Solitude as I defired, I could, at leaft, enjoy my own Thoughts, and reflect with Delight on the Virtues of thofe inimitable Houyhnhnms, without any Opportunity of degenerating into the Vices and Corruptions of my own Species.

The Reader may remember what I related, when my Crew confpired againft me, and confined me to my Cabbin. How I continued there feveral Weeks, without knowing what Course we took; and when I was put a fhoar in the Longboat, how the Sailors told me with Oaths, whether true or falfe, that they knew not in what Part of the World we were. However, I did then believe us to be about ten Degrees Southward of the Cape of Good-Hope, or about 45 Degrees Southern Latitude, as I gathered from fome general Words I overheard among them, being, I fuppofed, to the South-Eaft in their intended Voyage to Madagascar. And, although this were but little better than Conjecture, yet I refolved to ftear my Courfe Eastward, hoping to reach the

South

South-West Coast of New-Holland, and perhaps fome fuch Iland as I defired, lying Weftward of it. The Wind was full West, and, by fix in the Evening, I computed I had gone Eastward, at leaft, eighteen Leagues; when I fpied a very fmall Ifland about half a League off, which I foon reached. It was nothing but a Rock with one Creek, naturally arched by the Force of Tempefts. Here I put in my Canoo, and, climbing up a Part of the Rock, I could plainly discover Land to the Eaft, extending from South to North. I lay all Night in my Canoo; and, repeating my Voyage early in the Morning, I arrived in feven Hours to the South-East Point of New-Holland confirmed me in the Opinion 1 have long entertained, that the Maps and Charts place this Country at least three Degrees more to the East, than it really is; which Thought I communicated, many Years ago, to my worthy Friend, Mr. Herman Moll, and gave him my Reafons for it, although he hath rather chofen to follow other Authors.

This

I saw no Inhabitants in the Place where I landed, and, being unarmed, I was afraid of venturing far into the Country. I found fome Shell-fish on the Shore, and eat them raw, not daring to kindle a Fire, for Fear of being discovered by the Natives. I continued three Days feeding on Oyfters and Limpits, to fave my own Provisions; and I fortunately found a Brook of excellent Water, which gave me great Relief,

On the fourth Day, venturing out early, a little too far, I faw twenty or thirty Natives upon a Height, not above five hundred Yards from They were fark naked, Men, Women, and Children, round a Fire, as I could difcover

me.

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