the Promife he required; but at the fame Time protested, that I would fuffer the greatest Hardships rather than return to live anong Yaboos.

OUR Voyage paffed without any confiderable Accident. In Gratitude to the Captain I fometimes fate with him at his earnest Request, and ftrove to conceal my Antipathy against human Kind, although it often broke out; which he fuffered to pass without Obfervation. But the greatest Part of the Day, I confined my felf to my Cabbin, to avoid feeing any of the Crew. The Captain had often intreated me to ftrip myself of my Savage Drefs, and offered to lend me the beft Suit of Cloaths he had.. This I would not be prevailed on to accept, abhorring to cover myfelf with any Thing that had been on the Back of a Taboo. I only defired he would lend me two clean Shirts, which having been washed fince he wore them, Į believed would not fo much defile me. Thefe I changed every fecond Day, and washed them my felf.

WE arrived at Lisbon, Nov. 5, 1715. At our landing, the Captain forced me to cover my felf with his Cloak, to prevent the Rabble from crouding about me. I was conveyed to his own House and at my earnest Request, he led me up to the highest Room backwards. I conjured him to conceal from all Perfons what I had told him of the Houybnbnms; because the leaft Hint of fuch a Story, would not only draw Numbers of People to fee me, but probably put me in Danger of being imprifoned, or burnt by the Inquifition. Captain perfuaded me to accept a Suit of Cloaths newly made, but I would not fuffer the Taylor to take my Measure; however, Don Pedro being almost of my Size, they fitted me well enough. He

The

accoutred

accoutred me with other Neceffaries all new, which I aired for twenty four Hours before I would use them.

THE Captain had no Wife, nor above three Servants, none of which were fuffered to attend at Meals; and his whole Deportment was fo obligeing, added to very good buman Understanding, that I really began to tolerate his Company. He gained fo far upon me, that I ventured to look out of the back Window. By Degrees I was brought into another Room, from whence I peeped into the Street, but drew my Head back in a Fright. In a Week's Time he feduced me down to the Door. I found my Terror gradually leffened, but my Hatred and Contempt feemed to increase. I -was at last bold enough to walk the Street in his Company, but kept my Nofe well stopped with Rue, or fometimes with Tobacco.

IN ten Days, Don Pedro, to whom I had given fome Account of my domeftick Affairs, put it upon me as a Point of Honour and Confcience, that I ought to return to my native Country, and live at Home with my Wife and Children. He told me, there was an English Ship in the Port, juft ready to fail, and he would furnish me with all Things neceffary. It would be tedious to repeat his Arguments, and my Contradictions. He said, it was altogether impoffible to find fuch a folitary Iland as I had defired to live in; but I might command in my own Houfe, and pass my Time in a Manner as reclufe as I pleased.

I COMPLIED at laft, finding I could not do better. I left Lisbon the 24th Day of November, in an English Merchant-Man, but who was the Master I never inquired. Don Pedro accompanied me to the Ship, and lent me twenty Pounds. He took

kind Leave of me, and embraced me at parting; which I bore as well as I could. During this laft Voyage I had no Commerce with the Mafter, or any of his Men; but pretending I was fick, kept close in my Cabbin. On the fifth of December, 1715, we caft Anchor in the Downs about nine in the Morning, and at three in the Afternoon I got fafe to my House at Redriff.

1

My Wife and Family received me with great Surprize and Joy, because they concluded me certainly dead; but I must freely confefs, the Sight of them filled me only with Hatred, Disgust and Contempt; and the more, by reflecting on the pear Alliance I had to them. For, although fince my unfortunate Exile from the Houyhnhnm Country, I had compelled my felfoto tolerate the Sight of Yaboos, and to converfe with Don Pedro de Mendez ; yet my Memory and Imaginations were perpetually filled with the Virtues and Ideas of thofe exalted Houyhnhnms. And when I began to confider, that by copulating with one of the Taboa Species, I had become a Parent of more; it ftruck me with the utmoft Shame, Confufion, and Horror.

As foon as I entered the Houfe, my Wife took me in her Arms, and kiffed me; at which, haveing not been used to the Touch of that odious Animal for fo many Years, I fell in a Swoon for almoft an Hour. At the Time I am writing, it is five Years fince my laft Return to England: During the first Year I could not endure my Wife or Children in my Prefence, the very Smell of them 'was intolerable; much lefs could I fuffer them to eat in the fame Room. To this Hour they dare not prefume to touch my Bread, or drink out of the fame Cup; neither was I ever able to let one of them take me by the Hand. The firft Money

I

I laid out was to buy two young Stone Horfes, which I keep in a good Stable, and next to them the Groom is my greatest Favourite; for I feel my Spirits revived by the Smell he contracts in the Stable. My Horfes understand me tolerably well; I converfe with them at leaft four Hours every Day. They are Strangers to Bridle or Saddle; they live in great Amity with me, and Friendship to each other.

CHAP.

H

CHA P. XII.

The Author's Veracity. His Defign in publishing this Work. His Cenfure of thofe Travellers who fwerve from the Truth. The Author clears bimfelf from any finifter Ends in Writing. An Objection anfwered. The Method of planting Colonies. His Native Country commended.

The

Right of the Crown to those Countries described by the Author, is juftified. The Difficulty of conquering them. The Author taketh his laft Leave of the Reader; propofeth bis Manner of Living for the future gives good Advice, and concludeth.

E

HUS, gentle Reader, I have given

thee a faithful Hiftory of 2

Travels

for fixteen Years, and above seven Months; wherein I have not been fo studious of Ornament as of Truth. I could perhaps, like others, have aftonished thee with strange improbable Tales; but, I rather chose to relate plain Matter of Fact in the fimpleft Manner and Style; because my principal Design was to inform, and not to amuse thee.

It is easy for us who travel into remote Countries, which are feldom vifited by Englishmen or other Europeans, to form Defcriptions of wonderful Animals both at Sea and Land. Whereas, a

Traveller's