TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

ELIZABETH, COUNTESS OF NORTHUMBERLAND.

MADAN, Few authors, I believe, who write in my way, (whatever view they may set out with,) can, in tho prosecution of their work, forbear to dress their fictitious characters in the real ornaments themselves have been most delighted with.

This, I confess, hath been my case, in the person of Youwarkee, in the following sheets; for, having formed her body, I found myself at an inexpressible loss how to adorn her mind in the masterly sentiments I coveted to endue her with; till I recollected the most amiable pattern in your ladyship; a single view of which, at a time of the utmost fatigue to his lordship, hath charmed my imagination ever since.

If a participator of the cares of life in general alleviates the concerns of man, what an invaluable blessing must that lady prove, to the softness of whose sex nature hath conjoined an aptitude for counsel, an application, zeal, and despatch, but too rarely found in his own?

Had my situation in life been so happy as to have presented me with opportunities of more frequent and minuter remarks upon your ladyship's conduct, I might have defied the whole British fair to have outshone my southern gawrey: for if, to a majestic form and extensive capacity, I had been qualified to have copied that natural sweetness of disposition, that maternal tenderness, that cheerfulness, that complacency, condescension, affability, and unaffected benevolence, which so apparently distinguish the Countess of Northumberland, I had exhibited in my Youwarkee a standard for future generations.

Madam, I am the more sensible of my speaking but the truth, from the late instance of your benignity, which entitles me to the honour of subscribing myself,

Madam,

Your ladyship's most obliged and most obedient servant,
R. P.

INTRODUCTION.

Ir might be looked upon as impertinent in me, who am about to give the life of another, to trouble the reader with any of my own concerns, or the affairs that led me into the South Seas. Therefore, I shall only acquaint him that in my return on board the Hector, as a passenger, round Cape Horn, for England, full late in the season, the wind and currents setting strong against us, our ship drove more southerly by several degrees than the usual course, even to the latitude of seventy-five or seventy-six; when, the wind chopping about, we began to resume our intended way. It was about the middle of June, when the days are there at the shortest, on a very starry and moonlight night, that we observed at some distance a very black cloud, but seemingly of no extraordinary size or height, moving very fast towards us, and seeming to follow the ship, which then made great way. Every one on deck was very curious in observing its motions; and perceiving it frequently to divide, and presently to close again, and not to continue long in any determined shape, our captain, who had never before been so far to the southward as he then found himself, had many conjectures what this phenomenon might portend; and every one offering his own opinion, it seemed at last to be generally agreed that there might possibly be a storm gathering in the air, of which this was the prognostic; and by its following, and nearly keeping pace with us, we were in great fear lest it should break upon and overwhelm us, if not carefully avoided. Our commander, therefore, as it approached nearer and nearer, ordered one of the ship's guns to be fired, to try if the percussion of the air would disperse it. This was no sooner done than we heard a prodigious flounce in the water, at but a small distance from the ship, on the weather quarter; and after a violent noise or cry in the air, the cloud, that upon our firing dissipated, seemed to return again, but by degrees disappeared. Whilst we were all very much surprised at this unexpected accident, I, being naturally very curious and inquisitive into the causes of all unusual incidents, begged the captain to send the boat to see, if possible, what it was that had fallen from the cloud, and offered myself to make one in her. He was much against this at first, as it would retard his voyage, now we were going so smoothly before the wind. But in the midst of our debate, we plainly heard a voice calling out for help, in our own tongue, like a person in great distress. I then insisted on going, and not suffering a fellow-creature to perish for the sake of a trifling delay. In compliance with my resolute demand, he slackened sail, and hoisting out the boat, myself and seven others made to the ery, and soon found it to come from an elderly man, labouring for life, with his arms across several long poles, of equal size at both ends, very light, and tied to each other in a very odd manner. The sailors at first were very fearful of assisting or coming near him; crying to each other, "He must be a monster, and perhaps might overset the boat and destroy them;" but hearing him speak English, I was very angry with them for their foolish apprehensions, and caused them to clap their oars under him, and at length we got him into the boat. He had an extravagant beard, and also long blackish hair upon his head. As soon as he could speak (for he was almost spent), he very familiarly took me by the hand, I having set myself close by him to observe bim, and squeezing it, thanked me very kindly for my civility to him, and likewise thanked all the sailors. I then asked him by what possible accident he came there; but he shook his head, declining to satisfy my

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curiosity. Hereupon reflecting that it might just then be troublesome for him to speak, and that we should have leisure enough in our voyage for him to relate, and me to hear, his story, (which, from the surprising manner of his falling amongst us, I could not but believe would contain something very remarkable,) I waived any further speech with him at that time.

We had him to the ship, and, taking off his wet clothes, put him to bed in my cabin; and I having a large provision of stores on board, and no concern in the ship, grew very fond of him, and supplied him with every thing he wanted. In our frequent discourses together, be had several times dropped loose hints of his past transactions, which but the more inflamed me with impatience to hear the whole of them. About this time, having just begun to double the Cape, our captain thought of watering at the first convenient place; and finding the stranger had no money to pay his passage, and that he had been from England no less than thirty-five years, despairing of his reward for conducting him thither, he intimated to him, that he must expect to be put on shore to shift for himself when we put in for water. This entirely sunk the stranger's spirits, and gave me great concern; insomuch that I fully resolved, if the captain should really prove such a brute, to take the payment of his passage on myself.

As we came nearer to the destined watering, the captain spoke the plainer of his intentions (for I had not yet hinted my design to him or any one else); and one morning the stranger came into my cabin, with tears in his eyes, telling me, he verily believed the captain would be as good as his word, and set him on shore, which he very much dreaded. I did not choose to tell him immediately what I designed in his favour, but asked him if he could think of no way of satisfying the captain, or any one else who might thereupon be induced to engage for him; and further, how he expected to live when he should get to England, a man quite forgotten and pennyless? Hereupon he told me, he had ever since his being on board, considering his destitute condition, entertained a thought of having his adventures written, which, as there was something so uncommon in them, he was sure the world would be glad to know; and he had flattered himself with hopes of raising somewhat by the sale of them to put him in a way of living. But, as it was plain now, he should never see England without my assistance, if I would answer for his passage and write his life, he would communicate to me a faithful narra- | tive thereof, which he believed would pay me to the full any charge I might be at on his account. I was very well pleased with this overture; not from the prospect of gain by the copy, but from the expectation I had of being fully satisfied in what I had so long desired to know. So I told him I would make him easy in that respect. This quite transported him. He caressed me, and called me his deliverer; and was then going open-mouthed to the captain to tell him so, but I put a stop to that: "For," says I, "though I insist upon hearing your story, the captain may yet relent of his purpose, and not leave you on shore; and if that should prove the case, I shall neither part with my money for you, nor you with your interest in your adventures to me." Whereupon he agreed I was right, and desisted.

When we had taken in best part of our water, and the boat was going its last turn, the captain ordered up the strange man, as they called him, and told him he must go on board the boat, which was to leave him on shore, with some few provisions. I happening to hear nothing of these orders, they were so sudden, the poor man was afraid, after all, he should have been hurried to land without my knowledge; but begging very hard of the captain only for leave to speak with me before he went, I was called, (though with some reluctance; for the captain disliked me, for the liberties I frequently took with him, on account of his brutal behaviour.) I expostulated with the cruel wretch on the inhumanity of the action he was about; telling him, if he had resolved the poor man should perish, it would have been better to have suffered him to do so, when he was at the last extremity, than to expose him afresh, by this means, to a death as certain, in a more lingering and miserable way. But the savage being resolved, and nothing moved by what I said, I paid him part of the passage down, and agreed to pay the rest at our arrival in England.

Thus having reprieved the poor man, the next thing was to enter upon my new employ of amanuensis. And having a long space of time before us, we allotted two hours every morning for the purpose of writing down his life from his own mouth; and frequently, when wind and weather kept us below, we spent some time of an afternoon in the same exercise, till we had quite completed it. But then, there were some things in it so indescribable by words, that if I had not had some knowledge also in drawing, our history had been very incomplete. Thus it must have been, especially in the description of the glumms and gawreys therein mentioned. In order to gain (that so I might communicate) a clear idea of these, I made several drawings of them, in all the forms and attitudes I could conceive from his discourses and accounts; and at length, after divers trials, I made such exact delineations, that he declared they could not have been more perfect resemblances, if I had drawn them from the life. Upon a survey, he confessed the very persons themselves could not have been more exact. I also drew with my pencil the figure of an aerial engagement, which likewise had his approbation.

Then, having finished the work to our mutual satisfaction, I locked it up, in order to peruse it at leisure, intending to have presented it to him at our arrival in England, to dispose of as he pleased, in such a way as might have conduced most to his profit; for I resolved, notwithstanding our agreement, and the obligations he was under to me, that the whole of that should be his own. But he having been in a declining state some time before we reached shore, died the very night we landed; and his funeral falling upon me, I thought I had the greatest right to the manuscript: which, however, I had no design to have parted with; but showing it to some judicious friends, I have by them been prevailed with not to conceal from the world what may prove so very entertaining, and perhaps useful.

R. P.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. Giving an account of the author's birth and family.-The fondness of his mother.-His being put to an academy at sixteen, by the advice of his friend.-His thoughts of his own illiterature

CHAPTER II.

How he spent his time at the academy.-An intrigue with a servant-maid there.-She declares herself with child by him.-Her expostulations to him.-He is put to it for money.-Refused it from home, by his friend who had married his mother.-Is drawn in to marry the maid.-She lies in at her aunt's-Returns to her service. He has another child by her

CHAPTER III.

Minds his studies.-Informs his master of his mother's marriage, and usage of him.-Hears of her death.-Makes his master his guardian.-Goes with him to take possession of his estate.-Is informed all is given to his father-in-law.-Moral reflections on his condition, and on his father's crimes

CHAPTER IV.

Departs secretly from his master.-Travels to Bristol.-Religious thoughts by the way.-Enters on shipboard, and is made captain's steward

CHAPTER V.

His first entertainment on board.-Sets sail. His sickness.-Engagement with a French privateer.-Is taken and laid in irons.-Twenty-one prisoners turned adrift in a small boat with only two days' provision

CHAPTER VI.

The bont, two hundred leagues from land, makes no way, but drives more to sea by the wind. The people live nine days at quarter allowance.-Four die with hunger, the twelfth day.-Five more, the fourteenth day.On the fifteenth, they eat one just dead.-Want of water excessive.-Spy a sail.-Are taken up.--Work their passage to the African shore.-Are sent on a secret expedition.-Are way-laid, taken slaves, and sent up the country

CHAPTER VII.

The author escapes with Glanlepze, a native.-Their hardships in travel.-Plunder of a cottage.-His fears-Adventure with a crocodile.-Passage of a river.--Adventure with a lioness and whelp.-Arrive at Glanlepze's house. The trial of Glanlepze's wife's constancy.-The tender meeting of her and her husband.— The author's reflections thereupon

CHAPTER VIII.

How the author passed his time with Glan'epze.-His acquaintance with some English prisoners.-They project an escape. He joins them.-They seize a Portuguese ship, and get off.-Make a long run from land.-Want water. They anchor at a desert island.-The boat goes on shore for water. They lose their anchor in a storm.-The author and one Adams driven to sea.-A miraculous passage to a rock.-Adams drowned there. -The author's miserable condition

CHAPTER IX.

Wilkins thinks of destroying himself. His soliloquy.-Strange accident in the hold. His surprise. - Cannot climb the rock-His method to sweeten his water.-Lives many months on board.-Ventures to sea in his boat several times, and takes many fish.-Almost overcome by an eel

CHAPTER X.

Lays in great store of provision.-Resolves to traverse the rock.-Sails for three weeks, still seeing it only.-Is sucked under the rock, and hurried down a cataract.-Continues there five weeks.-His description of the cavern. His thoughts, and difficulties.-His arrival at a great lake.-And his landing in the beautiful country of Graundevolet

CHAPTER XI.

His joy on his arrival at land.-A description of the place.--No inhabitants.-Wants fresh water.-Resides in a grotto.-Finds water.-Views the country.-Carries his things to the grotto

CHAPTER XII.

An account of the grotto.-A room added to it.-A view of that building.-The author makes a little cart.-Also a wet-dock for his boat.- Goes in quest of provision.-A description of divers fruits and plants.-He brings home a cart-load of different sorts.-Makes experiments on them.-Loads his cart with others.- A great disappointment.-Makes good bread.-Never sees the sun.-The nature of the light

CHAPTER XIII.

The author lays in a store against the dark weather.-Hears voices.-His thoughts thereon.-Persuades himself it was a dream.-Hears them again.-Determines to see if any one lodged in the rock.-Is satisfied there is nobody,-Observations on what he saw.-Finds a strong weed like whipcord.-Makes a drag-net.-Lengthens it. Catches a monster.-Its description.-Makes oil of it CHAPTER XIV.

The author passes the summer pleasantly-Hears the voices in the winter.-Ventures out.-Sees a strange sight on the lake.-His uneasiness at it. His dream.-Soliloquy.-Hears the voices again, and perceives a great shock on his building.-Takes up a beautiful woman.-He thinks her dead, but recovers her.-A description of her. She stays with him

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Wilkins afraid of losing his new mistress-They live together all winter.-A remark on that.-They begin to know each other's language.-A long discourse between them at cross-purposes.-She flies.-They engage to be man and wife

CHAPTER XVI.

The author's disappointment at first going to bed with his new wife.-Some strange circumstances relating thereto. She resolves several questions he asks her, and clears up his fears as to the voices.-A description of Swangeans

CHAPTER XVII

Youwarkee cannot bear a strong light.-Wilkins makes her spectacles, which help her.-A description of them. CHAPTER XVIII.

Youwarkee with child.-Wilkins's stock of provisions.-No beast or fish in Youwarkee's country-The voices again. Her reason for not seeing those who uttered them-She bears a son.-A hard speech in her lying-in. -Divers birds appear.-Their eggs gathered.-How Wilkins kept account of time.

CHAPTER XIX.

Wilkins's concern about clothing for Pedro, his eldest son.-His discourse with his wife about the ship.-Her flight to it. His melancholy reflections till her return.-An account of what she had done, and of what she brought. She clothes her children, and takes a second flight

CHAPTER XX

The author observes her flight.-A description of a glumm in the graundee. She finds out the gulf, not far from the ship.-Brings home more goods.—Makes her a gown by her husband's instruction

CHAPTER XXI.

The author gets a breed of poultry, and by what means.-Builds them a house.-How he managed to keep them in winter

CHAPTER XXII.

Reflections on mankind.-The author wants to be with his ship.-Projects going, but perceives it impracticable. -Youwarkee offers her service, and goes-An account of her transactions on board-Remarks on her sagacity. She despatches several chests of goods through the gulf to the lake.-An account of a danger sbe escaped. The author has a fit of sickness

The author's account of his children.--Their names. They are exercised in flying.-His boat crazy.-Youwarkee intends a visit to her father, but first takes another flight to the ship.-Sends a boat and chests through the gulf.-Clothes her children.-Is with child again, so her visit is put off.--An inventory of the last freight of goods. The author's method of treating his children.-Youwarkee, her son Tommy, with her daughters Patty and Hallycarnie, set out to her father's

CHAPTER XXV.

Youwarkee's account of the stages to Arndrumnstake.-The author uneasy at her flight.-His employment in her absence, and preparations for receiving her father.-How he spent the evenings with the children

CHAPTER XXVI.

The author's concern at Youwarkee's stay.-Reflections on his condition.-Hears a voice call him.---Youwarkee's brother, Quangrollart, visits him with a companion.-He treats them at the grotto.-The brother discovers himself by accident.-Wilkins produces his children to him

CHAPTER XXVII,

Quangrollart's account of Youwarkee's journey, and reception at her father's

CHAPTER XXVIIL

A discourse on light.-Quangrollart explains the word crashee.-Believes a fowl is a fruit.-Gives a further account of Youwarkee's reception by her father, and by the king.-Tommy and Hallycarnic provided for at courtYouwarkee and her father visits the colambs, and are visited. Her return put off till next winter, when her father is to come with her

CHAPTER XXIX.

The author shows Quangrollart and Rosig his poultry.-They are surprised at them.-He takes them a fishing. They wonder at his cart, and at his shooting a fowl.-They are terribly frightened at the firing of the gun.Wilkins pacifies them

CHAPTER XXX.

Peter prepares for his father's reception.---Arguments about his beard.-Expects his wife.-Reflections on her not coming.-Sees a messenger on the rock.-Has notice of Pendlehamby's arrival, and prepares a treat

CHAPTER XXXI.

Peter settles the formality of his father's reception.-Description of their march, and alighting, receives his father -Conducts him to the grotto.-Offers to beg pardon for his marriage -Is prevented by Pendleham by.-Youwarkee not known in English habit.-Quarters the officers in the tent

CHAPTER XXXII.

The manner of their dinner.-Believe the fish and fowl to be fruits.-Hears his brother and the colambs are coming.-Account of their lying.-Peter's reflections on the want of the graundee.-They view the arkoe.Servants harder to please than their masters.-Reasons for different dresses the same day

CHAPTER XXXIII.

Quangrollart arrives with the colambs.-Straitened for accommodation.-Remove to the tent.-Youwarkee not known.-Peter relates part of his travels.-Dispute about the beast-fish skins 64

CHAPTER XXXIV.

Go a fishing-Catch a beast-fish.-Afraid of the gun.-How Peter altered his net.-A fish-dinner for the guards.~ Method of dressing and eating it

CHAPTER XXXV.

A shooting proposed.-All afraid of the gun but one private guard. His behaviour.-Pendlehamby, at Peter's request, makes him a general.-Peter's discourse thereon.-Remainder of his story.-The colambs return CHAPTER XXXVI.

Peter finds his stores low.-Sends Youwarkee to the ship.-Receives an invitation to Georigetti's court

CHAPTER XXXVII.

Nasgig comes with a guard to fetch Peter.-Long debate about his going.-Nasgig's uneasiness at Peter's refusal.— Relates a prediction to him, and proceedings thereon at Georigetti's court.-Peter consents to go.-Prepares a machine for that purpose

Peter's speech to the soldiery.-Offers them freedom.-His journey.-Is met by the king.-The king sent back, and why.-Peter alights in the king's garden.-His audience.-Description of his supper and bed

CHAPTER XXXIX.

The king's apartments described. Is introduced to the king.-A moucheratt called. His discourse with the king about religion

CHAPTER XL.

Peter's reflections on what he was to perform.-Settles the method of it.-His advice to his son and daughterGlobe-lights living creatures-Takes Maleck into his service.-Nasgig discovers to Peter a plot at court.Revolt of Gauingrunt

CHAPTER XLI.

Hold a moucheratt.-Speeches of ragams and colambs.-Peter settles religion.-Informs the king of a plot.-Sends Nasgig to the ship for cannon.

The king hears Barbarsa and Yaccombourse discourse on the plot.-They are impeached by Peter at a moucheratt.-Condemned and executed.-Nicor submits, and is released

CHAPTER XLIII.

Nasgig returns with the cannon.-Peter informs him of the execution.-Appoints him a guard.-Settles the order of his march against Harlokin.-Combat between Nasgig and the rebel general.-The battle.-Peter, returning with Harlokin's head, is met by a sweecoan.-A public festival.-Slavery abolished

CHAPTER XLIV.

A visitation of the revolted provinces proposed by Peter. His new name of the country received.-Religion settled in the west.-Slavery abolished there.-Lasmeel returns with Peter.-Peter teaches him letters-The king surprised at written correspondence.-Peter describes the make of a beast to the king.

CHAPTER XLV.

Peter sends for his family.-A rising of former slaves on that account.-Takes a view of the city.-Description of it, and of the country.-Hot and cold springs.

CHAPTER XLVI.

Peter sends for his family.-Pendlehamby gives a fabulous account of the peopling of that country. Their policy and government.-Peter's discourse on trade.-Youwarkee arrives.-Invites the king and nobles to a treat.Sends to Graundevolet for fowls

Peter goes to his father's.-Traverses the Black Mountains.-Takes a flight to Mouat Alkoe.-Gains the miners.— Overcomes the governor's troops.-Proclaims Georigetti king.-Seizes the governor.-Returns him the government.-Peter makes laws, with the consent of the people.-And returns to Brandleguarp with deputies

CHAPTER XLVIII.

Peter arrives with the deputies.-Presents them to the king.-They return.-A colony decreed to be sent thither.Nasgig made governor.-Manner of choosing the colony.-A flight-race, and the intent of it.-Walsi wins the prize, and is found to be a gawrey

CHAPTER XLIX.

The race reconciles the two kingdoms.-The colony proceeds.-Build a city.-Peter views the country at a distance.---Hears of a prophecy of the king of Norbon's daughter, Stygee.-Goes thither.-Kills the king's nephew. -Fulfils the prophecy, by engaging Stygee to Georigetti.-Returns

CHAPTER L.

A discourse on marriage, between Peter and Georigetti.-Peter proposes Stygee.-The king accepts it.-Relates his transactions at Norbon.-The marriage is consummated.-Account of the marriage ceremony.-Peter goes to Norbon.-Opens a free trade to Mount Alkoe.-Gets traders to settle at Norbon.-Conveys cattle to Mount

Alkoe

CHAPTER LI

Peter, looking over his books, finds a Latin Bible.-Sets about a translation.-Teaches some of the ragams letters. ---Sets up a paper manufacture.-Makes the ragams read the Bible.-The ragams teach others to read and write. A fair kept at the Black Mountain.-Peter's reflection on the Swangeantines

CHAPTER LII.

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Peter's children provided for.-Youwarkee's death.-How the king and queen spend their time.-Peter grows melancholy. Wants to get to England.-Contrives means.-Is taken up at sca