Upon this, the hurgo and his train withdrew, with much civility and cheerful countenances.  Soon after, I heard a general shout, with frequent repetitions of the words “Peplom selan,” and I felt great numbers of the people on my left side, relaxing the cords to such a degree that I was able to turn upon my right.  But before this they had daubed my face and both my hands with a sort of ointment, very pleasant to the smell, which, in a few minutes, removed all the smart of their arrows.  These circumstances, added to the refreshment I had received by their victuals and drink, which were very nourishing, disposed me to sleep.  I slept about eight hours, as I was afterward assured; and it was no wonder, for the physicians, by the emperor’s order, had mingled a sleepy potion in the hogsheads of wine.

It seems that upon the first moment I was discovered sleeping on the ground, after my landing, the emperor had early notice of it by an express, and determined in council that I should be tied in the manner I have related (which was done in the night, while I slept), that plenty of meat and drink should be sent to me, and a machine prepared to carry me to the capital city.

This resolution, perhaps, may appear very bold and dangerous, and I am confident would not be imitated by any prince in Europe, on the like occasion.  However, in my opinion, it was extremely prudent, as well as generous; for supposing these people had endeavored to kill me with their spears and arrows while I was asleep, I should certainly have awaked with the first sense of smart, which might so far have roused my rage and strength as to have enabled me to break the strings wherewith I was tied; after which, as they were not able to make resistance, so they could expect no mercy.

[Illustration:  GULLIVER’S JOURNEY TO THE METROPOLIS]

These people are most excellent mathematicians, and arrived to a great perfection in mechanics, by the countenance and encouragement of the emperor, who is a renowned patron of learning.  This prince has several machines fixed on wheels, for the carriage of trees and other great weights.  He often builds his largest men-of-war, whereof some are nine feet 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 set at work to prepare the greatest engine they had.  It was a frame of wood raised three inches from the ground, about seven feet long, and four wide, moving upon twenty-two wheels.  The shout I heard was upon the arrival of this engine, which, it seems, set out in four hours after my landing.  It was brought 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 pack-thread, were fastened by hooks to many bandages,