in fmoothing them after I had done the rough Work.

In about a Month, when all was prepared, I fent to receive his Majefty's Commands, and to take my Leave. The Emperor and Royal Family came out of the Palace; I laid down on my Face to kifs his Hand, which he very graciously gave me; fo did the Empress, and young Princes of the Blood. His Majefty prefented 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.

I ftored the Boat with the Carcafes of an hundred Oxen, and three hundred Sheep, with Bread and Drink proportionable, and as much Meat ready dreffed as four hundred Cooks could provide. I took with me fix Cows and two Bulls alive, with as many Ewes and Rams, 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, befides a diligent Search into my Pockets, his Majefty engaged my Honour not to carry away any of his Subjects, although with their own Confent and Defire.

Having thus prepared all Things as well as I was able, I fet Sail on the twenty-fourth Day of September 1701, at fix in the Morning ; and when I had gone about four Leagues to the Northward, the Wind being at South-Eaft, at fix in the Evening, I defcried a fmall Island about half a

League

League to the North-Weft. I advanced forward, and caft Anchor on the Lee-fide of the Island, which feemed to be uninhabited. I then took fome Refreshment, and went to my Reft. I flept well, and I conjecture at leaft fix Hours, for I found the Day broke in two Hours after I awaked. It was a clear Night. I eat my Breakfast before the Sun was up; and heaving Anchor, the Wind being favourable, I fteered the fame Course, that I had done the Day before, wherein I was directed by my Pocket-compafs. My Intention was to reach, if poffible, one of those Islands, which I had Reafon to believe lay on the North-Eaft of Van Diemen's Land. I difcovered nothing all that Day; but upon the next, about three in the Afternoon, when I had by my Computation made twentyfour Leagues from Blefufcu, I defcried a Sail steering to the South-Eaft; my Course was due Eaft. I hailed her, but could get no Answer; yet I found I gained upon her, for the Wind flackened. I made all the Sail I could, and in half an Hour he fpied me, then hung out her Antient, and difcharged a Gun. It is not eafy to exprefs the Joy I was in upon the unexpected Hope of once more feeing my beloved Country, and the dear Pledges I left in it. The Ship flackened her Sails, and I came up with her between five and fix in the Evening, September 26; but my Heart leapt within me to fee her English Colours. I put my Cows and Sheep into my Coat-Pockets, and got on board with all my little Cargo of Provifions. The Veffel was an English Merchant-man, returning from Japan by the North and South-Seas; the Captain, Mr. John Biddel of Deptford, a very civil Man, and an excellent Sailor. We were now in the Latitude of 30 Degrees South, there were about

fifty Men in the Ship; and here I met an old Comrade of mine, one Peter Williams, who gave me a good Character to the Captain. This Gentleman treated me with Kindness, and defired I would let him know what Place I came from laft and whither I was bound; which I did in few Words, but he thought I was raving, and that the Dangers I underwent had disturbed my Head; whereupon I took my black Cattle and Sheep out of my Pocket, which, after great Aftonishment, clearly convinced him of my Veracity. I then fhewed him the Gold given me by the Emperor of Blefufcu, together with his Majefty's Picture at full Length, and fome other Rarities of that Country. I gave him two Purses of two hundred Sprugs each, and promifed, when we arrived in England, to make him a Present of a Cow and a Sheep big with Young.

I fhall not trouble the Reader with a particular Account of this Voyage, which was very profperous for the moft Part. We arrived in the Downs, on the 13th of April 1702. I had only one Miffortune, that the Rats on Board carried away one of my Sheep; I found her Bones in a Hole, picked clean from the Flesh. The rest of my Cattle I got fafe a-fhore, and fet them a grazing in a Bowling-Green at Greenwich, where the Fineness of the Grafs made them feed very heartily, though I had always feared the contrary: Neither could I poffibly have preferved them in fo long a Voyage, if the Captain had not allowed me fome of his best Bifket, which rubbed to Powder, and mingled with Water, was their conftant Food. The short Time I continued in England, I made a confiderable Profit by fhewing my Cattle to many Perfons of Quality, and others: And, before I

be

began my fecond Voyage, I fold, them for fix hundred Pounds. Since my laft Return, I find the Breed is confiderably increased, especially the Sheep, which I hope will prove much to the Advantage of the Woollen Manufacture, by the Fineness of the Fleeces.

I ftayed but two Months with my Wife and Family; for my infatiable Defire of feeing foreign Countries would fuffer me to continue no longer. I left fifteen hundred Pounds with my Wife, and fixed her in a good Houfe at Redriff. My remaining Stock I carried with me, Part in Money, and Part in Goods, in hopes to improve my Fortunes. My eldeft Uncle John had left me an Ef tate in Land, near Epping, of about thirty Pounds a Year; and I had a long Leafe of the Black-Bull in Fetter-Lane, which yielded me as much more: So that I was not in any Danger of leaving my Family upon the Parish. My Son Johnny, named fo after his Uncle, was at the Grammar School. and a towardly Child. My Daughter Betty (who is now well married, and has Children) was then at her Needlework. I took Leave of my Wife, and Boy and Girl, with Tears on both Sides, went on board the Adventure, a Merchant-Ship, of three hundred Tons bound for Surat, Captain John Nicholson of Leverpool Commander. But my Account of this Voyage must be referred to the Second Part of my Travels.

The End of the First Part.

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