SUMMARY: A great Storm described, the Long-Boat sent to fetch Water, the Author goes with it to discover the Country. He is left on Shore, is seized by one of the Natives, and carried to a Farmer's House. His Reception there, with several Accidents that happened there. A Description of the Inhabitants.

    Having been condemned by Nature andFortune to an active and restless Life, in two Months after my Return I again
left my native Country, and took Shipping in the Downs on the 20th Day of June 1702, in the Adventure, Capt. John
Nicholas, a Cornish Man, Commander, bound for Surat. We had a very prosperous Gale till we arrived at the Cape of
Good-hope, where we landed for fresh Water, but discovering a Leak we unshipped our Goods and winter'd there; for the
Captain falling sick of an Ague, we could not leave the Cape till the end of March. We then set sail, and had a good
Voyage till we passed the Streights of Madagascar; but having got Northward of that Island, and to about five Degrees
South Latitude, the Winds, which in those Seas are observed to blow a constant equal Gale between the North and West
from the beginning of December to the beginning of May, on the 19th of April began to blow with much greater Violence,
and more Westerly than usual, continuing so for twenty Days together, during which time we were driven a little to the East
of the Molucca Islands, and about three Degrees Northward of the Line, as our Captain found by an Observation he took
the 2d of May, at which time the Wind ceased, and it was a perfect Calm, whereat I was not a little rejoyced. But he, being
a Man well experienc'd in the Navigation of those Seas, bid us all prepare against a Storm, which accordingly happened the
Day following: For a Southern Wind, called the Southern Monsoon, began to set in.

Finding it was likely to overblow, we took in our Sprit-sail, and stood by to hand the Fore-sail; but making foul Weather,
we look'd the Guns were all fast, and handed the Missen. The Ship lay very broad off, so we thought it better spooning
before the Sea, than trying or hulling. We reeft the Fore-sail and set him, we hawl'd aft the Fore-sheet; the Helm was hard a
Weather. The Ship wore bravely. We belay'd the Fore-down-hall; but the Sail was split, and we hawl'd down the Yard,
and got the Sail into the Ship, and unbound all the things clear of it. It was a very fierce Storm; the Sea broke strange and
dangerous. We hawl'd off upon the Lanniard of the Whip-staff, and helped the man at Helm. We would not get down our
Top-mast, but let all stand, because she scudded before the Sea very well, and we knew that the Top-mast being aloft, the
Ship was the wholesomer, and made better way thro' the Sea, seeing we had Sea-Room. When the Storm was over, we
set Fore-sail and Main-sail, and brought the Ship to. Then we set the Missen, Maintop-sail, and the Foretop-sail. Our
Course was East North-east, the Wind was at South-west. We got the Star-board Tacks aboard; we cast off our
Weather-braces and Lifts; we set in the Lee-braces, and hawl'd forward by the Weather-bowlings, and hawl'd them tight,
and belayed them, and hawl'd over the Missen Tack to Windward, and kept her full and by as near as she could lye.

During this Storm, which was followed by a strong Wind West South-west, we were carried by my Computation about five
hundred Leagues to the East, so that the oldest Sailor on Board could not tell in what part of the World we were. Our
Provisions held out well, our Ship was staunch, and our Crew all in good Health; but we lay in the utmost Distress for
Water. We thought it best to hold on the same Course, rather than turn more Northerly, which might have brought us to the
North-west parts of Great Tartary, and into the frozen Sea.

On the 16th Day of June 1703 a Boy on the Top-mast discovered Land. On the 17th we came in full View of a great
Island or Continent (for we knew not whether) on the South-side whereof was a small Neck of Land jutting out into the
Sea, and a Creek too shallow to hold a Ship of above one hundred Tuns. We cast Anchor within a League of this Creek,
and our Captain sent a dozen of his Men well armed in the Long Boat, with Vessels for Water if any could be found. I
desired his leave to go with them, that I might see the Country, and make what Discoveries I could. When we came to
Land we saw no River or Spring, nor any sign of Inhabitants. Our Men therefore wander'd on the Shore to find out some
fresh Water near the Sea, and I walked alone about a mile on the other Side, where I observed the Country all barren and
rocky. I now began to be weary, and seeing nothing to entertain my Curiosity, I returned gently down towards the Creek;
and the Sea being full in my View, I saw our Men already got into the Boat, and rowing for Life to the Ship. I was going to
hollow after them, although it had been to little purpose, when I observed a huge Creature walking after them in the Sea, as
fast as he could: He waded not much deeper than his Knees, and took prodigious strides: But our Men had the start of him
half a League, and the Sea thereabouts being full of sharp-pointed rocks, the Monster was not able to overtake the Boat.
This I was afterwards told, for I durst not stay to see the Issue of that Adventure; but ran as fast as I could the way I first
went; and then climbed up a steep Hill, which gave me some Prospect of the Country. I found it fully cultivated; but that
which first surprized me was the Length of the Grass, which in those Grounds that seemed to be kept for hay, was above
twenty foot high.

I fell into a high Road, for so I took it to be, though it served to the Inhabitants only as a foot Path through a Field of Barley.
Here I walked on for some time, but could see little on either Side, it being now near Harvest, and the Corn rising at least
forty foot. I was an hour walking to the end of this Field, which was fenced in with a Hedge of at least one hundred and
twenty foot high, and the Trees so lofty that I could make no Computation of their Altitude. There was a Stile to pass from
this Field into the next. It had four Steps, and a Stone to cross over when you came to the uppermost. It was impossible for
me to climb this Stile, because every Step was six Foot high, and the upper Stone above twenty. I was endeavouring to find
some Gap in the Hedge, when I discovered one of the Inhabitants in the next Field, advancing towards the Stile, of the
same Size with him whom I saw in the Sea, pursuing our Boat. He appeared as tall as an ordinary Spire-steeple, and took
about ten Yards at every Stride, as near as I could guess. I was struck with the utmost Fear and Astonishment, and ran to
hide myself in the Corn, from whence I saw him at the top of the Style, looking back into the next Field on the right hand,
and heard him call in a Voice many degrees louder than a speaking Trumpet; but the Noise was so high in the Air, that at
first I certainly thought it was thunder. Whereupon, seven Monsters like himself came towards him with Reaping-hooks in
their Hands, each Hook about the size of six Scythes. These People were not so well clad as the first, whose Servants or
Labourers they seemed to be: For upon some Words he spoke, they went to reap the Corn in the Field where I lay. I kept
from them at as great a distance as I could, but was forced to move with extreme Difficulty, for the Stalks of the Corn were
sometimes not above a Foot distant, so that I could hardly squeeze my Body betwix them. However, I made a shift to go
forward till I came to a part of the Field where the Corn had been laid by the Rain and Wind. Here it was impossible for me
to advance a step; for the Stalks were so interwoven that I could not creep thorough, and the Beards of the fallen Ears so
strong and pointed that they pierced through my Cloaths into my Flesh. At the same time I heard the Reapers not above an
hundred Yards behind me. Being quite dispirited with Toil, and wholly overcome by Grief and Despair, I lay down between
two Ridges, and heartily wished I might there end my Days. I bemoaned my desolate Widow, and Fatherless Children. I
lamented my own Folly and Wilfulness in attempting a second Voyage against the Advice of all my Friends and Relations.
In this terrible Agitation of Mind I could not forbear thinking of Lilliput, whose Inhabitants looked upon me as the greatest
Prodigy that ever appeared in the World; Where I was able to draw an Imperial Fleet in my Hand, and perform those other
Actions which will be recorded forever in the Chronicles of that Empire, while Posterity shall hardly believe them, although
attested by Millions. I reflected what a Mortification it must prove to me to appear as inconsiderable in this Nation as one
single Lilliputian would be among us. But this I conceived was to be the least of my Misfortunes: For as human Creatures
are observed to be more savage and cruel in Proportion to their Bulk, what could I expect but to be a Morsel in the Mouth
of the first among these enormous Barbarians that should happen to seize me? Undoubtedly Philosophers are in the right
when they tell us, that nothing is great or little otherwise than by Comparison. It might have pleased Fortune to let the
Lilliputians find some Nation, where the People were as diminutive with respect to them, as they were to me. And who
knows but that even this prodigious Race of Mortals might be equally overmatched in some distant part of the World,
whereof we have yet no Discovery?

Scared and confounded as I was, I could not forbear going on with these Reflections, when one of the Reapers
approaching within ten Yards of the Ridge where I lay, made me apprehend that with the next Step I should be squashed to
Death under his Foot, or cut in two with his Reaping-hook. And therefore when he was again about to move, I screamed
as loud as Fear could make me. Whereupon the huge Creature trod short, and looking round about under him for some
time, at last espied me as I lay on the Ground. He considered a while with the Caution of one who endeavours to lay hold
on a small dangerous Animal in such a Manner that it shall not be able either to scratch or to bite him, as I myself have
sometimes done with a Weasel in England. At length he ventured to take me up behind by the Middle between his fore
Finger and Thumb, and brought me within three Yards of his Eyes, that he might behold my Shape more perfectly. I
guessed his Meaning, and my good Fortune gave me so much Presence of Mind, that I resolved not to struggle in the least
as he held me in the Air, about sixty Foot from the Ground, although he grievously pinched my Sides, for fear I should slip
through his Fingers. All I ventured was to raise my Eyes towards the Sun, and place my Hands together in a supplicating
Posture, and to speak some Words in an humble melancholy Tone, suitable to the Condition I then was in. For I
apprehended every moment that he would dash me against the Ground, as we usually do any little hateful Animal which we
have a mind to destroy. But my good Star would have it, that he appeared pleased with my Voice and Gestures, and began
to look upon me as a Curiosity, much wondering to hear me pronounce articulate Words, although he could not understand
them. In the mean time I was not able to forbear groaning and shedding Tears, and turning my Head towards my Sides;
letting him know, as well as I could, how cruelly I was hurt by the Pressure of his Thumb and Finger. He seemed to
apprehend my Meaning; for, lifting up the Lappet of his Coat, he put me gently into it, and immediately ran along with me to
his Master, who was a substantial Farmer, and the same Person I had first seen in the Field.

The Farmer having (as I supposed by their talk) received such an Account of me as his Servant could give him, took a
piece of a small Straw, about the size of a walking Staff, and therewith lifted up the Lappets of my Coat; which it seems he
thought to be some kind of Covering that Nature had given me. He blew my Hairs aside to take a better View of my Face.
He called his Hinds about him, and asked them (as I afterwards learned) whether they had ever seen in the Fields any little
Creature that resembled me? He then placed me softly on the Ground upon all four, but I got immediately up, and walked
slowly backwards and forwards, to let those People see I had no Intent to run away. They all sat down in a Circle about
me, the better to observe my motions. I pulled off my Hat, and made a low Bow towards the Farmer. I fell on my Knees,
and lifted up my Hands and Eyes, and spoke several Words as loud as I could: I took a Purse of Gold out of my Pocket,
and humbly presented it to him. He received it on the Palm of his Hand, then applied it close to his Eye, to see what it was,
and afterwards turned it several times with the Point of a Pin (which he took out of his Sleeve), but could make nothing of it.
Whereupon I made a Sign that he should place his Hand on the Ground. I took the Purse, and opening it, poured all the
Gold into his Palm. There were six Spanish Pieces of four Pistoles each, beside twenty or thirty smaller Coins. I saw him
wet the Tip of his little Finger upon his Tongue, and take up one of my largest Pieces, and then another, but he seemed to
be wholly ignorant what they were. He made me a Sign to put them again into my Purse, and the Purse again into my
Pocket, which after offering to him several times, I thought it best to do.

The Farmer by this time was convinced I must be a rational Creature. He spoke often to me, but the Sound of his Voice
pierced my Ears like that of a Water-Mill, yet his Words were articulate enough. I answered as loud as I could, in several
Languages, and he often laid his Ear within two Yards of me, but all in vain, for we were wholly unintelligible to each other.
He then sent his Servants to their Work, and taking his Handkerchief out of his Pocket, he doubled and spread it on his left
Hand, which he placed flat on the Ground, with the Palm upwards, making me a Sign to step into it, as I could easily do, for
it was not above a Foot in thickness. I thought it my part to obey, and for fear of falling, laid myself at Length upon the
Handkerchief, with the Remainder of which he lapped me up to the Head for further Security, and in this manner carried me
home to his House. There he called his Wife, and shewed me to her; but she screamed and ran back, as Women in
England do at the Sight of a Toad or a Spider. However, when she had a while seen my Behaviour, and how well I
observed the Signs her Husband made, she was soon reconciled, and by degrees grew extremely tender of me.

It was about twelve at Noon, and a Servant brought in Dinner. It was only one substantial Dish of Meat (fit for the plain
condition of an Husbandman) in a Dish of about twenty-four Foot Diameter. The Company were the Farmer and his Wife,
three Children, and an old Grandmother: When they were sat down, the Farmer placed me at some Distance from him on
the Table, which was thirty Foot high from the Floor. I was in a terrible Fright, and kept as far as I could from the Edge for
Fear of falling. The Wife minced a bit of Meat, then crumbled some Bread on a Trencher, and placed it before me. I made
her a low Bow, took out my Knife and Fork, and fell to eating, which gave them exceeding Delight. The Mistress sent her
Maid for a small Dram-cup, which held about three Gallons, and filled it with Drink; I took up the Vessel with much
difficulty in both Hands, and in a most respectful manner drank to her Ladyship's Health, expressing the Words as loud as I
could in English, which made the Company laugh so heartily, that I was almost deafned with the Noise. This Liquor tasted
like a small Cyder, and was not unpleasant. Then the Master made me a Sign to come to his Trencher-side; but as I walked
on the Table, being in great Surprize all the Time, as the indulgent Reader will easily conceive and excuse, I happened to
stumble against a crust, and fell flat on my Face, but received no Hurt. I got up immediately, and observing the good People
to be in much Concern, I took my Hat (which I held under my Arm out of good Manners) and waving it over my Head,
made three Huzza's, to shew I had got no Mischief by my Fall. But advancing forwards toward my Master (as I shall
henceforth call him), his youngest Son who sate next him, an arch Boy of about ten Years old, took me up by the Legs, and
held me so high in the Air, that I trembled every Limb; but his Father snatched me from him, and at the same Time gave him
such a Box on the left Ear, as would have felled an European Troop of Horse to the Earth, ordering him to be taken from
the Table. But being afraid the Boy might owe me a spight, and well remembring how mischievous all Children among us
naturally are to Sparrows, Rabbits, young Kittens, and Puppy Dogs, I fell on my Knees, and pointing to the Boy, made my
Master to understand, as well as I could, that I desired his Son might be pardoned. The Father complied, and the Lad took
his Seat again; whereupon I went to him and kissed his Hand, which my Master took, and made him stroke me gently with
it.

In the midst of Dinner, my Mistress's favourite Cat leapt into her Lap. I heard a Noise behind me like that of a dozen
Stocking-Weavers at Work; and turning my Head, I found it proceeded from the purring of this Animal, who seemed to be
three times larger than an Ox, as I computed by the View of her Head, and one of her Paws, while her Mistress was
feeding and stroaking her. The Fierceness of this Creature's Countenance altogether discomposed me; though I stood at the
further End of the Table, above fifty Foot off, and altho' my Mistress held her fast for fear she might give a Spring, and seize
me in her Talons. But it happened there was no Danger; for the Cat took not the least Notice of me when my Master
placed me within three Yards of her. And as I have been always told, and found true by Experience in my Travels, that
flying, or discovering Fear before a fierce Animal, is a certain Way to make it pursue or attack you, so I resolved in this
dangerous Juncture to shew no manner of Concern. I walked with Intrepidity five or six times before the very Head of the
Cat, and came within half a Yard of her; whereupon she drew herself back, as if she were more afraid of me: I had less
Apprehension concerning the Dogs, whereof three or four came into the Room, as it is usual in Farmers Houses; one of
which was a Mastiff, equal in Bulk to four Elephants, and a Greyhound, somewhat taller than the Mastiff, but not so large.

When Dinner was almost done, the Nurse came in with a Child of a Year old in her Arms, who immediately spied me, and
began a Squall that you might have heard from London-Bridge to Chelsea, after the usual Oratory of Infants, to get me for
a Play-thing. The Mother out of pure Indulgence took me up, and put me towards the Child, who presently seized me by
the Middle, and got my Head in his Mouth, where I roared so loud that the Urchin was frightened, and let me drop, and I
should infallibly have broke my Neck if the Mother had not held her Apron under me. The Nurse to quiet her Babe made
use of a Rattle, which was a kind of hollow Vessel filled with great Stones, and fastned by a Cable to the Child's Wast: But
all in vain, so that she was forced to apply the last Remedy, by giving it suck. I must confess no Object ever disgusted me
so much as the sight of her monstrous Breast, which I cannot tell what to compare with, so as to give the curious Reader an
Idea of its Bulk, Shape and Colour. It stood prominent six Foot, and could not be less than sixteen in Circumference. The
Nipple was about half the Bigness of my Head, and the Hew both of that and the Dug so varified with Spots, Pimples and
Freckles, that nothing could appear more nauseous: For I had a near sight of her, she sitting down the more conveniently to
give Suck, and I standing on the Table. This made me reflect upon the fair skins of our English Ladies, who appear so
beautiful to us, only because they are of our own Size, and their Defects not to be seen but through a Magnifying-glass,
where we find by Experiment that the smoothest and whitest Skins look rough and coarse, and ill coloured.

I Remember when I was at Lilliput, the Complexion of those diminutive People appeared to me the fairest in the World;
and talking upon this Subject with a Person of Learning there, who was an intimate Friend of mine, he said that my Face
appeared much fairer and smoother when he looked on me from the Ground, than it did upon a nearer View when I took
him up in my Hand, and brought him close, which he confessed was at first a very shocking Sight. He said he could
discover great Holes in my Skin; that the Stumps of my Beard were ten times stronger than the Bristles of a Boar, and my
Complexion made up of several Colours altogether disagreeable: Although I must beg leave to say for my self, that I am as
fair as most of my Sex and Country, and very little sun-burnt by all my Travels. On the other Side, discoursing of the Ladies
in that Emperor's Court, he used to tell me, one had Freckles, another too wide a Mouth, a third too large a Nose, nothing
of which I was able to distinguish. I confess this Reflection was obvious enough; which however I could not forbear, lest the
Reader might think those vast Creatures were actually deformed: For I must do them Justice to say they are a comely Race
of People; and particularly the Features of my Master's Countenance, although he were but a Farmer, when I beheld him
from the Height of sixty Foot, appeared very well proportioned.

When Dinner was done, my Master went out to his Labourers, and as I could discover by his Voice and Gesture, gave his
Wife a strict Charge to take care of me. I was very much tired, and disposed to sleep, which my Mistress perceiving, she
put me on her own Bed, and covered me with a clean white Handkerchief, larger and coarser than the Main-sail of a Man
of War.

I slept about two Hours, and dreamed I was at home with my Wife and Children, which aggravated my Sorrows when I
awakened and found myself alone in a vast Room, between two and three hundred Foot wide, and above two hundred
high, lying in a Bed twenty Yards wide. My Mistress was gone about her household Affairs, and had locked me in. The
Bed was eight Yards from the Floor. Some natural Necessities required me to get down; I durst not presume to call, and if
I had, it would have been in vain, with such a Voice as mine, at so great a Distance from the Room where I lay to the
Kitchen where the Family kept. While I was under these Circumstances, two Rats crept up the Curtains, and ran smelling
backwards and forwards on the Bed. One of them came up almost to my Face, whereupon I rose in a Fright, and drew out
my Hanger to defend my self. These horrible Animals had the Boldness to attack me on both Sides, and one of them held
his Fore-feet at my Collar; but I had the good Fortune to rip up his Belly before he could do me any Mischief. He fell down
at my Feet, and the other, seeing the Fate of his Comrade, made his Escape, but not without one good Wound on the
Back, which I gave him as he fled, and made the Blood run trickling from him. After this Exploit, I walked gently to and fro
on the Bed, to recover my Breath and Loss of Spirits. These Creatures were of the Size of a large Mastiff, but infinitely
more nimble and fierce; so that if I had taken off my Belt before I went to sleep, I must have infallibly been torn to Pieces
and devoured. I measured the Tail of the dead Rat, and found it to be two Yards long, wanting an Inch; but it went against
my Stomach to drag the Carcass off the Bed, where it lay still bleeding; I observed it had yet some Life, but with a strong
Slash cross the Neck, I thoroughly dispatched it.

Soon after my Mistress came into the Room, who seeing me all Bloody, ran and took me up in her Hand. I pointed to the
dead Rat, smiling and making other Signs to shew I was not hurt, whereat she was extremely rejoyced, calling the Maid to
take up the dead Rat with a pair of tongs, and throw it out of the Window. Then she set me on a Table, where I shewed
her my Hanger all bloody, and wiping it on the Lappet of my Coat, returned it to the Scabbard. I was pressed to do more
than one Thing, which another could not do for me, and therefore endeavoured to make my Mistress understand that I
desired to be set down on the Floor; which after she had done, my Bashfulness would not suffer me to express myself
farther than by pointing to the Door, and bowing several Times. The good Woman with much Difficulty at last perceived
what I would be at, and taking me up again in her Hand, walked into the Garden, where she set me down. I went on one
Side about two Hundred Yards, and beckoning to her not to look or to follow me, I hid myself between two Leaves of
sorrel and there discharged the Necessities of Nature.

I hope the gentle Reader will excuse me for dwelling on these and the like Particulars; which however insignificant they may
appear to grovelling vulgar Minds, yet will certainly help a Philosopher to enlarge his Thoughts and Imagination, and apply
them to the Benefit of publick as well as private Life, which was my sole Design in presenting this and other Accounts of my
Travels to the World; wherein I have been chiefly studious of Truth, without affecting any Ornaments of Learning or of
Style. But the whole Scene of this Voyage made so strong an Impression on my Mind, and is so deeply fixed in my
Memory, that in committing it to Paper, I did not omit one material Circumstance: However, upon a strict Review, I blotted
out several Passages of less Moment which were in my first Copy, for fear of being censured as tedious and trifling,
whereof Travellers are often, perhaps not without Justice, accused.