Friends, who have peruſed the Papers from which I am compiling the Hiſtory of his Life.
After Tom had been at Sea ſome Years, he was unfortunately caſt away, on that Part of the Coaſt of Africa inhabited by the Hottentots. Here he met with a ſtrange Book, which the Hottentots did not underſtand, and which gave him ſome Account of Preſſer John’s Country; and being a Lad of great Curioſity and Reſolution he determined to ſee it; accordingly he ſet out on the Purſuit, attended by a young Lion, which he had tamed and made ſo fond of him, that he followed him like a Dog, and obeyed all his Commands; and indeed it was happy for him that he had ſuch a Companion; for as his Road lay through large Woods and Foreſts,that were full of wild Beaſts and without Inhabitants, he muſt have been ſoon ſtarved or torn in Pieces, had he not been both fed and protected by this noble Animal.
