41 



and I imagined that some tavern or stable 

 keeper would certainly be able to supply 

 my wants, and would, from mere benevcK 

 lence, let me have some blades for my stock, 

 as I had been at sea so long, though his 

 trade might not be to sell them. I began, 

 accordingly, to inquire for some person of 

 this description ; but I found myself disap- 

 pointed in this matter, as no one had more 

 of this article than for his own use that day 

 and night. At last I chanced upon a stable- 

 keeper who had about fifty pounds weight ; 

 and who for an advanced price, or if I 

 would let him have some bran to feed his 

 horses for the night (which I readily did), 

 would let me have forty bunches, which 

 were computed at forty pounds weight — for 

 I found that it was the practice to sell the 

 blades by the pound, in the same manner as 

 tea in England. 



When I got these blades, my horses were 

 frightened at them ; for they rattle much, 

 having the same appearance as our dry flag- 

 leaves in England. From their delightful 



