HAVING thus prepared all Things as well as I was able; I fet Sail on the twenty-fourth Day of September, 1701, at fix in the Morning; and when I had gone about four Leagues to the Northward, the Wind being at South-Eaft, at fix in the Evening, I defcryed a fmall Island about half a League to the North-West, I advanced forward, and caft Anchor on the Lee-fide of the Ifland, which feemed to be uninhabited. I then took fome Refreshment, and went to my Reft. I flept wel', and as I conjecture at least fix Hours; for I found the Day broke in two Hours after I awaked. It was a clear Night; I eat my Breakfast before the Sun was up; and heaving Anchor, the Wind being favourable, I fteered the fame Courfe that I had done the Day before, wherein I was directed by my Pocket-Compass. My Intention was to reach, if poffible, one of those Islands, which I had Reason to believe lay to the North-Eaft of Van Diemen's Land. I discovered nothing all that Day; but upon the next, about three in the Afternoon, when I had by my Computation made twenty-four Leagues from Blefufcu, I defcryed a Sail fteering to the South-Eaft; my Courfe was due Eaft. I hailed her, but could get no Anfwer; yet I found I gained upon her, for the Wind flackened. I made all the Sail I could, and in half an Hour she spyed me, then hung out her Antient, and discharged a Gun. It is not easy to exprefs the Joy I was in upon the unexpected Hope of once more feeing my beloved Country, and the dear Pledges I left in it. The Ship flackened her Sails, and I came up with her between five and fix in the Evening, September 26; but my Heart leapt within me to fee her English Colours. I put my Cows and Sheep into my Coat-Pockets, and got on board with all my little Cargo of Provifions. The Vefiel was an English Merchant man returning from Japan by the North and South Seas; the Captain, Mr. John Biddle of Deptford, a very civil Man, and an excellent Sailor. We were now in the Latitude of 30 Degrees South; there were about fifty Men in the Ship; and here I met an old Comrade of mine, one Peter Williams, who gave me a good Character to the Captain. This Gentleman treated me with Kindnefs, and defired I would let him know what Place I came from laft, and whither I was bound; which I did in few Words; but he thought I was raving, and that the Dangers I underwent had disturbed my Head; whereupon I took my black Cattle and Sheep out of my Focket, which, after great Astonishment, clearly convinced him of my Veracity. I then fhewed him the Gold given me by the Emperor of Blefufcu, together with his Majefty's Picture at full Length, and fome other Rarities of that Country. I gave him two Purfes of two hundred Sprugs each, and promifed, when we arrived in England, to make him a Present of a Cow and a Sheep big with Young. I SHALL not trouble the Reader with a particular Account of this Voyage; which was very profperous for the most Part. We arrived in the Downs on the 13th of April 1702. I had only one Misfortune, that the Rats on board carried away one of my Sheep; I found her Bones in ‘a Hole picked clean from the Flefh. The rest of my Cattle I got fafe on Shore, and fet them a grazing in a Bowling-Green at Greenwich, where the Finenefs of the Grafs made them feed very heartily, although I had always feared the contrary: Neither could I poffibly have preferved them in fo long a Voyage, if the Captain had not allowed me fome of of his best Bisket, which rubbed to Powder, and mingled with Water, was their conftant Food. The fhort Time I continued in England, I made a confiderable Profit by fhewing my Cattle to many Perfons of Quality, and others: And before I began my fecond Voyage, I fold them for fix hundred Pounds. Since my laft Return, I find the Breed is confiderably increased, especially the Sheep; which I hope will prove much to the Advantage of the Woollen Manufacture, by the Fineness of the Fleeces. I STAYED but two Months with my Wife and Family; for my insatiable Defire of seeing foreign Countries would fuffer me to continue no longer. I left fifteen hundred Pounds with my Wife, and fixed her in a good House at Redriff. My remaining Stock I carried with me, Part in Money, and Part in Goods, in hopes to improve my Fortunes. My eldest Uncle, John, had left me an Estate in Land, near Epping, of about thirty Pounds a Year; and I had a long Leafe of the Black-Bull in Fetter-Lane, which yielded me as much more: So, that I was not in any Danger of leaving my Family upon the Parish. My Son Johnny, named fo after his Uncle, was at the Grammar-School, and a towardly Child. My Daughter Betty (who is now well married, and hath Children) was then at her Needle-Work. I took Leave of my Wife, and Boy and Girl, with Tears on both Sides; and went on board the Adventurer, a Merchant-Ship of three hundred Tons, bound for Surat, Captain John Nicholas of Liverpool, Commander. But my Account of this Voyage must be referred to the fecond Part of my Travels. The End of thefirst Part. TRAVELS. PART II. A Voyage to BROBDINGNAG. CHAP. I. A great Storm defcribed. The long Boat fent to fetch Water, the Author goes with it to discover the Country. He is left on Shore, is feized by one of the Natives, and carried to a Farmer's Houfe. His Reception there, with feveral Accidents that bappened there. A Defcription of the Inhabitants. H AVING been condemned by Nature and Fortune to an active and restless Life; in ten Months after my Return, I again left my native Country and took fhipping in the Downs on the 20th Day of June 1702, in the Adventure, Capt. John Nicholas, a Cornish Man, Commander, bound for |