The Author ftudies to learn the Language. Houyhnhnm his Mafter affifts in teaching him. The Language defcribed. Several Houyhnhnms of Qua- The Houyhnhnms Notion of Truth and Falfhood. The Author's Difcourfe disapproved by his Master. The The Author, at his Mafier's Commands, informs him of the State of England. The Caufes of War among The Author's great Love of bis Native Country. His Mafter's Obfervations upon the Conftitution and Ad- miniftration of England, as defcribed by the Author, CHA P. VIII. A grand Debate at the General Assembly of the Houy- hnhnms; and how it was determined. The Learn ing of the Houyhnhnms. Their Buildings. Their The Author's Oeconomy and happy Life among the Houy- hnhnms. His great Improvement in Virtue, by con verfing with them. Their Converfutions. The Au- thor hath Notice given him by his Mafter that he muft depart from the Country. He falls into a Swoon for Grief, but fubmits. He contrives and finishes a Ča- CHA P. 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 Seized and carried by Force into a Portugueze Ship. The great The Author's Veracity. His Defign in publishing this Work. His Genfure of thofe Travellers who fewerve from the Truth. The Author clears himself from a- ny finifter Ends in writing. An Objection answered. The Method of planting Colonies. His Native Coun- try commended. The Right of the Crown to thofe Countries defcribed by the Author, is juftified. The Difficulty of conquering them. The Author taketh his laft Leave of the Reader; proposeth his Manner of TRAVEL S. TRAVELS. PART I. A VOYAGE to Lilliput. CHAP. I. The Author giveth fome Account of himself and Family; his firft Inducements to travel. He is hipwrecked and fwims for his Life; gets safe on Shore in the Country of Lilliput; is made a Prisoner, and car. ried up the Country. M "Y Father had a fmall Estate in Nottinghamfire; I was the third of five Sons. He fent me to Emanuel College in Cambridge at fourteen Years old, where I refided three Years, and applied myself close to my Studies: But the Charge of maintaining me (although I had a very fcanty Allowance) being too great for a narrow Fortune, I was bound Apprentice to Mr. James Bates, an eminent Surgeon in London, with whom I contiVOL. III. B nued nued four Years; and my Father now and then fending me fmall Sums of Money, I laid them out in learning Navigation, and other Parts of the Mathematicks, ufeful to those who intend to travel, as I always believed it would be fome Time or other, my Fortune to do. When I left Mr. Bates, I went down to my Father; where, by the Affiftance of him and my Uncle John, and fome other Relations, I got forty Pounds,. and a Promise of thirty Pounds a-Year to maintain me at Leyden: There I ftudied Phyfick two Years and feven Months, knowing it would be useful in long Voyages. SOON after my Return from Leyden, I was recommended by my good Mafter Mr. Bates, to be Surgeon to the Swallow, Captain Abraham Pannell Commander; with whom I continued three Years and a half, making a Voyage or two into the Levant, and fome other Parts. When I came back I refolved to fettle in London, to which Mr. Bates, my Mafter, encouraged me; and by him I was recommended to feveral Patients. I took Part of a fmall House in the Old-Jury; and being advised to alter my Condition, I married Mrs. Mary Burton, second Daughter to Mr. Edmond Burton, Hofier in Newgate-Street, with whom I received four hundred Pounds for a Portion. BUT, my good Mr. Bates dying in two Years after, and I having few Friends, my Bufinefs began to fail; for my Confcience would not fuffer me to imitate the bad Practice of too many among my Brethren. Having therefore confulted with my Wife, and fome of my Acquaintance, I determined to go again to Sea. I was Surgeon fucceffively in two Ships, and made feveral Voyages, for fix Years, to the East and Weft-Indies; by which I got fome Addition to my Fortune. My Hours of Leifure I spent in reading the beft Authors, antient and modern; being always provided with a good Number of Books; and, when I was afhore, in obferving the Manners and Difpofitions of the People, as well as learning their Language; Language; wherein I had a great Facility by the Strength of my Memory. THE laft of these Voyages not proving very fortunate, I grew weary of the Sea, and intended to stay at home with my Wife and Family. I removed from the Old Fury to Fetter-Lane, and from thence to Wapping, hoping to get Business among the Sailors; but it would not turn to Account. After three Years Expectation that Things would mend, I accepted an advantageous Offer from Captain William Pritchard, Mafter of the Antelope, who was making a Voyage to the South-Sea. We fet fail from Bristol, May the 4th, 1699, and our Voyage at first was very profperous. IT would not be proper, for fome Reafons, to trouble the Reader with the Particulars of our Adventures in those Seas: Let it fuffice to inform him, that in our Paffage from thence to the East Indies, we were driven by a violent Storm to the North-Weft of Van Diemen's Land. By an Obfervation we found ourselves in the Latitude of 30 Degrees 2 Minutes South. Twelve of our Crew were dead by immoderate Labour, and ill Food; the reft were in a very weak Condition. On the fifth of November, which was the Beginning of Summer in thofe Parts, the Weather being very hazy, the Seamen efpied a Rock within half a Cable's Lengthof the Ship; but the Wind was fo ftrong that we were driven directly upon it, and immediately fplit. Six of the Crew, of whom I was one, having let down the Boat into the Sea, made a Shift to get clear of the Ship and the Rock. We rowed, by my Computation, about three Leagues, until we were able to work no longer, being already spent with Labour while we were in the Ship. We therefore trusted ourselves to the Mercy of the Waves; and in about half an Hour the Boat was overfet by a fudden Flurry from the North. What became of my Companions in the Boat, as well as of those who escaped on the Rock, or were left in the Veffel, I cannot tell; but conclude they were all loft. For my own Part, I fwam as Fortune directed me, and was pushed forwards by Wind B 2 |