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till I was almoft out of fight; and I often heard the forrel nag (who always loved me) crying out hnuy illa nyha majah yahoo, Take care of thy felf gentle yahoo

My defign was, if poffible, to discover fome fmall ifland uninhabited, yet fufficient by my labour to furnish me with the neceffaries of life, which I would have thought a greater happiness than to be first minifter in the politeft court of Europe; fo horrible was the idea I conceived of returning to live in the fociety, and under the governnant of yahoos. For, in fuch a folitude as I defired, I could at leaft 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 fpecies.

The reader may remember what I related, when my crew confpired against me, and confined met to my cabbin: How I continued there feveral weeks without knowing what course we took; and when I was put a fhore in the long boat, how the failors told me with oaths, whether true or false, that they knew not in what part of the world we were. However, I did then believe us to be about ten degrees fouthward of the Cape of Good Hope, or about 45 degrees fouthern latitude, as I gathered. from fome general words I overheard among them, being I fuppofed to the fouth-eaft in their intended voyage to Madagafcar. And although this were But little better than conjecture, yet I refolved to fteer my courfe eaft-ward, hoping to reach the fouth-weft coaft of New Holland, and perhaps fome fuch ifland as I defired lying weftward of it. The wind was full weft, and, by fix in the evening,. I computed I had gone eaft-ward at leaft 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

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force of tempefts. Here I put in my canoe, and climbing a part of the rock, I could plainly dif cover land to the eaft, extending from fouth to north. I lay all night in my canoe; and repeating my voyage early in the morning, I arrived in feven hours at the fouth-eaft point of New Holland. This confirmed me in the opinion I have long entertained, that the maps and charts place this country at least three degrees more to the east than it really is; which thought I communicated many years ago to my worthy friend, Mr. Herman Moll, and gave him my reafons for it, although he hath rather chofen to follow other authors.

I faw no inhabitants in the place where I landed, and being unarmed, I was afraid of venturing far into the country. I found fome shell-fish on the fhore, and eat them raw, not daring to kindle a fire for fear of being difcovered by the natives. Icon. tinued three days feeding on oyfters and limpits, to fave my own provifions; and I fortunately found a brook of excellent water, which gave me great relief.

On the fourth day, venturing out early a little too far, I faw twenty or thirty natives upon a height, not above five hundred yards from me. They were ftark-naked, men, women, and chil dren, round a fire, as I could difcover by the smoke. One of them fpied me, and gave notice to the rest ; five of them advanced towards me, leaving the women and children at the fire I made what hafte I could to the fhore, and getting into my canoe, fhoved off: the favages obferving me retreat, ran after me; and, before I could get far enough into the fea, difcharged an arrow, which wounded me deeply on the infide of my left knee (I fhall carry the mark to my grave). Í apprehended the arrow might be poifoned, and paddling out of the reach of their darts (being a calm day) I made a fhift to fuck the wound, and dress it as well as could.

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I was at a loss what to do, for I durst not return to the fame landing place, but stood to the north, and was forced to paddle; for the wind, though very gentle, was against me, blowing north west. As I was looking about for a fecure landing-place, 1 faw a fail to the north north eaft, which appearing every minute more vifible, I was in fome doubt whether I fhould wait for them or no; but át last my deteftation of the yahoo race prevailed; and turning my canoe, I failed and paddled together to the fouth, and got into the fame creek from whence I fet out in the morning, chufing rather totruft myself among thefe Barbarians, than live with European yahoos. I drew up my canoe as clofe as I could to the shore, and hid myself behind. a ftone by the little brook, which, as I have already faid, was excellent water.

The fhip came within half a league of this creek,. and fent out her long boat with veffels to take in fresh water (for the place, it feems, was very well known); but I did not observe it, till the boat was almoft on fhore; and it was too late to feek another hiding place. The feamen at their landing obferved my canoe, and rummaging it all over, eafily conjectured that the owner could not be far off. Four of them, well armed, fearched every cranny and lurking holes till at laft they found me flat on my face behind a ftone. They gazed a while in admiration at my ftrange uncouth drefs; my coat made of fkins, my wooden foaled fhoes, and my furred stockings; from, whence however they concluded, I was not a native of the place, who all go naked. One of the feamen, in Portugueze, bid me rife, and afked who I was. I un

derftood that language very well, and getting upon my feet, faid I was a poor yahoo banished from the Houyhnhnms, and defired they would please to let me depart. They admired to hear me anfwer them in their own tongue, and faw, by my complexion,

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complexion, I must be an European; but were at a lofs to know what I meant by yahoos and Houyhnhnms, and at the fame time fell a laughing at my ftrange tone in fpeaking, which refembled the neighing of a horfe. I trembled all the while betwixt fear and hatred. I again defired leave to depart, and was gently moving to my canoe; but they laid hold on me, defiring to know, what country I was of? whence I came with many other questions. I told them I was born in England, from whence I came about five years ago, and then their country and ours were at peace. I therefore hoped they would not treat me as an enemy, fince I meant them no harm, but was a poor yahoo feeking fome defolate place where to pafs the remainder of his unfortunate life.

When they began to talk, I thought I never heard or faw any thing fo unnatural; for it appeared to me as monftrous, as if a dog or cow fhould fpeak in England, or a yahoo in Houyhnhnm land. The honeft Portuguese were equally amazed at my ftrange drefs, and the odd manner of delivering my words, which however they understood very well. They fpoke to me with great humanity, and faid they were fure the captain would carry me gratis to Lisbon, from whence I might return to my own country; that two of the feamen would go back to the fhip, inform the captain of what they had seen and receive his orders; in the mean time, unless I would give my folemn oath not to fly, they would fecure me by force. I thought it beft to comply with their propofal. They were very curious to know my story, but I gave them very little fatisfaction; and they all conjectured, that my miffortunes had impaired my reafon. In two hour, the boat, which went loaden with veffels of waters returned with the captain's command to fetch me on board. I fell on my knees to preferve my liberty, but all was in vain; and the men having

tied me with cords, heaved me into the boat, from whence I was taken into the ship, and from thence into the captain's cabbin.

His name was Pedro de Mendez; he was a very courteous and generous perfon; he intreated me to give fome account of myfelf, and defired to know what I would eat or drink; faid I should be ufed as well as himself, and spoke fo many obliging things, that I wondered to find fuch civilities from a yahoo. However, I remained filent and fullen; I was ready to faint at the very fmell of him and his men. At laft I defired fomething to eat out of my own canoe; but he ordered me a chicken, and fome excellent wine, and then directed that I fhould be put to bed in a very clean cabbin. I would not undrefs myfelf, but lay on the bed-cloaths, and in half an hour stole out, when I thought the crew was at dinner, and getting to the fide of the fhip, was going to leap into the fea, and fwim for my life, rather than continue among yahoos but one of the feamen prevented me, and having informed the captain, I was chained to my cabbin.

After dinner, Don Pedro came to me, and defired to know my reafon for fo defperate an attempt; affured me, he only meant to do me all the fervice he was able, and spoke fo very movingly, that at laft I defcended to treat him like an animal which had some little portion of reafon. I gave him a very short relation of my voyage; of the confpiracy against me by my own men; of the country where they fet me on fhore, and of my five years refidence there: All which he looked upon, as if it were a dream or a vifion, whereat I took great offence; for I had quite forgot the faculty of lying, fo peculiar to yahoos in all countries where they prefide, and confequently the dif pofition of fufpecting truth in others of their own fpecies. I asked him, whether it were the custom

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