These considerations moved me to hasten my departure somewhat sooner than I intended; to which the court, impatient to have me gone, very readily contributed.  Five hundred workmen were employed to make two sails to my boat, according to my directions, by quilting thirteen folds of their strongest linen together.  I was at the pains of making ropes and cables, by twisting ten, twenty, or thirty of the thickest and strongest of theirs.  A great stone, that I happened to find after a long search by the sea-shore, served me for an anchor.  I had the tallow of three hundred cows for greasing my boat, and other uses.  I was at incredible pains in cutting down some of the largest timber-trees for oars and masts, wherein I was, however, much assisted by his majesty’s ship-carpenters, who helped me in smoothing them after I had done the rough work.

In about a month, when all was prepared, I sent to receive his majesty’s commands, and to take my leave.  The emperor and royal family came out of the palace.  I lay down on my face to kiss his hand, which he very graciously gave me; so did the empress and young princes of the blood.  His majesty presented me with fifty purses of two hundred sprugs a-piece, together with his picture at full length, which I put immediately into one of my gloves, to keep it from being hurt.  The ceremonies at my departure were too many to trouble the reader with at this time.

[Illustration:  “I SET SAIL AT SIX IN THE MORNING” P. 98.]

I stored the boat with the carcases of a hundred oxen, and three hundred sheep, with bread and drink proportionable, and as much meat ready dressed as four hundred cooks could provide.  I took with me six cows and two bulls alive, with as many ewes and lambs, intending to carry them into my own country, and propagate the breed.  And to feed them on board, I had a good bundle of hay and a bag of corn.  I would gladly have taken a dozen of the natives, but this was a thing the emperor would by no means permit; and, besides a diligent search into my pockets, his majesty engaged my honor not to carry away any of his subjects, although with their own consent and desire.

Having thus prepared all things as well as I was able, I set sail on the twenty-fourth day of September, 1701, at six in the morning; and, when I had gone about four leagues to the northward, the wind being at southeast, at six in the evening I descried a small island about half a league to the northwest I advanced forward, and cast anchor on the lee side[36] of the island, which seemed to be uninhabited.  I then took some refreshment, and went to my rest.  I slept well, and, as I conjecture, at least six hours, for I found the day broke two hours after I awaked.  It was a clear night.  I ate my breakfast before the sun was up; and heaving anchor, the wind being favorable, I steered the same course that I had done the day before, wherein I was directed by my pocket-compass.  My intention was to reach, if possible, one of those