a Man may pass a Defart? Or are there also Kingdoms with their particular Polities, and People of a Species which we know nothing of, ordain'd to live in it?

It was in this Manner I continued my Thought, when my Feet forfook the Level, and I was infenfibly mounted in the Air, till I arriv'd at a footing as firm and level as what I had left. But with what Surprise did I find my self among Creatutes diftinct from us in Shape and Customs?

The Inhabitants are of a small Stature, below thofe which History defcribes for Pigmies. The tallest of them exceed not fourteen or fifteen Inches, and the least are hardly three. This difference proceeds only from their Growth before they are brought to Light; for after we never obferve them to grow, unless it please their Parents, who have this uncommon Method of enabling them: They recall them to the Womb, where having been for fome Time, they receive an Addition to their Bulk, then go back to their Houses, and continue at a Stand as they did before. The Experiment has been often try'd with Succefs, but fome have fuffered extremely by undergoing it.

Their Skins are like the ancient Britains, all drawn over with a Variety of Figures. The Colour made use of for this end, is generally Black. I have indeed obferv'd in fome of the Religious, and Lawyers of the Country, Red here and there intermingl'd, tho' not fo commonly of late. They tell me too, they often us'd to paint with all Colours; and I visited two or three of the old Inhabitants, who were adorn'd in that Fashion: But this is now difused, fince the new Inventions, by which the ufe of a black Fountain that belongs to that Country, is render'd more useful and serviceable.

The Cloaths in which they go clad, are the Skins of Beafts, worn by fome Plain, by others with Figures wrought upon them. Gold is alfo made ufe of by fome, to beautify their Apparel; but very feldom Silver, unlefs, as Buckles are by us, for fastening the Garment before. I have feen fome of them go like Seamen in thin blue Shirts, others like Indians in a party-colour'd loose kind of Apparel, and others who they told me were the Politicians of the Country, go about stark naked.

The Manner of dreffing them is this: At first when they come into the World, they have a Suit given them, which if it do not fit

exactly,

exactly, is not, as with us, fitted up again, but the Children are in a cruel manner cut and fqueez'd to bring them to its Proportion. Yet this they feem not much to regard, provided their principal Parts are not affected. When the Dress is thus fettled on them, they are clad for Life, it being feldom their Cuftom to alter it, or put it off: In short, they live in it Night and Day, and wear it to Rags rather than part with it, being fure of the fame Torture, and a greater Danger if they fhou'd be drefs'd a fecond Time. I have further taken Notice, that they delight to go open Breasted, most of them fhewing their Bofoms fpeckled. Some Lawyers indeed wear them quite White, perhaps for Diftinction fake, or to be known at a Diftance. But the finest Shew, is among the Beaux and Ladies, who mightily affect fomething of Gold, both before and behind them.

Food I never faw them eat; they being a People, who, as I obferved, live in Air: Their Houfes are all fingle and high, having no back Rooms, but frequently seven or eight Stories, which are all feparate Houses above one another. They have one Gate to their City, and generally no Doors to their Houses; tho' I have fometimes feen them have particular Doors, and even made of Glafs, where the Inhabitants have been ob

serv'd to stand many Days, that their fine Apparel may be seen thro' them. If at any time they lye down, which they do when they come from their Habitations (as if coming Abroad were their greatest Fatigue) they will lie together in Heaps without receiving Hurt: Though the foundest Sleep they get, is when they can have Duft enough to cover them over.

The Females amongst them are but few, nothing being there produced by a Marriage of Sexes. The Males are of a different Strength or Endowment of Parts, some having Knowledge in an extream Degree, and others none at all; yet at the fame Time, they are mighty Pretenders to inftruct others. Their Names, (for as many as wou'd discover them to me) I obferv'd to be the very fame as ours are upon Earth; I met a few who made theirs. a Myitery, but why, I am yet to learn. They are fo communicative, that they will tell all the Knowledge they boaft, if a Stranger apply himfelf to their Converfation: And this may be worth his while, if he confiders that all Languages, Arts, and Sciences, are profest amongst them. I think I may fay it without Vanity, that I knew a certain Talifman, with proper Figures and Characters infcrib'd, whereby their greatest People may be charm'd, brought to refide with a Man, and serve him like a Familiar in the Conduct of Life.

There

There is no fuch thing as fighting amongst them, but their Controverfies are determin'd by Words, wherein they feldom own themfelves conquer'd, yet proceed no further than two or three Replies: Perhaps indeed two others take up their Neighbour's Quarrel, but then they delift too after the fame Manner fometimes however, Blows have enfu'd upon their Account, though not amongst them: In fuch a Cafe they have defcended to inspire Mankind with their Sentiments, and chofen Champions from among us, in order to decide it.

The Time of their Life is very different, fome dye as foon as born, and others in their Youth; fome get a new Leafe of Life by their entring into the Womb again, and if any weather it out to a hundred Years, they generally live on to an extreme Age, After which it is remarkable, that inftead of growing weaker as we do, by Time, they increase in Strength, and become at last so confirm'd in Health, that it is the Opinion of their Country, they never can perifh while the World remains.

The Sickneffes which may take them off, befides what happens from their natural Weaknefs of Body, are of different Sorts. One is over-moisture, which affecting their Manfions, makes them lofe their Complexions, become

deform'd,