Page:Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World by Lemuel Gulliver First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships.djvu/51

CHAP. I which, as they were not able to make Resistance, so they could expect no Mercy.

people are most excellent Mathematicians, and arrived to a great perfection in MechanicksMechanics [sic] by the countenance and encouragement of the Emperor, who is a renowned Patron of Learning. This Prince hath 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 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 set at work to prepare the greatest Engine they had. It was a Frame of Wood raised Three inches from the ground, about Seven foot 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 PackthreadTwine [sic] were fastened by Hooks to many Bandages, which the Workmen had girt round my Neck, my Hands, my Body, and my Legs. Nine hundred of the strongest Men were employed to draw up these Cords by many Pulleys fastnedfastened [sic] on the Poles, and thus in less than Three hours, I was raised and slung into the Engine, and there tyedtied [sic] fast. All this I was told, for while the whole operation was performing, I lay in a profound sleep, by the force of that soporiferoussedative [sic] Medicine infused into my Liquor. Fifteen hundred of the Emperor's largest Horses, each about Four inches and an half high, were imployedemployed [sic] to draw me towards the Metropolis, which, as I said, was Half a mile distant.

Four hours after we began our Journey, I awakedawoke [sic] by a very ridiculous Accident; for the Carriage being stoptstopped [sic] a while to adjust something that was out of order, two or three of the young natives had the curiosity to see how I looked