among the Rocks, the Sky was perfectly clear, and the Sun fo hot, that I was forced to turn my Face from it: When all on a fudden it became obfcured, as I thought, in a Manner very different from what happens by the Interpofition of a Cloud. I turned back, and perceived a vaft Opake Body between me and the Sun, moving forwards towards the Ifland: It seemed to be about two Miles high, and hid the Sun fix or feven Minutes, but I did not observe the Air to be much colder, or the Sky more darkened, than if I had ftood under the Shade of a Mountain. As it approached nearer over the Place where I was, it appeared to be a firm Substance, the Bottom flat, fmooth, and fhining very bright from the Reflexion of the Sea below. I ftood upon a Height about two hundred Yards from the Shoar, and faw this vaft Body defcending almost to a Parallel with me, at lefs than an Englib Mile Distance. I took out my Pocket-Perspective, and could plainly discover Numbers of People moving up and down the Sides of it, which appeared to be floping, but what those People were doing, I was not able to diftinguish.

THE natural Love of Life gave me fome inward Motions of Joy; and I was ready to entertain a Hope, that this Adventure might fome Way or other help to deliver me from the defolate Place and Condition I was in. But, at the fame Time, the Reader can hardly conceive my Aftonifament, to behold an Island in the Air, inhabited by Men, who were able (as it should seem) to raise, or fink, or put it into a progreffive Motion, as they pleased. But not being, at that Time, in a Difpofition to philofophife upon this Phænomenon, I rather chofe to obferve what Courfe the Ifland would take; because it seemed for a while to ftand ftill. Yet foon

after

after it advanced nearer; and I could fee the Sides of it encompaffed with feveral Gradations of Galleries and Stairs, at certain Intervals, to descend from one to the other. In the lowest Galiery, I beheld fome People fishing with long angling Rods, and others looking on. I waved my Cap, (for my Hat was long fince worn out,) and my Handkerchief towards the Inland; and upon its nearer Approach, I called and fhouted with the ut moft Strength of my Voice; and then looking circumfpectly, I beheld a Crowd gathered to that Side which was moft in my View. I found by their pointing towards me and to each other, that they plainly discovered me, although they made no return to my Shouting: But, I could fee four or five Men running in great Hafte up the Stairs to the Top of the Ifland, who then disappeared. I happened rightly to conjecture, that these were fent for Orders to fome Perfon in Authority upon this Occafion.

THE Number of People increased; and in less than half an Hour, the lfland was moved and raised in fuch a Manner, that the lowest Gallery appeared in a Parallel of less than an hundred Yards Distance from the Height were I ftood. I then put my felf into the moft fupplicating Poftures, and spoke in the humbleft Accent, but received no Answer. Those who stood nearest over-against me, feemed to be Persons of Diftinction, as I fupposed by their Habit. They conferred earnestly with each other, looking often upon me. length, one of them called out in a clear, polite, fmooth Dialect, not unlike in Sound to the Italian; and therefore I returned an Answer in that Language, hoping at leaft, that the Cadence might be more agreeable to his Ears. Although neither of

At

us

us understood the other, yet my Meaning was eafily known, for the People faw the Diftrefs I was

in.

THEY made Signs for me to come down from the Rock, and go towards the Shoar, which I accordingly did; and the flying Island being raised to a convenient Height, the Verge directly over me, a Chain was let down from the lowest Gallery, with a Seat faftned to the Bottom, to which I fixed my felf, and was drawn up by Pullies,

CHA P.

CHA P. II.

The Humours and Difpofitions of the LAPUTANS defcribed. An Account of their Learning. Of the King, and his Court. The Author's Reception there. The Inhabitants fubject to Fears and Difquietudes. An Account of the Women.

T my alighting, I was furrounded by a Crowd of People, but those who ftood neareft, feemed to be of better Quality. They beheld me with all the Marks and Circumstances of Wonder; neither indeed was I much in their Debt; having never until then feen a Race of Mortals fo fingular in their Shapes, Habits, and Countenances. Their Heads were all reclined either to the Right, or to the Left; one of their Eyes turned inward, and the other directly up to the Zenith. Their outward Garments were adorned with the Figures of Suns, Moons, and Stars, interwoven with those of Fiddles, Flutes, Harps, Trumpets, Guittars, Harpficords, and many more Inftruments of Mufick, unknown to us in Europe. I obferved here and there many in the Habit of Servants, with a blown Bladder faftned like a Flail to the End of a fhort Stick, which they carried in

their Hands. In each Bladder was a fmall Quantity of dried Peafe, or little Pebbles, (as I was afterwards informed.) With these Bladders they now and then flapped the Mouths and Ears of those who ftood near them, of which Practice I could not then conceive the Meaning. It feems, the Minds of thofe People are fo taken up with intenfe Speculations, that they neither can speak, or attend to the Discourses of others, without being rouzed by fome external Taction upon the Organs of Speech and Hearing; for which Reason, thofe Perfons who are able to afford it, always keep a Flapper, (the Original is Climenole) in their Family, as one of their Domefticks; nor ever walk abroad, or make Vifits, without him. And the Business of this Officer is, when two or more Perfons are in Company, gently to ftrike with his Bladder the Mouth of him who is to speak, and the Right Ear of him, or them, to whom the Speaker addreffeth himself. This Flapper is likewife employed diligently to attend his Mafter in his Walks, and upon Occafion to give him a foft Flap on his Eyes; because he is always fo wrapped up in Cogitation, that he is in manifest Danger of falling down every Precipice, and bouncing his Head against every Poft; and in the Streets of jostling others, or being joftled into the Kennel.

Ir was neceffary to give the Reader this Information, without which he would be at the fame Lofs with me, to understand the Proceedings of thefe People, as they conducted me up the Stairs, to the Top of the Ifland, and from thence to the Royal Palace. While we were afcending, they forgot feveral Times what they were about, and left me to my felf, until their Memories were again rouzed by their Flappers; for they appeared alto

gether