xiv 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



six feet high, all but half an inch. On looking at 

 myself in the glass, I can see at once that my face 

 is any think but comely : continual exposure to the 

 sun, and to the rains of the tropics, has furrowed it 

 in places, and given it a tint, which neither Row- 

 land's Kalydor, nor all the cosmetics on Belinda's 

 toilette, would ever be able to remove. My hair, 

 which I wear very short, was once of a shade 

 betwixt brown and black : it h?,s now the appear- 

 ance as though it had passed the night exposed to a 

 November hoarfrost. I cannot boast of any great 

 strength of arm ; but my legs, probably by much 

 walking, and by frequently ascending trees, have 

 acquired vast muscular power : so that, on taking a 

 view of me from top to toe, you would say that the 

 upper part of Tithonus has been placed upon the 

 lower part of Ajax. Or to speak zoologically, were 

 I exhibited for show at a horse fair, some learned 

 jockey would exclaim, he is half Rosinante, half 

 Bucephalus. 



I have preferred to give this short description of 

 myself by the pen, rather than to have a drawing 

 taken by the pencil, as I have a great repugnance 

 to sit to an artist ; although I once did sit to the 

 late Mr. Peale of Philadelphia, and he kept my 

 portrait for his museum. Moreover, by giving 

 this description of myself, it will prevent all chance 

 in future, of the nondescript's* portrait in the 

 Wanderings being taken for my own. 



* A late worthy baronet in the North Riding of Yorkshire, having 

 taken up the Wanderings^ and examined the representation of the nonde- 

 script with minute attention, "Dear me!" said he, as he showed the 

 engraving to his surrounding company, " what a very extraordinary look- 

 ing man Mr. V>^aterton must be ! " 



