1 I felt great Numbers of the People on my Left Side relaxing the Cords to fuch a degree, that I was able to turn upon my Right, and to ease myself with making Water; which I very plentifully did, to the great Astonishment of the People, who conjecturing by my Motions what I was going to do, immediately opened to the right and left on that fide to avoid the Torrent which fell with fuch noife and violence from me. But before this, they had dawbed my Face and both my Hands with a fort of Ointment very pleasant to the Smell, which in a few Minutes removed all the Smart of their Arrows. Thefe Circumstances added to the Refreshment I had received by their Victuals and Drink, which were very nourishing, difpofed me to fleep. I flept about eight Hours, as I was afterwards affured; and it was no wonder, for the Physicians, by the Emperor's Order, had mingled a sleepy Potion in the Hogfheads of Wine. IT Ir feems that upon the firft Moment I was discovered fleeping on the Ground after my Landing, the Emperor had early Notice of it by an Express, and determined in Council that I fhould be tyed in the Manner I have related (which was done in the Night while I flept) that Plenty of Meat and Drink should be sent to me, and a Machine prepared to carry me to the Capital City. THIS Refolution perhaps may appear very bold and dangerous, and I am confident would not be immitated by any Prince in Europe on the like Occafion; however, in my Opinion it was extreamly Prudent as well as generous. For fuppofing these People had endeavour'd to kill me with their Spears and Arrows while I was afleep, I fhould certainly have awaked with the first fenfe of Smart, which might fo far have rouzed my Rage and Strength, as to have enabled me to break the Strings wherewith I was tied; after which, as they they were not able to make Resistance, so they could expect no Mercy. THESE People are most excellent Mathematicians, and arriv'd to a great Perfection in Mechanicks by the Countenance and Encouragement of the Emperor, who is a renowned Patron of Learning. This Prince hath feveral Machines fixed on Wheels for the Carriage of Trees and other great Weights. He often builds his largest Men of War, whereof fome are nine Foot long, in the Woods where the Timber grows, and has them carried on these Engines three or four hundred Yards to the Sea. Five Hundred Carpenters and Engineers were immediately fet at work to prepare the greatest Engine they had. It was a Frame of Wood raised three Inches from the Ground,. about feven Foot long and four wide, moving upon twenty two Wheels. The Shout I heard was upon the Arrival of this Engine, which it seems fet out in four Hours after my Landing. It was brought parallel parallel to me as I lay. But the principal Difficulty was to raise and place me in this Vehicle. Eighty Poles, each of one Foot high, were erected for this purpose, and very strong Cords of the bigness of Packthread were faftned by Hooks to many Bandages, which the Workmen had girt round my Neck, my Hands, my Body, and my Legs. Nine hundred of the ftrongest Men were employed to draw up thefe Cords by many Pulleys faftned on the Poles, and thus in lefs than three Hours, I was raised and flung into the Engine, and there tyed fast. All this I was told, for while the whole Operation was performing, I lay in a profound fleep, by the force of that foporiferous Medicine infused into my Liquor. Fifteen Hundred of the Emperor's largest Horses, each about four Inches and an half high, were employed to draw me towards the Metropolis, which, as I faid, was half a Mile distant. ABOUT left ABOUT four Hours after we began our Journey, I awaked by a very ridiculous Accident; for the Carriage being ftopt a while to adjuft fomething that was out of order, two or three of the young Natives had the Curiofity to see how I looked when I was afleep; they climbed up into the Engine, and advancing very foftly to my Face, one of them, an Of ficer in the Guards, put the sharp end of his Half-pike a good way up into my Noftril, which tickled my Nofe like a Straw, and made me fneeze violently: whereupon they ftole off unperceived, and it was three Weeks before I knew the caufe of my awaking fo fuddenly. We made a long March the remaining part of that Day, and rested at Night with five hundred Guards on each fide of me, half with Torches, and half with Bows and Arrows, ready to shoot me if I fhould offer to ftir. The next Morning at Sun-rife we continued our March, and arrived within two hundred Yards of the PART I. C City |