SOAY

TRAVEL S.

PART II.

A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG.

CHA P. I.

A great Storm defcribed, the Long-Boat fent to fetch Water, the Author goes with it to difcover the Country. He is left He is left on Shore, is Seized by one of the Natives, and carried to a Farmer's Houfe. His Reception there, with feveral Accidents that happened there. A Defcription of the Inhabitants.

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AVING been condemned by Nature and Fortune to an active and reflefs Life, in two Months after my Return, I again left my native Country, and took Shipping in the Down's on the 20th Day of June 1702, in the Adventure, Capt. John Nicholas, a Cornish Man, Commander, bound for Surat. We had a very profperous Gale till we arrived at the Cape of Good Hope, where we landed for fresh Water, but, difcovering a Leak, we unfhipped our Goods, and wintered there; for, the Captain falling fick of an Ague, we could not leave the Cape till the End of March. We then fet Sail, and had a good Voyage till we paffed the Streights of Madagascar ; but G

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having got Northward of that Ifland, and to about five Degrees South Latitude, the Winds, which in those Seas are observed to blow a conftant equal Gale between the North and Weft, from the Beginning of December, to the Beginning of May, on the 9th of April began to blow with much greater Violence, and more Wefterly than usual, continuing fo for twenty Days together, during which Time, we were driven a little to the Eaft of the Molucca Iflands, and about three Degrees Northward of the Line, as our Captain found by an Observation he took the 2d of May, at which Time the Wind ceased, and it was a perfect Calm, whereat I was not a little rejoiced. But he, being a Man experienced in the Navigation of thofe Seas, bid us all prepare against a Storm, which accordingly happened the Day following: For a Southern Wind, called the Southern Monfoon, began to fet in.

Finding it was like to overblow, we took in our Sprit-fail, and ftood by to hand the Fore-fail; but, making foul Weather, we looked the Guns were all faft, and handed the Miffen. The Ship lay very broad off, fo we thought it better spooning before the Sea, than trying or hulling. We reeft the Fore-fail and fet him, we hawled aft the Foresheet; the Helm was hard a Weather., The Ship wore bravely. We belayed the Fore-down-hall; but the Sail was split, and we hawled down the Yard, and got the Sail into the Ship, and unbound all the Things clear of it. It was a very fierce Storm; the Sea broke ftrange and dangerous. We hawled off upon the Lanniard of the Whipstaff, and helped the Man at the Helm. We would not get down our Top-mast, but let all stand, because she fcudded before the Sea very well, and we knew that,

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the Top-maft being aloft, the Ship was the wholfomer, and made better Way thro' the Sea, feeing we had Sea room. When the Storm was over, we fet Fore-fail and Main-fail, and brought the Ship to. Then we fet the Miffen, Main top-fail, and the Fore-top-fail. Our Courfe was Eaft North-eaft, the Wind was at South-west. We got the Star-board Tacks a-board, we cait off our Weather Braces and Lifts; we fet in the Leebraces, and hawled forward by the Weather-bowlings, and hawled them right, and belayed them, and hawled over the Miffen-tack to Windward, and kept her full and by as near as fhe would lie.

During this Storm, which was followed by a ftrong Wind Weft South-west, we were carried by my Computation, about five hundred Leagues to the Eaft, fo that the oldeft Sailor a-board could not tell in what Part of the World we were. Our Provifions held out well, our Ship was ftaunch, and our Crew all in good Health; but we lay in the utmost Diftrefs for Water. We thought it best to hold on the fame Course, rather than turn more Northerly, which might have brought us to the North-weft Parts of great Tartary, and into the frozen Sea.

On the 16th Day of June, 1703, a Boy on the Top-mast discovered Land. On the 17th, we came in full View of a great Ifland or Continent (for we knew not whether) on the South-fide whereof was a small Neck of Land jutting out into the Sea, and a Creek too fhallow to hold a Ship of above one hundred Tuns. We caft Anchor within a League of this Creek, and our Captain fent a dozen of his Men well armed in the Long-boat, with Veffels for Water, if any could be found. I defired his Leave to go with them, that I might fee G 2

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the Country, and make what Discoveries I could. When we came to Land, we faw no River or Spring, nor any Sign of Inhabitants. Our Men therefore wandered on the Shore, to find out fome fresh Water near the Sea, and I walked alone about a Mile on the other Side, where I obferved the Country all barren and rocky. I now began to be weary, and, feeing nothing to entertain my Curiofity, I returned gently down towards the Creek; and, the Sea being full in my View, I faw our Men already got into the Boat, and rowing for Life to the Ship. I was going to hollow after them, altho' it had been to little Purpofe, when I obferved a huge Creature walking after them in the Sea, as faft as he could: He waded not much deeper than his Knees, and took prodigious Strides : But our Men had the Start of him half a League, and, the Sea thereabouts being full of fharp-pointed Rocks, the Monster was not able to overtake the Boat. This Í was afterwards told, for I durft not ftay to fee the Iffue of the Adventure; but ran as faft as I could the Way I first went, and then climbed up a fteep Hill, which gave me fome Profpect of the Country. Í found it fully cultivated; but that which firft furprifed me was the Length of the Grafs, which, in those Grounds that feemed to be kept for Hay, was about twenty Feet high.

I fell into a high Road, for fo I took it to be, though it ferved to the Inhabitants only as a Foot-path thro' a Field of Barley. Here I walked on for fome Time, but could fee little on either Side, it being now at least Harvest, and the Corn rifing near forty Feet. I was an Hour walking to the End of this Field, which was fenced in with à Hedge of at least one hundred and twenty Feet