94 GULLIVER'S TRAVELS.

credible pains in cutting down some of the. largest
timber trees for oars and masts, wherein I was, how-
ever, 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 cere-
monies at my departure were too many to trouble the
reader with at this time.

I stored the boat with the carcasses of a hundred oxen
and three hundred sheep, with bread and drink propor-
tionable, 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 rams, in-
tending to carry them into my’own country and propa-
gate 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 honour not to carry away any of his subjects, al-
though with their own consent and desire.

Having thus prepared all things as well as I was able