MY FATHER had a small Estate in Nottinghamshire; I was the Third of 
five Sons. He sent me to Emanuel-College in Cambridge, at Fourteen Years 
old, where I resided three Years, and applyed my self close to my Studies: 
But the Charge of maintaining me (although I had a very scanty 
Allowance) being too great for a narrow Fortune; I was bound Apprentice 
to Mr. James Bates, an eminent Surgeon in London, with whom I continued 
four Years; and my Father now and then sending me small Sums of Money, 
I laid them out in learning Navigation, and other parts of the 
Mathematicks, useful to those who intend to travel, as I always believed it 
would be some time or other my Fortune to do. When I left Mr. Bates, I 
went down to my Father; where, by the Assistance of him and my Uncle 
John, and some other Relations, I got Forty Pounds, and a Promise of 
Thirty Pounds a Year to maintain me at Leyden: There I studied Physick 
two Years and seven Months, knowing it would be useful in long Voyages.

Soon after my Return from Leyden, I was recommended, by my good 
Master Mr. Bates, to be Surgeon to the Swallow, Captain Abraham Pannell 
Commander; with whom I continued three Years and a half, making a 
Voyage or two into the Levant, and some other Parts. When I came back, I 
resolved to settle in London, to which Mr. Bates, my Master, encouraged 
me, and by him I was recommended to several Patients. I took Part of a 
small House in the Old Jury; and being advised to alter my Condition, I 
married Mrs. Mary Burton, second Daughter to Mr. Edmund Burton, 
Hosier, in Newgate-street, with whom I received four Hundred Pounds for 
a Portion.

But, my good Master Bates dying in two Years after, and I having few 
Friends, my Business began to fail; for my Conscience would not suffer me 
to imitate the bad Practice of too many among my Brethren. Having 
therefore consulted with my Wife, and some of my Acquaintance, I 
determined to go again to Sea. I was Surgeon successively in two Ships, and 
made several Voyages, for six Years, to the East and West-Indies, by which 
I got some Addition to my Fortune. My Hours of Leisure I spent in reading 
the best Authors, antient and modern, being always provided with a good 
Number of Books ; and when I was ashore, in observing the Manners and 
Dispositions of the People, well as learning their Language, wherein I had 
a great Facility by the Strength of my Memory.

The last of these Voyages not proving very fortunate, I grew weary of the 
Sea, and intended to stay at home with my Wife and Family. I removed 
from the Old Jury to Fetter-Lane, and from thence to Wapping hoping to 
get business among the sailors; but it would not turn to account. After three 
Years Expectation that things would mend, I accepted an advantageous 
Offer from Captain William Prichard, Master of the Antelope, who was 
making a Voyage to the South-Sea. We set sail from Bristol May 4th, 1699 
and our Voyage at first was very prosperous.

It would not be proper, for some Reasons, to trouble the Reader with the 
Particulars of our Adventures in those Seas: Let it suffice to inform him, 
that in our Passage from thence to the East-Indies, we were driven by a 
violent Storm to the North-west of Van Diemen's Land. By an 
Observation, we found ourselves in the Latitude of 30 Degrees 2 Minutes 
South. Twelve of our Crew were dead by immoderate Labour and ill Food, 
the rest were in a very weak Condition. On the fifth of November, which 
was the beginning of Summer in those Parts, the Weather being very hazy, 
the Seamen spied a Rock, within half a Cable's length of the Ship; but the 
Wind was so strong, that we were driven directly upon it, and immediately 
split. Six of the Crew, of whom I was one, having let down the Boat into 
the Sea, made a Shift to get clear of the Ship, and the Rock. We rowed by 
my Computation about three Leagues, till we were able to work no longer, 
being already spent with Labour while we were in the Ship. We therefore 
trusted ourselves to the Mercy of the Waves, and in about half an Hour the 
Boat was overset by a sudden Flurry from the North. What became of my 
Companions in the Boat, as well as of those who escaped on the Rock, or 
were left in the Vessel, I cannot tell; but conclude they were all lost. For 
my own Part, I swam as Fortune directed me, and was pushed forward by 
Wind and Tide. I often let my Legs drop, and could feel no Bottom: but 
when I was almost gone, and able to struggle no longer, I found myself 
within my Depth; and by this Time the Storm was much abated. The 
Declivity was so small, that I walked near a Mile before I got to the Shore, 
which I conjectur'd was about eight a-clock in the Evening. I then advanced 
forward near half a Mile, but could not discover any sign of Houses or 
Inhabitants; at least I was in so weak a Condition, that I did not observe 
them. I was extremely tired, and with that, and the Heat of the Weather, 
and about half a Pint of Brandy that I drank as I left the Ship, I found 
myself much inclined to sleep. I lay down on the Grass, which was very 
short and soft, where I slept sounder than ever I remember to have done in 
my Life, and, as I reckoned, above Nine Hours; for when I awakened, it 
was just Day-light. I attempted to rise, but was not able to stir: For as I 
happen'd to lye on my Back, I found my Arms and Legs were strongly 
fastened on each Side to the Ground; and my Hair, which was long and 
thick, tied down in the same Manner. I likewise felt several slender 
Ligatures across my Body, from my Armpits to my Thighs. I could only 
look upwards; the Sun began to grow hot, and the Light offended my Eyes. 
I heard a confused Noise about me, but in the Posture I lay, could see 
nothing except the Sky. In a little time I felt something alive moving on my 
left Leg, which advancing gently forward over my Breast, came almost up 
to my Chin; when bending my Eyes downwards as much as I could, I 
perceived it to be a human Creature not six Inches high, with a Bow and 
Arrow in his hands, and a Quiver at his Back. In the meantime, I felt at 
least Forty more of the same Kind (as I conjectured) following the first. I 
was in the utmost Astonishment, and roared so loud, that they all ran back 
in a Fright; and some of them, as I was afterwards told, were hurt with the 
Falls they got by leaping from my Sides upon the Ground. However, they 
soon returned, and one of them, who ventured so far as to get a full Sight 
of my Face, lifting up his Hands and Eyes by way of Admiration, cried out 
in a shrill but distinct Voice, Hekinah Degul: the others repeated the same 
Words several times, but I then knew not what they meant. I lay all this 
while, as the Reader may believe, in great Uneasiness; At length, struggling