therefore, after prefenting him with my humble Thanks for the Offer of his Servants Affittance in making a Veffel, and defiring a reasonable Time for fo difficult a Work, I told him, I would endeavour to preferve a wretched Being; and, if ever I returned to England, was not without Hopes of being useful to my own Species, by celebrating the Praites of the renowned Houyhnhnms, 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 two Months to finish my Boat; and ordered the Sorrel Nag, my Fellow-Servant, (for fo at this Diftance 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 a Height, and looking on every Side into the Sea, fancied I faw a fmall Island, towards the NorthEaft: I took out my Pocket Glass, and could then clearly diftinguifh 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 Conception. of any Country befide his own, fo he could not be as expert in diftinguishing remote Objects at Sea, as we who fo much converfe in that Element.

AFTER I had discovered 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 Sorrel Nag, we went into a Copfe at fome Distance, where I with my Knife, and he with a fharp Flint'

fastened

faftened very artificially, after their Manner, to a wooden Handle, cut down feveral Oak Wattles about the Thickness of a walking Staff, and fome larger Pieces. But I fhall not trouble the Reader with a particular Defcription of my own Mechanicks: 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 finifhed a Sort of Indian Canoo, but much larger, covering it with the Skins of Taboos well ftitched together, with hempen Threads of my own makeing. My Sail was likewife compofed of the Skins of the fame Animal; but I made Ufe of the youngeft I could get, the older being too tough and thick; and I likewise provided my self 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 Master's House, and then corrected in it what was amifs; ftopping all the Chinks with Taboos Tallow, until 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 Taboos, 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 Matter and Lady, and the whole Family, mine Eyes flowing with Tears, and my Heart quite funk with Griet. But his Honour, out of Curiofity, and perhaps (if I may fpeak it without Vanity) partly out of Kindness, was determined to fee me in my Canoo; and got several of his neighbouring Friends to accompany him. I was forced to wait above an

Hour

Hour for the Tide, and then observing the Wind very fortunately bearing towards the Island, to which I intended to fteer my Courfe, I took a fecond Leave of my Mafter: But, as I was going to proftrate my self to kiss 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. Detractors are pleafed to think it improbable, that fo illuftrious à Perfon fhould defcend to give fo great a Mark of Diftinctiontoa Creature fo inferior as I. Neither have I forgot, how apt fome Travellers are to boast of extraordinary Favours they have received. But, if these Cenfurers were better acquainted with the noble and courteous Difpofition of the Hoxybubums, they would foon change their Opinion.

I PAID my Refpects to the rest of the Houybubums in his Honour's Company; then getting into my Canoo, I pufhed off from Shore.

CHAP.

CHA P. XI.

Is

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

BEGAN this defperate Voyage on February 15, 1713, at nine 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 the Rate of a League and a Half an Hour, as near as I could guefs. My Master and his Friends continued on the Shore, until I was almoft out of Sight; and I often heard the Sorrel Nag (who always loved me) crying out, Hnuy illa nyba maiah Yahoo, Take Care of thy felf, gentle Taboo.

My

My Defign was, if poffible, to discover fome fmall Island uninhabited, yet fufficient by my Labour to furnish me with Neceffaries of Life, which I would have thought a greater Happiness than to be first Minister 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 Yaboos. For, in fuch a Solitude as I defired, I could at least 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 against me, and confined me to my Cabbin. How I continued there feveral Weeks, without knowing what Course we took; and when I was put afhore 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-East in their intended Voyage to Madagascar. And, although this were but little better than Conjecture, yet I refolved to steer my Course Eastward, hoping to reach the South-West Coast of New-Holland, and perhaps fome fuch Island as I defired, lying Westward of it. The Wind was full West, and by fix in the Evening, I computed I had gone Eastward at least eighteen Leagues; when I fpied a very fmall Island about half a League off, which I foon reached. It was nothing but a Rock with one Creek, naturally arched by the Force of Tem

pelts.